Week Eight Power Rankings: Purple Personnel Disasters

I've long held a passionate dislike for the Minnesota Vikings, so forgive me for really enjoying how miserably this season has gone for them so far. This past weekend offered a helluva twofer on opportunities to bask in the team's continuing struggles as not only did Gramps find himself having to be carted off the field for a couple scratches to his chin, but then the much-ballyhooed reacquisition of Randy Moss essentially blew up in Minneapolis' face.

That was a delicious double-whammy to savor since the Monsters of the Midway had the week off and spared me any further Chicago embarrassment for at least one week. Still, I got to take a little more joy in that purple & gold pain and can hardly wait to see the next disastrous chapter in this sorry Vikes saga.

The Minnesota loss to New England in the late game was one of the couple higher-end picks I actually had right last week. With only 13 games on the schedule, the couple others I missed hurt and I only wound up with 54 points for my picks on the weekend.

As you could probably guess, that unimpressive total score didn't stand out for the week, but it doesn't look all that bad when you put the races for the year into perspective.

So for the week in the PoolHost contest, my picks were only good enough for 10th place out of 19 participants:

But the good news is that while I indeed did slip into third for the season, I'm only 10 points out of first now after being 14 points out last week:

My score was worth a little bit better of a spot in the standings in the Yahoo pool though as I at least finished in the top half over there:

Better yet, I stayed in second place and cut my deficit down to a mere four points for the season there:

And my 8-5 record for the week was actually among the better scores, although there was another three-way tie for the top with Pete Prisco from CBS Sports, Les Carpenter from Yahoo, and Mark Schlereth from ESPN all doing one better at 9-4. Jason Cole posted the same 8-5 mark as myself while Ron Jaworski went 8-4 and could've made it a four-way tie for first if he actually picked the same Monday result everybody else had. Merrill Hoge, Chris Mortensen, and Seth Wickersham were all one game over even at 7-6, while Eric Allen, Mike Golic, and Adam Schefter were all one game under at 6-7. And poor Michael Silver rounds out the week at the bottom with a 5-8 performance.

Bro-in-law, presumably still devastated by a combination of a lackluster Cowboys season and the Yankees not making it to the Series, hasn't had picks posted for the past two weeks now.

So we remain a gang of 13:

1. (1) Jason Cole, Yahoo: 74-43 (.632)
2. (1) Chris Mortensen, ESPN: 73-44 (.624)
2. (3) Mark Schlereth, ESPN: 73-44 (.624)
4. (4) Les Carpenter, Yahoo: 71-46 (.607)
5. (8) Ron Jaworski, ESPN: 65-43 (.602) 
6. (4) YOURS TRULY: 70-47 (.598)
7. (4) Mike Golic, ESPN: 68-49 (.581)
8. (4) Michael Silver, Yahoo: 67-50 (.573)
9. (12) Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 63-54 (.538)
10. (9) Adam Schefter, ESPN: 62-55 (.530)
10. (10) Merril Hoge, ESPN: 62-55 (.530)
10. (10) Seth Wickersham, ESPN: 62-55 (.530)
13. (13) Eric Allen, ESPN: 56-61 (.479)

There's one more team in the positive than there was last week, but the bottom-dwellers are going to need some serious turnarounds in the second half of the season to get back above zero:

1. (2) BUFFALO BILLS

• Last week: Lost to Kansas City, 13-10 [OT] (+13)
• Actual Record: 0-7
• My predicted record: 1-6
• My record at predicting their record: 6-1
  
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: +77
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 0
• Points taken from me with losses: -2
• Plus/Minus: +75
  

2. (1) DETROIT LIONS

• Last week: Beat Washington, 37-25 (-6)
  
• Actual Record: 2-5
• My predicted record: 1-6
• My record at predicting their record: 6-1
• Points scored for me with wins:+1
• Points scored for me with losses: +68
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -6
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
  
• Plus/Minus: +63

3. (9) MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Last week: Lost to New England, 28-18 (+11)
  
• Actual Record: 2-5
• My predicted record: 3-4
• My record at predicting their record: 6-1
• Points scored for me with wins: +18
• Points scored for me with losses: +35
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 0
• Points taken from me with losses: -14
• Plus/Minus: +39
  

3. (3) ARIZONA CARDINALS

• Last week: Lost to Tampa Bay, 38-35 (+1)
• Actual Record: 3-4
• My predicted record: 2-5
• My record at predicting their record: 6-1
• Points scored for me with wins: +21
• Points scored for me with losses: +29
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -11
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
• Plus/Minus: +39

3. (7) CAROLINA PANTHERS

• Last week: Lost to St. Louis, 20-10 (+8)
• Actual Record: 1-6
• My predicted record: 1-6
• My record at predicting their record: 5-2
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +50
• Points taken from me with wins: -3
• Points taken from me with losses: -8
  
• Plus/Minus: +39

6. (10) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

• Last week: Beat Minnesota, 28-18 (+11)
  
• Actual Record: 6-1
• My predicted record: 6-1
• My record at predicting their record: 5-2
• Points scored for me with wins: +42
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -1
• Points taken from me with losses: -3
• Plus/Minus: +38

7. (4) BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Last week: BYE
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 6-1
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +45
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -4
• Points taken from me with losses: -5
• Plus/Minus: +36

8. (6) ATLANTA FALCONS

• Last week: BYE
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 7-0
• My record at predicting their record: 5-2
• Points scored for me with wins: +36
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 0
• Points taken from me with losses: -4
• Plus/Minus: +32

9. (16) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

• Last week: Beat Houston, 30-17 (+10)
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 7-0
• My record at predicting their record: 5-2
• Points scored for me with wins: +47
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
• Points taken from me with wins: 0
• Points taken from me with losses: -18
  
• Plus/Minus: +29

9. (8) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

• Last week: BYE
  
• Actual Record: 4-3
• My predicted record: 4-3
• My record at predicting their record: 5-2
• Points scored for me with wins: +26
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +12
• Points taken from me with wins: -2
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -7
  
• Plus/Minus: +29

11. (12) NEW YORK GIANTS

• Last week: BYE
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 4-3
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +27
• Points scored for me with losses: +10
• Points taken from me with wins: -9
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -3
• Plus/Minus: +25
  

12. (5) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

• Last week: Beat Dallas, 35-17 (-12)
  
• Actual Record: 4-4
• My predicted record: 1-7
• My record at predicting their record: 5-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +1
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +48
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -26
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
• Plus/Minus: +23
  

13. (15) OAKLAND RAIDERS

• Last week: Beat Seattle, 33-3 (+2)
  
• Actual Record: 4-4
• My predicted record: 2-6
• My record at predicting their record: 6-2
• Points scored for me with wins: +8
• Points scored for me with losses: +38
• Points taken from me with wins: -24
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
  
• Plus/Minus: +22

13. (17) CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Last week: Lost to Miami, 22-14 (+5)
  
• Actual Record: 2-5
• My predicted record: 2-5
• My record at predicting their record: 5-2
• Points scored for me with wins: +10
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +28
• Points taken from me with wins: -4
• Points taken from me with losses: -12
• Plus/Minus: +22
  

15. (11) GREEN BAY PACKERS

• Last week: Beat New York Jets, 9-0 (-7)
  
• Actual Record: 5-3
• My predicted record: 7-1
• My record at predicting their record: 4-4
• Points scored for me with wins: +43
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -7
• Points taken from me with losses: -17
  
• Plus/Minus: +19

16. (23) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

• Last week: Beat Buffalo, 13-10 [OT] (+13)
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 2-5
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
  
• Points scored for me with wins: +25
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +16
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -23
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
  
• Plus/Minus: +18

16. (12) NEW YORK JETS

• Last week: Lost to Green Bay, 9-0 (-7)
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 4-3
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +27
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +3
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -5
• Points taken from me with losses: -7
  
• Plus/Minus: +18

16. (14) DENVER BRONCOS

• Last week: Lost to San Francisco, 24-16 (-3)
  
• Actual Record: 2-6
• My predicted record: 3-5
• My record at predicting their record: 5-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +2
• Points scored for me with losses: +35
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -6
• Points taken from me with losses: -13
  
• Plus/Minus: +18

19. (19) CLEVELAND BROWNS

• Last week: BYE
  
• Actual Record: 2-5
• My predicted record: 3-4
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +1
• Points scored for me with losses: +32
• Points taken from me with wins: -13
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -5
• Plus/Minus: +15

20. (17) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

• Last week: Beat Denver, 24-16 (-3)
  
• Actual Record: 2-6
• My predicted record: 4-4
• My record at predicting their record: 4-4
• Points scored for me with wins: +7
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +27
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -3
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -17
  
• Plus/Minus: +14

21. (24) HOUSTON TEXANS

• Last week: Lost to Indianapolis, 30-17 (+10)
  
• Actual Record: 4-3
• My predicted record: 5-2
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +19
• Points scored for me with losses: +10
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -6
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -11
  
• Plus/Minus: +12
  

21. (22) TENNESSEE TITANS

• Last week: Lost to San Diego, 33-25 (+4)
  
• Actual Record: 5-3
• My predicted record: 5-3
• My record at predicting their record: 4-4
• Points scored for me with wins: +32
• Points scored for me with losses: +4
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -11
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -13
• Plus/Minus: +12

23. (25) ST. LOUIS RAMS

• Last week: Beat Carolina, 20-10 (+8)
  
• Actual Record: 4-4
• My predicted record: 1-7
• My record at predicting their record: 5-3
• Points scored for me with wins:+8
• Points scored for me with losses: +25
• Points taken from me with wins: -29
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
• Plus/Minus: +4

23. (20) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

• Last week: Beat Pittsburgh, 20-10 (-9)
  
• Actual Record: 5-3
• My predicted record: 6-2
• My record at predicting their record: 5-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +36
• Points scored for me with losses: +1
• Points taken from me with wins: -9
• Points taken from me with losses: -24
  
• Plus/Minus: +4
  

23. (20) PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• Last week: Lost to New Orleans, 23-22 (-9)
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 5-2
• My record at predicting their record: 3-4
• Points scored for me with wins: +26
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
• Points taken from me with wins: -9
• Points taken from me with losses: -13
  
• Plus/Minus: +4

26. (26) MIAMI DOLPHINS

• Last week: Beat Cincinnati, 22-14 (+5)
  
• Actual Record: 4-3
• My predicted record: 3-4
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +14
• Points scored for me with losses: +8
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -22
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -2
  
• Plus/Minus: -2

27. (27) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

• Last week: Beat Arizona, 38-35 (+1)
  
• Actual Record: 5-2
• My predicted record: 2-5
• My record at predicting their record: 4-3
• Points scored for me with wins: +6
• Points scored for me with losses: +10
• Points taken from me with wins: -24
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
• Plus/Minus: -8
  

28. (28) CHICAGO BEARS

• Last week: BYE
  
• Actual Record: 4-3
• My predicted record: 5-2
• My record at predicting their record: 2-5
• Points scored for me with wins: +21
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -15
• Points taken from me with losses: -19
  
• Plus/Minus: -13

29. (29) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

• Last week: Beat Tennessee, 33-25 (+4)
  
• Actual Record: 3-5
• My predicted record: 7-1
• My record at predicting their record: 4-4
• Points scored for me with wins: +29
  
• Points scored for me with losses: +2
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 0
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -50
• Plus/Minus: -19
  

30. (29) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

• Last week: Lost to Oakland, 33-3 (+2)
  
• Actual Record: 4-3
• My predicted record: 2-5
• My record at predicting their record: 3-4
• Points scored for me with wins: +9
• Points scored for me with losses: +4
• Points taken from me with wins: -29
• Points taken from me with losses: -5
  
• Plus/Minus: -21

31. (31) WASHINGTON REDSKINS

• Last week: Lost to Detroit, 37-25 (-6)
  
• Actual Record: 4-4
• My predicted record: 2-6
• My record at predicting their record: 2-5
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: +10
  
• Points taken from me with wins: -26
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -19
• Plus/Minus: -35

32. (31) DALLAS COWBOYS

• Last week: Lost to Jacksonville, 35-17 (-12)
  
• Actual Record: 1-6
• My predicted record: 4-3
• My record at predicting their record: 2-5
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: +5
• Points taken from me with wins: -5
  
• Points taken from me with losses: -35
• Plus/Minus: -35

At least I'm now down to only three spots with losing records:

16-point games: 2-1
15-point games: 3-0
14-point games: 5-2
13-point games: 6-2
12-point games: 4-4
11-point games: 5-3
10-point games: 6-2
9-point games: 6-2
8-point games: 4-4
7-point games: 5-3
6-point games: 3-5
5-point games: 5-3
4-point games: 3-5
3-point games: 3-5
2-point games: 4-4
1-point games: 6-2