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: 32)
The losses and injuries keep piling up.
# 31 - Denver Broncos (previous: 27)
So much for the perfect opening games for new interim head coaches. Not only did the Broncos lose to a terrible team, they were completely embarrassed and schooled by a kicker!
# 30 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 29)
Are these Bengals the worst ever Bungles team to take the field, despite the aging offensive firepower at their disposal? Quite possibly, especially since the receivers can't throw the ball to themselves and the quarterback can't block the defensive linemen himself and the offense can't stop the opposing teams from scoring so many points...
# 29 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 30)
A solid, defensive win at home following the defensive debacle in Minnesota. You might think the Bills have something going for next season... until you remember that they are, well, the Bills.
# 28 - Detroit Lions (previous: 28)
What an unexpected victory over the Green Bay Packers! And now, instead of talking about a 19 game losing streak to division opponents, the Lions can proudly proclaim their 1-19 record over the last 20 games.
The Creatively Challenged~
Folly remains ever their mistress
# 27 - Washington Redskins (previous: 26)
The season continues to fall apart for the Redskins. Following the horrible PAT hold at the close of the game against Tampa, Washington cut their punter-holder Hunter Smith. Whoops, the football slipped!
# 26 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 31)
It's nice to know the Cardinals can embarrass other teams once in a while, instead of just being embarrassed themselves.
# 25 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 24)
Well, Brett, it was fun while it lasted. Now the Vikings have to turn to Tarvaris Jackson, who single-handedly took out Adrian Peterson on a hand-off. It's usually not a good sign for your future, Tarvaris, when the announcers spend 10 minutes talking about all the available college quarterbacks coming out in the draft.
# 24 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 21)
Unless you've got Gus kicking field goals for you, you're not going to win any games without crossing the 50 yard line in the second half.
# 23 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 22)
A valiant effort, but just one more failure on this team's 2010 resume.
# 22 - Houston Texans (previous: 23)
And the Texans will be without a playoff spot once again.
# 21 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 25)
At 5-8, the Niners still have a shot at winning the division title. If they can get past the Chargers on Thursday night, they might actually have a chance.
The Remarkably Average ~
Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory
# 20 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 20)
If the owner's not too happy being 5-8, just think how disappointed fantasy teams are at Chris Johnson's underwhelming productivity this season.
# 19 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 19)
That's how you maintain your share of the division lead? By getting blown out 40-21 by a team four games below .500?
# 18 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 15)
The Raiders are undefeated in the division and 2-7 outside it. Their one remaining non-division game against Indianapolis could really mess up their slim playoff hopes.
# 17 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 14)
The best team in the NFC West... if you allow that the NFC West has actual football teams.
# 16 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 18)
It's difficult enough to play in a tough division without other team's taking cheap shots at your players.
# 15 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 17)
The game against Jacksonville on Sunday is an absolute must-win for the Colts if they want to make it to the playoffs again.
# 14 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 13)
The game against Indianapolis on Sunday is an absolute must-win for the Jaguars if they want to prove they truly deserve the AFC South crown.
# 13 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 16)
Finally, a winning record for the first time all season.
The Fortunate Seven ~
The best of those not yet elite
# 12 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 11)
Nothing like an emergency appendectomy to take all the momentum out of a surprising season.
# 11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 12)
10-6, with all 10 wins against losing teams, is not out of the question. The Bucs can truly say they are the best of the worst and the lousiest of the best.
# 10 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 7)
Even without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers should be good enough to score more than 3 points against the Detroit Lions.
# 9 - Chicago Bears (previous: 6)
Your field. Your weather. Your total humiliation. The Bears have to be kicking themselves after getting schooled by Tom Brady and his high-powered collection of diminuitive receivers.
# 8 - New York Jets (previous: 5)
The Jets continue to prove time and time again that they are nothing but classless, loud-mouthed braggards.
# 7 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 8)
Great defenses don't give up 21-point leads in the second half, but good football teams still manage to win those games.
# 6 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 9)
The high-flying Eagles are a big-play team, but can they win a knock-down fight with a power running team on the road like they will have to in order to go deep into the playoffs?
The Creative Elite ~
Wielding misfortune at its finest
# 5 - New York Giants (previous: 10)
The Giants have finally established their two-headed rushing monster and with Jacobs and Bradshaw devastating opponents, Eli Manning can fall back into a game manager role where he thrives without the weight of the offense on his back.
# 4 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 4)
Three upcoming games against playoff-caliber teams will make or break the Saints' season.
# 3 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 3)
Unless New England stumbles, Pittsburgh has no shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but there is no reason they shouldn't be sitting at home during the Wild Card games, resting for their Divisional matchup.
# 2 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 2)
Only a week 16 game against New Orleans stands between the Falcons and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
# 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
The Patriots are clearly the best team in the league right now. Their destruction of the Jets and the Bears the last two weeks has proven they are, once again, a force to be reckoned with.
Week 14 Power Ranking Awards:
The Free Fallers - Denver Broncos (-4), New York Jets (-3), Chicago Bears (-3), Green Bay Packers (-3), St. Louis Rams (-3), Oakland Raiders (-3) and the Cleveland Browns (-3)
The Biggest Movers - New York Giants (+5), Arizona Cardinals (+5) and the San Francisco 49ers (+4)
Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Atlanta Falcons (2), Pittsburgh Steelers (3), New Orleans Saints (4), Seattle Seahawks (19), Tennessee Titans (20), Detroit Lions (28) and the Carolina Panthers (32)
Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLV Favorite ~ After Week 14
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