My NFL Week 10 Power Rankings

10. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are higher than 10 on most people's power rankings; I'm just not completely buying into the Michael Vick thing. He's been good this year, but has put up his numbers against weaker defenses. His best games were against the Lions, Jaguars, and Colts, none of whom are considered top defenses in this league, in fact they are all near the bottom. Eventually the Eagles are going to run into a defense that can shut down Mike Vick's legs and make him pass, and when that happens, the Eagles aren't that great of a football team.

9. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are a team that really aren't living up to their expectations. After winning the Super Bowl last year everyone expected them to come back and be in the top 2 or 3 teams in the NFC, and they really haven't done that this year. There defense has been good (top 5 in the league in points allowed per game), and their offense has been middle of the road (14th in points per game). They've struggled in big situations, including 3rd and 4th downs, and really aren't playing as well as last year. Once Bush and Thomas get back, things could change fast and they could be right back near the top of this list.

8. New England Patriots
Another team that I can't figure out is the Patriots. They have a good record at 5-2, but suffered a brutal loss to the Browns last week. Their running game is now relying on Benjarvus Green-Ellis, who has been better than most expected, but isn't the guy that's going to take your offense very far by himself. Fortunately for the Patriots, they don't need a top running back to win thanks to their quarterback. However, Randy Moss isn't there anymore and I don't think Brandon Tate is ready to be the home run threat that he can be, at least not yet. Their defense is gonna have to play better and one of these young receivers really has to step up for them to move up on the list.

7. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have lost 3 games and are ahead of the 2-loss Patriots on my list. The reason for that certainly isn't their defense, it has been pretty bad this year. However, the presence of Peyton Manning is good enough to get them over the Patriots, Saints, and Eagles in my eyes. They have a very good receiving core and some pretty versatile running backs (once they get healthy). I see this team getting better and better as the season winds down, and the Colts will make a run in the playoffs.

6. Green Bay Packers
This team has been absolutely killed with injuries this year. The fact they are still #6 after what they have gone through this season really tells you a lot about the team. They have an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and a very strong defense, and that alone is enough to take a team pretty far. They are going to have to get the run game going a little bit better if they want to have a shot at the end of the year.

5. New York Jets
This is a team that I'm not a big fan of, but couldn't help but put them near the top of the rankings. They have a good offense, and a very good defense. Mark Sanchez has been criticized a lot but gets his job done when it matters. Their run game is very strong, and that's without Shonne Greene playing to the level that he is capable of. Once the defense gets completely healthy, they're good enough to take the Jets the whole way by themselves.

4. Atlanta Falcons
Gotta love the Falcons. Great running game, a quarterback on the rise, and a strong defense. There's really nothing that this team doesn't do well, although they have some trouble with consistency, but I'm not worried, they'll be in the NFC Championship game.

3. Baltimore Ravens
The top 3 is when it starts to get real tough. I had to put the Ravens here at 3 just because of the 2 teams ahead of them. The Ravens have everything you want when you're building a Super Bowl contender, they have a very good quarterback, a couple strong running backs, and one of the best defenses in the game. However, a couple of their key guys are really getting up there in age (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Derrick Mason), and although they are still performing well this year, there is always the fear of them getting hurt or slowing down. I wouldn't worry much if I were a Ravens fan, they have as good a chance as anybody to take the whole thing this year.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Probably a surprise here, most Pittsburgh sports fan would put the Steelers up top without asking a question. However, a couple close wins over the Dolphins and Bengals a long with the loss to the Saints made me keep them off the top of the list. They've done a fantastic job on defense this year, ranking in the top 3 in almost all defensive statistics so far, and their offense looks to be near the top of the league as well when it's all going right. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Rashard Mendenhall is really showing the league what he has, and Mike Wallace is emerging. No reason why the Steelers can't win their 7th Super Bowl this year.

1. New York Giants
I had to do it. I've watched this team a couple times this year and I've been incredibly impressed every single time. It all starts with the defense. They've been brutal on quarterbacks this year, and they are getting off the field fast. They have some athletic linemen, as always, and they have a very capable secondary. Despite that, the thing that I think is going to carry this team is Eli Manning. He seems to be maturing and getting better every week, even after most people thought he had reached near his peak already. The guy has been in the league since 2004, but just keeps getting better. It also helps that he's has an absolute stud receiver break out this year in Hakeem Nicks. This guy is one of the best in the game, and nobody was saying that before this season started. Steve Smith is one of the best possession receivers in the game and a guy that Eli has complete confidence in in big situations. The running game has played over their expectations as well. Ahmad Bradshaw has broken out and Brandon Jacobs has been running with authority again this year. While a lot of rankings have the Ravens and Steelers ahead of the them, the Giants have just been too dominant lately for me to put them anywhere but #1.