With Week 5 on the horizon, we rank the top teams following last week’s outcomes. Green Bay, New Orleans still on top, with Detroit continuing to rise up the charts like a Rihanna/Drake collab.
Away we go:
- Green Bay Packers (4-0): The class of the NFL. Just hand them the Lombardi Trophy now.
- New Orleans Saints (3-1): They took it easy on the Jags, and still won by 13 points.
- San Diego Chargers (3-1): We’d still like to see them beat a quality opponent, but we’re sticking with Norv-ulous.
- New England Patriots (3-1): Offense will have to score even more with stud backer Jerod Mayo out.
- Baltimore Ravens (3-1): The defense went retro against the Jets. If they’re half that good the rest of the way, watch out.
- Detroit Lions (4-0): Lions and Tigers and the NFL’s best receiver, Calvin Johnson … it’s a great time to be a Detroit sports fan. Cardiac Cats just won’t quit.
- Houston Texans (3-1): Beat up on the defending AFC champion Steelers, knocking out three starters. How’s that for a signature win?
- New York Jets (2-2): If Mark Sanchez has regressed this much, then maybe Mark Brunell should take some reps this week.
- Buffalo Bills (3-1): Not surprised they lost after emotional win last week. Bills offense was due for a stinker. They’ll get it back.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1): Josh Freeman is a five-tool QB — he can beat you with his arm, legs, smarts, improvisation and leadership.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): Big Ben has a bad wheel (left foot), but don’t count Steelers out. Won AFC title last year despite Big Ben’s gimpy right foot.
- Washington Redskins (3-1): Might be nastiest defense around these days, and Rex Grossman isn’t being asked to win games.
- New York Giants (3-1): Eli Manning is backing his claim as Top 5 QB, third in QB rating (105.6) behind only Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady.
- Tennessee Titans (3-1): No disrespect, but Matt Hasselbeck and Co. are taking advantage of easy, early schedule and down year in division.
- San Francisco 49ers (3-1): Smoke and mirrors? Maybe. But Jim Harbaugh has our very early vote for Coach of the Year.
- Atlanta Falcons (2-2): Still a tough team, but not worthy of all the preseason hype. They’re still a playoff team, just not a Super Bowl team right now.
- Chicago Bears (2-2): Did someone kidnap Mike Martz? Bears ran for 224 yards, most for them since 1988.
- Oakland Raiders (2-2): Darren McFadden is a beast, but they’ll only go as far as QB Jason Campbell takes them.
- Dallas Cowboys (2-2): Bad Tony Romo vs. Good Tony Romo. When he plays well, Cowboys can beat anyone. When he plays like he did last week, people get fired.
- Philadelphia Eagles (1-3): With a frustrated QB, a defense that can’t tackle and now injury concerns, we’re about to find out just how much the Eagles brass trusts Andy Reid.
- Carolina Panthers (1-3): Record is bad, but does any team have a higher ceiling? Cam Newton’s boys haven’t lost a game by more than seven points.
- Cincinnati Bengals (2-2): The league’s top-ranked defense (275.5 YPG). Nope, that is not a typo, look it up.
- Cleveland Browns (2-2): Won’t win many games when Peyton Hillis runs just 10 times and Colt McCoy throws it 61 times.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3): Anemic Jags have scored just 39 points in four games.
- Arizona Cardinals (1-3): Cardinals can play three quarters with the best of them.
- Seattle Seahawks (1-3): It won’t get any easier for ’Hawks, who play one more home game until Nov. 13.
- Denver Broncos (1-3): Broncos get a pass for running into that juggernaut Packers squad.
- Indianapolis Colts (0-4): Peyton Manning-less Indy has actually played up to their competition in recent weeks.
- Miami Dolphins (0-4): Chad Henne’s hurt. Let the Andrew Luck watch begin.
- St. Louis Rams (0-4): Bye week couldn’t come at a more opportune time for injury-riddled Rams.
- Kansas City Chiefs (1-3): A win over the Vikes keeps you out of the basement. For now.
- Minnesota Vikings (0-4): If it wasn’t bad enough, there are rumors that Donovan McNabb is mad about coaches trying to correct his accuracy problems.
