1. Tennessee Titans (5-0) – The Titans climb to the # 1 spot from # 2 last week after taking the week off. Tennessee is holding opponents to 11.2 points per game, which is the best in the NFL. The Titans, who have been without opening day quarterback Vince Young have got solid contributions from veteran Kerry Collins. The Titans hold a two game advantage in the AFC South with a 5-0 record. Four of the five wins for Tennessee have been against teams from within the AFC. The Titans will travel to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and take on the Chiefs on Sunday.
2. New York Giants (4-1) – The New York Giants drop to # 2 in the NFL Power Rankings, with a lot of room to spare. The Giants have won four of their first five games, dropping Monday Night 35-14 to Cleveland. Eli Manning has led a talented offense that can go to the run game, or the pass game when needed. The Giants defense has been nothing to squabble at, allowing less than 14 points in three of the five wins. The Giants lead the NFC East with a 4-1 mark. Both Washington, and Dallas sit at 4-2, while the Eagles are nestled in with a 3-3 record. The Giants will host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) – The Pittsburgh Steelers take the week off, and move up two positions from # 5 to # 3. Pittsburgh, at times has not looked like the third best team in the NFL, but over time Pittsburgh shows they are a force to reckon with in the AFC. The Steelers lone loss came on September 21st when the Eagles knocked them off 15-6. Since then Pittsburgh has beat Baltimore and Jacksonville. The Steelers lead the AFC North with a 4-1 mark. Pittsburgh will travel to Cincinnati on Sunday and take on the 0-6-division rival Bengals.
4. Buffalo Bills (4-1) – The Bills are the third straight team that benefited by moving up during the bye week. Buffalo last week came in ranked # 8, and this week moved up to # 4. The Bills are one of just four teams that have less than two losses on the year. The Bills, before the bye week were embarrassed at Arizona 41-17. Arizona has proven to be a tough place to play, since then making the Cowboys the latest victim. The Bills hold a game advantage in the AFC East with a 4-1 mark. The Jets and Patriots both sit at 3-2 on the young season. Buffalo will host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) – Tampa Bay moves up four positions from # 9 to # 5 after an impressive 27-3 win over Carolina. The win moved Tampa Bay into a three-way tie in the NFC South with Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta all at 4-2. The Saints sit just one game back in the four team division. In the win for Tampa Bay Warrick Dunn ran for 115 yards, and the Tampa defense held Carolina completely out of the end zone despite allowing 242 passing yards. Tampa Bay will take on Seattle on Sunday night football this week. The Seahawks come into the game with a 1-4 record.
6. Atlanta Falcons (4-2) – The Falcons are one of the biggest surprises thus far in the 2008 NFL season. Atlanta was able to move up 7 positions from # 13 to # 6 after a late comeback that gave them a 22-20 at home over Chicago. Quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 301 yards, and sat up a field goal by Jason Elam with just one second on the clock. Elam kicked five field goals on the day, including two from 48 yards. The Falcons are now in a three-way tie with the Panthers and Buccaneers for the top spot in the NFC South. Atlanta will take this weekend off before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles on October 26th.
7. Indianapolis Colts (3-2) – Peyton Manning is starting to regain his form. With his health coming back to him, and his admittance of a second off season surgery the true Peyton showed up on Sunday Manning threw for an impressive 271 yards and three touchdown passes in a 31-3 win over Baltimore. The Colts defense stepped up and kept Baltimore out of the end zone, only allowing 260 total yards of offense. The win for Indianapolis moved them from # 11 to # 7. Indianapolis trails Tennessee in the AFC South by two games. The Titans are in control at 5-0, while the Colts are 3-2. Indianapolis will travel to Green Bay on Sunday to take on the 3-3 Packers.
8. Washington Redskins (4-2) – The Washington Redskins were sitting pretty with wins over New Orleans, Arizona, Dallas and Philadelphia the Redskins decided to not show up on Sunday. In a very unemotional, uninspired effort the St. Louis Rams defeated Washington 19-17. The Redskins are now tied in second place in the NFC East with a 4-2 mark. The leaders, New York Giants are 4-1. The Redskins will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The loss for Washington dropped them out of the top 3, from # 3 to # 8.
9. Arizona Cardinals (4-2) – The Arizona Cardinals are 4-2 to start the season. Moving up nine positions from # 18 to # 9 with the overtime win over Dallas on Sunday. In six games this year veteran quarterback Kurt Warner has led the Arizona offense to 177 points, which ranks second in the NFL, only behind San Diego. The Cardinals have won all three games they have played this season in Phoenix. The Cardinals lead the NFC West with a 4-2 mark, leading San Francisco, who is 2-4. Arizona will travel to Carolina on Sunday to take on the 4-2 Carolina Panthers.
10. Dallas Cowboys (4-2) – The Dallas Cowboys have lost two of three games, and also lost their quarterback Tony Romo on Sunday. In the overtime defeat, Romo went down with a broken pinky finger that will sideline him to atleast four weeks. The loss to Arizona in overtime dropped them from # 4 to # 10. Dallas is now tied with Washington for second place in the NFC East, trailing the New York Giants. Terrell Owens has caught 23 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns on the season. The Cowboys will take on the St. Louis Rams, in St. Louis this Sunday.
11. Denver Broncos (4-2) – The Denver Broncos, after a 24-17 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday fall from # 7 to # 11. The loss for the Broncos was there second in three games. After a 41-14 win in week one over the Raiders, the Broncos next three wins have come by a combined total of 6 points. The two losses for Denver have come to Kansas City and Jacksonville. The Broncos have scored 166 points, while allowing 154 on the season. They currently sit in first place in the AFC West, leading San Diego, who is 3-3. Denver will take on the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football this week.
12. Carolina Panthers (4-2) – The Carolina Panthers were 27-3 losers at the hands of division rival Tampa Bay on Sunday. The loss dropped Carolina from # 6 to # 12. Carolina has outscored opponents thus far 117-97 on the year. Jake Delhomme has completed 106-181 passes for 1338 yards and five touchdowns. Rookie running back Johnathan Stewart leads the team in touchdowns with four. The Panthers are deadlocked in a three-way tie atop the NFC South with a 4-2 record. Carolina will take on divisional foe New Orleans on Sunday; the Saints come in with a 3-3 record, and one game behind the tie at the top.
13. San Diego Chargers (3-3) – The San Diego Chargers lead the National Football League with 178 total points put up thus far in 2008. With all those points put up San Diego has only won three of the six games they have played. On Sunday, a 30-10 win over New England pushed them up from #19 to # 13. Quarterback Phillip Rivers has completed 102 of 165 passes, for 1489 yards and 14 touchdowns. LaDainian Tomlinson has rushed for 405 yards and four touchdowns. San Diego trail Denver by a game in the AFC West. The Chargers will take on the Buffalo Bills Sunday in Buffalo.
14. New York Jets (3-2) – The Jets won their second straight game on Sunday with a 26-14 win over Cincinnati. In the win, Brett Favre threw for just 189 yards in the air; but Thomas Jones was the key man, scampering for two touchdown runs. The Jets have now beaten Miami, Arizona and Cincinnati; with their losses to New England and San Diego. The Jets have outscored opponents 141-130 on the season. The win moved the Jets from # 16 to # 14. New York is tied with New England in second place in the AFC East, trailing Buffalo, who is 4-1. The Jets will travel to Oakland, to face the 1-4 Raiders on Sunday.
15. Green Bay Packers (3-3) – The Packers moved up eight positions from # 23 to # 15 after their win in Seattle on Sunday. The Packers are now 3-3 on the year with wins over Minnesota, Detroit and Seattle. The three Packers defeats have come to Dallas, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Rookie quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been adequate for the Packers offense, completing 124 of 193 passes for 1482 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Packers are in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC North; the Vikings, Bears, and Green Bay are all 3-3. Green Bay will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts on Sunday.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3) – The Philadelphia Eagles feel they are back in the thick of the heated NFC East race. With Dallas, New York, and Washington all losing the Eagles are now within striking distance. At 3-3 the Eagles trail New York by 1.5, and Dallas and Washington by just a game (4-2). The 40-26 win over San Francisco on Sunday moved the Eagles up a position from # 17 to # 16. Philadelphia is outscoring opponents 167-123 on the season. Quarterback Donovan McNabb has thrown for 1576 yards and eight touchdowns through six games this season. Philadelphia will take this week off before hosting the Falcons on October 26th.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) – Jacksonville move up three positions from # 20 to # 17 with a 20-17 win over Denver on Sunday. 276 passing yards from quarterback David Garrard aided the Jaguars. The Jaguars out gained Denver in total offense 416-323. Opponents have outscored the Jaguars this season 128-124. Jacksonville has not had a point differential of anymore than seven points the entire season. The Jaguars are 3-3 overall and sit in third place in the AFC South trailing Tennessee (5-0) and Indianapolis (3-2). The Jaguars will host the Cleveland Browns on October 26th, after taking this weekend off.
18. New Orleans Saints (3-3) – The Saints climbed back into the mix in the NFC South with their blowout win on Sunday. In the 34-3 home win over Oakland; Drew Brees threw for 320 yards, as the Saints put up 441 total yards on offense. The Saints are 3-3, and sit one game back of the rest of the pack in the division. Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta all sit at 4-2. New Orleans will travel to Carolina on Sunday to attempt to knock off one of the leaders in the pack.
19. New England Patriots (3-2) – The New England Patriots had a rough go of it on Sunday Night. Knocked around by San Diego; 30-10 the Patriots were out gained in total offense 404-299. The Patriots only got 106 yards on the ground in the game. The offense has not been the same since losing star quarterback Tom Brady. Matt Cassell has completed 92 of 142 passes for 910 yards and three touchdowns. While admirable, not quite Tom Brady numbers. The loss from New England sent them down nine positions from # 10 to # 19. New England will play on Monday Night Football this week, and host the Denver Broncos, who are 4-2 on the season.
20. Cleveland Browns (2-3) – As Braylon Edwards said after a 35-14 win over the New York Giants: “we are 2-0 in a 14 game season”. After losing their first three games to Dallas, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the Browns have won two straight over Cincinnati and New York. The win for the Browns moved them from # 26 up to # 20. The Browns got 154 passing yards from top receiver Braylon Edwards. Derek Anderson had his best game of the season throwing for 310 yards in the air. The Browns will look to win their third straight on Sunday when they take on the Washington Redskins, in Washington.
21. Minnesota Vikings (3-3) – The Vikings came away with a 12-10 win over Detroit on Sunday. It was not pretty, but it put Minnesota in a three-way tie atop the NFC North. Chicago, Green Bay and the Vikings are all 3-3, while Detroit remains winless. Minnesota has been out scored 113-119 on the season. The win kept Minnesota at # 21. The Vikings will face a huge test on Sunday when they travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to face the Bears.
22. Chicago Bears (3-3) – The Chicago Bears have now lost three games by a combined eight points on the season. With three point losses to Carolina and Tampa Bay, the Bears left Atlanta on Sunday a two-point victim. Jason Elam hit a game winning field goal to knock off Chicago. The Bears have gotten solid quarterback play from Kyle Orton, who has thrown for 334 and 286 yards in his last two starts. Chicago sits in a three way tie with Green Bay and Minnesota atop the NFC North. The Bears will host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Solider Field.
23. Miami Dolphins (2-3) – The Dolphins were a possession or two away from winning their third straight game on Sunday. Matt Schaub broke free and completed a three yard pass that put Houston up late in the game; as the Texans held onto a 29-28 win. In the loss the Dolphins were out gained in total offense 485-370. 371 of the Texans yards came via the air. With wins over New England and San Diego, the Dolphins have shown they are improved from last year, but losses like Sunday need to be avoided for Miami to make the next step. The loss for the Dolphins dropped them nine positions from # 14 to # 23. Miami’s next game will be on Sunday when the 2-3 Baltimore Ravens come to town.
24. Baltimore Ravens (2-3) – The Ravens, losers of three straight games have taken a bit of a free fall, since there early 2-0 start. With wins over Cincinnati, and Cleveland the Ravens came into week four undefeated, and full of life. After week six, the Ravens seem a little deflated, and are beginning to look like a team that has a rookie quarterback. Joe Flacco has struggled of late; leading his team to just 3 points on Sunday, in a 31-3 loss to Indianapolis. The loss dropped Baltimore nine positions from # 24 to # 15. Baltimore sits tied in second place with Cleveland in the AFC North; both trailing 4-1 Pittsburgh. The Ravens will take on fellow 2-3- the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
25. San Francisco 49ers (2-4) – The San Francisco 49ers felt they had a chance to win on Sunday; in a 40-26 loss to Philadelphia. The loss dropped the 49ers just one spot from # 25 to # 24. In the loss, San Francisco was out gained in total offense 383-306. The 49ers turned the ball over three times, including two J.T. O’Sullivan interceptions; included one with under a minute to go in which Philadelphia returned for a touchdown. The 49ers are 1-1 on the road, with their lone loss to New Orleans. San Francisco sits in second place in the NFC West, trailing the 4-2 Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers, on Sunday, will battle the New York Giants; who are coming off a 35-14 loss.
26. Houston Texans (1-4) – The Houston Texans got themselves in the win column for the first time all season on Sunday. In a 29-28 win over Miami, Steve Slaton scampered for just 58 yards. Wide receiver Andre Johnson was the star catching 10 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. The Texans took the lead and kept it with at Matt Schaub three-yard run. The win for Houston moved them from # 30 to # 26. The Texans sit four games behind Tennessee in the AFC South. Houston looks to extend their winning streak on Sunday with a home game with the 0-5 Detroit Lions.
27. Oakland Raiders (1-4) – The Oakland Raiders, under a new coach were not any better than they were when Lane Kiffin was at the helm. The Raiders, in their most disappointing loss of the year, fell to New Orleans 34-3 on Sunday. The Raiders offenses managed 226 yards of total offense, but were kept out of the end zone. The loss for Oakland kept them at # 27. The Raiders will host Brett Favre and the Jets on Sunday, in an effort to get back into the win column. Currently, Oakland sits in a tie for last place in the AFC West with Kansas City. Denver leads the division at 4-2.
28. Seattle Seahawks (1-4) – As one of the, if not the most disappoint team in the NFL the Seattle Seahawks fell to 1-4 on Sunday. In the loss, the Seahawks, missing quarterback Matt Hasslebeck were not able to get any kind of offense going against Green Bay. The Seahawk offense managed to garner just 177 yards of total offense, including just 64 in the air. The loss for Seattle dropped them 3 spots from # 25 to # 28. Seattle is tied in last place in the NFC West with St. Louis; both at 1-4. The Cardinals lead the division with a 1-4 mark, while San Francisco sits at 2-4. Seattle will travel to Tampa Bay for the Sunday Night Football game of the week.
29. St. Louis Rams (1-4) – The St. Louis Rams will not go winless in 2008. Jim Haslett took over the interim head coaching position, and found a win to upset the Washington Redskins on Sunday. A Josh Brown game winning field goal as time expired put the Rams ahead to win 19-17 on Sunday. Coach Haslett looks to use running back Stephen Jackson a little more, and quarterback Marc Bulger a little less. The Rams are tied with Seattle at 1-4, in the bottom of the NFC West. Arizona leads the division at 4-2, while San Francisco is in second place at 2-4. The Rams have been outscored 164-62 in five games this season. St. Louis will face the Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Rams moved up three spots from # 32 to # 29 after the win.
30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-4) – The Kansas City Chiefs were dropped two positions during their week six-bye week. Coming in last week at # 28, the Chiefs fell to # 30, due to the advancement of St. Louis, and Houston. The Chiefs have been outscored 131-65 in their five games played. Kansas City is coming off a 34-0 loss at the hands of the Carolina Panthers. The Chiefs lone win came in week four when Kansas City bounced Denver 33-19. The Chiefs will play host to the 5-0 Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-6) – The Cincinnati Bengals are the first team to lose six games in 2008. The Bengals, with yet another loss fell from # 29 to # 31. In the Sunday loss, the Bengals allowed Jets quarterback to throw for just 166 yards and a touchdown, and picked off two of his passes. That was not enough, as the Cincinnati offense managed just 171 total yards, including just 43 on the ground. The Bengals have been outscored 144-88 on the year thus far. Cincinnati sits at the bottom of the AFC North trailing Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cleveland. Cincinnati will host divisional leader Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon.
32. Detroit Lions (0-5) – The dreadful Detroit Lions have fallen to the bottom spot in the NFL. That ranking is still close, with the Lions barely edging out Cincinnati. On Sunday, in a wild offense deprived game, the Lions fell 12-10 to divisional foe Minnesota. The two point loss was aided by a safety in which quarterback Dan Orlovsky ran out the back of the end zone accidentally after being chased. Jon Kitna appears to be marred on the bench in Detroit, and the Lions have become the laughing stock of the league. Detroit sits in last place in the NFC North, behind Chicago, Minnesota and Green Bay; all 3-3. Detroit will look to get in the win column on Sunday when they travel to Houston to face the 1-4 Texans.
