Two Weeks To Go: Here's my Week 15 2018 NFL Political Rankings

As I said after the Rams lost, I now believe I can make my Super Bowl call.

I do believe it will be Drew Brees vs. Philip Rivers in this year's Super Bowl.

The Saints and Chargers are ancillary, except for the concept that the LA Chargers so badly need a shot in the arm (and leg, and any other artery or vein you can find!!!) that the NFL is probably going to do not only the unthinkable, but that which makes no sense:

It makes no sense because there's no realistic benefit to the NFL actually putting a playoff game at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA, a 30,000 seat soccer stadium in which the bulk of people attending Chargers games actually root for the other team!!

And it's unthinkable because, as a result, the NFL is so invested in Los Angeles, they may well give the Chargers a Super Bowl Championship ANYWAY, and then build the entire LA Charger fanbase on BANDWAGONERS.

And if they do that, then next year is probably the Rams, because the stadium is now slated for a 2020 open!  The Chargers have actually opened a waiting list for season tickets for the StubHub Center for 2019!

So then why in the Hell, Michael, would they go ahead with this?

Well, let's look at the other teams on the list, and play "Consider Your Options":

AFC:

1.  LA Chargers

Discussed above.

2.  Houston

Houston's always been a sexy "dark horse" pick.  But damn if this isn't the quietest 10-4 in the history of the goddamn league!  Now, if the league continues to toss away the "POINTS!" mantra, then you might have a draw in a Houston-Chicago Super Bowl with the two biggest defensive studs in the league.  But that's about all you have with Houston.

3.  Pittsburgh

I watched the last two minutes of the Jesse James Rematch, almost swearing to High Heaven that it was too easy and that Brady was going to get the tying TD for overtime.

Nope.

But their position is only really because they are the fallback option at this point (think Green Bay before the lockout the year they won the damn thing!).  Because...

4.  New England

Five losses is the most New England has had in damn near a decade.  And each one brings the idea closer that the league believes that Brady and Gronkowski are on illegal drugs through TB12.  Not enough evidence to nail them under the policies, but one does have to really start asking why they are nowhere near Ring Number Six.

5.  Kansas City

Of course, you could be Kansas City right now and staring straight down the barrelhead of a playoff screwjob.  That said, Patrick Mahomes can have another year (or probably two!) to build toward a major Super Bowl run -- as long as he and the Chiefs keep their noses clean.

6.  Indianapolis

I'm still going Indy here because of Andrew Luck.  That said, they do need Baltimore to lose at some point to consummate the deal, or Baltimore is in and they are not!

NFC:

1.  New Orleans

Pretty much sealed the deal this week, I think.  Something has definitely happened to the Rams in the last three weeks to indicate that they might have to wait the extra year (probably to help prop up the Chargers, and then the Rams run everybody over next year to put the 2020 opener in the new stadium).

So the question is:  Why not New Orleans to win it all?  Right now, the need to prop up the Chargers is so urgent, I believe the league is considering the unthinkable (see above).    This is Philip Rivers' 15th year in the NFL; he's 37.   He would be three months short of 39 when the new stadium opens.  Can his body hold out that almost two further years?  Brees already has a ring.

2. Chicago

See Houston.  The MVP is often conflated with the BEST player in the league.  But the statement is clear:  Even with points running amok most of the year, the true most valuable player in the NFL is Khalil Mack.  Chicago is the Houston of the NFC, and, if they throw away "POINTS!!!", Chicago-Houston is not a completely inconceivable Super Bowl.

3.  LA Rams

And only because the Cowboys got shut out this week and the division is clinched over Seattle.  Probably going to have to wait til next year, at least as of this week.

4.  Seattle

Could make a further statement by beating the Chiefs at home this week (but am not sure they're going to -- that would mean at least one, and probably two, home games for the Chargers at the StubHub Center for the playoffs).

5.  Dallas

Thinking about that shutout this week, I am thinking the league is telling Dallas to get Zeke under control -- or else!!  (Think the Giants and OBJ.)

6.  Philadelphia

Putting them over Minnesota, even with Minnesota's position, because of the win over the Rams.

--

Said I was going to make a point of something from the score report.

Ever since the Kareem Hunt video, the league has basically rewritten the season.

Not only is scoring down to quite low levels even for PAST years, but penalties have shot up nearly 2.5 penalties a game.  And the Fine Blotters have exploded to match!

One has to wonder if the play is getting dirtier now that the D's are no longer just rolling and giving up.