| What an absolutely insane first few weeks it's | | | | can't put these guys any higher, not until I see it |
| been in the NFL. Seventeen teams, 17!!!, are still | | | | on a more regular basis. This team, along with the |
| over .500. And it's just crazy how one week a | | | | Redskins, are two of the most stupefying teams |
| team (let's say, the Giants) can look like total crap | | | | to figure out in the NFL. Some weeks they look |
| and then the following week come out and | | | | like Super Bowl contenders, other weeks they |
| smoke a top-five team like the Falcons. | | | | look like crap. I have no idea what the Giants are, |
| Powerhouses like the Bengals losing to junk teams | | | | so I'm sticking them here in the middle of the |
| like the Buccaneers and surprises like the Saints | | | | pack until I find out. |
| are making this season something to watch. It's | | | | (13) Baltimore Ravens (4-2) - Again, another team |
| almost impossible to tell who's going to be left | | | | with a very good defense but serious issues on |
| standing at the end of the year. | | | | offense. The solution? Fire Jim Fassel. I have no |
| Especially after Monday night's Bears-Cardinals | | | | idea if this is going to help anything, and the bye |
| game. Chicago has looked like far and away the | | | | week should give Steve McNair time to be ready |
| best team in the NFL. The offense was rollin' up | | | | to go following his concussion on Sunday. But the |
| the points, the defense was shuttin' teams down | | | | offense was misfiring even with McNair in there, |
| and appeared to be playing with such consistency. | | | | and Brian Billick thinks he's the solution. We'll see. |
| Then, Arizona, a dreg of a team, gets them at | | | | (5) Atlanta Falcons (3-2) - I've said it before and I'll |
| home and blows their doors off. But, in the blink | | | | say it again. You stop Mike Vick from running and |
| of an eye, two lucky defensive plays, a special | | | | shut down Warrick Dunn, you beat the Falcons. |
| teams score and a missed Neil Rackers FG later, | | | | It's not a difficult formula. Kudos to the Giants for |
| the Bears are still undefeated. | | | | once again showing us all how it's done. |
| What Monday night's game showed me is that | | | | (15) Minnesota Vikings (3-2) - It's becoming |
| the Bears are not invinceable. In fact, they may | | | | apparent that no one's catching the Bears in the |
| not be as good as we all thought. They've played | | | | North, so the Vikes must focus their attention on |
| most of their games at home and haven't really | | | | the Wild Card. The bad news, there are a bunch |
| faced a tough road challenge yet. Rex Grossman | | | | of times with more talent who appear to have |
| and Bernard Berrian have yet to show what they | | | | the inside track. |
| can do against a good defense on the road. I'm | | | | (20) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) - Finally, the Steelers |
| not sold. However, they stay at #1. | | | | looked like the Steelers of old. The extra week of |
| The big movers up this week, the Carolina | | | | rest seemed to do Ben Roethlisburger a lot of |
| Panthers, jump up nine spots all the way to #5, | | | | good, Willie Parker showed that flash that makes |
| while the Falcons fall 11 spots to #16. Meantime, | | | | him special, and Hines Ward found the end zone. |
| the Birds' second tough loss of the season drops | | | | They've got a long way to go still, but the Stillers |
| them out of the top 5, but not out of the top 10. | | | | are not dead yet. |
| Not yet, anyway. | | | | (22) New York Jets (3-3) - This just feels like an |
| Now... onto the rankings... | | | | 8-8 team to me. They've got no running game |
| (1) Chicago Bears (5-0) - They escaped from the | | | | whatsoever, you just don't know what you're |
| desert by the skin of their teeth, in one of the | | | | going to get from Chad Pennington from week to |
| most bizarre games I have ever seen. To have | | | | week, but they play a bad enough schedule to |
| your quarterback turn the ball over six times and | | | | allow them to beat up on some of the dreggier |
| come back from 20 points down in the second | | | | teams in the NFL. |
| half without an offensive touchdown is simply | | | | (18) Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) - Have I mentioned |
| incredible. | | | | that Herman Edwards can't coach? Granted, they |
| (2) Indianapolis Colts (5-0) - Their trade for Bucs' | | | | played the world champs after a bye week on |
| DT Booger McFarland should help out that run | | | | their home field. That's like lambs to the slaughter. |
| defense, which has been the achilles heel of the | | | | But 45-7? Good teams don't lose like that. |
| Colts so far in '06. They paid a steep price | | | | (19) Washington Redskins (2-4) - How on earth, |
| though, giving up a second-round pick. We'll see if | | | | with all that talent and all that money and all those |
| picking a Booger works out for Indy. | | | | high-profile coaches, do you lose a game at home |
| 4) San Diego Chargers (4-1) - The Colts are | | | | to a rookie quarterback and the Tennesse Titans? |
| higher because they're undefeated, but for my | | | | How on earth did that happen? The Skins are |
| money, the Chargers are the best team in the | | | | proving once again that money isn't always the |
| AFC, if not the NFL. Of course, Schottenheimer | | | | answer. |
| will find a way to sabotage their Super Bowl | | | | (21) Buffalo Bills (2-4) - While Willis McGahee may |
| chances, but we're still at least a couple months | | | | be having a fine year yardage-wise, he just can't |
| away from that. Philip Rivers is for real. | | | | seem to find the end zone yet. The Bills' red-zone |
| (9) Seattle Seahawks (4-1) - It hasn't been pretty | | | | offense is almost non-existent and they do just |
| for the Hawks this season, with Shaun | | | | enough each week to lose. |
| Alexander's foot injury and the loss of Steve | | | | (23) San Francisco 49ers (2-4) - Alex Smith |
| Hutchinson drastically affecting the running game. | | | | continues to play well, but the San Fran defense is |
| However, last Sunday's monster comeback win in | | | | a mess. They've given up 48, 41, 38 and 34 |
| St. Louis, with the division lead on the line, was | | | | points in their four losses. Yet, they've beaten the |
| monstrous. Seattle needed that game. | | | | Rams. This is a wacky league, friends. |
| (14) Carolina Panthers (4-2) - Since Steve Smith | | | | (30) Tennessee Titans (1-5) - Despite my |
| returned to the lineup, the Panthers are 4-0. It's | | | | Redskins bashing just a moment ago, that was |
| hard to believe that one wide receiver can make | | | | quite an impressive win by a team that most had |
| that much of a difference, but the facts are the | | | | counted down-and-out. And while they're certainly |
| facts. That was one impressive performance by | | | | not going to the playoffs this year, they do have |
| Jake Delhomme in Baltimore on Sunday, too. | | | | a young quarterback they can get excited about... |
| (7) New England Patriots (4-1) - The Pats drop | | | | Vince Young. He showed the poise of a player |
| down a spot on the bye week, amid rumors of a | | | | much older and calmly led the Titans to a big win |
| possible trade for disgruntled Raiders WR Randy | | | | on the road on Sunday. |
| Moss. It didn't happen. Can you imagine Moss and | | | | (24) Cleveland Browns (1-4) - Unfortunately, the |
| Belichek co-existing? Talk about oil and vinegar. Of | | | | Browns don't have any young, great player to |
| course, Tom Brady still has no one to throw to. | | | | give them hope. Unless you're counting Kellen |
| (10) Denver Broncos (4-1) - I hate their offense | | | | Winslow, Jr., who has yet to show he will be |
| and I think Jake Plummer is a terrible quarterback. | | | | worth the investment. It's a long climb up for the |
| But their defense has convinced me to finally | | | | Brownies. |
| move them up a bit. Only one touchdown through | | | | (25) Miami Dolphins (1-5) - OK, so we're officially |
| the first five games of the season? Never been | | | | declaring this season for Miami a wash, right? I |
| done before. | | | | mean, Daunte obviously came back too soon |
| (8) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) - I may have these | | | | from injury which is the reason the entire team |
| guys rated a bit too high at the moment, I realize | | | | has flushed its season down the toilet, correct? |
| that. They're a very uneven team, you just don't | | | | C'mon guys, show some heart! This season has |
| know what you're going to get from these guys. | | | | been as much about the putrid play of the |
| But I just feel like this team is ready to really | | | | offensive line and the terrible defense as it has |
| start clicking on offense. Once that happens, | | | | Culpepper. No heart in Miami. |
| watch out. | | | | (27) Green Bay Packers (1-4) - During the bye |
| (12) New Orleans Saints (5-1) - I don't think | | | | week, Brett Favre threw three interceptions |
| they're more talented than the Eagles, but they | | | | during a family picnic. His QB rating actually went |
| definitely showed they are for real on Sunday. | | | | up. |
| After the Birds completely stole momentum from | | | | (29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) - A very |
| New Orleans early in the fourth, the Saints took it | | | | impressive first win of the season for Jon Gruden |
| right back and dominated the entire fourth | | | | and the Bucs, beating the Bengals at home. |
| quarter. Quite an impressive win by a quality | | | | You've got to like how Steve Gradkowski has |
| team. | | | | kept them in both games they've played since |
| (3) Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) - Yes they should be | | | | Sims went down with a busted spleen. And |
| 6-0 but they're not. Frankly, the defense has not | | | | Cadillac Williams is finally starting to show some |
| been good enough for this team to be | | | | life, too. |
| undefeated. And we can talk about all the mental | | | | (31) Detroit Lions (1-5) - Congratulations to the |
| breakdowns and the talent level all we want to. | | | | Detroit Lions for their first win of the season |
| But until this team is able to give tacit | | | | over the Bills. And congratulations to Roy Williams |
| commitment to the running game and stop the | | | | who, after I traded him away in week 3 of my |
| big play on D, they will continue to beat | | | | fantasy football league season, finally showed a |
| themselves. | | | | little heart and put up a big week. Friends, if |
| (6) Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) - What is going on in | | | | you've got Roy Williams on your fantasy squad, |
| Cincinnati? Perhaps all the police blotter activity has | | | | get rid of him now. Because he won't do that |
| caused these guys to lose their focus, but there | | | | again until Week 12. |
| is no way, NO WAY, a Super Bowl contender | | | | (28) Houston Texans (1-4) - How many teams |
| should lose to a winless team, I don't care where | | | | were on the bye this week? Geez! I hate this |
| it is. These guys have been up-and-down all year | | | | new bye system. It seems like a third of the |
| and they better get it fixed soon. | | | | league didn't play in Week 6. |
| (11) St. Louis Rams (4-2) - Despite losing a huge | | | | (26) Arizona Cardinals (1-5) - Wow. What to say |
| intra-division game at home to the Seahawks, | | | | about Monday night's loss. Just a staggering, |
| they were quite impressive on Sunday. It was | | | | mind-blowing choke job. It wasn't just the fact |
| quite a slugfest between Hasslebeck and Bulger. | | | | that they blew a 20-point lead, it's the fact they |
| Unfortunately, the Hawks got the ball last and | | | | did without giving up an offensive touchdown. |
| scored on a monster FG as time expired. But the | | | | Think about how difficult that is. It's nearly |
| Rams appear to be for real too, as long as Bulger | | | | impossible! But not for the Cardinals. The one |
| keeps playing mistake-free football. | | | | bright spot... Matt Leinart is going to be a very |
| (16) Dallas Cowboys (3-2) - One question... do you | | | | good quarterback in this league for a long, long, |
| think Bill Parcells is happy or disturbed that Terrell | | | | long time. |
| Owens caught three touchdown passes on | | | | (32) Oakland Raiders (0-5) - The good ship lollypop |
| Sunday? It is an absolute zoo in Dallas, with a | | | | was in high spirits during the bye week. Randy |
| fight between Owens and his receivers coach, | | | | Moss almost got traded to the Patriots and Jerry |
| rumors of fines or suspensions that never came | | | | Porter was suspended. How did both of these |
| about, and reports of severe friction between | | | | guys not get traded for draft picks, especially |
| Owens, Jones and Parcells. Yikes. | | | | considering how many teams could use a good |
| (17) New York Giants (3-2) - Despite a very | | | | wideout? I don't get it. |
| impressive win over the Falcons on Sunday, I just | | | | |
