Week 13 Power Rankings

At the top and the bottom there's not a lot of movement this week, but in the middle there's chaos! The Vikings move up 6 spots on the strength of their 3 wins in a row, vaulting ahead of the sliding Lions, who dropped 4 spots, same as the Texans.

1. New England Patriots (12-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-1) (2) NFC East
3. Indianapolis Colts (10-2) (3) AFC South
4. Green Bay Packers (10-2) (4) NFC North
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) (5) AFC North
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) (6) AFC South
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-4) (8) NFC West
8. Cleveland Browns (7-5) (7) AFC North
9. San Diego Chargers (7-5) (10) AFC West
10. New York Giants (8-4) (9) NFC East
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-4) (11) NFC South
12. Tennessee Titans (7-5) (15) AFC South
13. Minnesota Vikings (6-6) (19) NFC North
14. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) (12) NFC East
15. Buffalo Bills (6-6) (16) AFC East
16. Arizona Cardinals (6-6) (21) NFC West
17. Detroit Lions (6-6) (13) NFC North
18. Houston Texans (5-7) (14) AFC South
19. New Orleans Saints (5-7) (18) NFC South
20. Baltimore Ravens (4-8) (24) AFC North
21. Denver Broncos (5-7) (17) AFC West
22. Chicago Bears (5-7) (20) NFC North
23. Washington Redskins (5-7) (23) NFC East
24. Carolina Panthers (5-7) (26) NFC South
25. Oakland Raiders (4-8) (27) AFC West
26. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) (22) AFC North
27. Kansas City Chiefs (4-8) (25) AFC West
28. St. Louis Rams (3-9) (30) NFC West
29. Atlanta Falcons (3-8) (28) NFC South
30. New York Jets (3-9) (31) AFC East
31. San Francisco 49ers (3-9) (29) NFC West
32. Miami Dolphins (0-12) (32) AFC East

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 40 (+2 from last week)
NFC East - 49 (+3)
NFC North - 56 (no change)
AFC North - 59 (+1)
AFC East - 78 (-2)
AFC West - 82 (+3)
NFC West - 82 (-6)
NFC South - 82 (-1)

Week 12 Power Rankings

It was tough to do the ratings this week, but it's been tough to write about all things football since Sean Taylor's murder. Dallas finally moved into the 2 spot after win more impressive than the final score. Three teams moved dramatically this week in some nutty results: the Eagles moved up 8 spots in an impressive loss to the Patriots, the Vikings moved up 6 spots in an impressive win against the Giants, and the Chiefs dropped 7 spots in essentially a season ending loss to the Raiders.

1. New England Patriots (11-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-1) (3) NFC East
3. Indianapolis Colts (9-2) (2) AFC South
4. Green Bay Packers (10-2) (4) NFC North
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) (5) AFC North
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) (6) AFC South
7. Cleveland Browns (7-4) (8) AFC North
8. Seattle Seahawks (7-4) (11) NFC West
9. New York Giants (7-4) (7) NFC East
10. San Diego Chargers (6-5) (13) AFC West
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4) (12) NFC South
12. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) (20) NFC East
13. Detroit Lions (6-5) (10) NFC North
14. Houston Texans (5-6) (15) AFC South
15. Tennessee Titans (6-5) (9) AFC South
16. Buffalo Bills (5-6) (16) AFC East
17. Denver Broncos (5-6) (14) AFC West
18. New Orleans Saints (5-6) (21) NFC South
19. Minnesota Vikings (5-6) (25) NFC North
20. Chicago Bears (5-6) (23) NFC North
21. Arizona Cardinals (5-6) (17) NFC West
22. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) (26) AFC North
23. Washington Redskins (5-6) (19) NFC East
24. Baltimore Ravens (4-7) (22) AFC North
25. Kansas City Chiefs (4-7) (18) AFC West
26. Carolina Panthers (4-7) (24) NFC South
27. Oakland Raiders (3-8) (28) AFC West
28. Atlanta Falcons (3-8) (27) NFC South
29. San Francisco 49ers (3-8) (31) NFC West
30. St. Louis Rams (2-9) (29) NFC West
31. New York Jets (2-9) (30) AFC East
32. Miami Dolphins (0-11) (32) AFC East

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 38 (+6 from last week)
NFC East - 46 (-3)
NFC North - 56 (-6)
AFC North - 58 (-3)
AFC West - 79 (+6)
AFC East - 80 (+1)
NFC South - 83 (-1)
NFC West - 88 (no change)

Week 11 Power Rankings

The power rankings are starting to stabilize. Besides the manic Chargers, who tie the Bills for the biggest move of the week dropping 4 spots, most teams are able to maintain a consistent level of play. The Ravens and Redskins both played some of their best ball of the season in losses. The Giants had the biggest leap, moving up 3 spots.

1. New England Patriots (10-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-2) (2) AFC South
3. Dallas Cowboys (9-1) (3) NFC East
4. Green Bay Packers (9-1) (5) NFC North
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) (4) AFC North
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3) (6) AFC South
7. New York Giants (7-3) (10) NFC East
8. Cleveland Browns (6-4) (8) AFC North
9. Tennessee Titans (6-4) (7) AFC South
10. Detroit Lions (6-4) (13) NFC North
11. Seattle Seahawks (6-4) (11) NFC West
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) (14) NFC South
13. San Diego Chargers (5-5) (9) AFC West
14. Denver Broncos (5-5) (16) AFC West
15. Houston Texans (5-5) (15) AFC South
16. Buffalo Bills (5-5) (12) AFC East
17. Arizona Cardinals (5-5) (19) NFC West
18. Kansas City Chiefs (4-6) (20) AFC West
19. Washington Redskins (5-5) (17) NFC East
20. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) (21) NFC East
21. New Orleans Saints (4-6) (18) NFC South
22. Baltimore Ravens (4-6) (22) AFC North
23. Chicago Bears (4-6) (24) NFC North
24. Carolina Panthers (4-6) (23) NFC South
25. Minnesota Vikings (4-6) (27) NFC North
26. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7) (25) AFC North
27. Atlanta Falcons (3-7) (26) NFC South
28. Oakland Raiders (2-8) (28) AFC West
29. St. Louis Rams (2-8) (31) NFC West
30. New York Jets (2-8) (29) AFC East
31. San Francisco 49ers (2-8) (30) NFC West
32. Miami Dolphins (0-10) (32) AFC East

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 32 (+2 from last week)
NFC East - 49 (-2)
AFC North - 61 (+2)
NFC North - 62 (-7)
AFC West - 73 (no change)
AFC East - 79 (+5)
NFC South - 84 (+3)
NFC West - 88 (-3)

Week 10 Power Rankings

In last week's power rankings, one of my valued readers questioned my reasoning for putting the Seahawks ahead of the Saints. Bottom line - they have better players. Still, the Saints are still very much alive in the NFC South, but next week at Houston looks like a huge game for both teams. The Jaguars made the biggest move up, jumping 7 spots, and the Chiefs made the biggest move down, falling 10 spots.

1. New England Patriots (9-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East - 2 1/2 lead on the Colts with 7 to play, just give them homefield
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-2) (2) AFC South - should have beat Chargers, but injuries hay have caught up with them
3. Dallas Cowboys (8-1) (4) NFC East - did have a 2nd half lead against New England
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) (3) AFC North - besides at New England, their 2nd half schedule is favorable
5. Green Bay Packers (8-1) (6) NFC North - Ryan Grant has run for 100+ in 2 out of 3, starting to become a complete team
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) (13) AFC South - take away loss to Colts and they've won 6 out of 7
7. Tennessee Titans (6-3) (5) AFC South - 3-2 in games decided by 4 points or less
8. Cleveland Browns (5-4) (8) AFC North - Thomas, Winslow, Edwards, and Cribbs are cinch Pro Bowlers; they've had only 1 since 1999
9. San Diego Chargers (5-4) (12) AFC West - get blown out by Vikings one week, beat the Colts the next?
10. New York Giants (6-3) (10) NFC East - their most impressive win is at Washington, could be staring at another 2nd half slide
11. Seattle Seahawks (5-4) (11) NFC West - could easily run the table in the second half
12. Buffalo Bills (5-4) (15) AFC East - Dick Jauron, 2 time Coach of the Year?!?
13. Detroit Lions (6-3) (9) NFC North - they play Green Bay in 2 weeks in their biggest Thanksgiving day game ever
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) (17) NFC South - if they drafted Peterson they'd be the NFC favorite
15. Houston Texans (4-5) (18) AFC South - they're getting Andre Johnson back and could make a run
16. Denver Broncos (4-5) (21) AFC West - play 4 out of the next 6 on the road
17. Washington Redskins (5-4) (16) NFC East - still have to play Dallas twice and Giants in New York, probably not making playoffs
18. New Orleans Saints (4-5) (14) NFC South - Bush had no chance on 4th and 1, exactly why he can't be a #1 back
19. Arizona Cardinals (4-5) (24) NFC West - have lost 3 games in the last 30 seconds
20. Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) (10) AFC West - LJ injury was huge, could easily lose out
21. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) (25) NFC East - they have 2 flukish losses, but 2 flukish wins as well
22. Baltimore Ravens (4-5) (19) AFC North - 0-4 against AFC North, 3-0 against NFC West
23. Carolina Panthers (4-5) (20) NFC South - are you surprised Testaverde turned into a pumpkin?
24. Chicago Bears (4-5) (27) NFC North - is Grossman the starter now? Who cares?
25. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) (26) AFC North - 1-6 against teams not named the Ravens
26. Atlanta Falcons (3-6) (28) NFC South - 2-0 coming out of their bye
27. Minnesota Vikings (3-6) (23) NFC North - without Peterson this is generous
28. Oakland Raiders (2-7) (22) AFC West - JaMarcus Russell is too well paid to be 3rd string
29. New York Jets (1-8) (29) AFC East - time to see what they have in Clemens
30. San Francisco 49ers (2-7) (30) NFC West - time to cut the cord on Nolan and Alex Smith
31. St. Louis Rams (1-8) (32) NFC West - their schedule was too weak to go winless, will target Jake Long in draft
32. Miami Dolphins (0-9) (31) AFC East - at home against Buffalo coming off a bye was their best shot at a win

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 30 (-8 from last week)
NFC East - 51 (-1)
AFC North - 59 (+3)
NFC North - 69 (+4)
AFC West - 73 (+8)
AFC East - 74 (-2)
NFC South - 81 (+2)
NFC West - 91 (-6)

Week 9 Power Rankings

Another wild week of NFL football, but not a lot of changes besides kicking the Chargers out of the top 10 (dropping 7 spots to 12th, tied with Denver for the biggest drop), and showing some love for the Saints 4 game win streak (who move up 7 spots). I moved up Seattle despite the overtime loss to a good team and dropped the Redskins despite the overtime win against a bad team. The AFC West dropped 17 spots as a division, I'm pretty sure the biggest drop this year for a division, balanced out by the NFC North moving up 10 spots and the NFC South moving up 9 spots.

1. New England Patriots (9-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-1) (2) AFC South
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) (3) AFC North
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-1) (4) NFC East
5. Tennessee Titans (6-2) (6) AFC South
6. Green Bay Packers (7-1) (7) NFC North
7. New York Giants (6-2) (10) NFC East
8. Cleveland Browns (5-3) (11) AFC North
9. Detroit Lions (6-2) (15) NFC North
10. Kansas City Chiefs (4-4) (9) AFC West
11. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) (12) NFC West
12. San Diego Chargers (4-4) (5) AFC West
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) (8) AFC South
14. New Orleans Saints (4-4) (21) NFC South
15. Buffalo Bills (4-4) (17) AFC East
16. Washington Redskins (5-3) (13) NFC East
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) (19) NFC South
18. Houston Texans (4-5) (23) AFC South
19. Baltimore Ravens (4-4) (16) AFC North
20. Carolina Panthers (4-4) (18) NFC South
21. Denver Broncos (3-5) (14) AFC West
22. Oakland Raiders (2-6) (20) AFC West
23. Minnesota Vikings (3-5) (27) NFC North
24. Arizona Cardinals (3-5) (22) NFC West
25. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) (24) NFC East
26. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6) (25) AFC North
27. Chicago Bears (3-5) (26) NFC North
28. Atlanta Falcons (2-6) (30) NFC South
29. New York Jets (1-8) (29) AFC East
30. San Francisco 49ers (2-6) (28) NFC West
31. Miami Dolphins (0-8) (31) AFC East
32. St. Louis Rams (0-8) (32) NFC West

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 38 (-1 from last week)
NFC East - 52 (+1)
AFC North - 56 (+1)
NFC North - 65 (-10)
AFC West - 65 (+17)
AFC East - 76 (-2)
NFC South - 79 (-9)
NFC West - 97 (+3)

Week 8 Power Rankings

A week without a lot of upsets keep the top 10 the same this week, setting the stage for Super Bowl 41.5 next week. The bottom five also stayed the same , as Atlanta's release of Grady Jackson kept the Falcons behind the Jets despite New York's awful play. The biggest riser is New Orleans, moving up 4 spots, and biggest fall belongs to Houston, dropping 5 spots. Across the board this is the most stable my power rankings have stayed from one week to the next, which led to me going 11-2 in my picks for this week, good for 2nd in my pool.

1. New England Patriots (8-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0) (2) AFC South
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (3) AFC North
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-1) (4) NFC East
5. San Diego Chargers (4-3) (5) AFC West
6. Tennessee Titans (5-2) (6) AFC South
7. Green Bay Packers (6-1) (7) NFC North
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) (8) AFC South
9. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) (9) AFC West
10. New York Giants (6-2) (10) NFC East
11. Cleveland Browns (4-3) (14) AFC North
12. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) (13) NFC West
13. Washington Redskins (4-3) (11) NFC East
14. Denver Broncos (3-4) (12) AFC West
15. Detroit Lions (5-2) (16) NFC North
16. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) (15) AFC North
17. Buffalo Bills (3-4) (20) AFC East
18. Carolina Panthers (4-3) (17) NFC South
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (19) NFC South
20. Oakland Raiders (2-5) (21) AFC West
21. New Orleans Saints (3-4) (25) NFC South
22. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) (22) NFC West
23. Houston Texans (3-5) (18) AFC South
24. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (27) NFC East
25. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5) (23) AFC North
26. Chicago Bears (3-5) (24) NFC North
27. Minnesota Vikings (2-5) (26) NFC North
28. San Francisco 49ers (2-5) (28) NFC West
29. New York Jets (1-7) (29) AFC East
30. Atlanta Falcons (1-6) (30) NFC South
31. Miami Dolphins (0-8) (31) AFC East
32. St. Louis Rams (0-8) (32) NFC West

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 39 (+5 from last week)
AFC West - 48 (+1)
NFC East - 51 (-1)
AFC North - 55 (no change)
NFC North - 75 (+2)
AFC East - 78 (-3)
NFC South - 88 (-3)
NFC West - 94 (-1)

Week 7 Power Rankings

Halfway through week 3 the Chiefs and Giants both looked dead and buried. The Chiefs had scored 16 points and the Giants had allowed 97 points in two and a half games. Since then the Chiefs have scored 86 points and the Giants have allowed 52 points in four and a half games and both are firmly in the Wild Card hunt. Garrard's injury could be huge for Jacksonville, in a division with no margin for error. That's the problem with cutting your backup QB a week before the season. The biggest riser is Denver, moving up 6 spots, and the biggest fall belongs to Tampa Bay, dropping 8 spots.

1. New England Patriots (7-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (6-0) (2) AFC South
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) (3) AFC North
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-1) (4) NFC East
5. San Diego Chargers (3-3) (6) AFC West
6. Tennessee Titans (4-2) (9) AFC South
7. Green Bay Packers (5-1) (7) NFC North
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) (5) AFC South
9. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) (10) AFC West
10. New York Giants (5-2) (12) NFC East
11. Washington Redskins (4-2) (15) NFC East
12. Denver Broncos (3-3) (18) AFC West
13. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) (16) NFC West
14. Cleveland Browns (3-3) (13) AFC North
15. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) (8) AFC North
16. Detroit Lions (4-2) (21) NFC North
17. Carolina Panthers (4-2) (17) NFC South
18. Houston Texans (3-4) (19) AFC South
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) (11) NFC South
20. Buffalo Bills (2-4) (23) AFC East
21. Oakland Raiders (2-4) (14) AFC West
22. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) (26) NFC West
23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) (27) AFC North
24. Chicago Bears (3-4) (28) NFC North
25. New Orleans Saints (2-4) (25) NFC South
26. Minnesota Vikings (2-4) (22) NFC North
27. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (20) NFC East
28. San Francisco 49ers (2-4) (24) NFC West
29. New York Jets (1-6) (29) AFC East
30. Atlanta Falcons (1-6) (30) NFC South
31. Miami Dolphins (0-7) (31) AFC East
32. St. Louis Rams (0-7) (32) NFC West

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 34 (-1 from last week)
AFC West - 47 (-1)
NFC East - 52 (+1)
AFC North - 55 (+4)
NFC North - 73 (-5)
AFC East - 81 (-3)
NFC South - 91 (+8)
NFC West - 95 (-3)

Week 6 Power Rankings

The biggest surprise of week 6 has to be the Saints showing against Seattle. Seattle looks completely bipolar - they're 3-3 and have won by 3, 14, and 20 and lost by 3, 11, and 21. I wanted to drop them precipitously, but I'd still pick them to beat half the teams in the NFL, so I only dropped them three spots. ESPN made a big deal about the Giants crushing the Falcons on Monday Night, but I'm ready to crown their ass quite yet. I did move them up three spots. The Vikings scored a mild upset over the Bears, the Bucs won at home against the VY-less Titans, and Vinny Testaverde outplayed Tim Rattay. The Panthers moved up 8 spots and Bears dropped 8 spots in the biggest moves of the week.

1. New England Patriots (6-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (5-0) (2) AFC South
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) (3) AFC North
4. Dallas Cowboys (5-1) (5) NFC East
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) (6) AFC South
6. San Diego Chargers (3-3) (8) AFC West
7. Green Bay Packers (5-1) (7) NFC North
8. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) (10) AFC North
9. Tennessee Titans (3-2) (4) AFC South
10. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) (16) AFC West
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) (18) NFC South
12. New York Giants (4-2) (15) NFC East
13. Cleveland Browns (3-3) (14) AFC North
14. Oakland Raiders (2-3) (9) AFC West
15. Washington Redskins (3-2) (11) NFC East
16. Seattle Seahawks (3-3) (13) NFC West
17. Carolina Panthers (4-2) (25) NFC South
18. Denver Broncos (2-3) (17) AFC West
19. Houston Texans (3-3) (12) AFC South
20. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) (23) NFC East
21. Detroit Lions (3-2) (24) NFC North
22. Minnesota Vikings (2-3) (31) NFC North
23. Buffalo Bills (1-4) (22) AFC East
24. San Francisco 49ers (2-3) (27) NFC West
25. New Orleans Saints (1-4) (30) NFC South
26. Arizona Cardinals (3-3) (19) NFC West
27. Cincinnati Bengals (1-4) (21) AFC North
28. Chicago Bears (2-4) (20) NFC North
29. New York Jets (1-5) (26) AFC East
30. Atlanta Falcons (1-5) (28) NFC South
31. Miami Dolphins (0-6) (29) AFC East
32. St. Louis Rams (0-6) (32) NFC West

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 35 (+11 from last week)
AFC West - 48 (-2)
NFC East - 51 (-3)
AFC North - 51 (+3)
NFC North - 78 (-4)
NFC South - 83 (-18)
AFC East - 84 (+6)
NFC West - 98 (+7)

Week 5 Power Rankings

Injuries rocked my power rankings this week. Carolina can't be taken seriously without a healthy Jake Delhomme, and Arizona demands to be taken seriously without Matt Leinart complaining to the press. I've been calling for the Cleo Lemon era to begin in Miami and it's finally upon us; I still dropped them behind an Atlanta team that has managed to hang around in games against better opponents.

1. New England Patriots (5-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (5-0) (2) AFC South
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) (4) AFC North
4. Tennessee Titans (3-1) (5) AFC South
5. Dallas Cowboys (5-0) (3) NFC East
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) (7) AFC South
7. Green Bay Packers (4-1) (6) NFC North
8. San Diego Chargers (2-3) (12) AFC West
9. Oakland Raiders (2-2) (11) AFC West
10. Baltimore Ravens (3-2) (10) AFC North
11. Washington Redskins (3-1) (15) NFC East
12. Houston Texans (3-2) (13) AFC South
13. Seattle Seahawks (3-2) (8) NFC West
14. Cleveland Browns (2-3) (16) AFC North
15. New York Giants (3-2) (17) NFC East
16. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) (18) AFC West
17. Denver Broncos (2-3) (9) AFC West
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) (14) NFC South
19. Arizona Cardinals (3-2) (21) NFC West
20. Chicago Bears (2-3) (26) NFC North
21. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) (20) AFC North
22. Buffalo Bills (1-4) (27) AFC East
23. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) (23) NFC East
24. Detroit Lions (3-2) (19) NFC North
25. Carolina Panthers (3-2) (25) NFC South
26. New York Jets (1-4) (22) AFC East
27. San Francisco 49ers (2-3) (24) NFC West
28. Atlanta Falcons (1-4) (29) NFC South
29. Miami Dolphins (0-5) (28) AFC East
30. New Orleans Saints (0-4) (30) NFC South
31. Minnesota Vikings (1-3) (31) NFC North
32. St. Louis Rams (0-5) (32) NFC West

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 24 (-3 from last week)
AFC North - 48 (-2)
AFC West - 50 (no change)
NFC East - 54 (-4)
AFC East - 78 (no change)
NFC North - 82 (no change)
NFC West - 91 (+6)
NFC South - 101 (+3)

Week 4 Power Rankings

A wild weekend of football rocks the power rankings. David Carr doesn't look like much of a backup in Carolina, making me knock them down 6 spots, with Delhomme's future in doubt. Five touchdowns with 103 yards of offense out of Culpepper make me, I can't believe I'm doing this, bump the Raiders up to the 11 spot. On a neutral field I'd actually pick the Raiders, who went 2-14 last year, to beat the Chargers, who went 14-2 last year. Talk about a tale of two coaching changes! The Browns, Chiefs, and Giants tie the Raiders with the biggest leap with 9 spots, the Eagles and Bears drop 10 spots a piece.

1. New England Patriots (4-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (4-0) (2) AFC South
3. Dallas Cowboys (4-0) (4) NFC East
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) (3) AFC North
5. Tennessee Titans (2-1) (6) AFC South
6. Green Bay Packers (4-0) (7) NFC North
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) (8) AFC South
8. Seattle Seahawks (3-1) (12) NFC West
9. Denver Broncos (2-2) (10) AFC West
10. Baltimore Ravens (2-2) (5) AFC North
11. Oakland Raiders (2-2) (20) AFC West
12. San Diego Chargers (1-3) (9) AFC West
13. Houston Texans (2-2) (11) AFC South
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) (21) NFC South
15. Washington Redskins (2-1) (17) NFC East
16. Cleveland Browns (2-2) (25) AFC North
17. New York Giants (2-2) (26) NFC East
18. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) (27) AFC West
19. Detroit Lions (3-1) (23) NFC North
20. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) (14) AFC North
21. Arizona Cardinals (2-2) (24) NFC West
22. New York Jets (1-3) (15) AFC East
23. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) (13) NFC East
24. San Francisco 49ers (2-2) (18) NFC West
25. Carolina Panthers (2-2) (19) NFC South
26. Chicago Bears (1-3) (16) NFC North
27. Buffalo Bills (1-3) (31) AFC East
28. Miami Dolphins (0-4) (22) AFC East
29. Atlanta Falcons (1-3) (32) NFC South
30. New Orleans Saints (0-3) (29) NFC South
31. Minnesota Vikings (1-3) (28) NFC North
32. St. Louis Rams (0-4) (30) NFC West

Division Power Rankings (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 27 (no change from last week)
AFC North - 50 (+3)
AFC West - 50 (-16)
NFC East - 58 (-2)
AFC East - 78 (+9)
NFC North - 82 (+8)
NFC West - 85 (+1)
NFC South - 98 (-3)

Week 3 Power Rankings

My Week 2 Power Rankings look pretty good in hindsight, with as high as I had the 0-2 Eagles and Jets and as low as I had the 2-0 Lions. When you make a list based on how good you perceive the teams to be as opposed to how well they've been playing, teams don't move as dramatically. The biggest riser was the Eagles moving up 7, the biggest fall is that of the Vikings, dropping 9 spots.

1. New England Patriots (3-0) (Last week: 1) AFC East
2. Indianapolis Colts (3-0) (2) AFC South
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) (4) AFC North
4. Dallas Cowboys (3-0) (5) NFC East
5. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) (3) AFC North
6. Tennessee Titans (2-1) (9) AFC South
7. Green Bay Packers (3-0) (10) NFC North
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) (11) AFC South
9. San Diego Chargers (1-2) (6) AFC West
10. Denver Broncos (2-1) (7) AFC West
11. Houston Texans (2-1) (8) AFC South
12. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) (16) NFC West
13. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) (20) NFC East
14. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) (13) AFC North
15. New York Jets (1-2) (17) AFC East
16. Chicago Bears (with Griese as starter, 28th with Grossman) (1-2) (12) NFC North
17. Washington Redskins (2-1) (15) NFC East
18. San Francisco 49ers (2-1) (14) NFC West
19. Carolina Panthers (2-1) (18) NFC South
20. Oakland Raiders (1-2) (25) AFC West
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) (24) NFC South
22. Miami Dolphins (0-3) (26) AFC East
23. Detroit Lions (2-1) (21) NFC North
24. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) (22) NFC West
25. Cleveland Browns (1-2) (28) AFC North
26. New York Giants (1-2) (30) NFC East
27. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) (31) AFC West
28. Minnesota Vikings (1-2) (19) NFC North
29. New Orleans Saints (0-3) (23) NFC South
30. St. Louis Rams (0-3) (27) NFC West
31. Buffalo Bills (0-3) (29) AFC East
32. Atlanta Falcons (0-3) (32) NFC South

Division Power Rankins (by sum of team rankings)
AFC South - 27 (-3 from last week)
AFC North - 47 (-1)
NFC East - 60 (-10)
AFC West - 66 (-3)
AFC East - 69 (-4)
NFC North - 74 (+12)
NFC West - 84 (+5)
NFC South - 101 (+4)