Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

It’s hard to believe that we still have two offenses averaging less than 10 points per game: the Oakland Raiders are at 9.8, while the Cleveland Browns are somehow scoring even less at 8.7 per. Both units also average less than 120 total yards per game, which almost seems impossible when you consider that Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson is averaging more rushing yards per (121.2) than both of these embarassments do as a team. That should not happen at this level, but then JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn shouldn’t be starting quarterbacks either. (And Russell, having been benched for Bruce Gradkowski, no longer is at the moment.)

That anemic production vaults the Cincinnati Bengals DEF, currently ranked second stingiest in the NFL in allowing just 16.3 points per, to the top of our Week 11 rankings as they travel to Oakland. This is the kind of gimme that the Bengals of old would somehow find a way to lose, but they erased our lingering skepticism last week when they went to Pittsburgh and kept the Steelers out of the endzone in their 18-12 win. They might not blow the Raiders out, but the defense has a great chance for multiple sacks and picks.

As for the Browns, they head to Detroit for the most-anticipated game of the week, the loser of which will have the inside track on the first-overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. Woo! If you’re feeling crazy and have been clinging to and starting underperforming DEFs the past few weeks, feel free to roll the dice and plug in the Detroit Lions DEF as an uber-sneaky start. Everybody lights up the Lions, but the Browns won’t… right?

See also:
- Week 11 QB Rankings
- Week 11 RB Rankings
- Week 11 WR Rankings
- Week 11 TE Rankings

1. Cincinnati Bengals @ OAK
2. Minnesota Vikings vs. SEA
3. Pittsburgh Steelers @ KC
4. New Orleans Saints @ TB
5. Philadelphia Eagles @ CHI
6. Green Bay Packers vs. SF
7. Arizona Cardinals @ STL
8. New England Patriots vs. NYJ
9. Denver Broncos vs. SD
10. New York Giants vs. ATL
11. Baltimore Ravens vs. IND
12. San Diego Chargers @ DEN
13. Dallas Cowboys vs. WSH
14. Indianapolis Colts @ BAL
15. San Francisco 49ers @ GB
16. Detroit Lions vs. CLE (I know… but it’s the fucking Browns.)

James Harrison Photo Credit: Icon SMI