The SoCalSportsGuys NFL Bye Week

So this week I’m taking a bye week from the usual format of NFL Power Rankings. I’m stepping back and looking at what the season has had to offer. Its been a great eight weeks of NFL action. But what have we learned from this season so far ? 

We know the Falcons are benefiting a great deal from a weak schedule. The Eagles are an up and down team. They are floating around .500 and are no longer trying to salvage their season but their very jobs (Michael Vick and Andy Reid). The Jets quarterback situation would have been a great one had they been playing NCAA teams. Mark Sanchez is fighting to keep his job and Tim Tebow doesn’t even know what position he is playing. Rex Ryan’s weight loss is about the only positive negative of the 2012 Jets. 
We know RG3 is a F#$@ing beast maybe even “Black Jesus”.  Adrain Peterson is not human. Seriously who recovers from a torn ACL and MCL injury like this? Andrew luck is far from a bust but not exactly the Colts savior this season either." Hey Peyton, we're down 24 points at the half work your magic" is the Broncos game plan week after week. Manning has been determined to keep his team from losing.
 If you don’t believe in the sophomore jinx, just ask Cam Newton. He’ll tell you there is something beyond all reasonable logic effecting his 2013 campaign. Oh and if you don’t believe in the Madden curse go ask Calvin Johnson how his season is going - just one touchdown in seven games.

We know Roger Goodell should be fired for almost letting replacement refs taint an NFL season (more important to gamblers such as myself) with bad calls and this bounty scandal that has yet to been put to bed. How many appeals do the Saints players get? Am I the only who thinks he is professional sport’s answer to Vince McMahon? I think the games played every Thursday night (Goodell’s answer to McMahon’s WWE Smackdown!) was a good move gone bad. I like the concept of having football throughout the week but even as a fan (who gambles on just about anything), do we really need to watch Arizona vs St. Louis on prime time? Or Kansas City at San Diego this Thursday? Goodell's feud with Johnathan Vilma and various NFL players (list is to long to go into detail) mirrors that of McMahon's and any of his WWE employees except they have yet to kick his ass during a press conference. Which will be the single greatest thing to happen to the NFL during his term as Commissioner if it happens. I just can’t decide which wrestling group is best to compare the 2013 New Orleans Saints to. Yes I just compared the NFL to WWE and I'm not ashamed for doing so.

Chris Johnson is on my fantasy team and I can’t remember a player that has had me second guessing starting him week after week. His production has been near the bottom and just when I’m about to bench him, boom, he suckers me back in with a performance like the 195 yard and two TD game against Buffalo a few weeks ago. Games like that leave me with more questions than answers and hating Johnson more for having a good game followed by a bad one. I feel like anyone of the following people in this commercial.
The contenders aside from the Falcons (who may not be as good as their record advertises) are definitely the Texans, Giants, 49ers, Bears and Packers. These teams have been exceptional either offensively such as the Packers and Giants or defensively like the 49ers and Bears. The Texans are the one team that is playing well on both sides of the ball. Offensively they are a force with a strong running game by Arian Foster (who leads the league with nine rushing TDs). Defensively the Texans rank second overall in net yardage and eighth in total points allowed. 
So far this season these teams have been getting the job done and have the least amount of weaknesses on their rosters. Then there are the good teams, the teams that can pick up wins but have weaknesses that can easily be exploited. 
Take the New England Patriots - A daunting offense of explosive weapons from the running backs to the tight ends, the Patriots can out gun anyone. Problem is they give up big plays with their weak secondary late in games and find themselves with a not so impressive record. Patriots benefit from playing in a division that includes the Jets, Bills and what I believe to be a decent team the Dolphins. Teams that I consider in this circle are the Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, and Vikings.

The Steelers a team of which I am a fan of, have been inconsistent with all the injuries to running backs, offensive lineman and safety Troy Polamalu. The Steelers have managed to stay above .500. Big Ben is having a great campaign ranking in the top-5 in almost every passing category and has only been sacked 13 times, one of the lowest totals in the league. With the Ravens fighting through their own struggles the AFC North division is up for grabs but not so fast Bengals and Browns fans that doesn’t include your bottom of the barrel franchises. 

The Vikings and Broncos are doing much better than I expected they would. I figured Peyton would have needed time to get things together but he came out shooting. Aside from the usual loss he receives from Tom Brady and the Patriots (somethings just never change) Manning has been looking sharp and is turning Demaryius Thomas into a elite wideout. Peterson has been carrying the Vikings and is currently leading the league in rushing with 775 yards. Minnesota may find themselves in the playoffs if they continue to grind out victories.

Then there are the not so good teams, what I like to call the Pretenders. I really don’t want to dig to deep on all these teams but just to name a few Saints, Dolphins, Seahawks, Cardinals, Cowboys, Eagles, and Redskins. Vick and Reid are under heavy fire after the not so impressive season the Eagles have had. The Saints are battling through games with Drew Brees having a phenomenal season but are still not gonna make the playoffs unless Tebow gets traded there to help balance out the bad karma. 
The Seahawks can play some D but that's about it. Offensively they've been pretty bad, rookie QB Russell Wilson has had some pretty bad games that resulted in wins and some fairly good games that have resulted in losses. The Dolphins are 4-3, surprisingly. But Ryan Tannehill will be sidelined and Matt Moore will be taking over for the time being. After the bold prediction of leading the league in rushing Reggie Bush has had six games of 69 yards or less and has only cracked the 100 yard mark once. 
RG3 is my rookie of the year through eight games. The QB has displayed a phenomenal level of explosiveness and raw talent. He’s done a lot to put his team in position to win, the Redskins defense has not done so. Tony Romo is still the gun slinger that I love to hate. I love it when he displays his level of incompetence with his five interception games and hate it when he’s putting the Cowboys in position to win with a final drive that suckers Dallas into saying Romo is elite and messes it all up with an interception on a throw away pass.

Figuring out the halfway mark MVPs this season has been a tough one. In the AFC Manning and Big Ben are having great seasons with near identical statistics and winning records. Both are playing behind sub par offensive lines and not so great defenses. In the NFC its another toss up between Ryan, Rodgers, and I’m making the case for Brees and Eli Manning to be included in the mix. Brees is doing it all, Manning is getting wins in the clutch. I can’t remember when was the last time there has been so many QBs having such great seasons. Thanks Roger Goodell for tying the secondary’s hands making the NFL a pass-first league and not letting me include a running back or wide receiver in the MVP race.

Its been a great season thus far a lot more football has to be played. Teams will begin to make stronger pushes for playoff spots in the coming weeks. The Falcons might not even lose a game this season. Has anybody looked at their schedule? Currently the Colts are in the last spot for an AFC Playoff berth and if Luck gets the Colts back into the playoffs I’m taking back my RG3 Rookie of the Year award. 
So here’s to another great NFL season.

NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

1) Houston Texans (5-0) Previous Rank 1 - Super Bowl bound? Still too early to tell if this team has what it takes but the Texans by far have been the most impressive team this season. Arian Foster is averaging 106.2 rushing yards per game and Matt Schuab has yet to have a 300 yard passing game largely in part to the fact that the Texans have a well balanced offensive scheme keeping opposing defenses on their toes. Now they didn't humiliate the Jets on Monday Night but they did get the win. Texans now will face Green Bay and Baltimore without star linebacker Brian Cushing who may be suffering from a torn ACL. Houston definitely will face its stiffest competition thus far in the weeks to come and we can finally get a true evaluation of what this team is all about.

2)Atlanta Falcons (5-0) Previous Rank 2 - A lot like the Houston Texans the Atlanta Falcons have yet to face stiff competition but have gotten the job done against lesser opponents. After an exciting matchup with the Redskins this past weekend the Falcons find themselves at 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. Another huge game for Tony Gonzalez 13 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown he is by far Matt Ryan's favorite target. The Raiders come to town this week lets just say if you have any Falcons on your fantasy be sure to start them.

3)San Francisco 49ers (4-1) Previous Rank 4 - The only blemish with the 49ers is they rank 27th in passing yards but who cares when you rank 1st in rushing and have the best defense in the NFL. The 49ers racked up 621 yards a new franchise record ironically enough the last time they broke this record was against the Bills. Alex Smith cracked the 300 yard mark for the first time this season. In doing research I discovered that this was his 3rd career 300 yard game and the only time the 49ers have won when he has reached that mark. The 49ers are a very legitimate contender this season and now have an opportunity to flex their muscle against the New York Giants this week.

4)Baltimore Ravens (4-1) Previous Rank 3 - The Ravens couldn't find the end-zone this past Sunday in Kansas City luckily for them the Chiefs had offensive woes of their own. This should have been a blow out game for the Ravens but it wasn't Jamaal Charles rushed for 140 yards against the aging Baltimore defense. For the first team this season we get a glimpse of what happens when the offense doesn't show up for the Ravens. Nonetheless the Ravens now boast a 4-1 record and find themselves atop the AFC North and will now get a chance to pat their defensive statistics as none other than gun slinger Tony Romo and his Dallas Cowboys come to town.

5)New England Patriots (3-2) Previous Rank 9 - The rushing game of New England is opening things up for Tom Brady. New England ranks 3rd in rushing and as a result ranks 9th in passing. Even without tight end Aaron Hernandez the Patriots offense is looking the best it has in years. As far as defense goes they rank 30th in passing yards allowed at 291.6 yards per game and 8th in rushing yards. Teams definitely can attack New England through the air but cannot out shoot Tom Brady and his arsenal of unlimited weapons. They will now face the stingy Seattle Seahawks defense.

6)New York Giants (3-2) Previous Rank 6 - Ahmad Bradshaw and Victor Cruz each had a great performance against the Cleveland Browns this weekend. Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown. Cruz 5 receptions for only 50 yards but 3 of them for touchdowns. The Giants did everything right as they should have facing a very week Browns team. The Giants now face stiffer competition this week as they face the number one defense of the 49ers.

7)Chicago Bears (4-1) Previous Rank 10 - The Bears defense held the Jaguars to 3 points and only one failed trip to the red-zone. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have connected 19 times for 279 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games. As long as the Bears Defense continues to stop teams and Jay Cutler doesn't cough it up the Bears have a very prosperous season ahead of them. Chicago has a bye week and will face Detroit in week 7.

8)Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) Previous Rank 7 - The Eagles struggled this past Sunday in a loss to a banged up Steelers defense. Michael Vick fumbled the ball 3 times and now has 11 turnovers for the season. With a QBR of 51.7 he's been very careless with the ball but has yet to point the finger at anyone but himself. The offensive line is clearly built for the rush and continue to struggle when Vick is in the pocket. If Philadelphia plans on getting into the playoffs they need to stop turning the ball over.

9)Minnesota Vikings (4-1) Previous Rank 14 - The Vikings keep climbing up these rankings as they keep winning and are doing it very convincingly. They control the running game on both sides of the ball. Christian Ponder threw his first 2 interceptions of the season this past Sunday but other than that the Vikings were in complete control as they beat the Titans 30-7. They now will face the Washington Redskins.

10)Arizona Cardinals (4-1) Previous Rank 3 - It was bound to happen the Cardinals got their first loss at the hands of the St. Louis Rams. Its mind boggling to see a team ranked 25th in passing 31st in rushing offense and still have a 4-1 record. Arizona can improve to 5-1 as they face the Buffalo Bills.

11)Green Bay Packers (2-3) Previous Rank 7 - They lost to an emotional Indianapolis Colts team this week and Green Bay finds themselves below .500 for the 3rd time this season. Green Bay ranks 17th in both defensive categories and have given up 27 points in back to back weeks. They now head to Houston in a crucial game that can put them in a deeper hole if they can't pull out a win.

12)San Diego Chargers (3-2) Previous Rank 11 - San Diego didn't look that bad in their loss to the Saints this weekend. Phillip Rivers passed for 354 yards and a pair of TDs while spreading the ball to 8 different receivers. Sand Diego was in it this past week and if it wasn't for the two turnovers they might have gotten another victory. They face Denver this week in a crucial game that can get them a nice 2 game lead in the AFC west.

13)Denver Broncos (2-3) Previous Rank 12 - Three consecutive 300 yard passing games for Peyton Manning he truly is doing everything he can for the Broncos. Defensively the Broncos struggle when it comes to stopping the run ranking 21st. The Broncos for the most part have been very competitive in all three losses but as said earlier in the season they are relying on Peyton to be the savior and its starting to become a reciepe for disaster.

14)Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) Previous rank 13 - They finally loss to a lesser opponent. The Bengals found themselves in a position to win in the final minutes of the game until Andy Dalton threw an interception to seal a Miami Dolphins victory. Heading into Cleveland this week the Bengals have another shot at beating up on a bad team.

15)Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) Previous Rank 16 - The Steelers got Rashard Mendenhall back this past Sunday and he rushed for 81 yards and a TD. Pittsburgh got a win on a final drive in which Big Ben converted 2 crucial third downs and ate up over 6 minutes off the clock. Big Ben now has 29 game-winning drives under his belt. Pittsburgh will face the struggling Tennessee Titans without Troy Polamalu.

16)New Orleans Saints (1-4) Previous Rank 27 - The Saints finally got a win after the awful first quarter to their season. The bye couldn't come at a better time as they now get a chance to focus on the road ahead. For now the Saints get to enter their bye week with the best passing offense in football but rank nearly dead to last in all other categories offensive and defensively. The Saints clearly have displayed how dangerous and unstoppable they can be offensively. If they come out of the bye week with a more focused defense they can certainly salvage whats left of their season. Many may disagree where I currently rank the Saints but honestly the following 16 teams would have a tough time matching them offensively.

17)Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Previous Rank 17 - Coming off a much needed bye week, Tony Romo gets a chance to redeem himself against the Baltimore Ravens defense. The Cowboys are currently ranked first in passing defense and will certainly need to stop Joe Flacco this week to have a shot at getting above .500.

18)Seattle Seahawks (3-2) Previous Rank 18 - The Seahawks have the stingiest defense in the league giving up only 258.6 yards per game. They picked up another win (this time legit) against the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks can definitely run the ball and have a strong defense but will they be able to stop the high powered Patriots this week?

19)St Louis Rams (3-2) Previous Rank 19 - The Rams are the first team to get a win against the Arizona Cardinals holding them to just a field goal. After losing their best receiver Danny Amendola due to injury, the Rams now have to figure out a way to move the ball through the air as they rank 30th in passing offense. Sam Bradford continued with yet another unimpressive game completing only seven passes on 21 attempts - a 33.3 completion percentage. Bradford's QBR is still at an awful 37.3 and losing Amendola won't help his cause. The Rams head to Miami this Sunday in what seems to be a coin flip of a game.

20)Detroit Lions (1-3) Previous Rank 20 - The Lions are coming off a bye week to face Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Lions lose this week it'll be four straight losses and a lot of ground lost in their division. The Lions' defense is ranked 10th in passing yards allowed and 13th in rushing. Getting to Vick and slowing down his receivers will be key for the Lions to avoid another loss.

21)Miami Dolphins (2-3) Previous Rank 25 - The Dolphins are the best team when it comes to stopping the run allowing only 61.4 yards per game. Reggie Bush currently has 417 rushing yards - ranked 10th - and three touchdowns. Brian Hartline now has 514 receiving yards - ranked first - but only one TD. Miami will host the Rams this week and will need further production from their offense.

22)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) Previous Rank 22 - The Buccaneers host Kansas City this week, they will need a win to avoid digging themselves deeper. Coming off the bye week, Josh Freeman has had time to regroup with his offense and looks for a chance to display improvement.

23)Washington Redskins (2-3) Previous Rank 15 - Robert Griffin III gave his fans a scare this past Sunday when he suffered a concussion. The Redskins are now 0-2 at home and will host the Minnesota Vikings. RG3 listed as questionable for the game.

24)Buffalo Bills (2-3) Previous Rank 21 - The Bills have now given up a total of 176 points to start the season and after a 45-3 loss this weekend to the 49ers, the Bills are looking for answers to fix their defense. Buffalo's defense ranks at the bottom, 24th in passing and 30th in rushing yards allowed per game. In their two victories this season, Ryan Fitzpaterick had QB ratings of over 100 and the Bill's defense held the opposition under 20 points. The Bills travel to Arizona this week needing a victory to get back to .500.

25)New York Jets (2-3) Previous Rank 24 - Mark Sanchez is under scrutiny and rightfully so. With only a QBR of 28.2 a completion percentage of 48.4 to go along with six INTs and three fumbles. Sanchez has shown no signs of progression this season. The Jets have lost two straight at home and now host Andrew Luck and the Colts. In Week-2, I would have said this is a favorable match up for the Jets but now there is no telling which Jets' team will show up.

26)Tennessee Titans (1-4) Previous Rank 26 - Touchdown Titans! That was all the Titans managed to get in their loss to the Vikings this past Sunday. As expected, Chris Johnson did nothing against the Vikings stingy run defense being held to a total of 29 yards from scrimmage. Matt Hasselbeck threw 43 times and only managed to get 200 yards. However, he did spread the ball connecting with 10 different receivers. Hasselbeck and the Titans have a lot of issues to address on offense.

27)Carolina Panthers (1-4) Previous Rank 23 - Three straight losses for Cam Newton and the Panthers. With the bye week coming up Newton will need to regroup and figure out why he has regressed this season. Newton has only four passing touchdowns and five INTs. The running game is also a problem for Carolina as Newton is their rushing leader with 209 yards for the season, making the Panthers one dimensional.

28)Kansas City Chiefs (1-4) Previous Rank 26 - The Chiefs held the Ravens to only nine points this past weekend in their loss. Matt Cassel was injured and Chiefs' fans celebrated him coming out of the game. The cheering is inexcusable but Cassel did have a QBR of 11.9 last week and had 27.5 this week before he came out. Brady Quinn will now have shot at the starting job as Cassel is listed as questionable and has yet to be cleared to practice as he is suffering from a concussion. The Chiefs travel to Tampa Bay this week.

29)Oakland Raiders (1-3) Previous Rank 29 - The Raiders are coming off a bye week heading to face the undefeated Falcons on the road. Oakland can find themselves in a 1-4 hole with a defense ranking 28th against the pass facing Matt Ryan. The Raiders secondary will have their hands full this week.

30)Indianapolis Colts (2-2) Previous Rank 31 - They did it for Chuck Pagano, the Colts upset the Green Bay Packers in what was the headline of the weekend. Andrew Luck threw for 362 yards (the most by any Colts' rookie in a game) and a pair of TDs, including the game winner to wide receiver Reggie Wayne. The Colts head to New York to face the Jets with a lot of emotion and momentum. It should be very interesting game to watch. Prediction - Andrew Luck gives Mark Sanchez and Tebow a lesson on what a Quarterback really is.

31)Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) Previous Rank 30 - Blaine Gabbert now finds himself with a QBR of 38.6 and has only reached 200-yards once this season. Maurice Jones-Drew has 408 rushing yards and only one TD. The Jaguars continue their offensive downfall and get a bye week to sort this mess out. It's not looking too good for the Jaguars this season.

32)Cleveland Browns (0-5) Previous Rank 32 - It's still a work in progress in Cleveland as the Browns are looking for their first win this season. Brandon Weeden starts his campaign at a pitiful 12.6 QBR, five TDs and nine INTs. The Browns receiving corp doesn't have anybody with more than 200 receiving yards. Trent Richardson's 303 rushing yards ranks him 16th among backs. The Browns host the Bengals this Sunday and a win will mark the first time the Browns have beaten an AFC North Opponent since October 3, 2010.

NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

1) Houston Texans (4-0) Previous Rank 1 - The undefeated Texans have made it through another week displaying why they are the best team in football. Their offense is rolling and their defense is holding their own. In a absolute performance of dominance over Tennessee
this past Sunday, the Texans offense showed complete control with a balanced attack. The Texans' defense forced a fumble and two interceptions, returning both of them for touchdowns. They face a struggling Jets team this coming Monday night and are ready to show the world why they are for real this season.

2) Atlanta Falcons (4-0) Previous Rank 2 - They pulled it off this past Sunday, it's another win for the Falcons, regardless of how much the game seemed like a loss. Cam Newton stood on the sideline and watched Matt Ryan complete just three passes to get the Falcons setup for a Matt Bryant 40-yard game winning field goal. Falcons should consider themselves fortunate for beating the struggling Carolina Panthers as they gave up a 24-14 lead. Attlanta face RG3 in Washington this week.

3) Arizona Cardinals (4-0) Previous Rank 3 - Arizona gets another win even though they
gave up 480 total yards. They were able to force four turnovers and come back in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The Cardinals aren't exactly rolling over the competition, my best explanation for the 4-0 start is that they just find a way to win. How long can they can keep this up? Your guess is as good as mine.

4) San Francisco 49ers (3-1) Previous Rank 5 - They completely shutdown the Jets this
past sunday. Embarrassed Mark Sanchez (only a QBR of 2.8) and held the Jets to 45
total rushing yards. Their defense is either that good or the Jets are really that bad.
Alex Smith didn’t need to contribute too much as nine different players combined for a total of 245 rushing yards. At one point it felt as if the 49ers where running all their trick plays in a practice situation. That's how much control they had over the Jets.

5) Baltimore Ravens (3-1) Previous Rank 4 - Joe Flacco now has thrown for over 300 yards in three consecutive games. Baltimore's offense continues to look productive, but their defense continues to show small signs of decline — only one sack this past week — and allowed rookie Brandon Weeden to throw for 320 yards. Im only nit picking Baltimore at this point, overall they look solid and are still a very hard hitting bunch. The Ravens face a demoralized Kansas City Chiefs this week and look to improve their record to 4-1.

6) Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) Previous Rank 7 - This is my benefit of the doubt team — Jose thinks they should be ranked higher, but he is a jackass and this is my Power Rankings. They are 3-1 and have pulled out every victory by a margin of 1.33 points. In any of their games do they seem in control but yet they play as if they are going to win. By far the strangest team to watch this season. The Eagles rank in the top 10 in passing, rushing, and defensive passing yards allowed — And rank 12th in defensive rushing yards allowed. Most impressive is the team's offensive line during rushing plays, they provide plenty of holes for LeSean McCoy to explode around or through. They had zero turnovers this week against the New York Giants, taking good care of the ball and will need to do the same as they head into Pittsburgh this Sunday.

7) Green Bay Packers (2-2) Previous Rank 8 - Aaron Rodgers picks up his first four touchdown game of the season as he and Drew Brees had a shootout this past Sunday. The Packers offensive weapons are clearly there and are beginning to click, facing the Colts this week should help get them above .500.

8) New York Giants (2-2) Previous Rank 6 - The Giants fell short this past Sunday, literally. Missing a 45-yard field goal in the final seconds and Eli Manning threw a red-zone interception to start the 4th qtr. Those two key self inflicting wounds is what cost the Giants the game and some ground to their rival Philadelphia Eagles. They host the Cleveland Browns this week and will need a crucial victory to avoid losing anymore ground in the NFC East.

9) New England Patriots (2-2) Previous Rank 9 - They lit up Buffalo for 52 points, 31 of them in the 4th quarter alone. New England’s offense was sizzling as Tom Brady passed for 340 yards and three TDs. Running backs Brandon Bolden and Stevan Ridley both rushed for over 100 yards and combined for 3 TDs. New England hosts Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos this week as what looks to be a promising shootout.

10) Chicago Bears (3-1) Previous Rank 12 - The Bears are now 3-1 after picking off Romo five times. Chicago has gained some confidence. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall connected for some big plays, 138 yards and a TD for Marshall. Definitely a statement game for the Bears
especially to do it on the road in Dallas. They head to Jacksonville this Sunday to face the struggling Jaguars.

11) San Diego Chargers (3-1) Previous Rank 14 - San Diego’s defense forced six turnovers this week and carried the Chargers to a easy victory this past Sunday. The offense still has yet to prove that it has enough weapons to take control of the AFC West. San Diego now travels
to New Orleans to face a pissed off Saints team that is just looking for a team to trample over. Good luck Phillip Rivers, you're gonna need it.

12) Denver Broncos (2-2) Previous Rank 15 - Peyton Manning’s arm looked great this weekend, he was throwing darts, every pass had plenty of zip on it, and at the expense of the Raiders awful secondary - Manning and the Broncos got the tune up game they needed. Now that they've got some kinks out of the way, Manning and the Broncos head to face Manning's old buddy in New England, you might know him, Tom Brady.

13) Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) Previous Rank 17 - Riding a three game winning streak, the Bengals now look to keep the ball rolling as they host the Dolphins on Sunday. Andy Dalton finishes the first quarter of the season with 1,111 yards, eight TDs, and a QBR of 78.3. Wide Receiver A.J. Green now has 428 yards and three touchdowns. The Bengals couldn't have asked for a better start to their season.

14) Minnesota Vikings (3-1) Previous Rank 23 - Moving up 9 spots this week, the Vikings did enough for me to give them the biggest leap of improvement as they now have a 3-1 record. Minnesota has been stopping the run ranking 7th in rushing yards allowed. One thing that must be pointed out is that Christian Ponder seems to be getting worse as the season progress, yardage and completion percentage has come down significantly from week 1. Adrian Peterson’s contribution will clearly determine how far the Vikings can go.

15) Washington Redskins (2-2) Previous Rank 22 - Unable to defend the big play and unable to hold on to leads, the Redskins finish the first quarter of the season ranked first overall in rushing yards at a impressive 175.5 yards per game. RG3 is exceeding expectations for a Rookie at 1,070 yards and eight total TDs. If his defense can step it up, Washington can be a serious contender in the NFC East. They host Atlanta this week and if RG3 can survive a shootout with Matt Ryan, I will start to believe the RG3 is for real chants.

16) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) Previous Rank 16 - Coming off a much needed bye-week, the Steelers now expect Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and the much needed Rashard Mendenhall’s return. Three aging stars return and the Steelers can only hope that they can contribute enough to get them a win as they host the Philadelphia Eagles.
 *Editor's note - Philly wins by 10*

17) Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Previous Rank 10 - If I could give a #TheStupidSanchez award to Tony Romo I would. What the hell? It's my power rankings. Tony Romo you have earned a #TheStupidSanchez award. Dallas looked terrible on both sides of the ball on Monday night. Giving up big plays to Jay Cutler. Really? It's only Jay Cutler. Romo threw five interceptions, not even Dallas fans could come up with that many excuses for this loss. Enough picking on the Cowboys, I’m sure Jerry Jones is looking into pulling Brett Favre out of retirement to save the Cowboys season.
*Editor's note - #TheStupidSanchez is an award created during our fantasy basketball season. Jose Sanchez, the dumbass of our league, had Pau Gasol on the bench as he recorded a triple-double. That night, we created #TheStupidSanchez award and it has been a staple of our fantasy sports since it's creation.

18) Seattle Seahawks (2-2) Previous Rank 13 - Replacement refs are long gone and now the Seahawks must figure out legitimate ways to earn points - their dead last passing attack isn’t gonna cut it. They travel to Carolina this week and will need to do everything they can to keep Cam Newton and the Panthers out of the end-zone.

19) St. Louis Rams (2-2) Previous Rank 25 - The Rams got a much needed victory over Seattle to get themselves back to .500 and will host the 4-0 Arizona Cardinals. Sam Bradford’s QBR of 37.2 after four games is not very impressive. For now it's a work in progress in St. Louis.

20) Detroit Lions (1-3) Previous Rank 18 - Dropping three straight, the Lions rank first in passing yards but can’t seem to find the end-zone. They are definitely a 20/20 team meaning they play great in between the 20-yard marks. They have the weapons and with the bye week coming up, the Lions will need to look at what's going wrong offensively and come back strong as they will travel to Philadelphia in Week-6.
*Editor's note - Philly is going to tap that ass :)

21) Buffalo Bills (2-2) Previous Rank 19 - Giving up an astonishing 52 points to New England this past Sunday, the BIlls' defense was picked apart and left for dead. Buffalo now travels to San Francisco. The Bills are suffering from injuries and will now face a relentless hard hitting 49ers defense. Buffalo’s defense now ranks 23rd in passing yards allowed and 28th in rushing yards allowed.

22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) Previous Rank 21 - Out of all the 1-3 teams Tampa Bay should be the only ones to hold their heads up high as they have been competitive in every game thus far. They have a bye week coming up before they host Kansas City. Two weeks to prepare for the Chiefs should be plenty. Note Josh Freeman has a QBR of 33.1.

23) Carolina Panthers (1-3) Precious Rank 24 - Even with another loss, I'm moving the Panthers up a spot. Not because they deserve it but because I'm gonna destroy the Jets in this weeks power rankings. Cam Newton has 167 rushing yards and so does DeAngelo Williams. Steve Smith still is the only one producing on a weekly basis. Carolina's defense is awful and unable to stop anybody. The Panthers now find themselves in a bit of a hole. 

24) New York Jets (2-2) Previous Rank 11 - Its official Tebow-Mania is just weeks away and the implosion of the New York Jets will begin. Mark Sanchez in his past three games: 44-of-101 (43.5 percent) for 547 yards passing. QBR(2.8) against the 49ers this past week. The 49ers exposed the Jets for what they are, a team with no offensive weapons and a defense that is beginning to decline. A positive for the Jets - Rex Ryan seems to have lost some weight. 


25) Miami Dolphins (1-3) Previous Rank 27 - Ryan Tannehill coming off a big game of 431 passing yards and one TD. Last week I couldn't name a Dolphins wide receiver but I can now. Brian Hartline had a 12 reception, 253 yard monster game this past week. Aside from the extraordinary statistics this past week the Dolphins still lost. The Dolphins travel to Cincinnati this week looking to bounce back after the tough loss.

26) Tennessee Titans (1-3) Previous Rank 29 - I knew Chris Johnson would do this to me. I knew he was gonna have a good game only to sucker me into starting him again this week. They face a stingy rushing defense in Minnesota this week. The Titans have offensive problems but at least now have Matt Hasselbeck  at QB which could be a bit of an improvement over Jake Locker. 

27) New Orleans Saints (0-4) Previous Rank 28 - Another weird loss for the Saints. It's not looking good for New Orleans' season who are four games back. They will need to come out strong and win four straight just to get back to .500. Drew Brees had his best game this past week but it's still not enough as the Saints defense is giving up huge plays and a ridiculous amount of yardage. 

28) Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)  Previous Rank 26 - Jamaal Charles contributed enough for a win but Matt Cassel threw the game away. Cassel now ranks 32 among all QBs and there is no better option for the Chiefs right now. 

29) Oakland Raiders (1-3) Previous Rank 20 - Peyton Manning ripped them apart, who's next in line to have their way with the weak secondary of Oakland? Oh! It's Matt Ryan and the Falcons. The Raiders get a bye this week and will have to come up with a game plan to put some points up and stop Matt Ryan from lighting them up. Oakland ranks dead last in rushing offense and have one of the worst defenses ranking in the 20's in both passing and rushing categories.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) Previous Rank 30 - Unable to get anything going offensively against Cincinnati this past Sunday, the Jaguars find themselves without any weapons in the passing game. It doesn't get any easier for them as now they face the Chicago Bears.

31) Indianapolis Colts (1-2) Previous Rank 31 - Hopefully the Colts have come up with a way to slow down Mr. "Discount Double Check" Aaron Rodgers and his high powered Packers Offense. Andrew Luck is under a microscope this season. Being highly praised coming in as a rookie doesn't have it's rewards as every pass thrown is analyzed and every loss is easily put on him.

32) Cleveland Browns (0-4) Previous Rank 32 - As predicted another loss for the Browns and now face a the Giants who are coming off a tough loss. It's a long season in Cleveland for sure. Brandon Weeden now has a QBR of 10.1 for the season. No receiver has cracked the 200 yards receiving mark yet. There's always next year, Browns fans. 

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

NFL Power Rankings
1) Houston Texans (3-0) - Undefeated with two very convincing road
victories under their belt, The Texans did exactly what they had to do
during their visits in Denver and Jacksonville. With a strong
running-game from the tandem of Arian Foster and Ben Tate, Houston is
looking every bit the power-house that was expected. Matt Schuab has
thrown five touchdowns - four in his last game against Denver. They
face Tennessee this week following intriguing match ups against the
New York Jets, Green bay, and Baltimore. The next four weeks will
indicate if Houston is for real.

2) Atlanta Falcons (3-0) - Also undefeated, the Falcons are coming off
a 27-3 victory over San Diego. This week Atlanta will face the
struggling Carolina Panthers. Matt Ryan has a QB rating of 91.6 to go
along with eight TDs to start the 2012 campaign. The biggest surprise
so far for Atlanta has been tight end Tony Gonzalez. Tony G. is still
productive, reeling in a TD in each of the first three games. Gonzalez
has been spreading the field for wide receivers Roddy White and Julio
Jones, making Atlanta’s passing game one of the best in the league.

3) Arizona Cardinals (3-0) - The Cardinals are the least convincing of
the undefeated teams, but have been getting it done mostly in part to
their passing defense - ranked 7th overall. Arizona has held opponents
to a impressive 4.7 yards per pass-play. They dodged a bit of a bullet
in Week-2 against New England when the Patriots failed to convert a
game tying two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. The
Cardinals are coming off their most convincing victory over Kevin
Kolb’s former team. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kolb completed 17
of 24 passes including a pair of TDs. Arizona's defense should not
have a problem against Ryan Tannehill (31.9 QB rating) and the Miami
Dolphins this week.

4) Baltimore Ravens (2-1) - Joe Flacco has been rolling and Ray Rice
is doing what he does best. Fot the first time in team history, The
Ravens have an offense that is actually better than it's defense. An
emotional Torrey Smith scored TDs less than 24 hours after the loss of
his brother in a motorcycle accident in Sundays victory over New
England. Baltimore looks to gain a lead as they host division rival,
the Cleveland Browns, in Thursday night's game of the week.

5) San Francisco 49ers (2-1) - Many believe this is the best team in
football, but after being upset by Minnesota, the 49ers have regressed
in my book. Frank Gore has been impressive averaging 5.9 yards per
rush. Michael Crabtree has converted 12 1st-downs, but has failed to
find the end-zone. Vernon Davis has been Alex Smith’s security blanket
catching four of Smith’s five TDs. San Francisco faces a Darrelle
Revis-less New York on Sunday, that should open things up for
Crabtree.

6) New York Giants (2-1) - After losing to Dallas in Week-1, the
defending Super Bowl champs bounced back with a shootout in Tampa Bay
where Eli manning exploded for 510 yards. The New York football Giants
are coming off a another victory, this time shutting down Carolina's
Cam Newton (three interceptions). With Hakeem Nicks questionable for
Sunday’s divisional match-up against Philadelphia (3rd overall passing
defense), Manning and the Giants might have a hard time getting things
done.

7) Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) - Michael Vick has thrown six picks and 3
TDs, but yet his team managed victories over Cleveland and Baltimore.
Against Arizona, Vick didn't have throw a TD or a INT, and the Eagles
failed to find the end-zone. Their upcoming game against New York will
be a good test as to what the 2012 Eagles are about.

8) Green Bay (1-2) - Even though the NFL can’t overturn the clear
interception that has tainted the Packers record, we all know what we
witnessed on Monday Night Football. The Packers don’t seem to be
moving the ball very well, but they still have Aaron Rodgers and a lot
of weapons at his disposal. Their offensive line has not been playing
up to par allowing an astonishing 16 sacks. If adjustments are made,
Green Bay can most definitely return to form. The controversial loss
to Seattle may have been the very thing that will kick start Green
Bay’s season.

9) New England Patriots (1-2) - Barely losing to Baltimore and
Arizona, New England seems to be trying to figure things out. With the
loss of TE Aaron Hernandez due to injury, The Patriots have signed WR
Deion Branch and TE Kellen Winslow. Not the power house they once were
but still a very competitive group looking for another ticket to the
playoffs.

10) Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - Tony Romo and the Cowboys came out shooting
Week-1, hit a brick wall in Seattle, and looked a bit sluggish against
Tampa Bay. But I will give Dallas the benefit of the doubt and let
them play the "Replacement Refs Had Their Hand in the This" card - 13
penalties for 105 yards. The penalties may have been the reason the
cowboys failed to produce on offense. Whether or not, the Cowboys
season will based on how the O-Line holds up and if Romo can avoid
turning the ball over.

11) New York Jets (2-1) - After three weeks, Mark Sanchez has
prevented divine intervention by keeping Tim Tebow on the bench, aside
from wild-cat formations. The loss of Darrelle Revis will definitely
affect their ability to prevent the deep-threat. Sanchez will now need
contribute more production in upcoming games against San Francisco and
Houston in the coming weeks.

12) Chicago Bears (2-1) - Jay Cutler has thrown a pick in each game
this season, including four against Green Bay in Week-2. Chicago’s
neither a defensive or offensive team, having problems on both sides
of the ball. Their biggest flaw might be the offensive line which has
allowed 11 sacks and has not been there long enough to let Jay Cutler
and his receivers to get anything done.

13) Seattle Seahawks (2-1) - Receiving a present from the replacement
refs aside, the Seahawks sit at 2-1. Mostly due to the fact that they
have managed to keep teams out of the end-zone. Seattle has allowed
the least amount of points thus far and are shutting down opposing
team's run-game. The Seahawks are dead last in passing-offense at
127.7 yards per game , but they have managed to beat Green Bay and
Dallas, and now go on the road to face St. Louis and Carolina.

14) San DIego Chargers (2-1) - San Diego dominated Oakland and
Tennessee, but come on, it's only the Raiders and Titans. Atlanta came
to San Diego and held them to just a field goal. The Chargers look to
rebound this Sunday as they head to Kansas City.

15) Denver Broncos (1-2) - After the coming out party in Week-1 for
Peyton Manning against Pittsburgh, the "Peyton Manning is Going to
Bail us Out" Kool-aid has become the beverage of choice in Denver.
Manning has been better than expected, but he is not the Manning of
old. The Broncos will need that Manning if they are going to have a
chance of winning their division.

16) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) - The Steel Curtain is far from being
your Father's Steel Curtain. The Steelers  gave up 31 points to Denver
in Week-1 and 34 to Oakland this past Sunday. The Steelers are
suffering from injuries - Troy Polumalu and James Harrison out of the
lineup definitely opens things up for opposing offenses. The tandem of
Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace has been very productive, Big Ben has
taken nine sacks but has thrown eight TDs and only one INT.

17) Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) - After Baltimore had their way with them
in Week-1, the Bengals have won two straight, doing so scoring over 30
points both times. The onslaught stems from getting nice production
from "The Law Firm" BenJarvus Green-Ellis and having four receivers
with over 100 yards. "The Red Rifle" Andy Dalton and the Bengals have
found themselves tied for 1st in the AFC North to start the 2012
season.

18) Detroit Lions (1-2) - Detroit has the most efficient passing game
in the league at 334 passing yards per game. Calvin Johnson has over
300 yards on the season, but has only one TD. The Lions can put up
points but find themselves giving up just as many. Their defense isn't
the force it was last season, and will probably have Matt Stafford out
at least a game due to injury. Shaun Hill will have to step up big if
the Lions look to stay relevant in their division.

19) Buffalo Bills (2-1) - Fred Jackson has been out since Week-1 with
a sprained right knee, C.J. Spiller promptly put the Bills on his
back. Enter Week-4, he too is suffering from a shoulder injury,
possibly leaving Buffalo without a strong running game for the weeks
to come. Spiller is listed as doubtful and Jackson questionable. Ryan
Fitzpatrick and third-string RB Tashard Choice will need to step it up
in order to keep their winning streak alive. The Bills faces new
England looking to rebound after consecutive tough-losses.

20) Oakland Raiders (1-2) - Oakland’s offense came to life this past
Sunday against a banged up Steeler’s defense. Darrius Heyward-Bey
suffered a vicious helmet to helmet hit that landed him in the
hospital and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s matchup against
Denver. Carson Palmer proved that he can connect with his other
receivers and is starting to look more comfortable in the pocket. The
Raiders will face a tougher defense task, and will give indication as
how far they have come since trading for Palmer last season.

21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2) - Tampa Bay's defense  is ranked first
against the run, but ranking dead last in passing yards, allowing
353.3 yards per game. Their offense isn’t impressive at all ranking
30th in passing yards and 21st in rushing. This teams lacks weapons
and lacks defensive play making ability. The lone bright spot has been
rookie RB Doug Martin taking over the backfield after demonstrating
the skill-set we saw in his years at Boise State.

22) Washington Redskins (1-2) -  Robert Griffin III has a QB rating of
69.3, 209 rushing yards, and seven total touchdowns. Washington leads
the league in points scored but the defense hasn’t been able to hold
leads. If Washington's D could put together some stops late in the
game, the Redskins could see themselves in contention for a Wild-Card
spot if not the Division.

23) Minnesota Vikings (2-1) - Coming off a very impressive win over
San Francisco, the Vikings have a favorable schedule for the next
seven games before their Week-11 Bye. Christian Ponder has yet to
throw a pick this season and Adrian Peterson has proved all doubters
wrong.

24) Carolina Panthers (1-2) - Cam Newton has yet to show any
progression this season. Steve Smith is still proving that he is a
premier receiver in the league with six receptions of 20 yards or more
and 11 1st-down conversions. Carolina is a pass first team and the
lack of balance could be holding them back.

25) St. Louis Rams (1-2) - The magic number was six this past Sunday.
Six points and six sacks. Sam Bradford was hurried too often and was
unable to get anything going. Their offense ranks 27th in passing and
20th in rushing. Upcoming games at home against Seattle and Arizona
can give St. Louis some opportunities to figure things out with their
offensive line.

26) Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) Jamaal Charles is coming off a monster
game and has propelled the Chiefs to the Number 1 ranked rushing
offense in the league. Matt Cassel hasn’t been great with a QB rating
59.3 and four picks to go with three TDs.

27) Miami Dolphins (1-2) - Reggie Bush looks to be starting off his
season on the right foot. Ryan Tannehill has one TD, four INTs, and an
awful QB rating of 31.9. With a receiving corp made of Brian Hartline,
Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano, you can’t put all the blame on the
rookie QB. it's going to be a long season for the Dolphins, maybe they
can focus on getting a rushing title.

28) New Orleans Saints (0-3) - I feel like their record could be 3-0,
but it's not. New Orleans is suffering with out head coach Sean
Payton. Losing to Kansas City in OT and were unable to comeback
against Washington and Carolina. The Saints could be a few adjustments
away to getting back on track but who is going to make the necessary
adjustments? They face the Green Bay Packers this week, both teams
need a big win under their belt after disappointing starts to their
respective seasons.

29) Tennessee Titans (1-2) - Chris Johnson is on my fantasy teams,
feel my pain. Seriously, watching the Titans offense unable to do
anything is nauseating. They are last in rushing yards at 39 yards per
game, mostly in part that they don’t run with only 45 total attempts -
33 from Johnson. Tennessee has problems and being a one dimensional
offense isn’t helping their cause.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) They beat Indianapolis, got crushed by
Houston, and lost in OT to Minnesota. Blaine Gabbert’s QB rating of
42.3 finds himself in a similar situation as Miami’s Tannehill, no
receivers. BUT, at least he has MJD to help carry some of the burden.

31) Indianapolis Colts (1-2) - Andrew Luck isn’t exactly going to save
the Colts all in one shot. The rookie has plenty to learn but is
working through it. Luck is second in total QBR at 82.0 just ahead of
Ben Roethlisberger and behind Matt Ryan, but ranks 26th in actual
passer rating. So the glass can be considered half full or half empty
when it comes to Luck and his rookie campaign thus far. The Colts will
go only as far as Luck can take them. (No pun intended)

32) Cleveland Browns (0-3) - Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Buffalo to
start the season. Now Baltimore, the New York Giants, and Cincinnati
the next three weeks. 0-6 could be in the Browns' future. Brandon
Weeden isn’t exactly going light up the score board and Trent
Richardson isn’t going to put the Browns on his back and take them
anywhere, anytime soon. Scouting for their first overall pick next
year should be the main thing to focus on now for Cleveland.

-Daniel 
-Jose 

Jose's First Volleyball Game

Fun is Key for Apple Valley

The Apple Valley volleyball team is using the banner hanging in their gym as motivation to add a league championship to the school’s volleyball banner. The school hasn’t accomplished that feat since 1996. 

The Sun Devils beat Serrano 3-1 in a Mojave River League match. The Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead after winning the first set 25-20. Apple Valley didn’t have answer for Serrano’s Savannah Ekis. Ekis led the team with seven kills, Annie Smolenski added three in the first set. 

A bit of controversy in the second set tied the score at 24-24, when a point was awarded to Serrano (3-1) after the Sun Devils’ Morgan Lyneis was ruled a late substitution. Apple Valley took the lead after a kill from Lyneis. Lauren Coffee won the set after scoring an ace to even the match 1-1.

The Sun Devils (4-0 MRL) rode the momentum with a 25-23 third-set win capped with a kill from Courtney Klein.  

Apple Valley didn’t let up in the fourth and final set after taking a 4-3 lead. Klein managed four straight aces to put the Sun Devils up 15-8, sending the home crowd wild.  

After a game winning spike from Sydni Ulibarri, the Sun Devils celebrated at center court. The team and their coach Casie Brooks did something not many teams do with their coach — they were having fun, while still keeping the competitive edge. The team gathered up and did a special dance inspired by the Green Bay Packers.

“I watch football, and everyone knows Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Discount Double-Check’. And they know (B.J.) Raji State Farm (commercial)” said Brooks. “We’ve been having problems with our energy, and just having fun, and them getting serious with working out. So I kind of wanted to make it fun for the girls and I brought in the ‘Discount Double-Check’ and the Raji dance. I told them they better do it tonight. It brought some fun and we’re going to keep doing it.”

The Sun Devils had fun playing, and their hard work paid off. Ulibarri and Lyneis ended the match with double digit kills, Ulibarri with 14 and Lyneis with 11 — Klein ended with nine kills, one block, and and five aces.

Serrano’s Elers ended her night with 14 kills, Nohelly Brown led the D-Backs with 19 kills in a game where the team commited 19 errors — four more than Apple Valley.

The win was huge for the Sun Devils in their quest for the league championship. It was the first victory for Apple Valley over the Diamondback in the last six contests. 

“To have that win makes all the work that we’ve put in all these years, the late-night practices, working at home practicing, all come together,” Klein said. “It feels so good to have that win.”

“It was all mental in our head, and we wanted this. We wanted the game, we all knew we wanted it and came together as a team.”

Serrano looks to rebound when the travel to face Sultana on Thursday. Apple Valley hosts Hesperia on Thursday in the hopes to keep the quest for the league championship alive.