Why ESPN's Power Rankings might be a Kiss of Death

[JMC00]

So Denver has been the anointed the coveted #1 spot in ESPN's power rankings and will probably end the regular season at #1 barring being upset by the Chiefs.

But it is almost a kiss of death to end the regular season as the #1 team in ESPN's power rankings

Last year's final power rankings before the playoffs
Packers were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost in their first game
Giants were #9 on the Power Rankings and Patriots were #4

2010
Patriots were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost in their first game (Also Brady won MVP, last time the MVP won the SB was Kurt Warner)
Packers were #9 and Steelers were #3

2009
Colts were #1 got to the SB and lost to the Saints who were #5

2008
Titans were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost in their first game
Steelers were #3 and Cardinals were #13

2007
Patriots were #1 got to the SB and lost to the Giants who where #9

2006
Chargers were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost in their first game.
Colts were #4 and Bears were #5

2005
Colts were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost their first game to the Steelers who were #6
Seahawks were #2

2004
Steelers were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost in the AFC championship to the Patriots who were #2
Eagles were #3

2003
Patriots were #1 and went on to win the SB.
Panthers were #9

2002
Eagles were #1. Had the #1 seed and lost in the NFC championship game to the Bucs who were #3.
Raiders were #2

So over the last 10 seasons
Only 1 team has ended the season #1 team in the ESPN Power Rankings and gone on to win the SB.
2 teams have gotten to the SB and lost
2 teams have lost in the Conference Championship game
4 teams have been upset in their first game.

There is a saying that numbers don't lie

 

[thenepatsrule]

Shh pls delete your article............. or ESPN might bump Pats to 1 and Denver to 1.5

 

[robbomango]

Being lower seeded allows you to play the highly coveted Rodney harrison "disrespect card"

#37 "They didn't believe we could do, they didn't give us a chance but we believed"

 

[BlueThunder]

Hopefully Payaton reverts to his old self and self destructs in the playoffs. :singing:

 

[DocHoliday]

Hopefully Payaton reverts to his old self and self destructs in the playoffs. :singing:

I like the guy. I hope his defense craps the bed.

 

[dannydyn]

These power rankings are meaningless. They go by pure record alone, with complete disregard to opponents win/loss record. Hence the Broncos are sitting at number 1 despite losing to the best teams in the league while defeating some of the 5hittiest ones.

With that said, EVEN if (and that's a huge IF) the Broncos end up in the Superbowl, I give them ZERO chance of winning them, as any of the NFC teams will chew them up.

Bottom line: no matter how you chop it, Manning ain't getting another ring. Not this year at least...

 

[nabwong]

Being lower seeded allows you to play the highly coveted Rodney harrison "disrespect card"

#37 "They didn't believe we could do, they didn't give us a chance but we believed"

Unfortunately we don't have Mr Harrison anymore.

 

[MoneyFX]

I have a feeling that Peyton Manning will be due for a bad performance soon.

One can think that the Broncos will feel overconfident coming in after winning 11 straight (assuming they beat KC) and Peyton will throw up a stinker at home, which can happen.

Denver has been rolling for so long, you just wonder when they're gonna have a slip up?

 

[SVN]

I have a feeling that Peyton Manning will be due for a bad performance soon.

One can think that the Broncos will feel overconfident coming in after winning 11 straight (assuming they beat KC) and Peyton will throw up a stinker at home, which can happen.

Denver has been rolling for so long, you just wonder when they're gonna have a slip up?

If houston slips up, denver would not have to leave home for the last 2 odd months to reach a SB. Thats a huge plus.

 

[MoneyFX]

If houston slips up, denver would not have to leave home for the last 2 odd months to reach a SB. Thats a huge plus.

Yeah. If the cards fall in place, we could be seeing a New England/Denver AFC championship game.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

denver is the hottest team going into playoffs...not a good thing

 

[Kid~Brady]

denver is the hottest team going into playoffs...not a good thing

While I agree with you... who has the Broncos really beaten?

They've lost to every "quality" team they've played all season other than a beat-up Ravens team. I ALWAYS fear Peyton but as a team, they shouldn't really scare us.

 

[DocHoliday]

While I agree with you... who has the Broncos really beaten?

They've lost to every "quality" team they've played all season other than a beat-up Ravens team. I ALWAYS fear Peyton but as a team, they shouldn't really scare us.

Replace Denver with the patriots and we're echoing what people said about us going into the playoffs last year.

 

[pwes]

Replace Denver with the patriots and we're echoing what people said about us going into the playoffs last year.

And we lost the superbowl so What's your point?

 

[ausbacker]

denver is the hottest team going into playoffs...not a good thing

If there's a D I feel confident Brady can and will destroy it's the Broncos. The point then turns to whether the Patriots D could contain Manning enough to allow Brady to do his thing.

Hopefully the Pats and Colts both win this weekend. I'd be pleased with the #2 seed if things go well (assuming the Mannings spank KC).

 

[BananaRepublican]

I give them ZERO chance of winning them, as any of the NFC teams will chew them up..

Hmmm, I'm glad you're sure. I'm not. Matchups mean a whole lot, and then the mood/energy of the team on game day means a whole lot, and then the bounce of the ball means a whole lot. That's a lot to discount automatically.

The other factor is that Peyton versus a rookie QB in the biggest stage of all is a decided advantage for Peyton. I'm not saying a Kaepernick or Wilson or RGIII would necessarily stink the place up, but that's an awful lot of pressure for a rookie.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

kiss of death? Hardly. The Broncos are on a 10 game win streak going into the playoffs...that brings a lot of confidence ect...but with them getting a bye will they cool off? I think they will a bit which can help in the end

 

[dannydyn]

Hmmm, I'm glad you're sure. I'm not. Matchups mean a whole lot, and then the mood/energy of the team on game day means a whole lot, and then the bounce of the ball means a whole lot. That's a lot to discount automatically.

The other factor is that Peyton versus a rookie QB in the biggest stage of all is a decided advantage for Peyton. I'm not saying a Kaepernick or Wilson or RGIII would necessarily stink the place up, but that's an awful lot of pressure for a rookie.

I'm sorry.... the only reason the Broncos are sitting at number 1 right now, and are considered 'the hottest team' is because of their record... and that records come from a piece of cake schedule. They lost to good teams, and had trouble with bad teams (KC, Chargers, Raiders, etc.).

My point is that their record is misleading. Power rankings and 'hotness' scales are measured by record alone, with complete disregard to opponents strength.

My point is that the Broncos are hiding behind their record... Once playoffs time rolls in, and they start facing some real competition, I don't give them much chance. Any of the other 3 top teams (or even all 5) can hand them a loss on any given day. Especially the Pats and Texans, which have already done that once (Texans killed them at Mile High). The only good thing going for the Broncos right now is a first round bye, and potentially home field advantage throughout. Other than that, they're a paper tiger. Manning is a hotshot against 5hit offenses who can't keep up with the score.

I don't know about others here, and I don't want to jinx anything, but I am not afraid of the Broncos. Our offense matches up excellent against their so-called 'top 5 defense'. With Gronk back in the mix, I can hardly wait for a re-match.

And when it comes to facing the NFC.... I'd LOVE to see hotshot super-goober keeping up with the the Packers, Niners, Seahawks, and Falcons.

Hell, I wish it was the Broncos this past Sunday playing at Century Link.... Would have loved to see how good the Broncos really are against the Seahawks. If you want to talk about a team that's hot right now, Seattle is a top contender.

Best team in the league my ***.

 

[DocHoliday]

And we lost the superbowl so What's your point?

I was.... Agreeing with you...