Forbes NFL power rankings: Week 5

in Sports by griffn — October 6, 2009 at 8:00 am | 3 comments

1. New York Giants (4-0, last week: #2)
The Other Steve Smith– the one who’s on pace to catch 1,200 yards and 16 TDs from Eli Manning this year– is now officially better than Steve Smith.

2. New England Patriots (3-1, last week: #3)
Tom Brady looks downright mediocre at times and is still out of sync with Randy Moss. And yet he’s fourth in the league in passing yards, the Patriots are 3-1, and they just beat a Ravens team who I still think is probably the best in the league. It’s scary to think they can get better.

3. Indianapolis Colts (4-0, last week: #4)
12 seasons in and Peyton Manning is off to the best start of his career. And the Colts are already four games up on the Titans in the AFC South.

4. Baltimore Ravens (3-1, last week: #1)
I thought those roughing the passer penalties on Tom Brady were legit. The refs have to err on the side of protecting the league’s quarterbacks, otherwise we spend our Sundays watching Troy Smith battle Brian Hoyer (I had to Google both those quarterbacks) instead of Joe Flacco versus Tom Brady.

5. New Orleans Saints (4-0, last week: #7)
Their defense scored two touchdowns against the Jets and made Mark Sanchez look like a rookie. Definitely time to start taking the Saints seriously.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1, last week: #6)
McNabb should be back next Sunday and he’s got the sacrificial lambs of Tampa Bay and Oakland next on the schedule.

7. Minnesota Vikings (4-0, last week: #8)
With Brett Favre putting up three touchdowns against the Packers last night, I predict traffic to the JudasFavre.com will skyrocket.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2, last week: #10)
They’re the best team in the league in the first three quarters and the worst in the fourth quarter. The Rooneys should lobby the NFL to shorten the game to 45 minutes.

9. New York Jets (3-1, last week: #5)
The Darrelle Revis Shutdown Watch continues. This week: Marques Colston, 2 catches for 33 yards. Next week, fantasy owners, bench Ted Ginn Jr.

10. Denver Broncos (4-0, last week: unranked)
I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong, and I was wrong to ignore the Denver Broncos the last three weeks. I think. I don’t think Kyle Orton is a great quarterback, but he hasn’t thrown an interception yet. I don’t think Denver’s defense is the best in the league, but they’ve only allowed 6.5 points per game. I don’t think Josh McDaniel is a very good coach, but his team is undefeated. Basically, the Broncos are making it annoyingly difficult for me to keep hating on them.

On the bubble: Atlanta Falcons (2-1, last week: #9), Green Bay Packers (2-2), Dallas Cowboys (2-2), San Francisco 49ers (3-1), Chicago Bears (3-1)

Tags: football NFL power rankings

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I'm a young black man with a 401(k) plan.

3 Comments

negrostotle
2009-10-06
13:29:57
Pretty accurate this week. Although I think the Colts are #1. Giants 2, Saints 3, NE 4.

My knowledge of football, however limited, has me struggling with the Broncos as well. I just can't call them good. Its like the worst 4-0 team in history.
Mike
2009-10-06
22:06:37
How can anyone put the Pats above 4 other 4-0 teams? Must be a Pats fan ranking because no other poll has them listed that high. No sense coming back to this biased list. Learn football before ranking teams.
griffn
2009-10-07
00:58:18
LOL! Thanks for the feedback, Mike. Let me guess, you're a Colts fan.

Being that I'm a Steelers fan, I actually happen to hate the Patriots. Believe me, if I had any good reason to rank them lower I would. But here's the thing. Brady is still shaking off the rust from a year away from football. Moss hasn't even gotten warmed up. Those two connected for 23 TDs two years ago, this year they've only hooked up on one. And the Pats are still 3-1.

And they just beat the Ravens-- a team I've had ranked #1 the last two weeks (and so did most everyone else). And the addition of Fred Taylor gives them the best running game they've had since Corey Dillon. If and when Brady and Moss catch fire, the Pats are almost certain to return to being unstoppable. None of the 4-0 teams I ranked below them can beat them now, let alone when Brady and Moss start beasting.