Season Recap - 2011 Detroit Lions

Final Record: 10-6 (0-1)
Finished: 2^nd Place in the NFC North; Lost in Wild Card Round
2012 Draft Position: 23^rd

Preseason Ranking: 22

Week 1: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27-20
    Ranked - 13
    Everybody expected the Lions defense to be strong, but if the offense continues to show flashes of brilliance, Detroit's drought of terrible losing seasons may be at an end.

Week 2: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 48-3
    Ranked - 2
    Detroit's defense was solid last season and showed signs of greatness. The offense, too, showed flashes of inspiration last year. It looks like everything is finally coming together for the Lions in 2011. I can’t remember the last time the Lions were undefeated this late in the season. Could this mean their annual Thanksgiving Day game (against Green Bay this year) might actually be something worth watching?

Week 3: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 26-23
    Ranked - 2
    Note to self: Get Megatron two touchdowns against the Cowboys this week to shut Cris Carter up. Signed, Mathew Stafford.

Week 4: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 34-30
    Ranked - 3
    How great would it be if the undefeated Detroit Lions faced off against the undefeated Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day? Even better would be if these two teams met in the final game of the season with a combined 29-1 record to battle for the division title. Stranger things have happened. The league should not be concerned that Detroit has started 4-0 after two impressive comeback victories. The league should be concerned that the Lions suddenly believe they can beat anybody, no matter what.

Week 5: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 24-13
    Ranked - 2
    It's been 55 years since the Lions have been undefeated this deep into the season. Calvin Johnson is nigh unstoppable. If they can get by San Francisco and Atlanta unscathed, there should be nothing stopping them from going into their Thanksgiving Day matchup against Green Bay perfect.

Week 6: Lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 25-19
    Ranked - 5     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Aaron Rodgers: Surely you don’t think you can escape from this season into the playoffs with a division title?
   Matthew Stafford: That depends on how reasonable we’re all willing to be. All I want is the championship.
   Clay Matthews: And if we refuse?
   Matthew Stafford: Then your Thanksgiving Day game will have no victory prize.

   [Meanwhile, back at Lions heaquarters, Coach Schwartz bickers with the media relations staff]
   Coach Schwartz: I told you not to be premature in your communiqué to the media. Football is not an exact science. It does not deal out undefeated seasons easily.
   Matt Barnhart, Lions Director of Media Relations: The media members are not patient men. They demand constant reports. You led me to believe-
   Coach Schwartz: NOTHING! I made no promises of an undefeated season! I merely said it looked favorable. Besides. With the information in my possession, my lineup calculations should have been correct.

Week 7: Lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 23-16
    Ranked - 7
    Two losses in a row and now an injury to Matthew Stafford. Will he ever be able to complete a full season without getting dinged up?

Week 8: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 45-10
    Ranked - 4
    The roar is back on track! The Thanksgiving date with the Packers will keep people glued to their TVs instead of running for turkey when Detroit plays. Quite a change from the last 50 years.

Week 9: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 4
    The Turkey Day battle with Green Bay looms on the calendar, but the Lions cannot afford to overlook the Bears after what Chicago did in Philadelphia last Monday.

Week 10: Lost at the Chicago Bears, 37-13
    Ranked - 8
    With the undefeated season long gone, Detroit now has to scramble just to keep up in the division.

Week 11: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 49-35
    Ranked - 8
    The Lions have a franchise-defining game against the Packers lined up for Thanksgiving. Win, and all bets are off. Lose, and the Lions fall back into the NFC's Wild Card quagmire.

Week 12: Lost to the Green Bay Packers, 27-15
    Ranked - 9
    Really, Suh? You lost your balance? I often drive my foot hard into the ground when trying to regain my balance, too.

Week 13: Lost at the New Orleans Saints, 31-17
    Ranked - 8
    The most undisciplined team in the NFL continues to self-destruct.

Week 14: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 34-28
    Ranked - 10
    Stupid penalties again kept the Lions from a blowout win over the Vikings - but the missed face mask call at the end of the game may have saved their undisciplined season.

Week 15: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 28-27
    Ranked - 9
    The Lions are playoff bound if they can get past either San Diego or Green Bay the final two weeks of the season.

Week 16: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 38-10
    Ranked - 8
    Do they travel to New Orleans, New York or Dallas? It all depends on how much of a fight Green Bay decides to give them.

Week 17: Lost at the Green Bay Packers, 45-41
    Ranked - 8
    The Lions go from facing Matt Flynn and his 6 TD performance to facing Drew Brees and his record-shattering season. That doesn’t look good for them on paper.

Wild Card Round: Lost at the New Orleans Saints, 45-28


Final Ranking: 10


Tomorrow, the 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers...

Season Recap - 2011 Atlanta Falcons

Final Record: 10-6 (0-1)
Finished: 2^nd Place in the NFC South; Lost in wild Card Round
2012 Draft Position: 22^nd

Preseason Ranking: 5

Week 1: Lost at the Chicago Bears, 30-12
    Ranked - 20
    I don’t know how the Bears managed such a disparity on the scoreboard, but Atlanta better get its act together fast if they hope to be anything more than a bad preseason Super Bowl prediction in 2011.

Week 2: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 35-31
    Ranked - 16
    A big win for the Falcons over the Eagles on Sunday night. Though it merely kept them even with the Saints and Bucs in the standings, the victory could pay huge dividends at the end of the season when tiebreakers determine who gets into the playoffs and where they'll play.

Week 3: Lost at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 16-13
    Ranked - 20
    Note to self: Play fakes do not work if nobody thinks you can, or are going to, run the ball effectively. Signed, Mike Mularkey.

Week 4: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 30-28
    Ranked - 19
    Atlanta has all the potential in the world, but potential won't help them overcome both the Saints and the Buccaneers. If their defense doesn't start playing better, they'll be hard pressed to keep pace in a competitive division.

Week 5: Lost to the Green Bay Packers, 25-14
    Ranked - 20
    The Falcons looked rock solid for about one quarter against the Packers before everything fell apart. For a team that spent the offseason shoring up their weak points specifically to win games like this, the result was quite disappointing.

Week 6: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-17
    Ranked - 18     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Matt Ryan: Nickname's the Birds, Dirty Birds.
    Matthew Stafford: Dirty Birds?
    Matt Ryan: Yeah.
    Matthew Stafford: What kind of name is that?
    Matt Ryan: It's the one we picked. You got a problem with it?

Week 7: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 23-16
    Ranked - 16
    Huge win over the Lions. The Falcons may just have saved their season with that victory, now that they hold a wild card tiebreaker over Detroit.

Week 8: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 15
    The Dirty Birds are flying again and the collapse of the Saints in St. Louis over the weekend has given them some hope.

Week 9: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-7
    Ranked - 13
    Playing the Colts is like getting an extra bye week. The Falcons made the most of their superior skills and are now back squarely in the playoff race.

Week 10: Lost to the New Orleans Saints, 26-23
    Ranked - 13
    Gutty call to go for it on 4th and inches in overtime… but even if it had worked, the Falcons still would have needed to go at least another 30-40 yards before they could kick a winning field goal themselves.

Week 11: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 23-17
    Ranked - 12
    Tiebreakers will kill them in the division, but a Wild Card spot is well within their grasp.

Week 12: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24-14
    Ranked - 12
    The division may be out of reach, but the #1 Wild Card spot is a distinct possibility.

Week 13: Lost at the Houston Texans, 17-10
    Ranked - 11
    A loss to the Texans hurts, but doesn't end Atlanta's playoff hopes after most other NFC hopefuls stumbled last week.

Week 14: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-23
    Ranked - 8
    The Falcons control their own destiny now. A Wild Card spot is theirs to lose.

Week 15: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 41-14
    Ranked - 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.

Week 16: Lost at the New Orleans Saints, 45-16
    Ranked - 10
    A humiliating loss to a division rival is no way to charge into the playoffs. Maybe the Falcons can take out some of their frustration on the miserable Buccaneers this weekend.

Week 17: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 45-24
    Ranked - 9
    Fully rested after their quick defeat of the Buccaneers, the Falcons should give the Giants all they can handle this weekend.

Wild Card Round: Lost at the New York Giants, 24-2


Final Ranking: 11


Tomorrow, the 2011 Detroit Lions...

Season Recap - 2011 Cincinnati Bengals

Final Record: 9-7 (0-1)
Finished: 3^rd Place in the AFC North; Lost in Wild Card Round
2012 Draft Position: 21^st

Preseason Ranking: 32

Week 1: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-17
    Ranked - 12
    Another surprise team, the Bengals kept the Bungles at bay for at least one week. This may be the only victory of the season for them so Cincinnati fans best savor this moment.

Week 2: Lost at the Denver Broncos, 24-22
    Ranked - 18
    For my money, the Bengals are second only to the Detroit Lions as the surprise team of the early season. Already they have one more victory than some experts predicted and they nearly had two. They are certainly no match for Baltimore or Pittsburgh, but they are a match for the 49ers and a victory in front of the home crowd could have them tied for first place after three weeks.

Week 3: Lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 13-8
    Ranked - 22
    Note to self: When everything is starting to go wrong, guarantee the ridiculous and everything will be fine. Signed, Marvin Lewis

Week 4: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 23-20
    Ranked - 18
    I owe you an apology, Coach Lewis. You were right. But that was still a ridiculous guarantee.

Week 5: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-20
    Ranked - 14
    Andy Dalton may not have the stats Cam Newton has, but he has three times as many wins. For quarterbacks, that alone is the true measure of their success. Should the Bengals start putting up Panther-like numbers, this team will scare some people come December.

Week 6: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 27-17
    Ranked - 10     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Owner Mike Brown: [Smiling about the draft picks he has gained from the Oakland Raiders] How fortunate our failure to retire you, Carson Palmer. You survive to be of service to us once again. 
    Carson Palmer: Well, you know me, always glad to help.

Week 7: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 10
    The surprise team of 2011 comes out of its bye week fresh and ready to keep on winning.

Week 8: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 34-12
    Ranked - 9
    Surprise, surprise. The Bengals are not only relevant halfway through the season, they are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Week 9: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 24-17
    Ranked - 6
    They just keep winning. Will midnight ever strike for this young Cinderella?

Week 10: Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-17
    Ranked - 10
    Tough loss against the Steelers, but the Bengals have nothing to be ashamed about.

Week 11: Lost at the Baltimore Ravens, 31-24
    Ranked - 10
    The Bengals may be the third best team in their division, but a Wild Card is by no means out of the question.

Week 12: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 23-20
    Ranked - 11
    How great would it be if Cincinnati actually made the playoffs this year?

Week 13: Lost at the Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-7
    Ranked - 13
    Tough losses of late have slowed Cincinnati's surprising run at the playoffs.

Week 14: Lost to the Houston Texans, 20-19
    Ranked - 17
    The Bengals have dropped a couple and are now fading in the AFC.

Week 15: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 20-13
    Ranked - 11
    The surprise team of the AFC is holding on… and losses by both Baltimore and Pittsburgh definitely helps Cincinnati's cause.

Week 16: Defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 23-16
    Ranked - 9
    C'mon, Cincinnati. Complete your Cinderella run into the playoffs by knocking off the Ravens this weekend.

Week 17: Lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 24-16
    Ranked - 10
    Cinderella made it to the playoffs. Now we just have to figure out if she can dance.

Wild Card Round: Lost at the Houston Texans, 31-10


Final Ranking: 12


Tomorrow, the 2011 Atlanta Falcons...

Season Recap - 2011 Tennessee Titans

Final Record: 9-7
Finished: 2^nd Place in the AFC South
2012 Draft Position: 20^th

Preseason Ranking: 21

Week 1: Lost at the Jacksonville Jaguars, 16-14
    Ranked - 18
    Did the Titans even try against Jacksonville? Chris Johnson rushed for 29 measly yards. He better step it up if he hopes to ever live up to the new contract he just signed. Tennessee's defense did its part, but what happened to the offense?

Week 2: Defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 26-13
    Ranked - 13
    Solid defense and a surprising passing game elevated Tennessee over the highly-rated Ravens. Still, where was Chris Johnson? In the past he's had more rushing yards in a single quarter than he had in the first two games of the 2011 season. If Tennessee can’t get their running game going, they have little hope of making it to the playoffs.

Week 3: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 17-14
    Ranked - 11
    Note to self: With our team's star wide receiver out for the year with an ACL, gain more than 2 yards a carry, even if all that money in the bank is weighing me down. Signed, Chris Johnson.

Week 4: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 31-13
    Ranked - 5
    The Titans are winning despite their high-priced running game. Strong defense and a veteran quarterback, who didn’t get the memo saying he is washed up, will keep Tennessee in a tight struggle with Houston for the division title.

Week 5: Lost at the Pittsburgh Steelers, 38-17
    Ranked - 12
    That was an ugly, ugly loss against the Steelers. Tennessee is in a dog-fight with Houston for a division title and they can't afford to drop winnable games against beaten-up teams if they hope to keep pace with the Texans.

Week 6: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 12     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Chris Johnson: You know, for an old quarterback, you ain't bad in a game.
    Matt Hasselbeck: Thanks. 
    Chris Johnson: What are you, like, 80?

Week 7: Lost to the Houston Texans, 41-7
    Ranked - 19
    I am so glad Chris Johnson held out for his new contract. At least he is fat and happy now and the Titans have to be giddy at the thought of paying him 6 figures a yard after his woeful production this season.

Week 8: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 27-10
    Ranked - 16
    Chris Johnson continues to disappoint. Maybe coaches should bench him for a week and turn Javon Ringer loose. That might wake CJ2K up from his contract hangover.

Week 9: Lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-17
    Ranked - 17
    The Titans are fading, much like the memory of Chris Johnson's 2,000 yards in a single season.

Week 10: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 30-3
    Ranked - 12
    The Titans looked lifeless a few weeks ago, but now suddenly have decided they won’t let the Texans run away with the division without a fight.

Week 11: Lost at the Atlanta Falcons, 23-17
    Ranked - 13
    The Titans failure to create any kind of running game has them fading quickly out of the playoff race.

Week 12: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-17
    Ranked - 13
    The door hasn’t closed on the Titans yet. Houston's quarterback struggles have given Tennessee a chance.

Week 13: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 23-17
    Ranked - 9
    Chris Johnson is suddenly playing like Chris Johnson and the Titans are all the better for it.

Week 14: Lost to the New Orleans Saints, 22-17
    Ranked - 16
    Tennessee is still in the thick of things, but after Houston clinched the division last week, the Titans can only hope to secure a Wild Card spot.

Week 15: Lost at the Indianapolis Colts, 27-13
    Ranked - 16
    A loss to the Colts? Seriously? This would almost be acceptable if the Titans weren't fighting for a playoff spot.

Week 16: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 23-17
    Ranked - 15
    The Titans have the faintest of playoff hopes still left.

Week 17: Defeated the Houston Texans, 23-22


Final Ranking: 14


Season recaps for the playoff teams get underway next week with the 2011 Cincinnati Bengals...

Season Recap - 2011 Chicago Bears

Final Record: 8-8
Finished: 3^rd Place in the NFC North
2012 Draft Position: 19^th

Preseason Ranking: 15

Week 1: Defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 30-12
    Ranked - 5
    Can you win a game by 18 points over an elite team with just smoke and mirrors? It sure seems like the Bears stole won at home against the Falcons, even though the scoreboard led you to believe they were in complete control of the game. This weekend's trip to New Orleans will tell us if the Bears are for real or not.

Week 2: Lost at the New Orleans Saints, 30-13
    Ranked - 14
    Chicago's week one victory over Atlanta looked like a fluke after their week two loss to New Orleans. Things don't get any better for the Bears when they face off against Green Bay in week three. A loss will put them all but out of the division race if Detroit stays hot.

Week 3: Lost to the Green Bay Packers, 27-17
    Ranked - 21
    Note to self: Tell the coaches we need to hand the ball off more. Less chance of getting killed- I mean - sacked on those kinds of plays. Signed, Jay Cutler.

Week 4: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 34-29
    Ranked - 17
    Forte rushes for over 200 yards with Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator? Maybe Cutler will survive the season after all.

Week 5: Lost at the Detroit Lions, 24-13
    Ranked - 18
    The Bears just don’t have any answers for the Lions or the Packers. Maybe they can turn it around this week against the Vikings. If not, the NFC North will be a cold, dark division for them to be in this season.

Week 6: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 39-10
    Ranked - 15     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    [Jay Cutler studies film of the Tampa Bay defensive secondary, a grim look on his face]
    Jay Cutler: This is it... This is where Brees cashed in last week.
    Johnny Knox: A friend of yours? 
    Jay Cutler: A competitor... he was good. He was very, very good.

Week 7: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-18
    Ranked - 12
    Solid win against a solid foe on the soil of some far-flung country. Detroit's stumbles of late have given the Bears some hope.

Week 8: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 11
    The Bears will most likely be the odd team out of the NFC North's three-team race, but they still have potential to slip into the playoffs as the final wild card.

Week 9: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 30-24
    Ranked - 12
    The Bears could be surprisingly good, but they better figure out a way to keep Forte happy without breaking their bank.

Week 10: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 37-13
    Ranked - 6
    Power defense, superb special teams and a solid running game… nothing says Bears football better than these three things coming together in devastating fashion.

Week 11: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 31-20
    Ranked - 6
    Cutler out. Good thing the Bears are winning with defense, special teams and a solid running game.

Week 12: Lost at the Oakland Raiders, 25-20
    Ranked - 8
    Caleb Haine has to play better if the Bears are going to make a run at a Wild Card spot.

Week 13: Lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 10-3
    Ranked - 14
    For a while Martz had figured out how to make the Bears offense successful… but the losses of Forte and Cutler have brought back out his pass-wacky style.

Week 14: Lost at the Denver Broncos, 13-10
    Ranked - 15
    Without a quarterback and a running back the Bears are pretty much dead.

Week 15: Lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 38-14
    Ranked - 15
    Who would have thought Cutler was so valuable?

Week 16: Lost at the Green Bay Packers, 35-21
    Ranked - 18
    Had injuries not derailed their season, Chicago could have been in the dance as a Wild Card.

Week 17: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 17-13


Final Ranking: 17


Tomorrow, the 2011 Tennessee Titans...

Season Recap - 2011 San Diego Chargers

Final Record: 8-8
Finished: 2^nd Place in the AFC West
2012 Draft Position: 18^th

Preseason Ranking: 1

Week 1: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24-17
    Ranked - 7
    So much for addressing the Special Teams shortcomings during the offseason. 15 seconds into the game and the Chargers were already losing by a touchdown. San Diego crawled back into the game and won it in the second half, but they have to stop putting themselves into a hole every time their offense or defense comes off the field.

Week 2: Lost at the New England Patriots, 35-21
    Ranked - 15
    The New England Patriots gave the ball to the Chargers at midfield in the fourth quarter and challenged them to score and take the lead. San Diego responded with a weak series that ended in a turnover and then the Patriots were off and runnning. San Diego will never be the championship team everyone keeps hoping they will be if they cannot move the ball 50 yards for a touchdown against a good team when their backs are against the wall.

Week 3: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-17
    Ranked - 15
    Note to self: Keep playing down to your opponent's level. That keeps the games so much more interesting for fans. Signed, Philip Rivers.

Week 4: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 26-16
    Ranked - 9
    For the first time in years, San Diego escaped September with a winning record. Now, if they could start blowing out teams, a la the Packers, Patriots and Saints, instead of playing down to their opponent's level, they could be on to something here.

Week 5: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 29-24
    Ranked - 8
    The Chargers are 4-1, but they certainly haven't achieved that record easily, considering all their victories have been by seven or less points against teams with losing records.

Week 6: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 8     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    [Norv Turner meets Rex Ryan in a crowded bar before the Chargers-Jets game] 
    Coach Turner: Ryan.
    Coach Ryan: Good afternoon, Norv Turner. 
    Coach Turner: I oughta kill you right now. 
    Coach Ryan: Not a very private place for a murder. Please. Sit down, before you fall down. At least we can behave like civilized people.

Week 7: Lost at the New York Jets, 27-21
    Ranked - 13
    What is going on with Rivers? There are few teams more baffling than the San Diego Chargers.

Week 8: Lost at the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-20
    Ranked - 17
    The last thing Philip Rivers needed was to choke away the snap in the final seconds of that game on Monday night. Until the Chargers win a playoff game and advance deep into the postseason they will always be the team best identified with underachievement.

Week 9: Lost to the Green Bay Packers, 45-38
    Ranked - 18
    Rivers has become a turnover machine. Lucky for the Chargers, no other team in the AFC West seems capable of winning, either.

Week 10: Lost to the Oakland Raiders, 24-17
    Ranked - 19
    Just when you think the Chargers couldn’t underachieve any more…

Week 11: Lost at the Chicago Bears, 31-20
    Ranked - 20
    San Diego just keeps taking underachivement to a whole new level.

Week 12: Lost to the Denver Broncos, 16-13
    Ranked - 21
    The Chargers continue to plummet through the standings. With the firing of Del Rio in Jacksonville, can Norv Turner's departure be close at hand?

Week 13: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 38-14
    Ranked - 19
    San Diego made the most of catching Jacksonville at the right time. They'll have to be near perfect in order to catch Oakland and Denver.

Week 14: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 37-10
    Ranked - 13
    The Chargers traditionally have shined in December, but their early season troubles will make it difficult for them to snag a playoff spot in the tough AFC.

Week 15: Defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 34-14
    Ranked - 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?

Week 16: Lost at the Detroit Lions, 38-10
    Ranked - 19
    The Chargers early season failures finally caught up to them.

Week 17: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 38-26


Final Ranking: 15


Tomorrow, the 2011 Chicago Bears...

Season Recap - 2011 Oakland Raiders

Final Record: 8-8
Finished: 3^rd Place in the AFC West
2012 Draft Position: 17^th

Preseason Ranking: 16

Week 1: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 23-20
    Ranked - 14
    The Raiders own the AFC West. They might really be on to something if they start beating teams from the other divisions.

Week 2: Lost at the Buffalo Bills, 38-35
    Ranked - 17
    A heartbreaking loss on the road. Oakland has their sights set squarely on an AFC Wild Card spot, but they can’t afford to let games slip through their fingers if they hope to get there.

Week 3: Defeated the New York Jets, 34-24
    Ranked - 13
    Note to self: Get revenge for the infamous hot dog incident of 2010. Check. Re-establish the running game a la Marcus Allen. Check. Just win, Baby. Check! Signed, Hue Jackson.

Week 4: Lost to the New England Patriots, 31-19
    Ranked - 16
    It's never good to face the Patriots after a loss. The Raiders found that out the hard way. Now it is up to this young team to rebound with a win before they fall back into their old, losing ways.

Week 5: Defeated the Houston Texans, 25-20
    Ranked - 13
    Just win, Baby. Talk about a perfect homage to the late Al Davis.

Week 6: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 24-17
    Ranked - 11     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    [Carson Palmer storms out of a meeting with Bengals ownership]
    Coach Jackson: Hey, what happened? You don't look very happy. 
    Carson Palmer: Fools. Bureaucratic fools! 
    Coach Jackson: What'd they say? 
    Carson Palmer: They don't know what they had there. 
    Coach Jackson: Well, I know what I've got here. Come on. I'll show you the playbook. You know, the playbook?

Week 7: Lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-0
    Ranked - 17
    In a game that featured 8 interceptions, the Raiders QBs combined to throw 6 of them. It's still too early to say the Palmer trade was bad - and I don’t believe it is - but to get smoked at home 28-0 by the Chiefs doesn’t bode well for Oakland's immediate future.

Week 8: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 18
    Nothing like moving into a tie for first place while sitting idle at home. We'll know soon enough if the bye week helped Carson Palmer adapt to the new offense.

Week 9: Lost to the Denver Broncos, 38-24
    Ranked - 19
    How long before the Palmer reclamation project turns the fans completely off?

Week 10: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 24-17
    Ranked - 17
    The Raiders are all alone at the top of the standings in the one division in the AFC nobody wants to win.

Week 11: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 27-21
    Ranked - 16
    Suddenly Oakland is the team to beat in the AFC West.

Week 12: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 25-20
    Ranked - 15
    The Raiders are now clearly the best team in the AFC West.

Week 13: Lost at the Miami Dolphins, 34-14
    Ranked - 15
    Oakland's misstep in Miami has shifted control of the division to Denver, but if they can get healthy quick, it is their division to lose.

Week 14: Lost at the Green Bay Packers, 46-16
    Ranked - 18
    The season that once looked so promising is starting to slip away from the Raiders.

Week 15: Lost to the Detroit Lions, 28-27
    Ranked - 19
    The fourth quarter collapse against the Lions may have sealed Oakland's fate come playoff time.

Week 16: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 16-13
    Ranked - 13
    I expect an ugly game from the Raiders this week, with lots of penalties and some long, booming kicks from Janikowski. I wonder, though, which will propel them to victory or send them home in bitter defeat?

Week 17: Lost to the San Diego Chargers, 38-26


Final Ranking: 22


Tomorrow, the 2011 San Diego Chargers...

Season Recap - 2011 New York Jets

Final Record: 8-8
Finished: 2^nd Place in the AFC East
2012 Draft Position: 16^th

Preseason Ranking: 9

Week 1: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 27-24
    Ranked - 11
    Super Bowl caliber teams should not need a blocked punt and a huge mental mistake by the opposing quarterback to win a game. The Jets play gritty and have proven time and time again they can win both ugly and often.

Week 2: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 32-3
    Ranked - 3
    The Jets won by 29 points while only rushing for 100 yards and passing for less than 200. If they aren't the anti-Patriots, I have no idea who is.

Week 3: Lost at the Oakland Raiders, 34-24
    Ranked - 7
    Note to self: When the media focuses too much on your most recent loss (especially if it's a game that could have easily been won), start bickering with a franchise legend. Sure, it won't be pretty, but then again, neither is your offense. Signed, Rex Ryan.

Week 4: Lost at the Baltimore Ravens, 34-17
    Ranked - 15
    The Ravens thoroughly grounded the Jets and made their claims of being an elite AFC team look suspect. Behind Sanchez, New York's "Ground and Pound" offense is downright offensive.

Week 5: Lost at the New England Patriots, 30-21
    Ranked - 17
    From 2-0 to 2-3. The Jets offense is terrible and the defense has to play perfect in order for their offense to have a chance. The Jets will implode if they allow the winless Dolphins to defeat them at home on Monday night.

Week 6: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 24-6
    Ranked - 17     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers Safety: Hello, Cromartie.
    Antonio Cromartie: Eric Weddle. I always knew some day you'd come walking back through my door. I never doubted that. Something made it inevitable. So, what are you doing here in New York?
    Eric Weddle: We need to make up for one of the playoff losses you helped us collect.
    [Cromartie surprises Weddle with a right cross to the jaw]
    Antonio Cromartie: I've learned to hate you in the last few years!

Week 7: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 27-21
    Ranked - 11
    If the defense can keep the Jets in a game, the offense should be just talented enough to win it at the end.

Week 8: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 12
    The fate of the Jets will be decided in the next two weeks as they come out of the bye week with games scheduled against Buffalo and New England. That should give them something to talk about.

Week 9: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 27-11
    Ranked - 11
    A big win over the Bills gives the loud-mouthed Jets some nice momentum as they ready themselves for a classic tilt against the struggling New England Patriots.

Week 10: Lost to the New England Patriots, 37-16
    Ranked - 14
    The Jets set themselves up to take a big leap forward or a huge step back with their talk leading up to the game against the Patriots… and New England sent them reeling backwards.

Week 11: Lost at the Denver Broncos, 17-13
    Ranked - 14
    How cool was that to see the vaunted Jets defense lose the game on a two-minute, 95-yard touchdown drive?

Week 12: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 28-24
    Ranked - 14
    A full two games back in the division with five left to play, the Jets need to run the table to have any shot at a playoff spot.

Week 13: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 34-19
    Ranked - 12
    New York is on the outside looking in at the playoffs after 12 weeks, but if any team has the ability to make a late season run deep into the playoffs, the Jets do.

Week 14: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 37-10
    Ranked - 9
    The Jets are making their late season run. Watch out.

Week 15: Lost at the Philadelphia Eagles, 45-19
    Ranked - 12
    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.

Week 16: Lost to the New York Giants, 29-14
    Ranked - 16
    One more loss and we can be done listening to these idiots… at least for a few months.

Week 17: Lost at the Miami Dolphins, 19-17


Final Ranking: 18


Tomorrow, the 2011 Oakland Raiders...

Season Recap - 2011 Philadelphia Eagles

Final Record: 8-8
Finished: 2^nd Place in the NFC East
2012 Draft Position: 15^th

Preseason Ranking: 6

Week 1: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 31-13
    Ranked - 3
    Not only did the Eagles soundly defeat the Rams, they physically knocked St. Louis around and dominated them throughout most of the game. Michael Vick still has some growing to do as a quarterback, but he shouldn't try to become a pure pocket passer. His mobility keeps defenses wary and with all the explosive tools at his disposal, Philadelphia will only have themselves to blame if they fall short of expectations this season.

Week 2: Lost at the Atlanta Falcons, 35-31
    Ranked - 9
    Beaten, bruised and bloodied. Not quite the homecoming Vick hoped for with his return to Atlanta. Now Philadelphia may be forced to face the Giants without their superstar quarterback. As a team, the Eagles should be strong enough to defeat the Giants, whether or not Vick plays.

Week 3: Lost to the New York Giants, 29-16
    Ranked - 19
    Note to self: A left-handed, running quarterback does not need his right hand to be successful. Signed, Michael Vick.

Week 4: Lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 24-23
    Ranked - 21
    Only one "Dream Team" ever amounted to much and lived up to all expectations placed on them. Philadelphia would do well to distance themselves from the label Vince Young helped the media come up with. The best solution - win more than you lose. Afterall, winning turns even perennial losers into "dream teams." Just ask the Detroit Lions.

Week 5: Lost at the Buffalo Bills, 31-24
    Ranked - 23
    4-1 in the fantasy standings and 1-4 in real life. The Eagles are proving beyond a doubt the only stat that truly matters is the points on the scoreboard. Philadelphia can certainly right the ship, but if they don’t start winning soon, they will be the biggest disappointment in Philadelphia since the Phillies got knocked out of the playoffs in 2011.

Week 6: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 20-13
    Ranked - 21     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    [Coach Reid, concerned about Vick's propensity for injuries, tries to convince him to stay in the pocket]
    Coach Reid: You're gonna get killed scrambling after your damn fortune and glory!
    Michael Vick: Maybe. But not today.

Week 7: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 20
    Out of the bye week they face the Cowboys. It's still anybody's division in the NFC East and the first Cowboys-Eagles matchup will do little to clear up the division race, unless the Eagles get crushed at home.

Week 8: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 34-7
    Ranked - 14
    As much as I hate to say it, the Eagles may have turned a huge corner with their win over Dallas and could run the table to finish 12-4, if Vick can minimize his turnovers and maximize the big plays this offense is capable of.

Week 9: Lost to the Chicago Bears, 30-24
    Ranked - 16
    The Eagles may be fine in the division, but they better turn it around quick and win the NFC East outright. Tiebreakers will kill them if they have to go the Wild Card route.

Week 10: Lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 21-17
    Ranked - 18
    The dream has become a nightmare for fans in Philly and I can honestly say it does not bother me one bit.

Week 11: Defeated the New York Giants, 17-10
    Ranked - 17
    Too little, too late. The Eagles might just be figuring things out for next year.

Week 12: Lost to the New England Patriots, 38-20
    Ranked - 19
    The Patriots made the Eagles defense look like a JV team. With short rest, will they look any better against a boring Seahawks team?

Week 13: Lost at the Seattle Seahawks, 31-14
    Ranked - 23
    The Eagles are on absolute life support, but with the recent struggles in Dallas and New York, who knows what will happen the next four weeks.

Week 14: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 26-10
    Ranked - 20
    The playoffs aren’t an option anymore, but a miserable season could be salvaged if the Eagles can run the table to finish an even 8-8.

Week 15: Defeated the New York Jets, 45-19
    Ranked - 20
    An 8-8 division champion in the NFC East? Maybe, but it won’t be the Eagles.

Week 16: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 20-7
    Ranked - 17
    The Eagles have finally started to play together, but it is too late for them to save their season.

Week 17: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 34-10


Final Ranking: 13


Season recaps resume next week with the 2011 New York Jets...

Season Recap - 2011 Dallas Cowboys

Final Record: 8-8
Finished: 3^rd Place in the NFC East
2012 Draft Position: 14^th

Preseason Ranking: 14

Week 1: Lost at the New York Jets, 27-24
    Ranked - 21
    Talk about accomplishing what has never been done before! For the first time in franchise history the Cowboys lost a game they had been leading by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter. The mistakes they made in the last few minutes - blocked punt, bone-headed interception - are the kinds of mistakes 6-10 teams make. Dallas is by no means out of it, but if they can’t stop their late-game miscues, a 1-4 start to 2011 is not out of the question.

Week 2: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 27-24
    Ranked - 22
    As impressive and gutsy as any comeback win you will ever see, Dallas should not have been behind the 49ers to begin with. Injuries have taken a toll on them and it is still yet uncertain whether Romo or Austin or Jones or Bryant will be in uniform when their Monday Night matchup against the division-leading Redskins kicks off. Are the Cowboys better than 22nd in the league? Absolutely, but only if they can weather the early season storm of injuries.

Week 3: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 18-16
    Ranked - 17
    Note to self: Kickers, although slow and dangerous to put on the football field, can still serve a purpose. Signed, Jason Garrett.

Week 4: Lost to the Detroit Lions, 34-30
    Ranked - 20
    Romo better decide if he is going to be a hero or a goat coming out of the bye week. He's been both extremes this season. Truth is somewhere in the middle, which is why 8-8 may be the best this team can hope for unless the boneheaded mental mistakes are stopped sooner rather than later.

Week 5: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 16
    The bye week gave Tony Romo time to decide if he really is a goat or a hero. Against a suspect Patriots defense this weekend, he'll let us know which direction he is headed… at least for one week.

Week 6: Lost at the New England Patriots, 20-16
    Ranked - 20     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Owner Jerry Jones: You say this has been just another typical day for you, huh? 
    Tony Romo: NO! It's been better than most.

Week 7: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 34-7
    Ranked - 15
    The Cowboys should beat teams like the Rams by 27. I'll believe they have turned a corner if they come out of Philadelphia with a win Sunday night.

Week 8: Lost at the Philadelphia Eagles, 34-7
    Ranked - 19
    Seriously, Dallas? THAT was your effort against the Eagles on Sunday?

Week 9: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 23-13
    Ranked - 15
    The Cowboys are beating the teams they should beat and losing to the teams they should lose to. An 8-8 finish seems about right, unfortunately.

Week 10: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 44-7
    Ranked - 11
    Dallas is in the easiest part of their schedule… and they need to continue to make the most of it.

Week 11: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 27-24
    Ranked - 11
    If Dallas can get by suddenly hot Miami, the NFC East will be theirs to lose.

Week 12: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 20-19
    Ranked - 10
    The Cowboys are in charge of the division now, but with two games remaining against the second-place Giants, this race is far from over.

Week 13: Lost at the Arizona Cardinals, 19-13
    Ranked - 10
    What a unique way to lose – icing your own kicker? Awesome. That has to be some kind of record!

Week 14: Lost to the New York Giants, 37-34
    Ranked - 14
    The Cowboys should be 9-4, but terrible mental mistakes have taken the wind out of their sails. A Saturday night tilt against the Buccaneers will either get them back on track or kill any fading playoffs hopes they still have left.

Week 15: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-15
    Ranked - 10
    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.

Week 16: Lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-7
    Ranked - 11
    The season should not have come down to a one-game playoff just to get into the postseason tournament. The Cowboys have one more chance to prove themselves - or to continue their reign as the kings of underachievement.

Week 17: Lost at the New York Giants, 31-14


Final Ranking: 16


Tomorrow, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles...

Season Recap - 2011 Arizona Cardinals

Final Record: 8-8 Finished: 2^nd Place in the NFC West
2012 Draft Position: 13^th

Preseason Ranking: 19

Week 1: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 28-21
    Ranked - 15
    Arizona showed a lot of promise… and a lot to be concerned about during their narrow victory over the Carolina Panthers. If the defense does not have an answer for a rookie quarterback in his first real game as a pro, how will they fare when an elite veteran comes to town?

Week 2: Lost at the Washington Redskins, 22-21
    Ranked - 21
    The aerial attack of Kolb to Fitzgerald seems to be coming along nicely, yet Arizona still has too many question marks on their roster for anybody to tell if they are for real or not. Being real in the NFC West is one thing, being real in the rest of the NFL is totally different.

Week 3: Lost at the Seattle Seahawks, 13-10
    Ranked - 23
    Note to self: We weren't built to run. Throw me the ball! Signed, Larry Fitzgerald.

Week 4: Lost to the New York Giants, 31-27
    Ranked - 23
    The Cardinals showed they can run the ball. We always knew they could pass. Now can they just play some fourth quarter defense?

Week 5: Lost at the Minnesota Vikings, 34-10
    Ranked - 26
    Kolb benched. Defense struggling. Offense thinking about becoming run-first. So much for the Cardinals making a run this year.

Week 6: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 24     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    Larry Fitzgerald: There are big Steelers in the stadium, Kolb!
    Kevin Kolb: Oh, that's just our opponent, Larry.
    Larry Fitzgerald: I hate the Steelers, Kolb! I hate 'em!
    Kevin Kolb: Come on! Get over the Super Bowl loss, will ya!

Week 7: Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 32-20
    Ranked - 27
    It's still hard to believe this team has fallen so low after being in the Super Bowl just a few seasons ago. For all of you out there clambering for Peyton Manning to be MVP this season after the Colts' dreadful start, I give you exhibit B for your argument: the Arizona Cardinals in the years since Kurt Warner retired.

Week 8: Lost at the Baltimore Ravens, 30-27
    Ranked - 27
    Fitzgerald will be hard-pressed to make his run to the Hall of Fame if the Cardinals can’t get him a decent quarterback in the next few years.

Week 9: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 19-13
    Ranked - 25
    How careless do you have to be to give up two safeties in a single quarter? Teams can go years without giving up two safeties…

Week 10: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 21-17
    Ranked - 21
    Could a Skelton-Kolb quarterback controversy be on the horizon? That certainly doesn't have the same ring as Montana-Young, does it?

Week 11: Lost at the San Francisco 49ers, 23-7
    Ranked - 24
    Who will start for Arizona once Kolb is back to 100%? Does it even matter?

Week 12: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 23-20
    Ranked - 23
    The offense and defense may not be doing much, but at least the Special Teams unit is making people pay attention.

Week 13: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 19-13
    Ranked - 22
    Sometimes the only thing better than calling a timeout is not calling a timeout. It's worked for Andy Reid all these years, it certainly worked for Ken Whisenhunt last Sunday.

Week 14: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 21-19
    Ranked - 21
    Just when you think the Cardinals are done, they turn spoiler.

Week 15: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 20-17
    Ranked - 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.

Week 16: Lost at the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-16
    Ranked - 22
    Kolb is back and, even if the season is lost, he has a starting job in 2012 to play for.

Week 17: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 23-20


Final Ranking: 19

Tomorrow, the 2011 Dallas Cowboys...

Season Recap - 2011 Seattle Seahawks

Final Record: 7-9
Finished: 3^rd Place in the NFC West
2012 Draft Position: 12^th

Preseason Ranking: 24

Week 1: Lost at the San Francisco 49ers, 33-17
    Ranked - 30
    Nothing like an old college rivalry to add some spice to a boring, NFC West divisional matchup. Seattle is well on their way to becoming the first team in NFL history to make it into the playoffs two years in a row with a losing record. Now, if they could just find seven wins on their remaining schedule…

Week 2: Lost at the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-0
    Ranked - 31
    The Seahawks have looked absolutely terrible with Tarvaris Jackson at the helm. Was Matt Hasselbeck really that bad? I don't think so and the Titans don’t think so. Unlike with Kansas City, there is still hope for Seattle to turn things around. They play in the NFC West afterall and in a division where the teams are a combined 2-6 after two weeks, anything can happen. Just ask the 2010 Seahawks.

Week 3: Defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 13-10
    Ranked - 26
    Note to self: 7-9 division champions two years in a row? That would be some kind of record! No need to aim high when you play in the NFC West. Signed, Pete Caroll.

Week 4: Lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 30-28
    Ranked - 26
    There is some life in Seattle, but it certainly isn’t very interesting.

Week 5: Defeated the New York Giants, 36-25
    Ranked - 22
    Seattle scored a great road victory against the Giants last week and showed signs of life for the first time all season. With the 49ers looking dominant, even outside the NFC West, the Seahawks are the only team in position to challenge them for the division title.

Week 6: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 22     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    [The Seahawks study the standings after their bye week and see the 49ers have increased their lead in the division]
    Coach Carroll: Our situation has not improved.

Week 7: Lost at the Cleveland Browns, 6-3
    Ranked - 24
    Yuck. Some fans actually had to watch that game.

Week 8: Lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-12
    Ranked - 26
    Aside from the two games against the Falcons and Giants, Seattle hasn't scored more than 17 points. Seven wins this season seems a stretch with such woeful offensive performance.

Week 9: Lost at the Dallas Cowboys, 23-13
    Ranked - 28
    Meh.

Week 10: Defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 22-17
    Ranked - 24
    I don’t get this team. Please decide once and for all if you are good or not so people can get on with their lives.

Week 11: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 24-7
    Ranked - 22
    Seattle is still one of the most boring teams in the NFL.

Week 12: Lost to the Washington Redskins, 23-17
    Ranked - 22
    Seattle just bores me. I don't know why.

Week 13: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 31-14
    Ranked - 20
    Marshawn Lynch is finally adding some much needed life to the Seahawks, though it is too little, too late for Seattle.

Week 14: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 30-13
    Ranked - 19
    Seattle is still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, but even a perfect run to 9-7 won’t be enough to get them to the second season.

Week 15: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 38-14
    Ranked - 14
    Seattle sure put a beating on Chicago. The Seahawks are just starting to get interesting. It only took them 14 games to get there.

Week 16: Lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 19-17
    Ranked - 20
    7-9 was good enough to win the division title last year. This year, the Seahawks could finish one game better and miss the playoffs.

Week 17: Lost at the Arizona Cardinals, 23-20


Final Ranking: 20


Tomorrow, the 2011 Arizona Cardinals...

Season Recap - 2011 Kansas City Chiefs

Final Record: 7-9
Finished: 4^th Place in the AFC West
2012 Draft Position: 11^th

Preseason Ranking: 20

Week 1: Lost to the Buffalo Bills, 41-7
    Ranked - 32
    The Chiefs apparently never recovered from the 30-7 loss to the Ravens in last year's playoffs, but the 41-7 drubbing the Bills put on them is ridiculous for a defending division champion. There is still plenty of time for them to get their act together, but the window will close quickly if their offense can't figure out a way to score on a consistent basis.

Week 2: Lost at the Detroit Lions, 48-3
    Ranked - 32
    If I could rank the Chiefs lower than last overall, I would. I have never seen a team so dead and buried after two games as this 2011 Kansas City squad. Injuries and poor execution on both offense and defense have devastated this division champion from one year ago. But no worries. A trip to San Diego may be the cure for what ails them, since the Chargers are infamous for playing down to their opponent's level. Still, the Chiefs are beyond forked.

Week 3: Lost at the San Diego Chargers, 20-17
    Ranked - 32
    Note to self: At the end of a miserable season, they'll fire you anyway, so you might as well start calling the plays yourself. Signed, Todd Haley.

Week 4: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 22-17
    Ranked - 29
    A win against the Vikings isn't saying a whole lot, but after the terrible start to the season, the Chiefs are happy to have any hope in their 2011 campaign.

Week 5: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 28-24
    Ranked - 28
    Two wins in a row? Forget the fact that those wins came against winless opponents. Luckily for the Chiefs, they do have a game scheduled against Miami soon. I foresee another notch in the win column that week.

Week 6: BYE WEEK
    Ranked - 27     Indiana Jones Style Recap
    [To the other Chief players, while watching the Oakland fans take their seats]
    Matt Cassel: Guys, we're pilgrims in an unholy land.

Week 7: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 28-0
    Ranked - 23
    Have the Chiefs suddenly figured things out and turned the corner on their season? Monday night's matchup against the Chargers has suddenly become interesting.

Week 8: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 23-20
    Ranked - 20
    From three straight losses to four straight wins and a tie for the divisional lead. The Chiefs may not have all the pieces in place to continue this run, but they certainly have the potential to keep surprising people.

Week 9: Lost to the Miami Dolphins, 31-3
    Ranked - 23
    I just don’t know what to make of the Chiefs. They are like a poor man's underachieving Chargers.

Week 10: Lost to the Denver Broncos, 17-10
    Ranked - 23
    When the other team only completes two passes against you, it is usually considered good form not to let one of those two completions result in a touchdown. Talk about humiliating.

Week 11: Lost at the New England Patriots, 34-3
    Ranked - 29
    The Chiefs have gone from bad to better to absolutely terrible.

Week 12: Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-9
    Ranked - 29
    The Chiefs tried a fast-paced college offense against the Patriots last week and that worked for about a quarter. If they can turn things around, they still have a chance in the AFC West, but only if they run the table.

Week 13: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 10-3
    Ranked - 27
    Hail Mary passes don't generally win games at the end of the first half. Maybe Kansas City's luck is about to change for the better.

Week 14: Lost at the New York Jets, 37-10
    Ranked - 28
    Haley, gone. Now what?

Week 15: Defeated the Green Bay Packers, 19-14
    Ranked - 25
    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.

Week 16: Lost to the Oakland Raiders, 16-13
    Ranked - 26
    How sweet would Orton's revenge be if he could knock the resurgent Broncos out of the playoffs?

Week 17: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 7-3


Final Ranking: 25


Tomorrow, the 2011 Seattle Seahawks...