Creative Misfortune Power Rankings are based on a complicated formula that takes into account, among other things, a team's projected ability to score an Offensive Fumble Recovery TD. All power rankings guaranteed to be less accurate than real NFL team abilities on any given Sunday and are subject to change on a weekly basis.
When it comes to Creative Misfortune Power Rankings, production is combined with potential to determine a team's true strength compared to the rest of the league. Winning isn't the only factor, but it is one of the most important components 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 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 30)
Drew Brees had a career day in just three quarters against the Vikings. I wouldn’t expect Minnesota to get an interception until 2012.
# 31 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 32)
Defeated no more, the Colts can now tank their remaining two games with a clear conscience.
# 30 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 31)
The Rams are having a devil of a time winning this year, but their strength of schedule could end up hurting them come draft time if they end up tied with the Vikings.
# 29 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 29)
The Buccaneers just keep on falling.
# 28 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 27)
The Browns had the game against the Cardinals in the bag until they collapsed in the fourth quarter before losing the game outright in overtime.
The Creatively Challenged~
Folly remains ever their mistress
# 27 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 25)
The Jaguars suffered a good old fashioned butt-kicking against the Atlanta Falcons. With at least one game left against the Colts, the Jaguars can gain some hint of positivity before they shut the doors on a miserable 2011 campaign.
# 26 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 23)
So much for the Bills being the surprise team of the season.
# 25 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 28)
Just when you think Kansas City has no life left in them, they go out and play a game like that… and totally redeem themselves.
# 24 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 22)
The Dolphins have shown flashes of brilliance this season. There is hope for 2012, depending on who ends up being hired as the coach during the offseason.
# 23 - Washington Redskins (previous: 26)
Despite all expectations, the Redskins gained a huge victory over the Giants on Sunday. Even a Cowboys fan like myself can appreciate this win.
# 22 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 24)
I don’t know what the heck that trick play was, but it was definitely entertaining!
# 21 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 21)
Could the Cardinals actually sneak into a Wild Card spot? The odds are not in their favor by any means, but for Arizona to even be part of the discussion after the way the season started is worthy of note.
The Remarkably Average~
Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory
# 20 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 20)
An 8-8 division champion in the NFC East? Maybe, but it won’t be the Eagles.
# 19 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 18)
The fourth quarter collapse against the Lions may have sealed Oakland's fate come playoff time.
# 18 - New York Giants (previous: 12)
I love the Giants' ability to consistently collapse in December. They are like the anti-Chargers.
# 17 - Denver Broncos (previous: 11)
Tebow failed against the Evil Empire, but that doesn’t mean the Broncos are out of it by any stretch of the imagination. If you haven’t seen the SNL Tebow skit from last weekend, you are missing out.
# 16 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 16)
A loss to the Colts? Seriously? This would almost be acceptable if the Titans weren't fighting for a playoff spot.
# 15 - Chicago Bears (previous: 15)
Who would have thought Cutler was so valuable?
# 14 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 19)
Seattle sure put a beating on Chicago. The Seahawks are just starting to get interesting. It only took them 14 weeks to get there.
# 13 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 13)
The Chargers can win in December. Nobody doubts that. The question is - will it actually matter this year or will they once again fall short of the playoffs?
The Fortunate Seven~
The best of those not yet elite
# 12 - New York Jets (previous: 9)
These guys can shut up anytime, but I do hope they can somehow recover from the beatdown in Philadelphia last week and go on to win the Battle of New York.
# 11 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 17)
The surprise team of the AFC is holding on… and losses by both Baltimore and Pittsburgh definitely helps Cincinnati's cause.
# 10 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 14)
The Cowboys haven’t clinched anything yet. With the Eagles and Giants remaining on the schedule, 8-8 is just as likely, if not more likely, than 10-6.
# 9 - Detroit Lions (previous: 10)
The Lions are playoff bound if they can get past either San Diego or Green Bay the final two weeks of the season.
# 8 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 8)
Atlanta still has faint hopes for a division title, but those dreams will die quickly if they lose to the Saints on Monday Night.
# 7 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 6)
More than just the lights went out for Pittsburgh during last week's game in San Francisco.
# 6 - Houston Texans (previous: 3)
The Texans have played valiantly since losing their quarterbacks. A game against the Colts later tonight should keep them in the hunt for a first round bye in the playoffs.
The Creative Elite~
Wielding misfortune at its finest
# 5 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 2)
The Ravens gained a reprieve since the Steelers lost, but they are looking more and more like a team that will struggle on the road. All the more reason for them to win out so they are guaranteed to host at least one playoff game.
# 4 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 7)
I'm still not sold on the 49ers being able to defeat either the Saints or the Packers. Realistically, for them to reach the Super Bowl, they will have to beat them both.
# 3 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 4)
For my money, the NFC is a two-team race between the Saints and the Packers. On a neutral field, I think the Saints win. Unfortunately it looks like Drew Brees will have to learn to throw the ball in the snow as a date with the Packers in Green Bay looks like the road New Orleans will have to travel to make it to Super Bowl XLVI.
# 2 - New England Patriots (previous: 5)
Doesn’t it kind of feel like the Patriots killed Christmas when they defeated the Broncos last week and laughed at Tebow's fourth quarter magic?
# 1 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 1)
The Packers can try and spin their loss to the Chiefs any way they want, but the bottom line is they missed out on a chance to make history. If all it takes is a power running game to take them out, Green Bay's next loss very well may kill any Super Bowl dreams they have.
Week 15 Power Ranking Awards:
The Free Fallers - Denver Broncos (-6), New York Giants (-6), Baltimore Ravens (-3), Houston Texans (-3), New York Jets (-3)
The Biggest Movers - Cincinnati Bengals (+6), Seattle Seahawks (+5), Dallas Cowboys (+4), New England Patriots (+3), San Francisco 49ers (+3)
Maintaining The Status Quo - Green Bay Packers (1), Atlanta Falcons (8), San Diego Chargers (13), Chicago Bears (15), Tennessee Titans (16), Philadelphia Eagles (20), Arizona Cardinals (21), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29)
Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLVI Favorite ~ After Week 15
Green Bay Packers
Check back later tonight for Thursday Night game picks. The Colts go for win #2 against the Texans...
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