Rememeber, these rankings don’t focus solely on records or one-game winning streaks, like a lot of other power rankings to.
Here we go:
1. Nobody.
A copout? No, it’s the truth. There isn’t a best team in the NFL right now. There are a few teams that are close, but we might be two weeks away from figuring this out.
Really, the NFL is a mess. This anybody-can-beat-anybody-at-any-time is not really appealing. One guy gets hurt, even if it’s the quarterback, should turn a great team in to a big-time losing team. Remember the NY Giants in 1990? Phil Simms got hurt in November. He was a Hall of Fame quarterback. The Giants still won the Super Bowl. These Giants. They are good. They are not anywhere near great.
2. New York Giants (5-1).
They are the closest to being the best team it the NFL. We will give them a pass for their loss two weeks ago against Cleveland. They were OK last week against the 49ers (29-17). This is the week we find out about the Giants. They play the Pittsburgh Steelers, 5-1, in Pittsburgh. If they beat the Steelers, you have to say they are the best of a weak lot. If they beat the Steelers big, well, then there is no doubt. We will see.
3. Tennessee (6-0).
I believe they will beat the Colts by 10 points on Sunday. But that doesn’t change anything in my mind just yet. They have moved into the top 10 and now the top 3, but I still have doubts. Kerry Collins failed in three places and now he’s “The Man?” No. This team could go 14-2 and still lose in their first playoff game. But give them their due. The Titans have a very good defense (not great), which makes them tough. Albert Haynesworth might be the best defensive lineman in the NFL. But I’m still not sure about these guys.
4. New England (4-2).
Hey, keep the names to yourself. The win over Denver was not special, but it was dominant. And they needed a win like that. Matt Cassel is the Wild Card here, as I’ve stated, on how good the Patriots are. But the key is defense and running game, which is pretty darn good, even with the injuries on both side. The Patriots must beat the Rams and beat them handily, which means not so much in score but getting ahead and keeping control of the game. With the Brady Infection-Gate taking the news, the Pats quietly might be a good team. Note, I didn’t say great.
5. Buffalo (5-1).
The Bills deserve credit after losing badly to Cincinnati, but making big plays to beat San Diego, which has the toughest schedule in the league. The Bills rank 10th on offense and 17th on defense in yards. They have had some luck in scheduling, but now play three consecutive division foes (Miami, Jets and Patriots). If they can win two of those three, they will probably be a playoff team. Still not sure about these guys, but like Titans, they are decent all the way around.
6. Pittsburgh (5-1).
The Steelers have quietly amassed a good record. I say quietly because other than Ben Roethlisberger’s sacks, I haven’t heard much about this team. If they beat the Giants this week, they are a top three team, maybe higher. This is probably the most consistent franchise in the NFL not named New England or Indianapolis since 2000. Why? Defense. They are No. 1 in yards allowed and have allowed only 69.7 yards per game on the ground. They are always tough on the line of scrimmage. The game with the Giants should be an interesting one.
7. Carolina (5-2).
The Panthers looked horrible against Tampa and very good against New Orleans. Welcome to the NFL. The Panthers have a good defense, ranked 5th in yard allowed and 2nd in passing yards allowed. The surprising thing is quarterback Jake Delhomme’s mediocrity. He has 7 TD passes and 5 ints. Very Matt-Cassell-like. They are a swing team. They could be very good or not make the playoffs. I am banking on some experience based on previous playoff appearances.
8. Tampa Bay (5-2).
If their quarterback position was more stable, I would have them up at No. 2 or 3. And they did crush the Panthers a few weeks ago. Their two losses to Denver and New Orleans don’t look so good any more, as both teams are struggling mightily. What I like is the fact they can run the ball with two good backs, Ernest Graham and Warrick Dunn, both over 420 yards each. They are 9th in yards allowed on defense, but only 4th in points allowed (15.3). That’s a good sign. They play in Dallas and in Kansas City before getting their bye week. They must win both games or they drop a peg. The Cowboys are imploding as we speak.
9. Washington (5-2).
Most gurus have this team in their Top 5. I’m not a big-time believer just yet. They rank seventh overall in offense and sixth on defense (yards allowed). That means they are probably as rounded as any team. And they do have one of the better backs in the league Clinton Portis, who leads the NFL with 808 yards rushing already. They will beat Detroit on Sunday and play Pittsburgh the week after, at home. Let’s talk after that game.
10. Chicago (4-3).
With a little luck these guys could be 7-0. Really. But they have holes. They don’t run the ball like a playoff team. They only average 3.6 yards per carry. That’s not good enough. And while they beat the Vikings, the fact that they allowed 41 points doing it wasn’t pretty. But Kyle Orton has looked pretty good (10 TDs vs. 4 ints). They have a bye week before hosting Detroit and Tennessee. That Titans game might define their season.
Honorable mention: You’re kidding. There aren’t any.
