|
Rank(last week) |
Movement |
Notes |
|
1. Chicago
Bears(4-0) |
- |
They have been #1 on our list for 3
weeks and don't look to be going anywhere, anytime soon. They won't
be beat if they give their defense the lead and it's nice to see the
offense won't take their foot of the gas because they have a lead.
How many "so-called" experts will be jumping on the band wagon this
week? |
2.
 Indianapolis
Colts(4-0) |
 1 |
We keep saying it each week, their
defense doesn't impress us, but they keep on winning ball games.
Right now Peyton Manning is willing this team to wins, but we don't
see that happening all year. Their rank here is very tenuous, just
as their defense is. |
3.
 Baltimore
Ravens(4-0) |
3 |
Frankly they are ranked here only
because of their record. They should be 2-2 by all rights, but have
been fortunate to have the Browns and Chargers keep them in the
games. Denver is coming off a bye week and the Ravens won't get the
same treatment on Monday Night Football. Their ranking in the tope 5
will be short lived. |
4.
 New
England Patriots(3-1) |
8 |
Yes we left this team for dead. After
losing at home to the Broncos we were certain they would not beat
the Bengals in Cincinnati. We were wrong! Their power running game
is hitting it's stride and that is bad news for opponents. They may
not leave the top 5 for quite some time. |
5.
 Cincinnati
Bengals(3-1) |
 3 |
Injuries and off field issues are
finally showing themselves on the field. This team has been walking
a thin line and a more physical football team took advantage of
them. Carson Palmer is good, but with no time and sophisticated
coverage's he can be stopped. Once again the defense can't stop the
run and that may ultimately mean no Super Bowl for this team. |
6. San
Diego Chargers(2-1) |
2 |
This team had the Ravens right where
they wanted them. They dominated the game and took it to what many
believe is the best defense in football. Too bad Marty Shottenhiemer
is their head coach. Late in the game it was typical Marty-ball and
it cost the Chargers a huge road win. They will win their share of
games this season, but won't win the big one playing Marty-ball. |
7.
 Denver
Broncos(2-1) |
2 |
Now that we are through 4 weeks we
can start to appreciate where the Broncos team really ranks. They
beat a Patriots team that crushed the Bengals. They beat a Chiefs
team that crushed the 49ers. They are the defending AFC West champs
and are looking more and more like it in 2006. |
8. Philadelphia
Eagles(3-1) |
3 |
After starting flat against an
over-matched Packers team the Eagles took care of business. 24
second half points showed just how explosive this offense can be and
that's without RB Brian Westbrook. This week they welcome Dallas,
these two teams are the best of the best division in football right
now. There should be a lot of fireworks on Sunday. |
9.
 Atlanta
Falcons(3-1) |
4 |
Imagine that, back to running the
ball effectively! When they run they win and Sunday was no
exception. QB Michael Vick is 5th in the NFL in rushing yards,
amazing! Their defense is no joke and that's without DE John
Abraham. As long as they keep running they will keep winning. The
bye week comes at a great time for them this week. |
10. Seattle
Seahawks(3-1) |
5 |
Talk about a good old-fashioned ass
whipping! The Seahawks appeared to stay on the plane in Chicago. The
loss of MVP Shaun Alexander is big, but their offensive line is not
playing well right now and it is having obvious effect s on QB Matt
Hasselbeck. He was sacked 5 times and intercepted twice by the
Bears. Their grip on the NFC West has loosened and the Rams are
coming on strong. |
11. Dallas
Cowboys(2-1) |
3 |
A great road win Sunday, even if it
was against the Titans. It is a game they are supposed to win and
they did by 31 points. They have a date with the Eagles Sunday to
see who is the best in the NFC East. We think it's the cowboys, now
they need to show us. |
12.
 New
Orleans Saints(3-1) |
5 |
It was going to be tough to win in
Carolina after the emotional Monday night game the week before. To
their credit they played hard right to the very end. This team looks
more and more legitimate each week and is playing with confidence.
We look for them to go 4-1 this week in Tampa. |
13. Jacksonville
Jaguars(2-2) |
5 |
2 early home wins followed by 2 tough
road loses. The Jags won't be phased by it and know they could very
easily be sitting at 4-0. The Jets come to town this week and so
should their 3rd win in 2006. |
14.
 Washington
Redskins(2-2) |
6 |
Talk about a team starting to hit
it's stride. Defensively they are still no where near as good as
they were late last season, but the offense seems to be coming
alive. We are starting to see just how potent Al Saunders offense
can be. Hanging 36 points against the Jags is a huge undertaking,
just ask the Steelers. |
15.
 St.
Louis Rams(3-1) |
- |
Are they an elite team, no. Are they
a good team, maybe not. They are 3-1 in a weak NFC West and may just
have enough to compete with a Seattle team that has fallen from it's
high perch. QB Marc Bulger is getting more comfortable in the
offense and that can only mean big things. |
16. Carolina
Panthers(2-2) |
3 |
2 straight wins and only 1 game out
of 1st place. More importantly their 2 wins have come against NFC
South opponents. They are at home this week and all signs indicate
that they should be 3-2 at the end of the day and right in the thick
of the NFC race. |
17. Minnesota
Vikings(2-2) |
7 |
Perhaps they overachieved early or
are underachieving now, whichever it is, it isn't good. The 2 loses
have been close and could very well have been wins. The fact that QB
Brad Johnson seems to be struggling is not a good sign. As Johnson
goes so to will the Vikings. The Lions are coming to town and anther
win should be right behind them. |
18. Pittsburgh
Steelers(1-2) |
2 |
The bye week came at an odd time. QB
Ben Roethlisberger needs to play and the more the better. 2 straight
losses going into the bye week is not good either. Now a trip to San
Diego against a tough Chargers team looms. A 1-3 start is very
possible for the defending Super Bowl champions. |
19.
 New
York Jets(2-2) |
1 |
they gave the Colts everything they
wanted and more. This team continues to persevere with absolutely no
running game. QB Chad Pennington is in line to be the NFL Comeback
Player of the Year if they keep winning. A task that gets very hard
this week in Jacksonville. Their best football is still a year or
two a way, but they are a fun team to watch. |
20.
 Buffalo
Bills(2-2) |
1 |
QB J.P. Losman is playing and having
fun and it showing up on the field. Defenses are keying on RB Willis
McGahee this season and daring Losman to beat them. Losman needs to
continue to focus on protecting the ball, if he does the Bills will
win more then they will lose in 2006. The Bears will test the young
QB this week and it will be interesting to see how he handles it. |
21.
 New York
Giants(1-2) |
4 |
Fragmented is the word that comes to
mind when talking about the Giants. They have had a bye week to try
and get things back together, will it be enough? A loss at home
against the Redskins may send this season into a tailspin that no
one can get out of. |
22.  Kansas
City Chiefs(1-2) |
5 |
This team really benefited from the
bye week. After scoring only 16 points in the 1st 2 games they came
out and hung 41 on the Niners. Of course it was the Niners, but
still a 41-0 win is rare in the NFL. It seems they have gotten
markedly better defensively and the offense is starting to find it's
groove. They will be a tough match-up for any team and will look to
get to .500 this week in Arizona. |
23.
 Cleveland
Browns(1-3 ) |
3 |
Beating teams you are supposed to
beat is the 1st step in becoming a good football team. The Browns
could be 2-2 very easily had they closed the deal against Baltimore.
Coming back from 18 points down ahs a way of galvanizing a team and
it also let's them know they can win a game, no matter how bleak it
looks. they are on the rise and their best days aren't too far a
way. |
24.
 Arizona
Cardinals(1-3) |
1 |
A pre-season playoff contender has
fallen hard. After winning their home opener they have lost 3 in a
row and now will be starting a rookie QB in Matt Leinart. What's
worse is they can't run the ball and if you can't run you won't win
many. The Chiefs will take no mercy on them this Sunday and a tough
season will just get tougher. |
25.
 Miami
Dolphins(1-3) |
3 |
If they did not have such a solid
defense they might be even lower on the list. Fans will continue
calling for backup QB Joey Harrington as Daunte Culpepper continues
to struggle. New England comes to town this week and Daunte
Culpepper and the Dolphins are in trouble in the AFC East. |
26.
 Green
Bay Packers(1-3) |
1 |
For 1 half they stood toe-to-toe with
the Eagles Monday Night, for 1 half. The curse of a young team is
that they don't always play consistently for 60 minutes and that's
what happened to the Packers. QB Brett Favre was dinged late in the
game and his status for this week's game is still not known. At this
point it really doesn't matter who their QB is, 5 wins is realistic
in 2006. |
27.  San
Francisco 49ers(1-3) |
3 |
This team appeared that it had turned
the corner in 2006, then they were pounded 41-0 by the Chiefs. They
will be hosting the Raiders this week and that should get them back
in the win column and get their offense back on track. |
28.
 Houston
Texans(1-3) |
3 |
A win after only 4 games is like
hitting the lottery for the Texans and their fans. It took them
until week 8 last year to win their 1st game. The offense is playing
decent right now with no real running game and the defense is
beginning to play better. Winning is a great way to go into the bye
week. |
29.
 Tampa
Bay Buccaneers(0-3) |
1 |
Sure they are coming off a bye, but
having to play a rookie QB in Bruce Gradkowski is not what you want
with the Panthers coming to town. Look for the Bucs to fall to 0-4
and right out of the NFC South race. |
30.
 Detroit
Lions(0-4) |
- |
They are 0-4, 2 games could have been
won and 2 games were blow outs. The offense is doing fairly well, it
is the defense of head coach Rod Marinelli that is struggling. We
have to ask, why did they not hire Martz as the head coach and
Marinelli as coordinator? Won't Martz be the head coach there next
year anyway? |
31. Tennessee
Titans(0-4) |
2 |
Right now it looks as if the Titans
would have a tough time beating some of college football's better
teams. They are very young and inexperienced and will be playing for
the #1 pick in next years draft. |
32.
 Oakland
Raiders(0-3) |
- |
Signs of life as they jumped out to a
21-3 lead at home, only to be shutout the rest of the way and lose
24-21. They have talent, but it appears to want to play anywhere
except there. They will have a tough time in Frisco this week, but
could pull out a win if they want it bad enough. |
