What kind of a year has it been? Strange. Five teams finished with records of
12-4 or better, a mark that has been tied a few times in the past but never
bettered. There were 11 with double-figure wins, one short of the all-time high
number for a season. And yet I kept hearing that parity or something had dulled
the quality of play in the NFL, and that once you got by the Rams, there really
weren't that many outstanding
teams.
I think you could say that there were teams with good records , but they
were all kind of flawed in some way. In other words, they weren't solid in
every area, thanks to the ravages of free agency.
I'm not sure I agree with that perception, which I've heard all year from people
who take more than a surface interest in the game. I'd have to think it
through. Maybe I'll try to get into it in my team-by-team capsules, as I get
into the ... into the ... well, I'll give you a hint. Into something that's the
final something of the year. No room for adjusting hereafter. No more copouts.
You're right. It's the Final Power
Rankings.
Dr. Z's Power Rankings
Rank
LW
Team
1
1
St. Louis Rams (14-2)
In 1999 the first edition of the Greatest Show on Turf swept its way through the
Super Bowl. Last year's season began as an assault on the record books, a 6-0
mark with an average of 509 yards per game. Greatest offense in history, people
were saying. Project those numbers through a whole season and you've got,
omigod, more than 8,000 yards! Then, uh, things happened. This year it's yes,
but. Yes, they're great but let's see what happens in the postseason. That's
perfectly fine with me. But what I see in front of me now is a team that,
amazingly, has managed to keep its entire offense together for three years.
There have been a few injuries, but no one's on IR. Yes, this is the class of
the league, and now they're ready to go to the next
level.
2
2
Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) Jerome Bettis has been out for five weeks now. Kordell is throwing picks again,
granted, in fairly meaningless games, but still ... A good case could be made
for lifting the Bears into this spot, but I just feel that the Steelers are a
better team, and when the playoffs start, they'll move smartly through the field
until we have the Super Bowl everyone wants to
see.
3
3
Chicago Bears (13-3)
What kind of a price could you have gotten preseason if you'd have bet that the
Bears would finish with this record? Enough, I'll venture, to enable you to buy
a swell condo on Lake Michigan. The Bears have put together a nice closing run
of four straight and they'll be well rested for the Divisional Playoffs. And if things go according to plan, the NFC title game will match
them against the Rams, another contest that gets you excited. I can see the
pregame angle on that one already -- Brian Urlacher against the mighty offense
of St. Louis, sort of a modern-day Samson getting ready to destroy the
Philistine temple, single-handed. Who says that 2001 hasn't produced its share
of interesting
teams?
4
4
Green Bay Packers (12-4)
Well, they went to Giants Stadium, supposedly a tough place to throw the ball in
January and found a pigeon in Dave Thomas and Brett Favre bombed the poor guy
unmercifully. It seems to be their modus operandi now -- put it up
deep just to let you know they're not kidding, then come back with Ahman Green.
Or it least it was against the Giants. Well, I can't see them having anywhere
near that kind of success against the Niners' Ahmed Plummer this weekend,
although they might give Jason Webster a nibble on the other side, just to see
how he likes the Lambeau grass. But that approach might set up an early pick or
two. I get the feeling that they'll settle Favre down with some short stuff,
screens and the like, at the beginning, and run the ball a lot, and then let him
take a shot or two. Defensively, if the Niners really and truly commit
themselves to some serious running, the Pack might have some problems. I guess
you want to know my take on the gimme sack Favre awarded Michael Strahan.
Suggestions of it appalled me at first, then when it happened, and I saw all
that joy, well, I was ready to melt. I mean look at all the double-teamers and
wide-assed monsters who ganged up on the guy all year. Now? Not sure. It's
like a low-level toothache. It bothers you, but not enough to make you
holler.
5
5
San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
You'll notice that the top of the rankings hasn't changed since last week.
What's there to change? Everybody won the games they had
to.
6
6
New England Patriots (11-5)
OK, it was Carolina, but the Patriots reached a new level for them. They blew
out a weaker team in a game that had a certain nervousness factor. Want to
project them through the playoffs? Sure, why not? In two weeks they'll be in
Foxboro for the Divisional Playoffs. I'll give them that one. Then I
figure them to be in Pittsburgh. A rough go. One of the big games in their
history. Wonder what kind of a defense Bill Belichick will set
up.
7
8
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
They're coming off a loss, a squeaky win and an exhibition contest. Last year
they faced the Bucs in the wild-card game, just like now. They won, but the
game left them kind of drained, and the Giants beat them handily the next week.
This year the Bears and their tough defense will be waiting, if Philly gets by the Bucs.
8
10
Miami Dolphins (11-5)
I know Dolphins fans would prefer a higher ranking. Sorry, but all the teams
ahead of them won, except Oakland and Tampa Bay, and I moved Miami ahead of the
Raiders on merit and the Bucs on general feel. And I know there are Jets fans
who'll be saying, "Hey, wait a minute, we beat the Dolphins twice."
That's right, they have a hammer on them, but they haven't exactly been
scintillating ever
since.
9
9
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
There has been a murmur for a while now. Come out pounding. Run the ball and
run it some more. It hasn't been their style, but I have to agree that it gives
them the best chance to win against an Eagles team that's banged up along the
D-line.
10
11
Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Sorry, but I don't like what I see here. I mean, the Vikings and Spergon Wynn
made a game of it into the fourth quarter. Sure, they ran the ball but Elvis
Grbac put up anemic numbers against the NFL's 20th-ranked pass defense. Can
they force enough turnovers against the Dolphins to overcome the turnovers
they'll commit themselves? I don't think
so.
11
14
New York Jets (10-6)
Vince Testaverde threw a couple of really bad picks against the Raiders. The
Jets won it because their kicker was a lot better than what Oakland offered and
because their defense rose up and held the Raiders to two field goals in the
second half. I think they now feel that they have Rich Gannon's number. Maybe
they're right. But I'm sure Oakland feels the same way about
Vinny.
12
7
Oakland Raiders (10-6)
The season's getting older and so is the oldest team in football. January can
be a cruel month. They've lost their last three. Jon Gruden appeared to be in
shock after last Sunday's game. Wonder how tough the practices will be this
week.
13
13
Washington Redskins (8-8)
Steve Spurrier's name casts a long shadow over this franchise. Do you think
Marty Schottenheimer would go into mourning if Danny Boy says, "Here's 10
million bucks, Marty, go take a hike." That's the book value of his buyout
price. Don't I hate it when economics intrude on our little world, but in this
case, you simply can't get away from
them.
14
15
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Poor Hawks. Won the game they had to, then had to sit around rooting for a
hopeless team like the Vikings. Now we're set up for a dandy quarterback
controversy in training camp unless -- and can I be cynical enough to suggest
this? -- Mike Holmgren decides to relieve the pressure on his
protégé, Matt Hasselbeck, by removing the competition. I can see
it now. September, 2002, hot off the presses, The Trifecta, or How
I Was Screwed by Three NFL Franchises, by Trent Dilfer, Quarterback,
Washington
Redskins.
15
12
Denver Broncos (8-8)
Warning -- the next seven spots belong to teams that were all defeated last
week. Call it the Losers Bracket. None of them had anything to play for,
unless you consider the familiar pride or their job status for the
coming season. Some played hard, some just wanted to get through the season.
Denver? Well, Brian Griese threw four picks, but since the Broncos are the only
team among this bunch that didn't end up with a losing record, they get my top
spot in this
bracket.
16
16
Tennessee Titans (7-9)
OK, I'll bring it up before the e-mailers have a go at me. This was my
preseason Super Bowl pick. Seems like that was about three years
ago.
17
17
Cleveland Browns (7-9)
They surprised everyone. They got a lot of bad ink because their guys kept
appearing on police blotters and because their top management took such a weird
position on that riot they had. They're young, they're on the rise, Butch Davis
is a hero. I still want to know why he picked up Chris Akins, that wacko
special teamer the Packers cut. Yeah, yeah, praise all around, but more and
more this is taking on the aspect of an outlaw franchise.
18
18
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
This could be the fabled story of the offseason: Chris Chandler taking Michael
Vick under his wing and teaching him all the subtleties of playing quarterback
in the NFL. I'm writing this because the Redhead just said, "For God's
sake, write something
nice."
19
19
New York Giants (7-9)
I will not take this offense seriously as long as they have Kerry Collins
rolling out. Well, maybe he looks mobile compared to the other QB in town,
Vinny Testaverde, but that's as far as it goes. When Favre rolls out, it's hold
your breath time because something big could happen downfield. When Collins
tries it, you can hear the groans throughout Giants Stadium. The offense is
aging. The defense didn't stop people down the stretch. The test will be how
they address all this in the
offseason.
20
20
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
They showed just enough life in the late going to fool
the fans into believing they're on the way
back.
21
21
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)
Here's where we start. Their 63 sacks were a team record. Their quarterback's
practically a cripple. Someone ought to send them the hot line number for the
Humane
Society.
22
25
Indianapolis Colts (6-10)
Get ready for the sound of it. The New Triplets. Peyton Manning, Marvin
Harrison, Dominic Rhodes. Unless, of course, they can convince Edgerrin James
that Indiana is just as nice a place as
Florida.
23
27
Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
Maybe I should have raised them higher. I mean, poor devils, they gave it their
all, right up to the final whistle. Next year I
will.
24
22
Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Here's another team that got everyone excited with some nifty wins and then
broke the hearts of their fans with a clunker or two. At least they seem to
like their coach. Don't laugh -- that means something
nowadays.
25
24
New Orleans Saints (7-9)
If I were the owner, I'd take about half a dozen players, plus the coaching
staff, put 'em in the NYPD Blue interrogation room and let Andy
Sipowicz have a go at them. He'd get to the bottom of
this.
26
23
Minnesota Vikings (5-11)
I've been accused of being anti-Viking, and maybe through the years there's some
truth in that, but I'll tell you honestly that Monday night I was rooting for
them. Kind of heroic, the battle they put up against the Ravens. During that
Red McCombs halftime interview, though, I nearly switched
sides.
27
26
Dallas Cowboys (5-11) Emmitt Smith shoots for Walter Payton's record next year as Troy Hambrick rides
the pine. The heart says yes, the head says no. A ticklish
situation.
28
28
San Diego Chargers (5-11)
Troy Aikman says he'll return to the arena if he can have Norv Turner run the
offense. Turner is the only assistant retained by management. An Aikman-Turner
package deal for the Chargers? Somehow I think that Troy has other things in
mind.
29
29
Buffalo Bills (3-13)
Can you see them forking over $12 million to bring Rob Johnson back? Me,
neither. Alex Van Pelt had some good moments. Is he the future? That's why
they have an offseason, to answer questions like
that.
30
30
Detroit Lions (2-14)
OK, maybe I should have lifted them into someone's spot because they beat the
Cowboys. But I'm tired of bestowing kindness upon people who don't appreciate
it.
31
31
Carolina Panthers (1-15)
They beat the Vikings in the opener. I said to my wife, "Looks like I had
'em wrong." I did. I picked them to go
3-13.
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