NFL Power Rankings – Jaguars Fire Jack Del Rio, 49ers Remain No 2

Jack Del Rio is the first coach to get fired as San Francisco remains second best team the League, despite losing the Harbowl. Frank Doyle ranks ’em.

1 (-). Green Bay Packers (11-0, 8-3-0 ATS).
Nobody’s laid a glove on the Pack all year. The perfect season is well within the Packers’ grasp.

2 (-). San Francisco 49ers (9-2, 10-1-0 ATS).
They lost the Harbowl but San Francisco still has the second best record in the league and easily the best record against the spread. The Niners stay at No 2.

3 (-). Baltimore Ravens (8-3, 6-4-1 ATS).
Which may seem unfair to Baltimore, who beat the Niners head to head. But it’s just one game and those losses to Seattle and Tennessee still leave doubts about the Ravens’ quality. Serious doubts.

4 (-). Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3, 5-6-0 ATS).
Pittsburgh is the best sports betting value to win the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger concedes only to Rodgers, Brady and Brees as the best quarterback in the League, but he’s got a better defense than any of those three. That will count in the playoffs.

5 (-). Houston Texans (8-3, 7-3-1 ATS).
TJ Yates takes over at quarterback – will a terrible beauty be born?

6 (-). New England Patriots (8-3, 6-4-1 ATS).
It’s all happening for the Patriots on offense, but the defense remains vulnerable.

7 (-). New Orleans Saints (8-3, 7-4-0 ATS).
As it does for the Saints. The difference between offense and defense in the playoffs is like the difference between driving and putting in golf – show v dough.

8 (-). Cincinnati Bengals (7-4, 7-3-1 ATS).
The Bengals got a shock against Cleveland but Dalton pulled them out of the fire. His grip on Rookie of the Year is getting tighter by the week.

9 (-). Chicago Bears (7-4, 6-5-0 ATS).
Sometimes you wonder if Mike Martz drinks too many slurpees. Why else would you ask Caleb Hanie to throw 36 times, instead of using Marion Barber and Matt Forte in the backfield? Sugar, man. You shouldn’t mess with that stuff.

10 (-). Detroit Lions (7-4, 6-5-0 ATS).
The Lions are dealing with adversity, some of it self-inflicted, but they’re not done yet.

11 (-). Oakland Raiders (7-4, 7-4-0 ATS).
The Raiders were awful in the red zone against Chicago. That will cost them down the line if they don’t fix it.

12 (+1). Dallas Cowboys (7-4, 4-7-0 ATS).
Tony Romo is the Katy Perry of quarterbacks. He’s hot and he’s cold, he’s yes and he’s no – you get the picture. Looks like the ‘Boys will still win the NFC East though.

13 (+1). Atlanta Falcons (7-4, 5-5-1 ATS).
The Falcons are keeping in touch with the Saints, like the tortoise keeping in touch with the hare. How much does Mike Smith regret that 3-3 start or going for it on fourth down in OT against the Saints now?

14 (-2). New York Giants (6-5, 4-6-1 ATS).
The Giants got pounded badly on Monday night. And now they have to play for their jobs on six days’ rest on Sunday against a fully rested Green Bay. Nothing’s easy in this League.

15 (+1). New York Jets (6-5, 4-6-1 ATS).
The Jets saved their season for another week.

16 (+1). Tennessee Titans (6-5, 6-4-1 ATS).
Tennessee was a popular longshot bet to win the AFC South at the start of the season. Looks like they’ll only just fall short.

17 (+1). Denver Broncos (6-5, 6-5-0 ATS).
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Broncos will probably win at Minnesota this weekend too.

18 (-3). Buffalo Bills (5-6, 6-4-1 ATS).
The Bills tried hard but it’s still four straight-up losses in a row.

19 (-). Seattle Seahawks (4-7, 7-4-0 ATS).
Maybe T-Jack isn’t the answer after all.

20 (-). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7, 4-7-0 ATS).
The Bucs have lost six out of seven. Cooked. Gone. Finito.

21 (-). Kansas City Chiefs (4-7, 6-5-0 ATS).
Of all the teams currently scrabbling for a quarterback, the Chiefs have filled an inside straight with Kyle Orton.

22 (-). Philadelphia Eagles (4-7, 4-7-0 ATS).
We’re saying “Dream team? DREAM TEAM?” in style of Jim Mora’s “playoffs? PLAYOFFS?” in the office currently. It keeps us amused.

23 (-). Miami Dolphins (3-8, 6-5-0 ATS).
Miami was very unlucky not to beat Dallas at Thanksgiving. The Dolphins will be a serious challenge for Oakland on Sunday.

24 (-). San Diego Chargers (4-7, 2-9-0 ATS).
Bolted.

25 (-). Washington Redskins (4-7, 5-6-0 ATS).
The ‘Skins showed some moxie in Seattle. The Jets had best tread warily at Washington this weekend.

26 (-). Arizona Cardinals (4-7, 5-5-1 ATS).
The Cardinals are like a girl that’s nearly good looking.

27 (+1). Carolina Panthers (3-8, 6-4-1 ATS).
The problem with Carolina is the season is over. The Panthers aren’t bad enough to suck for Luck, but they’re certainly not going to the playoffs. It’ll be a long offseason while they wait to see if they can build on the good things that have happened this year.

28 (+1). Cleveland Browns (4-7, 3-8-0 ATS).
Signs of life at Cincinnati or a dead cat bounce? Yeah. I think dead cat bounce too.

29 (-2). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8, 3-7-1 ATS).
We predicted back in Week 5 that Jack Del Rio would be the first coach to get the chop. We can cash that docket now.

30 (-). Minnesota Vikings (2-9, 5-6-0 ATS).
Who else but the Vikings could have a guy return a kick 104 yards and not score? Jim Marshall running it back the wrong way in the ‘60s, all those lost Super Bowls in the ‘70s, going 15-1 and losing in the playoffs in 1998, and now this. As for what their Super Bowl IV quarterback, Joe Kapp, has been up to lately – well, mercy.

31 (-). St. Louis Rams (2-9, 2-9-0 ATS).
Awful. Just awful.

32 (-). Indianapolis Colts (0-11, 2-9-0 ATS).
The Colts are 21 point underdogs at New England this Sunday. That’s the biggest line four years. And it’s unlikely Bill Belichick will be inclined to show mercy towards his old adversaries. This could really sting.