The Warpath Power Poll Is Back!

Well, not quite. I decided to start up a new poll listing just the top 10 teams in the league. If anyone would like to think up a clever name for this new poll please feel free. You can be the official sponsor of this new poll! Here goes:

10) New Orleans (4-4) Just a few weeks ago the Saints were left for dead. Drew Brees was having a miserable season, Deuce McAllister was lost for the season, and all of a sudden they've reeled off 4 straight and are right back in the hunt in the NFC. With a forgiving 2nd half schedule, 10 wins and a playoff spot seem very likely. I think in a few weeks the Saints will be much closer to the top half of this poll.

9) Cleveland (5-3) I can't believe I'm including the Browns in my top 10. But hey, they've earned it. They are truly one of the surprise stories of the year. Derek Anderson has everyone in Cleveland saying Brady who? They sure have a fun offense to watch with Braylon Edwards having developed into a big time WR. Add in "The Soldier", Kellen Winslow, and they have a dangerous aerial attack.

8) Tennessee (6-2) Yeah, yeah, yeah we've heard it all before. All Vince Young does is win football games. Well, without that defense and great running game, all Vince Young would be doing is losing football games. Still, even though they are winning ugly 6-2 is an impressive mark at this point in the season.

7) Detroit (6-2) Another big surprise story of the season so far. When Jon Kitna predicted 10 wins in the preseason everyone laughed, looks like he's having the last laugh as the Lions only have to go 4-4 the rest of the way to reach that win total. The key for them is they've started to find a running game and they are playing good defense. With some big games coming up against the Giants and Packers, we'll find out soon enough what they are really made of.

6) NY Giants (6-2) This is where things could get interesting. The Giants are famous for their late season slides in recent years. With their next 3 games against Dallas, Detroit, and the pesky Vikings, could this be the beginning of yet another late season swoon for the G-men? Stay tuned.

5) Green Bay (7-1) Can you believe that the Packers are 11-1 going back to the last 4 games of last season? They can't run the ball and everyone knows it, yet they keep finding ways to win through the air. Funny how much better Favre looks with a capable cast of players around him, and not to mention a tough defense. Perhaps those cries for his retirement from the so called experts were a tad premature?

4) Dallas (7-1) As much as I cannot stand to say this, Dallas is good. Really good. I will be shocked if they don't make it to the NFC Championship game. Two big games coming up against the Giants and Skins could knock them back down to earth really quick though. However; if they win those two games, they should easily cruise to a division title. Ok, I really feel sick to my stomach now.

3) Pittsburgh (6-2) I think the Steelers along with the Colts are the only teams that can hang with the Patriots for 60 minutes. Big Ben is having a big year, and they are playing Pittsburgh football just like they always have. They pound you on both sides of the ball. Who says smashmouth ball is out of style?

2) Indianapolis (7-1) They had the mighty Patriots on the ropes but they just couldn't deliver that knockout shot. The Colts can take some solace in knowing that they had some key guys out for this game and they proved that the Patriots are indeed mortal. These two teams are bound to meet again in January.

1) New England (9-0) The Patriots will not go undefeated. Write it down. As for Don Shula's dumb comment that if they do they should get the dreaded asterisk, come on Don like these guys needed any more motivation??!! Shula owes the Bills a big apology as they are next on their hit list following the bye.

Not bad! Weird seeing Cleveland in a top ten poll though. Tampa may deserve an honorable mention, as well as a certain other team.

How about naming it the "What's Matty Smokin' Poll?" Not that I'm calling you a poll smoker or anything. :)

I like your inclusion of the Saints in the top 10. That ranking is more about where they're heading rather than what their record is. As it should be; rankings based solely on record would be pointless!

The Saints are a very scary team right now. If the Skins don't make the playoffs, I'll be firmly seated on their bandwagon as the NFC favorite to knock off Dallas.

Its weird seeing Detroit, Cleveland and Tennessee, all I didn't expect and the beginning of the year.

Solid top 10. Tennessee doesn't surprise me at 6-2, I just thought it was gonna have more to do with Vince Young and less to do with LenDale White and that great D. Detroit and Cleveland a combined 11-5 at the halfway mark does surprise me a lot.

If you had told me 3 years ago that Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy would be coach of the year candidates in 2007, I'd have laughed in your face. Gotta love the NFL.

It's a good top 10...not sure I would have included the Saints, but good overall.

How about "The Path to the Superbowl" Weekly top 10
or "The Quaker" Earthquake's weekly top 10.
or "Shake N' Quake"
or "Leaders of the Pack"
or "V.2 The Rank is back"

But Matty I like your Top 10. Very solid analysis very good read.

Nice work Mattias. I'd probably stick the Jaguars somewhere in that top 10. True, they lost to New Orleans but Quinn Gray (of all people) had 350 yards passing on them. Garrard is back now, Taylor and Jones-Drew are a solid 1-2 at QB, and they have a stout D.

Nice work Mattias. I'd probably stick the Jaguars somewhere in that top 10. True, they lost to New Orleans but Quinn Gray (of all people) had 350 yards passing on them. Garrard is back now, Taylor and Jones-Drew are a solid 1-2 at QB, and they have a stout D.

I really underestimated them early in the season. I didn't think that Garrard had it in him. Once they get him back, the Jags could be another scary AFC team.