• NFL Football
  • Today's Picks
  • 2009 Regular Season Picks
  • 2009 Preseason Picks
  • This Week's Rankings
  • 2009 Complete Rankings
  • 2008 Complete Rankings
  • 2008 Picks
  • 2007 Complete Rankings
  • 2007 Picks
  • 2006 Complete Rankings
  • 2006 Picks
  • 2005 Final Rankings
  • 2004 Final Rankings
  • 2003 Final Rankings
  • 2002 Final Rankings
• NCAA Football
• CFL Football
• NBA Basketball
• WNBA Basketball
• NCAA Basketball
• MLB Baseball
• NHL Hockey

2008 NFL Rankings

Final 2008: SB Miracle Not In The Cards

The Cardinals looked like they were going to complete their improbable run to the Super Bowl when they scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a 23-20 lead.  But that's when Ben Roethlisberger took over as the Pittsburgh QB drove the Steelers down for a go-ahead TD pass to Santonio Holmes and a 27-23 win in Super Bowl XLIII.  While the Cardinals could feel proud of their first trip to the Super Bowl, for the Steelers it was their sixth SB win, putting them one ahead of San Francisco and Dallas.   Here are the final 2008 NFL rankings.

* Through Games Played on February 1

Week 17: Ravens Enter Playoffs No. 1

The Ravens beat Jacksonville (27-7) on Sunday for their ninth win in their last 11 games and a No. 1 ranking in the final regular season Index. The win capped a turnaround from last year's 5-11 season and secured a wild card spot in the playoffs.   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on December 28

Week 16: Titanic Shift

The Titans wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 31-17 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.  The win gave Tennessee the best record in the NFL (13-2) and moved them back to No. 1 in this week's Index.   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on December 22

Week 15: Giant Step Back

The defending champion Giants are facing adversity for the first time this season as they have lost two straight since Plaxico Burress shot himself and was suspended for the season.  The latest setback came on Sunday night as Dallas sacked Eli Manning eight times en route to a 20-8 victory.  The loss drops New York to No. 5 in this week's Index. Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on December 15

Week 14: Reed And Weep

Nobody personifies the tenacious Baltimore defense more than Ed Reed and that was on full display Sunday night.  The veteran safety had two INTs and a fumble recovery for a TD in the Ravens' 24-10 win over Washington.  Baltimore has won seven of its last eight, including the last three by a combined margin of 94-20, to put the Ravens at No. 4 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on December 8

Week 13: Pats Hit Steel Wall

The Steelers have been victims of New England's recent success, losing twice to the Patriots in AFC championship games during New England's Super Bowl runs and again last year in Foxborough (34-13).  But Pittsburgh turned the tables in a 33-10 domination on Sunday in which the Steeler defense came away with five turnovers and sacked NE QB Matt Cassel five times.  The win pushes Pittsburgh up to No. 2 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on December 1

Week 12: New York, New York

The Jets handed the Titans their first loss of the season (34-13) on Sunday for their fifth straight win and seventh in the last eight games.  The streak is the best New York has put together since 2004 and has the Jets at No. 2 behind the crosstown rival Giants in this week's Index.   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on November 24

Week 11: Eagles Fit To Be Tied

Philadelphia and Cincinnati played to the first tie (13-13) in the NFL since 2002 as Bengal K Shayne Graham missed 47-yard FG with seven seconds left in the extra period.  The tie was more costly to the Eagles, who are still battling for a playoff spot and needed the win to move into a three-way tie with the Giants and Redskins for second in the NFC East.  Philadelphia drops to No. 8 in this week's Index.   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on November 17

Week 10: No Vick, Just Victories In Atlanta

Recovering from the Michael Vick debacle doesn't seem to be taking as long as many expected in Atlanta.  Rookie Matt Ryan continued to fill in well for Vick as the Falcon QB threw for 248 yards and 2 TDs in a 34-20 win over New Orleans on Sunday.  It was Atlanta's fourth win in five games and kept them in the thick of the playoff race with a 6-3 record and No. 10 ranking in this week's Index.   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on November 10

Week 9: Desert Storm

It was a homecoming of sorts as both Kurt Warner and the Cardinals returned to St. Louis last weekend.  And it was vintage Warner, who led St. Louis to two Super Bowls as a Ram, as the veteran threw for 342 yards and 2 TDs in a 34-13 win.  Both Warner and the Cardinals have been enjoying a resurgence as Arizona is off to its best start (5-3) since 1984 and is ranked No. 10 in this week's Index.   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on November 3

Week 8: Colt Reality

Indianapolis has dominated the AFC South, winning the division five straight seasons.  But the Colts were served notice that there is a new sheriff in town as the Titans defeated Indianapolis (31-21) on Monday night to establish a four-game lead in the division.  The loss dropped Indy to 3-4 on the season -- the first time they had been below .500 this late in the season since Peyton Manning's rookie year in 1998 -- and No. 12 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on October 27

Week 7: Shooting Stars

After a 3-0 start, the Cowboys looked like they would cruise through the NFC this season.  But since that time Dallas has faced an injury to QB Tony Romo's throwing hand, a league suspension of Pacman Jones and a 1-3 slide that culminated with a 34-14 thrashing in St. Louis on Sunday.  The free fall has dropped the Cowboys down to No. 14 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on October 20

Week 6: Giants Suffer Brown Out

One of the big reasons behind the Giants success has been their ability to win on the road, a win streak that had reached 11 straight dating back to last year.  But the Browns brought that to an end with a 35-14 win on Monday night that included three INTs of QB Eli Manning and a solid performance from Cleveland QB Derek Anderson (310 yards).  The loss leaves Tennessee as the only unbeaten team in the NFL and allows the idle Titans to move back up to the top spot in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on October 13

Week 5: Washington Bailout

The Redskins looked like they had sunk to the bottom when they opened with an uninspired loss against the Giants in coach Jim Zorn's debut.  But since that time Washington has won four straight, including a 23-17 victory at Philadelphia on Sunday.  The streak has pushed the Redskins all the way up to No. 4 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on October 6

Week 4: Tennessee Waltzes To Top

Even with QB Vince Young on the sidelines, Tennessee is off to its first 4-0 start in club history after beating Minnesota (30-17) on Sunday.  Once again the Titans relied on the league's No. 1 scoring defense to force four Viking turnovers that resulted in 21 points.  Combined with Dallas- upset loss to the Redskins, the Titans moved up to No. 1 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on September 29

Week 3: Pats Go Splat

It wasn't just Tom Brady that New England missed on Sunday, it was also a defense that allowed Miami to rush for 216 yards in a 38-13 stunner.  Ronnie Brown ran for four TDs and threw for another as the Dolphins scored the most points against New England in a regular season game since 2005.  The victory also snapped the Patriots' record 21-game regular season win streak and dropped them to No. 4 in this week's Index.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on September 21

Week 2: Lots Of "O" In Big D

The Cowboys and Eagles put on an offensive show that saw the most points scored (78) in the 98-game rivalry between the two teams.  Terrell Owens caught two TD passes to pass Cris Carter for No. 2 in receiving touchdowns, but it was Marion Barber's TD in the fourth quarter that put Dallas on top to stay (41-37).  The Cowboys hold onto the No. 2 position in this week's Index with the win.  Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on September 14

Week 1: Patriots Up, Brady Down

The Patriots held onto their No. 1 ranking with a 17-10 win over the Chiefs on Sunday, but lost QB Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury in the process.  New England was forced to go with untested backup Matt Cassel, who had thrown just 39 passes in his first three seasons, and the Patriot offense struggled as a result.  There were no struggles for No. 2 Dallas, which whipped Cleveland on the road (28-10).   Here are this week's complete rankings.

* Through Games Played on September 7

• Doc's Sports Handicappers - 5 professional handicappers providing picks and predictions.
• Sports Betting Stats.com - Sports handicapping info and live game odds.
• LPW Sports Forecast"A leader in Sports Handicapping" - Daily Winners@1-800-971-6381
• ProCappers Challenge
• PreMatches.com
• Free Sports Picks - Free winning picks for NFL, NCAA, NBA, MLB and NHL.
• Sure Call Sports
• Maddux Sports Picks
• Throwback jerseys
• Buy MLB Baseball Tickets
• CHN College Basketball
• NSAwins.com - USA's Top Handicapping Service only at NSAwins.com!
• VegasSI.com - USA's Top 10 Handicapping Services only at VegasSI.com! The BEST PLAYS from USA's BEST HANDICAPPERS!
• Free-PIcks.com - Free Sports Picks from USA's Top 10 Handicapping Services everyday exclusively at Free-Picks.com!
• Manchester United Football
• NBA & Streetball news.
• Freaks Forum Handicapping Site
• Free Sports Handicapping Contests
• Sports fans - A place for all sports fan to meet and debate.
• See the Super Bowl
• NASCAR Races
• NBA Finals Games
• Strategic Line Analysis featuring winning picks from professional handicapper: "the big man" vinny z.