When it comes to Creative Misfortune Power Rankings, winning isn't the only thing, but it is the most important component of the rating. I don't believe teams can be powerful if they consistently lose, even to other great teams.
The Forked Few ~
Abandon hope and fortune all ye who rank here
# 32 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 31)
As bad as Dallas' season has gone, Carolina has far less talent.
# 31 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 32)
When the best thing that can be said about the game on Sunday night is, "at least Green Bay kicked that one kick-off out of bounds", you know you have problems. Firing Wade Phillips was a good start to improving this team, but the Cowboys are playing for 2011. Their 2010 campaign has gone done in flames.
# 30 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 30)
The Bills left the friendly confines of America hoping for a change, but whether in Canada or the U.S. they remain winless.
# 29 - Denver Broncos (previous: 29)
During the bye week Denver fell further behind their division rivals. Clearly the odd man out in a suddenly strong division, the Broncos will have to run the table to have any shot in 2010.
# 28 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 28)
St. Louis leads the division at 4-4. With 8 games to play, the 49ers, even at 2-6, are by no means out of it and have the only legitimate shot of all the Forked teams to make something of their season.
The Creatively Challenged ~
Folly remains ever their mistress
# 27 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 19)
No team should ever lose at home 41-7. Those kinds of losses make it clear how far this team still needs to go before they can be successful.
# 26 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 27)
The Cardinals showed a lot of spirit on Sunday until the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Like the 49ers, their season can still be salvaged.
# 25 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 25)
2-6 in the AFC North is far different from being 2-6 in the NFC's wild, wild West. Despite the late rally, Cincinnati's season died on Monday night unless the T.Ocho show can somehow perform a miracle.
# 24 - Detroit Lions (previous: 22)
Despite the injuries and the heartbreaking, overtime loss, Detroit is showing no signs of quitting in 2010, by far their most successful campaign in recent memory. If only Suh could kick as well as he can tackle...
# 23 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 24)
Ha, Ha! Childress remains your coach for at least one more week.
# 22 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 26)
Let me get this straight. Cleveland can handily beat New England and New Orleans, but they can't beat Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Baltimore, Atlanta or Pittsburgh? I guess Cleveland has played quite the tough schedule so far, with their only weak opponent being the Cincinnati Bengals.
# 21 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 21)
Beating Houston at home is nothing special. Charge out of the bye week with two straight wins over Denver and Indianapolis and then the Chargers might be considered for real.
The Remarkably Average ~
Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory
# 20 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 20)
The division is stacked and the Jaguars can't play the Dallas Cowboys every week.
# 19 - Washington Redskins (previous: 23)
Teetering on the brink, next week's game against Philadelphia could propel the Redskins two steps forward in the division race or send them into a nasty tailspin the likes of which only Dallas could appreciate.
# 18 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 18)
The NFC West is theirs to lose, but Bradford and Company will not let it slip easily from their grasp.
# 17 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 15)
The road winning streak has ended and with it hope for an AFC wild card birth has been placed in serious jeopardy.
# 16 - Houston Texans (previous: 13)
If you can't win at home, you have no business being in the playoffs. The next three weeks will make or break the Texans. The Jaguars, Jets and Titans all stand ready to ruin Houston's season.
# 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 12)
Another valiant effort falls just short. Better than they have been, the Bucs still need to improve to truly challenge Atlanta and New Orleans for supremacy in the South.
# 14 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 16)
Impressive. Most impressive.
# 13 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 14)
The Eagles defense made Manning look mortal and Vick's scrambling ability once again saved the day.
The Fortunate Seven ~
The best of those not yet elite
# 12 - Chicago Bears (previous: 17)
Tough contests against Minnesota and Miami will tell us if Chicago truly learned anything during their bye week. A victory over the Bills is still just that - a victory over the Bills. Nothing to write home about.
# 11 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 7)
The Chiefs were one catch away from taking complete control of the division, but apparently 2,000 beer-waving Darth Vaders in the stands were too much for them to overcome.
# 10 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
Is their a sudden curse on Creative Misfortune's rankings? The Jets, ranked #1 two weeks ago, were blanked by the Packers at home. The Patriots, ranked #1 last week, were embarrassed by the Browns. Brady better figure out how to move the ball against opposing defenses or New England's season will fall apart quickly with Pittsburgh and Indianapolis looming on the schedule.
# 9 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 5)
Sometimes even Manning is off his game. But consider this - in a game on the road against a top defense, with no-name receivers, a running back nobody had heard of and an uncharacteristic day where Manning threw more picks than touchdowns, the Colts only lost by 2 points and were in position to drive for a game winning field goal.
# 8 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 11)
That's the Saints team we all remember!
# 7 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 6)
If the Titans can get Randy Moss to play with even marginal effort and stretch the defenses, just think how much space Chris Johnson will have to operate in.
# 6 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 8)
Nothing helps you feel healthy like crushing a team that has quit on their season in front of the home crowd.
The Creative Elite ~
Wielding misfortune at its finest
# 5 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 9)
New Orleans is closing fast, but they have to go through Atlanta in order to reclaim the glory of 2009.
# 4 - New York Jets (previous: 2)
Good thing for the Jets that Suh can't kick an extra point, otherwise the Sanchize would be under siege in New York this week.
# 3 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 3)
A solid win at home over a strong defensive team allows Baltimore to control their own destiny. With a victory over Pittsburgh already in the bank, the Ravens are destined for the playoffs.
# 2 - New York Giants (previous: 10)
In a weak conference, The Giants stand out as the team to beat. Next week's contest against Dallas will do nothing but make them more confident in their abilities.
# 1 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 4)
Offense, defense and special teams. The Steelers are winning with all facets of their game.
Week 9 Power Ranking Awards:
The Free Fallers - New England Patriots (-9), Seattle Seahawks (-8), Kansas City Chiefs (-4) and the Indianapolis Colts (-4)
The Biggest Movers - New York Giants (+8), Chicago Bears (+5), Atlanta Falcons (+4), Washington Redskins (+4) and the Cleveland Browns (+4)
Maintaining The Status Quo - Baltimore Ravens (3), St. Louis Rams (18), Jacksonville Jaguars (20), San Diego Chargers (21), Cincinnati Bengals (25), San Francisco 49ers (28), Denver Broncos (29) and the Buffalo Bills (30)
Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLV Favorite ~ After Week 9
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