|
 The Seahawks took over the top spot in the poll on Tuesday with
379 points and seven-first place votes, even though the Broncos
picked up the signature win of the weekend by knocking off the
unbeaten and previous No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos had 377 points and the other five first-place votes,
while the Chiefs dropped to third with 354 points from the 12-member
panel that regularly covers the league.
"The Seahawks are in the driver's seat with home field for the
playoffs in their grasp if they don't make any mistakes," wrote Pat
Kirwan, an analyst for Sirius XM satellite radio and CBSSports.com.
"The team is getting healthy at the right time."
The Seahawks (10-1), second a week ago, welcomed back wide receiver
Percy Harvin from hip surgery by routing Minnesota 41-20 on Sunday
for their sixth consecutive win. Their schedule down the stretch
isn't easy, though. They're off this week before getting the Saints
and 49ers in back-to-back weeks — a stretch with significant playoff
implications.
Still, Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune said: "The road to the NFC
title clearly runs through noisy CenturyLink Field," where Seahawks
fans briefly set the Guinness world record for loudest outdoor
sports stadium earlier this season.
While the Seahawks are rolling in the NFC, the Broncos (9-1) proved
they're still the team to beat in the AFC after knocking off the
Chiefs 27-17 on Sunday night.
"Pass protection and defense stepped up versus K.C.," said former
Colts and Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, now an analyst for NBC
Sports.
[to top of second column] |
Like the Seahawks, the Broncos have a tough road
ahead of them. They play the Patriots on Sunday night before
their return game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs (9-1) dropped to third in this week's AP Pro32, with
most voters pointing to a suspect offense that cost them dearly
at Mile High Stadium.
John Czarnecki of Fox Sports said the Chiefs "simply look sorry
on offense," while Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com said "limitations on
offense showed a bit in the loss to the Broncos."
New Orleans moved to fourth in the AP Pro32 after knocking off
the 49ers, while the Panthers were fifth after beating the
Patriots 24-20 in a controversial finish on Monday night.
The Panthers have now won six straight games.
"They've become a scary team with Cam Newton maturing before our
eyes," Kaufman said.
New England was sixth in the poll after its loss to Carolina, a
game that ended with the officials picking up a flag for pass
interference when they decided that Tom Brady's pass intended
for tight end Rob Gronkowski was uncatchable in the end zone as
time expired.
The result was the Patriots' third loss in their last six games
— with Denver on tap.
"Tough loss on the road," said former Chiefs and Jets coach Herm
Edwards, now an analyst for ESPN.com, "but they'll still win the
AFC East by two games."
The Colts, Niners, Bengals and Lions rounded out the top 10 in
the AP Pro32. They were followed by the Bears, Eagles,
Cardinals, Packers and Cowboys.
___
Online:
AP NFL website:
http://www.pro32.ap.org/
[Associated
Press]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
