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  • Backyard Banter Podcast
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 54: Kyle Crabbs - Build my own chair at the table
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 53: James Koh - Divorce the information from emotion
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 52: Will Brinson - That's how it'll have to be
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 51: Charles McDonald - Not an escape from reality
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 50: What you've learned - For you, by you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 49: Jourdan Rodrigue - Let's see what you think then
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 48: Justin Twell - Long process to come back
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 47: Justin Lonero - It's time to relearn life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 46: Scott Bischoff - Life presented the greatest challenge possible
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 45: Al Zeidenfeld - Little steps along the way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 44: Jason Romano - Just a different dream
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 43: Matt Harmon - But here we are (Season 1 finale)
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 42: Gregg Rosenthal - I have to make it work or else
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 41: Jon Moore - Determiner of what I want
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 40: Uncle Chaps - Just have fun with it
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 39: Bob Harris - The best addiction I've ever had
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 38: Scott Fish - Everybody working together to make this big
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 37: Jene Bramel - Ask the questions you want answered
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 36: Mike Tagliere - Never going to leave this candy store
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 35: Ben Cummins - Starting at ground zero
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 34: Field Yates - It's the nature of what we do
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 33: Chris Heil - I gave it everything I had
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 32: Sal Stefanile - Just make them notice you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 31: Adam Levitan - Accept an alternate lifestyle
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 30: Matthew Freedman - It's not built for everyone
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 29: George Kritikos - If your heart's not in it people notice
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 28: Marcas Grant - Certainly never expected this
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 27: Steve Palazzolo - I understand the questions that come
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 26: Matt Miller - To build bridges not burn them
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 25: Graham Barfield - A human game played by humans
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 24: Pat Daugherty - I just said yes to everything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 23: Eric Galko - There's always work to be done
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 22: TJ Hernandez - In some roundabout way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 21: Alex Gelhar - Homework for the rest of your life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 20: The Fantasy Footballers - Because we were fans
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 19: Jessica Kleinschmidt - The scariest person you deal with is yourself
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 18: Evan Silva - A willingness to work hard
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 17: Jeff Risdon - It's hard to be in the middle
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 16: Cecil Lammey - Because I didn't ask for anything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 15: Patrick Claybon - If you shine people will see you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 14: Denny Carter - People want to know you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 13: Adam Rank - Honestly just don't go away
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 12: Adam Pfeifer - Being happy is doing this
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 11: Mark Schofield - You get one drive in this life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 10: Liz Loza - Ride the horse in the direction it's going
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 9: Matthew Berry - I've done it without being negative to anyone
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 8: Matt Franciscovich - Persistence is a huge deal
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 7: Matt Williamson - I got lucky, but I made my own luck
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 6: Eric Stoner - Passions are best left as hobbies
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 5: Josh Norris - You don't have to have an opinion on everything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 4: Rumford Johnny - Elevate somebody or get out of their way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 3: JJ Zachariason - No one cares because you're not established
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 2: Matt Waldman - Popular doesn't necessarily make it good
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 1 - Sigmund Bloom
  • Fantasy Hipsters
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 28: We''l see you in a bit.
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 27: "Ehhh how about you people relax with that one"
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 26: Mail Satchel - Davante Adams debate & "friends of the show"
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 25: NFL Network's Top 100 Players This or That
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 24: Mail Satchel - Surviving without Charlie and Tight Ends to Watch
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 23: Jeremy Maclin reaction, news recap and did Harmon pull off that hat?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 22: Mail satchel - WE ARE THE PODCAST OF THE PEOPLE
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 21: Reception Perception review of sleepers, breakouts and surprises
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 20: Evan Silva destroys our MFL10 hopes and dreams
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 19: Mail satchel - Will Brandon Marshall thrive with the Giants in 2017?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 18: We Are Pretty Mad
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 17: Mail satchel - Rompers, clean eating and the 2007 NFL Draft class
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 16: NFL depth chart breakdowns and being sick of bad Eddie Lacy jokes
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 15: Mail satchel - Drafting too many rookies, breakouts and bell-cow RBs
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 14: French press vs. pour over coffee & mock draft review with James Koh
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 13: Mail satchel - Los Angeles Chargers the hipster's team of 2017?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 12: NFL Draft rookie fits and a cast iron running back with Matt Waldman
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 11: NFL Draft preview and drumset vomit with Josh Norris of Rotoworld
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast Episode 10: Mail satchel - Dynasty debate, bad impressions and hipster bands
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 9: Perfect Prospect Parings — identifying NFL fits for draft prospects
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 8: Corey Davis, DeVante Parker and what to drink at your draft
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 7: Carlos Hyde, Laquon Treadwell and NFL Draft rookie big board part 3
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 6: Valuing Jordan Howard for 2017 and NFL Draft rookie big board part 2
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 5: NFL Draft rookie top-12 big board and in-depth beer interview
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 4: Kaepernick saga, Harmon shaves his beard and Franchise gets roasted
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast Episode 3: Eddie Lacy, Free Agency, music & beer and picking best QB roommate
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 2: Early Free Agency Fallout, Combine Standouts & Mailbag
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 1: NFL Scouting Combine preview and washed vets
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast: Teaser episode introduction
  • Reception Perception: 2017
    • Reception Perception: Investigating any correlation between the results and draft prospect age
  • The 2016 Reception Perception Project
    • Reception Perception: 11 flags planted for the 2016 season
    • Reception Perception: Nelson Agholor can bounce-back in Doug Pederson's offense
    • Reception Perception: Improved technician Donte Moncrief is set to explode in 2016
    • Reception Perception: Only one concern can hold Sammy Watkins back from his ceiling
    • Reception Perception: Bruce Ellington has a chance to flash this season with the 49ers
    • Reception Perception: Albert Wilson and the Diary of a Truther
    • Reception Perception: Willie Snead built an impressive resume we must not ignore
    • Reception Perception: Welcome the ascending Tyler Lockett to rarified status
    • Reception Perception: Kamar Aiken is the answer to the Ravens receiver riddle
    • Reception Perception: DeSean Jackson and Josh Doctson make the Washington wide receivers a strength
    • Reception Perception: Browns make a refreshing first pick in Corey Coleman
    • Reception Perception: The fruitless search for fatal flaws with Laquon Treadwell
    • Reception Perception: Why there will never be a cumulative or overall grade
    • Reception Perception: The changing variables for Torrey Smith point to a rebound
    • Reception Perception: 2016 media appearances
    • Reception Perception: Rashard Higgins - never tell me the odds
    • Reception Perception: Keyarris Garrett is a unicorn in this draft class
    • Reception Perception: Malcolm Mitchell is a top-10 receiver in the 2016 NFL Draft
    • Reception Perception: 2016 NFL draft prospects results
    • Reception Perception: Golden Tate won't be able to replace Calvin Johnson
    • Reception Perception: Jeff Janis, trump cards and sorting through the noise
    • Reception Perception: Top-four college receiver primer
  • The 2015 Reception Perception Project
    • Reception Perception Based Media Appearances
    • Reception Perception: Steve Johnson is the Surest Sleeper Around
    • Reception Perception: Target and Contested Catch Data for Sophomore WRs
    • Reception Perception: Success Rate vs. Coverage Scores for the Sophomore Wide Receivers
    • Reception Perception: Why we Must Consider the Entire Range of Outcomes for Sammy Watkins
    • Reception Perception: Data Results from Year 1
    • Reception Perception: Scanning Through the Dolphins Receiving Corps for Fantasy Answers
    • Reception Perception: Allen Robinson is Quietly on the Precipice of a Massive Breakout
    • Reception Perception: Michael Crabtree is Exactly What the Raiders’ Passing Game Needs
    • Reception Perception: Justin Hunter and Wisely Shopping the Clearance Bins
    • Reception Perception: How Kevin White Began His Ascension to the Top
    • Reception Perception: Sammie Coates Falls Along a Dangerous Archetype
    • Reception Perception: A Video Rundown of the Data
    • Reception Perception: New Browns Receiver Dwayne Bowe Bring Value to a Depleted Pass Game
    • Reception Perception: Expectations and an Odd Coupling Doomed Mike Wallace in Miami
    • Reception Perception: Andre Johnson Still has Plenty Left to Offer the Colts
    • Reception Perception: Randall Cobb Made the Right Call Sticking With the Packers
    • Reception Perception: Where Do We Go From Here, Percy Harvin?
    • Reception Perception: Devin Smith and The Value of a Trump Card (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: The Siren Song of Dorial Green-Beckham (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: Impending Free Agent Michael Crabtree
    • Reception Perception: Amari Cooper Under the Microscope (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: Sammy Watkins and Cordarrelle Patterson
  • Matt Harmon's in-season film review blog
  • Bio Page
  • Harmon's Fantasy Football Tiered Rankings
  • The Backyard Banter Quarterback Typology
  • Analyzing the Landing Spots for the First Round Wide Recievers
  • Reception Perception
    • Reception Perception: Cordarrelle Patterson and a Developing Story
    • Reception Perception: Jordy Nelson and Mastering the Little Things
  • Ramblings
    • Rebuilding a broken house: losing weight, changing my lifestyle and never looking back
    • Fighting through negativity bias and a wide receiver's drops
    • Saying Goodbye to Dixie
    • The #FreeAustinTice Campaign
    • My Reaction to Adrian Peterson and The Cycle of Abuse
    • Steve Smith: A Lesson in the Dangers of Emotional Football
    • The Arizona Cardinals Will Make the Playoffs
    • The Redskins Better Not Blow This Thing Up
    • The Commodification of NFL Players
    • Digging Deeper: Why Josh Freeman Failed with the Buccaneers
    • The Fall of Aaron Hernandez and the Patriot Way
    • Washington Redskins Injury Concerns
    • Carolina Panther's Draft Bungles
    • Stubbornness the Silent Coaching Killer
  • The Fantasy Gameplan Podcast
  • Draft Class Jersey Number Grades
  • The Eye in the Sky
    • The Eye in the Sky: The St. Louis Rams Should Commit to Sam Bradford for 2014
    • The Eye in the Sky: Why the Cardinals Struggle Against Tight Ends
    • The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Mike Brown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Brandon Bostick
    • The Eye in the Sky: E.J. Manuel's Improvement All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Why Defending the Colts Offense is too Easy All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Picking Apart the Jets Defense All-22 Breakdown
    • Eye in the Sky: Texans vs. Chiefs (Week Seven) All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Redskins vs. Cowboys (Week Six) All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Panthers vs. Cardinals (Week Five) All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Colts vs. Seahawks (Week Five)
  • 2014 Free Agent Profiles
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  • BYOB Forums (Bring Your Own Banter)
  • 2014 NFL Free Agency Position Breakdowns
    • 2014 Quarterback Free Agent Breakdown
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    • 2014 Tight End Free Agent Rankings
    • 2014 Offensive Tackle Free Agent Breakdown
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    • 2014 Interior Defensive Lineman Free Agent Breakdown
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  • 2014 NFL Draft Content
    • 2014 NFL Draft Tiered Prospect Big Board (Top 75)
    • 2014 Tiered Colored Position Board
    • 2014 NFL Draft Tiered Prospect Big Board (Top 32)
    • 2014 NFL Draft Top 10 Quarterback Ranking
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    • 2014 NFL Mock Draft--Post Free Agency
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  • Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
    • April 27th Sunday Morning Coming Down
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    • April 6th Sunday Morning Coming Down
    • March 30th Sunday Morning Coming Down
  • 2013 NFL Power Rankings
    • Week Seventeen 2013 Power Rankings
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    • 2013 Season Preview Edition/Week One
  • 2013 Weekly NFL Previews
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  • The 2013 All-Surprise Teams
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2013 Week Eight NFL Power Rankings

By: Matt Harmon

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-7)
  • Jacksonville holds tight to their spot at the bottom of the Power Rankings. Gus Bradley seems like he will be a good head coach in the future, and no one is more enthusiastic, but it is sure hard to imagine anyone surviving an 0-16 season. Jacksonville needs at least one win for its head coach.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6)
  • Everyone knew their offense was going to be a work in progress, but the last two games their defense has been a nightmare. Defensive coordinator got pretty defensive on a local radio show and sarcastically invited fans to come to the stadium and come up with better schemes and play calls. Perhaps someone should take him up on the offer. 

30. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
  • The Vikings find themselves falling further down the power rankings after completely bungling the quarterback situation in an embarrassing loss to the Giants on Monday night. The problem is they cannot go back to Christian Ponder now. As soon as they put Josh Freeman into the starting lineup they closed he book on the Ponder era for good, and need to continue to roll with Freeman, unless he falls on his face again and again over the next few weeks. 

29. New York Giants (1-6)
  • The Giants gathered their first win last night, but given the competition, it is nothing to hand their hat on. If they can take one positive away from that game it is that their defensive line, and particularly JPP, finally disrupted an opposing offense. That trend needs to continue.

28. Houston Texans (2-5)
  • Case Keenum seemed to spark this team on Sunday, and it may be time to make a quarterback switch. At 2-5 the Texans are likely out of the playoff mix and at the very least the team should find out what it has in Keenum going forward. On the other hand, he could be just the thing this team needs to turn its season around and save some people’s jobs. 

27. Cleveland Browns (3-4)
  • Despite a better than or similar record to some of the teams ahead of them, the Browns deserve to be this low. Those two glorious wins under Brian Hoyer sure feel like they happened in a past season. Brandon Weeden has been an abject disaster and looks destined to see the bench sooner rather than later. 

26. Washington Redskins (2-4)
  • One win against a team with a backup quarterback does not buy you a lot of reason to move up in the power rankings, but you can see how this Redskins team can use that momentum to propel itself forward. With the state of that defense, the Redskins offense will need to score points in bunches as they did against the Bears. 

25. St. Louis Rams (3-4)
  • This low ranking is not just a reflection of where the Rams are now, but where they will be headed with Kellen Clemens behind center. Clemens has never been a good player in his career, and having him take over the helm of an already struggling offense does not paint a rosy picture for St. Louis season.

24. Oakland Raiders (2-4)
  • The Raiders were on a bye this week. Hopefully a weeks rest provided some time for the offensive line of this team to get a little healthier after a dreadful performance in Week Six against the Chiefs.

23. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
  • The Cardinals are a bad offensive team right now, and are the perfect mix off bad personnel that is a poor fit for the current scheme. The protection problems and Carson Palmer’s lack of functional mobility provide the perfect storm for trouble in Bruce Arians’ downfield passing attack. 

22. Buffalo Bills (3-4)
  • The Bills continue to be a scrappy team that is a tough out under Thad Lewis. On the fourth quarter play when Lewis took a hit to the head, lost his helmet, and got up and kept jarring with the defense he showed exactly what teams need in the backup quarterback. Teams need a guy who is fiery and does not retreat into a shell when the stage gets bigger; the team responds to and feeds off that. 

21. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
  • The Falcons disposed of a bad Buccaneers team, and Matt Ryan delivered a memorable performance given that he was missing his top two wideouts. We will need to see that against some better teams before the Falcons rise up anyone’s power rankings.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
  • The Steelers have had two solid wins in a row, but still are a hard team to figure out. They do not appear to be a team that is capable of winning a shoot out, but if they can manage to keep games tight, like they have the past two weeks, there is enough on offense for the Steelers to be a factor the rest of the way. 

19. Tennessee Titans (3-4)
  • The Titans seem to be slowly falling back down the rankings. Jake Locker probably was not completely ready to play, but his presence did not make much of a difference for the team on Sunday. The bye comes this week at a good time, as it will allow Locker to get completely healthy and return to the solid form that helped the Titans win some early games. 

18. Carolina Panthers (3-3)
  • The Panthers continue to throttle bad teams, and that is what good teams are supposed to do, but good teams are also supposed to win some close games every now and again. Until we see that, it is still anyone’s best guess as to where Carolina belongs in the power rankings. We will not find out any more about them if they beat the Bucs on Thursday. By the way, Steve Smiith is awesome, still one of my favorite NFL players. 

17. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
  • The Eagles squandered a chance to be considered a legitimate team when they lost to the Cowboys in epic fashion. The offensive machine that Chip Kelly hoped to build found some of its gears were a little rusty on Sunday as they scored a three measly points. With Nick Foles’ poor showing, and his concussion, it is time to go back to Michael Vick if he is healthy. The Eagles better hope they do not have to see Matt Barkley head out on the field after he tossed three interceptions in three drives.

16. Miami Dolphins (3-3)
  • With three straight losses, the Dolphins are losing ground in the AFC playoff picture. The Dolphins traded for Bryant McKinnie but are kidding themselves if they think his presence will be much of an upgrade to their terrible offensive tackle situation.  

15. New York Jets (4-3)
  • It feels foolish to rank the Jets this high, but that was a really impressive win over the Patriots on Sunday. We know who that Jets are at this point; their front seven is dominant force, but with a rookie quarterback they can be very Jeckle and Hyde. Could the Jets come out and lay an egg in their next game and make this ranking look silly? For sure. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)
  • The Ravens are another team that we can probably say we have a good read on. When their defense plays well, they can be in every game, but their offense prevents them from winning too many battles in which a lot of points are required. 

13. San Diego Chargers (4-3)
  • The Chargers did away with Jacksonville with relative ease, and record wise, are poised to enter the AFC Wildcard discussion Mike McCoy really deserves some coach of the year discussion, though he will probably never beat out Andy Reid for it. 

12. Chicago Bears (4-3)
  • The Bears could even fall farther than this with injuries to Jay Cutler and Lance Briggs. The Cutler injury makes you wonder if the Bears are going to consider moving on from him after this season is over; his contract is up and he is set to hit free agency.

11. Detroit Lions (4-3)
  • The Lions played the Bengals tough, but unfortunately could not pull out a win at home, mostly due to their punter shanking a punt for 28 yards late in the game. It stinks when the little things hurt teams like that. 

10. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
  • Sunday hopefully put to rest any notion that the Cowboys can be challenged in the NFC Least. The way things are looking now, Dallas has that division well within its grasp, and if they do not come away with that division championship, heads should roll.

9. New England Patriots (5-2)
  • The Patriots injury situation of defense, especially up the middle, is brutal right now and the Jets really exposed that. If teams can run on the Patriots and Tom Brady is off his Hall of Fame level game, the Patriots could struggle to win games in the winter months late in the season. 

8. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
  • This is another team that clearly looks poised to run away with their division. It feels unlikely to happen, but the Bengals would greatly benefit from a first round bye. Andy Dalton has struggled on the road in the playoffs, and putting him in the most comfortable position possible would be a good option.

7. San Francisco 49ers (5-2)
  • The 49ers did not do much to fall here, but they are one of the best teams that I could actually see losing to the Chiefs in an odd numbered game series. Their offense still has holes, and while still good, their defense is not playing at the same level of the past two seasons. 

6. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)
  • The Colts dealt the Broncos their first loss, but that does not mean they should automatically launch to the top of these rankings. This is still a team that was completely, physically dominated by the Chargers on Monday Night Football two weeks ago. These rankings try to take the entire season into account.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
  • The Chiefs offense still leaves tons of room for questioning, and it is hard to imagine them keeping this pace against better teams, and especially in the postseason. For now, the Chiefs can probably best any of the teams below them in the power rankings simply based on their defense, but it is very unlikely they could hang with any of the juggernaut offenses ahead of them.

4. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
  • Aaron Rodgers continues to make music despite missing more and more receivers each week. The Packers are probably the team that has been most interrupted by injuries, but hey, that is how it was in the 2010 season when they won the Super Bowl.

3. New Orleans Saints (5-1)
  • The Saints were on a by this week and they better hope it was enough time to get superstar, Jimmy Graham, totally healthy.

2. Denver Broncos (6-1)
  • If a team can stop the Broncos run offense without dedicating extra men to the task, and can get to Peyton Manning, the Broncos can be had. The Broncos will be better in protection when Ryan Clady and Orlando Franklin return to this team from injury. 

1.    Seattle Seahawks (6-1)
  • When Russell Wilson is playing at his absolute best, the Seahawks are pretty hard to stop. Percy Harvin has returned to practice for this team, and when he makes his return on game days, just look out NFL. 




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