1. Green Bay Packers (3-0)- The defending Super Bowl champs did it again last week against the Bears. The defense looked much better than in weeks past, but evidence shows that a Pee-Wee football team could get pressure on Jay Cutler with his offensive line. The game was dominated by the Packers, but a phantom holding call on a Johnny Knox punt return touchdown hindered the Bears comeback attempt. Green Bay gets another easy opponent in the Denver Broncos before visiting Atlanta in week five.
Last Week- #1
2. New England Patriots (2-1)- How happy were fans everywhere thats not Boston after Tom Brady threw four interceptions to the Bills? Buffalo showed that the Patriots can be beat if you apply pressure to the quarterback and attack the weak secondary of New England. They only remain number two on the list because the Jets lost a pathetic game to the Raiders, who the Patriots visit this week.
Last Week- #2
3. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)- The way the Ravens have played this year is the perfect symbol for this NFL season. Every week shows a different type of team. The Ravens dominated the injury riddled St. Louis Rams last week, its yet to be seen if the Ravens and Joe Flacco are actually this good, or if they are just capable of destroying bad teams. They face a key AFC battle with the New York Jets this Sunday night, with the winner moving to 3-1 and the loser having their playoff hopes hurt.
Last Week- #6
4. New Orleans Saints (2-1)- The Saints have a message for the NFL: don’t bet against Drew Brees, ever. Brees won a shootout with Matt Schaub and the Texans in New Orleans last Sunday to move on to 2-1 on the year. The defense proved yet again that they are a work in progress, but just like the Patriots and Packers, the Saints will win games if it rests on the shoulders of the quarterback.
Last Week- #5
5. New York Jets (2-1)- Can you tell me the last time a team ran for 200+ yards against a defense that Rex Ryan worked on? You have to go all the way back to the 1995 Cardinals, where Ryan was an assistant coach under his father Buddy. Darren McFadden torched the Jets defense on the ground, and Antonio Cromartie did his best to hand the game over to the Raiders with four defensive penalties and a fumble on a kick return which set up the Raiders go-ahead touchdown. Lost in the headlines was Mark Sanchez, who threw for a career best 369 yards, even with a broken nose that occured on a non-call hands to the face by Jarvis Moss. The Jets go to Baltimore this Sunday night in a game that will have playoff ramifications already.
Last Week- #3
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)- Are the Steelers good? I’m not sold on them yet. Pittsburgh needed a last second field goal to defeat the awful Indianapolis Colts in Indy. The win was important, however, as it kept them tied for first place in the AFC North with the Ravens and Cleveland Browns.
Last Week- #7
7. Detroit Lions (3-0)- Detroit are this years comeback kids. Entering halftime down 20-0, the Lions and Matt Stafford came all the way back to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 26-23 in overtime. I’m not sure if they won because their that good or because the Vikings refused to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson with a 20-point lead, but if Stafford stays healthy and continues to throw touchdowns to Calvin Johnson, the Lions will keep moving up in the rankings.
Last Week- #10
8. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)- How about that “Dream Team”? The Eagles showed again that they didn’t improve enough on the offensive line to become a dominant team. Mike Vick got hurt again, this time with a “bruised hand”. How much longer can the Eagles turn to Mike Kafka and remain in the top 10? Not long.
Last Week- #4
9. Buffalo Bills (3-0)- The Bills played their Super Bowl on Sunday, defeating the Patriots on a last second field goal after being down 21-0. If the Bills can maintain solid play on offense, then they will make the playoffs, i guarantee it. However, the defense will lose them games, even if they did pick Brady off four times.
Last Week- Not Ranked
10. Chicago Bears (1-2)- I had to choose between the Bears and the Atlanta Falcons for the #10 spot in this weeks rankings. I went with the Bears only because Matt Ryan is having an awful season so far. The Bears will live and die with Jay Cutler, but if he doesn’t get more time in the pocket then they will lose, alot, this year.
Last Week- #8
Honorable Mentions- Atlanta Falcons (1-2, lost to Tampa Bay 16-13), San Diego Chargers (2-1, beat Kansas City 20-17), Houston Texans (1-2, lost to New Orleans 40-33)
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