1. New England (10-0, Last week’s ranking: 1) – I can’t believe some people were actually giving the Bills a shot. I guess Tom Brady and Randy Moss didn’t want to leave any doubt in the first half. The duo shredded Buffalo like they had somewhere else to go.

2. Dallas (9-1, Last week’s ranking: 2) – This is the Terrell Owens owner Jerry Jones envisioned when he signed him last year. Owens has been a monster during the last four games, amassing more than 100 yards in each of those contests. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett also does a great job moving Owens around against Cover 2 schemes most teams use to some degree.

 

3. Green Bay (9-1, Last week’s ranking: 3) – What’s lost in the Brett Favre season of goodwill is the fact that the Packers have the ninth best rushing defense in the league – only four NFC teams rank ahead of them.

 

4. Indianapolis (8-2, Last week’s ranking: 4) – I had no problem with Tony Dungy going for it on fourth-and-1 instead of settling for the field goal after the two-minute warning against the Chiefs. Had Peyton Manning not made it, I doubt Brodie Croyle would’ve driven Kansas City down the field anyway. I guess we will never find out.

 

5. Jacksonville (7-3, Last week’s ranking: 6) – That devastating block Maurice Jones-Drew laid on Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was a thing of beauty. The combination of Jones-Drew and the return to health of quarterback David Garrard should serve the Jaguars well in the final six weeks and maybe longer.

 

6. Pittsburgh (7-3, Last week’s ranking: 5) – This is the team that’s supposed to give the Patriots all they can handle? There was absolutely no excuse for losing to the lowly Jets. And while I’m at it, how do the Steelers allow seven sacks against a squad that was tied for last heading into the game?

 

7. N.Y. Giants (7-3, Last week’s ranking: 9) – The Giants still have a porous secondary but the front seven makes up for it with relentless pressure. It’s just too bad this formula gets exposed against the better teams in the NFC – see Dallas and Green Bay.

 

8. Tennessee (6-4, Last week’s ranking: 7) – He may not have been the reason the Titans lost to Denver, but I’m willing to bet Broncos running back Andre Hall wouldn’t have scampered 62 yards for a touchdown if DT Albert Hainsworth was playing.

 

9. Cleveland (6-4, Last week’s ranking: 11) – Look, all this talk about whether referee Pete Morelli got help in deciding if Phil Dawson’s kick went through the uprights or not is beside the point. The bottom line is he got it right.

 

10. Tampa Bay (6-4, Last week’s ranking: 12) – While I wouldn’t exactly gush over shutting down the Falcons, the Bucs defense ranks sixth in the NFL and is the reason the team has a shot at the playoffs this year.

 

11. Detroit (6-4, Last week’s ranking: 10) – Jon Kitna’s prediction of a 10-win season doesn’t seem as certain as it did two weeks ago.

 

12. Seattle (6-4, Last week’s ranking: 14) – It’s obvious the Seahawks are trying to remedy their sluggish running game by passing more. The strategy has worked during the last two weeks.

 

13. San Diego (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 8) – Chargers general manager A.J. Smith foolishly watched as most of the coaches that helped the team to a 14-2 record last year go to other teams. The question for A.J. is whether he’ll be shown the door after this frustrating season comes to a conclusion?

 

14. Arizona (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 17) – For the Cardinals sake, I hope corner back Antrel Rolle’s three interceptions are a sign of better things to come. It’s been three years after all.

 

15. Denver (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 22) – Despite allowing a sack, Denver’s offensive line did a great job protecting Jay Cutler against a formidable Tennessee defensive front.

 

16. Washington (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 13) – That’s just about the worst Cover 2 scheme I’ve seen a team employ to stop one of the best wide receivers in the game. It looked like the Redskins didn’t even know where Terrell Owens was lined up most of the time.

 

17. Philadelphia (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 18) – Donovan McNabb may not play next week and the Eagles travel to New England. Can a 20-point spread be far behind?

 

18. Buffalo (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 15) – See Washington, only insert Randy Moss’s name.

 

19. Houston (5-5, Last week’s ranking: 21) – Welcome back Andre Johnson. Unfortunately, it may be too late.

 

20. Kansas City (4-6, Last week’s ranking: 19) – Brodie Croyle had a solid debut as a starter but there was no way he was going to beat the Colts, even with all their injuries.

 

21. New Orleans (4-6, Last week’s ranking: 16) – Memo to Reggie Bush: "Your hesitance at the line of scrimmage is killing your team".

 

22. Carolina (4-6, Last week’s ranking: 20) – Steve Smith may want to rest his sore shin a while longer. This team, as it has become painfully clear, is a mess.

 

23. Minnesota (4-6, Last week’s ranking: 25) – I wonder what the Seattle bass is thinking whenever they see their former OG, Steve Hutchinson, clear a path for either Adrian Peterson or Chester Taylor?

 

24. Chicago (4-6, Last week’s ranking: 23) – This once dominant defense allowed 425 yards against the Seahawks. There is more to the Bears’ problems than just the quarterback position.

 

25. Baltimore (4-6, Last week’s ranking: 24) – We can only imagine what the Patriots will do to this aging defense in two weeks.

 

26. Atlanta (3-7, Last week’s ranking: 28) – The Atlanta fans were actually cheering for Joey Harrington when he replaced Byron Leftwich in the second half. Now I’ve seen and heard everything!

 

27. N.Y. Jets (2-8, Last week’s ranking: 30) – It’s been a lost season but the New York Jets have realized one thing: Leon Washington means instant field position.

 

28. Cincinnati (3-7, Last week’s ranking: 27) – It will be really interesting to see what owner Mike Brown will do with head coach Marvin Lewis after this woeful season is over.

 

29. Oakland (2-8, Last week’s ranking: 28) – I really wonder if Daunte Culpepper realizes he’s running out of time as a starting NFL quarterback, even with a 344-yard performance against his old Vikings’ team. It’s been obvious over the last two years that Randy Moss covered up most of his flaws.

 

30. St. Louis (2-8, Last week’s ranking: 31) – This Rams team is not that bad when Steven Jackson is healthy.

 

31. San Francisco (2-8, Last week’s ranking: 29) – I strongly recommend the 49ers use the draft to get some offensive line help. Oh, wait, the Patriots have their first-round pick for 2008. In the immortal words of the great Jerry Seinfeld: “that’s a shame.”

 

32. Miami (0-10, Last week’s ranking: 32) – So Ricky Williams is eligible to play against the Steelers this Monday. Man, the Miami media must be smiling at the abundance of stories this week.