1. San Diego (10-2, Last week’s ranking: 2) – Shawne Merriman returns to the lineup and immediately changes the scope of the defense. The only reason Buffalo kept the game close was because of offensive turnovers.

 

2. Indianapolis (10-2, Last week’s ranking: 1) – Colts fans should start to panic about that run defense, especially with the playoffs inching closer.

 

3. Dallas (8-4, Last week’s ranking: 6) – I know Tony Romo and Martin Gramatica are getting all the ink this week, but what’s being lost is the continued production of running back Marion Barber. When will Bill Parcells make Barber the full-time starter? The answer should come shortly.

 

4. New England (9-3, Last week’s ranking: 4) – Turnovers may not be hurting the Patriots now but a quick exit in the postseason will be in their future if these mistakes persist.

 

5. Chicago (10-2, Last week’s ranking: 5) – I can’t believe that Bears defense can be happy with Rex Grossman’s pathetic 1.3 QB rating against the Vikings. At some point, that will comeback to haunt this team.

 

6. Baltimore (9-3, Last week’s ranking: 3) – The Ravens not only dropped a critical game to the Cincinnati Bengals, but return specialist B.J. Sams is a bigger loss than most people realize.

 

7. New Orleans (8-4, Last week’s ranking: 7) – We have a Reggie Bush sighting. His four touchdowns is more like Heisman Trophy winner we remembered at USC.

 

8. Seattle (8-4, Last week’s ranking: 8) – Matt Hasslebeck looked nothing like the QB that led his team to the Super Bowl last year. Fortunately for Hasslebeck and the Seahawks, kicker Josh Brown was there to once again bail out his team against the Broncos.

 

9. Cincinnati (7-5, Last week’s ranking: 11) – Maybe their win over the Ravens will wake up the Bengals in time to make a playoff push.

 

10. Jacksonville (7-5, Last week’s ranking: 12) – Once again, the Jaguars are up the task when they face tougher competition. Why can’t they play like this all the time?

 

11. N.Y. Jets (7-5, Last week’s ranking: 14) – The Packers are not a good team, but that still was an impressive win by the Jets at Lambeau Field. It also appears RB Cedric Houston has taken control of the backfield.

 

12. Kansas City (7-5, Last week’s ranking: 9) – Hard to explain the Chiefs’ loss to Cleveland. When you’re in a playoff race, losses to inferior teams simply can happen.

 

13. Denver (7-5, Last week’s ranking: 10) – Welcome to the NFL Jay Cutler. Your first lesson was a debut loss to the Seahawks. Next up: the San Diego Chargers. It doesn’t get easier kid.

 

14. Atlanta (6-6, Last week’s ranking: 16) – Michael Vick could become the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards and that still might not be good enough to get the Falcon into the postseason.

 

15. Carolina (6-6, Last week’s ranking: 13) – Jake Delhomme has thrown six interceptions in the fourth quarter this year. That should give you a good indication as to why the Panthers own a mediocre .500 record.

 

16. N.Y. Giants (6-6, Last week’s ranking: 15) – Four personal foul penalties, an ill-advised timeout and undisciplined mistakes. Is it any wonder why this team has lost four straight games?

 

17. Philadelphia (6-6, Last week’s ranking: 22) – The Eagles still have some life left in them after all. Jeff Garcia is proving he can still handle the West Coast offense effectively. He just needs some weapons, which he has in Philadelphia.

 

18. Tennessee (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 23) – Rob Bironas became an instant hero by beating the Colts with an impressive 60-yard field gold, but the running game has been overlooked during the Titans’ recent surge. He may not be flashy, but RB Travis Henry is certainly getting the job done.

 

19. Miami (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 17) – It’s just too much to ask a team like the Dolphins to run the table after a 1-6 start.

 

20. Pittsburgh (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 24) – Despite the win over the Bucs, the Steelers’ offensive line isn’t the same unit that made the running game one of the best in the NFL last season.

 

21. Minnesota (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 18) – The ever-reliable Brad Johnson has suddenly turned into a mistake-prone quarterback. When that happens, a change at the most important position usually follows.

 

22. St. Louis (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 19) – So Marc Bulger rips into this team about not taking losses seriously. Why don’t you begin with your three interceptions against the Cardinals, Marc?

 

23. Buffalo (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 20) – The Bills shouldn’t feel too bad about losing by only three points to one of the best teams in the NFL.

 

24. San Francisco (5-7, Last week’s ranking: 21) – Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister ran wild on a supposedly solid 49ers defense. The team is improving but a bad performance like that still stings.

 

25. Washington (4-8, Last week’s ranking: 26) – Joe Gibbs says he wants to return next year. I wonder if he’ll still feel that way with a few more losses like the one against the Falcons.

 

26. Cleveland (4-8, Last week’s ranking: 28) – Even if Charlie Frye is healthy enough to play, do the Browns go with Derek Anderson the rest of the way?

 

27. Green Bay (4-8, Last week’s ranking: 25) – Fans booed the Packers several times during the first half against the Jets. I don’t think that’s ever happened in the Brett Favre era.

 

28. Houston (4-8, Last week’s ranking: 29) – David Carr fails to complete a single pass in the game, the Texans finish with negative yards passing and the they still win? Oh, that’s right, Houston played the Raiders. Nevermind.

 

29. Arizona (3-9, Last week’s ranking: 31) – Edgerrin James finally has a big day rushing (115 yards). It only took him 13 weeks to do so.

 

30. Tampa Bay (3-9, Last week’s ranking: 27) – The Bucs avoided their second shutout of the season by kicking a last-second field goal against the Steelers. Now that’s something to hang your hat on.

 

31. Oakland (2-10, Last week’s ranking: 30) – That loss to Houston has to take the cake. How does a team not allow a single passing yard in the second half yet still find a way to lose?

 

32. Detroit (2-10, Last week’s ranking: 32) – How much money are the Lions wasting by letting Mike Williams stew along the sidelines?