11/16/2017
Here are my Week 11 power rankings:
1. Eagles – Rested and ready for big finish.
2. Patriots – Still crazy, after all these years.
3. Rams – Getting better every week.
4. Saints – Nobody expected this.
5. Panthers – Newton is on fire.
6. Steelers – Winning but offense struggling.
7. Seahawks – Can they win without Sherman?
8. Chiefs – No. 30 on defense.
9. Vikings – All of a sudden, they don’t need a QB.
10. Falcons – Back in the hunt.
11. Cowboys – Elliott? How about Sean Lee?
12. Lions – Poised for a strong finish.
13. Jaguars – Everything going their way.
14. Titans – Buckle up in the Burgh.
15. Bills – Beginning to fade.
16. Raiders – It’s all on Carr.
17. Packers – Facing another must-win game.
18. Redskins – That’s all, folks.
19. Jets – Can they finish low enough to draft a QB?
20. Chargers – Collapse in Jax ended playoff hopes.
21. Ravens – Too far behind.
22. Cardinals – Too talented to be this bad.
23. Dolphins – Mr. Yuk.
24. Broncos – Stinko!
25. Bears – After further review, they withdraw their challenge.
26. Texans – Future looks bright.
27. Bengals – Should change uniforms to black and white stripes.
28. Colts – Come close but can’t close.
29. Bucs – It’s now or next year.
30. 49ers – The bad beat the very bad.
31. Giants – Very bad.
32. Browns – The worst.
Davy from Chetek, WI
Jerry Jones?
Leaguethink?
John from Green Bay, WI
Vic, what are your thoughts on the Martellus Bennett drama that has unfolded?
I think he might be guilty of manipulating the system.
Ben from El Paso, TX
What do you think we will learn about Hundley’s growth against Baltimore’s defense this week?
I think we’ll see how he holds up against a strong pass rush.
Jerry from Kansas City, MO
What do the Packers need to do to build on last Sunday’s win and get a win against Baltimore?
The Packers need to run the ball to achieve balance and protect Brett Hundley from what can be a devastating pass rush.
Steve from Wauwatosa, WI
Given the concussion and major injury issues we’ve seen with this sport, I find myself conflicted when watching football games with my kids. What do I tell them when I watch the games but won’t let them play? I feel like a hypocrite.
I guess you tell them you fear for their safety, but I think your fears are unfounded. High school football is not the physical game it was when I was young, and nobody is teaching and practicing spearing anymore. From what I can see, high school football is largely a seven-on-seven passing drill. It’s closer to flag football than it is to the ground-and-pound game of the past, which included such ridiculous exercises as neck bridges in calisthenics and gauntlet drills to set a combative tone. That’s the culture that’s been changed. Yes, injuries can and will occur, but the sensitivity for head injuries is greater than ever. Will you allow your children to drive the family car? Explain that decision to them, too.
Monty from Lauren, IA
Vic, what is your opinion on locker room distractions? Are there teams that avoid media attention and locker room distractions, and others who are not too concerned with them? I feel like a Colin Kaepernick type player would bring unwanted attention to an organization. What are your thoughts on this?
All coaches are vigilant in avoiding distractions, and Kaepernick would be an almost certain distraction to any team he joined. He would bring national media attention to that team’s locker room, and players would find themselves answering questions about Kaepernick’s anthem movement instead of questions about the next game. Be that as it may, such are the sacrifices we must endure in defense of our right to free speech.
Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
If the Steelers beat the Titans, the Jaguars’ chances of winning the division will improve. If the Titans beat the Steelers, the Jaguars’ chances for a top-two playoff seed will improve, provided they win the AFC South. The Jaguars currently control their own destiny in regards to winning their division. Who should Jaguars fans root for on Thursday night?
Jaguars fans should root for the Steelers, because that’s the result that would most help the Jaguars win the AFC South. That has to be the No. 1 goal, and the greatest obstacle to the Jaguars’ pursuit of that goal is its home loss to the Titans. The Jaguars might need help.
Ray from Port Elgin, NB
Vic, given Martellus Bennett’s comments at his locker after his first game back with the Patriots, basically admitting to influencing other teams not to claim him off waivers because he was planning on having season-ending surgery and then retiring, is this something the league could or should look into? He also stated Tom Brady contacted him before he was claimed to convince him to suit up for the Patriots. That kind of sounds like collusion to me and directly against the NFL’s policy on waiver transactions. What say you?
The league said it won’t investigate the matter, which doesn’t surprise me, given the criticism the commissioner got for “Deflategate.” What I can tell you is this: It’s a violation for a team to contact a player during the waiver process. Contacting a player during the process is to effectively make him a free agent, which Bennett was not because he was released after the trade deadline. I guess we’ll never know, huh?
Brad from Parker, CO
Vic, if Wisconsin is able to win out its last couple of games, including the Big 10 championship game, do they deserve a spot in the tournament, considering there may be teams above them in the rankings with one and two losses?
If they win out, they not only will deserve a spot in the playoffs, they’ll get one. Clemson and Miami will likely play in the ACC title game, and the loser would drop beneath an undefeated Wisconsin.
Lori from Brookfield, WI
Would you please give a power ranking of the top 10 coaches in the NFL today?
1) Bill Belichick, 2) Mike McCarthy, 3) Mike Tomlin, 4) Sean Payton, 5) Pete Carroll, 6) Jason Garrett, 7) Doug Pederson, 8) Mike Zimmer 9) Jim Caldwell, 10) John Harbaugh.
Mike from Niagara Falls, Canada
Vic, your age is showing with this celebration issue. I’m the kind of guy who thinks players should celebrate however they please. I’m all for handing the ball to the ref and getting back in the huddle, but I’m also all for Michael Flatley dance numbers in the end zone. It’s a game, at the end of the day, and it exists for our entertainment. Don’t want them showboating? Don’t let them score.
What are your thoughts on issues such as sportsmanship, dignity, selflessness and respect for your opponent and the game? Unfortunately, your age is showing, too.
Adam from Wausau, WI
How does writing this column change now that you’re not an insider on the company payroll?
I’ve said it before: I don’t have to be as concerned about bulletin board material. Now, can we please stop with these insults to my integrity? I was on the payroll for the six years I wrote this column in-house, and I never lied to my readers. If you don’t trust me, why would you read me?
Zach from LaJunta, CO
How much of a jump is it from college to the NFL? If you were to build an all-star college team and put it against the Browns (the last winless team), would the college players stand a chance?
The Browns would blow them out. Go back and check out the results from the last several College All-Star games played in Chicago? They were uncompetitive, which resulted in the game being abandoned. The college all-stars weren’t even competitive against a team of pro reserves and rookies.
Travis from Houston, TX
What are your thoughts on the Saints?
I think their performance this season is every bit as much of a surprise as the Jaguars’ and the Rams’. Sean Payton has done a masterful job of putting that team back together, especially on the defensive side of the ball. No. 2 on offense and No. 8 on defense. I’m impressed.
Chad from Troy, MI
Are we witnessing Denver getting run over by the salary cap train? Is this what a team built on free agency looks like?
Yes and yes. The Broncos are tight against the cap. They’ve lost several of the players from their Super Bowl team, but their cap burden has been passed on, either directly or indirectly. Hey, they won the Super Bowl and that justifies the gamble, but what if they hadn’t won the Super Bowl? How many teams take that risk and don’t win it all? I covered one that did and it played a big part in that franchise going dark for 17 years.
