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.
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