Nearly every Power ranking has the Patriots at #6  right now. The teams ahead of us are: Colts, Saints, Vikings, Broncos, Giants (some have the Colts at #1, some have the Saints there). Anyone have any issues with this? Are we overrated? Underrated? How about the other teams?

Sports Illustrated

ESPN

Fox Sports

The SI ranking mentions that it seems as though we can already pencil in 3 of the 4 AFC division champs (Pats, Colts, Broncos), but I'm not so sure about that. We still have our toughest part of the schedule coming up. The Dolphins are looking like a different team than they were in the first 3 weeks, and who knows if the jest will get their stuff together. Either way, we have 2 games against the 'phins, one against the jest, the colts and the saints...all in our first 5 weeks back from the bye! I think it could be a tough road until week 13. Luckily, with the titans, the bucs and then a bye, we'll get plenty of rest.

I'm pretty sure the Jets will be 8-8 and no better. Ryan went on a rant this week about not standing for penalties - threatened releasing a few players even. This is the backlash of his approach, players get so keyed up that when things go wrong they lose composure (because they're the best, things should go their way, right?) and commit penalties. Yelling and shouting more, and making threats, won't cure the underlying problem. So expect the Jets to lose a bunch of games "because of the refs."

The two games against the Phish are pretty important as they're still a lurking threat. Now, *if* BB can get this secondary in shape, and *if* he can get consistent pressure on the rookie QB, then the Pats win the turn-over battle and probably win both games.

I figure the Pats need at least 10 wins to take the division, 11 to be safe.

The rankings are a littel high for the Pats I think.  With the injuries(Moss, Warren, Edelman, Light) and question marks (AD, Vollmer, is Moss ok? etc.) depth becomes the issue as teh season progresses.

So far the replacements have done well, Moss sat out a series or 2 during the 4th quarter of the London game even though TB was still in.  Even if he isn't "injured" can he play at 100%.

The next 5 Games will determine the Pats place in the Division.  Dolphins, Colts, Jets, Saints, Dolphins again.  If the Pats lose the Jets game they will probably lose the division on tie breakers. 

The Pats need to sweep the 'Phish and beat the Jets in the next 5 games.  The Colts and Saints are tough games and to steal 1 would be a bonus.  Then we still have the Bills game in the division and though they should be mathematically eliminated they always play the Pats hard.

The Pats rankings are inflated due to two blowouts against 0-and-everything teams. From a talent perspective, we're probably #6 or so - maybe higher with everyone healthy. But this team really isn't playing all that well yet. The Tampa game was the first time I've seen any kind of meaningful in-game adjustments and a wider range of offensive plays.

#6 is about right.  There just aren't that many good teams in the NFL this year.  All the undefeated teams clearly should be ahead.  One team I find grossly overrated is Minnesota.  1/2 of their schedule has been against winless or 1-loss teams.  They are a decent team, but would be a 9-10 win team if they actually played some good teams.

Dolphins twice, Jets, Colts, Saints, I have the Patriots losing 3 out of that five. The Patriots will not sweep the Fins. Will lose to the Colts and Saints and Dolphins.  The Patriots have to beat the Dolphins after the bye. The Dolphins are as someone said earlier playing much better ball now than at the beginning of the year. The Patriots HAVE to beat the Jets when they play again.

The 6th ranking well I'm not sure I would put them above Pittsburgh yet.

I am a little more optimistic. I feel like this team is begining to come together on both sides of the ball and should continue to improve toward the post season. I think that the Pats will beat either the Colts or the Saints. It wouldn't suprise me to see them split with the Fins but I can also see us sweeping them. Also, don't sleep on the Pats going on a run. They could come back after the bye and win out. We've seen them do it before. When this team is playing at it's best they will beat anybody.

I was glad to see the Broncos use the "Wild Horses" formation against the Pats a few weeks back.  It hurt but not as badly as it could've and it gives the Pats experience this season against that unorthodox style of play.

Of course it is much different with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams running than Knowshon Moreno.  I think the Pats will go 3-2 through that 5 game stretch...either they will steal one of the Colts/Saints games or they will complete the sweep of the Fins.  If they don't they are 7-5 with 4 lesser teams to play.  As long as they don't 1-4 or 0-5 that series of games they should be fine.

Losing to the Jets or being swept by the Fins would be a nightmare unless they win every other game left in the season.

The losses to the Jets and Broncos was as much coaching and ingame adjustments as it was play on the field.  The Pats shouldacoulda won both if not for the coin toss which is simple not a good solution to a tie game after 60 mins.

To change it I can see they might have to play with ref and player unions to pay for more time etc.

Looks like this week, the sites vary a bit with respect to where the Pats belong.

Despite a win against Miami and the Broncos falling out of the top 5, the Pats somehow dropped from #5 to #6 in ESPNs power rankings. Fox Sports has the Pats dropping from #5 to #7, still ranking the Bengals, Steelers, and Broncos ahead of us.

CBS Sports showed a bit more confidence in the Pats putting them at #4 in the league.

Not that it matters a whole lot, but I feel like we got slighted a bit this week by ESPN and Fox. The Dolphins are definitely a better team than their record shows, and us getting the win over them shouldn't drop our ranking.

For what it's worth...

My top 10:

1) Saints

2) Colts

3) Vikings

4) Pats

5) Bengals

6) Steelers

7) Broncos

8) Falcons

9) Cowboys

10) Eagles

dcgioia wrote:

Looks like this week, the sites vary a bit with respect to where the Pats belong.

 

Despite a win against Miami and the Broncos falling out of the top 5, the Pats somehow dropped from #5 to #6 in ESPNs power rankings. Fox Sports has the Pats dropping from #5 to #7, still ranking the Bengals, Steelers, and Broncos ahead of us.

 

CBS Sports showed a bit more confidence in the Pats putting them at #4 in the league.

 

Not that it matters a whole lot, but I feel like we got slighted a bit this week by ESPN and Fox. The Dolphins are definitely a better team than their record shows, and us getting the win over them shouldn't drop our ranking.

 

For what it's worth...

 

My top 10:

1) Saints

2) Colts

3) Vikings

4) Pats

5) Bengals

6) Steelers

7) Broncos

8) Falcons

9) Cowboys

10) Eagles

Saints will start losing games now.. you watch..

For me its

1. Colts

2. Patriots

3. Vikings/Bengals tie

Let 'em keep underestimating the Pats.

myvikeswin wrote:

 

dcgioia wrote:

Looks like this week, the sites vary a bit with respect to where the Pats belong.

 

Despite a win against Miami and the Broncos falling out of the top 5, the Pats somehow dropped from #5 to #6 in ESPNs power rankings. Fox Sports has the Pats dropping from #5 to #7, still ranking the Bengals, Steelers, and Broncos ahead of us.

 

CBS Sports showed a bit more confidence in the Pats putting them at #4 in the league.

 

Not that it matters a whole lot, but I feel like we got slighted a bit this week by ESPN and Fox. The Dolphins are definitely a better team than their record shows, and us getting the win over them shouldn't drop our ranking.

 

For what it's worth...

 

My top 10:

1) Saints

2) Colts

3) Vikings

4) Pats

5) Bengals

6) Steelers

7) Broncos

8) Falcons

9) Cowboys

10) Eagles

Saints will start losing games now.. you watch..

 

For me its

1. Colts

2. Patriots

3. Vikings/Bengals tie

I don't know if I agree 100%, but I think that the Pats are right at the top. The reason I put the Saints and Colts at 1 & 2 is because they're undefeated, so until we prove otherwise, they're stil #1 and #2. But I do agree that both are over-rated.

Week 11 Power Rankings:

ESPN

FOX

CBS

Looks like everyone agrees this week, Pats are #5

1) Saints/Colts

3) Vikings

4) Bengals

5) Patriots

Don't know about any of you, but I've gotta say that after watching the Pats dismantle the cults in indy on sunday, we're better than #5. Had the refs made the right call, I think we would be #2 in all the power rankings. Oh well, we've got the jest at Gillette this week, that's a surefire way to boost our ranking!!!

Here we are in week 12 already...wow.

ESPN

CBS

FOX

If you don't want to take the time to click on the links, all of them have us rated #4 after this week. All three have the Colts, Saints, and Vikings ahead of us. If we can find a way to beat the Saints, we could catapult ourselves to the #2 spot in the power rankings (and more importantly, make a case for us being #2 in the AFC!). Not looking bad, but this week is going to be a true test. Honestly, I think we win this one in stunning fashion. We match up incredibly against the Saints, and if our D can force some turnovers, this game could be over quickly. GO PATS! Let's keep climbing!

And at the other end of the universe, Mangina's influence has the Browns solidly at #32. Which would be awesome if there were 100 teams.

No seashore in Cleverland but with Mangina there it could still smell fishy.  Talk about a city that needs a douch.

Week 13 is upon us, and yes...that game last night hurt our rankings a bit.

ESPN

CBS

FOX

ESPN and FOX have us at 6, CBS at 7. The Saints have taken over at #1...and after last night, I gotta say it's deservedly so. The cults, vikings, bengals, and chargers have moved ahead of us in all of them, and CBS moved the Cowboys to #4 (so yeah...they're smoking something over there).

I know we got destroyed last night, but I don't think that there are many teams out there that can consistently beat us. I'd say that we are still one of the top 3 teams, but I understand that the power rankings can't say that with all the losses that we've had.

Fact of the matter is that we've lost 4 games, and each one that we've lost has come in an away game against an undefeated team. While the Vikings look good, I'd give us the nod over them (Their schedule so far: DET and GB twice, CLE, SF, STL, BAL, SEA, CHI, and lost one to PIT. Their opponents combined record is 45-76 as opposed to the Pats opponents record 66-55), and to say that we couldn't beat the Chargers is plain idiocy. The Bengals have pulled out a ton of really close games, and I don't think they could handle our offense. We probably should have beaten the cults. As for the saints...well, we didn't really have any business even taking the field last night.

Still a lot of season to go, and we've got a pretty easy schedule from here on out (MIA, CAR, BUF, JAX, HOU). We can do quite a bit of climbing, but in order to get to that coveted 1st round bye, we'll need some help. Here's to a dolphins whooping!

Another fact is that the Pats have yet to win a real road game and that has to factor into things.