NFL Power Rankings Week 12 and Week 11 Recap

     Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.......The NFL Power Rankings for week 12 and Recap after week 11 of the Season. Week 11 led off with an AFC showdown between 2 first place teams in the Tennessee Titans visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a close game thru the early part of the 3rd quarter before the Steelers busted it wide open and buried the Titans. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger always plays better at home and even after he blasted the NFL for playing these Thursday night games, he continued his winning ways at home.  In other NFL news, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones still is mouthing off over his displeasure with Commissioner Roger Goodell even as other Owners have told him to stifle it. Jones wants Goodell gone as he seems to forget just how much money Goodell has made Jones and the other NFL Owners over the years. It looks like a 5 year extension for Goodell will be done in mid December that could pay him over $200 over the 5 year contract. The Seattle Seahawks tried to justify that QB Russell Wilson had a jaw injury and not a concussion in a game last week and yet they let no doctor examine him as he left the field to determine the injury at that point in time. More players received concussions in last weeks games as this trend continues even as the NFL seems to be trying to doing everything possible to stop the concussions from happening.
      In the early Sunday games, we seen some exciting high scoring games and also a couple of real snoozers. The much anticipated game of the game was the Minnesota Vikings hosting the LA Rams. The game was a defensive struggle for 3 quarters before the Vikings exploded for 17 points in the 4th quarter and won the game going away.  The Vikings have now won 6 games in a row heading into their Thanksgiving Day battle with the Lions in Detroit.  In Green Bay, the visiting Ravens shutout the home town Packers as Green Bay lost their 4th game in their last 5 tries.  A defensive battle was brewing in Cleveland as the Browns looked for their first win of the season but the Jacksonville Jaguars rose to the occasion and defeated the win less Browns.  The Lions went into Chicago and escaped with the win as the Bears blew a chance to tie the game at the end but a wide right FG cost them a chance for a victory and also cost Kicker Connor Barth his job as he was let go on Monday. 
      The game that surprised most was the way the 1st place Kansas City Chiefs went into NY and lost to the Giants. In a game of only FG's, the Chiefs couldn't muster any offense and lost in OT as the Giants won only their 2nd game of the season. The Texans won a battle of backup QB's as they beat the Arizona Cardinals. In what should of been a defensive struggle, the game seen lots of offense.  In a battle of  Florida teams, the Tampa Buccaneers traveled to Miami and downed the Dolphins. Both teams have been disappointing up to this point of the season. In perhaps the most entertaining game of the day saw the New Orleans Saints score 15 late points to force OT and then kick the game winning FG against the Washington Redskins as the Saints won their 8th game in a row. It was a crushing defeat for the Redskins who lost another RB for the season
      In the late games, Buffalo visited to LA Chargers as the Bills decided to make a QB Change and start backup QB Nate Peterman over Tyrod Taylor. It was a disastrous decision as Peterman threw 5 int's in the 1st half and was replaced by Taylor who started the 2nd half. By halftime this game was already well decided as the Chargers put up 37 points in the 1st half and cruised to an easy victory.  Taylor played good in the second half but most of 2nd half the Chargers played prevent defense and just wanted to keep the clock going. Buffalo has a big decision to make this week as they have to decide if they are conceding this season even though they are only a game out of a Wild Card spot. Denver hosted the Bengals in a game that Cincinnati eked out a win. Both teams have also been very disappointing this season and after the game, the Broncos fired OC Mike McCoy even though Denver is clearly lacking a true QB who can take command of their offense.
      The Sunday night game was another snoozer as the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders played a game in Mexico City.  It looked like Oakland forgot to show up for the game as the Patriots routed the Raiders. The Patriots who won for the 6th game in a row and have the best record in the AFC were in complete control for beginning to end. Oakland, whom many had picked to challenge the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC, have many issues on both sides of the ball.  On Monday night, we saw a seesaw battle between 2 NFC Powerhouses as they battle up to the end and the Atlanta Falcons beat the Seahawks in Seattle With the win, Atlanta currently moved into the last Wild Card spot in the NFC with 6 games remaining in the season.
     Cooper went 9-5 and CupofJoeintheD went 10-4 in week 11 picks. YTD, Cooper is 111-49. 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 12 NFL Power Rankings

 

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