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

1. New Orleans Saints (8-0)
Nobody should be surprised that the Falcons and Panthers gave the Saints issues at home the past two weeks. After all, Atlanta and Carolina are familiar with New Orleans since they play them twice a year. The real story is how the Saints never panicked when they got down early and outplayed both the Falcons and Panthers in the fourth quarter.

2. Indianapolis Colts (8-0)
The Colts have the eighth best defense in the NFL, which is rather remarkable given that starters Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson haven’t played much at all. Dwight Freeney has terrorized opposing quarterbacks this season.

3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)
Heading into the second half of the season, the only question I have about these Vikings is whether or not Brett Favre will stay healthy enough to lead this team deep into the playoffs. Last year, he couldn’t and the Jets tanked in the final month of the season.

4. New England Patriots (6-2)
We’ll get a great idea of how good this Patriots team is this weekend when they travel to Indianapolis to take on the undefeated Colts. Bill Belichick better figure out a way to get Dwight Freeney blocked so Tom Brady can build off the momentum he has created the past three games.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)
I get the feeling that people keep waiting for the Bengals to cave and sink back to reality. Those folks will be waiting a while because this team is underrated, not overrated. A win this week in Pittsburgh and everyone will be believers.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Jon Gruden hit the nail on the head when he said on Monday night that the Steelers close out games better than anyone in the league. One of the rare times they didn’t close out a team was earlier this season in Cincinnati, when the Bengals beat them on a last-second touchdown. They’ll get a chance to avenge that loss this Sunday in Pittsburgh, as well as take a one-game lead in the AFC North if they can pull off a win.

7. Denver Broncos (6-2)
I’m not ready to suggest that Denver is overrated or will start to freefall, but it is a little troubling that they’ve played two good teams the past two weeks and were beaten soundly in both contests. It’s time for Josh McDaniels to prove that he can make adjustments and Kyle Orton needs to take better care of the ball when his team is trailing.

8. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)
Given all their talent, I want to believe that the Cowboys have turned the corner under Wade Phillips. But this isn’t the first time in the past couple years where they’ve stringed together a couple of good outings to get people to believe. Their win in Philadelphia was awfully impressive, but they need to prove that they can sustain their momentum.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)
The Eagles had an opportunity to make a statement at home against the Cowboys last Sunday night and failed. Hopefully Brian Westbrook will return soon, because Philly’s offense can look stagnant at times without him.

10. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
Michael Turner started hearing the words “one-year wonder” being tossed around a couple weeks ago and didn’t like it. He’s responded with two 150-plus rushing performances and has looked like the back he did last year. It’s a good thing too, because Matt Ryan hasn’t played well since Atlanta’s win in San Francisco four weeks ago.

11. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)
The Cardinals’ win over the Bears was one of the more complete victories of the season for any team. Now if they could only figure out how to win at home…

12. San Diego Chargers (5-3)
What a great final drive by Philip Rivers and the Chargers’ offense in New York last week. Norv Turner still needs to figure out how to generate a running game, but all of a sudden San Diego is right on Denver’s heels again in the AFC West.

13. Houston Texans (5-4)
The Texans shot themselves in the foot last Sunday in Indianapolis too many times to count. But they proved that they can hang with the best in the AFC and that will give them confidence moving forward.

14. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
There’s no doubt that the Ravens are a good team. They were just beat by a better one last Sunday in Cincinnati.

15. New York Giants (5-4)
Has the Giants’ coaching staff lost faith in Eli Manning? They didn’t allow him to test the end zone once after their defense intercepted Philip Rivers late in the fourth quarter last week and set the offense up with great field position. Tom Coughlin and company seem to be playing not to lose these days.

16. Miami Dolphins (3-5)
It’s apparent this season that the Dolphins don’t have enough talent to beat top competition, but that hasn’t stopped Tony Sparano’s squad from battling week in and week out.

17. New York Jets (4-4)
Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez and the Jets need to find where that swagger is that they played with the first couple weeks of the season. Maybe they located it during their bye.

18. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)
What a game for Mike Sims-Walker last week: Six catches, 147 yards and one touchdown. He’s put together a solid season thus far and is starting to make a name for himself.

19. Green Bay Packers (4-4)
It’s almost like Dom Capers’ defense takes every other week off. How the hell do they allow Josh Freeman and the Bucs to rack up 38 points on them last week?

20. San Francisco 49ers (3-5)
The 49ers need a good showing against the Bears on Thursday night if they want to get back into the race in the AFC West. Alex Smith has played pretty well for them, but wins are what matter most in this league.

21. Chicago Bears (4-4)
There’s no team in the league that gives up quicker than the Bears do when they face a double-digit deficit at halftime.

22. Carolina Panthers (3-5)
The Panthers gave a great effort last week in New Orleans, but in the end turnovers killed them. Injuries are starting to mount up for this team, but a win this Sunday at home against the Falcons will keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

23. Seattle Seahawks (3-5)
Good thing Seattle’s defense intercepted Matthew Stafford five times last week, because the offense tried to give the game away early.

24. Tennessee Titans (2-6)
Vince Young has found his confidence again, folks.

25. Buffalo Bills (3-5)
Maybe Trent Edwards can spark the Bills’ offense this week. Or not…does it really matter?

26. Washington Redskins (2-6)
You can tell that Jim Zorn has no control over his players when DeAngelo Hall and Albert Hanyesworth are mixing it up with their opponents on the sidelines when they’re getting their ass handed to them.

27. Detroit Lions (1-7)
Learn from that performance in Seattle, young Matthew Stafford.

28. Oakland Raiders (2-6)
Enjoy whatever time you have left in Oakland Tom Cable, because your time is quickly running out.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7)
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but Josh Freeman showed some real poise in his first career start last week. Hopefully he can build off that and learn some things this year.

30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7)
Outside of forgetting to cover Mike Sims-Walker, the Chiefs’ defense really didn’t play that bad last week in Jacksonville.

31. St. Louis Rams (1-7)
Let’s see if the Rams can build any momentum after compiling their first win before their bye last week.

32. Cleveland Browns (1-7)
This might be cruel given the state of our economy, but somebody got fired for putting the Browns on Monday night football this year right? Given how bad they were last year, it’s absolutely inexcusable for this crap team to be on prime time television.


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