1. Denver Broncos (5-0) Last Week: 1
Denver has racked
up 230 points in five games, putting them on pace to score 736 points for the
season (potentially shattering the Patriots 2007 NFL record of 589 points in
the process)… Peyton Manning has already fired more touchdown passes (20) than nine teams registered for the entire 2012
season.
2. New
Orleans Saints (5-0) Last
Week: 4
Drew Brees is
playing at an MVP level, TE Jimmy Graham has emerged as one of the most
dangerous weapons in the league and the defense continues to be one of the most dominant
units in the NFL.
3. Indianapolis
Colts (4-1) Last
Week: 7
The Colts have now
won three straight since acquiring Trent Richardson, including wins against the
49ers (in San Francisco) and Seahawks. Make no mistake though; the Colts are an
elite team because of the MVP caliber play of QB Andrew Luck and the improved pass
defense that has collected seven interceptions and yielded just two passing
touchdowns. Richardson, meanwhile, continues to look like an ordinary running
back, posting a measly 3.1 yards per carry (39th in NFL) with his longest
rush being 16 yards.
4. Kansas
City Chiefs (5-0) Last
Week: 5
The Chiefs became
the first team in NFL history to start 5-0 after losing at least 14 games the
previous season…The Chiefs have owned the fourth quarter this season,
outscoring opponents 47-17 in the final frame. The Chiefs could be 9-0 when they face division-powerhouse Denver in Week 11,
given that K.C.’s next four games (versus Oakland, versus Houston, versus
Cleveland, at Buffalo) are all very winnable.
5. Seattle
Seahawks (4-1) Last
Week: 2
The Seahawks split
their back-to-back AFC South road contests (at Houston, at Indy), despite missing
three offensive lineman for each game.
6. New
England Patriots (4-1) Last
Week: 3
Tom Brady’s streak
of 52 games with a passing touchdown was broken as the Bengals sacked Brady
three times on 12 dropbacks with added pressure…Brady was held to under 200
yards passing for the second time this season…Brady completed just 47.4 percent
of his passes, his fourth worst completion rate of his entire career. Can the
Pats turn the script around next week versus the undefeated Saints (and will
Rob Gronkowski finally suit up)?
7. San
Francisco 49ers (3-2) Last
Week: 11
Are the 49ers
back? The offense still has some wrinkles they need to tend to, but the defense
has returned to its opportunistic and suffocating form. The defensive unit will
be even more tenacious upon the return of linebackers Patrick Willis and Aldon
Smith.
8. Baltimore
Ravens (3-2) Last
Week: 12
The Ravens displayed their signature resiliency that has guided them to five consecutive
postseasons, in their win at Miami on Sunday. The defense looked solid,
particularly former Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who recorded
three sacks in the victory over the Dolphins.
9. Miami
Dolphins (3-2) Last
Week: 6
The Dolphins need to address their woes on the offensive line during their bye week. Ryan
Tannehill was sacked six times in the Dolphins’ 26-23 loss to the Ravens on
Sunday. Tannehill has been brought down a league-high 24 times in five games this
season.
10. Tennessee
Titans (3-2) Last
Week: 8
Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick played nobly in replace of Jake Locker, who will miss the next four
to eight weeks with a hip injury. Chris Johnson scored his first touchdown of
the year on Sunday via a 49-yard-catch-and run versus the Chiefs, but his 17
rushing yards were unacceptable. Johnson has still yet to crack 300 rushing
yards for the year, amassing just 3.0 yards per carry (40th in NFL).
Johnson needs to step up in the absence of Locker because the Titans defense
cannot be expected to propel the team to victory every week.
11. Detroit
Lions (3-2) Last
Week: 9
The Lions are clearly not the same team without Calvin Johnson, the best wide receiver in the
NFL. But are the Lions a completely different team at home versus on the road?
Typically, NFL teams play better in front of their home crowd in comparison to
their battles on the road. However, the Lions have looked considerably worse on
the road (1-2) versus at home, where they have played quality football (2-0).
The Lions will attempt to win their first road game of the year on Sunday when
they travel to the DawgPound in Cleveland, Ohio to play the Browns.
12. Chicago
Bears (3-2) Last
Week: 10
The Bears’ issues
on offense from a season ago arose in the past two games, with the offensive
line failing to protect Jay Cutler… Alshon Jeffery has solidified his role as the
club’s No. 2 wideout, catching 10 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown in the loss versus
the Saints.
13. Cincinnati
Bengals (3-2) Last
Week: 15
The Bengals completed one of the best defensive performances of the young NFL season on
Sunday as opposing QB Tom Brady had one of his worst games of his career. The
Bengals defense has been trending in the right direction since their Week 3 win
over the Packers. The offense is far less convincing, with valid concerns about
whether QB Andy Dalton is holding his offense back with his poor play.
14. Green
Bay Packers (2-2) Last
Week: 17
Losing Clay Matthews for a month could be deadly for a club that flat out has major issues
defensively. The Packers improved to 2-0 at home on Sunday with a win versus
the Calvin-Johnson-less-Lions, but are still searching for their first road
victory of the year. The Pack will travel to Baltimore this week to play the
Super-Bowl champs, who have been nearly impossible to beat at home in recent years.
15. Dallas
Cowboys (2-3) Last
Week: 16
Jerry Jones calling Sunday’s narrow defeat to the heavily favored Broncos a moral victory should be maddening for a franchise that has regularly found ways to lose in
recent seasons. On the bright side, Tony Romo is playing the best football of
his life, surpassing 500 yards passing in a game for the first time in his
career on Sunday. Romo’s stats through five games (13 TD, 2 INT, 114.3 passer
rating) portray why he should be in the discussion for the league’s fifth
best quarterback (behind Peyton Manning, Brady, Brees and Rodgers, in no particular order). Romo has played
at the level of a Top-5 QB, but others belong in the conversation as well,
including Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Joe Flacco (despite a rough start to the
season) and Matt Ryan.
16. Cleveland
Browns (3-2) Last
Week: 19
The Browns' fan
base and the rest of the football world were devastated by Brian Hoyer’s ACL
tear. How could you not feel bad for a guy that has to undergo a season-ending
procedure after he worked his tail off to become the starter, leading the team
he grew up rooting for to two straight victories? Although Hoyer was knocked
out of the contest versus the Bills early in the first quarter, he still is
credited with the victory as his record as a starter for the Browns improved to
3-0. Will Hoyer ever start for the Browns again? It’s too tough to tell because
the franchise is planning on drafting a quarterback in the early rounds of the
upcoming draft…Brandon Weeden did a phenomenal job filling in for the injured
Hoyer. Despite practicing just once in the two weeks prior to the contest
recovering from a thumb injury, Weeden was able to throw for 197 yards and a
touchdown, leading the Browns to a second-half-comeback win over the Bills.
17. New
York Jets (3-2) Last
Week: 23
Credit must be
given to the Jets for their ability to prove their naysayers and haters wrong
with their play this season. The Jets are certainly not a punch line as Rex Ryan
has his club overachieving beyond belief… The Jets rank second in total defense,
thanks to their ferocious front seven led by third year defensive end Muhammad
Wilkerson… Rookie QB Geno Smith has
already spearheaded two game-winning-drives, each time resulting in a victory
on a last-second field goal.
18. Arizona
Cardinals (3-2) Last
Week: 21
The Cardinals’ defense has willed the team to consecutive victories, yielding just
one touchdown in the past two games… The Cardinals are winning in spite of
QB Carson Palmer, who has tossed 4 touchdowns versus 9 interceptions this
season.
19. Houston
Texans (2-3) Last
Week: 18
Matt Schaub threw
a pick-six for the fourth consecutive game, the longest such streak in NFL
history. Despite getting benched at the end of a humiliating defeat on
national television to the 49ers, Schaub will start next week versus the Rams, according to head coach Gary Kubiak. However, Backup
T.J. Yates should stay ready because the Texans may be ready to yank the
starting gig away from Schaub at any point moving forward.
20. San
Diego Chargers (2-3) Last
Week: 14
The Chargers
followed up their biggest win of the season with a complete dud at Oakland. The
Chargers’ defense, ranked 29th in the NFL, is under fire after
another uninspiring performance. They struggled to contain Raiders’ QB Terrelle
Pyror, who maneuvered in and outside the pocket all night with seemingly no
pressure coming his way.
21. Buffalo
Bills (2-3) Last
Week: 20
E.J. Manuel is
expected to miss four to six weeks with a sprained LCL, leaving the Bills
decimated at the most important position. Jeff Tuel is the only healthy QB on
the roster, but his abysmal performance against the Browns has left the Bills
scrambling for free agent QB’s. Unable to find a QB via free agent acquisition,
the Bills have opted to activate Thad Lewis off the practice squad to start next week’s contest versus the Bengals.
22. Philadelphia
Eagles (2-3) Last
Week: 24
Is a quarterback
controversy brewing in Philadelphia? Nick Foles stepped in for an injured
Michael Vick and finished the win with 16 completions, 197 yards and two
touchdowns.The Eagles offense has looked flawed in recent
weeks, but Foles was able to consistently move the ball downfield on offense,
leading the club to its first win in four weeks. The decision to insert Foles
into the starting role could determine the fate for the 2013 Eagles, who are
tied for first in the NFC East...Vick is expected to miss the next two games due to his hamstring injury.
23. Atlanta
Falcons (1-4) Last
Week: 13
The Falcons dug
their own grave in their Monday night home loss to the Jets. The Falcons can’t close out
games, made evident by their four losses of 7 points or less in the first five
weeks of the season. The Falcons defense can’t stop anyone as their pass rush
is essentially non-existent and now you have to wonder if renowned head coach
Mike Smith is on the hot seat.
24. Saint
Louis Rams (2-3) Last
Week: 25
Did the Rams show improvement in their victory over the hapless Jaguars? Well, their run defense
was able to stride in the right direction, holding the Jaguars to 96 rushing yards on
25 carries after allowing San Francisco and Dallas to average 206 yards in the
prior two contests. The Rams’ run defense will be tested the next three games,
with visits to Houston and Carolina looming, before their Monday night contest
versus the Seattle Seahawks.
25. Oakland
Raiders (2-3) Last
Week: 28
Pryor
continues to be a pleasant surprise for the Raiders. Pryor threw deep passes
downfield with accuracy and precision all night versus the Chargers. The
Raiders now have to consider Pryor as a realistic option to be the quarterback
of the future.
26. Minnesota
Vikings (1-3) Last
Week: 26
The Vikings are
rewarded after their bye week with a home contest against the woeful Panthers.
27. Washington
Redskins (1-3) Last
Week: 27
The Redskins
resume play after their bye just a half a game out of first place, despite
their poor start to the season.
28. Carolina
Panthers (1-3) Last
Week: 22
The Panthers have reportedly begun looking for a replacement for current head coach Ron Rivera.
This may be a wise decision for the franchise as the offense has been a
complete mess all season (with the exception of their 38-0 thrashing of the
lowly Giants in Week 3). The offense was completely out of sync in their demoralizing defeat to the Cardinals on Sunday.
29. Tampa
Bay Buccaneers (0-4) Last
Week: 29
Greg Schiano
survived the bye week and now his club will face the Eagles (sans Michael Vick) at home.
30. Pittsburgh
Steelers (0-4) Last
Week: 30
The Steelers
return to action on the road at MetLife Stadium to battle the upstart New York Jets.
31. New
York Giants (0-5) Last
Week: 31
The Giants have been outscored by 100 points in their first five games…Their 182 points allowed are
the fifth-most in league history through the first five games of a season and
the most since 1967…It’s not just the defense that is atrocious, though. Eli
Manning threw three more interceptions, extending his season total to a league-high
12...The Giants are so horrific that a strip club in New York City has stopped showing Giants' games at the request of their customers, who claimed it was too painful to watch.
32. Jacksonville
Jaguars (0-5) Last
Week: 32
It cannot get much
worse for the Jaguars, who lost their 2013 first-round pick (#2 overall in draft) Luke
Joeckel to a season-ending ankle injury…If the Jaguars have any hope of winning
a game this season, they must start Chad Henne at QB instead of Blaine Gabbert,
who is by far the league’s worst starting quarterback.
