Nine Straight Threes' NFL Power Rankings: Week 10
It's awards season, everyone!
Welcome in once again to Nine Straight Threes’ NFL Power Rankings. We’ve reached what I have determined is the closest point to the NFL’s halfway mark. Every team has played at least nine games, and some have played 10, and so now we can start taking stock of these teams at the halfway mark. What does that mean for this week’s rankings?
Glad you asked. The answer is, “Weird awards for each team, tiers, team grades, and more.” If that reads like a very messy hodgepodge, guess what? That’s exactly what it’s going to be. No lengthy intro today, let’s just dive right in.
As always, NST’s power rankings take two factors into account: Performance and watchability. Away we go.
C’MON! DO IT NOW! KILL ME!
32. New York Giants (2-8)
LW: 26
Anonymous Defensive Player of the Year Award: Dexter Lawrence
Can you imagine the publicity this guy would be getting if he played for a good team? The ultimate testament to how effective the NFL’s quest for parity has been is the fact that despite playing for the marquee team in the country’s biggest media market, Lawrence is getting almost no DPOY consideration, because the Giants suck. He’s on pace for 15 or 16 sacks as an interior lineman, and deserves better than the absolute turd of a team he’s stuck playing for.
First-half grade: F
Week 11: Bye
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
LW: 31
Steven Jackson “I have to play here for at least HOW many years?” Award: Brock Bowers
Jackson played in 160 NFL games. His teams went 52-107-1 in those games, despite Jackson rushing for over 11,000 yards in his career. He was, by any objective measure, a good football player! He had eight straight 1,000-yard seasons, and led the league in yards from scrimmage in his second year in the league. He saw precisely four playoff games in his career; two in his rookie year with St. Louis, and two with New England when he was a bit player for the Pats in his final NFL season. Bowers looks like a very good player. He’s on the Raiders. I just feel bad for the guy, you know?
Week 11: at Miami
First-half grade: F
30. Dallas Cowboys (3-6)
LW: 24
Todd Rundgren Award: Jerry Jones
Then you gazed up at the ball
Just to watch it quickly fall
Cause you had the light
In your eyes