Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ After Championship Round Games (2014)

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.

Only the best teams still playing will continue to be ranked as we countdown to Super Bowl XLIX! Say so long to The Forked Few, The Creatively Challenged, The Remarkably Average and the Fortunate Seven. They know what they've done.

The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 2 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 2)
                    The Seahawks needed every bit of magic they could possibly muster in order to escape the NFC Championship with a win. They made some great plays down the stretch, but Green Bay's mistakes allowed them the opportunity to complete the greatest comeback in championship game history. The Patriots will not be as forgiving of four first-half turnovers as the Packers were.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    New England dominated the Colts in the AFC Championship game and once again return to a Super Bowl game that has been anything but their friend of late. Can the Patriots finally finish the season with a championship win or will the Seahawks send them home once again without a ring?


Championship Game Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Indianapolis Colts (-1)

The Biggest Movers - Green Bay Packers (+1)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Seattle Seahawks (2)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX

AFC Champion:

 



New England Patriots



NFC Champion:

Seattle Seahawks


Check back next week for Creative Misfortune's Super Bowl XLIX preview!

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ After Divisional Round Games (2014)

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.

Only the best teams still playing will continue to be ranked as we countdown to Super Bowl XLIX! Say so long to The Forked Few, The Creatively Challenged, The Remarkably Average and the Fortunate Seven. They know what they've done.

The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 4 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 4)
                    The Packers are moving on to the NFC Championship game, but they have no shot at winning if they can't get healthy this week.

     # 3 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 6)
                    Indianapolis went into Denver and completely outplayed the Broncos. Can their Luck hold up in another road contest against the Patriots?

     # 2 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 2)
                    The Seahawks looked dominating at home against the Panthers.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    The Patriots continue to find ways to innovate, much to the consternation of the rest of the league.


Divisional Round Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Dallas Cowboys (-2), Denver Broncos (-2)

The Biggest Movers - Indianapolis Colts (+3), Baltimore Ravens (+1)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Seattle Seahawks (2), Green Bay Packers (4), Carolina Panthers (8)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After the Divisional Round

AFC Favorite:

 



New England Patriots



NFC Favorite:

Seattle Seahawks



Check back tomorrow for the Conference Championship game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ After Wild Card Weekend (2014)

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.

Only the best teams still playing will continue to be ranked as we countdown to Super Bowl XLIX! Say so long to The Forked Few, The Creatively Challenged and The Remarkably Average. They know what they've done.

The Fortunate Three ~
     The best of those not yet elite                

     # 8 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 12)
                    The Panthers defense set a playoff record against Arizona by limiting the Cardinals to just 78 yards of total offense. They will have to play even better if they hope to go into Seattle and upset the defending champions.

     # 7 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 11)
                    This could be Baltimore's dream scenario - defeating the Steelers, Patriots, and the Broncos or Colts on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. The Ravens have had both playoff and regular season success against the remaining AFC playoff teams. If they can keep the game close with New England, they will have more than a decent shot of pulling off the upset this weekend.

     # 6 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 6)
                    Indianapolis looked good in their victory over Cincinnati, but not great. They will have to play much better if they hope to upset the Broncos in Denver.


The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Denver Broncos (previous: 5)
                    Which Broncos team will appear on Sunday? The Manning-led passing attack or the Anderson-led rushing attack? I'm not sure the Colts can handle either one.

     # 4 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 4)
                    The Packers are the only NFC team that finished the regular season undefeated at home. The Cowboys are the only NFL team that finished the regular season undefeated on the road. Something has to give on Sunday when these two teams collide at Lambeau.

     # 3 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 3)
                    The Cowboys have two things going for them this weekend- a perfect 8-0 record on the road and the confidence to believe they can win even if they fall behind early.

     # 2 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 2)
                    The defending champions have home-field advantage and a team with a losing record coming to town for a playoff game.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    The Patriots would have rather faced the Colts than the Ravens, but now that Baltimore is coming back to town, Brady will have to show the league why he is still an elite, Super Bowl-winning quarterback.


Wild Card Round Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Arizona Cardinals (-5), Pittsburgh Steelers (-2), Cincinnati Bengals (-1)

The Biggest Movers - Baltimore Ravens (+4), Carolina Panthers (+4)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Seattle Seahawks (2), Dallas Cowboys (3), Green Bay Packers (4), Denver Broncos (5), Indianapolis Colts (6)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After the Wild Card round

AFC Favorite:

New England Patriots



NFC Favorite:

Dallas Cowboys


Check back tomorrow for Divisional playoff game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 17 (2014)

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.

Only the best teams still playing will continue to be ranked as we countdown to Super Bowl XLIX! Say so long to The Forked Few, The Creatively Challenged and The Remarkably Average. They know what they've done.

The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 25)
                    The Panthers made the playoffs with a losing record. Now after surviving the terrible NFC South regular season, how will they fare heading into the postseason undefeated?

     # 11 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 10)
                    Baltimore made it to the playoffs after all the drama that plagued them early in the season. A date with their biggest rivals should make their Wild Card game something special.

     # 10 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 12)
                    The Bengals have underperformed all year. Somehow I don't see them suddenly figuring things out in Indianapolis this weekend.

     # 9 - Detroit Lions (previous: 8)
                    The Lions are doing everything they can to sabotage themselves once again.

     # 8 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 11)
                    Division champions once again, but their division battles are not yet over this season.

     # 7 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 3)
                    The defense has struggled of late and they are down to their third-string quarterback, but the Cardinals should still keep things very competitive when they square off against the Panthers.

     # 6 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 4)
                    The Colts have a lot of potential, but are also vulnerable. It will be interesting to see how deep their inconsistent game will take them into the postseason.


The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Denver Broncos (previous: 2)
                    Have the Broncos morphed completely into a power running team? This might actually give Manning his last, best chance to win another Super Bowl title.

     # 4 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 7)
                    The Packers have struggled some, but are still one of the best teams in the league. The cold weather in Lambeau will give them an edge in the divisional round.

     # 3 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 5)
                    The Cowboys are playing better than they have in years and they have one huge advantage over every other NFC playoff team- they know they can defeat the Seahawks in Seattle.

     # 2 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 6)
                    Home-field advantage once again should give the Seahawks the edge they need to return to the Super Bowl.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    Number one most of the season, I doubt anybody in the AFC will be able to defeat them in Foxboro.


Week 17 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Arizona Cardinals (-4), Denver Broncos (-3), Indianapolis Colts (-2), Detroit Lions (-1), Baltimore Ravens (-1)

The Biggest Movers - Carolina Panthers (+13), Seattle Seahawks (+4), Green Bay Packers (+3), Pittsburgh Steelers (+3), Dallas Cowboys (+2)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1)


Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After the Regular Season

AFC Favorite:

New England Patriots



NFC Favorite:

Dallas Cowboys


Check back tomorrow for Wild Card game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 15 (2014)

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 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 32)
                    The Titans can't even beat the Jets. That's sad.

     # 31 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 29)
                    Now that the 49ers are eliminated, Oakland can start making plans for their new head coach to arrive from across the bay, unless Michigan steals him away first.

     # 30 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 31)
                    The Buccaneers have given up on the division title chase and are now looking at the #1 draft pick in 2015.

     # 29 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 30)
                    The Jaguars just won't quit. They're not beating anybody, but they aren't giving up either.

     # 28 - New York Jets (previous: 28)
                    Too little, too late, but it looks like the Jets are the best of the worst teams in the NFL.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Washington Redskins (previous: 27)
                    The Redskins are on the fast track to a 3-13 record.

     # 26 - Chicago Bears (previous: 24)
                    Cutler benched! Without a defense, the Bears at least need to perform on offense, especially at home.

     # 25 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 26)
                    The Panthers remain a half-game back of the Saints.

     # 24 - New York Giants (previous: 25)
                    The Giants rally for a late-season, meaningless win over the Redskins.

     # 23 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 22)
                    If the Falcons win the division, they'll be below .500.

     # 22 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 6)
                    Teddy Bridgewater is close to breaking through for the Vikings. He should give them some hope headed into the offseason.

     # 21 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 20)
                    The Rams are still playing strong defense. Too bad they don't have an offense.



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 19)
                    Funny how when Johnny Football starts, the Browns score 0 points. Really makes you think, doesn't it?

     # 19 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 21)
                    The 49ers are done. Harbaugh can move on to another team now without worrying about it impacting San Francisco's performance in the playoffs.

     # 18 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 17)
                    Miami needed so much more than a 41-13 loss against the Patriots to keep their postseason hopes alive.

     # 17 - Houston Texans (previous: 15)
                    The Texans fell short against the Colts and now their season is over.

     # 16 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 23)
                    New Orleans controls their fate in the NFC South now. Can they win out and take the division with a .500 record?

     # 15 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 14)
                    The Chargers really needed to beat the Broncos last weekend. Now their season is all but over.

     # 14 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 18)
                    On the outside looking in, but still in the hunt, Buffalo still has an outside shot to sneak into the playoffs.

     # 13 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 16)
                    Kansas City has to make it as a Wild Card if they hope to reach the playoffs.



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 13)
                    The Bengals still lead the division by a half-game. They will have to play perfect down the stretch if they hope to stay in first place.

     # 11 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 12)
                    The Steelers win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

     # 10 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 11)
                    Baltimore struggled against the Jaguars more than expected, but managed to win and stay alive in the AFC playoff chase.

     # 9 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 8)
                    The Eagles are suddenly on the oustide looking in. They need to win out and have Dallas stumble at least once in order to win the division now.

     # 8 - Detroit Lions (previous: 10)
                    Detroit suddenly finds themselves tied for first in the NFC North. Could they actually win the division? The Lions are, by far, the most overlooked of the 10 win teams in the NFL.

     # 7 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 2)
                    The Packers showed the league they are vulnerable on the road and nigh unstoppable at home.

     # 6 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 7)
                    Seattle can wrest control of the division away from the Cardinals on Sunday night… or lose the division outright if they fail in Arizona.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 9)
                    A huge win by Dallas in Philadelphia has the Cowboys in control of their own destiny, however they still need to win their final two games in order to guarantee their division title.

     # 4 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 5)
                    The Colts have clinched their division, but have to finish the season and get help if they hope to earn a first-round bye.

     # 3 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 4)
                    Despite their injury woes at quarterback, Arizona is still a force to be reckoned with.

     # 2 - Denver Broncos (previous: 3)
                    The Broncos are showing they can win without Manning throwing four touchdowns a game. They will need to be a very well-rounded team if they hope to make it to the Super Bowl.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    The Patriots have clinched their division, but they have yet to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A win over the Jets should accomplish that for them this weekend.



Week 15 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Minnesota Vikings (-16), Green Bay Packers (-5), Houston Texans (-2), Chicago Bears (-2), Oakland Raiders (-2)

The Biggest Movers - New Orleans Saints (+7), Dallas Cowboys (+4), Buffalo Bills (+4), Kansas City Chiefs (+3), Detroit Lions (+2)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Washington Redskins (27), New York Jets (28), Tennessee Titans (32)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After Week 15

AFC Favorite:

New England Patriots



NFC Favorite:

Green Bay Packers



Check back later tonight for Thursday Night game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 14 (2014)

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 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 28)
                    I keep expecting more from the Titans than I probably should. I don't know why.

     # 31 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 29)
                    I think we can finally put to rest the hopes of the Buccaneers making the playoffs as a 5-11 division champion. Even the 2014 NFC South is not that bad.

     # 30 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 30)
                    The Jaguars keep playing with spirit, despite being on the short side of the stick this season.

     # 29 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 32)
                    The Raiders just possibly embarrassed their future head coach if some of the rumors can be believed.

     # 28 - New York Jets (previous: 31)
                    If Rex Ryan survives this season, I'll be shocked.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Washington Redskins (previous: 26)
                    The Redskins are done for the year. They should give RGIII the final games of the season to prove himself, otherwise there will be too many questions for them at quarterback heading into 2015.

     # 26 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 27)
                    The Panthers played inspired football on Sunday and showed they weren't ready to give up on the season yet. Here's hoping Cam Newton can recover from his car accident injuries quickly.

     # 25 - New York Giants (previous: 25)
                    Can the Giants win just enough games to keep Coughlin coaching for another season?

     # 24 - Chicago Bears (previous: 24)
                    Chicago needs a defense, plain and simple.

     # 23 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 20)
                    Do the Saints even want to win the division?

     # 22 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 23)
                    The Falcons are the only team still playing with fire in their belly in the lowly NFC South.

     # 21 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 19)
                    Maybe the 49ers would show a bit more focus if there weren't so many rumors swirling around their head coach.



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 22)
                    Defense wins championships. Too bad the Rams couldn't find their groove until the season was already lost.

     # 19 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 18)
                    With the season on the line the Browns are going back to Johnny Football.

     # 18 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 16)
                    The Bills have to win out and get some help.

     # 17 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 10)
                    The Dolphins may have just lost a chance at making the playoffs. One more loss will most likely be the end of them.

     # 16 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 12)
                    The Chiefs just aren't doing enough to get back into the playoff chase.

     # 15 - Houston Texans (previous: 17)
                    A huge game against Indianapolis this week will let us know just how much fight the Texans have in them.

     # 14 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 11)
                    The Chargers had a golden opportunity to upset the Patriots, but just couldn't make anything happen in the second half.

     # 13 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 14)
                    They are still in first place, but does anybody really think they are the best team in the AFC North?



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 15)
                    The Steelers crushed the Bengals on Sunday and made the AFC North more competitive than ever with just three games left in the regular season.

     # 11 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 13)
                    Baltimore may be the best all-around team in the competitive AFC North.

     # 10 - Detroit Lions (previous: 7)
                    The Lions keep winning, although nobody would be surprised if they dropped a few games to close out the season and just missed getting into the playoffs.

     # 9 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 9)
                    A big win on Thursday night followed by some extra rest before a huge rematch with the Eagles. Dallas' playoff hopes will take a huge step forward or a huge step backward following that game. There is no middle ground for them.

     # 8 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 3)
                    The Eagles were completely shut down at home by the Seahawks. A division-defining matchup with the Cowboys looms on Sunday night.

     # 7 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 6)
                    Power running game and a shutdown defense. Looks like Seattle is returning to its Super Bowl champion form.

     # 6 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 21)
                    The Vikings are the first team all season to achieve the rarest of feats - score an Offensive Fumble Recovery TD! Normally that would rocket a team to the top of Creative Misfortune's power rankings, but since the Vikings have struggled to a 6-7 record this year, the best I can rank them is 6th overall. For those of you scoring at home, this is what an Offensive Fumble Recovery TD looks like in the play-by-play:

2-4-NYJ 23 (2nd Qtr 13:44) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle to 12-Ch.Johnson to NYJ 1 for 22 yards (37-J.Jarrett) [98-Q.Coples]. FUMBLES (37-J.Jarrett), recovered by MIN-42-J.Felton at NYJ 0. TOUCHDOWN.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 5)
                    A win is a win, but a lot more was expected out of the Colts in a game versus the Browns.

     # 4 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 8)
                    After a few dropped games, Arizona gets back into the win column to keep some separation between them and the Seahawks.

     # 3 - Denver Broncos (previous: 4)
                    Uh oh, the Broncos can win a game without Peyton Manning throwing a touchdown pass. That could bode well for their playoff run.

     # 2 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 1)
                    Green Bay's offense is nigh unstoppable. The defense giving up almost 40 points to the Falcons is a bit concerning.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 2)
                    The Patriots struggled early, but were finally able to put away the Chargers with a big win on the road to maintain their pole position in the AFC playoff chase.



Week 14 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Miami Dolphins (-7), Philadelphia Eagles (-5), Kansas City Chiefs (-4), Tennessee Titans (-4), Detroit Lions (-3)

The Biggest Movers - Minnesota Vikings (+15), Arizona Cardinals (+4), Pittsburgh Steelers (+3), New York Jets (+3), Oakland Raiders (+3)

Maintaining The Status Quo - Indianapolis Colts (5), Dallas Cowboys (9), Chicago Bears (24), New York Giants (25), Jacksonville Jaguars (30)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After Week 14

AFC Favorite:

New England Patriots



NFC Favorite:

Green Bay Packers



Check back later tonight for Thursday Night game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 13 (2014)

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 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 31)
                    The Raiders have their one win for the season and now they are packing it in. How else can you explain a 52-point loss to the St. Louis Rams?

     # 31 - New York Jets (previous: 30)
                    If the Jets aren't going to let their quarterbacks throw the football, they might as well go to a full Wildcat offense.

     # 30 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 32)
                    The Jaguars are on the move! If only they played in the NFC South, they might still have a shot at the playoffs.

     # 29 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 29)
                    The Buccaneers fall once again, but unlike the Jaguars, Tamp Bay actually can still, surprisingly, win their division with a 6-10 record. Sure, it's not likely, but anything may be possible this season.

     # 28 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 28)
                    The Titans can't possibly be this bad, can they? By far the best of the 10+ loss teams in the NFL.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 27)
                    How can you allow two blocked punts in the same game?

     # 26 - Washington Redskins (previous: 26)
                    RGIII is definitely not the only problem in Washington. Something about a defense giving up almost 50 points makes it hard for any quarterback to win a game.

     # 25 - New York Giants (previous: 24)
                    Just when you think the Giants might almost win a game, they don't.

     # 24 - Chicago Bears (previous: 22)
                    The Bears can't stop anybody. Let's hope that trend continues when they take on the Cowboys Thursday night.

     # 23 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 23)
                    They still lead the division, but they are in a dogfight with New Orleans.

     # 22 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 25)
                    The Rams are playing defense like everybody else wishes they could.

     # 21 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 21)
                    Two blocked punts returned for a touchdown? Don't think I have ever seen that happen before.



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 20)
                    The Saints keep their playoff hopes alive with a big win on the road.

     # 19 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 17)
                    These are not the same 49ers that were just one game away from the Super Bowl last year.

     # 18 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 14)
                    Oh great, they let Johnny Football play. Now we'll never get him back on the bench until he completely implodes. Oh well. Might as well sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

     # 17 - Houston Texans (previous: 19)
                    Six touchdowns from Ryan Fitzpatrick, just weeks after being benched? Talk about trying to win your job back.

     # 16 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 18)
                    Buffalo has kept their playoff hopes alive with two great wins in a row.

     # 15 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 12)
                    The Steelers continue to be somewhat unreliable at home.

     # 14 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 15)
                    A one-point victory over the Buccaneers may not seem like much, but when everybody else in the division loses, it's hard for the Bengals to complain about it.

     # 13 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 9)
                    The Ravens had a chance to separate themselves from the AFC Wild Card pack, but their fourth quarter collapse against the Chargers could keep them from reaching the playoffs.



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 10)
                    The Chiefs are very much alive and very much out of it all at the same time.

     # 11 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 16)
                    The Chargers rally to keep their playoff hopes alive.

     # 10 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 13)
                    It wasn't pretty, but any win on the road in the NFL, even against the New York Jets, is a good win.

     # 9 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 5)
                    The Cowboys played like turkeys at home on Thanksgiving. They need to get by Chicago this week and then knock off the Eagles on the road next week if they hope to have any shot at winning the division title.

     # 8 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 7)
                    Two straight losses have raised all kinds of doubts in Arizona. Their stranglehold on the NFC West is now slipping away.

     # 7 - Detroit Lions (previous: 11)
                    The Lions didn't collapse on Thanksgiving like they usually do.

     # 6 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 6)
                    Seattle needs a big win in Philadelphia if they hope to make a serious run towards winning the division title.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 8)
                    The Colts are an offensive machine right now, but can their defense play well enough to give them a shot at the title?

     # 4 - Denver Broncos (previous: 4)
                    Denver has a running game now and a reliable kicker. That should help them as the weather heads south for the playoffs.

     # 3 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 3)
                    Can the Eagles follow up a big win in Dallas with a big win at home against the Seahawks? If so, they may be well on their way to a first-round bye in the playoffs.

     # 2 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    A tough loss in Green Bay has people a bit concerned, but New England is still very much in control of their playoff destiny.

     # 1 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 2)
                    The Packers may be unstoppable at home, which bodes well for them if they can somehow secure the #1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs.



Week 13 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Dallas Cowboys (-4), Baltimore Ravens (-4), Cleveland Browns (-4), Pittsburgh Steelers (-3), Kansas City Chiefs (-2)

The Biggest Movers - San Diego Chargers (+5), Detroit Lions (+4), Indianapolis Colts (+3), Miami Dolphins (+3), St. Louis Rams (+3)

Maintaining The Status Quo - Philadelphia Eagles (3), Denver Broncos (4), Seattle Seahawks (6), New Orleans Saints (20), Minnesota Vikings (21), Atlanta Falcons (23), Washington Redskins (26), Carolina Panthers (27), Tennessee Titans (28), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After Week 13

AFC Favorite:

New England Patriots



NFC Favorite:

Green Bay Packers



Check back later tonight for Thursday Night game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 12 (2014)

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 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 31)
                    The Jaguars played the Colts tough for a half, but that's about all they could do.

     # 31 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 32)
                    Yay! The Raiders finally won a game. Now they can coast to a 1-15 finish with pride.

     # 30 - New York Jets (previous: 30)
                    I don't see how Rex Ryan is still coaching the Jets once the season ends, especially after yet another pointless quarterback change.

     # 29 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 26)
                    Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay… is terrible. Can barely score against the woeful Bears.

     # 28 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 28)
                    Tennessee is much better than their record would indicate. At least they are getting their young quarterback valuable experience for the future.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 27)
                    The Panthers are not what anybody expected this year.

     # 26 - Washington Redskins (previous: 29)
                    Why bench RGIII now? Are the Redskins going to the playoffs and they need Colt McCoy to finish out the season?

     # 25 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 23)
                    The Rams are playing great defense, but still will finish the season under .500 and out of the playoff picture.

     # 24 - New York Giants (previous: 25)
                    The Giants had the Cowboys, then Eli Manning made a terrible pass to a wide open receiver near the goal line and the entire game shifted in the Cowboys' favor. This just isn't Little Brother's year.

     # 23 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 22)
                    Hard to believe that the Atlanta Falcons, at 4-7, are currently in first place in their division.

     # 22 - Chicago Bears (previous: 21)
                    Without a defense, the Bears don't scare anybody.

     # 21 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 24)
                    Can all seven losses be considered "moral" victories? The Vikings would be undefeated then.



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 20)
                    4-7 and in a tie for first place in their division. Not much else to be said, really.

     # 19 - Houston Texans (previous: 15)
                    Once again injuries are taking their toll on a Texans team.

     # 18 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 19)
                    Playing a "home" game in Detroit? No problem. Sure, it helps when the Jets are on the other sideline.

     # 17 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 17)
                    The 49ers just aren't dominating teams like they have in recent years.

     # 16 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 16)
                    The Chargers are starting to string together some wins.

     # 15 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 18)
                    Back in first place in the AFC North, but the Bengals may be the weakest of the teams in their division.

     # 14 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 13)
                    Great comeback win by Hoyer after struggling early. Nice to see Manziel is having trouble adapting to his role as a backup quarterback. I can't understand why this kid can't just grow up now that he's playing with the big boys.

     # 13 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 11)
                    Tough loss on the road to Denver, but the Dolphins offense has definitely shown it can score some points.



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 12)
                    The bye week allowed all the other AFC north teams to catch up to them. How will Pittsburgh respond as the season winds down?

     # 11 - Detroit Lions (previous: 10)
                    The Lions simply look terrible against the elite teams in the league.

     # 10 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 8)
                    The Chiefs fell to the lowly Raiders and may have hurt their playoff hopes in the process.

     # 9 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 9)
                    The Ravens could be the best all-around team in the extremely competitive AFC North.

     # 8 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 6)
                    It's always fun to play the Jaguars after you get pummeled by a better team.

     # 7 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 2)
                    The Cardinals stumbled in Seattle, but they still are very much in control of their own destiny as the regular season winds down.

     # 6 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 14)
                    Seattle dominates the Cardinals at home to claw their way back into the division race.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 4)
                    Another huge comeback win by the Cowboys on the road. Time to feast on Eagles for Thanksgiving dinner!

     # 4 - Denver Broncos (previous: 7)
                    The Broncos are looking very mortal these days.

     # 3 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 5)
                    Philadelphia continues to win with defense and special teams. A huge Thanksgiving day tilt against the Cowboys should show us exactly how good they really are.

     # 2 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 3)
                    The Packers fell off their 50-point streak a bit against the Vikings, but they are still playing scary good football.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    The Patriots have the tiebreaker advantage now over the Colts and the Broncos. Plus they have the best record in the AFC. Can anybody stop them?



Week 12 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Arizona Cardinals (-5), Houston Texans (-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3), Indianapolis Colts (-2), Kansas City Chiefs (-2)

The Biggest Movers - Seattle Seahawks (+8), Denver Broncos (+3), Cincinnati Bengals (+3), Minnesota Vikings (+3), Washington Redskins (+3)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Baltimore Ravens (9), Pittsburgh Steelers (12), San Diego Chargers (16), San Francisco 49ers (17), New Orleans Saints (20), Carolina Panthers (27), Tennessee Titans (28), New York Jets (30)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After Week 12

AFC Favorite:



New England Patriots




NFC Favorite:

Philadelphia Eagles




Check back later today for Thanksgiving Day game predictions.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 11 (2014)

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 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 32)
                    Eventually the Raiders will break through with a win this season, but one is all they will get.

     # 31 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 31)
                    Best part about their bye week, the Jaguars didn't lose.

     # 30 - New York Jets (previous: 29)
                    It's snowing in Buffalo. Wonder how that will ground the Jets?

     # 29 - Washington Redskins (previous: 22)
                    It's Robert Griffin III's fault… and the fault of every other player on the roster and the coaching staff. Chalk up one more lost season in Washington D.C.

     # 28 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 28)
                    The Titans showed some spirit Monday night, but they just are overmatched by most of the other teams in the league.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 25)
                    The Panthers, despite being four games below .500, still control their own playoff destiny. Crazy.

     # 26 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 30)
                    I'd say the Bucs are for real, but we all know beating Washington is not too exciting.

     # 25 - New York Giants (previous: 23)
                    Eli Manning is such a special player. Somebody could tell you he threw 5 touchdowns or 5 interceptions and you wouldn't be shocked by either statement.

     # 24 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 21)
                    Adrian Peterson is truly gone for the rest of the season (pending appeal). Not sure that it matters at this point, since the Vikings won't be making the playoffs.

     # 23 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 27)
                    I doubt the Rams can turn things around enough to finish the season 10-6, but a huge victory over the Broncos has to give them confidence going forward.

     # 22 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 24)
                    Are the Atlanta Falcons seriously in first place in their division? Just how pathetic is the NFC South this year when the best team is a full two games below .500.

     # 21 - Chicago Bears (previous: 26)
                    The Bears can beat the Vikings. Now who else can they beat?



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 17)
                    The Saints constantly find ways to underachieve this season.

     # 19 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 18)
                    As if taking a critical hit to their playoff hopes wasn't bad enough, now the Bills have to deal with 10 feet of snow!

     # 18 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 20)
                    Where have these Bengals been the last month?

     # 17 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 15)
                    The 49ers are a good team, but I don't know what it will take for them to reestablish themselves as a great team this season.

     # 16 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 16)
                    The Chargers barely got by the winless Raiders. Not exactly the most inspiring way to break a losing streak coming out of your bye.

     # 15 - Houston Texans (previous: 19)
                    Too little, too late for the Texans? At least the Colts stumbled, opening the door a bit for Houston.

     # 14 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 10)
                    Seattle just can't seem to string wins together this season like they did a year ago.

     # 13 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 9)
                    The Texans came to play and the Browns could not handle them.



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 13)
                    Still a half-game out of first place, Pittsburgh heads into their bye week. When week 12 starts, they could be all alone in first place, or fall into a tie for last place in the division.

     # 11 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 14)
                    In a make-or-break game against the Bills, Miami kept their playoff hopes alive.

     # 10 - Detroit Lions (previous: 6)
                    The Lions have the record to be a playoff team, but they just can't compete with the upper echelon teams in the league.

     # 9 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 11)
                    Surprisingly, the Ravens are still the odd team out in the competitive AFC North.

     # 8 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 12)
                    A power running game and a solid defense have the Chiefs back in playoff contention.

     # 7 - Denver Broncos (previous: 3)
                    Even Peyton Manning can have a bad game. Losing to the Rams in St. Louis does not inspire a lot of confidence in Denver's Super Bowl aspirations.

     # 6 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 5)
                    The Colts will have to figure out a way to run the ball if they hope to do anything in the playoffs.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 4)
                    The Eagles have less than two weeks to prepare for their division-critical game against the Cowboys. We'll know by then if Mark Sanchez can rally from a bad game

     # 4 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 8)
                    Nothing like moving in to first place on your bye week. With their next two games against the Giants and the Eagles, Dallas could seal the division title with two solid wins over their rivals.

     # 3 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 7)
                    Two straight games with 50+ points. The Green Bay offense is scary good.

     # 2 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 2)
                    Doesn't matter who is playing quarterback for them, the Arizona Cardinals are a solid team, from top to bottom. It's time to stop doubting them.

     # 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
                    Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is now firmly in New England's hands after they knocked off the Colts in Indianapolis.



Week 11 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Washington Redskins (-7), Denver Broncos (-4), Detroit Lions (-4), Cleveland Browns (-4), Seattle Seahawks (-4)

The Biggest Movers - Chicago Bears (+5), Green Bay Packers (+4), Dallas Cowboys (+4), Kansas City Chiefs (+4), Houston Texans (+4)

Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Arizona Cardinals (2), San Diego Chargers (16), Tennessee Titans (28), Jacksonville Jaguars (31), Oakland Raiders (32)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLIX Favorites ~ After Week 11

AFC Favorite:



New England Patriots




NFC Favorite:

Arizona Cardinals




Check back tomorrow for week 12 predictions.