The Tentative Ten: Week 6

My power rankings are fittingly named the ‘Tentative Ten’ because every week it’s subject to check, and erratically at that. Also featured is a Rookie, Defensive, and Offensive Player of the Year Watch, and a Coach of the Year Watch.

Sorry about no post last week, I was stricken with the swine flu and trust me it sucks.

1.  New Orleans Saints (5-0)

Obvious. The Saints are dominating anyone and everyone. I thank the stars the Denver doesn’t have to play them.

Glaring Stat: The Saints have allowed a total of 417 rushing yards all year for 3.8 yards a carry.

2.  Minnesota Vikings (6-0)

Brett Favre won a game at 40! No way! I’ll give him credit, he plays amazing for a 40 year old, but it’s not like he’s on the Raiders or anything.

The Vikings’ bread and butter lies within their dangerous defensive line. Jared Allen is absolutely amazing and Kansas City was extremely foolish to let him go.

Glaring Stat: The Jared Allen trade has extremely favored the Vikings at this point. KC got Brandon Albert(who is solid, nothing more), Jamal Charles (who is also solid, nothing more), DaJaun Morgan (a safety who can’t start), and Kevin Robinson (a wide receiver who was cut before a game was ever played).

3.  Denver Broncos (6-0)

Denver’s defense is really something. No other defense in the NFL has allowed only 10 points after halftime. The Giants lead the NFL in yards allowed but it’s really points allowed the counts, and Denver is the king… of not allowing them.

Glaring Stat: The Denver Broncos defense has allowed a league low third down conversions (26.9%).

4.  Indianapolis Colts (5-0)

The age old debate, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady? Peyton is sure making his case this season. Brady has two of the best receivers in the NFL. Whereas Peyton throws to unknown rookies making them look like Marvin Harrison.

Glaring Stat: They still trail in T.O.P at 28:38 a game.

5. New York Giants (5-1)

There’s no shame in getting your ass kicked by the Saints. The Giants are hurting in their defense and could use some starters back in the game. New York should be a good enough team to recover from this loss and move on.

Glaring Stat: Despite the ass whomping they received by the Saints the Giants are still statistically the best defense in the NFL.

6. Atlanta Falcons (4-1)

Atlanta is a friend of the Denver Broncos this year. Why? Well for starters they took Tony Gonzalez out of the division. Now they’ve beaten the Bears and given Denver a better slotted draft pack. Thanks to you Atlanta!

Glaring Stat: Mike Smith needs to get his defense in gear. Atlanta is allowing 4.7 yards a rush and 6.5 yards a pass.

7.  New England Patriots (4-2)

I’m not very impressed with the record breaking performance the Patriots had on Sunday. They kicked the crap out of the ailing Titans in the snow… so what? Strangely they still allowed Chris Johnson to rush over a 100 yards on them.

Glaring Stat: Bill Belichick decided to go for it on 4th down even with back up Brian Hoyer in the game near the end of the fourth quarter. Yes, they got it.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)

So the Bengals can beat the Packers, Ravens, and Steelers in all great games, but they can’t beat the Texans? Cincinnati hardly looked competitive. Carson Palmer needs to play more consistently if they want to make a post-season run.

Glaring Stat: Much like the Falcons, the Bengals need a defensive face lift, especially with Antwan Odom out for the year. Cincinnati has allowed 5.5 yards a rush and 7.5 yards a pass on the year, and are loosing the turnover differential by -3. That’s insane for a winning team.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

The Steelers have played some pretty mediocre teams this year, especially in the last two games (Cleveland and Detroit). The defense isn’t nearly as dominant as it has been in the past but they’re doing well. With the Ravens starting to flop and the Bengals as inconsistent as they are the Steelers could easily claim another division title.

Glaring Stat: Ben Roethlisberger has always had the knock of being an average quarterback playing on an above average team. This year Big Ben has proven that he’s not average by any means. Ben leads the NFL in passing yards with 1,887  and he’s completed 72.5% of his passes. Ben has completed all of this despite his terrible offensive line who has gotten him sacked 16 times on the year. Big Ben is Pro Bowl bound.

10. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

The Cardinals are finally showing up in the race for the NFC West. Kurt Warner is playing very well despite people’s expectations of him slumping. With the Niners coming off a huge loss this is the Cardinals time to strike.

Glaring Stat: The Cardinals are third in the NFL for third down conversions (28.9%).

Coach of the Week

Josh McDaniels – Josh McDaniels yet again has pimp slapped the mainstream media. I just don’t see another candidate yet again.

Rookie of the Week

Jairus Byrd – Two picks against Mark Sanchez. Byrd is the lesser known of the Oregon Duck’s 08′ secondary and he’s nowoutplaying his higher drafted former teammate Patrick Chung.

Offensive Player of the Week

Drew Brees – It’s hard to believe that he almost was a Dolphin. Brees actually played a great defense unlike Brady and he ripped them thoroughly. The Giant’s pass defense has been so good this year that even after Brees gave them a new orphus to breathe from they still lead the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed.

Defensive Player of the Week

Brian Cushing – Julian Peterson may have had a 2.5 sack, 10 tackle, two force fumble game but he didn’t help his team win. Cushing on the other hand was a decisive presence in his team’s victory. Cushing had 9 tackles, a pick, and two forced fumbles en route to Houston’s upset against the Bengals.

Rookie of the Year Watch

1. Hakeem Nicks – If you don’t have him in your fantasy league right now I feel sorry for you.

2. Knowshon Moreno – He may have had a lack of production against San Diego but he’s still the best rookie back out there.

3. Mark Sanchez – I was serious when I said Sanchez would have more bad games, I just didn’t know they would be against the Bills.

4. Johnny Knox – He’s quickly becoming one of Jay Cutler’s favorite targets.

Defensive Player of the Year Watch

1. Elvis Dumervil – Last time I said I may be a little biased, but now there’s no arguing he’s one of the best right now. The best part is that Doom shines on the most important down.

2. Jared Allen – 7.5 sacks on the season and a whole lot of trash talking.

3. Darren Sharper – Sharper is providing great production and veteran leadership to this amazing Saints team.

4. Darrelle Revis – Revis needs a rebound if he wants to stay on this list (which he could care less about).

Offensive Player of the Year Watch

1. Peyton Manning – He even looked good on a bye week.

2. Drew Brees – Call him the surgeon… because he knows how to dissect any defense.

3. Kyle Orton – Yep, Kyle Orton. When all you do is make plays while not making any mistakes, you deserve to be on this list.

5. Adrian Peterson – All day is starting to get back into the rhythm of things.

Coach of the Year Watch

1. Josh McDaniels (6-0) – Josh McDaniels has to be the most humble guy in the world. Why? Because he has every right to laugh at every analyst in the NFL and he hasn’t… yet.

2.  Sean Payton (5-0) – Saints fans, this man is your messiah. When Drew Brees was a free agent he was leaning towards Miami. What put him in New Orleans? Sean Payton’s attitude. Brees said that then Dolphin coach Nick Saban seemed to care more about his physical results then his actual ability. Where Sean Payton said he was going to pull out all the stops and show Brees that he was seriously wanted.

3. Mike Singletary (3-2) – I feel bad for players on the Niners. This bye week is one of pain, Mike Singletary shows no mercy.

4. Rex Ryan (3-3) – Rex Ryan is very disappointed in his defense, he’s been very vocal about that, among other things. Rex should be disappointed in himself.

Who Needs a V8?

Jeff Fisher – Mr. “I just wanted to feel like a winner,” he’s not done too well for himself since slamming Pat Bowlen for firing Mike Shanahan. Now he needs to worry about winning a game and then keeping his job.

Move to watch this week

Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen – Seriously if you haven’t seen this movie yet smack yourself in the face… hard.

Article to read this week

Man tries to pay bill with spider drawing – I’ve used this awhile back but it’s a hilarious read.

What do you think Nation? Any more deserving teams in the Tentative Ten? Air it out!