Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:20 pm EDT

Divisional Power Rankings: A shakeup at the top?

By Chris Chase

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The NFC East went 1-3 this weekend, with the three losses coming against teams with a combined 4-11 record. Does that make room for a new team to move into the #1 spot? Read on:

1) NFC East (11-4, #1)

Emmitt Smith might say that the NFC East was debacled this weekend. And he'd be right (conceptually, that is). But are the three (bad) losses by the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys enough to knock the NFC East off atop these rankings for the first time in history? We say no. The East was so dominant over the season's first five weeks that they get a pass for the week 6 stinker. The leash is short though. Should the Rams (vs. Dallas) and Browns (at Redskins) continue their East-beating ways this Sunday, there might be a change at the top.

2) NFC South (11-5, #2)

The Carolina Panthers are a riddle wrapped inside an enigma dressed in teal.

3) AFC South (7-4, #4)

Despite playing in the AFC South, Indianapolis is farther north than both Baltimore and Cincinnati. This has always bothered me.

4) AFC East (9-5, #3)

Other than the NFC East, the AFC East is probably the most up-for-grabs division in the NFL. The NFC South might be up there, but I plan on disregarding Atlanta until they leave me no choice.

5) AFC North (3-8, #6)

The AFC North has the worst non-division winning percentage in the NFL. But the fact that the division has the toughest common opponent draw possible (NFC East and AFC South) plays a big factor in that. Cleveland's win over New York last night is good enough for a one spot jump.

6) NFC North (5-10, #5)

Right now, all things considered, I think Green Bay fans would rather have Aaron Rodgers than Brett Favre ... and Detroit fans would rather it be basketball season.

7) AFC West (4-8, #7)

8) NFC West (5-11, #8)

With the west coast in complete shambles, 2pac must be spinning in his grave swivel chair at the beach.

Photo via Getty Images

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79 Comments

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  1. Robert
    1. Posted by Robert Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Atlanta is for real. They play good defense and run the ball well. They should have beaten the Bears by 17 points, if you watched the game. Matt Ryan is very accurate and converts 3rd downs regularly.
    I'd take Tampa Bay,Carolina,New Orleans,and Atlanta against any 4 teams in any other division.
    The NFC East isn't as good as advertised now that the Giants played a decent team and the Cowboys have Romo injured,Pac-Man gone,and T.O. angry. The Redskins lost to the hapless Rams dude. Philly is missing Westbrook.
  2. Robert
    2. Posted by Robert Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    San Diego is the best team in the NFL.
    Here's my top 10 teams right now : 1)Chargers 2)Titans 3)Buccanners 4)Saints 5)Steelers
    6)Giants 7)Jaguars 8)Dolphins 9)Ravens 10)Falcons
  3. Hunter
    3. Posted by Hunter Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:06 pm EDT

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    The Panthers will get it together. They needed a slap in the face to bring them down to earth after the 34-0 domination of KC. Even if they do lose to New Orleans this week, they have two fluff games coming up against Oakland and Detroit. The Cardiac Cats aren't dead yet.
  4. diehard_wings_fan134096
    4. Posted by diehard_wings_fan134096 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    @MJD
    screw basketball we're happy it's hockey season so we don't have to endure watching the liedowns find ways to lose....hey mr ford sell the team to illitch as he knows how to build a championship team...
    LIONS 0-16 BABY YEAH!!!
  5. nick sr
    5. Posted by nick sr Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:37 pm EDT

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    i'm glad robert allowed that the browns are a 'decent' team. let me go a little further. after a slow (and scary) start against the giants they proceeded to dismantle them. the o-line is living up to their preseason ranking, edwards is healthy (and swaggering) anderson, who seemed to make use of everybody, knows they've gotta stay in contention if he wants to continue as starter and lewis rounds out the attack. if they ever get a healthy winslow back...
  6. dudelabowski
    6. Posted by dudelabowski Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    San Diego is the best????? They don't even have the best record in their division, they lost to Miami and LT is not at 100%.....they are the best mediocre team.
  7. diehard_wings_fan134096
    7. Posted by diehard_wings_fan134096 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    oops my bad......just realized post #4 should be directed at chase not MJD..
  8. Andy K
    8. Posted by Andy K Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    @diehard_wings_fan134096
    Too bad the NFL doesn't allow its franchisees to own any other sports clubs. If Mr. I bought the Lions, he'd have to dump both the Wings and the Tigers- and I don't see that happening.
  9. Larry V
    9. Posted by Larry V Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    All I know is Herm Edwards as coach, we suck! Carl Peterson 5 year plan now thats in year 20, needs the boot. Tony G the man! They couldnt even do that one right. Sad day in Missouri in Sports....
  10. diehard_wings_fan134096
    10. Posted by diehard_wings_fan134096 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    @andy k
    oops......lol....forgot about that.....dumb rule I think personally but whatever.......just another reason why I prefer the wings over a team of overpaid slackers run by an owner who has to be publicly thrown under the bus by his son before he will do anything to help better his organization...
  11. TonyMDA
    11. Posted by TonyMDA Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    The way you have to look at it is that every team in the NFL would dred having to play the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, or the Washington Redskins at any time, period. That is the realism and the Power of the NFC East. As a matter of fact, each team in the NFC East would rather never play each other at all. Teams in the NFC East will always be favored over any other team with very few exceptions. Proof is in the odds given by the Las Vegas betting community that always put the NFC teams as favorites. That could change with the injuries, but when healthy, you know the story.
  12. Gbdup
    12. Posted by Gbdup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    2 NFC teams over the AFC SOUTH??? the giants got killed by cleveland and dallas got beat 2 weekends in a row. the nfc south doesnt have anything special. the only reason the afc south has a bad record is because everyone in their division is playoff caliber.
  13. Gbdup
    13. Posted by Gbdup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    the patriots will be alright. matt cassell will make improvements throught the season, but when you saw the tight end open in the in zone and cassell didnt even see him, you know brady wouldve zipped it to him in .001 seconds.
  14. Gbdup
    14. Posted by Gbdup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    matt cassell hasnt played since high school. the only reason i want the pats to stick with him is so that they dont take a playoff spot in the afc.
  15. ben w
    15. Posted by ben w Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    MJD!!! READ THIS YOU MORON!!!!!!!! Why would you disregard a team that has shown multiple times this year that they have all the ingredients to beat teams at home and on the road???? I won't tell you which team it is but you have been snubbing them all year and they continue to prove your goofy as s wrong. (hint: they are tied for the best record in their division, which you have ranked as the second best division in the NFL) You are still an idiot.
  16. Dimitri
    16. Posted by Dimitri Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    7 rules:
    "this is for post no. 2. get real. DENVER has beaten 3 of your top 4 teams. do you know anything about football? do you? bueller . bueller. go back to smokin' crack"
    youre mediocre donks did not beat the Bolts. you know it and the world knows it. The refs handed them that one. outside lookin in. donks are 8-8 at best.
  17. brandon h
    17. Posted by brandon h Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    san diego is the best team in the nfl. 3 losses by a combined 10 points. haven't lost to a bad opponent yet...if you say the dolphins, see dolphins v. patriots...and they have an offense that puts up 25 points in a quarter, a defense that allows next-to-nothing in the second half of games and a backup running back who stands currently as one of the most exciting/explosive player in the nfl.
    also, philip rivers is playing like the best qb in the afc, along with drew brees in the nfc.
  18. iloveguam
    18. Posted by iloveguam Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    San Diego is the best team in the NFL? A 3-3 team? Easy stomach, don't turn over... Anyway, I am pretty sure that this discussion is going to take care of itself over the next few weeks. I don't think that the Bolts can beat Buffalo or New Orleans on the road. Granted, with the Raiders and Chiefs in their division, they could catch a break, but the best team in the NFL? That's psychotic. By the way, where did all these San Diego fans come from? Did somebody lift up a rock?
  19. Eric H
    19. Posted by Eric H Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    The NFC east is the best division in the nfl. When healthy, the Cowboys and Eagles are the best teams in the nfl. Redskins are fairly good. New York Giants I think are overrated but are still a lot better than the chargers on their best day. Broncos are good enough to be considered a superbowl contender. As of right now though, NOBODY is better than the Titans. Chargers are the biggest bums of the year so far to me anyways. I see the Titans from the AFC and the Cowboys or Cardinals from the NFC in the Superbowl. With the Giants And Chargers not even making the Playoffs. GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!
  20. peja
    20. Posted by peja Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    I would say that the chargers are not the best but it is in the top 10's.. if you look at their standing at 3-3, it is not bad having merriman injured for the rest of the season, gates and LT being injured, they also had cromartie and chambers injured.. the way I see it, if their team is 100%, they easily can become superbowl champs.. unless they can beat the pats
  21. DS
    21. Posted by DS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

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    POST 19: What's up with this "when healthy" stuff? No team is healthy, that's the nature of the NFL. the Eagles have been missing their running back, so have the Steelers. the Cowboys' QB is out, so is Cincy's and New England's. LT has been playing hurt, so has Big Ben, Peyton, Kurt Warner, and now Trent Edwards, among others.
  22. DS
    22. Posted by DS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

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    POST 11: Doubtful anyone is still afraid of the NFC East after last week. The division was victimized by 3 perennial doormats (2 of which will continue their losing ways for the majority of the season). My team is Pittsburgh, and yes they were physically abused in Philly (although Philly's high flying offense was relegated to non-factordom) but with games still to play against Dallas, NYG, and Washington, I would be surprised if the Steelers do worse than 2-2 versus the NFC East as they continue to toil through the league's hardest non-division schedule in 30 years.
  23. DS
    23. Posted by DS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

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    POSTS 2,17: San Diego looks to have turned the corner, but annointing them as team to beat is premature at best. Beating New England is not the feat that their 3-2 record suggests as the Pats' wins have come against San Fran, KC, and the Jets. Miami's trouncing of the Patriots was equally as impressive as San Diego's, and no one is suggesting that the Dolphins are even a playoff team. All the Chargers have proven so far this season is that they can beat anyone and lose to anyone. And how is their defense so good in the 2nd half when allowing game winning drives by Carolina and Denver in weeks 1 and 2? And don't blame Hochuli, he may have made a terrible call, but the defense could still have made a play to keep Denver from scoring.
  24. Bob
    24. Posted by Bob Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    all these professional handicappers. The NFL has desired parity and it has recieved parity. Dallas was the team...Denver had a lucky run. Philly needs westbrook. Indy looks old. The Gints showed their weaknesses last night. Damn right San Diego can win it all. Its going to come down to last men standing. San Diego is deep in lots of positions. Too bad Merriman is out. The losses to Denver and Carolina were avoidable. They should be 5-1 at worst.
  25. yp_mark_beverly_hills_562
    25. Posted by yp_mark_beverly_hills_562 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:58 pm EDT

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    Playing in the "toughest" division is small consolation when you're "watching" the play-offs! I could give a rat's butt about how the divisions are ranked! ...And, YES, I agree the NFC WEST teams have struggled this year BUT you over-look the Cardinals now and you'll get buried!! These ain't your daddy's Cardinals! We're (9-2) in the desert since Whiz' & Grimm took over. Have they arrived?? NO! But they're improving very quickly. You come to the desert now you better buckle your chin-strap. Ask Tony Romo after getting hit (20) times this past Sunday. GO CARDS!!

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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