NFL Power Rankings

Dr. Giganto

Manning, for sure...but I'm not gonna shit on Vick just because I think Manning is better

DMW

Yeah, that.

pp2

Ok, random QB stats...without looking them up, see if you can pick out which stat line belongs to Vick:

(EDIT to clarify: these are all real career stat lines of 4 NFL QBs.)


QB1: RTG:75.2 COMP:610 ATT:1046 %:58.3 YDS: 6387 YDS/GM:163.8 YDS/ATT:6.1 TD:36 INT:31

QB2: RTG:75.2 COMP:578 ATT:1081 %:53.5 YDS:7342 YDS/GM:149.8 YDS/ATT:6.8 TD:41 INT:32

QB3: RTG:75.0 COMP:492 ATT:839 %:58.6 YDS:4756 YDS/GM:153.4 YDS/ATT:5.7 TD:31 INT:24

QB4: RTG:73.4 COMP:415 ATT:738 %:56.2 YDS:4566 YDS/GM:134.3 YDS/ATT:6.2 TD:27 INT:24

Answers later.

Freak

PP2, I think the point DMW is trying to make is that, regardless of statistics or QB statistics or passing efficiency, the Falcons win games with Michael Vick. And that's undeniable. They win divisions with Vick and they somehow get beat when he's not playing.

Matt Schaub came in a few weeks ago and looked dynamite, but they lost. Last week I couldn't believe how bad Vick looked as a passer, and he's looked just as bad before, but somehow he gets them down the field and they win.

And that's all that counts.

Mr. Kennedy

The Bills are ranked below New Orleans? That's ok, I know they will finish higher up than the Saints. Besides, I think they have done better than many thought they would with Losman.

Visit and shop for video games at my Amazon-based store, also get discounted HD DVDs while they last.

Freak

I don't think I'm sold on the Broncos just yet. The last three years they've had nearly identical hot starts, but have never ended the season with more than 10 wins. The other week they collapsed against the Giants, and this week blew a lead against the Eagles; they have to prove to me that they aren't just going to fold it in again this year.

I was impressed with Buffalo last night, but they a big-play guy like Lee Evans to stretch the field every now and then to be a real offense.

Brett Favre will be back next year; there's no way he goes out like this.

pp2

I get the idea of what he's saying as far as that goes. I don't think its because of Vick that they're winning though. Aside from the couple non-QB plays he makes (like long runs), he's still an average QB. And if memory serves, several of those plays didn't matter as the Falcons still lost.

Here's my angle: first, Vick is shoved down our throats by the media as a great QB. He isn't. Second, if Vick actually learned to play QB how much more success would Atlanta have?

Check those stat lines I posted awhile back. QB1 is Jim Miller. QB2 is Vick. QB3 is Shane Matthews. QB4 is Shaun King. The Bears went 13-3 with Jim Miller at QB and most people considered him to be a below-average QB at best, yet his career passer stats are pretty much identical to Vick's. In fact, the other 3 QB lines are pretty much identical to Vick's yet I don't think anyone would be falling over themselves to have Miller, Matthews, or King running their offenses.

Point: if Atlanta had a good quarterback to center everything else they have, they'd be in the upper echelon of NFL teams. With Vick helming them they're a crapshoot week in and week out.

DMW

None of those other QBs can break a 90 yd run at any given moment. It's the treat of what Vick can do that separates him from other QBs. As a defensive coordinator, you have to divert resources to defend against Vick as a runner, which can open up things for the running backs. For example, you better be sure you have at least one person to cover Vick's bootleg after a handoff in case it was a fake. The threat of a Jim Miller bootleg doesn't exactly cause opponents to lose sleep at night.

Trust me, you don't need to remind me of his underwhelming stats as I had Vick on my fantasy team last year and he was useless.

Dr. Giganto

Week 9

1. Indianapolis Colts: Finally got the monkey off their back, winning in Foxboro for the first time in Peyton's career. Road to 16-0 will be tough, however, with games against the Steelers, Chargers, Cincinatti, Jacksonville, and Seattle still on the schedule.

2. Denver Broncos: It wouldn't be fair to drop them down after their bye week, would it?

3. Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben has been good, but a win over the Packers proves they can without him (and without Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker)

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Making the most of a soft schedule, they go into their bye week with the second-highest winning percentage in the NFL.

5. Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith could make a serious case for MVP. He won't get it, but if he keeps it up, he'll be in consideration. This a solid all-around team, which looks like the best the NFC has to offer.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Vick puts together a good game against a solid defense, and the team pulls off a victory against a feisty Miami team

7. New York Giants: The defense, which struggled early in the year, hasn't allowed a touchdown in two weeks. The offesne keeps trucking along, putting up big points.

8. Kansas City Chiefs: GREAT call by Vermeil on that 1st and goal play with 5 seconds left. If Oakland wins the coin flip, there's no way the mediocre KC defense stops them. So, which option do you like better: Letting your great offensive line clear a path for Larry Johnson to pick up one yard, or the 50-50 chance of winning the OT coin flip? Not many coaches would have the testicular fortitude to make the call Vermeil made.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Seriously...Shaun Alexander is good. with darrell Jackson out, Alexander has really picked up the slack.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Again, no reason to drop them after a bye. In fact, they move up a notch.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars: A scrappy bunch, with few big names on the roster, but they get the job done. They'll have to hope for the wild card, though, since they will not catch Indy. They'll have to put up a better showing in upcoming weeks than they did in squeeking by the 1-7 Texans at home.

12. San Diego Cahrgers: A winning record in spite of an inept coach. Marty Schottenheimer has no idea how to put other teams away. Got lucky to beat a battered Jets team, and it took a bad no-call by the refs and a lucky swat of the ball on 4th down by Quentin Jammer (who wasn't even looking at the ball) to pull off the victory.

13. New England Patriots: Before people start panicking (and I know people who have started already), the Patriots 4 losses have come @ Carolina, vs. San Diego, @ Denver (the biggest home field advantage in NFL history...look it up), and vs. undefeated Indianapolis. And the Patriots are still in first place. All they need to do is get healthy and pick up some momentum before the playoffs start.

14. Washington Redskins: After being on each end of a blowout in back-to-back weeks, the Skins played a close one and pulled off a victory over a shook-up Eagles squad. They'll probably fight with the Giants and Cowboys for the NFC East crown this year.

15. Chicago Bears: Ladies and gentlemen, yoooooooour NFC North leaders. They've got a two-game lead, and I doubt the Lions, Vikings, or Packers have what it takes to dethrone them this year. Pencil them in for the playoffs.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: a quick fall from grace after the 5-1 start. With Cadillac Williams banged up, and an inexperienced (but well-pedigreed) QB in Chris Simms, I expect Tamps to struggle throught the rest of the season.

17. St. Louis Rams: They'll be getting their passing game back soon, as Bulger, Holt, and Bruce have had the bye week to rest up. Let's hope they didn't forget how well Steven Jackson ran in their absence.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: Honestly, what can I say about this team that hasn't been said already. With no discernible running game, no decent recievers, and a QB who is VERY injured, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect this team to finish 6-10.

19. Oakland Raiders: They really should have won that game at Arrowhead. Division losses like that sting. But, then again, when Randy Moss only catches one ball, maybe you don't deserve to win.

20. Miami Dolphins: Ricky scores! But, they couldn't pull off the upset against Atlanta. Note to Nick Saban: DRAFT A QB!!!!

21. Buffalo Bills: They still have a ton of talent. they just need to put it all together, and hope Holcomb can run the offense efficiently

22. Cleveland Browns: Reuben Droughns has been a bright spot on this mostly mediocre team. Much needed win this week against a mediocre division rival in Tennessee.

23. New Orleans/Baton Rouge/San Antonio: After everything they've been through, they still have to deal with their scumbag owner trying to move the team. Some people really just don;t deserve the money they are more often than not born into.



24. Minnesota Vikings: Um...they're not very good. But, they won this week, so I'm kinda forced to vault them ahead of the Lions. Think they miss Randy Moss?

25. Detroit Lions: Lost to a mediocre division opponent led by a back-up QB in his late-30's. Things are not good in the Motor City. Hey, at least they have the red Wings.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Anthony Wright is like Michael Vick, but without the talent.

27. Tennessee Titans: Ummm.....I really have nothing to say about them. Let's move on.

28. New York Jets: Sometimes, it's just not your year. 4 tries from the 3 yard line with the game on the line, and theycouldn't get in. Also, if Brooks Bollinger plays well, as he did in the second half of Sunday's game, expect a lot of second-guessing regarding Vinny Testaverde as a starter.

29. Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner: Not a good QB. Can't wait to hear who his wife blames for this year's struggles

30. San Francisco 49ers: You know, they're really not that bad on defense. Julian Peterson is a monster. But the offense is terrible at best. Well, except Brandon Lloyd. did anyone see that catch he made that was called back by holding. If you have to ask "Which catch?", then you didn't see it. Wow. Their offensive line is TERRIBLE, by the way.

31. Green Bay Packers: After injuries to Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, and Tony Fisher, the Sam Gado era has offically begun. Let's hope the Aaron Rodgers era begins fairly soon.

32. Houston Texans: Sigh...such offensive talent (Carr, Domanick Davis, Andre Johnson) wasted because of an atrocious offensive line, and a defense that couldn't come up with a big stop when they needed to against the Jags

DMW

No kidding. That was ridiculous.