We’ll officially name this week: The week were Anthony starts from scratch because the Packers are a walking infirmary and I don’t trust the Colts as far as I can throw them.
There are always a couple of weeks where you have to start from scratch and because there is no clear-cut team in the league right now, this is one of those weeks.
Let’s get nasty!
Check out Week 5’s Power Rankings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 4
Do I really believe the Steelers are the best team in the NFL? I don’t know, maybe. Their secondary is still a concern and I wonder if they’ll ditch the run now that Big Ben is back, but this team has the best front seven in football and managed to win three out of four games with Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch. So yeah, I guess they’re the best team right now. I guess.
2. Indianapolis Colts
Previous Week: 2
Peyton Manning was completely held in check for four quarters by a vastly improving Kansas City defense, but kudus to Indy’s run defense for finally showing up. Their second half effort allowed the Colts to win on a rare off day by Peyton.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 3
The Ravens win over the Broncos last Sunday was more impressive than you think. They were coming off two straight divisional games, including an emotional last-minute victory over the Steelers in Pittsburgh and had to face a non-divisional opponent at home. I thought for sure we would see a letdown from this team, but instead they put together a rather complete victory.
4. New York Jets
Previous Week: 7
Last year, the Jets relied on their running game and defense to win games and held their breath hoping Mark Sanchez wouldn’t screw things up. This year, they’re still running the ball well (LaDainian Tomlinson looks G.R.E.A.T.) and playing good defense, but now Sanchez is no longer a liability. He’s really making strides in his second year.
5. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 5
Don’t expect this team to blow opponents out every Sunday because it’s not going to happen. They love to methodically wear teams down and then break their backs in the fourth quarter when the games on the line. And as of right now, Mike Smith’s squad is executing that strategy to perfection.
6. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 1
It’s not the loss to the Redskins that causes this team to drop – it’s the number of injuries that continue to pile up. Morgan Burnett, Nick Barnett, Ryan Grant, Jermichael Finley, Clay Matthews and now Aaron Rodgers may miss this week? Not good.
7. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 8
We’ll see what kind of team this is without Randy Moss. The Deion Branch acquisition helps solid, but he can’t do what Moss can do on a field. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Bill Belichick changes his offensive approach (i.e. switching to more two-tight end sets instead of going three-wide) from here on out.
8. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 6
I’ll say it last week and I’ll say it again: The Saints are just going to have to get by until they can get healthy. They repeatedly shot themselves in the foot last Sunday in Arizona and it cost them a win against a team that was starting an undrafted rookie QB. This team needs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas back soon.
9. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 10
Major kudus to Mike Martz, Matt Forte and the defense in last Sunday’s win against the Panthers. The Bears could have accepted their fate with Todd Collins at quarterback and they didn’t. Instead, they put together a complete game and dominated an opponent that didn’t belong on the same field as them. Now here’s to hoping no Chicago fan has to endure another snap of Collins the rest of their lives.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 11
For at least one week, Kevin Kolb put a cork in his critics. But will Michael Vick return to face his former team this Sunday? You know he’s going to try and do everything he can to face the Falcons.
11. New York Giants
Previous Week: 13
Suddenly, this Giants team looks scary again. Their pass rush is back under new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Eli Manning looked sharp last week in Houston. Look at out NFC East.
12. Houston Texans
Previous Week: 9
Different year, same Houston Texans – inconsistency continues to plague this team.
13. Washington Redskins
Previous Week: 18
Do I believe that this is a top-15 team? Not wholeheartedly, no. But Donovan McNabb gives them a chance to win every week and the defense under new coordinator Jim Haslett has played very well at times.
14. Tennessee Titans
Previous Week: 19
If the Titans could just play with a little consistency, they’ll challenge for the AFC South title this year. But one week they’re beating the Cowboys and the next they’re falling flat against a struggling opponent.
15. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous Week: 15
It’s a shame that the Chiefs’ offense is so bad because the defense gives this team a shot to win every Sunday.
16. Dallas Cowboys
Previous Week: 12
I thought Wade Phillips was supposed to be a defensive-minded coach?
17. Minnesota Vikings
Previous Week: 16
The Vikes’ offense started to roll in the second half Monday night, but Brett Favre has to take better care of the ball. He’s not going to change his style and that’s fine, but he can’t be putting the ball on the ground like he did against the Jets.
18. San Diego Chargers
Previous Week: 14
The Chargers have gone on the road three times this year and have lost every time, including twice to divisional opponents. Philip Rivers looks like he’s trying to do too much.
19. Miami Dolphins
Previous Week: 17
We’ll see if the Dolphins ironed out any of their issues during the bye. Better special teams play is a must and Chad Henne needs to start playing with more consistency.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous Week: 22
Nobody should be throwing this team a parade for beating the crap Bills but then again, nobody expected the Jags to be 3-2 right now either. After beating the Colts the week before, Jack Del Rio’s squad deserves credit for not falling into a trap last Sunday in Buffalo.
21. Arizona Cardinals
Previous Week: 28
I don’t think the Cards are as good as their record indicates but then again, as Bill Parcells once said: You are what your record says you are. And hey, when you knock off the defending champs, that’s saying something – I don’t care how many gifts they handed you.
22. Tampa bay Buccaneers
Previous Week: 25
Beat the Saints this Sunday at home Buccaneers, and I’ll move you into the top 15 – I promise.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous Week: 20
You have to be better, Carson Palmer. There’s no excuse for your team to run for almost 150 yards and lose because of your turnovers. Ugly, ugly football.
24. Denver Broncos
Previous Week: 21
I think this team is better than what people think, but they’re hurting right now without a running game. Kyle Orton and the defense need Knowshon Moreno back yesterday.
25. Seattle Seahawks
Previous Week: 24
The Seahawks can make huge strides with a win over the Bears this Sunday, but too bad the game is in Chicago. Road games aren’t really the Hawks’ thang.
26. Oakland Raiders
Previous Week: 27
Now what does Tom Cable do? Bruce Gradkowski is the little spark plug that could, but Jason Campbell just produced a 117.6 QB rating and a win. Do the Raiders go back to him now? This are the days of our lives!
27. Detroit Lions
Previous Week: 31
My buddy Drew called me late in the fourth quarter of Detroit’s blowout win over the Rams on Sunday and said that he couldn’t remember a time when Detroit beat an opponent as badly as they did St. Louis. Enjoy it Drew – you and the rest of the Detroit faithful deserve it.
28. St. Louis Rams
Previous Week: 23
I guess Sam Bradford should win a game on the road first before we anoint him the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco. That was ugly, Rams.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Previous Week: 26
Let’s just call a spade a spade: The 49ers are a bad football team. They’re poorly coached, they kill themselves with mistakes and they can’t get any consistency out of the quarterback position. They may be talented, but until they win a game, let’s stop saying, “This is still the team to beat in the NFC West.”
30. Cleveland Browns
Previous Week: 29
The Browns’ defense is better than people think and Peyton Hillis is an absolute monster, but Jake Delhomme is done. He may be better than Derek Anderson, but that’s like saying shit is better than poop. (Juvenile? Yes. Effective? You bet.)
31. Carolina Panthers
Previous Week: 30
This team is more like 32A. than 31. They knew the Bears had to run the football last week because Todd Collins was starting at quarterback and they still couldn’t stop Matt Forte from having a career day. Absolutely ridiculous – this team is horrendous.
32. Buffalo Bills
Previous Week: 32
The Bills showed a little life in the first half last week, but their defense is too banged up to keep opponents in check. This is just a bad football team right now.
