2020 NFL Week 10 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

2020 NFL Week 10 produced some stunning finishes (i.e. DeAndre Hopkins). The top teams managed to win games, even if they were ugly wins. On the reverse side of the coin, the bottom teams showed why they have that label on them. There are too many decent teams to count this season. Without further ado, here is Four Up and Four Down for 2020 NFL Week 10.

Steelers Lead the Way After 2020 NFL Week 10 With Drubbing of Bengals

After escaping with a 24-19 victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9, the Steelers got a great performance from Ben Roethlisberger and company in a 36-10 drubbing of the Cincinnati Bengals. This performance was after Roethlisberger only was able to get practice reps in a walkthrough on Saturday. He was on the Reserve/COVID-19 List throughout the week. Despite the limited reps, he threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He got all his receivers involved also. The Steelers can beat teams with their offense and defense. Their defense is only allowing 19 points a game. Expect the Steelers to get to 10-0, as they play the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs had a bye week this past week at 8-1. However, they play the Las Vegas Raiders this week. The Raiders are the only team that has beat the Chiefs the season. Expect the Chiefs to have an extra dose of motivation this week, as apparently the Raiders took a few extra bus rides around Arrowhead Stadium after their Week 5 victory. With the Broncos and Chargers being non-factors in this division, a Chiefs victory will all but assure a 5th consecutive AFC West crown. However, it will be a tight race to the finish line if the Raiders can take the season sweep.

3. New Orleans Saints

Despite the Saints beating the San Francisco 49ers, an all-to-familiar storyline from last season has popped up once again. Drew Brees will be sidelined for an extended period, this time because of cracked ribs and a collapsed lung. I wish a speedy recovery for Drew Brees. The quarterback is in the midst of a season where he may have his last real shot at leading the Saints to the Super Bowl. At least for the next few weeks, the reins will be given to either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill.

Even though Sean Payton is being coy on who he will name as his starter for this week’s game against the Falcons, expect Winston to get the call. The reason Teddy Bridgewater was successful for the Saints last season when Drew Brees was injured last season was that he did not turn the football over. This task proved to be a major challenge for Winston during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now he will have to overcome it to help the Saints keep pace with the Green Bay Packers for the number-one seed in the conference.

4. Green Bay Packers

The Packers came out flat for the second time in three weeks. However, this time they were able to squeak out a 24-20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This game saw the Packers’ star quarterback and wide receiver duo of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams give the ball away. However, they connected on the Packers’ go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Spots three and four interchangeable with the Buccaneers, Bills, Colts, Cardinals, or Rams. Any of these teams would probably four or five out of ten times if they played the Saints on a neutral field. However, the Saints and Packers have each showed a better propensity for finding ways to win games. The margin is very miniscule.

Four Down: Texans and Jaguars Once Again Show Inability to Win Games

29. Houston Texans

The Texans were without David Johnson on Sunday, but they still put out a talented offense with Deshaun Watson, Will Fuller V, Brandin Cooks, and Randall Cobb. Yet, they only put up seven points against the Cleveland Browns in a 10-7 loss. JJ Watt is the leader of the defense that held the Browns in check on the scoreboard despite giving up 231 rushing yards. This team is simply too talented to be raking up losses week in and week out. 2020 has been a lost season for the Texans. They need to hit the reset button, because they are not far off from becoming good again with the talent they have.

30. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were on bye this week. It looks like Andy Dalton will return against the Vikings. Based on Dalton’s past performances, it is hard to encourage Cowboys fans about Dalton being the leader of this team. Garrett Gilbert was respectable in their loss to the Steelers. However, Mike McCarthy is probably using the logic of playing the veteran since they are only one game back in the win column from the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the NFC (L)East.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars came close to pulling off what would have been the biggest upset of the NFL Season against the Green Bay Packers. They have talent on their team, but the talent is not consistent enough. For example, wide receiver Keelan Cole got a receiving and a return touchdown against the Packers. However, one does not hear his name every week. There is no denying that he is one of many talented players on the Jaguars, but they simply have never been able to find that consistency.

32. New York Jets

Good news for the Jets this week. They were on bye, so that means they did not lose. It is hard to see this team winning a game though. The Jets have veteran leadership with Joe Flacco starting, and they almost beat a New England Patriots team that upset the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 NFL Week 10. Arguably their best chance to win comes this Sunday as they travel to Los Angeles to play the Chargers.

Do you agree with Four Up and Four Down for 2020 NFL Week 10? Tweet us, @unafraidshow, with your thoughts.

Pac-12 Football Seasons: 2020 Colorado Buffaloes Game 2 – Stanford

Whenever your quarterback is starting to get nicknames like “Noyer the Destroyer”, you know your team is in a good spot.

The Colorado Buffaloes have already exceeded outside expectations, as they improved to 2-0 on the season with a 35-32 victory over the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday. Even though the final score was closer than the game was for the majority of it, the Buffaloes were able to leave Stanford Stadium with the victory.

Optimism for Colorado Offense Is Great After 35-32 Win Over Stanford

Sam Noyer played well after throwing an interception in the first quarter. He had two touchdown passes to wide receivers Dimitri Stanley and Brenden Rice, and added two scores on the ground. With his receivers, Noyer has showed consistent timing and the ability to involve multiple players in the passing game.

Additionally, the Buffaloes were able to get a lot of their young talent involved on Saturday. The previously mentioned Brenden Rice, a true freshman who is the son of Jerry Rice, caught his first career touchdown in the third quarter. Redshirt freshman La’Vontae Shenault, related to NFL rookie receiver and former Buffs star Laviska Shenault Jr., also caught his first pass of his Buffs career. Freshman running back Ashaad Clayton also saw his first carries in a Buffaloes uniform.

Getting everyone involved on offense was great to see. Even though they were not able to get into rhythm right away, Dimitri Stanley’s 55-yard touchdown reception later in the first quarter jumpstarted the offense. After taking that 7-3 lead, Noyer would add a rush touchdown in the second quarter to extend it to 14-3.

Despite Absences From Top Offensive Weapons, Dimitri Stanley and Jarek Broussard Have Stepped Up

Dimitri Stanley had six receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. He stepped up big time with the absence of wide receiver K.D. Nixon for the second consecutive week. Karl Dorrell called him a dynamic player. It is vitally important for Stanley to continue his good play if Nixon continues to be out. Sam Noyer called Stanley “fearless” and lauded him for being able to make plays of all sorts.

Another player that has come up huge with the absence of expected starter Alex Fontenot has been redshirt sophomore running back Jarek Broussard. He had 121 rushing yards and became the first CU Buffs running back since 2005 to have 100 or more rushing yards in the first two games of the season (per CU Sports Information).

Colorado Defense Lets Stanford Back Into Game Late

The defense was effective, forcing four Stanford 3-and-outs during the game. They were holding them to field goals until late in the third quarter. Stanford’s passing game led by senior quarterback Davis Mills started to gash the Buffaloes secondary.

The Buffaloes were able to take a 35-16 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter after a Jaren Mangham touchdown run. However, the Cardinal were able to score two touchdowns late. It is frustrating that the defense let the lead get down to three points near the end. They also let UCLA back in the game last week after leading by 28 points in the second quarter.

The run defense was great, holding the Cardinal offense to 70 yards on 21 carries. However, the secondary struggled late, and the Cardinal took advantage of it. Fourth quarter defensive strategy may have had something to do with the comeback, but the Buffaloes simply have not finished effectively despite their 2-0 start.  

A 2-0 Start Is Great For A Buffaloes Team That Had No Outside Expectations

Karl Dorrell stated in his postgame comments that he wished the game finished more so on the Buffaloes’ terms. Despite the team not finishing the game on their terms necessarily, fans should be encouraged by what the Buffs have put on the field this season. “Noyer the Destroyer” has shown doubters that he can play well against Pac-12 competition. He has proven to be a threat as a running quarterback also. The Buffaloes have a ton of talent at the skill positions. Players have been able to show up when they are called upon on offense.

On defense, the Buffaloes have looked good in the early parts of games. If they are able to consistently play good defense, they can play with anyone in the Pac-12. Prognosticators projected the Buffaloes to not be anywhere close to 2-0 after the first two weeks. For Buffs fans, it feels great knowing that they have a good football team to watch in Boulder this season.

2020 NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7

Week 9 of the 2020 NFL Season produced some very close finishes and some very lopsided games. There has been a shuffle at the top of the leaderboard in the NFL. The NFC has four teams that are looking to be the favorites, but only two of them won this week (Packers and Saints). In the AFC, the picture is clearer. The Steelers and Chiefs are leading the way in the league at the moment.

Four Up: Steelers Lead the Way After 2020 NFL Week 9 Despite Close Call With Cowboys

The Steelers managed to win a dogfight against the Dallas Cowboys, 24-19. Even though the Steelers did not play their best, the best teams can win ugly. The Steelers missed two extra points. This proved to be consequential as the Cowboys had a chance to win on the game’s final play. However, Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin have been in games like this at numerous points throughout their career. The Steelers are the favorites, as no teams have figured them out yet. On any given Sunday, any team can win. The Steelers have managed to win every Sunday so far this season.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs managed to beat the Carolina Panthers 33-31 on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes put up another gaudy stat line, with 372 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. Many believe that he has worked his way to the front of the MVP conversation yet again. No team has shown a cohesive game plan to stop Mahomes. With all his offensive firepower at his disposal, do not expect him to ease up on having MVP performances.

3. New Orleans Saints

The Saints, who I picked to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, have finally made their way on to this list. However, this part of the season seems to be the part where they make their ascent. New Orleans has always played well in the early part of November the past few seasons, and that trend has not changed this year. The challenge for the Saints will be sustaining the level of play they displayed Sunday night in Tampa. If they can do that, it is hard to see any team being able to surpass them in the NFC.

4. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers bounced back last Thursday with their 34-17 victory over an injury-ravaged 49ers team. Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams are the game’s best quarterback-wide receiver duo right now. No one can stop them. However, the Packers need more consistency from their defense if they want to fulfill their championship aspirations. It will be interesting to see how they do against running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry later in the season, as that has been their Achilles heel on defense.

Four Down: Two NFC East In Bottom Four Yet Again

29. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have potentially found their short-term solution at quarterback with Garrett Gilbert. He played much better than Ben DiNucci. Despite keeping things close with the Steelers, the Cowboys still have work to do. They have to show more consistency in the run game and on defense if they want to be taken seriously in the NFC East.

30. Washington Football Team

Washington suffered another loss to the New York Giants, a team that has not beat any of the other 30 NFL teams. Kyle Allen is hurt, so it looks like Alex Smith will be able to lead a team as a starter for the first time in two years. Washington has some winnable games against Detroit and Dallas coming up in the next three weeks. Fans will want to see on-field results with a team that has come so far off the field in the past few months.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars started Oregon State product Jake Luton at quarterback last Sunday. This development basically signaled that they want to be involved in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. There is not too much to say otherwise. James Robinson has showed promise at running back. Jacksonville has talent on the roster defensively. It will be interesting to see how that will work around whoever is quarterback for this franchise in 2021. My prediction that it will be someone who is currently not on the roster.

32. New York Jets

The Jets competed with the Patriots on Monday night, which is encouraging for embattled head coach Adam Gase. However, the focus for Jets fans is still on if they will get Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 NFL Draft. Nothing has changed here. However, the Jets arguably should have won Monday night. They were able to control the ball, but Joe Flacco turned the ball over in the fourth quarter. The Jets haven’t had much momentum this season, but for a little bit it looked like they might have won.

2020 NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

Russell wilson NFL Ratings Jalen Ramsey vs Golden Tate Fight,

Week 8 of the 2020 NFL Season produced many upsets. A bevy of teams are all over the place as far as their standing within the Power Rankings are. However, the best and worst teams are still pretty apparent. Without further ado, here is Four Up and Four Down after 2020 NFL Week 8.

Pittsburgh Steelers Solidify Top Power Ranking Spot After 2020 NFL Week 8

In a 2020 NFL Season that has had its share of uncertainty, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only undefeated team standing after Week 8. They went into Baltimore and beat the Ravens 28-24. They have many options at receiver, a great offensive line, a good running back, and a good defense. Ben Roethlisberger is also the most experienced quarterback in the conference. Put that together with a good coach in Mike Tomlin and you have a Super Bowl contender. There are many Yinzers that should be hyped up for this team. After years with dealing with team drama, they have taken on the personality of the quintessential Pittsburgh Steelers team.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs took care of business on Sunday, dispatching the New York Jets 35-9. Patrick Mahomes had five touchdown passes and torched the Jets secondary. Kansas City may have to play a first-round playoff game since the Steelers are undefeated. That being said, the two teams look very evenly matched on paper. Expect an AFC Championship game in either Pittsburgh or Kansas City in January.

3. Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes and “returned to MVP form” on Sunday. He was already at MVP form. Wilson just had some unlucky interceptions in Seattle’s loss to Arizona last week. There is really no question that Wilson is carrying this team. They were missing both Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde in their 37-27 victory over the 49ers. The Seattle defense played better, even though they allowed garbage-time points late in the game. Seattle has a test in Week 9, as they travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2020 NFL Week 8 ended with a closer game that people expected between the Buccaneers and Giants. Nonetheless, the Buccaneers squeaked by 25-23 and take the number four spot in the power rankings this week. The Buccaneers need to find more consistency on offense. In their last four games they have had two great games and two mediocre games. One of the many things Tom Brady is helping them with is limiting turnovers. That factor is giving their opportunistic defense chances to take advantage of opponents. They were able to do that against Daniel Jones this week, but they may have a tougher time doing that to Drew Brees next week.

There is not much separation between the fourth-ranked Buccaneers and teams such as the Saints, Colts, and Cardinals. However, Tampa Bay has been the most convincing out of all four teams in their wins. That is why they claimed the fourth spot this week. The other three teams listed are not far behind though.

Four Down: Same Few Teams Cannot Get Out of Their Own Ways After 2020 NFL Week 8

29. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were running a ton of gimmick plays on Sunday night against the Eagles with rookie Ben DiNucci in at quarterback. Mike McCarthy was trying to find any way for the offense to get something going. It was a respectable performance by the Cowboys defense (coupled with a bad performance from Carson Wentz), but the Cowboys still fell short to their NFC East foes 23-9. Ezekiel Elliott has not showed the ability to carry this team. Elliott playing well is the only conceivable way the Cowboys keep it competitive against the Steelers next week.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars had a bye in 2020 NFL Week 8. They are still in the thick of the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. All it takes for them would be a few wins by the Jets and they will be in prime position to get him. However, it will be interesting to see how the Jaguars play down the stretch. Will they phone it in, or will they play hard for embattled head coach Doug Marrone.

31. New York Giants

Daniel Jones needs to work on his mechanics if the Giants want to start winning football games. Down 25-23, the Giants had a chance to tie the game. If Daniel Jones throws the ball on time to running back Dion Lewis, the Giants force overtime in a game that no one picked them to win. The Giants’ last three losses have been by three, one, and two points, respectively. Their defense is getting better week in and week out. They put up a decent performance against Brady and the Buccaneers on Monday night. They will have their chance to get back into the thick of things in the NFC East, having winnable games at Washington and at home against the Eagles the next two weeks.

32. New York Jets

The Jets could have made a game against the Chiefs but could only muster field goals in the first half. There really is not much else to say about this team. Now, they will be showcased on national television in Week 9 against the New England Patriots. The nation will see if Adam Gase can motivate his players to play a competitive game against a reeling New England squad.

Best Game of Week 8: Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos

The Chargers end up on the losing side of the best game of the week every other week. This time, they fell victim to a furious comeback by the Denver Broncos. Drew Lock was able to rally the troops from a 24-3 deficit, as the Broncos needed the final play of the game to finish off a 31-30 victory. However, this is the same old story for the Chargers. They have lost games where they had leads of 17 points against Tampa Bay, 17 points against New Orleans, and 21 points against Denver. Justin Herbert has played well, but he has been outdone by his defense. If the Chargers could get past blowing leads, they would be in the conversation for the playoffs right now. They have the talent, but simply have not been able to get the job done. We will see if that changes this week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Do you agree with our four up and four down rankings? Tweet us, @unafraidshow, with your thoughts.    

The Packers Are A Good Team That Refuses To Be Great

Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers

In last season’s NFC Championship Game, the San Francisco 49ers throttled the Green Bay Packers, 37-20, in a game that was never close. Aaron Rodgers didn’t have his game A-game, throwing 2 INTs and losing 1 fumble. The bigger story belonged to the Packers defense, who allowed 264 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.

Despite a disappointing end to the season, the Packers won a total of 14 games, which is pretty damn good. With a healthy Rodgers, the Packers have the foundation for a great team. They’re only a few pieces away from being an elite team.

Picture this scenario. The Packers know what they need to improve as a team. Wide receiver and defensive linemen were the three positions of need heading into the offseason and the draft. Imagine knowing what positions you need to improve as a team and drafting none of those players. That is exactly what the Packers did in the draft.

https://sports.nbcsports.com/2020/04/26/green-bay-packers-trade-up-for-jordan-love-at-no-26-in-2020-nfl-draft/

If the shareholders of the Packers could make managerial decisions, all 361,311 people would fire the GM, Brian Gutekunst. If the Packers wanted to draft a backup QB for Rodgers in the later rounds, no one would bat an eye. Not only did the Packers take a quarterback in the first round, but they traded up to draft one.

Can someone remind Green Bay’s front office that Rodgers still plays quarterback for the Packers? Rodgers may be on the decline from his MVP seasons, but don’t mistake that for a true regression. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. This season, Rodgers has thrown for 1948 yards, 20 TDs, and 2 INTs. The yards may be down, but most of that can be attributed to the emergence of Aaron Jones, who’s tied for sixth in rushing TDs with 5 despite missing two games.

It’s hard to watch how Green Bay struggles to surround Rodgers with the necessary talent to compete and not compare it to what the Bucs have done with Tom Brady. The Bucs know their window to win is small and Brady might be there for two years. The future is now for the Bucs, and they’re putting all of their eggs in the Brady basket, and rightfully so. The Bucs brought in Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski, and Antonio Brown to bolster an offense that already had Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. So far, it’s paid off as the 6-2 Bucs dismantled the Packers earlier this season, 38-10.

What did Rodgers get after leading his team to the NFC Championship? A quarterback that will never see a snap this season and a running back that hasn’t played yet.

What’s even crazier is the Packers had a chance to atone for their sins at the trade deadline. The offense needs a true number-two receiver to pair with Davante Adams. Will Fueller appeared to be the perfect fit. After Dalvin Cook destroyed the Packers defense with 4 total touchdowns, the Packers could use an interior lineman or linebacker to bolster their run defense.

What did the Packers do? Absolutely nothing. The Packers decided to play for the future and not surrender picks for Fueller, who would’ve provided a necessary deep threat to the offense. On the defensive side, the Packers appear to be quite alright with allowing 26.7 points per game. The Jets traded away Steve McLendon and Avery Williamson for late-round picks. Those two players would start right away for the Packers.

The Packers sit atop the NFC North with a 5-2 record and barring any catastrophic injuries, they should make the playoffs. Their inability to improve in positions of need is mind-boggling. Refusing to be great is the Packers’ weakness, and it will cost them come January.

Do you believe the Packers are a great team? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Adam Gase And The New York Jets: The Hero Gotham Deserves And Needs

Adam Gase

In the iconic final scene from The Dark Knight, Jim Gordon explains to his son why Batman would take the fall for the death of Harvey Dent. Gordon said, “Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.” For the New York Jets, Adam Gase is not a watchful protector nor a silent guardian. Despite his incompetence, Gase is the hero Gotham deserves and needs right now.

https://youtu.be/f4BrAtOKO3M

Make no mistake about it, Gase is an awful coach. The greatest trick Gase ever pulled was convincing a front office of his offensive prowess. Gase had one great year as a coordinator back in 2013 when Peyton Manning set the record for most touchdowns in a season as a member of the Denver Broncos. One could argue that most coaches with a brain could succeed with a healthy Peyton Manning.

When Gase doesn’t have Manning, it’s been a train wreck. Despite making the playoffs as the head coach of Dolphins in 2016, Gase’s team was towards the bottom half in total offense. In five seasons as a head coach, Gase’s offense has never been higher than 25th in total yards per game. Players like Ryan Tannehill, Devante Parker, Kenyan Drake, and Mike Gesicki broke out and improved once they left Gase’s system. Yet somehow, Manning convinced the Jets to hire a guy who constantly fought with ownership in Miami.

To quote Joe Beningo, “Oh, the pain, bro!” Poor Jets fans. I always love to make fun of Jets fans because they’re delusional and seem to think their team will make the playoffs every year. However, I wouldn’t wish Gase upon my worst enemy. Take a wild guess as to which team is currently last in total yards, yards per game, passing yards per game, total points, and points per game?

At least the coaching staff likes each other… never mind.

Sam Darnold has been given the right weapons to succeed and progress as a quarterback, right? You’re telling me that Breshad Perriman, Braxton Berrios, Jeff Smith, and Vyncint Smith don’t strike fear into opposing defenses? Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims continue to battle injuries, Le’Veon Bell found a new team, and Robby Anderson looks like a stud. But who needs them?

In all seriousness, the Jets should be locked up for how they’ve treated Darnold. They’re killing the kid’s confidence every week. No quarterback could thrive with the Jets’ weapons. It’s an utter embarassment.

Jets fans, there is light at the end of the tunnel. This is going to be hard to understand, but in order to rise again, the Jets will need Gase to finish the season. The Jets need to hit rock bottom in order to get better and a season with zero to two wins will be as low as it can get. If the Jets finish the season with the worst record in the NFL, they’ll have an opportunity at the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. His name is Trevor Lawrence.

I don’t believe the “Trevor Lawrence is returning to school” takes just yet. The same thing happened with Sam Darnold. Lawrence is focused on winning a National Championship. He’s not going to talk about the draft right now. If he ends up winning the title, I guarantee he will enter the draft. He would have nothing left to prove. Is it possible that Lawrence could pull an Eli Manning? Sure, but it’s highly unlikely.

It probably makes sense to fire Gase after this week’s game against the Chiefs, where the Jets are 21 point underdogs, but the Jets should let Gase coach the rest of the year. The worst thing that could happen is for the team to rally around the interim coach and win a few meaningless games. Both the Texans and Falcons fired their head coaches after a combined 0-9 start. Since then, the two teams have combined for a 3-3 record. Don’t risk winning a few games to disrupt their draft position. Fire Gase the minute the season ends. Imagine a coach like Eric Bieniemy or Joe Brady paired with Lawrence next year. That sounds like a great rebuild to me.

Losing sucks, but it’s a necessary evil for the Jets. The only way to ensure losing continues is to let Gase coach the team. The next time Gase marks down his chart on the sideline instead of watching the game, just remember that he won’t be coaching the team next year. It will get better, eventually.

Not a good tweet by me, but at least I’ve learned my lesson.

Should the Jets fire Adam Gase before the season ends? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @danny_giro.

2020 NFL Week 7 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

Week 7 of the 2020 NFL Season saw some crazy finishes in numerous games. The Steelers squeaked by the Titans, the Cardinals beat the Seahawks in an instant classic, and Baker Mayfield had some heroics in the Browns’ win against the Bengals. However, the four teams at the top and bottom of the league are what you came here for. Without further ado, here is Four Up and Four Down for 2020 NFL Week 7.

Pittsburgh Steelers Lay Claim to Best Team Label After 2020 NFL Week 7

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers managed to edge the Tennessee Titans 27-24 in a game they led 27-7 at one point. They managed to win the game despite three Ben Roethlisberger interceptions. The Steelers are good on all sides of the football, but they have still let teams back into games sans their 38-7 blowout win against Cleveland last week. It will be interesting to see how their defense will do this week against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. However, getting wins has led to the Steelers being the best team in the league after 2020 NFL Week 7.

2. Green Bay Packers

Talk about a bounce back win. Aaron Rodgers picked apart the Houston Texans’ defense en route to a 35-20 victory with four touchdown passes. Davante Adams caught two of those passes, and the Rodgers-Adams connection looks better than ever. The defense was able to contain Deshaun Watson while the game was still competitive, and they avoided big mistakes that plagued them against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Some may use the Packers’ Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a barometer of how the two teams match up against each other. However, it is imperative that Green Bay finishes ahead of Tampa Bay in the standings at the end of the season.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes struggled against the Denver Broncos defense at times Sunday. Nonetheless, the Chiefs still put up 43 points in their 43-16 drubbing of the Broncos. Their defense outclassed Drew Lock and the Broncos’ offense, having a pick six to go along with three other turnovers. Their special teams got a kickoff return, and their running game looked formidable with the addition of Le’Veon Bell. It will be interesting how much the Chiefs will let Bell run all over his old team, the New York Jets, next week.

4. Tennessee Titans

The Titans may have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they showed fight even though Steven Gostkowski’s kick to tie the game sailed wide right. Derrick Henry should still be in the MVP conversation, and Ryan Tannehill still played an efficient game. However, against comparable teams like the Steelers, the Titans need to have faster starts. They accomplished this against the Bills, but not against the Steelers.

Four Down: America’s Team Cracks the List

29. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys look lost after 2020 NFL Week 7. They lost to the Washington Football Team 25-3. Andy Dalton left the game with a concussion, which may lead them to starting 7th-round pick Ben DiNucci against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday night. The offensive line is definitely not the best in the league anymore. Mike McCarthy has not been calling Ezekiel Elliott’s number enough for him to have a chance to even be a workhorse. This team is a mess, but they are still in contention for their putrid division after seven weeks.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars came back from an early 16-point deficit just to squander the lead once they got it against the Los Angeles Chargers. In what would be a 39-29 defeat for Jacksonville in Week 7, it was their defense that struggled in this game. The Jaguars have promise with running back James Robinson and receivers D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault, but the team needs a coaching and GM change. It just seems like it has become too stagnant with Doug Marrone and David Caldwell.

31. New York Giants

The Giants should not be number 31 on this list. We should be talking about how they are on a 3-game winning streak right now to be honest. Even though they lost 22-21 to the Eagles, Joe Judge has this team competing, which is a promising sign. They need to start finishing the job though. They could be winning their division if they eliminated a few mistakes from their loss to the Eagles in 2020 NFL Week 7 and their loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. Once they start learning how to win these games, the Giants’ stay as one of the four-worst teams will be short-lived.

32. New York Jets

Adam Gase
Adam Gase

There is not much else to say here. The Jets succumbed to death by field goals after taking a 10-0 lead against the Bills. They gave up six straight field goals en route to an 18-10 defeat. Adam Gase has overstayed his welcome in New York. I could write it somewhat differently every week, but it is pretty cut and dry. This team is going to draft Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 NFL Draft if he decides to take the likely road of leaving Clemson a year early.

Best Game of 2020 NFL Week 7: Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

What a game. Seattle and Arizona played a great game Sunday night that featured multiple momentum swings. It felt like the Cardinals were one step behind the whole night. There was D.K. Metcalf running down Budda Baker after Baker intercepted a Russell Wilson pass. It seemed like whenever Seattle made a mistake, Arizona followed with one of their own. However, Kyler Murray rallied the troops from a 10-point deficit with 6:47 left in the game for what is the signature win of his career to this point.

Do you agree with Four Up and Four Down for Week 7? Tweet us @unafraidshow with your thoughts.

Guest: Dr. Chris Mattmann: Rocket Scientist, AI and Analytics at NASA JPL

Wrighster or Wrong: Cr. Chris Mattmann

Analytics vs Manalytics

Am I Wrighster or Am I Wrong Interview with Dr. Chris Mattmann. We discuss analytics vs manalytics in sports and how computers are running MLB, NFL, and NBA. Dr. Mattman explains how artificial intelligence is transforming sports. That same AI has made tech companies have more data on us than the NSA. Coronavirus modeling is complicated and we learn who is doing it well. We also learn the difference between the Dark Web vs Deep Web. And so much more.

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Who is Dr. Chris Mattmann?

Dr. Chris Mattmann is the Division Manager for the Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Innovation Development Organization in the Information Technology and Solutions Directorate (ITSD) at NASA JPL. Dr. Mattmann is also JPL’s first Principal Scientist in the area of Data Science. The designation of Principal is awarded to recognize sustained outstanding individual contributions in advancing scientific or technical knowledge, or advancing the implementation of technical and engineering practices on projects, programs, or the Institution. He has over 17 years of experience at JPL and has conceived, realized and delivered the architecture for the next generation of reusable science data processing systems for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, NPP Sounder PEATE, and the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Earth science missions.

Mattmann’s work has been funded by NASA, DARPA, DHS, NSF, NIH, NLM and by private industry and commercial partnerships. Mattmann was the first Vice President (VP) of Apache OODT (Object Oriented Data Technology), the first NASA project to enter the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) and he led the project’s transition from JPL to the ASF.” – via NASA JPL CIT website

Wrighster or Wrong?

Am I Wrighster or Am I Wrong? The intersection where sports, business, society, and pop culture meet. Daily Fire… FACTS ONLY… Check Your feelings at the door. This ain’t the place for the left, right, snowflakes, social justice warriors. ABSOLUTELY No BS. I keep it 100.

The George Wrighster podcast features great interviews where you get to know great people discussing faith, family, fatherhood, food, and sports. We get to know and learn from the personalities that entertain us outside of what they are famous for. Shoot me an email with comments or guest ideas: GWpodcast@unafraidshow.com. Please be sure to share the podcast with a friend, subscribe, and leave a 5* rating.

Who is George Wrighster?

George Wrighster is a former Pac-12 and veteran NFL tight end. As a television/radio host, opinionist, writer, speaker, and analyst, he is UNAFRAID to speak the truth. Contrary to industry norms he uses, facts, stats, and common sense to win an argument. He has also found success in the business world as an entrepreneur and investor. George is a lifelong learner who loves having conversations that educate and uplift. He has also covered college football, basketball, NFL, NBA, MLB since 2014.

2020 NFL Week 6 Power Rankings: Four Up and Four Down

Week 6 of the 2020 NFL Season was crazy. The Green Bay Packers fell back down to Earth after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shellacked them 38-10, and there are questions about coaching in Dallas. Also, the New England Patriots fell to 2-3 after their 18-12 defeat at home against the Denver Broncos. Nonetheless, let’s look at NFL Power Rankings: four up and down four down after 2020 NFL Week 6.

Four Up: Titans and Steelers Top the League After 2020 NFL Week 6

1. Tennessee Titans

The Titans showed once again that they can win close games with their 42-36 overtime victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Ryan Tannehill has played great for the Titans, but it is no secret who their team MVP is. Derrick Henry had a 94-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter and had the game-winning touchdown in overtime. In a league where the headlines are dominated by the quarterbacks, Henry is a generational running back talent who should be garnering NFL MVP consideration at this point.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers showed the league that while some things change, there are things that remain the same. They beat the Cleveland Browns once again, this time by a score of 38-7. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, and the Steelers’ defense is looking true to form, adding a pick-six off of Baker Mayfield in Sunday’s contest. However, after playing four straight home games they will be put to the test on the road against the Tennessee Titans. Pittsburgh and Tennessee are similar teams, as they have had close victories with one blowout win on their resume. It looks like it will be a very even matchup of two undefeated teams.

3. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle had a bye week this past week, but they are still the third-best team in the league. Russell Wilson is the league MVP to this point, and the Seahawks will have another opportunity to put their stamp on NFC West supremacy this week when they play the Cardinals. Expect Wilson and Kyler Murray to put up great stats in a shootout game.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs bounced back, thanks to their running game. Their 26-17 victory over the Bills on Monday was due to Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushing for 161 yards. Patrick Mahomes went 21-26, having a very efficient performance. The Chiefs have the best player on the planet, but they still have other ways to win the game. Also, the Chiefs will have Le’Veon Bell this Sunday as they play the Broncos in what could possibly be the first snow game of the NFL season.

Four Down: Jets Further Solidify Bottom Spot

29. New York Giants

The Giants have played well against NFC East opponents the last two weeks. They narrowly lost to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, 37-34. They managed to beat the Washington Football Team this week 20-19. A timely defensive score by Tae Crowder was the difference in this game. If the Giants beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night, they will have to be thought of as a serious contender for the NFC East despite their 0-5 start. That being said, they haven’t shown that they are one of the four teams that are down each week.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars lost to the Detroit Lions 34-16 on Sunday. This loss makes it five straight losses for the Jags after beating the Colts in Week 1. That game seems like it was a long time ago. Gardner Minshew has a personality that will sell tickets in Jacksonville, but his play might not. His coach, Doug Marrone, said he will not rule out benching him if his struggles continue. However, it is hard to be successful when the running game only supports him with 44 rushing yards.

31. Washington Football Team

The Washington Football Team lost to the New York Giants 20-19 on Sunday. They went for two at the end of the game. Coach Ron Rivera stated he made the decision because Washington was on the road opposed to being at home. However, would it have made a huge difference with no fans at the games?

32. New York Jets

I do not have a whole lot to say after the Jets’ 24-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Adam Gase needs to go. Although Sam Darnold is not playing right now, he has been unable to improve under Gase. Darnold’s lack of progression shows that Gase should not be the coach that mentors possible 2021 New York Jet Trevor Lawrence next season.

Do you agree with our four up and four down after 2020 NFL Week 6. Tweet us @unafraidshow with your thoughts.

Atlanta Sports Fans, Antonio Brown, Justin Herbert, Mike Trout vs MLB Stars, CFB Top 10

Atlanta Justin Herbert Georgia Bulldogs College Football Rankings Top 10
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Atlanta Fans are the Most Tortured

Am I Wrighster or Am I Wrong? It’s official, the city of Atlanta is now the most tortured sports city. The Atlanta Braves just blew a 3-1 series lead against the LA Dodgers in the NLCS. Famously, the Atlanta Falcons lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots after being up 28-3. The Georgia Bulldogs aren’t in the ATL, but their fan base is. Every season they believe this is the year they beat Alabama, only to realize they are still the little brother.

Antonio Brown

In two weeks, Antonio Brown is eligible to return to the NFL after serving an eight-week suspension. Barring him doing anything silly, which is a possibility, he will be back on an NFL roster within three weeks.

Justin Herbert > Baker Mayfield

If the NFL draft were today, I would take LA Chargers rookie QB Justin Herbert before every 1st-round quarterback in the 2018, and 2019 drafts. This list includes Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and others. There is data and the eye test to back me up.

MLB Stars vs Mike Trout.

LA Angeles outfielder Mike Trout may go down in history as one of the top 5 baseball players of all-time. But, all the young hotshot players like Mookie Betts, Fernando Tatis, Cody Bellinger, Jose Acuna, Tim Anderson are doing more for the popularity of the MLB.

My College Football Top 10 Week 8

  1. Clemson
  2. Alabama
  3. Notre Dame
  4. Georgia
  5. Cincinnati
  6. BYU
  7. Oklahoma State
  8. Ohio State
  9. Oregon
  10. Penn State
  • It’s official, the city of Atlanta is now the most tortured sports city
  • I would take Justin Herbert over all the QBs in the 2018 Draft Class and Jimmy Garoppolo
  • Antonio Brown will be on an NFL roster within the next 3 weeks. 
  • All the young hotshot players like Mookie Betts, Fernando Tatis, Cody Bellinger, Jose Acuna, Tim Anderson are better for baseball than Mike Trout.
  • At this point, college football rankings are more worthless than preseason polls.

Wrighster or Wrong?

Am I Wrighster or Am I Wrong? The intersection where sports, business, society, and pop culture meet the truth. Daily Fire… FACTS ONLY… Check Your feelings at the door. This ain’t the place for the left, right, snowflakes, social justice warriors. ABSOLUTELY No BS. I keep it 100.

The George Wrighster podcast features great interviews where you get to know great people discussing faith, family, fatherhood, food, and sports. We get to know and learn from the personalities that entertain us outside of what they are famous for. Shoot me an email with comments or guest ideas: GWpodcast@unafraidshow.com. Please be sure to share the podcast with a friend, subscribe, and leave a 5* rating.

Who is George Wrighster?

George Wrighster is a former Pac-12 and veteran NFL tight end. As a television/radio host, opinionist, writer, speaker, and analyst, he is UNAFRAID to speak the truth. Contrary to industry norms he uses, facts, stats, and common sense to win an argument. He has also found success in the business world as an entrepreneur and investor. George is a lifelong learner who loves having conversations that educate and uplift. He has also covered college football, basketball, NFL, NBA, MLB since 2014.