[TABLE]#1 Green Bay (14-1) 36.81 Avoided the losing streak and got right back on track #2 Pittsburgh (11-4) 32.65 The formula still likes the 4 loss Steelers over the 3 loss teams #3 New England (12-3) 32.45 They are catching up with the Steelers in the formula #4 San Francisco (12-3) 30.48 Good back to back wins have them climbing the rankings again #5 New Orleans (12-3) 30.45 Round out a solid top 5 that is WAY ahead of everyone else #6 Denver (8-7) 20.69 Yep, they're still at #6 even though they're slumping #7 Baltimore (11-4) 17.09 The formula just isn't real impressed with this team #8 Atlanta (9-6) 14.80 They're in the playoffs but can they do anything this time? #9 Houston (10-5) 14.41 They need Schaub back badly #10 Philadelphia (7-8) 14.24 Top 10 team but no playoffs because of early season losses #11 Detroit (10-5) 13.70 Seem to be 'back' just in time for playoffs #12 Cincinnati (9-6) 9.45 Beating Baltimore would ensure a playoff spot #13 Chicago (7-8) 6.18 We'll never know how good this season could have been #14 Oakland (8-7) 3.48 Hanging tough. Have a good shot at playoffs if they can win #15 Arizona (7-8) 2.32 If they could figure out their QB position, they might be good #16 NY Giants (8-7) 1.31 Which Giants team will show up Sunday for the division crown? #17 Kansas City (6-9) 1.08 What will they do at QB for 2012 and beyond? #18 Seattle (7-8) 0.60 Started playing well a little too late in the season #19 NY Jets (8-7) -2.65 They need a ton of help just to make the postseason #20 Carolina (6-9) -7.87 If they can improve that defense in 2012, they could be good #21 Miami (5-10) -8.62 Will they be able to recruit a big name coach as they want? #22 San Diego (7-8) -10.85 Will Norv and Smith both be fired? #23 Dallas (8-7) -11.80 They are an underachieving bunch #24 Minnesota (3-12) -14.80 3 wins is inexcusable for this team of veterans #25 Tennessee (8-7) -15.91 Somehow still in the playoff hunt #26 Cleveland (4-11) -22.06 What will it take to turn this franchise around? #27 St. Louis (2-13) -30.05 The bottom 6 teams are WAY down here #28 Jacksonville (4-11) -31.32 I'm not even sure how they've won 4 games #29 Washington (5-10) -32.22 It's appropriate the team in our nation's capital is always dysfunctional #30 Buffalo (6-9) -32.72 Were the players playing to save Chan's job? #31 Indianapolis (2-13) -34.56 Finally stepping up #32 Tampa Bay (4-11) -39.91 The new worst team in the formula and the formula is correct[/TABLE]
yes, #2 to #5 are a tight bunch, all about the same but it's hard not to think the Saints aren't #2 right now. Their offense is as good as the Packers and Patriots but they probably have the best defense out of the 3 teams.
yep, they look very good right now on both sides of the ball. the formula stresses strength of opponent though and, in reality, the saints losses are the worst out of the top 5 teams (remember their October losses to the Rams and Bucs) and they really don't have any more quality wins than anyone else in the top 5. Probably their 2 wins against the Falcons are their best 2 wins of the season. Having said that, I would love to see the Saints play the Packers right now on a neutral field. I think they could give them everything they could handle.
