Mid Way Power Rankings XXL Season 26 #1.) Detroit Lions (7-0)- The only undefeated team remaining in the league, bringing another strong showing in Season 26 and the 2nd season under the new game. The question remains is if Hanso can finish out what he started and win a Super Bowl Championship?… Only time will tell. #2.) Buffalo Bills (6-1): One of the 4 one loss teams the Bills put the mark on the #2 spot. 5-0 In the AFC is good enough for 2nd place in the rankings and he is right on Hanso’s tail for the best record in the NFL. Hopefully, ChillBoogie doesn’t get to comfortable the Pats are in striking distance. #3.) Arizona Cardinals (6-1): In the top 5 in the NFL based on record and can we really deny that he doesn’t deserve it? Wanderlust has only given up 79 points on defense to his 177 scored (WOW). Similar to the Bills scenario, there are a few teams (The Rams particularly), ready to jump to the top spot in the NFC West. #4.) Tennessee Titans (6-1): Jonezy had an early season loss to the Chargers, but other than that has no blemishes. Giving up only 105 Points in 7 games this season means that his D keeps him in the game, every single game. A little town called Jacksonville is on his heels, we will see if the Titans can hold on to the top spot, with some tough matchups coming up. #5.) St. Louis Rams (6-1): Is it acceptable to call X Factor a vet yet? It seems year in and year out this guy remains close to the top. Tied for 1st atop the NFC West and not to mention only giving up 101 points, this Rams team is built to win. It will be interesting to watch the season unfold and see if he can land on top this division. #6.) Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2): Sitting at 6-2, can anyone really complain with the numbers this guy is coming up with each week? Looking at the division the question is can ChildPlease catch the Titans? Along with the two top teams The Colts are sitting in the back seat with his seatbelt off trying to ride shotgun. #7.) Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): Question coming into the season was “Will we see a repeat?” The Bengals are in a good position to make the playoffs and possibly win the division, but a repeat is hard to do in real sports and in XXL’s Season 26 of Madden. A strong offense is what carries this team to victory, oh yeah and JonGka has only allowed 97 points. (That may help too). #8.) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): Toss up here, I forgot that I said the Bengals could repeat. Did I forget to mention the Steelers are tied at the top of the division? This division looks like it is going to be a race, and with both teams fighting for a spot atop the AFC North, maybe one will have to fight for a wild card spot instead. #9.) San Diego Chargers (5-2)- The offense is still not clicking as well as it should be, but the defense has been the Chargers MVP for the season. With only 88 points given up through 8 weeks, that is good for 2nd in the league. With the AFC West tight at the top the Chargers will have to continue to play good football the 2nd half of the season against tough opponents. #10.) Chicago Bears (5-2): Da Bears started the season off 1-2, but have rattled off 4 consecutive wins in a tough NFC North. Mack is going to have his hands full if he has plans of catching the top dog not only in the NFC North, but the NFL. A high powered offense is what carries this Bears team that hopes to catch a division rival in the Detroit Lions. #11.) Dallas Cowboys (5-3) #12.) New England Patriots (5-3) #13.) Oakland Raiders (5-3) #14.) Seattle Seahawks (4-3) #15.) Carolina Panthers (4-3) #16.) Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) #17.) Miami Dolphins (4-3) #18.) Houston Texans (3-4) #19.) Indianapolis Colts (3-4) #20.) San Francisco 49ers (3-4) #21.) Cleveland Browns (3-5) #22.) Green Bay Packers (3-5) #23.) New York Jets (2-5) #24.) Baltimore Ravens (2-5) #25.) New York Giants (2-5) #26.) Washington Redskins (2-6) #27.) New Orleans Saints (2-5) #28.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) #29.) Denver Broncos (1-6) #30.) Philadelphia Eagles (1-7) #31.) Minnesota Vikings (1-7) #32.) Atlanta Falcons (0-7)
1. Carolina Panthers (10-0) An aging Calvin Johnson is still proving to be a deep threat in Carolina. Calvin has averaged over 22 yards per catch, on his 41 receptions and 0 drops. Drew Brees is continuing his amazing career as one of the best. This may be the year for Carolina because it has to be, this aging team has all the talent and wisdom to be a champion but many think this well-oiled machine is only one broken part away from a complete halt. The Panthers are 1 of only 4 teams that have put up over 300 points, but are not just depending on a high power vertical friendly offense. This D is holding their own with an average of 13.3 points given up per game. This is the problem when playing the Panthers, if you are going to beat this team you are going to have to put up a lot of points and this D is just not allowing it. 2. Baltimore Ravens (10-0) Patrick Griffin, O.C. Patrick, C.J. Means? Who the hell are these guys? They don’t sound like NFL superstars; they sound more like characters in a lame 1970s action T.V. show. That is why I am giving this 3 headed monster the nickname, The A-Team! Means is one hell of a receiver, 11 touchdowns, 896 with 581 of those yards coming after the catch, this is unreal. O.C. Patrick is averaging 5.3 yards per attempt and will eclipse 1000 yards in week 12 barring any injuries. Griffin is a young QB but with 26 TD and 14 Interceptions, he is seeing the field like a QB that has been dominating the league for years. With the Ravens and Panthers being the last of the undefeated, would be cool to see a Super Bowl of the old vs new. 3. Detroit Lions (9-2) 9-2 Team in the top 3? Hear me out. The Lions have the best net points of any team in the league, through 11 games they have beat their opponents by an average of 17 points. The Lions dropped two in a row but it is known around the league that this coach will sometime sandbag games with vanilla play to make sure they are looking to the future. Detroit had to play the #1 team in the AFC then the #1 in the NFC so they may have looked to use these weeks as scouting opportunities. Others say that this conspiracy theory is no way possible as Brett Hundley is a true leader and would never be a part of these kind of shenanigans. Look for Brett to finish this MVP type season strong. With Harvin and Cobb having a chance to hit 1000 yards this season Brett has plenty of opportunity to find an open guy. 4. St. Louis Rams (10-1) They are messy and squeak out wins, we really don’t know how good or bad they are as they could easily be 5-6 right now. That was shown with their loss to the struggling 49ers. They barely beat the Seahawks on a crazy turnover that set up a FG as the Seahawks were driving down to win the game. They are still winning no matter how messy so they will be at the #4 spot until their luck runs out. 5. Seahawks (8-2) The Seahawks like every other team in the NFC West have to play a playoff game every week. One loss in this division makes more of a difference than any other division. It is hard to play week in and week out with this type of pressure, but the Seahawks do more than hold their own. AJ Green and D. Hop would be starters in the pro bowl and these two line up next to each other every Sunday. Then they have a young guy, Vince Mayle, that is holding his own to create the best receiving trio in the modern era. Let’s not forget that the Seahawks have been in the #1 spot almost every week in defensive points allowed. It is hard to beat a team when they are only giving up 13 points a game in this league. 6. Cardinals (9-1) The Cards have had a bit of a fall with the news that their prodigy coach is stepping down. The league was surprised when this news came in as they were set up to go back to back with division championships in a tough division. No interim coach has been named but we will see if that coach can continue the winning atmosphere that has been around Scottsdale over the last few years. 7. NY Giants (9-2) The Giants put out some bounties on the NFC West early in the season and got back to the east coast with a 1-2 record, and that one win was a squeaker. Ryan Nassib has shown that a young guy can handle the New York media, and he does make things easier on him by winning on the field. Although, in the two losses he did not have good games. This does show how much this team needs this guy to play great to stay on top, and this coach believes this guy has the skill and poise to do so. Odell Beckham has had a bit of a slow year but still closing in on a 1000-yard season. When this guy takes off this team could get really scary. 8. KC Chiefs (8-2) Jamal Charles is still the man of the Midwest. Charles is making up 40% of the Chiefs offensive yards, but go ahead and game plan to shut him down because teams have not been very successful. The Chiefs’ success may have a lot to do with the strength of the division, but it is about time the Chiefs get a break. Look for the Chiefs in the playoffs and you better hope you have an answer for that squirmy running back. 9. NY Jets (7-4) Aaron Rodgers has not had that great of a season, but he is doing a pretty good job spreading the ball around. Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall, and Devin Smith have not really figured out who the #1 guy is and there are rumors of some animosity in the locker room. All three are under 400 yards and Decker is leading in TDs with 3. Not really like Rodgers to have this many weapons and not capitalize. There has been a problem with INTs for A-Rod, but he should get it under control come playoff time. The Bills have a chance to catch NY so look for them to tighten up the ship. 10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) Is one of those teams that take pride in winning in their opponent’s house. They have a 5-1 record on the road with two road games left to go. Johnny Manziel is showing all the neigh Sayers that he is an NFL QB. The Jags will need Kellen Moore to step up as Manziel will be nursing some ribs as there is an Aaron Donald indention in them that will need to heel up. The Jags look to have Mr. Football back in 3 weeks. Marqise Lee is having a hell of a season and looks to end this season as the best WR in the league. Averaging 93 yards a game is not easy in this league and Lee has made it his mission to be one of those young guys that comes in surprising everyone on what is possible, a la Beckham JR. 11. Green Bay Packers 12. Cincinnati Bengals 13. San Diego Chargers 14. Pittsburg Stealers 15. Huston Texans 16. Buffalo Bills 17. Denver Broncos 18. Atlanta Falcons 19. Dallas Cowboys 20. Oakland Raiders 21. Chicago Bears 22. Minnesota Vikings 23. Miami Dolphins 24. New England Patriots 25. New Orleans Saints 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27. Tennessee Titans 28. San Francisco 49ers 29. Philadelphia Eagles 30. Washington Redskins 31. Indianapolis Colts 32. Cleveland Browns
