Team, record, last week’s ranking
1. Patriots (5-0) (1): What’s wrong with the Patriots? For the second week in a row, they couldn’t score more than 34 points.
2. Colts (5-0) (2): Injuries to five starters against a solid Bucs team? No problem. Colts romp, as understudies excel.
3. Cowboys (5-0) (3): omg … can you believe what you just saw? Six turnovers by Tony Romo … and the Cowboys still win?!?!? Can’t get away with that next week at home against Pats. 
4. Steelers (4-1) (5): In rematch of Super Bowl XL, Steelers leave no doubt about who’s the better team. They smash listless Seahawks 21-0 at Heinz Field behind methodical offense and punishing D.
5. Jaguars (3-1) (8): Ok, so it was only the Chiefs, and it wasn’t pretty. But it was on the road, and the Jaguars did what they had to do. Excellent defense, combined with solid running game and adequate quarterbacking might add up to playoffs.
6. Packers (4-1) (4): Brett Favre throws two critical picks against Bears, and Packers’ unbeaten season is no more.
7. Seahawks (3-2) (6): What’s it gonna be, fellas? Up one week, down the next … that usually ends up to be a .500 team.
8. Giants (3-2) (14): Giants look dreadful in first half against Jets, but pour it on in second and use powerful 1-2 punch of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward to crush Jets’ D. Rookie CB Aaron Ross comes up with two key picks in second half.
9. Buccaneers (3-2) (7): First Cadillac Williams, now Michael Pittman. Bucs are running out of runners.
10. Ravens (3-2) (10): Man, is this offense painful to watch. They can go up and down the field, but they can’t punch it in. End result on Sunday: 9-7 yawner over Niners.
11. Texans (3-2) (12): Kris Brown kicks 5 FGs and the Texans hang on in what’s turning out to be a better than expected AFC South.
12. Titans (3-1) (13): Five turnovers usually means curtains, but Titans overcome the mistakes and get by punchless Atlanta at home. 
13. Redskins (3-1) (19): Shades of things to come? Jason Campbell looks like the real deal as ‘Skins roll over Lions.
14. Chargers (2-3) (25): We’re gonna move these guys up a good ways this week, but only on the belief that they can put the myriad problems of the first month away and start playing like a team with this many stars should play.
15. Panthers (3-2) (16): Jake Delhomme is done for the season. With David Carr at QB, not sure if Panthers can recover.
16. Lions (3-2) (9): Lions’ dismal streak continues. They’ve never, ever beaten Redskins in Washington. Btw, the Lions’ defense is atrocious.
17. Broncos (2-3) (11): Broncos get waxed by Chargers, and now face prospect of losing RB Travis Henry with a year-long drug suspension. In a word, oy.
18. Cardinals (3-2) (18): Massive effort by Kurt Warner in his return to St. Louis. Now Warner gets to do all the work himself after Matt Leinart goes down with broken collarbone.
19. Bengals (1-3) (15): Bengals try and pick up in the pieces with a visit to KC.
20. Bears (2-3) (22): The season lives on … if only barely. Bears outlast Packers in what could prove to be a critical NFC North win at Lambeau.
21. Eagles (1-3) (21): Andy Reid is 8-0 in games immediately following bye weeks. The Eagles are coming off the bye. They play the Jets on Sunday. Yee-haw!
22. 49ers (2-3) (17): This offense was struggling with Alex Smith. It’s downright abysmal with Trent Dilfer.
23. Chiefs (2-3) (20): After two straight impressive wins, Chiefs come up empty at home against Jags.
24. Raiders (2-2) (23): Coming off bye, Oakland at San Diego in what could be a decisive game for AFC West title.
25. Browns (2-3) (24): Browns had no shot against Pats, but at least they made it interesting. Up next: home to Dolphins.
26. Bills (1-4) (27): They nearly pull off the upset of the year at home against Dallas. But their injury-ravaged defense can’t seal the deal in the final seconds, as Dallas stages furious second-half comeback.
27. Saints (0-4) (26): Drew Brees has regressed more than any player in the NFL this year.
28. Jets (1-4) (28): One more loss, and we might see the Kellen Clemens era begin.
29. Rams (0-5) (31): From bad to worse. Not only does Rams’ winless season continue, but they lose at home to former two-time MVP Warner.
30. Vikings (1-3) (29): It’s bad news when the owner has to give his coach a vote of confidence only a month into his second season. Vikes misery continues at Chicago on Sunday.
31. Falcons (1-4) (30): Joey Harrington gets benched in a game for the first time this season. We suspect it won’t be the last. He’s still the starter, but Byron Leftwich waiting in the wings.
32. Dolphins (0-5) (32): Trent Green’s career is over. So is Miami’s season. But at least QB Cleo Lemon gives them a chance. He’s young, he’s mobile, and he’ll win a game or two … eventually.
Comments (15)
Why can't Kellen be the starter now? The Jets offense is horror show. Same predictable garbage - let's see it's either a Thomas Jones 1 yard rush or a 3 yard screen pass to Leon Washington. This team cannot run the football. The play calling is terrible. Not including yards after catch, does Chad have a 20 yard completion this season? 5 INTs in 2 weeks is not acceptable. You know you have problems when your defense outscores your offense (10-7). And the Giants and Bills D are not exactly the Steelers of the 70s or the Ravens of this decade. Bob, please help!!!!!
Not sure if somebody over 40 should be using "omg" in their blog. Also, Dallas is 5-0, not 4-0.
Cowboys third... that'll change after this week. You'd have been smart to discount them a bit coming off an unimpressive win over Buffalo (They were considered JV when they played Pgh right)?
Indy number two? Have you put the Colt strength of schedule and margin of victory side by side with the Pats? There's no comparison.
Nice to see you already discounting Pittsburgh's next opponent.
Anonymous:
First of all, how do you know I'm over 40?
Second of all, why can't someone over 40 use omg?
Third of all, aren't we trying to connect to the young, hip "omg" generation with this blog thing?
Fourth of all, thanks for correction on Cowboys' record. It's fixed.
Cleveland was the JV vs. Pittsburgh. Can't put your beloved 'Lers ahead of Pokes. Dallas found a way to win. Steelers found a way to lose in Arizona.
Sorry, dude. Check back next week. Maybe by then, Patriots will have blasted Cowboys out of third.
Ok, I'm a Broncos fan--as you know--but I think the team should be rated lower.
Last week's loss was the worse regular season defeat in the Shanahan era, and with Tom Nalen out it aint looking to get better anytime soon.
Jim Bates, the new defensive cordinator, has been a total flop as well, and John Lynch looks like he should have retired.
Heck, at least we have the Rockies!
Lance, I've been trying to tell Bob this since week 3 when he had them #6 after squeaker wins over Buff and Oak.
Farve throws 2 critical picks. The last one was a hailmary in the ends zone. You must be a moran or you went to bed early.
Bob, so your saying you think if Pittsburgh played the Cryboys that the Cryboys would win? Really?
Remember the Steelers didn't have Ward for the whole game, Polamalu for most of it, and lost Hampton and Holmes.
So they're without three pro-bowlers and their leading receiver.
Oh, and by the way, last week they dominated your then sixth ranked team without those same players.
Meanwhile Dallas barely squeaks past number 27.
You must not have confidence in your own rankings.
Black N Gold:
Didn't you ever hear of the term "trap game?" This was it. Buffalo on the road before New England at home. Pokes were clearly thinking about Tom Brady and not Trent Edwards.
btw, looks like the edge is back in your comments, B & G. You were getting too nice anyway.
:)
Lance and Truth:
From 11 to 17 is a pretty good fall after one game. You want me to just put 'em at 32 and get it over with?
Coming from someone in the young, hip generation...omg is very sorority and/or Verizon commericals.
You're still the pimp of the NFL, though.
The Texans, Ravens and Bucs (could argue the Seahawks too) over the Titans? Are you sure you even watch football? The part you left out about the 5 turnovers is how nasty that defense looks.
Matt:
Just be happy you got a picture of Vince Young in here. All these issues are sorted out eventually. (Yes, I do watch football. Thanks for asking, though.)
Sparky:
Thanks for thinking of me as the "pimp of the NFL." That's very kind of you. It's almost as nice a compliment as the greatest one I ever received. A reader I once met said, "I just want you to know that I [go to the bathroom with your column] every morning."
(Very few people will see this comment, but I assure you it is the truth.)
Hey, Matt
Think Bob will swap the Titans with the Bucs after we beat them tomorrow? :-)