Plenty of action at the top and bottom of the rankings, thanks to a bunch of upsets.
Emily G. and her dad thank all for the birthday wishes.
On to the gridiron!
1. Patriots (14-0) (1): Rest the starters now that homefield advantage is in the bag? Not a chance. Bill Belichick knows you don’t take your foot on the gas now. 
2. Colts (12-2) (3): Colts were vastly undermanned against Raiders on the road because of injuries, but they continue to show the resilience of the champions that they are. Impressive effort, gentlemen, even if it's against the lowly Raiders.
3. Packers (12-2) (4): Brett Favre surpasses Dan Marino in yet another statistical category (passing yards) as Packers magical season rolls on.
4. Cowboys (12-2) (2): Haven’t been many hiccups this year, but losing to the Eagles at home was one of them. A bunch of injuries, too. We’ll see how Pokes respond. Maybe Tony Romo will respond by telling Jessica Simpson to stay away from games. She's bad luck, I tell ya! (Btw, someone please tell Newsday Knicks beat reporter/blogger Alan Hahn that Simpson is off the market.)
5. Jaguars (10-4) (6): David Garrard is terrific, and so is the Jags’ running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.
6. Chargers (9-5) (11): Chargers clinch the division and look like they’re getting hot at the right time.
7. Steelers (9-5) (5): Suddenly, the defense is a sieve. That loss to the Jets really did something to this team.
8. Buccaneers (9-5) (8): Bucs clinch the division – and a sure contract extension for Jon Gruden – by wasting the pitiful Falcons at home.
9. Vikings (8-6) (9): Adrian Peterson to the rescue … again. Vikings still have issues at quarterback, but the running game is spectacular and the defense is emerging.
10. Browns (9-5) (12): Looked more like an Indians score, but 8-0 win over Bills in snow-swept Cleveland was sweet nonetheless. Romeo Crennel is one of my contenders for Coach of the Year.
11. Seahawks (9-5) (7): Seahawks’ Achilles heel is the running game. It was awful against the Panthers.
12. Saints (7-7) (15): Saints are still in it thanks to another fine performance from Drew Brees and a solid effort from Reggie Bush fill-in Aaron Stecker.
13. Giants (9-5) (10): How do you make Eli Manning put the ball up 52 times in the kind of wind that swirled Sunday night? Ridiculous.
14. Titans (8-6) (13): Man, these guys play some ugly football, but it’s still good enough to hang around the wild card race. Jets coming to town on Sunday.
15. Texans (7-7) (16): Is there a quarterback controversy brewing now that Sage Rosenfels hasn’t missed a beat in Matt Schaub’s absence? Not with all that money the Texans have invested in Schaub, but Rosenfels sure makes things interesting.
16. Eagles (6-8) (21): Defense shines in upset in at Dallas. Brian Westbrook not too shabby either with 144 yards from scrimmage.
17. Redskins (7-7) (19): Joe Gibbs had the right idea in windswept Giants Stadium. Pound the ball with Clinton Portis and play good defense.
18. Bills (7-7) (14): Bills showed nothing in Cleveland, so zero points seemed entirely appropriate.
19. Cardinals (6-8) (18): Shootout loss to Saints was devastating. They’re done as far as the playoffs are concerned.
20. Panthers (6-8) (24): John Fox is coaching for his job. An upset win over streaking Seahawks might help.
21. Broncos (6-8) (17): At least these guys are out of their misery.
22. Bears (5-9) (20): Back to Square 1. Now the big question is who’s the quarterback long-term.
23. Lions (6-8) (22): It is simply incredible how this franchise finds ways to lose. That’s six straight and counting. (Again, the Lions leave us grasping at cliches to describe their pathetic state, so feel free to insert your own comment below.)
24. Bengals (5-9) (23): Bengals lose in San Fran to a no-name quarterback starting his first game. Nice.
25. Raiders (4-10) (26): Nothing to like about this team.
26. Rams (3-11) (27): Ditto.
27. Ravens (4-10) (25): Doesn’t get much worse than losing to an 0-13 team. Next time Brian Billick has fourth down at the opponents’ 1 with a chance to win it, go for it!
28. Jets (3-11) (29): Jets do what few others can: make the Patriots look ordinary. Still not good enough to win, so a moral victory will have to do.
29. 49ers (4-10) (31): One start, one win for quarterback Shaun Hill.
30. Chiefs (4-10) (28): This certainly doesn’t set up a very enticing Herm Edwards vs. the Jets matchup a week from Sunday.
31. Dolphins (1-13) (32): So much for the plan La Monica and I had to bring in Don Shula as a guest coach for the Dolphins against the Patriots. Had Miami not beaten Baltimore, what a perfect way to try and break the Dolphins’ winless streak and the Patriots’ unbeaten streak at the same time. A blogger’s dream. Oh, well. We’ll make something else up.
Wait a minute, La Monica. Why not still have Shula coach on Sunday. Please discuss.
32. Falcons (3-11) (30): A complete and utter disaster.
Comments (17)
Oh stop fawning over the Jets... Moral victory my ass. The Pats had both the real AND the moral victory.
Why 52 times? because even with Jacobs WE HAVE NO RUNNING GAME
IThe Browns should be higher than the Bucs and Vikings. And how did the Broncos make it ahead of the Lions and Bears after losing to both? I demand the donkeys be placed where they truly belong, so when the team turns it around next year it will be all the more amazing.
Rottweiler Tom ... You realize that Jacobs had 130 yards on Sunday?
Granted the Giants passed too much early in the game, but comparing that game with the '86 Championship game is totally unfair. Weren't the Giants winning 17-0 at halftime in '86? Of course they ran the ball and the Skins passed it. You can say that about any game. I bet Eli has a better record when the Giants run the ball more than they pass it, right? It's simply because when you are winning, you run the ball more even in good/bad/ugly weather.
Romeo Crennel "Coach of the Year?" - Please, say it ain't so Bob.
Wow This life-long Jet fan will get to see his boys play for the first time this year, and you tell me they are moving up in the poll.Cant wait.
B N G:
Tell me you saw the Browns winning more than 4 games coming into the season.
And tell me you saw them doing that with Derek Anderson as their quarterback.
NKR:
You are priceless. I will seek permission from La Monica to make your comment eligible for the weekly contest.
Bob, what's your take on McNabb trying to hang Pat Oliver out to dry? Seems to fit his narrative this season, he is more distraction than he is worth. This one seals the deal, he is not long for cheese steakville.
I'm sorry...
but I think Jessica Simpson has a bit of a "man-face"
just sayin'
Bob, it's not that I disagree.. it's that the thought of a Cleveland H.C. getting an award is repugnant to any Steelers fan :-)
Where do you think my hatred of coach BeliCheat comes from? :-)
Hookslide... I always new you were a bit different than most of us... but what are you doing looking at her *face*? :-)
Hookslide:
Lay down on the couch and tell me what's bothering you.
hookslides problems begin with his inability to "lay down" and are far too numerous to describe in a blog
Hey BNG, remember me? Still doubting the Pack. I honestly think that the Pack is gonna represent the NFC in the BIG BOWL. Romo cant handle a big game in the playoffs against Brett. Its gonna be even worse if the Pack gets home-field advantage. Brett has surpassed yet another Dan "The Great" Marino records. He is on a role and nobody can deny it. He's hot. And about the Steelers beating the Pack. You still think its possible. I seriously doubt it. Come this week, the pack will have everyone healthy for the Bears and I promise that it wont be anything like the last time, thats for sure. Be looking for the Cowboys to fall yet another spot after a possible upset this week at Carolina. Once that happens and Green Bay gets the W, the NFC Playoffs will be going through Lambeau, which everybody knows, wont be easy.
TTP,
Hey, I'm not so proud that I can't admit when I've been beaten.
To use BG's phrase, RHRN, the Packers would beat the Steelers.
Just remember, what goes around.... :-) :-) :-)