Week 7 Pick-Down

Matchup	Adam's Pick	Eric's Pick
Redskins at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Seahawks at Browns	Browns	Browns
Falcons at Lions	Lions	Lions
Broncos at Dolphins	Broncos	Broncos
Chargers at Jets	Chargers	Jets
Bears at Buccaneers (in London)	Buccaneers	Bears
Texans at Titans	Titans	Texans
Steelers at Cardinals	Steelers	Steelers
Chiefs at Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Rams at Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Packers at Vikings	Packers	Packers
Colts at Saints	Saints	Saints
Ravens at Jaguars	Ravens	Ravens
	Adam	Eric
Week 6 Record	8-5	9-4
Season Standings	61-29	60-30

Bye Weeks: 49ers, Bengals, Bills, Eagles, Giants, Patriots

To see how the "Experts" stack up: http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks

The predictions here come from Adam and correspond to his picks.

Washington Redskins at Carolina Panthers
I backed off picking the Panthers last week, but I've thought all year they were pretty close to cracking the code.  Against a Washington team in the midst of a quarterback change, I think the Panthers grab their second win of the season.

Prediction: Panthers 20 – Redskins 14

Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns
This game is in the running for ugliest game of the season thus far.  I'll take Cleveland for no other reason than they are playing at home.

Prediction: Browns 23 – Seahawks 14

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions
I'm tempted to pick Atlanta here to start proving that last year's 13-3 squad is closer to their true identity than this year's .500 club, but I'm starting to think the Falcons just aren't a very good team.  Meanwhile, Ford Field is becoming one hell of a hard place to play, and coming off a really tough loss to the 49ers, I expect the Lions to come out swinging and end up winning just like this.

Prediction: Lions 34 – Falcons 26

Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins
Ummm...they both suck.  Tebow.

Prediction: Broncos 19 – Dolphins 16

San Diego Chargers at New York Jets
The Jets’ defense isn't nearly as good as it has been in past years, and Phillip Rivers vs. Mark Sanchez is a flatout mismatch.  I trust the Bolts to put up more points than the offensively inept Jets.

Prediction:  Chargers 27 – Jets 20

Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A football match in jolly old England, but this is the kind of football where helmets and pads collide in a smash-mouth affair.  I trust Josh Freeman more than I do Jay Cutler, and I think the Bucs are riding high after beating the division rival Saints.  I also think the Bears just aren't very good and will turn the ball over too many times to win.

Prediction: Buccaneers 23 – Bears 16

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Another toss-up game, I'll go with the home team Titans who have a very solid defense, a good offensive line, and a veteran quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck playing at a high level.  The Texans are banged up with Mario Williams and Andre Johnson both out.

Prediction: Titans 24 – Texans 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals
I don't think the Cards can protect Kevin Kolb in this game, and I don't think as a team Arizona can match Pittsburgh's physicality.  The Steelers need every win to keep pace with the Ravens and should take this game comfortably.

Prediction: Steelers 27 – Cardinals 17

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
No matter if Carson Palmer starts or Kyle Boller gets the nod for Oakland, there will be some kinks to work out in the passing game.  Good thing the Raiders are playing the less than explosive Chiefs, they should be able to ride their running game to victory.

Prediction: Raiders 17 – Chiefs 9

St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys
Sam Bradford out, AJ Feeley in: season over for the once up-and-coming Rams.  Cowboys in a rout.

Prediction: Cowboys 31 – Rams 10

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

There isn't a secondary in the league that can slow down Aaron Rodgers.  If there was, it certainly wouldn't be Minnesota's.  Compounding that problem, the Vikes are giving their first ever start to rookie signal caller Christian Ponder.  This one will get ugly fast.

Prediction: Packers 38 – Vikings 13

Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints
Peyton Manning vs. Drew Brees would have been fun, but now it's Curtis Painter vs. Brees.  Doesn't have the same ring to it does it?  Saints take it easily.

Prediction: Saints 30 – Colts 16

Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
To me this is probably a matchup of the most physically talented team in the AFC against the least talented team in the AFC.  It will show.

Prediction: Ravens 24 – Jaguars 6

NFL Power Poll #2

1. Green Bay Packers (6-0)

You know when you beat a team by 21 points to remain undefeated and fans think you should have won by more, you have a damn good football team. I don't know how anybody beats Green Bay this year.

2. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)

It feels like the mid 90s again with the Niners and Pack attack among the league's best teams. Call me a homer, but where else should the Niners go? Their point differential is +70 (behind only Green Bay and Baltimore), and they've won road games against the solid Bengals, talented Eagles, and very good Lions. Coming East for early start games is notoriously hard for West Coast teams, but Jim Harbaugh's crew has passed that test all three times this season. Plus, they dismantled the NFC South-leading Buccaneers. If the Cowboys just miss a 48-yard field goal at the end of regulation, the 49ers are 6-0 right now.

3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)

The defense is dominating as usual, Ray Lewis seems to be ageless, and the offense has notched 37, 34, and 29 points in their last three games, respectively. If Joe Flacco can keep that well-oiled machine going, then this is the best team in the AFC.

4. New England Patriots (5-1)

They struggled with Dallas, who is again running for the title of most talented team that can't find a way to win, but in the end the Patriots did what they almost always do, prevail. It's just hard to argue with Tom Brady, his band of weapons, and the overall stability of the Patriot organization. This team will be in the playoffs, make a run, and as long as Brady is healthy, can beat anybody.

5. Detroit Lions (5-1)

A few chinks in the armor were exposed against San Fran on Sunday. First, Matthew Stafford can be inaccurate when defenders close in or are around his legs. He tends to fling the ball of his back foot and loses precision. Second, Jahvid Best is a big play guy, but doesn't run well between the tackles and always looks one big hit away from missing time with an injury. Best sustained a concussion against the 49ers that could possibly even end his season. Third, if you can keep Calvin Johnson out of the end zone, you can hold the Lions down. They'll get their yards between the 20s, but keep Megatron limited in the red zone, and Detroit will struggle to score. Ndamukong Suh's name was also rarely called on Sunday, save for when he was getting blown out of the way. Still, this team is one close game against a fellow 5-1 squad from being undefeated.

6. New Orleans Saints (4-2)

Yes, they just lost on the road to Tampa Bay, but Tampa also lost to the 49ers by 45 points. I trust Drew Brees and that offense to keep this team in every game and win a lot of them over the course of a season.

7. San Diego Chargers (4-1)

We'll see what this Chargers team is all about when they visit the Jets and then host the Packers in a few weeks.

8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

They still seem like a band of overachievers, but they're 4-2 and played the Giants very evenly. Their only two losses this year have been on the road by a combined 6 points.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

Like I thought, they made what should have been an easy game against the hapless Jaguars into a struggle, but they still won the game. They still pack a mean defense, and they still have Ben Roethlisberger to bail them out at the end of games.

10. New York Giants (4-2)

At their best, they control both lines of scrimmage, Eli Manning makes big plays, and they batter the opposing passer. At their worst, they play flat, turn the ball over, and lose to Seattle at home. Give me a few more weeks to decide who this team really is.

11. Oakland Raiders (4-2)

Complete guess here, but I think Carson Palmer can pick up the offense quickly, especially complemented by such a strong rushing attack. It's also a good fit for Palmer since the Raiders employ such a vertical passing game. His strength is throwing the deep ball.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)

After getting housed by the Niners they rebounded big time with a clutch win over the division rival Saints. This is a young team still finding it's footing, but they share they lead of the NFC South, and once they figure out how good they can be, watch out.

--from @AdamHocking

Week 6 Game Notes

Falcons over Panthers

• This is the type of game I came to expect from Atlanta.  Michael Turner goes for 139 yards and two scores, Matt Ryan is efficient, and the Falcons get the win at home.
• The game was a little closer than the scoreboard suggests.  Some weird Cam Newton interceptions, of which he had 3, inflated the Falcons’ point total.

Bengals over Colts

• Don’t look now, but the 4-2 Cincinnati Bengals are in second place in very dangerous AFC North.  Just 7 points away from being unbeaten, Andy Dalton has fans asking “Who dey?” in the season’s first half.
• The Dalton-AJ Green connection was on again.  Green caught his fourth touchdown of the season.

49ers over Lions

• All any one cared to talk about after the game was Hand Shake-Gate, and that’s sad considering the tense, entertaining game that actually preceded it.  The Lions were undefeated and the 49ers were a surprising 4-1.  After taking Detroit down a peg, be surprised no more.
• Behind a surging defense, a turnover-averse Alex Smith, and the fire of rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh, the now 5-1 49ers join the NFL’s elite.
• Prior to Week 6 last year, the Niners and Lions were a combined 1-9.  This year they were 9-1.

Packers over Rams

• Stephen Jackson was a bright spot for the Rams, gaining 125 total yards on 22 touches.
• Al Harris’ return to Green Bay on the other hand?  Not so good.
• The Packers move to 6-0 on the season, the NFL’s last remaining unbeaten.  Green Bay is on a 12-game winning streak, dating back to last season.

Giants over Bills

• It wasn’t easy for Eli Manning and crew, but they beat the Bills with a Lawrence Tynes field goal with 1:32 left to play.
• Also, Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 3 1-yard touchdowns.
• Buffalo’s two losses have come by a combined six points.

Steelers over Jaguars

• Rashard Mendenhall broke out for 146 yards, by far a season high as he’s battled injury, and he tallied one touchdown as well.

Eagles over Redskins

• Despite 4 interceptions from Rex Grossman, the Eagles still only win by one touchdown.  I will credit the Washington defense for stopping the bleeding, but I don’t consider this a resounding win for Philadelphia at all.  They have a long way to go before we can talk about them as a playoff team.

Ravens over Texans

• Houston has stumbled in Andre Johnson’s absence, going 0-2 since he injured his hamstring.
• Conversely, the Ravens keep the ball rolling and cement their place among the AFC’s upper echelon.

Raiders over Browns

• Oakland took an early lead, and the Browns—not built to play from behind—could not recover.
• As a consequence of falling behind, Peyton Hillis rushed for just 14 yards.
• With Jason Campbell breaking his collarbone, the only Oakland passing touchdown on the day came from punter Shane Lechler.

Patriots over Cowboys

• Dallas’ last 11-straight games have been decided by four points or less.  The number of plays that could make them 0-5 or 5-0 is astoundingly low.

Buccaneers over Saints

• In the loss, Drew Brees became the first player ever to throw for 350+ yards in four consecutive games.

Bears over Vikings

• This was Devin Hester’s night.  He caught a 48-yard touchdown on the Bears’ first possession, and later he returned a kickoff 98 yards for another score.  Unfortuneately, Hester left the game with a chest injury.
• Hester’s 17 total return touchdowns rank second all-time, trailing only Deion Sanders.
• Also notable: the Donovan McNabb era in Minnesota is over.  First round reach Christian Ponder replaced McNabb in the fourth quarter and will make his first start this Sunday against Green Bay.

Jets over Dolphins

• The Jets easily have one of the worst offenses in the league.  If Matt Moore’s favorite receiver hadn’t been Darelle Revis, the outcome of this game may have been completely different.

--from @jeuneski

Week 6 Pick-Down

Matchup	Adam's Pick	Eric's Pick
Panthers at Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Colts at Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
49ers at Lions	Lions	Lions
Rams at Packers	Packers	Packers
Bills at Giants	Bills	Bills
Jaguars at Steelers	Steelers	Steelers
Eagles at Redskins	Redskins	Eagles
Texans at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Browns at Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Cowboys at Patriots	Cowboys	Patriots
Saints at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints
Vikings at Bears	Vikings	Vikings
Dolphins at Jets	Jets	Jets
	Adam	Eric
Week 5 Record	9-4	9-4
Season Standings	53-24	51-26

Bye Weeks: Broncos, Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Seahawks, Titans

To see how the "Experts" stack up: http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks

The predictions here come from Adam and correspond to his picks.

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
I keep picking the Panthers, and while they are close in every game, they keep letting me down.  So I'm going the other way this week, which almost ensures that the Panthers will finally win.  At home, the Falcons are just a more solid all-around team than Carolina and are better than their 2-3 record would indicate.  To me this is a Falcons squad that can finish with 9-10 wins if they can get their offensive line on track and Matt Ryan plays up to his potential.  I look for the Atlanta running game to get going in this game and for Ryan to be efficient as the Falcons grind their way to a relatively comfortable win.

Prediction: Falcons 24 – Panthers 16

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals
A legitimate shot for the Bengals to reach the 4-2 mark.  Most prognosticators projected the Bengals to win about 4 games on the entire season, so to reach four wins just in potentially six weeks has to be something Cincy is salivating over.  The Bengals have a fast and bruising defense, one that will punish the Peyton Manning-less Colts.  Meanwhile, Andy Dalton has settled into a game manager role pretty adeptly, high praise for a rookie.  AJ Green has been excellent thus far as well, and I like the Bengals’ physicality at home to overwhelm the Colts, who have to feel all is lost at this point.

Prediction: Bengals 23 – Colts 14

San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions
As much as I want to pick my boys, especially after an impressive win over a solid Buccaneers team, I just don't like this matchup for them.  The only thing that gives me hope is that Detroit is about due for a loss, but the personnel is an absolute mismatch.  With Braylon Edwards out for at least another week and Joshua Morgan gone for the year, the 49ers are down to three healthy wide receivers.  On top of that, while the San Francisco offensive line is coming off their best game of the year, they still are a work in progress.  That's not good with Ndamukong Suh and the boys ready to roll.  Finally, there is the Calvin Johnson problem.  Fortunately for San Fran, they should be able to pressure Matthew Stafford and are great at stuffing the run, but their secondary is merely adequate.  Plus, let's face it; there isn't a player in the league who can defend Megatron.  I think the pressure on Alex Smith from the Lions’ front four and the physical dominance of Calvin Johnson will be the difference between these two good teams.  The Niners will keep things close but won't be able to keep pace.

Prediction: Lions 27 – 49ers 17

St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers
When the schedule came out this game looked to have the makings of a shootout.  Now it just looks like a blowout.  Aaron Rodgers should absolutely shred the Rams despite not having his mainstay at left tackle, Chad Clifton.  It looks as though second-year tackle Brian Bulaga will play, and Marshall Newhouse or Derek Sherrod will fill in/add depth at the other tackle spot.  Either way, Rodgers reads defenses so well, is so mobile, and has such a quick release that he can compensate for less time in the pocket.  Meanwhile, the Rams offense has been atrocious, and Sam Bradford appears to have regressed in his second season, completing fewer than 50% of his throws.  I'm predicting a bust out game for Clay Matthews, at least two sacks, and for the Packers to win the turnover battle and the game by a healthy margin.  Side note: the poor Rams go to Dallas and then host the Saints after this Packer showdown.  0-7 is not only possible, it's probable.

Prediction: Packers 33 – Rams 14

Buffalo Bills at New York Giants
I would hope the Giants are a little peeved about losing to Seattle at home, but maybe that's a sign of things to come more than it is an aberration.  The Bills are a really solid football team, and if the Giants sleepwalk in this game, as they are sometimes prone to do, they'll get beat.  I haven't given the Bills their due respect this year, but I think this is a tight-knit group that is playing really well on offense and doing just enough on defense, so I'll circle the wagons and pick the Bills in a close one.

Prediction: Bills 27 – Giants 23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers had by far their best game of the year last week pounding the Titans, but I don't sense a great amount of consistency with this Pittsburgh team.  I think they'll find a way to navigate a victory in this matchup against a bad Jags team, but they'll make it ugly.

Prediction: Steelers 19 – Jaguars 10

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
This is an abandon ship game for the Eagles.  If they lose here, the "Dream Team" sits at 1-5 with virtually no hope of making the playoffs.  I think more than motivation I sense dissension in the Eagle ranks.  The Redskins are playing at home, smell blood in the NFC East water, and have a dynamic pair of pass rushers in Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan that might knock Mike Vick out early.  I'll go with the Redskins, especially coming off a bye week rested and prepared.

Prediction: Redskins 23 – Eagles 13

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders
Pretty simple here: two ground-it-out teams that like to control the clock, pass when they have to, and shorten the game.  I just think the Raiders are better at implementing that strategy than Cleveland is, and I like Oakland's personnel better, especially playing at home.

Prediction: Raiders 24 – Browns 10

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
Mario Williams is gone for the year, Andre Johnson won't play, and Arian Foster is still gimpy.  That is not good when you have to go into Baltimore and face the powerful Ravens, who should be fresh after their bye.

Prediction: Ravens 27 – Texans 14

Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots
I think this game will be closer than most believe.  Miles Austin and Dez Bryant both practiced this week, and though the Cowboys have had offensive line issues, the Patriots have no pass rush, so Tony Romo should have time to locate Bryant, Austin, Jason Witten, and others.  Conversely, DeMarcus Ware is a one man pass rushing machine that should give Tom Brady some issues.  The NFC East is up for grabs and this would be a statement win for a Dallas team that, when healthy, can play with the big boys.  Give me Dallas on the road to surprise the Pats in a shootout.

Prediction: Cowboys 37 – Patriots 31

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I’m really not sure what to do with this game.  The Bucs certainly are not as bad as the team we saw last week in San Fran, and NFC South games are under league mandate to be close.  I like Raheem Morris, and I like the Bucs to bounce back on the ground.  I also look for Josh Freeman to start playing more like he did last year, protecting the ball, making plays vertically down the field, and putting up points.

Prediction: Buccaneers 28 – Saints 27

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
This is the battle for the cellar in the NFC North.  The Bears’ offensive line is so bad that I think I have to give the nod to Minnesota.  I look for Donovan McNabb to be competent in the short passing game, to protect the ball and ride the Adrian Peterson express.  I also look for Jay Cutler to get knocked around all night by Jared Allen and Kevin Williams.

Prediction: Vikings 17 – Bears 13

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
This might be a trap game for the Jets if they were sitting at 4-1, but New York needs every win they can get with the Bills and Pats riding high right now.  With the ineffective running game, I look for New York to start relying more on Mark Sanchez to carry the offense.  I also just don't think Matt Moore can lead a bad Dolphins team to enough points against a solid Jets defense.

Prediction: Jets 17 – Dolphins 6

NFL Power Poll #1: Week 5 Edition

1. Green Bay Packers (5-0)

This is the best offense I’ve seen since the Patriots went 16-0 a few years back.  It even reminds me a bit of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” days with Kurt Warner.  Aaron Rodgers is playing the quarterback position as well as anyone has ever played it, and that’s no overstatement.  At this point in his career he has both the highest passer rating and the lowest interception percentage in NFL history.  All that, and Rodgers’ bevy of weapons has translated into an average of 35 points per game through five contests.

The defense has had some struggles, but bear in mind that the offense scores so often and so quickly that Packer opponents get more opportunities with the ball.  Allowing 22 points per game isn’t ideal, but that’s plenty good enough given the absolute power of the green machine that Rodgers commands on offense.

2. Detroit Lions (5-0)

I’m getting ahead of myself, but it’s hard not to salivate over the long-term rivalry that could transpire between the Packers and Lions in the NFC North.  Matthew Stafford is playing right up to the level of expectation that comes along with being a number one overall draft selection, Calvin Johnson is the single most indefensible player in the league, and the Lions’ front four is the engine of a powerful defense allowing just 18 points per contest.  Stafford vs. Rodgers could be a rivalry for the ages, and it’s just getting started.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

I really like the way this team is put together in terms of its formula for sustaining success throughout a long season and into the winter months.  Ray Rice is a both a power back and a great all-around threat, the offensive line is massive and equipped to manhandle opponents in the run game, and fullback Vonta Leach is the most devastating lead blocker in the NFL.  Joe Flacco is good enough to put up points in the vertical passing game and not get in the way of an overall supremely talented roster.  Anquan Boldin, Ed Dickson, and Dennis Pitta provide a host of underneath weapons, while Lee Evans and emerging rookie Torrey Smith supply electric speed down field.

And oh yeah, the Ravens defense is up to its old tricks, allowing 14 points per game.  First round pick Jimmy Smith returns at cornerback next week.

4. New Orleans Saints (4-1)

I don’t love the Saints, but I think they are better-rounded than the Patriots, clicking better than the Chargers, and just plain more talented than the Bills or 49ers.

The three-headed monster of Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, and Pierre Thomas has big time potential, complementing the always prolific New Orleans passing attack.

The defense has been up and down, but just like with Green Bay, New Orleans has the offense to stick with any opponent.

5. New England Patriots (4-1)

They have the worst statistical defense in the NFL, and I really don’t care.  As long as they have Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Wes Welker, and an endless supply of receiving targets this team has a chance to win every game.  What cannot be overlooked is that the Pats currently rank sixth in the NFL in rushing offense, which makes them an even more potent ball control attack.

With all the draft choices New England has recently invested in the defense I’m a little shocked they aren’t better on that side of the ball, but this is a 12-win-caliber team regardless.

The schedule gets brutal over the next four weeks with home dates against the Cowboys and Giants and trips to face the Steelers and Jets.

6. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)

I’ll be the first to tell you that this team has the potential to come crashing back to earth, but what more do they have to do to earn respect at this point in a young season?  Back-to-back road wins against the better-than-advertised Bengals, followed by a 20-point comeback in Philadelphia were enough to get any Niner fan excited.  The 45-point thrashing of a good Buccaneers team though was the type of dominance the Red and Gold faithful haven’t seen since the Montana and Young days.

Josh Morgan breaking his ankle is a huge loss, especially with Braylon Edwards still not back from knee surgery.

Alex Smith is currently the 3rd-highest rated passer in the league behind Rodgers and Brady.  Though not cutting it loose all over the field, Smith has been mechanically efficient.

The 49er defense has been most impressive, allowing less than 17 points per game, and San Fran is one overtime defeat away from sitting at 5-0.  If this 49er team can go on the road and win against the undefeated Lions next week, we can really start to look at them as an elite team.

7. Buffalo Bills (4-1)

They’ve beaten the “Dream Team,” the Patriots, a good Raiders team, and drubbed the not as bad as we thought Chiefs.  This may not be a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs, but they’ve earned this ranking so far.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been tremendous, Fred Jackson is an early MVP candidate, Steve Johnson is a wonderful threat on the outside, and CJ Spiller has made good things happen with limited touches.  This offense should strike fear into any opponent.

The defense has a long way to go, but they attack and cause turnovers, and that has been good enough when paired with a Bills offense that scores 33 points per game.

8. San Diego Chargers (4-1)

It’s funny.  If you had told me the Chargers would be 4-1 at this point in the year I would have said they are on their way to being true Super Bowl contenders, but it just doesn’t feel that way.  I’m never one to argue with winning games, especially considering San Diego’s notorious reputation for slow starts, but I just haven’t been all that impressed with the way they’ve won.  Of all the 1-loss teams, the Chargers’ +11 point differential is by far the worst.

What it comes down to though, in the words of the late Al Davis, “Just win, baby.”

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)

They haven’t been pretty, but the Steelers rarely are.  They got back on the right track by walloping what most think to be a solid Titans team last week.

The defense is showing signs of age, and Ben Roethlisberger has been hit a ton this year, but the Steelers, like the Patriots, have the fight, heart, and mentality of a championship football team, and to me that counts for a lot.

10. Oakland Raiders (3-2)   

Bay area football is a combined 7-3.  That hasn’t happened in a long while.  I know it’s early for both the Raiders and 49ers, but the culture seems to be shifting for both organizations.

The Raiders have found a superstar in Darren McFadden (on pace for 1,660 rushing yards) and Jason Campbell has settled into a role as an average-to-above average quarterback.  He won’t lose or win games for the team, and he has the arm to make any necessary throw.  I like the Raiders’ front seven, and though statistically their defense has been sub-par, I like the personnel and identity of this football team.

11. Washington Redskins (3-1)

This is a shoulder shrug-type of placement on my list, but really, who else could go in this spot?  The Texans just lost star pass rusher Mario Williams for the year and have a banged up duo of studs in Arian Foster and Andre Johnson.  The Giants just lost at home to the Seahawks.  The Bengals are an impressive young team, but when most of your offense is from a rookie passer to a rookie wideout, you have some limitations.  The Titans are probably the best argument for this spot, but they just got smacked by the Steelers.

I’ll give Sexy Rex Grossman and the fighting Shanahans the nod here for one reason: I love their defense.  Brian Orakpo is the second coming of DeMarcus Ware, and Ryan Kerrigan looks like the second coming of Brian Orakpo.  Safety LaRon Landry might be the hardest hitter and best safety in the league.

This is a well-rounded team, eighth league-wide in rushing offense, eighth in passing defense, and sixth in rushing defense.  Though they rank nineteenth in passing offense, that certainly isn’t abysmal considering how strong they are in other areas of the game.

I think ultimately this team is too limited to make any real noise in terms of a prolonged playoff run, but they’re a squad nobody wants on their schedule because of their attacking, physical style.

12. Tennessee Titans (3-2)

Again, I would go with the Texans here, but injuries are too much of a factor for them to make my top-12 until they can prove that they can persevere.

Meanwhile, Kenny Britt is a huge loss for the Titans, but Matt Hasselbeck has been very good this year, the Titans offensive line is one of the best in the business, and Chris Johnson will kick things into gear sooner or later.

The defense came back to earth against the Steelers but had been limiting opponents to just 14 points per game prior to this past week.

--from @AdamHocking