Rank (Last Week)1. Pittsburgh Steelers 5-2 (1)
Losing a game to the defending champions in New Orleans is hardly a reason to panic, especially since it was such an important game for the Saints. The Steelers have still been the most consistent team all year long, and nothing has changed.
2. Baltimore Ravens 5-2 (3)
The Ravens moved up a spot in their week off, and retake the field by hosting the Dolphins this week.
3. New York Jets 5-2 (2)
The Jets were surprisingly shut out at home against the Packers. Green Bay definitely needed the win much more, but Jets fan have to be a little worried about putting up a goose egg against a banged up defense that has hardly been impressive so far this year.
4. Indianapolis Colts 5-2 (4)
The Colts restored order in the AFC North with a win in their rematch with Houston. It doesn't seem to matter who Indianapolis puts in the lineup, as the Colts started the game with their 3rd string RB, who eventually got hurt himself, and were without Dallas Clark and Austin Collie. As long as they have Peyton Manning, they just win.
5. New York Giants 5-2 (5)
The Giants get back in action after a week off with a road trip to Seattle. 2nd year player Hakeem Nicks is on his way to the Pro Bowl.
6. New England Patriots 6-1 (7)
Most "experts" are ranking the Patriots #1, but I refuse to put them there just because they have the best record. The schedules definitely still play a big part in overall record at this point in the season, and while New England is finding a way to win, they're not as good as the teams ahead of them.
7. Atlanta Falcons 5-2 (8)
No one is really talking about the Falcons, but they have the best record in the NFC and are quietly taking care of business. Huge game for the outright division lead this week against the Buccaneers, and I look for Atlanta to win it in dominating fashion.8. New Orleans Saints 5-3 (15)
The Saints got an absolutely huge win at home against the Steelers last week. It hasn't been pretty at times New Orleans, but they have stayed afloat despite their depleted backfield and should get another win in Carolina this week. They have a much needed bye after that, and should get at least one and maybe both of their star runners back in Week 11.
9. Kansas City Chiefs 5-2 (10)
The Chiefs escaped the lowly Buffalo Bills in overtime last week, and continue to ride the league's best rushing attack to victories.
10. Green Bay Packers 5-3 (13)
The Packers are getting it done despite all the injuries, and are coming off a huge win at the Jets last week. After a rough start, Green Bay is back atop the NFC North, and the rest of the division looks to be in trouble.
11. Houston Texans 4-3 (11)
The Texans are an extremely talented team and are still in the mix for the playoffs. Andre Johnson is having a heroic season playing on that injured ankle, and Houston will need him to keep it up if it hopes to still be playing after the 1st week in January.
12. Miami Dolphins 4-3 (12)
The Dolphins are a very strong team, and if they can ever find a way to finish their drives with touchdowns instead of field goals, they will be a real threat come playoff time.
13. Tennessee Titans 5-3 (6)
Kenny Britt was just starting to emerge as a great receiver in this league, and then he got hurt. The Titans just claimed Randy Moss to replace him, and they will need him to fill Britt's shoes admirably to keep opposing defenses from completely keying on RB Chris Johnson.
14. Philadelphia Eagles 4-3 (9)
The Eagles got a much needed week off for all their injured stars to rest, and it looks like they will have a full squad, including Michael Vick, for their game against the Colts.
15. San Diego Chargers 3-5 (18)
What a big win. The Chargers finally closed the deal and beat the Titans in a game they had to have, and maybe this will be the start of turning their huge statistical output into victories.
16. Oakland Raiders 4-4 (22)
The Raiders have blown out their last 2 opponents, and have a chance to get back into the division race if they can beat Kansas City this week.
17. Minnesota Vikings 2-5 (14)
Things are falling apart in Minnesota. Their aging QB is bruised, battered, and broken, but he'll probably still start this week anyway. Randy Moss has been waived, and head coach Brad Childress has to be losing respect in the locker room. It would be an absolute shock if the Vikings came back to make the playoffs at this point.
18. Detroit Lions 2-5 (19)
I still think this Lions team is pretty good, and they showed it by beating the Redskins last week. Their tough schedule continues with an angry Jets team coming to town this week.
19. Cleveland Browns 2-5 (24)
The Browns had the week off, but moved up courtesy of some poor performances from a few teams in front of them.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-2 (25)
Tampa Bay just keeps winning, but it's mainly due to the weakness of their opponents rather than what they are doing. I think they just found a running back in hothead LaGarrette Blount which should help them improve, but I expect them to once again come back to earth when they travel to Atlanta to play their 3rd good team of the season.
21. Cincinnati Bengals 2-5 (28)
The Bengals moved up because others looked so bad. Cincinnati hasn't been winning much, but they've been in every game, which is a lot more than some other teams behind them can say.
22. St. Louis Rams 4-4 (26)
They're coming off a bye week, and they have another "huge" NFC West matchup this week against San Francisco. Every game in that division has major implications since no team is that good, and one lucky mediocre team is going to make the playoffs.
23. Seattle Seahawks 4-3 (17)
The Seahawks are one of those mediocre teams that has a chance to make the playoffs, and they are in fact the team with the division lead at the moment. Seattle either has a great crowd, or their players are just much more comfortable at home or something, because they look like two different teams based on the location. They are going to need every home advantage when the Giants come to town this week.
24. Washington Redskins 4-4 (26)
Things are coming unraveled in Washington, so this week's bye comes at a great time. Head coach Mike Shanahan yanked McNabb late in the 4th quarter with the game on the line in favor of Rex "Sexy Rexy" Grossman (that one's for you Locke), a player that has never had much success in the league. Not sure what coach was thinking there, but with the injuries and all the media battles this team is slowly tearing itself apart.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-4 (27)
The Jags are extremely inconsistent, but at least they have the running game. They are really pretty bad at most everything, but Maurice Jones-Drew has been enough to carry Jacksonville to a .500 record. Huge division game against Houston this week, and the Jags have to win to have any hope of a trip to the playoffs. I'm betting that hope starts slipping away this week.
26. Chicago Bears 4-3 (20)
Turnover, turnovers, turnovers. The Bears seemingly sabotage themselves week after week, and last week was more of the same with 6 turnovers, including 4 picks from QB Jay Cutler. I never believed in this team even when they were 4-1, as their defense is pretty good but the offense just finds a way to lose. Bears fans should be more than worried about their trip to winless Buffalo this week, and I think the Bills have a real shot to finally put one in the win column on Sunday.
27. Denver Broncos 2-6 (23)
What happened to the Denver Broncos? Once upon a time they had the best passing attack in the NFL and were looking very good at 2-2 coming off a win in Tennessee. 4 losses later, including a 59-14 annihilation at home at the hands of the Raiders, and this team looks hopeless. The Broncos better use the bye week to figure out what's going on there, and if they don't find something soon they're almost certain to finish last in the division.
28. Dallas Cowboys 1-6 (21)
The season is over for the Cowboys. With Romo gone and the defense unable to stop anyone, this team has no shot. Roy Williams went spouting off at the mouth again, claiming that Dallas could run off 9 straight and finish 10-6. I'm not sure if he's just too close to the action to see just how bad they are, but he's always talked a big game while doing next to nothing to back it up so I guess this should be nothing new.
29. San Francisco 49ers 2-6 (30)
The 49ers got their 2nd win of the season last week, beating a sad looking Broncos team in England by eight. They get the week off to get back and settled in the U.S., with a huge game at home against the Rams looming in week 10. Unbelievably, the 29th ranked team in the power rankings would get right back in the hunt for a division title with a win in that game.
30. Arizona Cardinals 3-4 (29)
The Cardinals racked up almost 400 yards against the Buccaneers, but 4 turnovers doomed them and led to yet another loss. This team is pretty bad, but like everyone else in the NFC West, they are still right there in contention for the division crown.
31. Carolina Panthers 1-6 (31)
The Panthers are really tough to watch. The team is extremely boring, especially without DeAngelo Williams, and everyone seems prone to turnovers. Not much has gone right for the Panthers, and I expect the franchise to clean house in the offseason.
32. Buffalo Bills 0-7 (32)
I really don't think the Bills are the worst team in the league, but until they get a win they have to occupy this position. I think this is the week they finally get off the schnide, with a turnover prone Bears team coming to town. This game should have plenty of errors and bloopers, so if you're wanting to watch a few offenses stink it up on the field, tune into this one. There will probably be some points scored, but I'm betting on many occasions where the ball is handed to the opponent on a silver platter and the defense is going the other way.
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