Benigno's Best: Week 14 NFL Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers 12-0 (1)
Eighteen straight and counting for defending champs after a last minute win over the juiced up Giants. Four more TD passes for Mr. Rodgers plus a little help from Jeff Triplette and his officiating crew.
Next: vs. Raiders
2. New Orleans Saints 9-3 (2)
Saints continue to roll with win over fading Lions. Drew Brees becomes first quarterback in history to pass for 4,000 yards in just 12 games. Big question is: Can they win a playoff game outside of the Superdome?
Next: @ Titans
3. Baltimore Ravens 9-3 (3)
Baltimore takes care of lousy Browns in Cleveland. A big day for Ray Rice who leads way with 204 rushing yards. Is this the best team in the AFC? For my money, right now, they are.
Next: vs. Colts
4. San Francisco 49ers 10-2 (4)
Niners clinch NFC West title with four weeks to go in style with shutout of hapless Rams. Frank Gore passes Hall of Famer Joe "The Jet" Perry as San Francisco's all-time leading rusher with 73 yards on the ground in the victory. Can these guys beat the Packers?
Next: @ Cardinals
5. Houston Texans 9-3 (5)
No Matt Schaub, no Matt Leinart, no problem for streaking Texans as T.J. Yates leads the way in win over Atlanta. With six straight wins, Houston is closing in on first ever division title.
Next: @ Bengals
6. New England Patriots 9-3 (6)
Belichick must have felt sorry for winless Colts. After Pats built up 31-3 lead, Bill calls off the dogs, allowing final score to look much closer than it really was. Three more TD's for Rob Gronkowski tying NFL tight end record with thirteen.
Next: @ Redskins
7. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-3 (7)
Beat up upstart Bengals for second time in a month, basically ending any thoughts of Cincy winning the division. Re-discovered running game with 136 yards on ground versus Bengals.
Next: vs. Browns
8. Denver Broncos 7-5 (unranked)
Tim Tebow continues to work his magic, now 6-1 as a starter, vaulting Denver into first place in AFC West, with his best statistical day so far, going 10-15 with 202 yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota. Who can stop NFL's most polarizing player?
Next: vs. Bears
9. Tennessee Titans 7-5 (unranked)
Quite a renaissance season for Matt Hasselbeck, keeping Tennessee in thick of AFC playoff race. With Chris Johnson back on track after 153 yard two TD performance in Buffalo, Titans playing best football at the right time. Interesting test this week against explosive Saints.
Next: vs. Saints
10. New York Jets 7-5 (unranked)
Back-to-back fourth quarter comeback wins versus Bills and 'Skins keep Jets in playoff hunt. O-line's starting to get it together with second straight week of no sacks of Sanchez. Now if the special teams can only stop putting the ball on the ground.
Next: vs. Chiefs
Fading Out: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys
Closing In: Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins
Is Joe's Top Ten spot on? Make your case in the comments below...
