2022 NFL Week 5 NFC Political Rankings (and a Further Review one)...

With the Sunday Nighter and the Monday Nighter in the AFC, I can actually do this right now!

And there's a lot to digest!

We already have a winner in the clubhouse for Week 5 Rigged Game of the Week.

It was Tampa getting Tom Brady saved with THIS Roughing the Passer call to ensure Atlanta didn't get the ball back down six with about three minutes left in the game:

The NFL is all about protecting the integrity...oh, I can't even finish typing that. https://t.co/r8ouz4E7YQ

— Brian Tuohy (@TheFixIsInTuohy) October 9, 2022

Ref called that "throwing Brady down with force on his shoulder/elbow", and Roughing The Passer.

The Falcons never saw the ball again, and the Bucs are 3-2.

Arthur Smith is going to get fined and possibly suspended for what he said after the call:

"YOU FUCKING BITCH..."

So, now on to the Politicals, which basically become a very interesting discussion here in the NFC.  

The reason:  Such a blatant save-job for Brady to put the Bucs a game and a half ahead in the NFC South.

However, it is pretty clear that the three best teams in the NFC right now are in the NFC East.

But this isn't the kayfabe rankings -- and you'd have the other 4-1, Minnesota, a game and a half up in the North, to discuss.

Really tough here to basically put the five contenders in a true Political order...

But it's my blog...

1) Tampa Bay

There's one very prescient reality people need to understand here:  As much as there are probably four on-the-field better teams in the NFC right now than Tampa (at least), the fact is that the league had to go fairly blatant to get Tampa past Atlanta.

The facts remain:  There is now increasing tabloid talk that Gisele is out and will divorce Brady over this season.  You cannot think that the moon and stars had to be promised to Brady to get him to play this season, with the open understanding on Brady's part that he probably loses his marriage by taking the field again.

With that and a call like was in the game this week, they are still the Political #1, even though it's clear that at least Philly, Dallas, the Giants, and Minnesota are functionally better.

2) Dallas

3) Philadelphia

Their first meeting is next Sunday night in Philly.  Dallas still gets the nod because of everything Cowboys -- but call me in seven days on that.

4) New York Giants

Welcome to the discussion, Sentient Derp.

That was a far larger win in London today over the Packers than one might, at first, suspect.

First, you score 27 on a defense which was supposed to be good and carry the day until ROGAN-COVIDIOT-12 and his get their butts in gear.

Second, your defense continues the latter's woes.

And you're a New York team with an eye on doing damage.  You've obviously got some work to do and some teams in front of you, but the league did take Cincinnati, lacking other options, last year...

5) Minnesota

They should be higher than this, but what do they offer to the table here?  Seriously...

NFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

Nominees:

The Packers' red-zone offense:  "Offensive" would be the way to put it.  Down 7 under 2 to go and you fail 3 shots inside the 10 with 3 or fewer yards to go, including two Rodgers passes on 3rd and 4th and 1???

And there's now some chirping of "I'm not worried if we lose this week..." going on in London with the Pack.  Could the act of REDHAT-COVIDIOT-12 be finally wearing thin enough that the rebuild is going to start at some point late THIS SEASON????

Jerome Bolger:  The referee who awarded Tampa the win by that bogus call he made, see above, including video...

Runner-up:

The Carolina Panthers:  That 37-15 shitting the bed against the 49ers at home today is probably the end of Coach Rhule in Carolina.  Gee, Baker...  You really thought the grass was greener?

Winner:

THE DETROIT LIONS:  Who may finally have quit.  After a year and a half of playing their hearts out, the reality that the Lions are probably little better than a high-level Group of 5 college team, and, hence, do not have the talent necessary to win in the NFL, laid a 29-0 egg down to the feet of a battered New England team!