| 1 |  | Peyton Manning and Co found a way to win another tight game. Although they have not been putting up the points we're used to seeing, the Colts are winning ball games. Does this mean the Colts are on the brink of falling apart or putting it together? Only time will tell. As long as they keep winning, they'll remain the team to beat. | previous rank: 1 |
| 2 |  | Tom Brady to Randy Moss is everything we hoped it would be. They look like they've been playing together for years. The defense is doing their part as well, giving up an average of 11.6 points per game. This team has no weakness, and they are going to go a long way in the postseason (No surprise there, I know). | previous rank: 2 |
| 3 |  | The Cowboys proved they are the class of the NFC. Putting up 34 points on Chicago is no small task. They caused turnovers, broke tackles, and frustrated Devin Hester. If this team earns home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they will be unstoppable. | previous rank: 6 |
| 4 |  | Is it 1996 again? The Packers are undefeated and in sole possession of first place in their division. The way this team came back against San Diego was impressive. Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen, Green Bay is for real! Will they fend off Chicago all season long? It certainly seems that way. | previous rank: 9 |
| 5 |  | The Steelers have won on the legs of RB Willie Parker and the efficient arm of QB Ben Roethlisberger. Sure, their competition hasn't been great, but they can only play their schedule. If they can beat the Seahawks Week 5, they might not lose till November. | previous rank: 7 |
| 6 |  | It was close, but Seattle pulled it off at home. QB Matt Hasselbeck threw the ball all over the field, and RB Shaun Alexander rushed for 100 yards. Although they are ranked pretty high, they still aren't playing up to their capabilities. When this team gets rolling, they might pose the only threat to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC. | previous rank: 13 |
| 7 |  | Although they gave up a few more points than usual, the Ravens are getting closer to playing their type of football. QB Steve McNair was smart with the football and they controlled the clock. True, they settled for too many field goals, but they won the game nonetheless. Now let's see if they can stop the ever-dangerous Cleveland QB Derek Anderson next week (I can't believe I just typed that!?) | previous rank: 10 |
| 8 |  | . The Titans are showing their detractors that they know how to play this game. They finished extremely strong on the road, on Monday Night! These team id dangerous folks! I wouldn't want to play them anytime soon. Or in January for that matter. | previous rank: 11 |
| 9 |  | You can't win every tight game, and it seems Denver's luck just ran out. If they want to be considered as serious contenders, they are going to have to start blowing out their inferior opponents. Playing at the level of your opponent is only good when you're playing a better team. Losing to Jacksonville—at home—was just embarrassing. | previous rank: 3 |
| 10 |  | They fought hard, but they couldn't pull of the upset. Losing by six to the Colts is nothing to be ashamed of, but you can't help but wonder what would've happened if their stud WR Andre Johnson played. Even in a loss, the Texans made a statement. Teams can no longer look past this young, talented squad. | previous rank: 12 |
| 11 |  | The Eagles rebounded in a major way. QB Donovan McNabb was so hot not even Philly fans could scrutinize him this week. Even with their defensive leader, safety Brian Dawkins, sidelined by injury, they still played well on that side of the ball. With their next two games coming against the Giants and Jets, I don't see why this team can't be over .500 real soon. | previous rank: 18 |
| 12 |  | Beating Denver on the road just might turn the season around for this team. Losing to the Titans in Week 1 wasn't such an embarrassment after all. Quietly, this team has compiled a 2-1 record. With the competition in their division, I'm not sure this team can make the playoffs. Then again, I wouldn't count them out either. | previous rank: 20 |
| 13 |  | From now on, I might just make this the Carolina Panthers Rushing Report. When this team is able to run the ball, they are almost unbeatable. In their two wins, they're averaging 180 yards. In their one loss, just 66 yards on the ground. The defense is good enough for this team to go far. The offense just needs to be more consistent. | previous rank: 16 |
| 14 |  | The Chargers no longer instill fear in anyone. Apparently, stop LaDainian Tomlinson and you stop the Chargers. And if you want to score on them, just pass the ball 40+ times. L.T. and QB Philip Rivers arguing on the sideline wasn't a good sign, either. The strange thing is: they have the same players as they did last season. The only change they made was firing their coach and hiring Norv Turner. Oh, wait… | previous rank: 4 |
| 15 |  | The Bears need to do one thing: bench QB Rex Grossman and put in Brian Griese. Grossman can't play any worse; it is time to make the change. No matter what the Bears' players might say, they have to be fed up with their QB. If I were a fan at Soldier Field, I'd demand my money back. With Rex behind center, this team will not make the playoffs. It's that simple. | previous rank: 5 |
| 16 |  | Will someone please tell me where I can find the Cincinnati Bengals? I was sure that they would rebound after their let down against Cleveland. I was wrong. Although their offense is great, their defense is not. Being that it usually take three phases to win (special teams included), I will have to get use to the fact that the Bengals aren't very good. | previous rank: 8 |
| 17 |  | If the 49ers don't let the beating they took linger, they can still have a great year. All too often, we see a team on the cusp of being a contender get beat bad, and then fall apart. Head coach Mike Nolan has his work cut out for him, though, as Seattle comes to town next week. | previous rank: 15 |
| 18 |  | Losing to the G-Men had to hurt, but the ‘Skins can take solace in knowing that QB Jason Campbell is progressing quite nicely. This team is pretty good, but they'll need a few lucky bounces to make it to the playoffs. As long as they stay at or slightly above .500 till the last week of the season, they'll have a shot. | previous rank: 14 |
| 19 |  | Bill Parcells says you are what your record is. Well, the Bucs are 2-1. With impressive wins over the Saints and Rams, it might be time we start giving some respect to Jon Gruden's team. Everywhere Jeff Garcia goes, he wins. Maybe we should have seen this coming. | previous rank: 25 |
| 20 |  | Playing from behind is not this team's strong suit, as Edgerrin James' carries will suffer. With only 10 carries, the Cardinals were forced to play to Baltimore's tempo. We'll have to watch and see what this team will do with QB Matt Leinart, who was pulled for Kurt Warner and watched him lead two fourth quarter touchdown drives. | previous rank: 17 |
| 21 |  | A great job by the Giants defense to will this team to victory. They shut down the ‘Skins in the second half, including a goaline stand to secure victory. QB Eli Manning looked rattled, however, making terrible decisions with the ball. He'll have to play better for the G-Men to make a push. A suddenly confident Eagles team awaits next week, and the Giants should be motivated. | previous rank: 24 |
| 22 |  | The Jets have finally made it into the win column. RB Thomas Jones rushed for over 100 yards, and they got a great effort from their special teams. They converted on third down, and didn't turn the ball over. This team could be headed for a winning streak (next two games: @ BUF and "@" NYG). | previous rank: 21 |
| 23 |  | Oakland ended their terrible streak of 11-straight losses dating back to last season. All of the sudden icing the kicker is fair in Oakland, and they were the beneficiaries of some savvy coaching. We all know the Raiders aren't going to blow teams out, but as long as they keep the games close, they have a chance to pull off anywhere from 6-8 victories. | previous rank: 28 |
| 24 |  | How big was the temptation to just hop on the plane at halftime and go home? The Lions looked like a Pop Warner team against the Varsity. Sure, their offense is potent, but it must be demoralizing to watch your defense give it up like a virgin on prom night. Kitna and the offense are good, but they can't work miracles (sorry, bad choice of words, huh Jon?). | previous rank: 22 |
| 25 |  | When your team has no offense but a great defense, you're bound to lose a few games, especially on the road. The Vikings defense surrendered just 13 points, but that was too much for their offense to overcome. Winning at Arrowhead isn't easy, so I credit this game to home-field advantage. However, the Vikings need to find a threat in the passing game; RB Adrian Peterson can't do it all by himself. | previous rank: 23 |
| 26 |  | RB Larry Johnson was held to just 42 yards rushing, but the Chiefs got their first win. It's definitely going to be a struggle this year, as their division is pretty tough. Next week they travel to San Diego to face a pissed off Charger team. QB Damon Huard is going to have to put this team on his back in order to pull of the upset; if that's possible. | previous rank: 30 |
| 27 |  | The Browns almost pulled it off on the road. They launched a fierce comeback, but fell just short. I think this team will be okay, though. QB Derek Anderson has proved he can play well, but RB Jamal Lewis and that offensive line are going to have to give him some help. | previous rank: 29 |
| 28 |  | Two straight blowouts for this team. I think should Bills should complain to the league office about their schedule. Opening the season against Denver, Pittsburgh, New England? That's just not fair. This team is being turn down before they build themselves up. But hey, the rest of the schedule should seem easy. | previous rank: 19 |
| 29 |  | It's almost unbelievable. How much worse can things get for this team? QB Drew Brees was throwing the ball the opposition almost as much as he was his own teammates. Now they've lost RB Deuce McAllister to a season-ending injury…geesh. They'll be lucky to win 4 games this year. | previous rank: 12 |
| 30 |  | The Rams just look bad. Sure, Steven Jackson rushed for over 100 yards (while getting hurt), but it took him 30 carries to do so. The normally reliable QB Marc Bulger threw 3 interceptions, and this team was held out of the end zone by Tampa Bay. With Dallas up next, there is no relief in sight. Unless of course, you can see all the way to April and getting that high draft pick. Oh, I don't know, maybe spending it on an offensive lineman? | previous rank: 26 |
| 31 |  | RB Ronnie Brown finally got more than 11 carries and look what happened. He rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Yeah, they lost, but it was close! They're hosting Oakland next week, so they just might get their fist win. On second thought, I doubt it. | previous rank: 29 |
| 32 |  | QB Joey Harrington tried to fend of the Byron Leftwich era in Atlanta by throwing for 361 yards, 2 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. This loss is on the defense, particularly the run defense. Is it possible that this team go 0-16? | previous rank: 32 |
