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 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 26)
The Cardinals actually recorded an Offensive Fumble Recovery for a Touchdown when Arizona wide receiver Steve Breaston recovered a fumble in the end zone after running back Tim Hightower fumbled at the 5 yard line. Unfortunately, it came during a game Arizona lost to the hapless Carolina Panthers. All the good karma from the Offensive Fumble Recovery Touchdown is wasted after they only managed to score 12 total points against a Panthers team that typically gives up twice that much.
# 31 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 32)
Good news- The Panthers won't finish the season 1-15 again. Great News- Cincinnati, Buffalo and Detroit all won, so Carolina maintained their hold of the #1 draft pick for next year.
# 30 - Denver Broncos (previous: 31)
TIM TEBOW! Too little, too late to save the season, but maybe he can save the future... unless the new coaching regime decides they don't want to develop a quarterback.
# 29 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 30)
Owens is done for the year and Ochocinco is being limited to allow younger wide receivers a chance to shine.
# 28 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 29)
It's no big deal beating the Dolphins in Miami. Anybody can do that. Beat them in Buffalo. That's how the Bills can make an impression.
The Creatively Challenged~
Folly remains ever their mistress
# 27 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 21)
At 5-9 this team can still win their division. Part of me wants to see this actually happen. The 49ers will have to get by the Rams this weekend to have a chance.
# 26 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 24)
What happened to all the promise from just a few weeks ago? The Browns have gone from mediocre to terrible.
# 25 - Houston Texans (previous: 22)
It's fine if you can't play defense, but you better be able to score some points.
# 24 - Washington Redskins (previous: 27)
Rex Grossman, he's our man? He did help Chicago get to a Super Bowl a few years ago. Maybe the Redskins are on to something.
# 23 - Detroit Lions (previous: 28)
Is there any possible streak of futility the Lions can snap this week when they play the Miami Dolphins?
# 22 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 25)
Joe Webb may be the future... if the Vikings open the 2011 season running the veer option offense.
# 21 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 23)
The Cowboys do late-game collapses with style. Sure, they let their division rivals come storming back, but unlike the Giants, Dallas held on to win the game.
The Remarkably Average ~
Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory
# 20 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 19)
The Seahawks have no business even being within earshot of a playoff spot, but they still somehow control their own destiny despite having only six wins.
# 19 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 17)
Though it is too strong of a word to call the Rams the "best" team in a division that is two games underwater, they are still the team to beat in the West.
# 18 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 16)
The Heat have figured out how to win in South Florida. Why can't the Dolphins?
# 17 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 11)
The Buccaneers ruined their chance at a perfect, 10-0 season against teams with losing records. I guess they'll just have to focus on trying to win a Wild Card spot now.
# 16 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 20)
Two tough road games against Kansas City and Indianapolis remain. The Titans have to win both to even have a chance at the post-season.
# 15 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 14)
One minute, the Jags are on top of the world. The next, they are considered all but dead and buried. With two games left, the division title is still quite possible.
# 14 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 18)
The Colts and Chiefs stand in the way of Oakland's first winning season since they last went to the Super Bowl.
# 13 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 15)
That's how you take back control of the division. Now, can Manning and company hold serve and make it into the playoffs?
The Fortunate Seven ~
The best of those not yet elite
# 12 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 10)
Great start, Matt Flynn. Aside from the final play of the game, quite an impressive effort. With only a Wild Card spot possible, the Packers must defeat the Giants on Sunday if they want to have any chance of making a February trip to Dallas.
# 11 - Chicago Bears (previous: 9)
The first team to clinch their division. Congrats. But it's not like beating the Vikings is anything worth bragging about this season.
# 10 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 13)
If the Chargers can't win out against Cincinnati and Denver, they have no business being in the playoffs anyway.
# 9 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 12)
Cassel returns and the Chiefs win. This team, with their quarterback intact, could actually do some damage in the post-season, if they don't stumble over the final two games.
# 8 - New York Giants (previous: 5)
The epic collapse on Sunday will be forgotten if the Giants can win in Green Bay this weekend. If not, watch this team spin out of control, miss the playoffs and be in the market for a new coach soon after the season ends.
# 7 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 4)
Wild Card positioning may suddenly be an issue for the defending champions if the Saints drop a second straight game when they visit the Georgia Dome to face off against the Dirty Birds.
# 6 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 7)
A big win for a team with an aging defense. Two games against the doormats of their division should propel Baltimore into the playoffs, and possibly even a division title.
The Creative Elite ~
Wielding misfortune at its finest
# 5 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 3)
Lose and still clinch a playoff spot? Not the best way to punch a ticket to the post-season, but they'll take it. A first-round bye is theirs to lose.
# 4 - New York Jets (previous: 8)
A huge win to make the Jets suddenly relevant again. The division is basically lost, but a wild card spot is closer to a reality.
# 3 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 6)
I have never been a big fan of the Eagles, but you absolutely have to be impressed by their never give up attitude. Teams have been propelled to Super Bowl championships by far less epic wins in the past.
# 2 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 2)
Get a victory over the Saints and the Falcons won't have to leave Georgia until February.
# 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
A victory over either Buffalo or Miami is all that stands between New England and home-field advantage.
Week 15 Power Ranking Awards:
The Free Fallers - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6), San Francisco 49ers (-6) and the Arizona Cardinals (-6)
The Biggest Movers - Detroit Lions (+5), Tennessee Titans (+4), Oakland Raiders (+4) and the New York Jets (+4)
Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1) and the Atlanta Falcons (2)
Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLV Favorite ~ After Week 16
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