Here’s how I see things 1-32 in the NFL now that seven weeks are in the books.

1. New Orleans Saints (6-0)
Considering they gave up 34 points last week, it would be easy to assume that the Saints defense didn’t play well. But it was actually Drew Brees that allowed the Dolphins to jump out to a 24-3 halftime lead with all the turnovers he had. Credit Sean Payton for not abandoning the run and getting away from his game plan despite the early deficit.

2. Indianapolis Colts (6-0)
The Colts continue to feast on bad teams, as they blew out the Rams in St. Louis last Sunday. But they’ll get a couple of decent challenges from their next four opponents: 49ers (or maybe not considering how overrated Mike Singletary’s team now looks), Texans, Patriots and Ravens.

3. Denver Broncos (6-0)
It’s amazing how this team continues to be underdogs week after week. Despite being undefeated and facing an opponent that has lost three straight, the Broncos are 3-point underdogs at the Ravens this Sunday. Something tells me Josh McDaniels wouldn’t have it any other way.

4. New England Patriots (5-2)
I’m not overlooking the fact that the Patriots absolutely demolished two bad teams the past two weeks. But I’m also not going to overlook how comfortable Tom Brady seems in the pocket again.

5. Minnesota Vikings (6-1)
Why Brad Childress decided not to use Adrian Peterson more in those final six minutes on Sunday is beyond me. Brett Favre shouldn’t be attempting 51 passes in a game unless it’s a blow out and the Vikes need to throw to get back into it.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
Any lingering doubts about whether or not the Bengals could put their home loss to the Texans in Week 6 behind them were erased once they scored their fourth touchdown of the first half against the Bears. What a season Cedric Benson is having.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
This hasn’t been an overly impressive team through the first seven weeks of the season, but the Steelers always have a knack for making their opponents look really bad on Sundays.

8. Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
This may be a little high for the Cardinals, but I can’t force myself to rank them below the Giants after their impressive win last week in East Rutherford. There’s a lot to like about this Cardinals team right now: They’re playing well defensively, their offense is starting to get into a rhythm and Beanie Wells is even showing potential in the running game. ‘Zona is once again the team to beat in the NFC West.

9. New York Giants (5-2)
The Giants are who we thought they were: An injury-riddled team that is going to have to battle some tough opponents over the next couple weeks to stay afloat in the NFC East.

10. Dallas Cowboys (5-2)
If the Cowboys can play with the same intensity, focus and determination every week as they did last Sunday against the Falcons, they’ll have no problem making the playoffs. I swear the Dallas players thought it was the Super Bowl with how they got up for Atlanta.

11. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
The Falcons’ secondary woes were on full display last week in Dallas, which isn’t a good sign considering they take on the Saints next Monday night. Offensively, Atlanta has to figure out a way to get Michael Turner going; he’s averaging a full YPC less this year (3.4) than he was last year (4.4). The rushing lanes aren’t there like they were last year, and neither is Turner’s explosion.

12. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
Give the Packers credit for not getting caught looking ahead to their game this Sunday against the Vikings. They went into unfamiliar territory last Sunday in Cleveland and beat the piss out of a bad Browns team. Now they need to prove they can beat a team with a winning record.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
The offense wasn’t that impressive Monday night outside of playmaker DeSean Jackson, but the Eagles’ defense played like a unit on a mission. Will Witherspoon already looks like a solid addition at linebacker.

14. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
It’s time to find out whether or not the Ravens ironed out their issues over the bye. This team needs to play better defensively if it wants to stay in the playoff hunt – especially in the secondary.

15. New York Jets (4-3)
Rex Ryan did exactly what he needed to do last week: Take pressure off of Mark Sanchez and allow the ground game and defense to win in Oakland. Well done, Rex.

16. Chicago Bears (3-3)
It doesn’t get any uglier for the Bears than it did last Sunday in Cincinnati. This team has major defensive issues (the injuries certainly don’t help) and they still can’t figure out their rushing woes.

17. Houston Texans (4-3)
They nearly let one get away last Sunday, but the Texans deserve credit for hanging on in the fourth quarter and winning back to back games for the first time all season.

18. San Diego Chargers (3-3)
The Chargers needed that kind of win in Kansas City last week. Maybe it’ll lift them to a second half run.

19. Miami Dolphins (2-4)
Put the game away, Miami! Put it away! What a monumental confidence builder that would have been had the Dolphins beat the Saints last week. Either way, the Fish was again proved that they’re going to be a tough opponent from here on out.

20. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
Everyone sipped the 49ers Kool Aid a little too early. Hopefully Alex Smith can spark the lifeless offense like he did last week in Houston and get this team back on track.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
Check out some of these opponents the Jags face in the second half: Titans, Chiefs, Bills, 49ers and Browns. This could easily be a 8-8 team, which would be a major accomplishment given how young it is on both sides of the ball.

22. Buffalo Bills (3-4)
The Bills’ hapless offense needs to thank the defense for handing them golden field position the past two weeks. What a great effort Buffalo’s D has given.

23. Seattle Seahawks (2-4)
Everyone keeps talking about how good of a coach Jim Mora is. Well, we’ll find out, because he could never make any adjustments in Atlanta when things started to go wrong and I highly doubt he figured anything out during Seattle’s bye week. That said, this team does have a rash of injuries to deal with, so maybe he deserves a reprieve this season.

24. Carolina Panthers (2-4)
The Panthers had a golden opportunity vs. the Bills last week to get back to .500 and build some momentum heading into the second half. Then Jake Delhomme threw an interception…then another one…then another one…

25. Washington Redskins (2-5)
It wasn’t Sherman Lewis’ fault that the Redskins lost to the Eagles on Monday night. The players just need to execute better.

26. Detroit Lions (1-5)
Hopefully Matthew Stafford is healthy and ready to go this week, because he offers the Lions (and their fans) a little bit of hope for the future.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-5)
Hey, there’s the JaMarcus Russell we’ve all come to know and love.

28. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)
What a brutal effort at home last week by the Chiefs but hey, at least they don’t have to worry about their former productive running back taking pot shots at their head coach for his lack of NFL playing experience. Oh, oh – nor do they have to worry about their running back making homophobic slurs via Twitter. Yep, at least they don’t have to worry about that…

29. Tennessee Titans (0-6)
If Jeff Fisher sticks with Kerry Collins and the Titans continue to lose, he’ll be on the fast track out of Tennessee. Bud Adams wants to see himself some Vince Young and, like, now.

30. Cleveland Browns (1-6)
The Browns couldn’t score a touchdown if the ball was marked inside the red zone every possession and the defense played with five players.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)
The Josh Freeman era is about to start in Tampa Bay, although unless he plays defense he’s not going to help this team out much.

32. St. Louis Rams (0-7)
The only good service the Rams have done this season is trade Will Witherspoon to Philadelphia.