We’re deep enough into the NFL season to actually know what teams are made of. Everybody has played a number of quality opponents and nobody has proven to be susceptible in some way, shape or form. It’s almost comical to take a look back at some of the “experts” Top Ten lists throughout the season, namingly those at the beginning of the year when Pittsburgh didn’t look like their violent self and other teams were riding high by beating scrubs. I’ll go a step further and 
rank all the teams in the playoff hunt and where I think they’ll end up in January.
It finally seems like a reasonable time to rank the NFL squads and with a few criteria in mind:
- The quality of opponents they’ve face thus far
- Injury situations, some which have crippled teams, others that have provided teams with a revelation at predominant positions
- The road ahead. Some teams have a mountain to climb going forward while others have already faced the most demanding part of their schedule
- This a outwardly a gambling website, so there will be some thoughts pertaining to whether teams bury their weakest opponents or have shown an inability to cut the throat of their counter parts when it counts
Without further ado, here is the first installment of Fireman Mike’s 2011 NFL Ratings:
1. Packers (11-0) - Hyperbole is beaten to a bloody pulp in this day and age but I can honestly say Aaron Rodgers is playing the QB position better than anyone I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. He has a plethora of weapons and uses them at an unprecedented pace.
2. Ravens (8-3) - A win over the 49ers proved how well they play against quality competition but losses to three teams under .500 makes one wonder. Wonder about what, I don’t know but I expect Baltimore to be there in the end.
3. Saints (7-3) - The good news: New Orleans hasn’t hit their stride, meaning they could be playing their best football at the end of the year when it counts. The bad news: That stride better come quick or they’ll miss a golden opportunity.
4. 49ers (9-2) - They have a Super Bowl caliber defensive scheme, from the personnel down to the coaching staff. But questions remain about how far a quarterback like Alex Smith can carry a team.
5. Steelers (7-3) - Pittsburgh is the one team in this league that can enforce their will on an opponent or -if the mood strikes- start heaving deep balls to Mike Wallace and allow Big Ben to do his thing.
6. Falcons (7-3) - A different team has represented the NFC in the Super Bowl for the past ten years. Before the season 
Atlanta seemed to be the only realistic bidder to seal that deal but with the likes of San Fran, Detroit and Dallas they may have some company.
7. Giants (6-4) - When you have a front four that can disrupt, aggravate and force the quarterback of his timing from every conceivable angle you have a chance ot beat anybody. When you have no running game, you can lose to anybody. Ask Tom Coughlin.
8. Patriots (7-3) - They are going to be the #1 seed in the AFC after they finish rolling through their paper thin schedule in the next two months but once the playoffs come somebody on that no-name defense has to take charge and make some plays.
9. Cowboys (7-4) - Squeeked out a win against a feisty Miami team but it’s damn near impossible to comfortably place a wager on this team. If they show up three more times over the course of the next five weeks I’ll be shocked.
10. Lions (7-4) - I’m not sure what the deal is with Matt Stafford but he’s going to have to make some adjustments and improvements in order to lead this team to a playoff berth. Detroit is obviously a few years away but questions at primary positions have to be answered before that final step is taken. Ask the New York Jets.
11. Texans (7-3) - The biggest question going forward is whether or not Matt Leinhart has matured enough to lead a team to the playoffs. A team that has some distance between teams behind them but -as we’ve all seen before- Leinhart is capable of anything, good or bad.
12. Bears (7-3) - Caleb Hanie is obviously the X-factor. If he can manage a game -a term I hate using more than anything!- the Bears will remain in every game they have left. But how can one imagine they’ll have enough firepower to stick with Green Bay or even Detroit for that matter?
13. Raiders (6-4) - Carson Palmer will continue to pay dividends for Oakland, a team that was in more desperate need of a quarterback than anyone could even articulate. He’s borught instant credibility to the franchise, unfortunately he hasn’t had the same affect on the AFC West.
14. Jets (5-5) - At some point Rex Ryan’s ass is gonna start haveing to paying the checks that his mouth promises. And not the $75,000 kinds that he writes to the league office for being an overbearing dick when the Jets lose.
15. Bengals (6-4) - They had a nice run but definitely got exposed over the last two weeks against the cream of the crop of the AFC, Baltimore and Pitt. There are no moral victories in this league, and it’s very comforting to know Andy Dalton doesn’t give a damn about them either! Cincy is going to be in good hands for the near future.
Playoff Prognostication NFC:1. Green Bay (14-2)
2. San Fransisco (12-4)
3. New Orleans (11-5)
4. NY Giants (10-6)
5. Atlanta (11-5)
6. Dallas (10-6)
1. New England (13-3)
2. Baltimore (12-4)
3. Houston (11-5)
4. Oakland (9-7)
5. Pittsburgh (11-5)
6. New York Jets (10-6)
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