NFL Power Rankings Week 11 and Week 10 Recap

     The NFL Power Rankings for week 11 and Recap after week 10 of the Season. Week 10 led off with an NFC West showdown between Seattle and Arizona. In a tough and relatively close game, the Seahawks downed the Cardinals. The game was marred by a couple of major issues. The first issue was when Seattle QB was ordered by the Head Referee to go out of the game and get looked at by a doctor for a possible concussion, but QB Russell Wilson walked over to the tent but came right back out and into the game without ever being looked at by the doctor. This was a direct violation of the NFL Concussion Protocol. The Seahawks and Russell Wilson need to be disciplined harshly for not following the Leagues Protocol for Concussions. Also, Richard Sherman, a Pro Bowl DB for the Seahawks was lost for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles and immediately blamed the NFL for playing Thursday games. If Sherman and all the NFL players feel the same way, then make sure in the next CBA to address it but also know that the players get a substantial amount of money towards their salary cap from these Thursday night games. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to forego salary cap money to not play Thursday games during the season.
      In the early Sunday games, we seen some exciting high scoring games and also a couple of real snoozers. The Buccaneers ended a long losing streak when they beat the NY Jets in a battle of two teams that have trouble scoring points. Tampa Bay did just enough in this game to win for the 3rd time this season.  The Chargers and Jaguars battled into OT where Jacksonville needed a late FG to  remain tied for 1st place in the AFC South. In this game, Chargers QB Phillip Rivers, suffered a concussion and is expected to miss this Sunday's game at home against the Buffalo Bills.  In Detroit, the Lions spotted the win less Browns 10 points early on but rallied in the 4th quarter to send Cleveland to their 9th loss of the season.  In Tennessee, the Bengals gave the Titans all they could handle but lost in the final minute. Cincy, lost another close game in what has become a very disappointing season and with the win, Tennessee kept pace with the Jaguars for 1st place in the AFC South Division.  The Steelers coming off their bye week visited the Colts in Indianapolis and trailed most of the game before winning on a late FG to maintain their 3 game lead in the AFC North. Green Bay won their first game under backup QB Brett Hundley, as they marched in Chicago and beat the Bears. Chicago who has relied heavily on their defense all season long, couldn't muster enough offense and in the end lost by a touchdown.
      The game that surprised most was the way the 1st place New Orleans Saints went into Buffalo and ran over the dazed and startled Bills. Buffalo, who hadn't lost at home all season long, ran into a buzz saw and had no answers for the Saints who ran for 6 TD's and almost 300 yards. It was New Orleans 7th straight win and now look like the favorite to face the Eagles for the NFC Championship.
The other wild game seen the Vikings go into Washington and for most of the game dominate the Redskins as the Redskins couldn't stop the Vikings on offense or do much to score on the Vikings defense.  Only a couple of late turnovers by Minnesota allowed the Redskins to somewhat make it a close game at the end.
      In the late game, the LA Rams continued to score at will against any team they face as the Rams steamrolled the Texans. Houston which literally has little offense since QB DeShawn Watson went out with a season ending knee injury were torched for long pass plays and the Rams defense smothered the Texans offense and QB Tom Savage all game long.  It is clearly evident that the Texans have a good enough defense and are talented on the offense side of the ball but lack a QB who can lead them up and down the field and score points. The much anticipated game of the day was a flop as the Atlanta Falcons who got off to a slow start in the game, pummeled the Dallas Cowboys who were playing their first game without star RB, Ezekiel Elliott. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott ran for his life all day and was sacked 6 times by Falcons Adrian Clayborn. The Cowboys are now 3 games behind 1st place Philadelphia in the NFC East.  A week after getting blown out at home and the Giants accused of quitting during the game and anonymous players criticizing and calling out HC Ben McAdoo, New York traveled to San Francisco to play the 49'ers who were still seeking their first win of the season.  Another disastrous game on both sides of the ball for the Giants as the 49'ers finally got off the snide and won their 1st game of the year. After the game, the Owners of the NY Giants went out of their way to let everyone know they fully supported the head coach. No one is sure why they have not fired McAdoo and went after a top coach such as Jon Gruden, who has told all he wants back into coaching a Pro team again. It seems to be a perfect fit.
      The Sunday night game was another laugher as the much anticipated game between New England and Denver ended up being nothing more then a dud! The Patriots moved the ball and scored at will against the Broncos Top 5 defense and Denver's offense sputtered and was virtually non existent as it has been for most of the football season. The Broncos, who won the Super Bowl 2 years ago are now in last place in the AFC West and have very little chance to even make the playoffs as a wild card team. New England on the other hand, is one of a few teams in the AFC that are odds on favorites to win the AFC and Super Bowl LII. On Monday night, we seen another blowout and collapse of 2 more teams heading in totally different directions. Carolina, only a 1/2 game out of first place in the NFC South blew out a Dolphins team that once again had a total collapse. It is obvious that QB Jay Cutler is not the answer for Miami.  Miami is now 3 games out of first place in the AFC East Division and the playoffs look like a million miles away. The Panthers now have a bye week and will be well rested for the last 6 games of the season.
      The Soap Opera that is what the NFL has become was no different this past week as Cowboys Owner, Jerry Jones, threatened to sue the NFL over the 6 game suspension of Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, has hired a top attorney to do so. The other NFL Owners seem to have grown tired of Jerry Jones and his antics are considering to enact a clause in every Owners contract that would force Jones to sell the Cowboys. Jones seems to think He is bigger then the NFL and what He says and does is all that matters. He also is against the new contract for Commissioner Roger Goodell whom He wants fired for the way He has handled some issues as of late. Only time will tell how this all plays out. Another issue that reared its ugly head once again is the issue of concussions and the Concussion Protocol Program that the NFL instituted that was circumvented by the Seahawks. Seattle unfortunately needs to be made an example of this time as they knew what they were doing, especially Russell Wilson who deliberately refused to have the concussion testing done before he would be allowed to return to the game. We all seen Falcons RB, De'Vonte Freeman, go down with his 2nd concussion of the season, he followed Concussion Protocol and will miss a few games if not more due to his most recent concussion. Lastly, Bengals LB, Vontaze Burfict got into it and bumped an NFL official after already receiving a misconduct penalty a few plays earlier and cost his team again with his foolish antics.  He has been suspended for multiple games already in his young career for late hits and dirty play and now he is scrutinized by every NFL Official when He is playing. Whether the Officials now have it out for him or not, He caused this to happen and now must suffer the consequences. All these Black Eyes continue to plaque the NFL, but the NFL is not doing any justice for themselves as they seem to not suspend players for their fights a few weeks ago or Burfict's stupidness and this has other NFL Players and fans shaking their heads and saying are you kidding me? Just one reason why the NFL is losing their fan base!
     Cooper went 10-4 and CupofJoeintheD went 12-2 in week 10 picks. YTD, Cooper is 102-44. We will continue to post His record for each week end and season total.  twitter; @cupofjoeinthed   email; cupofjoeinthed@gmail.com    www.cupofjoeinthed.blogspot.com 

Cooper NFL Analyst with his Week 11 NFL Power Rankings

 

Week 11 NFL Power Standings
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) 2. New England Patriots (7-2) 3. New Orleans Saints (7-2) 4. Minnesota Vikings (7-2) 5. LA Rams (7-2) 6. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) 7. Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) 8. Seattle Seahawks (6-3) 9.  Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) 10. Carolina Panthers (7-3) 11. Atlanta Falcons  (5-4) 12. Dallas Cowboys  (5-4) 13. Detroit Lions (5-4) 14. Tennessee Titans (6-3) 15. Buffalo Bills (5-4) 16. Green Bay Packers (5-4) 17. Washington Redskins (4-5) 18. LA Chargers  (3-6) 19. Baltimore Ravens(4-5) 20. Oakland Raiders (4-5) 21.  Denver Broncos (3-6) 22.  TB Buccaneers (3-6) 23. Houston Texans (3-6) 24. Arizona Cardinals  (4-5) 25.  NY Jets (4-6) 26. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) 27.  Miami Dolphins (4-5) 28. Indianapolis Colts  (3-7)  29.  Chicago Bears  (3-6) 30. San Francisco 49ers(1-9) 31. NY Giants (1-8) 32. Cleveland Browns (0-9)