Greeson: Top two in personal power poll facing off this week

photo New England Patriots linebacker Akeem Ayers (52) chases Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass.

This could be the single best regular season in the history of organized football.

Seriously. High school football state playoffs hit the semifinals in Tennessee and the quarterfinals in Georgia. It's rivalry weekend across college football with three of the all-time rivalries taking center stage with the Iron Bowl, Ohio State-Michigan and Notre Dame-USC happening.

In the NFL, well, there's only showdowns between the two best rosters 1 to 53 (Seattle at San Francisco), the two Super Bowl favorites (New England at Green Bay), control of the AFC West (Denver at Kansas City) and the NFC East (Philadelphia at Dallas) and at least four other games with playoff implications for both sides.

Great times.

Plus, the games are spread across multiple days and multiple channels, starting Thursday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. And for this we are most thankful.

Want to know what else we're thankful for in the NFL? Glad you asked (and yes, I asked, but you know what I meant).

Power poll

1. New England. I'm thankful that the sports cosmic tumblers clicked together and allowed a good coach who had bounced around the AFC to land in New England the same time an under-appreciated sixth-round quarterback pick did. The marriage of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady has produced the greatest dynasty in the modern NFL. In truth, in a sports world -- and a society in general -- that is striving for unpredictable and upsets and the dramatic ending, there is something poetic and just with the steady excellence that is the Patriots.

2. Green Bay. I'm thankful that we as football fans get to watch Aaron Rodgers throw the football. Dude is on the short lost of the most physically complete quarterbacks ever. (Personal Rushmore of most physically talented QBs: Rodgers, Elway, Cunningham, Young. What's yours?)

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

3. Dallas. I'm thankful the Cowboys are relevant again. Sunday night was a game that the Cowboys of the last five years would have lost. Simply, put, this Cowboys team is different because their offensive line is mugging folks. Hence, they run the football. Hence, they keep a mediocre defense off the field. Hence, they win games. Simple, right?

4. Denver. I'm thankful to have been paying attention during the run of the greatest preparer in team sports history. Peyton Manning has redefined the position in a lot of ways by winning more games Monday-to-Saturday than any QB ever. He's the anti-Jeff George. And it's been a treat to watch. Everyone sing along: "Chicken Parm, you taste so good."

5. Philadelphia. I'm thankful that Chip Kelly's offense has found success in the NFL and brought a new way to look at moving the football. Is it for everyone? Of course not. But it could be an option for survival and even success for the two-thirds of the league that does not have a top-10 dropback passer. And options are good. "Man, I love that new-car smell."

Bottom five

28. The entire NFC South. I'm thankful that we're not forced to watch the entirety of video on the worst division in NFL history. That's right, when Ron Jaworski breaks down tape of the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, the NFC South is the first division ever to have all of its teams three games under .500. Hey, someone has to make the playoffs, so as Lloyd Christmas ponders, "You're saying there's a chance."

29. Tennessee. I'm thankful that the Titans are recognizing that you have to blow up the village before you can rebuild it. Hey, we don't know if Zach Mettenberger is the guy, but we feel certain that Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst aren't. And you have to know before you look at spending a top-five pick on a QB, and in truth Mettenberger has displayed enough skills to make you believe the Titans could spend their top-five selection next May on one of its other needs. (Hint: A pass rusher would be a nice stocking stuffer.)

30. New York Jets. I'm thankful that Rex Ryan has had a chance to show us the opposite of Bill Belichick. And that holds true in about every way possible other than the fact that each is a very good defensive mind. Ryan, like recently dismissed Florida coach Will Muschamp, will not get a head coaching job in the near future, but each will have defensive coordinator offers lined up around the block.

31. Oakland. I'm thankful that the Raiders won last Thursday and also that Al Davis has not had to watch this debacle. Man, it's bad.

32. Jacksonville. I'm thankful that the Jaguars are ... well, we're not 100 percent certain what we're thankful for when it comes to the Jags. Hmmmm. OK, here's one. I'm thankful for alliteration, like Jacksonville Jaguars. It's a fun-filled fancy fashioned filler for future philosophers forever.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.

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