NFL Power Rankings

1. New York Jets (4-1)
They can run on anyway, they can shut down anyone’s offense and Mark Sanchez hasn’t thrown an interception. I’m starting to believe in this team.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
The defense is back to it’s pre-2009 ways and the return of Ben Roethlisberger should make this offense potent. Will Big Ben struggle to get back into the flow of things?

3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
The Jets, Steelers and Ravens all have smash mouth defenses and solid running games. But why do I trust Roethlisberger and Sanchez more than I trust Flacco?

4. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
It pains me to watch this offensive line fail to run block, yet Peyton Manning bails this entire offense out over and over again. He’s the best player in the league and he makes the Colts the favorite in the South.

5. Tennessee Titans (3-2)
Since starting 0-6 last year, the Titans are 11-4. That’s impressive, but considering the Colts have won at least 12 since 2003, I’ll leave the Titans as the second best team in the AFC South.

6. New England Patriots (3-1)
The best coach-quarterback tandem continues to make the Pats a threat. Rex Ryan has more talent than Bill Belichick, but when December comes around, Tom Brady will be ready.

7. Atlanta Falcons (4-1)
The Falcons moved to the top spot in the NFC this week because Michael Turner broke out for 140 yards. Atlanta needs more of this if it wants to stay atop the NFC South.

8. New York Giants (3-2)
After two embarrassing losses, the G-men have looked as good as anyone in the league in the last two weeks, whooping Chicago and Houston. The defense is back to its pre-2009 form, so look out.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
This team is a little beat up right now, but when healthy, I see an aerial attack with weapons, a solid run game with LeSean McCoy, a dynamic quarterback in Mike Vick, and a solid defense.

10. Chicago Bears (4-1)
I don’t trust Jay Cutler at all, but Lovie Smith has this Bears defense playing as well as it did in its Super Bowl year. When Matt Forte tops 100 yards like he did against Carolina, the Bears are almost unbeatable.

11. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
The defending Super Bowl champs have hit a lull in the season, losing two of their last three, including a 30-20 loss to the hapless Cardinals. No need to panic. Drew Brees will have this team back in no time.

12. Green Bay Packers (3-2)
Speaking of panicking, the Packers might want to do just that. Aaron Rodgers has a concussion, the running game is weak and the defense is giving up too many big plays.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (3-1)
The loss to the Colts taught me a few things. 1. This defense is for real, 2. Matt Cassel and the passing game needs to improve, and 3. Kansas City is here to stay.

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-3)
Dallas is 1-3 and has a brutal upcoming schedule. This team is unraveling fast, yet I still think it is the most talented team in the whole NFC. Sometimes talent doesn’t bring wins, just ask the 49ers.

15. Houston Texans (3-2)
If Houston wants to reach the playoffs, Matt Schaub needs to play better than he did against the Giants, when he completed less than 50 percent of his passes with two turnovers.

16. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
Brett Favre finally found a rhythm in the second half against the Jets. With Randy Moss, the Vikings could turn this around really fast, especially with the Packers struggling and Cutler’s shaky psyche.

17. Washington Redskins (3-2)
The Redskins are 3-2, but they have the worst defense in terms of yards allowed. Eventually, allowing those big plays will cost Washington.

18. San Diego Chargers (2-3)
Philip Rivers can’t do anything more for the Chargers. The rest of the team is letting him down time and time again. I call out the defense and the running game for San Diego to step up before it’s too late.

19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
Carson Palmer’s 78.3 QB Rating is the biggest reason why the Bengals are struggling. He has weapons, but his accuracy is simply not good enough.

20. Miami Dolphins (2-2)
Two home losses to the NFC East’s two best teams has put the Dolphins in a huge hole. Chad Henne must bounce back fast after his Monday Night debacle against the Patriots.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
Maybe the NFL’s biggest surprise, the Bucs are playing great and Josh Freeman is playing at a high level. This week’s matchup vs. New Orleans will determine if they are for real.

22. Denver Broncos (2-3)
An abysmal running game is holding the Broncos back. Kyle Orton continues to shine and the defense is average, but when a team is averaging 2.3 yards per carry on the ground, it won’t win many.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
The Jags are tied for first in the AFC South, but they wont be their for long. Their defense can’t stop anybody, and that will have the Jacksonville in last by the end
of October.

24. Oakland Raiders (2-3)
Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski have traded off playing awful and well, but the Raider run game has been a constant, averaging 134 yards per game. Beating San Diego was a huge confidence boost.

25. Detroit Lions (1-4)
The Lions have been in every game this year, and last week they hammered the Rams 44-6. Matt Stafford should return soon, giving Lions’ fans more optimism than they’ve had in the previous two years.

26. Cleveland Browns (1-4)
The Browns have also competed, but their brutal schedule will keep them toward the bottom of the power rankings. I don’t see a win on the schedule till they play Carolina on Nov. 28.

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-2)
The Seahawks have played great at home and awful on the road. Fortunately, they may not have to win a road game to win the NFC West. The Seahawks have the most realistic chance at wining the West.

28. San Francisco 49ers (0-5)
I still believe the 49ers would beat any team in the NFC West on a neutral field. Next up is a must win against the Raiders. A loss would likely mean the end of Alex Smith in San Francisco.

29. St. Louis Rams (2-3)
The Rams have put together a couple solid performances at home, but when a team loses by 38 to Detroit, it automatically falls in the power rankings.

30. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
They rank 27th in defense and 31st in offense, yet they are leading a division. I don’t buy it. Max Hall is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. Their minus-50 in point differential will catch up to them quickly.

31. Buffalo Bills (0-5)
The defense is allowing 32.2 points per game. Yikes! The offense isn’t much better. C.J. Spiller has only 80 rushing yards this year. Drafting him makes no sense if Buffalo isn’t going to play him.

32. Carolina Panthers (0-5)
This offense is so abysmal, it’s hard to explain. It averages 10 points per game and only 236 total yards. By the end of the year, Panther fans will be begging ownership to get rid of Matt