I’ll be the first to admit when I screw up…and man, did I get it wrong with the Broncos. Like many so-called experts, I gave the Josh McDaniels/Kyle Orton crew zero chance of any success this year.
How stupid do we look now?
McDaniels is on his way to coach of the year, and the Broncos have all but sewn up the AFC West.
Oh, and Elvis Dumervil is a friggin’ monster…and he may be on his way to breaking Michael Strahan’s season sack record. Not bad for a fourth rounder.
And away we go…
1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-0)
They leapfrog the idle Colts only because of the way they handled the Giants. They’re firing on all cylinders heading into Miami…which means they may be in for a letdown.
2. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-0)
Peyton Manning should add to his gaudy numbers against the pitiful Rams this week. Plus they may get Bob Sanders back…which is nice.
3. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-0)
Got lucky against Baltimore, and now they have to head into Pittsburgh to tackle the defending champs. They don’t have Antoine Winfield this week, which hurts.
4. DENVER BRONCOS (6-0)
They’re real…and they’re spectacular. Bye week helps this team get healthy, and they’ll need it. Their schedule is brutal after the break.
5. NY GIANTS (5-1)
Did the Saints expose some chinks in their armor, or were they due for a letdown?
6. ATLANTA FALCONS (4-1)
Taking their act on the road to Big D. Then a Monday nighter against the Saints. These two games will decide if the Falcons are contenders.
7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-2)
That was Tom Brady in full effect last week against the Titans. Expect more of that to come…which spells bad news for the AFC East.
8. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2)
Another big test for the defending champs, facing the Vikes at home. Defense will have to bring their “A” game against A.P. and His Royal Favreness.
9. CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-2)
How can a team play this good, then go out and suck like they did against Houston. It only gets worse, losing Antwan Odom for the season.
10. CHICAGO BEARS (3-2)
Where have you gone Matt Forte? The lack of running game is killing this team.
11. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-2)
What the hell was that last week in Oakland? Putrid effort…just bad.
12. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-2)
Will Michael Crabtree make a difference? Probably not.
13. DALLAS COWBOYS (3-2)
Coming off the bye week to face a good Atlanta team. This team needs better play from the secondary.
14. GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-2)
Whooping on the Lions was good practice for the Packers. Need better o-line play before Aaron Rodgers gets murdered.
15. ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-2)
Find themselves tied atop the division, which ain’t saying much for the NFC West. Tough task to beat the Giants at home this weekend.
16. BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-3)
The bye couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for this reeling squad. Time to reassess what went wrong after losing three in a row.
17. HOUSTON TEXANS (3-3)
Good effort against the Bengals got them back to .500. Matt Schaub is playing great, and they have a legit shot at the playoffs now, as long as the defense holds up.
18. NY JETS (3-3)
The shine is off Mark Sanchez, and man, has this team fallen back to Earth. They need to get the ship righted, and quick.
19. MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-3)
Good thing they had their bye week…they face the high-flying Saints at home. Wildcat still working, which they will have to use to their advantage if they want to upset New Orleans.
20. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-3)
On paper this team looks unbeatable…on the field they look very beatable. As with every year, Norv Turner finds himself on the hot seat.
21. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-3)
Head into the bye a helluva lot better than most anyone expected. Maurice Jones-Drew is phenomenal.
22. CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-3)
Somehow they managed two wins, even with Jake Delhomme at quarterback. Uh oh, Steve Smith is not happy.
23. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-4)
Even with Matt Hasselbeck back in the lineup, they still suck. A lot of questions surround this team, and they ain’t gonna get straightened out any time soon.
24. BUFFALO BILLS (2-4)
With Trent Edwards hurt again, Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the nod. You know it’s bad in Buffalo when this change is viewed as positive.
25. OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-4)
Was that actually JaMarcus Russell at QB for the Raiders? The sad-sack pivot actually looked…serviceable.
26. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-5)
Got coach Todd Haley his first win. Young team, but improving. Too bad they don’t play the Redskins every week…they’d go 16-0.
27. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-4)
The NFC’s version of the Raiders…complete with bat-shit insane owner.
28. DETROIT LIONS (1-5)
On their bye week. They need Matt Stafford back…rookie flaws and all.
29. CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-5)
Played OK against the Steelers, but their passing game is anemic.
30. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-6)
They get to travel to merry old England to play the Patriots. And you thought you had it rough.
31. ST. LOUIS RAMS (0-6)
Came close to getting that all-important first win of the season against the Jags. Maybe they’ll get it against the Colts…wow, can’t believe I actually wrote that.
32. TENNESSEE TITANS (0-6)
59-0. Time for Vince Young to get the start.
