RW’s NFL POWER RANKINGS – 2017 MID-SEASON REPORT

We’re just over half way through the season and roughly half of the top thirty players in the league are out for the season due to injury. This has been a really rough year for NFL owners, especially with their having to stomach the thought of players speaking out against systemic racism. Here’s a live look at Houston Texans owner Robert C. McNair upon learning that Brown v. Board of Education really did happen and that it wasn’t a figment of his imagination:

Note: The numbers in the parentheses before the rankings represent the upward and downward movement from our Quarterly Report Power Rankings.

(-1)     32. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers  0-9

There’s bad and then there’s whatever the Niners are. So would they be better or worse with Colin Kaepernick? Just saying.

(+1)    31. CLEVELAND BROWNS  0-8

The only reason that the Browns are here instead of at #32 is because of how gawdawful the 49ers are. On a side note, where does Joe Thomas’ 10,063 consecutive snaps played streak rank in sports history? He played every snap since week one of his rookie season for the Browns in 2007. The Browns! Sad to see the streak broken by a torn triceps injury. When you look up the word “professional” in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Joe Thomas.

(-20)  30. HOUSTON TEXANS 3-5

No J.J. Watt? No Deshaun Watson? This is going to get very ugly, very quickly.



(-4)      29. ARIZONA CARDINALS  4-4

They won their first game since Carson Palmer went down and Drew Stanton took over. Don’t get too excited though. They beat the 49ers.

(-25)    28. GREEN BAY PACKERS 4-4

Speaking of getting very ugly, very quickly. Yes, Aaron Rodgers matters that much to the Packers. He is not remotely replaceable. The next closest QB to being as irreplaceable in his system is Russell Wilson.

(+1)      27. NEW YORK GIANTS  1-7

How are the Jets 3 games ahead of the Giants in the win column?

(+3)      26. MIAMI DOLPHINS  4-4

The record says 4-4 but the point differential says -63. The Dolphins still are who we thought they were. Shout out to the late Coach Green.

(-8)       25. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS  2-6

When you have no defense and a QB with the emotional maturity level of a mean spirited version of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, you’re going to lose some games.

(+6)      24. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS  3-6

They stopped lying and finally shut Andrew Luck down for the year. By the way, are we the only ones who think Jacoby Brissett might be decent?

(-)        23. CINCINNATI BENGALS 3-5

Marvin Lewis is still the head coach? We think he might have a new name after this season unfortunately.

(-16)      22. DENVER BRONCOS  3-5

Four ugly losses in a row. Not. Good.

(+6)      21. CHICAGO BEARS  3-5

They found their running game and have been playing with renewed vigor since turning things over to their rookie QB.

(+6)      20. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS  3-5

The Chargers have a big couple of games coming up against the Jags and Bills. We still fully believe that the Chargers will finish 8-8 because it is the will of the football gods.

(+5)     19. NEW YORK JETS  4-5

How much smoke and how many mirrors do they have in the Jets locker room?

(+1)      18. BALTIMORE RAVENS  4-5

The Ravens are like the NBA team that can’t figure out whether it’s vying for a playoff spot or should tank. Except we all know that they’re not making the playoffs.

(+5)     17. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL CLUB  4-4

This season’s ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team.

(-3)     16. OAKLAND RAIDERS  4-5

Is anyone else trying to figure out how the Raiders squad that looked poised to make a Super Bowl run turned into whatever this team is? Our best explanation is that the Monstars from Space Jam stole the Raiders’ star players’ mojo.

(-13)    15. ATLANTA FALCONS  4-4

Fine, the Super Bowl loser hangover is real.

(-7)      14. DETROIT LIONS  4-4

Here’s what we wrote at for our quarterly rankings: “The Lions are a crazy, reversed call at the goal line away from being 4-0. We still don’t necessarily trust the defense to hold up in the long run, despite how incredible Ezekiel Ansah looks.”

Pretty much same old Lions. It wasn’t that difficult to predict. Lots of points. No defense.

(+8)     13. TENNESSEE TITANS  5-3

It’s amazing what happens when your QB gets healthy. The Titans aren’t Super Bowl contenders but they are not fun to play against either.

(+6)     12. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS  5-3

We don’t like whatever is going on that led to Jacksonville sitting Fournette, but other than that the Jags have looked good. If Blake Bortles can be Trent Dilfer 2.0, the Jags could make a run.

(+1)      11. BUFFALO BILLS  5-3

Don’t get scared after that Thursday night loss to the Jets. Thursday Night Football is a crapfest for everyone. If they look like that again this week, then you can press the panic button. Plus, Kelvin Benjamin will be suiting up and they likely will get Charles Clay back.

(+6)     10. DALLAS COWBOYS  5-3

The Cowboys are back to looking efficient, but they’re losing Ezekiel Elliott, again. Options B, C, and D in their backfield leave a lot to be desired. And FYI, it’s for real and going to stand in court this time.

(+6)     9. CAROLINA PANTHERS  6-3

Don’t look now, but Carolina is humming along and could get Greg Olsen back after the Week 11 bye. We made the mistake of sleeping on them early in the year. That’s a mistake we needn’t be making again.

(+3)     8. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS  5-3

Getting Duane Brown to help a struggling offensive line that made Russell Wilson have to play like Steve Young on steroids every week is going to be a big help. Plus, they’re a ridiculously poor coached last minute away from having won their last five in a row. Also, how on Earth is this the play that Seattle chose to run for a two-point conversion?

Here was our tweet afterward:

(+13)    7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS  6-2

Here’s what we wrote during our quarterly rankings: “Until they get Bradford back it’s going to be tough for them to win ball games. But when he does return, we have a feeling we’ll be eating some crow.”

At least we were half right! Anyone know where to order some good crow?

(+8)     6. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS  6-2

Here’s what we wrote about the Saints in the preseason: “The defense is not as bad as you think it is if the preseason is any indicator and you know that they’re going to put up points. Plus, how can a team cheered on by Jarrius Robertson not exceed expectations?”

Not to say we told you so, but we told you so.

(-)         5. LOS ANGELES RAMS 6-2

Rams’ coach, Sean McVay, has Coach of the Year wrapped up already, right?

(+5)     4. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS  6-2

Did you really think that the Patriots weren’t going to turn things around? Come on now. Fool me once . . .

(+1)     3. PITTSBURGH STEELERS  6-2

As we said before, Big Ben’s age continues to show, but again, if that defense can remain stout, all Big Ben needs to do is let Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown do their thing. Not to mention that it looks as though they’ve found a second WR weapon in JuJu Smith-Schuster.

(-1)      2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS  6-3

The Chiefs do a great job not turning the ball over. Moreover, they can control the ball via the run and have one of the top two tight-ends in the NFL. And let’s not forget Tyreke “the domestic abuser” Hill’s ability to score any time he touches the ball. The Chiefs will be a tough out come playoff time. Should we run the Andy Reid gif back? What do you think Andy?

(+7)     1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES  8-1 

The Eagles acquired Jay Ajayi from the Dolphins for a pittance. That is a versatile backfield now. The Eagles are susceptible on defense, but good luck outscoring them. Also, could we really end up seeing Andy Reid coaching against his former team in the Super Bowl?

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