Week 8 was a week that the status quo held. Barely in some cases. But it still held. Coming up in week 9 is the battle for the ages! The brawl to settle them all! A game that will shake the very foundation of the Earth! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the 49ers play the Falcons this weekend. Oh, and there’s some boring little game up in Indianapolis too.
1. New England Patriots (8-0) – WHAA! Mommy the mean ol Belichicks are running up the score on us! WHAA! Seriously, I’ve heard enough of it. Stat padding? Embarrassment? I don’t really care. You’re grown men. Grown men being paid to play football. You don’t like them scoring on you? Do something about it besides run your mouth and begging them to take it easy on your fragile psyche. Last week: #1
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0) – Just imagine what the score would have been if Carolina hadn’t had one drive last the whole first quarter. Indy is gonna put up points this week on the Pats but they’re not winning this game. No sir. Last Week: #2
3. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)- GO BYE WEEK GO! Last Week: #3
4. New York Giants (6-2) – They went to England and played on a horrid looking soccer pitch in BEAUTIFUL London weather and almost lost to the woeful Fins. I won’t hold it against them though, they were playing an imaginary team on a field where they play an imaginary sport. Who can blame them for daydreaming through the game. Last Week: #8
5. San Diego Chargers (4-3)-The Chargers are coming on strong. Chambers is already starting to play dividends in at least making someone cover a wide out so that Gates isn’t triple covered all the time. The defense is finally playing like the Chargers defense and I can’t see anyone in the AFC west stopping them again this year. Only question is, from only seeing the box score of the game last week, was the offense even on the field in the second half? Last Week: #8
6. Green Bay Packers (6-1) – Favre worked his magic one last time at Mile High. But a one loss team shouldn’t have had that much trouble against this Broncos team. Last Week: #5
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) – And the Quinn Gray era begins with victory. It wasn’t pretty. But they beat the Bucs. If they can do it to the Saints this weekend. I will love them for… well… another week. Last Week: #7
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) – Somebody woke up Hines Ward and let him know there was a football season going on. Last Week: #4
9. Detroit Lions (5-2) – A sweep of the Bears and they’re only looking up at Green Bay at this point and we’ve determined that the Pack can’t keep up this pace all season. The Broncos are coming to Ford Field this week, I like their chances of being 6-2. Last Week: #14
10. Tennessee Titans (5-2) –This offense is looking downright woeful right now. There’s no way they beat anyone else in my top 10 at this point. Last Week: #6
11. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) – GO BYE WEEK GO! Last Week: #12
12. Washington Redskins (4-3) – The drop two spots after getting shellacked by New England. Bonus points, though, for Joe Gibbs not whining about the score. Last Week: #10
13. Cleveland Browns (4-3) – Could it be… Cleveland is… good? And without the Mighty Quinn? Braylon Edwards is turning into a top flight receiver and Derek Anderson knows how to get him the ball. If they could get going on defense they’d be good to go. But they’re not getting past the Stillers so still no playoffs for them this year. Last Week: #18
14. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) – GO BYE WEEK GO! Last Week: #15
15. Carolina Panthers (4-3) – Still on top of the south by a hair but the Saints are coming on strong. Good thing they’re on the road this week in Titan land. They could use a repose from that damnable home field of theirs. Last Week: #11
16. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) – GO BYE WEEK GO! Last Week: #16
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) – They lost. They lost to a third string QB. Of course, it helped that Garcia finally played a bad game. Here’s to a few more clunkers like this from him. Last Week: #13
18. New Orleans Saints (3-4) – Three in a row and they’ve got the Jags coming to town. They’re only a game out of first place after starting the season 0-4. Who the hell woke these guys up? Last Week: #21
19. Buffalo Bills (3-4) – They outplayed the Jets in an ugly, ugly game. But a win is a win and 3-4 for this squad is just super. Last Week: #23
20. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) – GO BYE WEEK GO! Last Week: #20
21. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) – They got a hard fought win against the Vikes in the battle of who wanted to win it less. Last Week: #24
22. Denver Broncos (3-4) – A loss at home in OT to Favre magic. I know they feel like they can just plug anyone in at RB and be successful but it would be nice if they let me know who that anyone is going to be before 5 minutes till kickoff. K? Last Week: #19
23. Houston Texans (3-5) – San Diego jumped on them early and Schaub had to leave the game again. They’ve got a good shot at getting back on track this week against the Raiders. Last Week: #17
24. Chicago Bears (3-5) – The offensive problems become even more glaringly apparent when the defense is ailing and teams finally figure out that Devin Hester is deadly. Last Week: #22
25. Oakland Raiders (2-5) – When Sebastian Janikowski is your offensive MVP, it might just be time to pack it in. Last Week: #25
26. Minnesota Vikings (2-6) – GO CHILDRESS GO! Last Week: #26
27. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6) – I still can’t fathom how an offense that loaded with talent isn’t doing more. Last Week: #27
28. San Francisco 49ers (2-6) – I see a flip flop coming next week. Last Week: #28
29. Atlanta Falcons (1-6) – GO BYE WEEK GO!Last Week: #29
30. New York Jets (1-7) – Clemens gets the start this week. They’re still not winning. But they may look better at least. Last Week: #30
30. Miami Dolphins (0-8) – Maybe if they construct a large, metal Jason Taylor… Last Week: #31
32. St. Louis Rams (0-8) – The only reason these guys are 32nd and not the Fins is because the Rams are 0-8 with far more talent on the active roster. Last Week: #32
That’s it for this week. Agree with me? Think I’m an idiot? Want to call me names? Go here in the forums and we can discuss it.
Credit: NFL.com, the National Football League and individual partner organizations
