Most sports websites do this, so I thought it would be fun to rank all the teams and give a thought or two on each one...
1. Indianapolis Colts (7-0): Being undefeated gets them to the top...the remainder of the schedule is tough, starting with the Patriots next Monday night.
2. Denver Broncos (5-2): They've looked good in pretty much every game thus far, even their losses. Also note that they are 5-0 at home this season
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): One tough loss to the Patriots and one loss with Tommy Maddox under center. I anticipate them moving to 5-2 after tonight's game with the Ravens
4. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): Forget Michael Vick, a running game and a good defense, especially against the run, are what wins in the NFL. And the Falcons have both
5. Cincinatti Bengals (6-2): A dangerous team all-around. Carson Palmer is developing into a stud, Chad Johnson is an elite reciever, and they have multiple other options in Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and others
6. Carolina Panthers (5-2): Steve Smith is making up for lost time after missing most of last year after a Week 1 injury.
7. San Diego Chargers (4-4): The best 4-4 team in quite some time. They're a few late-game meltdowns away from being 6-2 or better. They have the best running back and the best tight end in the NFL.
8. New England Patriots (4-3): Despte a disappointing record and tons of injuries, they still have Tom Brady, Deion Branch, Corey Dillon (although he is banged up), and plenty of playmakers on D.
9. New York Giants (5-2): The offense has done their part, now if the defense could play with some consistency, they would be an elite team.
10. Seattle Seahawks (5-2): Where would this team be without Shaun Alexander? With Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram both missing lots of playing time this year, Alexander has carried the team on his back.
11. Dallas Cowboys (5-3): Drew Bledsoe has proven he still has some gas left in the tank, and the solid defense has done their part. They need to learn how to finish, though, as late comebacks by the Redskins and Seahawks, and a near-comeback by the Giants, have been indiciative of the Cowboys' 4th-quarter woes.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3): Byron Leftwich has shown his leadership this season, and it may lead them to a playoff appearance. His supporting cast is composed of aging veterans (Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith) and untested youngsters (Mark Jones, Reggie Williams) but the Jags are getting it done.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3): Did Donovan McNabb do something piss off Andy Reid? Why do they throw the ball 50 times a game and let a banged-up McNabb take shot after shot from D-linemen. The lack of a running game will come back to haunt them.
14. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3): Probably the most unspectacular winning team this season. The passing game is anemic, and the defense, though improved, still is not great. Were it not for Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, this team would probably be 2-5 or worse.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2): When you lose to a team that probably couldn't beat USC this season, you get relegated to the middle of the pack, despite a good record.
16. St. Louis Rams (4-4): Expect them to play better now that the worst coach in the NFL is no longer in control of the team. Steven Jackson has really emerged as a solid back.
17. Oakland Raiders (3-4): The defense is atrocious, but Lamont Jordan has risen to the task in the face of Randy Moss's injury. Jerry Porter's big week this week is a good sign for this team as well.
18. Washington Redskins (4-3): They laid a total egg this week, getting outplayed in all facets of the game. In their defense, it would be difficult to imagine the Giants losing at home following the passing of their legendary owner.
19. Chicago Bears (4-3): With Thomas Jones carrying the offense, Cedric Benson has got to be kicking himself right now. They are the cream of the crop in a mediocre division.
20. Miami Dolphins (3-4): They've been scrappy and well-coached, playing well despite an old defense and a terrible QB. Ronnie Brown has played well recently, and Ricky Williams is starting to get back into the groove.
21. New Orleans Saints (2-6): They've gotten screwed by the refs a few times this year, otherwise they could be a 4-4 team. The last few years they've been a .500 team, so it's not surprising that their level of play has been not great/not terrible all year.
22. Buffalo Bills (3-5): They gave the defending champs a run for their money, and Willis McGahee is a workhorse. Eric Moulds has gotten hot lately as well. The defense, expected to be elite this year, has been disappointing and the loss of Takeo Spiked hurts.
23. Detroit Lions (3-4): I guess the Joey Harrington era is over? He couldn't get it done with three straight years of high draft picks at reciever, and the addition of a solid tight end in Marcus Pollard.
24. New York Jets (2-5): Some years it just seems like everything is going against you. They should think about playing Brooks Bollinger instead of Vinny Testaverde from here on out.
25. Tennessee Titans (2-6): They're probably a little bit better than their record indicates, but not by much. The days of Steve McNair being a top QB are over, and the decimation of the recieving corps has left this team a mess on offense.
26. Minnesota Vikings (2-5): With Culpepper likely out for the year, last week's emotional win over the Packers will probably be the highlight of this season. Mike Tice better update his resume and brush up on his interviewing skills
27. Baltimore Ravens (2-4): We probably should have figured that 4 months in prison would have a negative impact on Jamal Lewis's production. Injuries to Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have rendered the defense ineffective as well.
28. Arizona Cardinals (2-5): They've got some playmakers on both sides of the ball to build around, including Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald on offense, and Bertrand Berry on defense. Now, they just have to put everything together, or get better play out of Josh McCown.
29. San Francisco 49ers (2-5): As bad as they are, their two wins have come against two pretty good teams. It looks like they may rue the Alex Smith pick, however. His "deer-in-the-headlights" performance doesn't bode well for his future.
30. Cleveland Browns (2-5): There really just isn't mush talent on this team. Trent Dilfer at QB also is a pretty poor choice. He minimizes mistakes, but an unspectacular running game and defense puts too much pressure on Dilfer to make plays, and he just can't do it
31. Green Bay Packers (1-6): Nice knowing ya, Brett Favre. It's been real. Too bad you had to deal with injuries to Javon Walker, Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, and Robert Ferguson in what could be your last season.
32. Houston Texans (1-6): They finally won one this week, but they're still terrible. A win against the Browns does not impress me much. Priority #1 in the offseason: Offensive line. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous.
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