NFL Top 10

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
By Glenn McGrew

This NFL Top 10 will be based on a bettor's perspective, rating teams not on their record, but their current strength.

1) NEW YORK GIANTS: WOW....what a run for the defending Super Bowl champs! Over the past 4 weeks the Giants have defeated Pittsburgh, Dallas, Philadelphia and Baltimore by a combined score of 122-69, outgaining that powerful foursome 1,455-1,007, out first downing them, 85-58 and out-clocking them by better than 9 minutes a game!

2) TENNESSEE: Trailing Jacksonville 14-3 at the half, Tennessee's undefeated 9-0 start was in jeopardy. But once again, unsung hero Kerry Collins stepped up and led the Titans to a 24-14 win. Collins threw three touchdown passes, two coming as he directed consecutive scoring drives to open the second half. And the Tennessee defense, still without DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, totally shutdown the Jaguars in the second half as Albert Haynesworth had 7 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on the day.

3) TAMPA BAY: The Buccaneers topped 100 yards rushing vs the rugged Minnesota defense and Jeff Garcia threw for 255 yards as Tampa Bay defeated the Vikings 19-13. Minnesota's running back Adrian Peterson, who entered this contest having rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games, was limited to 85 yards on 19 carries.

4) CAROLINA: After getting key wins the past three weeks vs Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Arizona, the Panthers took the hapless Detroit Lions lightly and had to hold on for a 31-22 win on Sunday. Jake Delhomme pretty much had the day off (10 of 19 for 98 yards and one touchdown) as Carolina's ground game dominated. Johathan Steward slammed his way for a career-high 130 yards and DeAngelo Williams added 120 as the Panthers rushed for a team-record 264 yards, averaging 8.3 ypc! Next up for Carolina...a key matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.

5) PITTSBURGH: If there's a tougher quarterback in the NFL than Brett Favre, it would have to be Ben Roethlisberger. The Steeler signal caller, playing despite a painful separated shoulder, went 31 of 41 for 308 yards on the day, helping to make up for a ridiculous 13 Pittsburgh penalties, resulting in 115 yards. And the Steeler overland game, averaging just 70 ypg the last three contests, got a huge lift as Willie Parker, sidelined with knee and shoulder injuries, returned and sliced his way for 115 yards on 25 carries.

6) BALTIMORE: The Ravens became yet another tough football team to fall to the seemingly invincible New York Giants, losing 30-10 on the road last week. The fierce Baltimore defense, led by Ray Lewis, had allowed just 65 yards rushing per game on the year. But New York ground game piled up 207 yards on a stop unit that hadn't surrendered more than 76 yards all season long.

7) DALLAS: Tony Romo is back and so are the Cowboys. The Dallas signal caller overcame a pair of first half interceptions to lead his team to a critical 14-10 win over Washington. The victory pushes the Cowboys to 6-4 on the year, putting them one game behind Tampa Bay and tying them with Washington in the race for a wild card spot.

8) WASHINGTON: With offensive catalysist Clinton Portis slowed by a sprained knee and Jason Campbell getting pressured all game long (sacked 3 times), the Redskins fell to the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo in a defensive struggle, 14-10.

9) GREEN BAY: The Packers reenter the Top 10 rankings after crushing the Chicago Bears 37-3, moving into a 3-way tie for first in the NFC North Division with Minnesota and Chicago.. The Pack was in total control, grinding out 24-9 edge in first downs and outgaining the Bears 427-234. Ryan Grant blasted his way to a season-high 145 yards on 25 bruising carries and Aaron Rodgers went 23 of 30 for 227 yards. A big Monday night clash with New Orleans is next.

10) ARIZONA: The Cardinals join Green Bay as new members of the Top 10 following their dominating 26-20 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. Even the return of Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, out the last six weeks with a bulging disc, couldn't stop Arizona from moving to 7-3 on the year, their best start since 1977. Arizona led 26-7 in the 4th quarter before Seattle made a belated run. Kurt Warner, who has to get some votes as this year's MVP, dissected the Seahawk secondary, completing 19 of his first 21 throws and ended the day 32 of 44 for 395 yards and a score....his franchise-record 4th straight 300-yard game!

just missed: Indianapolis, New York Jets, New England, Philadelphia