Wk5 power rankings

It was a week of upsets, which has a way of scrambling a power ranking. A fun week, really.

1. (1) New England Patriots (3-0). There should have been a skunk rule in effect this week for the pathetic Bills. You felt sorry for them.

2. (2) Indianapolis Colts (4-0). They let a decent Denver team hang around for a while before putting it down. They're great in a boring midwestern way.

3. (4) Dallas Cowboys (4-0). Tony Romo is just SICK right now. Did you see that replay of the botched snap he converted into a first down? He's having a blast and the Cowboys are on a roll. You just ride that.

4. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1). That loss to the Cardinals kinda made sense, and it just shows that they're human. I was surprised that Willie Parker wasn't more effective this week, but he's one of the league's top RBs.

5. (5) Green Bay Packers (4-0).  It's all seems to be clicking for the Packers... except they still can't run the ball. That's going to bite them sooner or later.

6. (9) Tennessee Titans (2-1). They were on a bye this week, and they still played better than the Carolina Panthers.

7. (8) Seattle Seahawks (3-1). It sure helped to have the 49ers lose their QB in the first quarter, but we'll give 'em credit for beating the 49ers like they owed them money.

8. (18) Detroit Lions (3-1). That was a nice way to bounce back after their Philly meltdown.

9. (20) Arizona Cardinals (2-2). Beating Pittsburgh is the kind of win that could really get them hot. And I like the way their handling the QBs. Conventional wisdom says you can't platoon QBs, but if you look at the two guys splitting the job, neither one of them is a complete game quarterback. Put them together and you've got something better.

10. (16) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1). Bye week.

11. (30) New York Giants (2-2). Here's a fast-riser. Eli Manning is playing good ball and the defense is just light-out right now.

12. (6) Baltimore Ravens (2-2). Why are they so bad?

13. (19) Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1). There's life in this team so long as Jeff Garcia gets protection. Losing Cadillac Williams hurts.

14. (26) Oakland Raiders (2-2). Emotion is important in football. Just ask Daunte Culpepper. Thing is, their competence on offense is boosting what was already a good defense. Don't look now, but the Raiders are in the hunt for the AFC West title.

15. (17) Denver Broncos (2-2). Dropping a game to Indy isn't a thing be be ashamed of, but it's not like they're a complete team. You can run on them and Cutler isn't a finished product.

16. (27) Kansas City Chiefs (2-2). I don't know how they did it, and I haven't seen the tape yet, but beating the Chargers on the road was a huge confidence-builder for the Chiefs.The defense has been solid all year, but what's changed is the emergence of Dwayne Bowe.The rookie WR gives Damon Huard a legitimate, athletic deep threat, and that opens things up for Larry Johnson.

17. (7) San Diego Chargers (1-3). No doubt about this one: The Charger suck because of coaching. It's that simple.

18. (10) Houston Texans (2-2). I know losing Andre Johnson hurt this offense, but dropping that game to the Falcons is the kind of thing they'll think back to late in the season if they're a game out of the wildcard..

19. (13) Philadelphia Eagles (1-2). What the hell is going on with the Eagles? I recognize that they weren't at full strength, but that poor left tackle they had back there looked inept and terrified. They couldn't block anybody and McNabb isn't going to last the season if they don't tighten up. This team bugs me.

20. (29) Cleveland Browns (2-2). Honestly: I don't know how to grade this team now. You want to think they're good because they beat the Ravens, but then ... are the Browns better or are the Ravens worse? Can both be true?

21. (15) Cincinnati Bengals (1-2). The linebacker sitation is freaky, but the Bengals just didn't look like they were in the hunt Monday night. Another incomplete team.

22. (17) Washington Redskins (2-1). Bye week.

23. (21) Chicago Bears (1-3). By the time the Lions were scoring 34 points in the fourth, the Bears were starting four replacement DBs and a backup LB. As for the offense: Ouch.

24. (12) Carolina Panthers (2-2). That loss to the Bucs wasn't a failure of David Carr: It was a franchise flop, a gut check, an embarrassment. They're just... soft.

25. (19) New York Jets (1-3). So you hold a rookie-led Buffalo team to 17 points and the veteran Jets can beat that?

26. (31) Buffalo Bills (1-3). I guess it's time to write off the JP Losman era.

27. (27) Minnesota Vikings (1-3). Adrian Peterson is wicked good, but they're not even starting him. If they don't turn something around quickly, they're not even going to be respectable this year.

28. (14) San Francisco 49ers (2-2). The offense never got untracked in the first month, and replacing Smith with Dilfer isn't going to help change that. Dilfer is a coach, not a quarterback, and you simply can't play him and win. They're going to suck until Smith and Davis get back.

29. (20) New Orleans Saints (0-3). They've got to win sooner or later, right? At least they didn't lose this week, making it their best performance so far this season.

30. (32) Atlanta Falcons (1-3). Congrats to the Falcons on their win. Savor it, Falcons fans.

31. (28) Miami Dolphins (0-4). I truly enjoyed watching Culpepper's taunting. I hope Nick Saban saw it.

32. (30) St. Louis Rams (0-4). This is the league's worst team, and they might just take up residence in this slot. 

1. (1) New England Patriots (3-0). There should have been a skunk rule in effect this week for the pathetic Bills. You felt sorry for them.

2. (2) Indianapolis Colts (4-0). They let a decent Denver team hang around for a while before putting it down. They're great in a boring midwestern way.

3. (4) Dallas Cowboys (4-0). Tony Romo is just SICK right now. Did you see that replay of the botched snap he converted into a first down? He's having a blast and the Cowboys are on a roll. You just ride that.

4. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1). That loss to the Cardinals kinda made sense, and it just shows that they're human. I was surprised that Willie Parker wasn't more effective this week, but he's one of the league's top RBs.

5. (5) Green Bay Packers (4-0).  It's all seems to be clicking for the Packers... except they still can't run the ball. That's going to bite them sooner or later.

6. (9) Tennessee Titans (2-1). They were on a bye this week, and they still played better than the Carolina Panthers.

7. (8) Seattle Seahawks (3-1). It sure helped to have the 49ers lose their QB in the first quarter, but we'll give 'em credit for beating the 49ers like they owed them money.

8. (18) Detroit Lions (3-1). That was a nice way to bounce back after their Philly meltdown.

9. (20) Arizona Cardinals (2-2). Beating Pittsburgh is the kind of win that could really get them hot. And I like the way their handling the QBs. Conventional wisdom says you can't platoon QBs, but if you look at the two guys splitting the job, neither one of them is a complete game quarterback. Put them together and you've got something better.

10. (16) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1). Bye week.

11. (30) New York Giants (2-2). Here's a fast-riser. Eli Manning is playing good ball and the defense is just light-out right now.

12. (6) Baltimore Ravens (2-2). Why are they so bad?

13. (19) Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1). There's life in this team so long as Jeff Garcia gets protection. Losing Cadillac Williams hurts.

14. (26) Oakland Raiders (2-2). Emotion is important in football. Just ask Daunte Culpepper. Thing is, their competence on offense is boosting what was already a good defense. Don't look now, but the Raiders are in the hunt for the AFC West title.

15. (17) Denver Broncos (2-2). Dropping a game to Indy isn't a thing be be ashamed of, but it's not like they're a complete team. You can run on them and Cutler isn't a finished product.

16. (27) Kansas City Chiefs (2-2). I don't know how they did it, and I haven't seen the tape yet, but beating the Chargers on the road was a huge confidence-builder for the Chiefs.The defense has been solid all year, but what's changed is the emergence of Dwayne Bowe.The rookie WR gives Damon Huard a legitimate, athletic deep threat, and that opens things up for Larry Johnson.

17. (7) San Diego Chargers (1-3). No doubt about this one: The Charger suck because of coaching. It's that simple.

18. (10) Houston Texans (2-2). I know losing Andre Johnson hurt this offense, but dropping that game to the Falcons is the kind of thing they'll think back to late in the season if they're a game out of the wildcard..

19. (13) Philadelphia Eagles (1-2). What the hell is going on with the Eagles? I recognize that they weren't at full strength, but that poor left tackle they had back there looked inept and terrified. They couldn't block anybody and McNabb isn't going to last the season if they don't tighten up. This team bugs me.

20. (29) Cleveland Browns (2-2). Honestly: I don't know how to grade this team now. You want to think they're good because they beat the Ravens, but then ... are the Browns better or are the Ravens worse? Can both be true?

21. (15) Cincinnati Bengals (1-2). The linebacker sitation is freaky, but the Bengals just didn't look like they were in the hunt Monday night. Another incomplete team.

22. (17) Washington Redskins (2-1). Bye week.

23. (21) Chicago Bears (1-3). By the time the Lions were scoring 34 points in the fourth, the Bears were starting four replacement DBs and a backup LB. As for the offense: Ouch.

24. (12) Carolina Panthers (2-2). That loss to the Bucs wasn't a failure of David Carr: It was a franchise flop, a gut check, an embarrassment. They're just... soft.

25. (19) New York Jets (1-3). So you hold a rookie-led Buffalo team to 17 points and the veteran Jets can beat that?

26. (31) Buffalo Bills (1-3). I guess it's time to write off the JP Losman era.

27. (27) Minnesota Vikings (1-3). Adrian Peterson is wicked good, but they're not even starting him. If they don't turn something around quickly, they're not even going to be respectable this year.

28. (14) San Francisco 49ers (2-2). The offense never got untracked in the first month, and replacing Smith with Dilfer isn't going to help change that. Dilfer is a coach, not a quarterback, and you simply can't play him and win. They're going to suck until Smith and Davis get back.

29. (20) New Orleans Saints (0-3). They've got to win sooner or later, right? At least they didn't lose this week, making it their best performance so far this season.

30. (32) Atlanta Falcons (1-3). Congrats to the Falcons on their win. Savor it, Falcons fans.

31. (28) Miami Dolphins (0-4). I truly enjoyed watching Culpepper's taunting. I hope Nick Saban saw it.

32. (30) St. Louis Rams (0-4). This is the league's worst team, and they might just take up residence in this slot. 

1. (1) New England Patriots (3-0). There should have been a skunk rule in effect this week for the pathetic Bills. You felt sorry for them.

2. (2) Indianapolis Colts (4-0). They let a decent Denver team hang around for a while before putting it down. They're great in a boring midwestern way.

3. (4) Dallas Cowboys (4-0). Tony Romo is just SICK right now. Did you see that replay of the botched snap he converted into a first down? He's having a blast and the Cowboys are on a roll. You just ride that.

4. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1). That loss to the Cardinals kinda made sense, and it just shows that they're human. I was surprised that Willie Parker wasn't more effective this week, but he's one of the league's top RBs.

5. (5) Green Bay Packers (4-0).  It's all seems to be clicking for the Packers... except they still can't run the ball. That's going to bite them sooner or later.

6. (9) Tennessee Titans (2-1). They were on a bye this week, and they still played better than the Carolina Panthers.

7. (8) Seattle Seahawks (3-1). It sure helped to have the 49ers lose their QB in the first quarter, but we'll give 'em credit for beating the 49ers like they owed them money.

8. (18) Detroit Lions (3-1). That was a nice way to bounce back after their Philly meltdown.

9. (20) Arizona Cardinals (2-2). Beating Pittsburgh is the kind of win that could really get them hot. And I like the way their handling the QBs. Conventional wisdom says you can't platoon QBs, but if you look at the two guys splitting the job, neither one of them is a complete game quarterback. Put them together and you've got something better.

10. (16) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1). Bye week.

11. (30) New York Giants (2-2). Here's a fast-riser. Eli Manning is playing good ball and the defense is just light-out right now.

12. (6) Baltimore Ravens (2-2). Why are they so bad?

13. (19) Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1). There's life in this team so long as Jeff Garcia gets protection. Losing Cadillac Williams hurts.

14. (26) Oakland Raiders (2-2). Emotion is important in football. Just ask Daunte Culpepper. Thing is, their competence on offense is boosting what was already a good defense. Don't look now, but the Raiders are in the hunt for the AFC West title.

15. (17) Denver Broncos (2-2). Dropping a game to Indy isn't a thing be be ashamed of, but it's not like they're a complete team. You can run on them and Cutler isn't a finished product.

16. (27) Kansas City Chiefs (2-2). I don't know how they did it, and I haven't seen the tape yet, but beating the Chargers on the road was a huge confidence-builder for the Chiefs.The defense has been solid all year, but what's changed is the emergence of Dwayne Bowe.The rookie WR gives Damon Huard a legitimate, athletic deep threat, and that opens things up for Larry Johnson.

17. (7) San Diego Chargers (1-3). No doubt about this one: The Charger suck because of coaching. It's that simple.

18. (10) Houston Texans (2-2). I know losing Andre Johnson hurt this offense, but dropping that game to the Falcons is the kind of thing they'll think back to late in the season if they're a game out of the wildcard..

19. (13) Philadelphia Eagles (1-2). What the hell is going on with the Eagles? I recognize that they weren't at full strength, but that poor left tackle they had back there looked inept and terrified. They couldn't block anybody and McNabb isn't going to last the season if they don't tighten up. This team bugs me.

20. (29) Cleveland Browns (2-2). Honestly: I don't know how to grade this team now. You want to think they're good because they beat the Ravens, but then ... are the Browns better or are the Ravens worse? Can both be true?

21. (15) Cincinnati Bengals (1-2). The linebacker sitation is freaky, but the Bengals just didn't look like they were in the hunt Monday night. Another incomplete team.

22. (17) Washington Redskins (2-1). Bye week.

23. (21) Chicago Bears (1-3). By the time the Lions were scoring 34 points in the fourth, the Bears were starting four replacement DBs and a backup LB. As for the offense: Ouch.

24. (12) Carolina Panthers (2-2). That loss to the Bucs wasn't a failure of David Carr: It was a franchise flop, a gut check, an embarrassment. They're just... soft.

25. (19) New York Jets (1-3). So you hold a rookie-led Buffalo team to 17 points and the veteran Jets can beat that?

26. (31) Buffalo Bills (1-3). I guess it's time to write off the JP Losman era.

27. (27) Minnesota Vikings (1-3). Adrian Peterson is wicked good, but they're not even starting him. If they don't turn something around quickly, they're not even going to be respectable this year.

28. (14) San Francisco 49ers (2-2). The offense never got untracked in the first month, and replacing Smith with Dilfer isn't going to help change that. Dilfer is a coach, not a quarterback, and you simply can't play him and win. They're going to suck until Smith and Davis get back.

29. (20) New Orleans Saints (0-3). They've got to win sooner or later, right? At least they didn't lose this week, making it their best performance so far this season.

30. (32) Atlanta Falcons (1-3). Congrats to the Falcons on their win. Savor it, Falcons fans.

31. (28) Miami Dolphins (0-4). I truly enjoyed watching Culpepper's taunting. I hope Nick Saban saw it.

32. (30) St. Louis Rams (0-4). This is the league's worst team, and they might just take up residence in this slot. 

1. (1) New England Patriots (3-0). There should have been a skunk rule in effect this week for the pathetic Bills. You felt sorry for them.

2. (2) Indianapolis Colts (4-0). They let a decent Denver team hang around for a while before putting it down. They're great in a boring midwestern way.

3. (4) Dallas Cowboys (4-0). Tony Romo is just SICK right now. Did you see that replay of the botched snap he converted into a first down? He's having a blast and the Cowboys are on a roll. You just ride that.

4. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1). That loss to the Cardinals kinda made sense, and it just shows that they're human. I was surprised that Willie Parker wasn't more effective this week, but he's one of the league's top RBs.

5. (5) Green Bay Packers (4-0).  It's all seems to be clicking for the Packers... except they still can't run the ball. That's going to bite them sooner or later.

6. (9) Tennessee Titans (2-1). They were on a bye this week, and they still played better than the Carolina Panthers.

7. (8) Seattle Seahawks (3-1). It sure helped to have the 49ers lose their QB in the first quarter, but we'll give 'em credit for beating the 49ers like they owed them money.

8. (18) Detroit Lions (3-1). That was a nice way to bounce back after their Philly meltdown.

9. (20) Arizona Cardinals (2-2). Beating Pittsburgh is the kind of win that could really get them hot. And I like the way their handling the QBs. Conventional wisdom says you can't platoon QBs, but if you look at the two guys splitting the job, neither one of them is a complete game quarterback. Put them together and you've got something better.

10. (16) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1). Bye week.

11. (30) New York Giants (2-2). Here's a fast-riser. Eli Manning is playing good ball and the defense is just light-out right now.

12. (6) Baltimore Ravens (2-2). Why are they so bad?

13. (19) Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1). There's life in this team so long as Jeff Garcia gets protection. Losing Cadillac Williams hurts.

14. (26) Oakland Raiders (2-2). Emotion is important in football. Just ask Daunte Culpepper. Thing is, their competence on offense is boosting what was already a good defense. Don't look now, but the Raiders are in the hunt for the AFC West title.

15. (17) Denver Broncos (2-2). Dropping a game to Indy isn't a thing be be ashamed of, but it's not like they're a complete team. You can run on them and Cutler isn't a finished product.

16. (27) Kansas City Chiefs (2-2). I don't know how they did it, and I haven't seen the tape yet, but beating the Chargers on the road was a huge confidence-builder for the Chiefs.The defense has been solid all year, but what's changed is the emergence of Dwayne Bowe.The rookie WR gives Damon Huard a legitimate, athletic deep threat, and that opens things up for Larry Johnson.

17. (7) San Diego Chargers (1-3). No doubt about this one: The Charger suck because of coaching. It's that simple.

18. (10) Houston Texans (2-2). I know losing Andre Johnson hurt this offense, but dropping that game to the Falcons is the kind of thing they'll think back to late in the season if they're a game out of the wildcard..

19. (13) Philadelphia Eagles (1-2). What the hell is going on with the Eagles? I recognize that they weren't at full strength, but that poor left tackle they had back there looked inept and terrified. They couldn't block anybody and McNabb isn't going to last the season if they don't tighten up. This team bugs me.

20. (29) Cleveland Browns (2-2). Honestly: I don't know how to grade this team now. You want to think they're good because they beat the Ravens, but then ... are the Browns better or are the Ravens worse? Can both be true?

21. (15) Cincinnati Bengals (1-2). The linebacker sitation is freaky, but the Bengals just didn't look like they were in the hunt Monday night. Another incomplete team.

22. (17) Washington Redskins (2-1). Bye week.

23. (21) Chicago Bears (1-3). By the time the Lions were scoring 34 points in the fourth, the Bears were starting four replacement DBs and a backup LB. As for the offense: Ouch.

24. (12) Carolina Panthers (2-2). That loss to the Bucs wasn't a failure of David Carr: It was a franchise flop, a gut check, an embarrassment. They're just... soft.

25. (19) New York Jets (1-3). So you hold a rookie-led Buffalo team to 17 points and the veteran Jets can beat that?

26. (31) Buffalo Bills (1-3). I guess it's time to write off the JP Losman era.

27. (27) Minnesota Vikings (1-3). Adrian Peterson is wicked good, but they're not even starting him. If they don't turn something around quickly, they're not even going to be respectable this year.

28. (14) San Francisco 49ers (2-2). The offense never got untracked in the first month, and replacing Smith with Dilfer isn't going to help change that. Dilfer is a coach, not a quarterback, and you simply can't play him and win. They're going to suck until Smith and Davis get back.

29. (20) New Orleans Saints (0-3). They've got to win sooner or later, right? At least they didn't lose this week, making it their best performance so far this season.

30. (32) Atlanta Falcons (1-3). Congrats to the Falcons on their win. Savor it, Falcons fans.

31. (28) Miami Dolphins (0-4). I truly enjoyed watching Culpepper's taunting. I hope Nick Saban saw it.

32. (30) St. Louis Rams (0-4). This is the league's worst team, and they might just take up residence in this slot. 

Comments

[Vera]

The Panthers are embarassing.