NFC Power Rankings

Figuring out the NFC hasn't been easy this year. There are some legit contenders, some decent teams that have no real shot, teams that have disappointed and surprised, and some straight-up dumpster fires. Here's a look at Week 13 NFC Power Rankings.

CONTENDERS


1) Atlanta (10-2) - Matt Ryan is earning the "Matty Ice" nickname time and time again. The balanced attack and three-headed offensive monster in Ryan, Roddy White and Michael Turner is a force to be reckoned with. The aren't winning with flash but winning nonetheless. Best chance to represent the NFC in Super Bowl today.

2) Philadelphia (8-4) - Mike Vick is in the MVP discussion and is leading one of the top offenses in the league (1st in yards, 2nd in scoring). The defense isn't quite where it's been in the past when Jim Johnson was running things but can still get pressure. They're leading the league in interceptions (20).

3) Green Bay (8-4) -  The offense and Aaron Rodgers get much of the credit, but the defense is pulling major weight. Dom Capers, Clay Mathews and Charles Woodson have the Pack leading the league in scoring (15.3 points per game), tied for third in sacks and fifth in interceptions. The trendy Super Bowl pick at the start of the year, the Pack are still in good position to get there.

4) New Orleans (9-3) - No Super Bowl hangover here. Sure, they've had some scraps along the way (still wondering how they lost to Arizona) and have been in a dogfight nearly every week but they are coming out on top. The offense is always ready to strike and the defense is still very opportunistic.

GOOD BUT NOT LEGIT 


5) New York Giants (8-4) - You never know what Coughlin is going to bring to the table each week. Started slow, picked up aggressively, now back in the middle. Eli and the defense have been inconsistent at times. Most likely a playoff team but not a noise-maker.

6) Chicago (9-3) - The Bears continue to surprise me but as I've pointed out earlier, they haven't played the toughest schedule. They still won the games and beating Philadelphia gave them more credibility. The tough part of the schedule remains: New England, at Vikings, Jets and Packers to close out the year. Solid team who should make the playoffs but not a legit contender.

7) Tampa Bay  (7-5) - Quietly, and shockingly, the Bucs have emerged as a good NFL team. QB Josh Freeman and head coach Raheem Morris are making names for themselves this season. The Bucs are beating the teams they should and playing the better teams tough and to the wire. Things are looking up in Tampa Bay.

THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
This group could all interchange. Two are complete disappointments and two are complete shockers.


8) St. Louis (6-6) - One of the biggest, if not the biggest, surprise of the year. Rookie Sam Bradford is winning more and more people every week and the defense is keeping them in most games. Leading the division with a chance to claim the division is one thing I never thought I'd see after Week 13 this year.

9) Dallas (4-8) - Playing much better under Jason Garrett beating the Giants, Colts and almost pulling out a game vs. New Orleans. The Cowboys are actually trying now and Jon Kitna has settled into his role. The Dez Bryant injury will hurt even though Kitna, it seemed, purposely wouldn't throw him the ball in the New Orleans game.

10) Minnesota (5-7) - The dark, smelly cloud of incompetence left with Chilly. Unfortunately the haze of Favre, his streak and continued poor play haunts the Vikings as the desperately await the end of the season. Competitiveness is improved with Leslie Frazier but nothing to get to excited about.

11) Seattle (6-6) - They could actually win the division. This team looks great one week, then god awful the next. You used to be able to count on them winning at home but even that's in question this year. Kudos to them if they can pull out the NFC West and host another playoff game.

AT LEAST THEY'RE COMPETING

12) Detroit (2-10) - Competing hard and nasty every week. If the NFL wasn't out to get them they would have beat the Bears twice and got some other ones along the way. They're in every game (only a half vs New England) and if they weren't using 2nd- and 3rd-string QBs all year they might have pulled out a couple more wins. I like this team and its style of play. Don't like Stafford's durability and that could screw them royally in the future.

IS THE SEASON OVER YET?

13) San Fransisco (4-8) - Total dud this year. Singletary is on his way out the door, or at least he should be. They change quarterbacks more than the Raiders and lost Frank Gore two weeks ago. A couple questions were answered this year: Singletary and Alex Smith aren't the guys for the job.

14) Washington (5-7) - They've completely quit. Shanahan destroyed this team from the start with the handling of Haynesworth, not that Big Al doesn't deserve some blame. I put most of it on Shanahan and his under-qualified son. Not only did they try to make a point with the best defensive player but also with the new QB, Donovan. It's been ugly since the get-go. They've gotten some wins but have been embarrassed in all seven losses. Get over yourself, Shanahan. Terrell Davis and John Elway got you those rings. Back off the smugness, please.

15) Carolina (1-11) - A season to forget in Charlotte. You can point to numerous things but they just haven't got it done. John Fox will most likely be relieved of his duties but he'll catch on with someone else shortly.

16) Arizona (3-9) - Super Bowl two years ago. Beat the Packers in the playoffs last year. So much has changed for the Cards in the last year they are now the worst team in the conference and league. What was it? Players leaving/retiring, lack of a stable QB, a defense that doesn't know how to make a play or tackle, and many more things. It's so bad Ken Whisenhunt is jealous of Wade Phillips. Just wave the white flag and cash it in. It's over for 2010, Arizona. "Maybe next year."