Moving on up
The Ravens' big comeback victory in Cleveland got the attention of the people who do NFL Power Rankings for the various sports publications and Web sites. I really have no idea who most of those people are, but I still have great respect for their ability to put the 32 teams in their proper order. Take a look:
ESPN: The World Wide Leaders has the Ravens 13th, up from 14th. Not a dynamic move, though better than nothing.
CBSSports: The eyeball rates the Ravens 14th, which is up significantly from 17th.
The Sporting News: TSN has the Ravens all the way up to 11th after ranking them 17th last week.
USA Today: The win over Cleveland gained them only one rung on the ladder. Ravens inch up to 17th.
FoxSports: Ravens rank 16th after ranking as low as 29th this year.
NBCSports.com: NBC posts a collection of rankings, but all of them this week have the Ravens 13th.
Pro Football Weekly: Joe Flacco has them convinced ... to a point. Ravens rank 12th.
Schmuck's poll of polls: The average Ravens ranking on the aforementioned list of Power Rankings is 13.7, up from last week's average ranking of 16.8.
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Comments
Number 13.7 in the rankings. Number 1 in your heart.
Posted by: Scooter | November 5, 2008 6:21 AM
I think we should try and get our hands on DeAngelo Hall if he is indeed cut by the Raiders. This will help our defense even more and will move us further up the rankings.
Posted by: Jeffrey Jurist | November 5, 2008 8:39 AM
I find these Power Ranking a bit amatuerish. Take a look at www.footballoutsiders.com. DVOA rankings. They have the Ravens 4th and their rankings have proved accurate year over year.
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Pete's reply: Did that last week. I don't really think the Ravens are the fourth-best team in football, do you?
Posted by: Joe | November 5, 2008 9:20 AM
Hey Pete, FoxSports Whatifsports poll has the Ravens at number 6. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings?type=whatIfSports
Posted by: Jerry | November 5, 2008 9:24 AM
I just saw that the Raiders cut DeAngelo Hall. With the injuries to McAllister and Rolle, do you think there's a chance we could pick up Hall?
Posted by: BA | November 5, 2008 9:31 AM
Peter King on SI had them at 10.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/11/02/week9/1.html
Posted by: Jacob | November 5, 2008 10:21 AM
The Ravens should pick up both DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker from the Raiders if they are released.
Posted by: El rojo | November 5, 2008 10:37 AM
NFL.com - Ravens # 9
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | November 5, 2008 10:40 AM
Pete- Ironic, isn't it, how only one has the Ravens as "qualified" to be a playoff team.
More disrespect by the national media. Something that bodes well with Ray Lewis and the rest.
Posted by: Larry | November 5, 2008 11:53 AM
Pete,
According to ESPN.com the Raiders are looking to release DeAngelo Hall. What do you think about the Ravens getting him if this happens to sure up the secondary? Too much money to throw out?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3683124
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Pete's reply: Certainly interesting, but I'm out of town and don't know the Ravens cap situation off the top of my head.
Posted by: eman | November 5, 2008 12:44 PM
Who cares about these polls , they mean absoltuley NOTHING! What really matters is where the Ravens rank at the end of the year, nothing more than that!
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Pete's reply: So, I guess that means you don't look at the standings either?
Posted by: Mike B | November 5, 2008 12:53 PM
I have them number one!
Posted by: Steve Sievers | November 5, 2008 2:36 PM
The DVOA rankings could also be known as the purple kool-aid poll.
Posted by: Rusty | November 5, 2008 3:38 PM
DeAngelo Hall is trouble, and not someone you want to introduce to a new team that's playing well. Plus, he's a personal foul machine. PLEASE don't take him.
Signed, Hokie Parent
Posted by: j. roberts | November 5, 2008 3:42 PM
these polls are idiotic. everyone screams about them in college football -- how stupid they are -- yet they get bent out of shape when an nfl team isn't high enough in a "power ranking"
boo-freakin-hoo.
and leave hall and javon walker alone. neither guy is worth taking a risk on. both are me-first prima donnas!
Posted by: happyjack | November 5, 2008 4:06 PM
The Patriot's #1 power rankings throughout last year's season didn't stop the much lesser ranked Giants from beating them. Power Rankings are overrated and leads to unnecessary pressure for those on top of the standings.
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Pete's reply: I seriously doubt they lead to pressure on anyone. I don't think there's a player or coach who pays a bit of attention to them. But they are entertaining and spark debate and make good blog items so I love them.
Posted by: John L | November 5, 2008 5:09 PM
Hey Pete,
We all know the only value in these rankings is that they give Schmucks like you something to talk about.
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Pete's reply: And God bless them for that.
Posted by: All Joe | November 5, 2008 7:41 PM
Yea Hall would be a good pick up, but as far as I know every team Hall has played for got horrible chemistry mainly because of him. So do you guys really want the great chemestery Harbaugh has set up to be recked?
Posted by: Tim Wenger | November 5, 2008 9:44 PM