SB Nation Seattle - NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams Battle For Best Of The Worsthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2010-12-08T14:52:37-08:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16255662010-12-08T14:52:37-08:002010-12-08T14:52:37-08:00NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: NFC West Roundup
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<p>In our last installment of the <span class="caps">NFL</span> power rankings for Week 14, we take one final look at the <span class="caps">NFC</span> West picture. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> have clearly become the class of the conference, setting up a Week 17 showdown in Seattle for, perhaps, the division title. At 6-6, the Seahawks and Rams are locked in a tight battle for the division, with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> looming close behind.</p>
<p>Over at <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings" target="new"><span class="caps">CBS</span> Sports</a>, the Seahawks moved up one spot to No. 23 in the Week 14 rankings. The Rams, however, moved up three spots to No. 22, jumping the Seahawks after picking up a win on the road, at division rival Arizona. The Seahawks matchup this week, on the road against San Francisco, looms large.</p>
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<p>At 6-6, they are tied with the Rams for the division lead heading to a big division game at San Francisco. The division race could come down to the season finale against the Rams.</p>
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<p>At <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/st.-louis-rams/67051" target="new">Fox Sports</a>, the Seahawks get credit for a win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a>, but a healthy dose of perspective is offered along with the No. 20 ranking. After all, the Panthers are pulling-up the rear in this week’s rankings, coming in at dead-last, No. 32.</p>
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<p>Seattle did a nice job of coming back against the visiting Panthers last week, but we’re talking about beating the worst team in the <span class="caps">NFL</span>. The <span class="caps">NFC</span> West division winner could come out of the Week 17 game against the visiting Rams.</p>
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<p>The Rams, however, are at No. 15 this week after grabbing a valuable road win. Yes, the <span class="caps">NFC</span> West, where a road win over a struggling Arizona squad gets a pat on the back and a bump in the rankings. This week, the Rams head to New Orleans to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> in a true road test.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2010/12/8/1864845/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-nfc-west-roundup-seahawks-rams-49ersBrian Floyd2010-12-07T13:50:58-08:002010-12-07T13:50:58-08:00NFL Power Rankings Week 14: NFC West In The Dumps, Seahawks Climbing
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<p>We looked at the <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2010/12/7/1861525/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-seattle-seahawks-st-louis-rams-nfc-westSTa" target="new">SB Nation <span class="caps">NFL</span> Power Rankings</a> for week 14 earlier, and now it’s time to trip around the web for the rest. The <span class="caps">NFC</span> West continues to toil in mediocrity, which is good news or bad news depending on how you look at it. On the good side, the division is easy to win, and still up for grabs. On the bad side, the <span class="caps">NFC</span> West is the laughing stock of the <span class="caps">NFL</span>.</p>
<p>Over <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings" target="new">at <span class="caps">ESPN</span>,</a> the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> are up two spots to No. 20 this week. <span class="caps">NFC</span> West blogger Mike Sando used the ranking to take a shot at Mike Williams.</p>
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<p>The only injury break banged-up receiver Mike Williams has gotten was a compound fracture to one of his fingers.</p>
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<p>It hurts because it’s true. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> are the highest-ranked <span class="caps">NFC</span> West team, and only team in the teens. But are the Rams legit or frauds?</p>
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<p>Like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>, the Rams own no victories over teams that currently have winning records.</p>
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<p><a href="http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/07/nfl-power-rankings-week-14/" target="new">Fanhouse </a>has Seattle climbing the charts, up four spots to No. 23 this week. On the horizon, however, is danger for the Seattle squad.</p>
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<p>Of the Seahawks’ six wins this season, only two have come against winning teams. Looking at the remaining four games, I see two division leaders and a very dangerous Tampa Bay team. Uh-oh.</p>
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<p>The Rams are soaring in the Fanhouse power rankings, checking at No. 15. It took two looks to find the Rams after being so used to looking for <span class="caps">NFC</span> West teams buried in the back-half of the 20s.</p>
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<p>It’s nice to win on the road, and the Rams have orchestrated two big wins over the last two weeks in Denver and Arizona. But their next two games will be the measuring stick as they face New Orleans and Kansas City to try and stay on top of the <span class="caps">NFC</span> West.</p>
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<p>With the tough road ahead for both Seattle and St. Louis, it’s well within the realm of possibility to wonder if a 7-9 team will win the division. Winning records be damned, somebody is going to make the playoffs, hosting a home game as a reward.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2010/12/7/1862276/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-nfc-west-in-the-dumps-seahawks-climbingBrian Floyd2010-12-07T09:37:52-08:002010-12-07T09:37:52-08:00NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams Battle For Best Of The Worst
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> took to Qwest Field on Sunday in an attempt to right the ship against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a>. After a slow start, the Seahawks did just that, dropping the Panthers behind 21 third quarter points, 31-14. With the Seahawks sliding in most NFL power rankings, where did they land after Week 14? The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/12/7/1861211/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-cowboys-broncos?show_comments=true" target="_blank">SB Nation NFL power rankings</a> are out, and it's good news for the Seahawks, though the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> continue to put up a fight.</p>
<p>Starting at the bottom, it's easy to find the four NFC West teams. For the second week in a row, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> are bringing up the rear, checking in at No. 32. It doesn't appear to be getting any better for Arizona, as the Cardinals' quarterback situation is getting worse by the minute.</p>
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<p><span>John Skelton</span> may be starting at quarterback next week for the Cardinals. You know, John Skelton? This season is getting worse for Arizona. LW: 32</p>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>, a trendy preseason pick, continue to struggle in the 2010 season. At 4-8, the 49ers would be out of the playoff picture in most divisions. Not so in the NFC West, where San Francisco still has a shot at the title and a home playoff game. The 49ers check in at No. 26 in the power rankings, within striking distance of the top-two NFC West teams.</p>
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<p>Jed York still thinks the 49ers can win the NFC West. You know what the saddest part is? Even at 4-8, there's some truth to that. The 49ers are two games out with four to play. LW: 24</p>
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<p>Finally, we get to the real battle in the division. The Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams are going toe-to-toe for division supremacy. How bad is it in the NFC West? The NFL is talking about re-seeding the playoffs in the future, perhaps not guaranteeing a home game to division winners. At No. 22, the Rams are neck-and-neck with the Seahawks, setting up a final week showdown for the division title.</p>
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<p><span>Sam Bradford</span> is moving along nicely in his rookie season, especially the last month. Like Seattle, the Rams just need to keep pace with the Seahawks to give them a shot in Week 17. LW: 23</p>
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<p>The Seahawks stayed put at No. 21 in Week 14 after holding serve with a win over the Panthers. Should Seattle and St. Louis keep it up, we're looking at a nail-biting finish to the season at Qwest Field in Week 17.</p>
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<p>I have yet to figure this team out. They're 24th on offense and 21st in defense. They've yet to win (or lose) more than two games in a row. They just need to give themselves a shot in Week 17 when they meet the Rams. LW: 21</p>
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https://seattle.sbnation.com/2010/12/7/2325925/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-seattle-seahawks-st-louis-rams-battle-forBrian Floyd