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 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 32)
Somehow I don't think a trip to Denver is what Jacksonville needs right now. Are they on pace to go 0-16? I don't know, but I'd take the 0-16 Lions from a few years back over these guys, give you the points and still feel confident that the Jaguars would remain defeated.
# 31 - New York Giants (previous: 31)
I suppose the Giants could turn it around and finish the season 11-5, but really? That's not going to happen. 8-8 won't even happen, despite this team's crazy ability to get streaky and win games at the right time.
# 30 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 30)
Did they get healthy during their bye week? Pittsburgh fans can only hope. A road trip to New York to face off against the bruising Jets will show whether or not the Steelers can save their season.
# 29 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 29)
Unlike Cleveland, Tampa Bay is clearly scrapping this season and trying to get the pieces in place for next year.
# 28 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 23)
For all intents and purposes, the Falcons' season is over. Four games behind the Saints already in the division, they better hope they can find some magic coming out of their bye week.
The Creatively Challenged~
Folly remains ever their mistress
# 27 - Washington Redskins (previous: 25)
RGIII should be a little more healed after the bye, but a Sunday night game against Dallas will test how rusty he still is.
# 26 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 24)
Josh Freeman is in town! If Freeman starts this weekend, expect a whole lot of AP… not that you would expect anything else from the Vikings at this point, regardless of which no-name player they started at QB.
# 25 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 21)
Not a good showing coming out of the bye week. Six points against the Cardinals? Looks like the Carolina offense better head back to the drawing board.
# 24 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 28)
The Rams still need a lot of improvement, but after being manhandled by the Cowboys and 49ers, being able to kick the Jaguars had to feel pretty good.
# 23 - Houston Texans (previous: 16)
So much for a Texans-Falcons Super Bowl… Houston is all but cooked and if they can't figure out their quarterback issues, they will definitely miss their short window of opportunity to be something more than an underachieving team.
# 22 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 27)
Yay, you beat the Giants, but at what cost? I don't think anybody is surprised that Vick got hurt running the Blur Offense… I'm just surprised he didn't make it a bit further into the season before the wear and tear got to him.
# 21 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 13)
Buffalo missed out on the Freeman sweepstakes. The season is not lost, but as the worst of the AFC East teams, they certainly have an uphill battle to fight.
The Remarkably Average~
Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory
# 20 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 11)
The Chargers couldn't beat the Raiders last week, but watch them go out and beat the Colts this week. Hey, it could happen.
# 19 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 26)
The Raiders might have something with Terrelle Pryor- a mobile quarterback with a willingness to throw the ball deep. Al Davis would be proud.
# 18 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 12)
So close, but a late, back-breaking turnover once again ruins their chances to do something truly great. Even at 2-3, the Cowboys are still the best team in the NFC East. They have that going for them.
# 17 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 22)
Green Bay still has a way to go, but a solid victory over the Lions has them moving in the right direction.
# 16 - New York Jets (previous: 20)
Well that was certainly an impressive win on Monday Night over the Falcons. At least we know one thing for certain about the Jets - we've seen the last of Mark Sanchez.
# 15 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 10)
Two straight losses have the Dolphins reeling a bit, but they are still very much alive in a competitive division. They could easily come out of the bye week in first place if the Patriots and Jets both stumble.
# 14 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 19)
The offense is still struggling to find its rhythm, but the defense played lights out against the Panthers.
# 13 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 17)
A big win at home over the Patriots may be just the thing this Bengals team needs to propel them on to greatness.
The Fortunate Seven~
The best of those not yet elite
# 12 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 14)
The Ravens are finding ways to win, but they can't keep this up forever and are still going to be hard pressed to make the playoffs.
# 11 - Chicago Bears (previous: 9)
Once unstoppable, the Bears have been stopped twice in a row. It's still early, but a few more losses and their season will be gone.
# 10 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 15)
Yes, we get it. You're not giving up on the season.
# 9 - Detroit Lions (previous: 8)
No Megatron, big problems. The Lions were crushed by the Packers in Wisconsin… well if you can call a barrage of field goals getting crushed. Detroit has to find a way to win without Calvin Johnson if this is to be their year.
# 8 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 18)
Looks like the 49ers have moved past their early season woes.
# 7 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 7)
The Titans came up short in a battle with the undefeated Chiefs, but they are still playing surprisingly good football.
# 6 - New England Patriots (previous: 5)
So much for keeping your TD streak alive, Brady. The schedule doesn't get any easier with the Saints coming to town.
The Creative Elite~
Wielding misfortune at its finest
# 5 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 2)
A tough road loss to the Colts has the Seahawks flying wounded, but they are still a game up in the division and still one of the best teams in the NFC.
# 4 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 6)
Could a Manning-Luck playoff showdown be on the horizon? Can't imagine any storylines to be found for that game.
# 3 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 4)
The only undefeated team left in the NFC, the Saints now have a commanding 4 game lead in their division. The number one overall seed is theirs to lose.
# 2 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 3)
The Chiefs just keep on winning by playing solid, mistake-free football. They may not be as flashy or dynamic as the Broncos, but they are playing without expectation and have nothing to lose.
# 1 - Denver Broncos (previous: 1)
Denver scoring 51 points on the road is no surprise… their defense giving up 48 points, however, is a bit of a concern. As the weather grows colder, the Broncos will need their defense to step up if they don't want to stumble late in the season.
Week 5 Power Ranking Awards:
The Free Fallers - San Diego Chargers (-9), Buffalo Bills (-8), Houston Texans (-7), Dallas Cowboys (-6), Miami Dolphins (-5)
The Biggest Movers - San Francisco 49ers (+10), Oakland Raiders (+7), Cleveland Browns (+5), Arizona Cardinals (+5), Green Bay Packers (+5)
Maintaining The Status Quo - Denver Broncos (1), Tennessee Titans (7), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29), Pittsburgh Steelers (30), New York Giants (31), Jacksonville Jaguars (32)
Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLVIII Favorite ~ After Week 5
Denver Broncos
Check back later today for Thursday Night Game predictions...
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