1. San Diego (Pre-season ranking: 1) – Despite a slow offensive start, the Chargers were never in real danger of losing to the Bears. Philip Rivers will have better days and L.T. is well, L.T.
2. New England (Pre-season ranking: 2) – If the offensive line played like it did against the Jets, then Tom Brady and Randy Moss are going to be awesome this season. Moss dispelled a lot of rumors on that 51-yard TD pass, where he sprinted past three defenders to haul in Brady’s pass.
3. Indianapolis (Pre-season ranking: 4) – The Colts defense looked aggressive and fast against a very good Saints team. Can they keep it up? If they can, then a repeat is a strong possibility.
4. Cincinnati (Pre-season ranking: 9) – The Bengals’ defense forced six turnovers against the Ravens, a significant improvement from a much-maligned unit last season.
5. Chicago (Pre-season ranking: 6) – DT Tommie Harris is a beast. Unfortunately, he doesn’t play offense.
6. Dallas (Pre-season ranking: 7) – The good: Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Marion Barber. The bad: The Dallas defense. Does Roy Williams even understand the concept of coverage?
7. New Orleans (Pre-season ranking: 3) – It’s been a while since Drew Brees has looked that inept. I’m willing to bet that his performance against the Colts was simply an aberration.
8. Baltimore (Pre-season ranking: 5) – That pass interference call on Todd Heap in the end zone late in the game was bogus, but the Ravens’ offense remains a mess.
9. Denver (Pre-season ranking: 10) – What you saw was the best and worst in Jay Cutler all rolled into one game. Cutler’s ability to drive his team down the field was evident, but his decision-making when pressured baffled a lot of observers. It reminds many of some QB that plays in Wisconsin.
10. Seattle (Pre-season ranking: 11) – Shaun Alexander’s 105-yard, one touchdown effort against the Bucs showed he’s recovered from last season’s injury.
11. San Francisco (Pre-season ranking: 14) – LB Patrick Willis’s college reputation as a hitting machine continued in Week 1 against the Cardinals. This kid is the real deal. Kudos should also go to the 49ers’ secondary, which did a great job in limiting receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
12. Pittsburgh (Pre-season ranking: 17) – I realize it was only against the lowly Browns, but Ben Roethlisberger looks like a completely different quarterback from last season.
13. Carolina (Pre-season ranking: 18) – Jake Delhomme had a good start; now let’s see if he can maintain some consistency for the upcoming games.
14. Tennessee (Pre-season ranking: 20) – I didn’t expect the Titans to pile up 282 rushing yards against a tough Jags defense, a performance that really takes a lot of pressure off Vince Young.
15. Philadelphia (Pre-season ranking: 8) – I’m sure the last thing Andy Reid envisioned was his team losing because of two muffed punts.
16. Jacksonville (Pre-season ranking: 12) – If the Jaguars continue to play bad run defense then expect a quick plummet in the rankings.
17. N.Y. Jets (Pre-season ranking: 13) – The Jets better hope second-year tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson gets his act together. He looked nothing like the fourth overall pick in 2006.
18. Houston (Pre-season ranking: 24) – The Atlanta Falcons will rue the day they traded Matt Schaub.
19. Green Bay (Pre-season: 22) – Holding the Philadelphia receivers to only 184 yards was an impressive feat by the Packers’ secondary.
20. Minnesota (Pre-season: 27) – Adrian Peterson is going to be special.
21. Buffalo (Pre-season: 21) – Football always takes a backseat whenever you see an injury like the one reserve tight end Kevin Everett incurred against the Broncos.
22. Detroit (Pre-season ranking: 25) – He won’t have Randy Moss-like numbers as a rookie, but Calvin Johnson will make fans in Detroit forget about Charles Rogers and Mike Williams.
23. St. Louis (Pre-season ranking: 16) – Two fumbles in one game? That can’t happen, Steven Jackson. Losing OT Orlando Pace for the season is also a big blow to the Rams.
24. Washington (Pre-season ranking: 29) – While his stats weren’t gaudy, QB Jason Campbell acquitted himself well against a tough Miami defense.
25. Miami (Pre-season ranking: 23) – The Miami offensive line will struggle like all the pre-season predictions suggested.
26. Arizona (Pre-season ranking: 26) – CB Eric Green is going to see that loose ball lying in end zone in his sleep for the whole season.
27. N.Y. Giants (Pre-season ranking: 15) – No Eli Manning equals no chance for the Giants.
28. Kansas City (Pre-season ranking: 19) – See Miami.
29. Tampa Bay (Pre-season ranking: 28) – This will be Jon Gruden’s last season as head coach of the Bucs.
30. Cleveland (Pre-season ranking: 30) – Calling Brady Quinn!
31. Oakland (Pre-season ranking: 32) – Did you really think Lane Kiffin was going to make a difference in Year One?
32. Atlanta (Pre-season ranking: 31) – New uniform, same Joey Harrington.