Redskins Crack Fox Sports Top 5

[PennSkinsFan]

MOVING UP: SEA (from 6 to 3), KC (From 7 to 4), WAS (from 8 to 5), PIT (from 10 to 7)
MOVING DOWN: NYG (from 4 to 8), SD (from 5 to 9), OAK (from 16 to 20)

There's a reason we use objective numbers for our power rankings, instead of just going with the ebb and flow of conventional wisdom. Sometimes the numbers are trying to tell us something.

Four weeks ago (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5120522), we had the Washington Redskins ranked in the top 10 even though they were 5-6 and had lost three straight. Suffice to say, we got a lot of complaints. But the numbers said that the Redskins had played games close with a tough schedule and suffered from very bad luck recovering loose balls.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5199720

[Spence]

Flattering, but preposterous. Even accounting for the recent winning streak, there is no way the Redskins are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers [with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger]. The Jaguars might be better than the Redskins right now. The Patriots certainly are. There is only one of The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll and this one ain't it.

[helimech24]

This is in another thread, but I can't remember which one.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

MOVING UP: SEA (from 6 to 3), KC (From 7 to 4), WAS (from 8 to 5), PIT (from 10 to 7)
MOVING DOWN: NYG (from 4 to 8), SD (from 5 to 9), OAK (from 16 to 20)

There's a reason we use objective numbers for our power rankings, instead of just going with the ebb and flow of conventional wisdom. Sometimes the numbers are trying to tell us something.

Four weeks ago (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5120522), we had the Washington Redskins ranked in the top 10 even though they were 5-6 and had lost three straight. Suffice to say, we got a lot of complaints. But the numbers said that the Redskins had played games close with a tough schedule and suffered from very bad luck recovering loose balls.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5199720

As much as I like seeing the Skins in the top 5, some of those rankings are absurd...
Chiefs at #4?
Patriots at #12??
Ravens at #14??!!
Bucs at #17?
Bears at #13?

[PA Skins Girl]

This is the most scientific power ranking out there. I love it! GO SKINS!!!

[redskin_rich]

All this respect is nice but we still have a game this week that we have to win or the season is over, most likely. Speaking for myself, I'm not ready for the season to be over, I haven't come to grips with that possibility yet. We need to beat Philly and extend this season, then maybe we can bask in this newfound respect from the media, for a week anyway.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Bill Parcells is considering retirement. By "retirement," the Tuna means "quitting and then taking another job after a year off."


I think Dallass will be crushed when the tuna retires.

[chrisbcbu]

Flattering, but preposterous. Even accounting for the recent winning streak, there is no way the Redskins are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers [with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger]. The Jaguars might be better than the Redskins right now. The Patriots certainly are. There is only one of The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll and this one ain't it.

Where is this weeks power poll? Did i miss it? or have you been too busy to get it out this week?

[RedskinRyan]

these are horrible rankings....i think seattle should be #1, followed by indy and then denver. chiefs are more than likely not going to the playoffs, so having the #4 team on the outside looking in is quite dumb. the bolts a spot ahead of jacksonville? and thats hwy record is more important than looking at the numbers, cause chicago defintly aint 13th.

[PSUredskins]

Another stat to look at on this page....

The combined rank of offense, defense and special teams.....ours is the best at only 24 (11 offense, 5 defense, 8 Special teams)

all of the analysts want to talk abotu balance for the broncos and the seahawks yet we are ahead of both.
Denver 26 [2, 11, 13]
Seattle 33 [4, 15, 14]

I really think that will be to our benefit when and if we make the playoffs.....

Lets just take care of business with the iggles

[Biggie]

Flattering, but preposterous. Even accounting for the recent winning streak, there is no way the Redskins are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers [with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger]. The Jaguars might be better than the Redskins right now. The Patriots certainly are. There is only one of The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll and this one ain't it.

We would go by TWMPPP for eternity, but we actually have to have it first.

[Spence]

It's coming, people. Apologies for the delay, but this has been a hectic week.

[PennSkinsFan]

It's coming, people. Apologies for the delay, but this has been a hectic week.

In other words, he is slacking, like usual

[CNYSkinFan]

In other words, he is slacking, like usual

perhaps if he took Kelly's advice and stopped lawyering all the time......

[Redblood]

Power Polls are for the Pollsters, and as anyone knows, can and will be skewed the way the Poll taker wishes.


W-L records are the clearest indicator as to how a team is doing.

If we win the "tie-breaker" then, obviously we are better. If the other team wins the "tie-breaker" then, they are better.






A "We Want Philly" smilie is needed right about.......... here!

[chrisbcbu]

A "We Want Philly" smilie is needed right about.......... here!

:eaglesuk: This is good enough for me.

[thickskin]

if we have a strong showing in the worst place to play, in a must win situation this weekend, i'll believe 5 or so

[MoeRedskins]

My power rankings has the Skins if first, I guess these guys are the closest to mine.

[IHATEDALLAS'82'87'91]

Great for us. We deserve to be in the top 5.

[halter91]

Four weeks later, the Redskins have four straight wins and control their own playoff destiny at 9-6. The last two weeks, they've beaten two division rivals by a combined score of 70-27. They're looking like a dangerous team going into the playoffs, since for some unknown reason nobody can figure out that you need to double Santana Moss. And they now rank in the top five of the FOXSports.com Power Rankings.

I love it!!

[redskinz#1fan]

I truly believe that we are playing some of the best football in the league right now. Yes there are some team with better records then us right now, but I have to question if they're a better team then us. Only time will tell!

[santanadasavior]

I truly believe that we are playing some of the best football in the league right now. Yes there are some team with better records then us right now, but I have to question if they're a better team then us. Only time will tell!

You are on teh money my man. If we beat Phily and make the playoffs, we could be teh hottest team in the NFC.

"It's just like the NCAA Basketball Tournament, it's not who's the best team, it's who's playing the best football. And right now, that team is the Washington Redskins." --Sean Salsbury forn NFL Live on ESPN.

He is also right, that is why the Patriots may be the team to beat in the AFC, because they are the hottest.

We peaked at the right time and we should be considered a threat if we make the playoffs.

We'll know if we can win the division when we play becasue Giants play on Saturday. Super Bowl or bust.

[Syllable]

Flattering, but preposterous. Even accounting for the recent winning streak, there is no way the Redskins are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers [with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger]. The Jaguars might be better than the Redskins right now. The Patriots certainly are. There is only one of The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll and this one ain't it.

ben roethlisberger isnt as good as mark brunell at the moment, he still has some time and will be better but right now i say the Redskins are top 5. 2 35 point games against player contenders and close games the rest, we deserve this.

[PennSkinsFan]

I don't see the Redskins as a top 5 team right now, I place them in the top 10 though, and here are my top 10:

INDY
SEA
DEN
NE
PITT
CINC
CHI
JACK
WASH
TB

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Flattering, but preposterous. Even accounting for the recent winning streak, there is no way the Redskins are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers [with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger]. The Jaguars might be better than the Redskins right now. The Patriots certainly are. There is only one of The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll and this one ain't it.

I'm not so sure, Spence. Our defense is finally back to playing the way it did last year, especially the run D. Assuming Rogers comes back after the Philly game, I'd feel very confident about containing Pitt through the air. And we all know that we can run max protect schemes against a blitzing D very, very well. Pitt's very weak at corner - Santana could have a field day. I really think that we'd stand a very, very good chance against the Stillers. The Jags may be 12-4, but it's quite the ugly 12-4. From the two(?) times I've seen them play, I haven't exactly been impressed. The Pats, probably, but Bruschi being out again will have a big effect on their rush D.

Honestly, this team hung in there until the very end with the Broncos and Chargers, two of the AFC's best, and we're now playing better football than we were at those parts of the year. I fully believe the Redskins can tango with anyone except the Colts right now.

[CNYSkinFan]

I don't see the Redskins as a top 5 team right now, I place them in the top 10 though, and here are my top 10:

INDY
SEA
DEN
NE
PITT
CINC
CHI
JACK
WASH
TB

I pretty much agree with this though I put us ahead of Jack and CHI and I put the Giants right behind CHI ahead of JAck (TB does not make the list for me). I think we have alot to prove but can do it.

[HanburgerBum]

I pretty much agree with this though I put us ahead of Jack and CHI and I put the Giants right behind CHI ahead of JAck (TB does not make the list for me). I think we have alot to prove but can do it.


I agree with your adjustments CNY. I would further put the Skins ahead of Cincy, because Cincy's defense (especially vs the pass) is suspect. I also think Pitt and NE right now are playing their best football of the season. My top 10 would look something like this:

Indy
Pitt
NE
Seattle
Denver
Wash
Giants
Cincy
SD
Chicago

Jacksonville and Tampa are frauds and Carolina is a semi-fraud. None of them deserve to be in the playoffs.

[HanburgerBum]

Power Polls are for the Pollsters, and as anyone knows, can and will be skewed the way the Poll taker wishes.


W-L records are the clearest indicator as to how a team is doing.

If we win the "tie-breaker" then, obviously we are better. If the other team wins the "tie-breaker" then, they are better.

A "We Want Philly" smilie is needed right about.......... here!


I beg to differ. W-L records often are not a clear indicator of how good a team is. There is sometimes wide disparity among the strength of schedule, luck and officials calls.

As the FoxSports poll stated, one of the things that was considered was the luck a team had in recovering loose balls. At one point earlier this year, the Skins had recovered just 4 out of 19 possible fumbles. That defied the law of averages and is just plain bad luck. On top of that, the missed elbow on the ground in Tampa and the ridiculous "tuck" call in Denver caused the Skins two games.

On the other side of the coin, teams like Chicago (in perhaps the worst division ever) and Jacksonville have benefitted greatly from easy schedules.

Also, there is the factor how the team is playing at the moment. Pittsburg and NE don't have as many wins as Jacksonville, but does anybody doubt that either would crush the Jaguars (and maybe even Cincy) in the playoffs?

[VTBob]

The Jags are lame, they don't deserve to be in a top 10 ranking IMO - top 15, sure, but they don't get into the top 10...

[BurgundyNGold]

How is Oakland even top 20? They should be like 25 or 30.