Four Up and Four Down: NFL Week 3

Each week during the NFL season, UnafraidShow.com will take you through the four NFL teams/players that are trending up, as well as the ones that are headed for a crash. Let’s get to it:

1) Spider Y 2 Banana

It was a legitimate unknown if Jon Gruden would ever be able to equal the value of the massive contract he received to lure him out of broadcasting and onto the sidelines again, but this Raiders team is ROLLING. They’ve beaten both the Ravens and the Steelers, and survived two different overtime games, as well as an injury to RB Josh Jacobs, and they did it through quality playcalling on offense, and limiting themselves to two turnovers in their first three games. Derek Carr looks like he’s entering his prime, and the things TE Darren Waller forces defenses to do in order to keep him from being a one-man wrecking crew has freed up young Henry Ruggs to emerge as a legitimate star. Defensively, Maxx Crosby, a 4th round pick back in 2019, is becoming an absolute menace to opposing QBs, with two sacks and 12 QB hits.

2) The return of the REAL Sam Darnold

Pac-12 fans like me watched Sam Darnold flirt with a 60% completion percentage for three years on the New York Jets and were left wondering what on earth happened to the one-time stud Trojan QB. Three games into his tenure with the Carolina Panthers, he’s undefeated and has completed over 67% of his passes in three consecutive games. Yes he had Christian McCaffrey, and yes the addition of Hasson Reddick has taken the defense to the next level, but I’m telling you, he looks good. He’s going to be head-to-head against Dak Prescott this weekend, and Christian McCaffrey is hurt, so we’re undoubtedly going to find out if this really is the *real* Sam Darnold we’re seeing, or just an early-season mirage.

3) Justin Tucker the GOAT

Yes, Adam Vinatieri is great. But is he “kick a record long FG to win the game as time expires” great? Maybe he is, but his career long was 57, and Justin Tucker now has a 66-yard game-winner on his resume. What’s most incredible about Justin Tucker’s long-range accomplishment, is that he had come to be known as the guy you want kicking anything but a 50+ yard field goal, but improved his distance in the middle of his career to become someone without a weakness. Think about this- in 2018 and 2019, Tucker was a combined 8/19 from 50+ yards, but in the 19 games since then, he’s 10/11, including this aforementioned beauty.

4) JuCo Quarterbacks

Photo courtesy of Butte Community College

It will never not boggle the mind that Aaron Rodgers spent time in Junior College. He’s the the most dangerous QB I’ve ever seen, and imagining him at 18 years old out there at Butte College just ruining the film of 21 year old defensive backs all over the Pacific coast sounds like a Hollywood fever dream. He’s rid our collective consciousness of his horrid week 1 performance by putting together two awesome performances in a row against Detroit and San Francisco to remind us that he’s the real MVP. But he’s not the only California QB to be overlooked and have to go the JuCo route who is now tearing up the NFL… Josh Allen is right there with him after putting together a stellar 2020, earning a massive contract extension, and now doing things like throwing for 358 yards, 4 touchdowns, and rushing for a touchdown against the Washington Football Team. You might think I’m being unreasonable by comparing Josh Allen to Aaron Rodgers (which I’ve been doing for 5 years now), but wait until Bryce Perkins gets a shot with the LA Rams- then you’re really going to see me go off the rails for Junior College-to-NFL signal callers.

Heating Up

The Cleveland Browns are good. Myles Garrett looks like a top-5 pass rusher, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt look like the best 1-2 punch at RB in the entire NFL, and Baker Mayfield isn’t doing anything to screw it up. Say this out loud- THE CLEVELAND BROWNS HAVE WON 14 OF THEIR LAST 20 GAMES. Surreal isn’t it? I don’t have them in the top 10 of my NFL Power rankings yet (see below), but if they win in Minnesota this weekend, it’ll be hard to justify keeping them out.

1-32 Power Rankings

1) Steel City

Pittsburgh is an awful place to have to try and go earn a win. Even as recently as last year, the Steelers went 7-1 in the regular season at home. But if you include last year’s playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers have now lost three in a row in front of their home fans, including a two-touchdown drubbing by the Cincinnati Bengals. If the ‘Burgh isn’t a clear advantage for Ben Roethlisberger and company, this is a terribly average football team that is about to embark on a long, painful season.

2) Matt Nagy

The entire city of Chicago wants Matt Nagy fired. All of Chicago’s four billion former residents that have retired to Arizona and Florida are throwing all the hard candy from their crystal dishes at the television every time they see him in a postgame press conference. Justin Fields struggled mightily in his first start, and has managed to get sacked 11 times in just a little over four quarters of action. If the Bears don’t defend Soldier Field this week against the 0-3 Detroit Lions, we might see the first coaching change of the season.

3) The New York Football??? Giants

Imagine booing the owner at a jersey retirement ceremony for the QB that brought your franchise its last two championships. Actually, you don’t have to imagine it, you can just watch:

I’m not sure what else to even write about the Giants. It doesn’t get worse than that.

4) Cold Colts

The Indianapolis Colts had an 11-win season last year, added Carson Wentz to replace Philip Rivers, and look like they don’t have an identity anymore. With road games coming up against the Dolphins and Ravens, it’s going to be a long, hard road back to .500. In their favor is an incredibly poor division that (as long as they beat Tennessee the next time around) they could still challenge to win.

(Cooling Off)

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t fooling anyone with that 1-2 record- they’re still incredibly stacked on both sides of the ball, but with Denver, Las Vegas, and the LA Chargers all on the come-up, they can’t afford to tinker around anymore. They need to be .500 heading into their game against Buffalo, or we might see last year’s 14-2 AFC representative facing a 1-4 start to their ensuing season.

Have a take you’d like us to address? Email us at immad@unafraidshow.com and we’ll read your take on a future Wrighster or Wrong podcast.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be

Welcome to the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be. Finally some stability in the Top 10. It takes about 3-4 weeks for the rankings to settle in and we have a really good idea who the best teams in the country are. I'll tell you the rules of the rankings next, but first we need to celebrate the amazing week 3 in college football. I pray that all you reading this stay healthy and enjoy this season. Now on the the rules.

Welcome to the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be. Finally some stability in the Top 10. It takes about 3-4 weeks for the rankings to settle in and we have a really good idea who the best teams in the country are. Last week saw a couple of Top 10 teams IDLE and a huge riser. This week, is separation Saturday. We will truly find out which teams are here for a good time, and which ones are here for a long time. I pray that all you reading this stay healthy and enjoy this season. Now on the the rules.

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings Week 5

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 5. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4 .

Rankings should be fair and unbiased, but that’s not the world we live in when preseason polls ultimately affect the final rankings.

Top 10 College Football Rankings Week 5:

Next Up: Notre Dame, BYU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Fresno State

10. Michigan State (4-0)

Last Week: 23-20 (W) vs Nebraska

Some of the media was down on MSU because they didn’t earn enough “style points against Nebraska. The reality is Scott Frost has his team playing much better and they gave Oklahoma a real fight too. No team goes through the season without playing some close games. The Spartans are fast, well-coached, and have a few nice wins under their belt, while being dominant at times.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1)

Last Week: 59-7 (W) vs Akron

No CJ Stroud at QB, no problem for the Buckeyes. Fans have been displeased with the results on the field this season. But that is a result of fans being spoiled. They want to blow everyone out despite the opponent of circumstances surrounding their team. But life doesn’t work like that. Neither does football. OSU is still the most explosive offense in college football.

8. Ole Miss (3-0)

Last Week: IDLE

Lane Kiffin lives by the motto “all publicity is good publicity” model. He understands that Ole Miss is not demanding the national attention without him trolling USC fans, Nick Saban, or responding to Michael Wilbon. His team has looked extremely good through three games, but the rubber meets the road against Alabama this week.

7. Cincinnati (3-0)

Last Week: IDLE

Cinci believes they are a big dog and can compete with Power 5 teams week in and week out. Here is there opportunity. In their last game they beat Big Ten opponent Indiana. Now they follow that up with a visit to Notre Dame. If they can win this game and look good, they could be on their was to their first College Football Playoff.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic // iHeart

6. Iowa (4-0)

Last Week: 24-14 (W) vs Colorado State

I appreciate watching Iowa play, and honestly at this point I believe the Hawkeyes will come back down to reality and will be a 10-2 or 9-3 team. Their future schedule doesn’t include Michigan, Michigan State, or Ohio State. That means if they can beat Penn State and Wisconsin and not lose to a lesser opponent, they could find themselves owning space in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings all year.

5. Arkansas (4-0)

Last Week: 20-10 (W) vs Texas A&M @ AT&T Stadium

Wins over Texas and Texas A&M look real good right now. The Hogs dominated bothe football games. There are injury concerns about the Arkansas QB Jefferson. After he went out last week, their offense was essentially only able to hold on for dear life. If he is not available vs Georgia the Razorbacks has ZERO shot of winning. Georgia is more talented, so if Arkansas wins we know who the better coach is.

4. Penn State (4-0)

Last Week: 38-17 (W) vs Villanova

Penn State played Villanova. That is a basketball school. You would have expected the score to be a bit more lopsided than that, but it looked like a big win hangover, however, the Nittany Lions were never in any danger and were up 38-3 in the 4th quarter when the reserves gave up a couple of touchdowns.

3. Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)

Last Week: 62-0 (W) vs Vanderbilt

We finally get to see Georgia against a team that appears to be good offensively. Clemson is NOT a great team this year offensively. The Georgia defense looks phenomenal but are we sure they are the greatest thing since sliced bread when they haven’t played a great offense yet. That is the sole reason the Bulldogs sit at #3 instead of #1. THe criteria says they should be #3, but my gut says #1.

2. Oregon Ducks (4-0)

Last Week: 41-19 (W) vs Arizona

The Oregon Ducks are leading the nation is turnover margin. They have forced 13 turnovers on the season while only giving up one turnover. That is a recipe for winning games and dominating opponents. Now we wait for another signature offensive performance like we saw at Ohio State.

1. Alabama (4-0)

Last Week: 63-14 (W) vs So. Miss

Domination.Even though Nick Saban and everyone watching can see this team is not as good as last year, they still are dominating like the best team in college football. It appears they may get pushed to their defensive limit against Ole Miss. However, the real question is can this offense be stopped? We shall we.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4 As it Should Be

College Football ranking week 4

Welcome to the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4 As it Should Be. Apparently, only a few teams want to stay in the Top 10. I almost feel like I’m stacking Jenga blocks only to have my 2-year-old knock them down. Teams that we thought we could count on look suspect while others are consistent. I think we are in for a very chaotic 2021 season. There is NO team that looks unbeatable. This season is the exact reason we need playoff expansion to eight teams instead of 12. No team should get a first round bye. We would see all sorts of upsets. I cannot believe we are 25% done with the regular season already. Now I’m sad. For those of you new here, I created these rankings to give fans a real Top 10, free from media and conference bias. I’ll tell you the rules of the rankings next, but first we need to celebrate the amazing week 3 in college football. I pray that all you reading this stay healthy and enjoy this season. Now on the the rules.

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings Week 4

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 4. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3 .

Rankings should be fair and unbiased, but that’s not the world we live in when preseason polls ultimately affect the final rankings.

Top 10 College Football Rankings Week 4:

Next Up: Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Michigan, Clemson

10. Oklahoma (3-0)

Last Week: 23-16 (W) vs Nebraska

I have no clue what to truly make of this team. They are winning games but haven’t looked great at all. Spencer Rattler was touted as a Heisman hopeful in the preseason but has not lived up to the hype.

9. Michigan State (3-0)

Last Week: 38-17 (W) @ Miami

This is not your father’s Michigan State team. Mel Tucker has rebuilt this roster and mentality in short order. They has speed at their skill positions and a good young QB in Payton Thorne. Through three games they have a ton of explosive plays and have the makings of a Big Ten contender.

Ohio State Rose Bowl Trailer

8. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1)

Last Week: 41-20 (W) vs Tulsa

This team is fascinating to watch. They have all the talent in the world and score a lot of points each week but something just isn’t clicking. Their young QB CJ Stroud is having an up and down start to the season much like this defense.

7. Ole Miss (3-0)

Last Week: 61-21 (W) vs Tulane

Lane Kiffin has Ole Miss rolling. Their defense may still be shaky but it’s much improved from last season. But this offense… sweet baby Jesus it is fun to watch. It is like watching Chip Kelly at Oregon. Fast, explosive, and efficient execution.

6. Cincinnati (3-0)

Last Week: 38-24 (W) vs Indiana

All three games this season the Bearcats have started slow, but end up blowing everybody out. They got their first real test this week in Indiana. We will find out if Cinci is a playoff contender or not in two weeks against Notre Dame.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic // iHeart

5. Iowa (3-0)

Last Week: 30-7 (W) vs Kent State

The Hawkeyes deserve to be here because of what they have done on the field. I cannot envision a world in which they are top five to finish the season but up to now, this is where they belong. Other rankings have other teams ranked higher because of recruiting rankings or perceived strength when on field results are the only thing that should matter.

4. Penn State (3-0)

Last Week: 28-20 (W) vs Auburn

So much for the James Franklin to USC rumors being a distraction. Penn State got a huge win against Auburn at home. WIth Ohio State looking vulnerable on defense, could this be the year the Nittany Lions knock off the kings of the B1G?

3. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0)

Last Week: 40-13 (W) vs South Carolina

Georgia just might be the most complete team in the SEC. Their defense looks great but they have yet to play a good offense. Clemson is clearly on the struggle bus offensively, so the jury is still out on how good Georgia is… and the Tigers won’t even get another test until at least Oct. 9th against Auburn.

2. Oregon Ducks (3-0)

Last Week: 48-7 (W) vs Stony Brook

I know the little guys need the money for their athletic departments but I don’t have to like these games. But at least Oregon, unlike most SEC teams, only has one of these non-competitive games instead of two or three.

1. Alabama (3-0)

Last Week: 31-29 (W) @ Florida

What happened to the Crimson Tide at halftime? For two quarters they dominated Florida, but then came a lackluster 1.5 quarters. However, once Florida got close, the light came on for ‘Bama, and they did Bama things to close out the game. I will say this team is not an immovable object at #1 anymore.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4.

2021 NFL Week 1 Stock Report: Four Up and Four Down

2021 NFL Week 1 Stock Report

Each week during the NFL season, UnafraidShow.com will take you through the four NFL teams/players that are trending up, as well as the ones that are headed for a crash. Let’s get to it:

1) The Saints Go Marching

Jameis Winston is filling some enormous shoes, while trying to throw out his previous pair. On Sunday, he managed to do both, playing relatively mistake free football, and helping the New Orleans Saints completely demolish the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay had come into New Orleans having scored 30+ points in five consecutive road games, and the Saints defense, bolstered by sacks from Tanoh Kpassagnon and Marcus Davenport, and interceptions by Paulson Adebo and Marcus Williams, has sent a signal to the rest of the NFL that the Saints aren’t going to have to win by shootout.

2) Same Old Tom and Gronk

We wrote about last Thursday’s electric NFL season opener, and once the dust settled on the entire weekend, it was clear that Tampa Bay still stood out as one of the most impressive teams of week 1. Of course everyone expects a defending Super Bowl champion to still have some gas left in the tank, but the Buccaneers came out with an even bigger tank, overflowing with high grade premium fuel. Antonio Brown looks better than he did last year. The Bucs run defense looks better than it did last year. And for the third time in the last seven games, Tom Brady found his old pal Rob Gronkowski in the end zone more than once. If for any reason Tampa wasn’t your Super Bowl favorite heading into 2021, it might be time to change your mind.

3) The Cardinals Take Flight

The Arizona Cardinals had the most eyebrow raising additions, as well as departures, leading up to the 2021 season. While the hype around this team remains minimal, as Arizona isn’t exactly the sexiest market for national talking heads, the week one thrashing of the Tennessee Titans on the road has caused quite a stir. Whether it’s Chandler Jones taking out his frustration with his contract situation on Taylor Lewan and Ryan Tannehill, or Kyler Murray finding both DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk for two scores each, you have to wonder if the Cardinals largest margin of victory in a season opener since the 1960’s is a flash in the pan, or a sign of things to come.

4) The AFC West

I definitely did not think that the NFC West would go undefeated in week 1. Especially when the Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Cleveland Browns by two scores in the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Raiders trailed the Baltimore Ravens by a TD with six minutes left in their Sunday night matchup, but here we are. The emergence of Justin Herbert at QB for the Los Angeles Chargers might make this the most entertaining division in all of football this year, especially if Von Miller and the Denver Broncos defense keeps them in games enough for Teddy Bridgewater and Melvin Gordon to work some magic, the way they did against the Giants on Sunday.

Heating Up

I know they lost, but I was impressed with both Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, and Browns QB Baker Mayfield’s progress. Our own George Wrighster believes that Dak Prescott is currently a top-5 NFL QB, and if he repeats his week 1 performance a few more times, I’m not sure I’ll be able to disagree. You have to throw Rams Head Coach Sean McVay on this list as well, because Matt Stafford’s play at QB is making him look like even more of a genius than he’s purported to be. Oh, and in case you forgot, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin still knows what he’s doing. Pittsburgh’s win over Buffalo should be a strong warning to the rest of the AFC North division that the Steelers aren’t quite dead yet. And why not give a shout out to the Houston Texans, who many thought would be circling the drain this year… a lot of season left, but as it stands right now, Tyrod Taylor and company are undefeated. Last but certainly not least, if you’re going to face an entire offseason of rumors that the Eagles are looking to replace you as the starter before you ever really get the chance to prove yourself, you might as well go out and dominate the way that Jalen Hurts did.

1) Aaron Rodgers

If you’re going to spend an entire offseason letting rumors and reports of your discontent run unchecked, and then you’re going to grant an interview to Erin Andrews further explaining your dissatisfaction with your status as the QB of the Green Bay Packers, you don’t get to be shocked when the team you’ve made it abundantly clear you don’t want to play with isn’t showing up on the field to support you. If Aaron Rodgers isn’t able to convince the Green Bay Packers to rally around him in his last year there, he’s going to have to be the one to do the rallying. Either he swallows his pride, or he’s going to swallow a few more five touchdown defeats.

2) Minnesota Vikings

Never has a team been more emblematic of the phrase “playing to the level of your competition” than the Kirk Cousins-led Minnesota Vikings. The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t a bad football team, but they’re certainly not as talented as the Vikings, and the idea that they’d need to come from behind to force overtime (and still lose!) to an offense that features Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who have an average combined age of 23-years-old, has to infuriate Skol nation.

3) Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans wasted an all-time great offense last season by surrendering over 30 points eight different times. So how’d they kick off 2021? How about putting the brakes on that offense while still leaking like a sieve in the secondary? It doesn’t look like Ryan Tannehill is the guy you want trying to play you back into a game from behind, and when you have your franchise left tackle publicly thanking the defensive end that beat him five different times for “exposing” him? YIKES.

4) Atlanta Falcons

When your salary cap situation is so bad that you have to let the best receiver in franchise history walk away, you probably aren’t going to earn much praise for having your longest play from scrimmage be 18 yards… at home… against a team defense that was in the bottom half of the league in both total yards and points allowed last year.

Cooling Off

The top two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, weren’t a disaster in their season debuts, but outside of Aaron Rodgers, they finished second and third on the weekend as far as the worst completion percentage. Wilson, while he looked decent at times against Carolina, was sacked six times in his debut. If the Jets don’t protect their investment, who is on pace to take 26 more sacks than David Carr did in 2002, a record that still stands to this day, then they’re going to likely be scouting top QBs for the second draft in a row.

Have a take you’d like us to address? Email us at immad@unafraidshow.com and we’ll read your take on a future Wrighster or Wrong podcast.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3 As it Should Be

College Football ranking week 3

Welcome to the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3 As it Should Be. Major shake ups in the rankings. We witnessed a heavyweight title fight in Columbus, a beatdown in Ames, and rock fight in Boulder that all impacted the rankings. Damn I love college football because we are reminded every weekend that the results on paper ≠ results on the field. For those of you new here, I created these rankings to give fans a real Top 10, free from media and conference bias. I’ll tell you the rules of the rankings next, but first we need to celebrate the amazing week 3 in college football. I pray that all you reading this stay healthy and enjoy this season. Now on the the rules.

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings Week 3

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 3. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2 .

Rankings should be fair and unbiased, but that’s not the world we live in when preseason polls ultimately affect the final rankings.

Top 10 College Football Rankings Week 3:

Next Up: Penn State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Florida

10. Notre Dame (2-0)

Last Week: 32-29 (W) vs Toledo

This Notre Dame team feels a lot like the 2012-13 team that played against Alabama in the National Championship. They won so many games by the hairs on their chinny chin chin. At the end of the season they were 12-0 but everyone knew 1-loss Oregon was a better team. But the BCS computers chose the undefeated team. People better start hoping they lose otherwise we will see them in the top 4 again.

9. Clemson (1-1)

Last Week: 49-3 (W) vs South Carolina State

Dabo Swinney got his team to rebound after the Georgia loss. We still have questions about the development of DJ Uiagalelei at quarterback. If he can be a premiere QB the sky is the limit for the Clemson team. However, they need to root for UNC, Virginia Tech, and Miami to win out until they play.

8. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-1)

Last Week: 28-35 (W) vs Oregon

The Buckeyes have to get their defense figured out. The bad news is Oregon exposed a flaw in their red zone defense. The good news is that few teams will be able to score with CJ Stroud, Chris Olave, and company. They will still have a chance to compete for the B1G championship and get into the college football playoff.

7. Cincinnati (2-0)

Last Week: 42-7 (W) vs Murray State

The Bearcats have outscored their opponents 91-21 through two games. I spent the most time figuring out where to rank them. Their dominance is clear but their schedule is not impressive. As more teams get into the meat of their schedule it will be extremely hard for Cinci to stay ranked above them unless they blow everyone out and beat Notre Dame.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

Apple Podcasts // Spotify // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic // iHeart

6. Oklahoma (2-0)

Last Week: 76-0 (W) vs Western Carolina

The Sooners rebounded nicely after a scare against Tulane. I still give some grace in that game because everything was thrown off. Tulane had to travel to Norman to play a game that was relocated because of the hurricane Ida. There were so many emotions and inspired play by the Green Wave that Oklahoma just had to weather the storm and they did.

5. Iowa (2-0)

Last Week: 27-17 (W) vs Iowa State

This was supposed to be the year Iowa State took the power from Iowa, but the Hawkeyes had other plans. They dominated and out executed a very well-coached football team. I am not sure if Iowa has the horses to be a legit contender, but we cannot discount their great play and quality wins through 2 games.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (2-0)

Last Week: 56-7 (W) vs UAB

Georgia took UAB behind the woodshed without JT Daniels. It is pretty easy for Kirby Smart to play the brand of football he likes against lesser competition. He went all conservative against Clemson. The Bulldogs did come away with the win, but until he goes full Bruce Arians “no risk it, no biscuit” there won’t be any championship banners hanging in Athens.

3. UCLA (2-0)

Last Week: IDLE

A week off didn’t change anything. They still have 2 dominating performances already this year. I can’t wait to see how they handle Fresno State this weekend. If they dominate it won’t be hard for the Bruins to continue to move up in the rankings.

2. Oregon Ducks (2-0)

Last Week: 35-28 (W) @ Ohio State

Oregon has put the nation on notice. They are back in the national championship conversation again after a 5 year absence .A lot of people outside of Oregon are calling their victory over Ohio State an upset. They were the better team and dominated the game. But… Ohio State is legit.

1. Alabama (2-0)

Last Week: 48-14 (W) vs Mercer

Where is Mercer located? I googled it so you didn’t have to. It is in Macon, Georgia. I had a tougher task locating Mercer than Bryce Young, Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide had on the field this weekend. No schedule or quality wins points but the domination from the Miami game continued through week 2.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2 As it Should Be

College Football Rankings Week 2

Welcome to the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2 As it Should Be. For those of you new here, I created these rankings to give fans a real Top 10, free from media and conference bias. I’ll tell you the rules of the rankings next, but first we need to celebrate the amazing week 1 in college football. We got big name brand matchups, upsets, and some feel good stories. But that wasn’t the most exciting part. Having fans back in the stands brought an energy through the screen that we hadn’t seen since the 2019 season. I pray that all you reading this stay healthy and enjoy this season. Now on the the rules.

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings Week 2

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 2. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 1.

Rankings should be fair and unbiased, but that’s not the world we live in when preseason polls ultimately affect the final rankings.

Top 10 College Football Rankings Week 2:

Next Up: Clemson, Iowa State, USC, Florida

10. Oregon Ducks (1-0)

Last Week: 31-24 (W) vs Fresno State

The Ducks had a great first and fourth quarter against Fresno State. But the middle two quarters left a lot to be desired from the Oregon offense. We will ultimately see what this team is made of this week as they head to Columbus to take on Ohio State.

9. Cincinnati (1-0)

Last Week: 49-14 (W) vs Miami (OH)

Desmond Ridder showed out against Miami (OH). Cincinnati’s schedule doesn’t allow for them to get very many quality win, so it will be hard for them to climb very high in the poll. But they were dominant last week and should be this week against Murray State as well.

8. Oklahoma (1-0)

Last Week: 40-35 (W) vs Tulane

The Sooners were real close to being a victim last weekend. Tulane recovered an onside kick with about 2 minutes left in the game down five but couldn’t get the win. The reason OU is ranked even in the top 10 after that game is because of the emotions and situation surrounding the game. It was moved to norman because Tulane was displaced because of the hurricane. There won’t be a scare this week against Western Carolina.

7. Texas A&M (1-0)

Last Week: 41-10 (W) vs Kent State

In my rankings, you do not get credit for quality wins or schedule when you beat a bad teams. However, you do receive points for dominance when you blow them out of the water. This week will be a step up in competition as the Aggies head to Boulder, CO to play the Buffaloes.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

6. Iowa (1-0)

Last Week: 34-6 (W) vs Indiana

I had to do a double take when I saw Iowa scored 34 points vs Indiana until I saw Riley Moss had two pick-six TDs. That was an extremely impressive performance by the Hawkeyes. Next up Iowa State.

5. Notre Dame (1-1)

Last Week: 41-38 (W) vs Florida State

FSU vs Notre Dame was the game of the year so far. The Irish offense looks more explosive than we have seen it in a long time. They have speed at key position and a physical defense. Playoffs again?

4. UCLA (2-0)

Last Week: 38-27 (W) vs LSU

There is no denying what this team has put on tape. Through 2 games, the Bruins defense and OL look physical and fast. Chip Kelly’s team harassed LSU all game on the way to a dominating performance.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)

Last Week: 45-31 (W) @ Minnesota

It you want big plays, you showed up at the right place. The Buckeyes scored four TDs from 30+ against Minnesota. That sort of explosion keeps opposing coaches up at night. Huge matchup against Oregon this week.

2. Georgia Bulldogs (1-0)

Last Week: 10-3 (W) vs Clemson

We will have to wait until this weekend to see if the Bulldogs can score their first offensive touchdown. Their matchup against Clemson was an absolute rock fight offensively. However, the Georgia defense was fighting with a bazooka. They may be the fastest defense we saw in week 1.

1. Alabama (1-0)

Last Week: 44-13 (W) vs Miami

Alabama deserves the #1 spot of the College Football Top 10 Rankings As It Should Be. They dominated Miami in every way possible. Bryce Young is now the Crimson Tide QB and the offense looks just as good as when Mac Jones or Tua was QB.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2.

2020 NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers

2020 NFL Week 16 was a week where the top four teams clearly showed themselves. It was also a week where some teams saw their playoff hopes fade or even disappear. Nonetheless, there are still four teams that are above the rest, and four teams that need to make New Year’s Resolutions. Without further ado, here is Four Up and Four Down for 2020 NFL Week 16:

Kansas City Chiefs Clinch Top Seed in AFC After 2020 NFL Week 16

The Chiefs had an uneven performance against the Atlanta Falcons. That being said, they were able to get away with the 17-14 victory. Kansas City has simply found ways to win games the past few months. Not exactly world beaters, the Chiefs have not won a game by more than six points since their Week 8 victory over the New York Jets. Yes, the Chiefs have been the best team in the NFL to this point. But there may be minor deficiencies that a better team may be able to expose against them. Miami forced them into mistakes in Week 14, for example. They could not score touchdowns against Denver in Week 13. It will take an opponent forcing multiple mistakes to beat the Chiefs. Nonetheless, there is more and more reason to believe that this team is beatable.

2. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo completed the final part of usurping power in the AFC East from the New England Patriots by destroying them 38-9 on Monday night. Josh Allen may get some MVP votes, deservedly so. Stefon Diggs has probably been the second best receiver in the NFL this season after Green Bay’s Davante Adams in terms of impact on a team. The defense has kept opponents in check the past few weeks.

The Bills had four straight primetime games, which could be seen as a barometer for if they are ready for the big stage. They passed that test with flying colors, as they won by an average margin of almost 20 points. Their urgency to get the job done against their past two opponents, both of whom are inferior, shows that this team has matured since their playoff debacle against the Texans last year. Buffalo should be a trendy pick to go far in the playoffs this year. However, it will be interesting to see how this team responds once the postseason actually starts.

3. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay put together their most complete performance of the season in their 40-14 demolition of the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field Sunday night. Aaron Rodgers was near-perfect, minus an interception. It seems like no one in the league can stop Davante Adams either. Whenever Adams was matched up against Titans cornerback Adoree Jackson, it was impossible for Jackson to stop Adams. Malcolm Butler did not fare much better either. Nonetheless, the Packers can clinch the number-one seed in the NFC. Their opponent: a desperate Chicago Bears team that they beat 41-25 in Week 12. A team fighting for the number-one seed versus a team fighting for a playoff spot should produce a great Week 17 game.

4. New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees may not have to do as much for the Saints to be successful this postseason. They easily have the best offensive and defensive line combination in the NFC if not the NFL. New Orleans can run the football down other team’s throat. Alvin Kamara is such a versatile player that he can beat teams on his own, like he did to the Vikings on Christmas Day with a six-touchdown performance to start 2020 NFL Week 16. After the 52-33 victory, the Saints have positioned themselves for a top-two seed if they can beat the Panthers this weekend.

They will be rooting hard for Chicago against Green Bay, as playing in the snow would be a huge disadvantage for the Saints. Tennessee is a prime example of how teams that do not play in snow normally struggle mightily in the snow. However, a run game and a defense that can pressure a quarterback can travel, and it will be interesting to see (if the Saints play Green Bay) if they can live up to that challenge.

Four Down: Jaguars Win The Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes

29. Houston Texans

The Texans lost to the lowly Bengals at home 37-31 on Sunday. I could write some stuff about this team, but JJ Watt summed it up perfectly:

30. Philadelphia Eagles

When a quarterback you drafted in the second round accounts for over 400 yards of offense and your team still lost by 20, maybe you can figure out there were other positions you had to address in the offseason. Carson Wentz has contributed to the Eagles’ downfall for sure. Head coach Doug Pederson did not do Wentz any favors with play-calling while he was in. Howie Roseman has made questionable draft decisions the past few seasons. The roster as it is currently constructed cannot get the job done. Carson Wentz’s trade value has plummeted, but the Eagles probably should trade him at this point. Jalen Hurts, at this point, will probably be the starter for Philly next season.

31. New York Jets

Well, the New York Jets have effectively played themselves into the number two pick. They lost their first thirteen games. Then they won two games so they would not be the worst team in the league. The fact the Jets have won their last two games shows the players did not quit on Adam Gase. Some teams in the Jets’ situation would have phoned it in. The fact that they showed their will to win and have shown they are consummate professionals. A lot of respect should be given to the players for keeping on despite the team’s struggles this season.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars won the “Tank for Trevor” sweepstakes thanks to the Jets finally becoming a competent football team the past few weeks. There have been talks about former Giants GM Jerry Reese becoming Jacksonville’s new leader of their front office. Also, Urban Meyer has been rumored to possibly make the jump to the NFL after saying he retired from coaching two years ago. The former Florida Gators coach would be a popular choice. Meyer would probably want the opportunity to coach Trevor Lawrence in the NFL (a lot of coaches do). There are talented pieces at skill positions for Lawrence. If the right pieces are put in place, Lawrence will have a chance for early success. However, he may struggle if he is not given adequate time to adjust to the NFL game.  

Do you agree with Four Up and Four Down after 2020 NFL Week 16? Tweet us, @unafraidshow, with your thoughts.

2020 NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

2020 NFL Week 15 saw some of the basement dwellers of the NFL win. Some of the better teams took huge steps back this week. After a week of shuffling within the standings, there was shuffling of the Four Up and Four Down Power Rankings this week.

Kansas City Chiefs Keep Finding Ways to Win

Kansas City managed to beat the New Orleans Saints 32-29 on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes was making more crazy touchdown throws. The Chiefs are simply finding ways to win. However, there are minor flaws with this team that could become major if one team finds a way to expose them. The Chiefs look nearly unbeatable, which it feels like they are. Nonetheless, if a team finds something, they can expose the Chiefs on, they might not have such an easy path to the Super Bowl.

2. Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen and the Bills played nearly perfect in their 48-19 demolition of the Denver Broncos. The score could have been worse if the Bills offense did not stall in the red zone on three separate second half drives. Allen will not win MVP, but he should be considered. Also, the defense got a touchdown for the second week in a row. If the Bills get complementary play from their defense like they have the past two weeks, they will be hard to beat.

3. Green Bay Packers

The Packers coasted to a 24-16 win against the Carolina Panthers. The offense scored 21 points in the first half and looked like they were firing on all cylinders. However, they only scored three points in the second half. While talking on The Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers attributed this to the Panthers showing a lot of dime looks. Nonetheless, the Packers got a December win, and are primed to get the number one seed in the NFC. Teams will not want to go up to cold Lambeau Field and play, which is a huge advantage for the Packers.

4. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland beat the New York Giants 20-6 on Sunday night. The game was a snoozer compared to their game against the Ravens in 2020 NFL Week 14. However, having unexciting wins may be a good thing for a Browns franchise that knows how tough wins are to come by in the NFL. They are drama-free. However, after playing the Jets this week, we will see if the Browns will have any say on division supremacy against the Steelers.

Four Down: Bengals, Jets Both Capture Surprising Wins In 2020 NFL Week 15

29. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons let yet another big lead slip away from them in their 31-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At this point, it must be psychological with this team. Atlanta carries the moniker of “choking” games away. Whoever Atlanta hires as their new head coach will have to find a way to shed the team’s label. Did anyone actually think Atlanta was going to win even when they were up 17-0 on Sunday? 

30. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati’s 27-17 upset win against the Steelers was shocking. Ryan Finley was able to use his legs to confuse the Steelers’ defense and the defense was able to hold their own against Pittsburgh’s offense. Also, this win did not affect the Bengals’ draft position (unlike a team below), so why not win a game against one of your most bitter rivals?

A Word on The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Three-Game Losing Streak: I do not understand why Pittsburgh is trying to use a quick passing game offense so much. Their receivers can get separation, and quick passes lead to drops, which the Steelers lead the league in. Since they switched to this offense against the Ravens, their record is 1-3. When the Steelers were 11-0, Juju Smith-Schuster’s TikTok dances were not necessarily garnering national attention. Now at 11-3, he has put a stop to his videos after they have created a huge team distraction. Opponents want to beat the Steelers in part because of Smith-Schuster’s antics. The Steelers now have two weeks to figure things out before the playoffs.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars lost 40-14 to the Ravens and slid into the number-one slot in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jacksonville may end up winning the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. Jacksonville has talented players. If they can get leadership that is competent and modern in how they run a football franchise, they will have a chance to succeed with Lawrence. However, if they keep to what they are doing it will not be successful for them. Also, with how 2020 NFL Week 15 went, it should not surprise anyone if the Jaguars find a way to get out of this position.

32. New York Jets

Adam Gase will not be the third coach to oversee a 0-16 season. However, this win for the Jets against a probable NFC playoff team in the Rams just shows how incompetent of an operation the New York Jets are. They were in prime position to get Trevor Lawrence. That is why they will stay at number 32. Many Jets fans were not happy about the victory. Nonetheless, Gase should get credit for keeping his players engaged because winning this game shows he has not entirely lost the locker room. The players and coaches are still being professional. But beating the Rams will not save Gase his job, or it should not anyway.

Do you agree with Four Up and Four Down after 2020 NFL Week 15. Tweet us, @unafraidshow, with your thoughts.

2020 NFL Week 14 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

2020 NFL Week 14 provided an insane game in Cleveland and many other entertaining games. There were major shakeups on both ends of the Power Rankings this week, as the Steelers lost to the Bills. On the other end, the Eagles and Cowboys both won, paving the way for new teams in the NFL’s cellar. Without further ado, here is Four Up and Four Down for 2020 NFL Week 14.

Chiefs Maintain Top Spot in Power Rankings After 2020 NFL Week 14 Despite Turnovers

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs did not play their best football against the Dolphins. A win is a win though. Despite three interceptions, Mahomes still threw for 394 yards in the victory. They have so many ways of beating their opponents. Their defense has proven they can get the job done in the postseason. Kansas City has not played their best football in a few weeks, but they are simply winning games.

2. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are the most lethal quarterback-wide receiver combination in the league. No team has been able to stop them. Adams has caught a touchdown in his last eight games and has a total of 14 through 2020 NFL Week 14. The Packers’ running game is also decent with Aaron Jones. On defense, there is still something to be desired, as the Packers have let teams back into the game the past two weeks against the Eagles and Lions. However, it will be hard for a team to beat Green Bay if they cannot figure out how to stifle the Rodgers-Adams connection.

3. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo defense stepped up against the Steelers on Sunday Night. A pick-six by Taron Johnson completely flipped the game in the Bills’ favor. If Josh Allen continues his great play, he could get some votes for MVP. He will not win it but has shown vast improvement this season. Allen also proved he can play well when the conditions may not be great. His play is helping the Bills as they are looking for their first AFC East title in 25 seasons.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh’s offense is very frustrating to watch. It makes no sense why they did not even try to establish the run Sunday night. They use all these short passes, and their receivers cannot even catch the football. When they were letting Ben Roethlisberger throw the ball downfield, they were winning. Now, they cannot. The Steelers need to find a way to incorporate running and downfield passes back into their offense, or their season will be over sooner than anyone expected. On top of that, they will be out of these power rankings.

Four Down: Texans and Bengals Hit New Lows In 2020 Season

29. Houston Texans

The Cowboys could have been in this spot, but their team did not have two contributing players get suspended this past week. The Texans were embarrassed 36-7 by a Bears team that had not won a game since Week 6. Deshaun Watson cannot win games all by himself. Hopefully, the new head coach finds a way to utilize the weapons they have since former head coach Bill O’Brien basically mortgaged this team’s future on the players they have now.

30. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati was competitive for the first few games after Joe Burrow was injured. On Sunday, however, they were destroyed by the Dallas Cowboys and former quarterback Andy Dalton 30-7. At this point, the Bengals will not win another game this season. That means they will be able to take their choice of offensive lineman in the draft if they end up with the third pick.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars lost to the Titans 31-10. After a few weeks of being competitive, the Jaguars crashed back down to Earth. Gardner Minshew II got back into the game though, and he will be the Jaguars’ starter at quarterback this week against the Ravens. However, these last few weeks of the season will probably draw an end to Minshew Mania in Jacksonville.

32. New York Jets

There is not much to say about the Jets’ 40-3 loss to the Seahawks. A week after firing Gregg Williams, their defense did not find any answers against Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense. At least they have a loyal quarterback. Despite being 0-13 after 2020 NFL Week 14, Sam Darnold said he loved being a part of the Jets’ organization and still wants to be the quarterback. Teams should give Darnold a look in the offseason. If the Jets do indeed let him go, the team that signs him knows he will show up for work.

Do you agree with our Four Up and Four Down for 2020 NFL Week 14? Tweet us @unafraidshow with your thoughts.

2020 NFL Week 13 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

2020 NFL Week 13 saw a change at the top of the leaderboard. The Steelers lost and the Chiefs won. The race for the AFC’s number-one seed is on.

Kansas City Chiefs Lead NFL After Week 13 of 2020

The Chiefs got plenty of plays between the 20s against the Denver Broncos this past Sunday night. However, they had a lot of trouble scoring touchdowns throughout the night. They finally broke through late in the third quarter after Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce for the Chiefs’ only touchdown of the game. Kansas City’s defense did its job against the Broncos’ offense, even though they had trouble against the run at times. If the Chiefs get consistent play from their defense, it will be extremely difficult for other good teams to beat the Chiefs in the postseason.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

I do not know if the Steelers have had a “Woe is Me” attitude about their games getting switched around, but Mike Tomlin was pretty accurate after he said the team “sucked” in their 23-17 loss to the Washington Football Team. The Steelers had their first loss of 2020 in Week 13, giving them an 11-1 record. This team has all the pieces. Once James Conner hopefully comes back from the COVID-19 list, the Steelers will have their run game back. They have an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver. Their defense is top notch. It is crazy that they lost to a team that they are simply better than. On paper, they may be better than their opponent this week, the Buffalo Bills. However, it will be interesting if the Steelers can bounce back against the Bills on Sunday night.

3. New Orleans Saints

The Saints did enough against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday en route to a 21-16 win. A five-point victory was a bit close for comfort, however. The Falcons drove deep into Saints territory late in the game, but the Saints defense was able to hold serve as they stopped the Falcons on fourth down. New Orleans has a decent, not great defense. Their defense is comparable to the Chiefs, but the Chiefs have a better offense than the Saints do. That is why just decent play on defense will win Saints games in the postseason. Their offense found more rhythm in the passing game against Atlanta, but they need to find more as they have a huge game against the Chiefs coming up in a few weeks.

4. Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen introduced himself to a national audience last Monday night. Sure, fans had seen him play before. Monday night, however, was the first time he showed his potential in front of a national audience. He passed for 375 yards and four touchdowns. Allen can spread the ball around, throwing to seven different receivers. He has his favorites though, as Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley had 10 and nine catches, respectively. The Bills may need to improve their run game, especially with the cold weather, but Allen is really starting to come into his own. Buffalo’s defense is up-and-down. If Josh Allen can put up the type of numbers he did last Monday night, the Bills will be a tough out for any team.

Four Down: Eagles and Jets Are Embarrassing Themselves

29. Philadelphia Eagles

Carson Wentz has officially been benched. The Eagles have butchered this season like no other team could have. Their receivers simply are not good enough and the offensive line cannot protect the quarterback. Doug Pederson calls plays like he has the best offensive line in the league. He simply does not. Carson Wentz got benched because he tried to play “Hero Ball” too much due to the Eagles’ deficiencies everywhere else on offense. The defense has tried to keep the team in games, but it has not been enough. Now, the Eagles will look for a spark as they start rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Saints. Pederson is throwing Hurts into a horrible situation against a Saints defense that has given up one touchdown the past three weeks. Do not expect the Eagles to win this weekend.

30. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys missed three field goals last Tuesday night against the Ravens. They simply do not have it this season. Their defense could not stop Lamar Jackson. I wish I could say something about this Cowboys team other than it has been a lost season in Dallas. Mike McCarthy will have to start the process of finding answers for next season. You know the Cowboys are in really dire straits when they get flexed out of Sunday Night Football, an uncommon occurrence for “America’s Team”.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

You have to commend Mike Glennon for stepping into a bad situation. He has helped keep the Jaguars competitive in games the past two weeks. Same goes for head coach Doug Marrone. Since the bye week, the Jaguars have gone 0-5, but four of those games have been one-possession losses. The players are still playing hard, and the Jaguars and other teams will notice this. Doug Marrone will probably be let go by Jacksonville after the season, but he has kept his team competitive when they have had every excuse to quit on him.

32. New York Jets

The Jets sent the tank at Derek Carr with ten seconds left in the game (pun definitely intended). Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III caught the ball and sprinted to the end zone, giving the Jets their 12th loss of the season. Adam Gase should have called timeout before the play, but Gregg Williams should have never called a blitz that late in the game with the lead. Because of it, he may never call another play on defense in the NFL again.

Agree with Four Up, Four Down after 2020 NFL Week 13? Tweet us, @unafraidshow, with your thoughts.