Here’s how I see things 1-32 in the NFL after eight weeks in the books:

1. New Orleans Saints (7-0)
The Saints have the most balanced offensive attack in the NFL, have been a more aggressive and opportunistic defense under new coordinator Gregg Williams and are off to their best start in franchise history. There is a lot of season left, but this team has a Super Bowl-feeling about them.

2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0)
I don’t know if the 49ers necessarily laid out a blueprint on how to stop Peyton Manning and the Colts, but they at least showed how to contain the potent Indy offense for four quarters.

3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)
I bet Brett Favre and Jared Allen wish they could play the Packers every week, because they’ve owned Green Bay in two games this season.

4. Denver Broncos (6-1)
Teams always learn more from losses than they do wins, so it’ll be interesting to see how Josh McDaniels and his coaching staff adjusts heading into Monday night against the Steelers.

5. New England Patriots (5-2)
We’ll see what kind of team the Pats are over their next five games: vs. Miami, at Indy, vs. the Jets and at New Orleans. Is Tom Brady back to his usual self or did he just benefit from putting up outrageous numbers against two bad teams in the Titans and Bucs the past two games?

6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
The Bengals should be fresh coming off their bye, but they face two opponents in the Ravens and Steelers in the next two weeks that are looking to avenge losses to Cincinnati earlier in the season. Can the Bengals at least earn a split to stay atop the AFC North?

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
The Steelers are feeling good after beating the Vikings two weeks ago and then getting Week 8 off. But they travel to Denver and then host Cincinnati the next two weeks, so we’ll see whether or not their record isn’t just a byproduct of facing bad teams like the Titans, Lions, Browns and the ever-inconsistent Chargers.

8. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)
Wade Phillips’ defense is starting to do a better job of creating turnovers and getting pressure on the quarterback. In the Cowboys’ last two games, they’ve racked up five takeaways and seven sacks. It’s no surprise that Dallas won both of those games and they’ll need more of the same when they travel to Philadelphia on Sunday night.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
What an impressive win last Sunday as the Eagles thumped the Giants in every facet of the game. Can they do it again this week in another big divisional test?

10. New York Giants (5-3)
I don’t know what to make of this team – are they suffering from injuries or have the last three weeks been the norm? To date, the G-Men only have one win against a winning team, which came in Week 2 against the Cowboys. Their four other victories came against the Redskins, Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders. Yikes.

11. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
If the Falcons can combine their offensive effort from the first half on Monday night, with their defensive effort in the second half they’d be one hell of a football team. But at this point, I think this team is going to continue to suffer some growing pains on both sides of the ball.

12. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
The Ravens obviously figured out a few things during their bye week, because they looked like a different defensive team Sunday then they had in their previous three games (all losses). But they have a rough five-game stretch coming up, which includes games against the Bengals, Colts, Steelers and Packers. Their only gimmie is a Week 10 date with the Browns.

13. Arizona Cardinals (4-3)
Just when you think the Cards are ready to turn the page and build some momentum, Kurt Warner throws 17 picks in a loss to a bad Panthers team at home.

14. Houston Texans (5-3)
The Texans’ defense has played better of late, even if the stat sheet doesn’t suggest it. But they’re going to be tested this Sunday in Indianapolis and you know Peyton Manning will want to atone for only scoring 18 points against the 49ers last week.

15. San Diego Chargers (4-3)
The Chargers are like a poor man’s Steelers in that they find ways to win sloppy games, yet aren’t as talented as Pittsburgh to get away with it every week. How San Diego only beat the Raiders by eight points last week is staggering.

16. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
Before their loss to the Vikings, I was ready to jump back on the Packers-are-a-sleeper-contender bandwagon. Now I’m back on the, who-the-hell-has-this-team-beaten?…bandwagon.

17. Chicago Bears (4-3)
The Bears’ victory over the Browns last Sunday was one of the more unimpressive 30-6 wins I’ve ever seen.

18. Miami Dolphins (3-4)
Holy sh*t, somebody found Ted Ginn Jr.

19. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
If the Niners had anything resembling an offense in the second half last week, they would have probably beaten the Colts.

20. New York Jets (4-4)
Does anybody watch the demeanor of Mark Sanchez when he makes a poor decision? It’s like watching a little kid make a mistake in a Pop Warner game: He sulks, he hangs his head, he’s looking for someone to help cheer him up. Toughen up a little, Mark.

21. Carolina Panthers (3-4)
Even though I’m not a fan, I must admit that John Fox’s teams never quit. Just when you think they’re ready to concede the fact that they’re a bad team, they go to Arizona and beat a pretty good Cardinals squad.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that the Jags lost last week in Tennessee. Jack Del Rio has a young team on his hands and inconsistency is going to be a theme in 2009.

23. Buffalo Bills (3-5)
Holy sh*t, somebody found T.O.

24. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
I think a Jim Mora-coached team will always be an unprepared team. He just isn’t a good enough schemer to help his team overcome their limitations.

25. Washington Redskins (2-5)
Apology not expected, Daniel Snyder.

26. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Wow, now there’s a shock – Vince Young comes off the bench and provides a spark. I realize VY isn’t the answer in Tennessee, but at least that team showed signs of life. Jeff Fisher made that move two weeks too late.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-6)
Al Davis might as well make it 2-for-2 in firing head coaches in the middle of the season the past two years.

28. Detroit Lions (1-5)
If you threw any kind of money down on the Rams or Lions this week, I must question your sanity. And if you’re Detroit, how the flip do you lose to St. Louis at home? Ah yeah, Calvin Johnson didn’t play…

29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)
Let the Jamaal Charles era begin in KC.

30. St. Louis Rams (1-7)
Congratulations to Steve Spagnuolo for earning his first win as a head coach. I checked with the NFL and yes, it still counts even though it was against the Lions.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)
Well, let’s see what you’ve got, Josh Freeman.

32. Cleveland Browns (1-7)
The Browns have to have the worst offense in the history of the league. I’ve never seen a team so inept and the funny thing is that Derek Anderson was supposed to be an upgrade over Brady Quinn in the passing game despite his penchant for throwing interceptions. If Cleveland goes 1-15 and Eric Mangini isn’t fired, then I’m calling shenanigans and the behalf of George Kokinis.