Jeff Howe’s NFL Power Board

Each Wednesday throughout the NFL season, Metro football writer Jeff Howe will rank all 32 teams from top to bottom. Don’t like his calls? Want to pat him on the back for giving props to your favorite team? Send him an e-mail at    (Each team’s record and movement from last week is in parentheses.)

Power Game: The Giants-Cardinals matchup figures to be a one-sided affair, so this week’s Power Game features the No. 2 Titans hosting the No. 6 Jets. Tennessee’s defense exposes Brett Favre’s erratic behavior in a 27-17 victory.

1. Giants (9-1, +1). Forget the traditional methods of picking the No. 1 team for a second. If the Giants and Titans played next week — in New York, Tennessee or Tampa — I strongly believe the Giants would win. Their loss was six weeks ago, and their last four wins have been extremely impressive.

2. Titans (10-0, -1). Adding on, the Giants’ biggest weakness is Eli Manning, but I’d still take him over the Titans’ biggest weakness — Kerry Collins.

3. Panthers (8-2, —). The Panthers might just be the most under-the-radar 8-2 team in NFL history, not that anyone would really notice.

4. Colts (6-4, +1). During the Colts’ impressive three-game winning streak, Peyton Manning has thrown for 814 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

5. Steelers (7-3, +1). Could you imagine the outcry if Troy Polamalu returned that last-second fumble for a TD if he played for the Patriots? Tom Jackson’s head would explode.

6. Jets (7-3, +8). Leon Washington has made the transformation this season from an electric specialty player to a game breaker, and he was the key against the Patriots.

7. Cardinals (7-3, +1). If I needed a wideout to start a franchise, I’d take Anquan Boldin without thinking twice. He’s a leader and a three-zone force with a nose for the end zone.

8. Buccaneers (7-3, +1). They’ve got two winnable games (Saints and Lions) coming up before their highly anticipated Monday night game in Carolina.

9. Patriots (6-4, -5). Not since Drew Bledsoe and Dan Marino were kicking around did a Patriots-Dolphins game mean so much. The Pats can thank their defense for that.

10. Cowboys (6-4, +6). Marion Barber had eight carries in the Cowboys’ loss to Washington in Week 5. He had 24 in the win Sunday. Tony Romo wasn’t the difference.

11. Redskins (6-4, -4). Clinton Portis has been held to 51 and 68 rushing yards in the last two weeks, and the Redskins have put up their two lowest point totals since Week 1.

12. Packers (5-5, +5). After watching them completely undress the Bears, you wonder how the Packers can only be at 5-5 and fighting for a playoff spot.

13. Ravens (6-4, -3). Matt Stover kicked a record 372nd straight extra point, which is the equivalent of spelling your name right 372 straight times. Not much to brag about.

14. Dolphins (6-4, +5). Like a student getting caught cheating on a test, Dan Henning must come up with an encore presentation to validate his first go-round with the Pats.

15. Eagles (5-4-1, -4). Donovan McNabb wondered what would happen if there were a tie in the playoffs. Well, as bad as Roger Goodell is, at least he’s not Bud Selig.

16. Broncos (6-4, +6). The Broncos have 15 turnovers in their four losses this season and just five in their six wins. You don’t need John Madden to tell you the rest.

17. Falcons (6-4, -5). Roddy White dropped what may have been the most beautiful pass in Matt Ryan’s career, a seed from midfield that could have been a game winner.

18. Bears (5-5, -5). There are Bears QB’s Kyle Orton would love to be compared to (Jim McMahon) and those he wouldn’t (Rex Grossman), the latter of which happened this week.

19. Vikings (5-5, -4). The Vikings are the only team in the NFL with at least a .500 record and only one win on the road (1-4). Yet, they’re tied for the division lead.

20. Chargers (4-6, -2). They’ve got to win a minimum of five games down the stretch to make the playoffs, and that starts with a home game against the Colts this weekend.

21. Saints (5-5, +2). They’ve alternated wins and losses since Week 3. With the Packers coming to town Monday night, that trend is ready to continue.

22. Jaguars (4-6, -1). Four losses have come against solid teams (twice to the Titans), but it was their sweep against the Ohio teams that has doomed their playoff chances.

23. Browns (4-6, +2). Can’t really complain with the way Brady Quinn has come out of the gates, but he has Phil Dawson to thank for bailing him out Monday night.

24. Bills (5-5, -4). Trent Edwards is going to be a heck of a quarterback, but he’s got to get his head right and trust his ability when things aren’t going his way.

25. Texans (3-7, -1). The Texans have scored at least 27 points and lost three times. Their defense isn’t the worst in the NFL, but it’s magnified due to its sound offense.

26. 49ers (3-7, +3). The most noticeable change Mike Singletary has brought to the Niners is making them work after wins on Monday instead of giving them the day off.

27. Raiders (2-8, —). As a young QB, JaMarcus Russell has enough on his mind without having to deal with Oakland’s front-office mess. I can’t wait to read his book in 10 years.

28. Seahawks (2-8, —). If you can’t beat ’em, fine ’em. Matt Hasselbeck got his head knocked in and is trying to hit the Cardinals where it counts: the wallet. Small victories.

29. Bengals (1-8-1, +1). If a tie really is like kissing your sister, that’s probably the most action this group of losers has gotten all season.

30. Rams (2-8, -4). Marc Bulger has been a turnover machine lately, with eight in the last three games, and his left tackle, Orlando Pace, could now be out for a month.

31. Chiefs (1-9, —). The Chiefs have an NFL-worst six sacks this season, which puts them on pace for 9.6 by season’s end. The 1981 Baltimore Colts hold the record-low with 13.

32. Lions (0-10, —). If there were ever a time to start 0-10, this might be it. The NFC North is the only division in football in which the Lions could still mathematically win. Although that’s about as likely as a Barry Sanders playing shortstop for the Tigers.