Power Rankings: Pats aren't what we thought they were

Updated Dec. 4

Two weeks ago, I wrote in this very space that the New England Patriots would not be beaten.

With all apologies to Dennis Green, I said it was time to go ahead and crown their asses.

Did I get ahead of myself? You bet.

Feeling a bit more vulnerable, Bill Belichick? (AP)

The past two weeks have taught us again a very valuable NFL lesson: Anybody can be beaten. When things seem predictable and outcomes predetermined, we always seem to get something that reminds us to be careful racing to such conclusions.

The Patriots have been pushed to the limit in winning the past two weeks. They are still undefeated, but that gives hope to the rest of the league that the team being called by some the greatest of all-time has flaws just like they do.

The interesting thing is that they were tested in two very different ways. The Philadelphia Eagles went to New England and played an up-tempo style, trying to match the Pats point for point. They were there in the end, too, but two late-game interceptions kept the Pats unbeaten.

Monday night, the Baltimore Ravens took a different approach. They pounded them, beat them up and essentially mugged them, even making Tom Brady look uncomfortable in the pocket for much of the game.

In the end, Brady drove the Pats to the winning score in a 27-24 victory, helped by a favorable holding call late in the game. But I'm not about to sit here and say the officials cost the Ravens the game. Bad calls happen. They're a part of football.

What cost the Ravens the game was that stupid interception Kyle Boller threw from the Patriots 30 with the Ravens leading 24-17.

The late touchdown ruined a heck of an effort by the Ravens and forced the 1972 Dolphins to put the champagne back on ice. The Ravens flew to the football and they never backed down. They played so physical that at times it appeared they were pushing it a bit.

To their credit, the Pats didn't back down, which is why they are still atop the CBSSports.com Power Rankings. But the more I watched that game it became clear that New England doesn't like to be hit in the mouth. Who does? It also brought up this question: Have the Patriots become a finesse team?

If so, there will be plenty of tough-guy teams ready to smack them in the mouth come playoff time. One of those will visit Foxboro this week in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two others could be the San Diego Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In two weeks, we've learned a lot about the Pats. We've learned they are soft in the middle of their pass defense. We've learned they can be pushed around at the line of scrimmage. We've learned that exotic blitzes seem to be the way to counter Brady. Mostly, though, we've learned they aren't unbeatable.

Crown their asses? Let's hold off on that. The NFL has a way of making all that rushing to judgment look bad.

The Patriots are still the team to beat. It's just that the past two weeks have taught us that beating them isn't as impossible a task as we thought.

The Power Rankings through Week 13:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Titans · Trends	1
	If Kerry Collins plays like he did against the Bears, they will be a Super Bowl team. It's that simple. The passing game is the one area of this team that worried some.
	2	Giants · Trends	2
	They run it better than anybody, which controls the football. And when they get a lead they have a pass rush that can get after it. They're the best team, even if they are in the second spot here.
	3	Panthers · Trends	3
	Can I really put a team that had a quarterback throw for 72 yards and get picked four times in the third spot? At 7-2, you have to do it.
	4	Buccaneers · Trends	6
	Jon Gruden has to be thrilled with his 6-3 start and the way Jeff Garcia has played. We know the defense will be good.
	5	Redskins · Trends	7
	They come off the bye with a huge game against the Cowboys at home. They need to win it to try to keep pace with the Giants in the division -- or they will be taking the wild-card route.
	6	Patriots · Trends	10
	As Matt Cassel grows, they will only get better. They have two huge games in the next two weeks against the Jets at home and at Miami. Win them, and they will win the division.
	7	Jets · Trends	8
	They've done what they've been asked to do, which is beat up on a weak schedule. We'll know if they're any good Thursday after they play the Patriots.
	8	Cardinals · Trends	9
	They're going to the playoffs. Barring a late-season collapse of epic proportions, even by Cardinals standards, they will win the division. That means we'll get the treat of watching that offense more in the postseason.
	9	Cowboys · Trends	11
	The most important question in Dallas since Who shot JR is this: How's the pinkie? That's Tony Romo's pinkie.
	10	Falcons · Trends	12
	Matt Ryan isn't playing like a rookie, that's for sure. But the most impressive thing is how well the defense is playing. Brian VanGorder is doing a nice job with that unit.
	11	Colts · Trends	18
	The past two weeks have saved their season. They appear to be getting it right in time to make a second-half push.
	12	Steelers · Trends	4
	I worry about their passing game. Ben Roethlisberger isn't playing well. He needs to get it going or they'll be watching come playoff time.
	13	Ravens · Trends	14
	Joe Flacco is the real deal and the defense is playing good football. Nice job, John Harbaugh.
	14	Eagles · Trends	5
	They get the Bengals this week, which is a must-win if they are to have any chance to win the division. They're 0-3 against the NFC East, with two losses at home. That's not good enough.
	15	Vikings · Trends	19
	Will they ever get good quarterback play? Not with the group they have, which means it's all about Adrian Peterson and the defense.
	16	Bills · Trends	13
	Trent Edwards has cooled and so have the Bills. He just hasn't been smooth the past three weeks. The Bills are fading fast.
	17	Bears · Trends	15
	Get better, Kyle Orton. Soon. The offense isn't the same without you, and the Bears head to Green Bay this week.
	18	Dolphins · Trends	20
	They get Oakland at home, a game they should win, which will set up a huge division game in two weeks with the Patriots. Is that possible?
	19	Packers · Trends	16
	They lost two tough road games and now must try to regroup against division rival Chicago at home. One thing that is missing is the running game from last season.
	20	Broncos · Trends	21
	Here's the deal: Jay Cutler will have to win shootouts for this team to be in the playoffs. He's capable, that's for sure.
	21	Jaguars · Trends	23
	Jack Del Rio's tough talk worked against Detroit. But that's the Lions. We'll know if they're back for sure next week when they play the Titans.
	22	Saints · Trends	17
	At 4-5, they're in last place in the division. They still have games left against all three teams, but they better get it going.
	23	Chargers · Trends	24
	Even when they win, like they did Sunday, it's not pretty. The pass defense made Tyler Thigpen look like Len Dawson.
	24	Browns · Trends	22
	The change to Brady Quinn matters none if the defense can't stop anybody. Where is the pass rush or the coverage?
	25	Texans · Trends	25
	They are a different team without Matt Schaub. Sage Rosenfels just can't get it done. To think there was a controversy of sorts before the season between those two.
	26	Rams · Trends	26
	The past three games have taken the luster off Jim Haslett's first two games. That's what happens when the talent base isn't that good.
	27	Seahawks · Trends	27
	At least this time when they came east they didn't get blown out. Seneca Wallace played better, but their season is over.
	28	Bengals · Trends	28
	Coming out of the bye, coach Marvin Lewis just might be playing for his job. At least his team showed life the last time out.
	29	Raiders · Trends	29
	They did play better on defense against the Panthers. Now we'll see if it holds up on a long road trip to Miami.
	30	49ers · Trends	30
	They battled Monday night, which has to make feisty Mike Singletary happy. The good thing is some young players are starting to step up.
	31	Chiefs · Trends	31
	Tyler Thigpen has played well the past couple of weeks. The next seven games should be to find out if he can be a long-term answer.
	32	Lions · Trends	32
	Drew Stanton should play the rest of the season. They have to see what he can do. If not, they need to hope Matt Stafford comes out.