NFL Pecking Order: Week 11

By Charlie Portelli

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it is not always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive wins. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league are so close. To me, there is not an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 11 starting with number 10.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-4, AFC NORTH) Last week: 10 

The Bengals very narrowly hang on to the last spot in the Pecking Order this week after losing their second OT game in a row. They had built a two game lead over the Ravens and Browns in the division but the Ravens are a good team and it should not surprise anyone that the Ravens won Sunday to tighten up the divisional race. The Bengals are not going to run away with this division. Their talent should end up being enough to prevail when it is all said and done. Rookie RB Gio Bernard could be the difference for their offense but he still shows signs of being immature while taking big losses on broken plays. Dalton has to be the steady hand for the Bengals and with WR AJ Green at his disposal he should be just that.

9. Detroit Lions (6-3, NFC NORTH) Last week: Unranked

The Lions jump back into the top 10 after missing out last week. The Lions were able to grab a tough road win over a divisional opponent; a task that should never be taken lightly. That was the kind of win the Lions can build off of. QB Matthew Stafford is more than capable of leading this team to a division championship now that Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers is out for at least the next few weeks with a broken collarbone. I still do not trust the coaching staff in Detroit and there is certainly enough time for the Lions to screw this one up, but for now they deserve credit for where they have this team. DT Ndamukong Suh is having an incredible year and his counterpart DT Nick Fairley plays great in spurts. The Lions offense has been great, and their front 7 on defense is improving every week.

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-3, AFC SOUTH) Last week: 4

What the hell happened to the Colts on Sunday? As I have said many times before, the NFL is extremely close and any team can win on any given Sunday. With that said, the Colts came into Sunday without reminding themselves of that apparently and they were buried in their own stadium 38-8 by the Rams. While that was an embarrassing loss to say the least, the Rams are a weird team. They have looked like they could be a bottom 5 team in this league at teams, and other times, they have looked like a playoff team. Credit to the Rams for showing up and bringing the Colts back to earth. Luck looked more like a second year QB on Sunday rather than the savvy veteran he has all year. He threw 3 INT's and also lost a fumble. This loss could prove to be a positive. Every good team needs a swift kick in the ass in order to whip them into shape. Better now than later.

7. Carolina Panthers (6-3, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 8

I know what everyone is thinking while reading this. "How the hell are the Panthers at number 7 on the Pecking Order after they beat the 49ers on the road?" The answer to that question is simple. It would be a knee jerk reaction to shoot them up the Pecking Order after that win. I love this team and that win was legitimate, no question about it. They won 10-9 at tough place to play against a tough team. In a defensive struggle, they were able to get the only TD on a nice run by Deangelo Williams and that was the difference. The teams that remain in front of them in the order are better than them right now, even San Fransisco. QB Cam Newton still shows that he can sometimes get in his own way. I am in no way downplaying the Panthers win on Sunday, because it was huge for them and equally as bad for San Fran, but one big win for the Panthers does not make them a top 5 team in this league at the present time.

6. New England Patriots (7-2, AFC EAST) Last week: 7 

The Patriots are looking good at midseason. They sit at 7-2 and will win the division easily. Coming off of their bye week, they will head to Carolina for a stiff test on MNF. The Patriots have only played two games against tough opponents this year. They lost to the Bengals on the road, and the next week were able to beat the Saints at home. The game against the Panther looms large as it will serve as a measuring stick for the Patriots. The Pats will have their work cut out for them playing on the road, against a red hot team, on MNF, with a rowdy Carolina home crowd who is excited about their team. Not an easy task. The week off should help Belichick prepare for this one thought. The Pats were sitting at home watching as the Panthers poured their heart and soul into a huge win over the 49ers.

5. San Fransisco 49ers (6-3, NFC WEST) Last week: 2

The 49ers lost a huge game at home against the Panthers on Sunday. They will be directly fighting with the Panthers for a wild card spot so this was certainly a game they needed. The defense looked great, limiting QB Cam Newton's overall effectiveness all day. They only allowed 10 points on the day. The defense should only improve as All-Pro rush end Aldon Smith is worked in more and more each week. Unfortunately, QB Colin Kaepernick looks completely lost running the offense. RB Frank Gore continued his dominant season with 82 yards and a 5.1 yard per carry average, but when it came time to change the pace and throw, Kaepernick was just 11/22 for 91 yards and 0 TD's. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman have their work cut out for them to get Kaepernick back on track because this team is too good to let this season slip away.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 5

At this point, the story is well documented for the Chiefs. They have not beaten anyone. With that said, they are undefeated and have shown a capable offense in the process. The defense on the other hand is downright dominant. The Chiefs will travel to Denver to take on their division rival Broncos. Head coach Andy Reid has fit in better than anyone could have expected this early in the process.

3. New Orleans Saints (7-2, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 6

The Saints bounced back in a big way this week after a bad loss at the hands of the Jets in week 9. They absolutely dismantled the Cowboys on Sunday night. Other than the Seahawks, the Saints are probably the team with the best home field advantage. They look unbeatable at home, but on the road they are much more vulnerable. When Drew Brees has all of his weapons at his disposal they are perhaps the most potent offense in the league. Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan has done a nice job to turn around this defense but they have slowed in their last few weeks. The Seahawks and Saints should be the two teams battling for home field throughout the playoffs and that is one to keep an eye on because it will be an enormous factor.

2. Seattle Seahawks (9-1, NFC WEST) Last week: 3 

After a couple of underwhelming wins for the Seahawks the traveled to Atlanta and proceeded to blow out the Falcons. It is tough to put a lot of stock into a win over the Falcons at this stage in the game but the Seahawks continue to stockpile wins. They are 9-1 and just one game against the lowly Vikings stand between the Seahawks and their much needed bye week. The Seahawks need to get healthy on the offensive line as they prepare for a playoff run.

1. Denver Broncos (8-1, AFC WEST) Last week: 1

The Broncos were able to take down the Chargers on the road on Sunday to improve their record to 8-1. They will come back home this week and host the undefeated Chiefs. The main concern in Denver is obvious; the health of Peyton Manning. Manning is battling what seems to be a high ankle sprain and it is clearly limiting his mobility in the pocket. This is something to keep an eye on going forward here. He is going to have his hands full this Sunday with the Chiefs pass rush. They narrowly edge out the Seahawks in this weeks Pecking Order.