VanFulpen’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 4

1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) – Only reason they are number in the power
ranking is because they are the only undefeated team.

2. New Orleans Saints (3-1) – They won another close game they are as explosive as they where last year on offense.

3. Green Bay Packers (3-1) – They got back on track against the Lions.

4. Houston Texans (3-1) – Beat Oakland without wide receiver Andre Johnson.

5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) – Quarterback Joe Flacco was able to lead the Ravens to a last minute win against the Steelers.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) – Lost in the last minute to the Ravens but now they get their quarterback back.

7. New York Jets (3-1) – The Jets keep things rolling against the Bills.

8. New England Patriots (3-1) – The Patriots went down to Miami and look care of the Dolphins.

9. Chicago Bears (3-1) – The Bears could block the New York Giants and couldn’t do anything on offense.

10. Atlanta Falcons (3-1) – The Falcons found a way to win against the 49ers.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) – Had their bye this past week.

12. Indianapolis Colts (2-2) – The Colts lost on an end of the game 59 yard field goal against the Jaguars.

13. San Diego Chargers (2-2) – The Chargers where able to roll against the Arizona Cardinals at home.

14. New York Giants (2-2) – Their defensive line dominating the game against the Bears this week.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) – The Bengals have to get their offense going on their hopes of making the playoffs in back to back season might not be a reality.

16. Tennessee Titans (2-2) – The Titans have been up and down this season and they need to find a way to get Chris Johnson off and running.

17. Miami Dolphins (2-2) – Back-to-back losses at home against divisional teams not a great way to start off the season.

18. Washington Redskins (2-2) – Donovan McNabb was able to go back to Philadelphia and get a win.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) – The Eagles might have lost Michael Vick for a few weeks, if so it could be a rough stretch for the Eagles.

20. Seattle Seahawks (2-2) – The Seahawks are so up and down this season and if they could play consistent they could have a chance to win the NFC West.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) – A huge win at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

22. Denver Broncos (2-2) – The Broncos where able to make enough plays to beat the Titans.

23. St. Louis Rams (2-2) – The Rams have won back to back games, can they make it three in a row, well they are playing the Lions this week.

24. Arizona Cardinals (2-2) – The Cardinals went to Max Hall at quarterback after Derrick Anderson was ineffective against the Chargers.

25. Minnesota Vikings (1-2) – Had their bye this past week.

26. Dallas Cowboys (1-2) – Had their bye this past week.

27. Oakland Raiders (1-3) – Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski just isn’t the answer in Oakland and they will be looking for another quarterback this off-season.

28. Cleveland Browns (1-3) – The Browns were able to steal a win against the Bengals this past week.

29. San Francisco 49ers (0-4) – The 49ers might be 0-4 but in the NFC West they still have a chance but must turn it around this week against the Eagles.

30. Detroit Lions (0-4) – Lions fans can’t wait to get quarterback Matthew Stafford back.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-4) – The Panthers had a chance against the Saints but just couldn’t make the plays at the end to win the game.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-4) – The Bills will play hard this whole season but when it said and done they will be pick 1st in the 2011 NFL Draft.

VanFulpen’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 2

1. New Orleans Saints (2-0) – The Saints are the best team in the NFL and proved it on Monday Night Football traveling to San Francisco and being able to win with a field goal on the final play.

2. Green Bay Packers (2-0) – Quarterback Aaron Rogers looks like he is the leader for the NFL MVP award and their defense is great as well.

3. Houston Texans (2-0) – Overtime win against the Redskins and now they are at home against the Cowboys if they can beat their in state rivals will go along for their confidence.

4. Miami Dolphins (2-0) – Great win against the Vikings on the road now they take on the Jets.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) – No Big Ben no problem in the first two weeks.

6. Chicago Bears (2-0) – Jay Cutler has looked like the Pro Bowl player the Bears thought they traded for in the first two weeks.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) – On of the surprise teams of the early season so far but can they keep it up.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) – The other surprise team and they have a good young quarterback leading them.

9. Indianapolis Colts (1-1) – The Colts looked they are ready to roll again this season.

10. San Diego Chargers (1-1) – Maybe the early season lost to the Chiefs was a good thing for them.

11. New York Jets (1-1) – They have to go play Miami this week, who last season they where 0-2 against.

12. New England Patriots (1-1) – Patriots didn’t look like themselves in the second half against the Jets.

13. New York Giants (1-1) – Eli and the Giants got beat by his older brother Peyton but still look like the team to beat in the NFC East.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) – The Bengals need to get their offense going and score touchdowns and not kick field goals.

15. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) – The Ravens can’t wait to get Ed Reed back because then their defense will be even better.

16. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) – The Falcons can’t afford running back Michael Turner to be hurt and miss too much time.

17. Tennessee Titans (1-1) – Vince Young will be back as the starter, but they need to open more holes for running back Chris Johnson then what they did on Sunday against the Steelers.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) – Michael Vick has played well but they are going back to quarterback Kevin Kolb, might not be the right move.

19. Washington Redskins (1-1) – Donovan McNabb should have this team right around a late season wild card push.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) – The Jaguars have to get better play out of their quarterback or will be looking for a new quarterback and new head coach in the off-season.

21. Denver Broncos (1-1) – The beat the Seahawks this past Sunday but don’t look like a playoff type team.

22. Oakland Raiders (1-1) – The Raiders might be looking for another quarterback this off-season as Jason Campbell was benched in the first half Sunday.

23. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) – The great opening day win didn’t look so great after getting beat by the Broncos.

24. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) – Derrick Anderson is not the answer at quarterback and they could be draft one in the first round again.

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-2) – Brett Farve came back for this? Life isn’t looking good, but just what the doctor ordered the Detroit Lions and Shaun Hill this Sunday.

26. Dallas Cowboys (0-2) – The Cowboys have to go on the road and beat the Texans this week.

27. San Francisco 49ers (0-2) – The 49ers play in the worst division in the NFL, the NFC West so an 8-8 record might win the division.

28. Detroit Lions (0-2) – Lions fans can’t wait to get quarterback Matthew Stafford back.

29. Carolina Panthers (0-2) – The Jimmy Clausen era has started in Carolina.

30. Cleveland Browns (0-2) – The Browns are hoping the quarterback Andrew Luck falls to them next April.

31. St. Louis Rams (0-2) – The Rams need offensive weapons and should trade for Vincent Jackson.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-2) – The Bills have benched quarterback Trent Edwards after week two.

Power Ranking Number 8: Green Bay Packers

There are many people that think the Packers can be a legitimate threat to make it to the Super Bowl this season, and most of the reason relies of the right arm of quarterback Aaron Rogers who had an outstanding season last year. He is a good athlete and has the ability to make all the throws. Running back Ryan Grant is a solid NFL running back who has the ability to break long runs and pound the ball inside. Greg Jennings is the Packers big play wide receiver and is one of the better route runners in the NFL. Tight end Jermichael Finley has a chance to be a special players in the NFL and last season caught 55 passes for 676 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Last season cornerback Charles Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press having a great season last year he intercepted 9 passes and returned 3 of them for touchdowns. Outside linebacker Clay Matthews had a great season as a rookie last year with 10 sacks and the Packers are expecting even more from him this season. The question marks for the Packers this season on defense is how fast with cornerback Al Harris coming back from his knee injury that he suffered last season and who else can they find to rush the passer on the outside beside Matthews?

The Packers are a good young team with a lot of talent who made it to the playoffs last season and should have a good shot at going back again as a wild card team as well as possible winning the NFC North Division. They will need to beat the Vikings and Brett Farve this season to do so, which they weren’t able to do last season.

News & Notes

Tulsa CB John Destin has received significant interest from the following teams, the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins, and there is a good possibility he will get drafted in the later rounds.

DB Dominique Daniels of Nicholls State had a personal workout with the Atlanta Falcons.

DB Dominique Daniels of Nicholls State had a personal workout with the New Orleans Saints.

QB Blake Joseph of Sam Houston State has significant interest from the following teams, the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Many scouts feel that he has a better arm then last year quarterback out of Sam Houston State, Rhett Bomar who was drafted in the 5th round by the New York Giants.

DE/FB James Peters of Abilene Christian at his Pro Day measured in at 6003, 259 pounds and the ran the 40 yard dash in 4.62 seconds. He measured a 9-foot-9 inch broad jump, a 39.5 inch vertical jump and did 44 reps of 225 pounds. He projects as a full back at the next level and did a personal workout for the Dallas Cowboy.

Texas vs the Nation Off the Field Notes

- Texas vs the Nation CEO Kenny Hansmire is in talks to add another college football all-star game.

- According to NFL Scouts down in El Paso, the East-West Shrine Game is rumored to be going out of business.

- There where over 120 NFL scouts in El Paso for the Texas vs the Nation game including Packers GM Ted Thompson.

- 93 % of last years players that played in the Texas vs the Nation game went on to sign an NFL contract, 111 out of 119.

- That number should be around the same this year if not higher.

- One of the bigger NFL draft expert to be in attendance was former NFL player Corey Chavous, owner of DraftNasty.com. He also worked for NFL Network on this years Senior Bowl coverage, and has also been on ESPN and NFL Network NFL Draft coverage.