4. Courtney Brown is finally getting some good luck. Of all the former Cleveland Browns defensive linemen playing well in Denver, Brown is a success story that deserves some notice. Yes, he was a bust in Cleveland, but the first overall pick in the 2000 draft is still the kind of guy people should root for -- cordial, hard-working, humble, grounded. He has yet to express any bitterness about his experience in Cleveland. He just acknowledges that he's dealt with things well outside of his control -- he finished the last four years on injured reserve -- and that he hopes this season will be different. So far it has and he's proving true what Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan and former Browns head coach Butch Davis say about him: That when healthy, he plays well.

5. Tom Benson is the most heartless owner in NFL history. I know, I know, I'm piling on here. But in this case it's warranted. There's no way Benson can be bashed enough for the way he's trying to pull his team out of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. On a lesser note, the man also lied to his head coach. Jim Haslett has yet to see that extension that Benson promised him after last season. Since the Saints are now 2-5 and fading fast, it surely isn't coming now.

6. The Bengals will win the AFC North. Yeah, I saw the highlights from that loss to Pittsburgh. But I'm not basing this prediction on how Cincinnati has played to date. I'm making this call because of the way Cincinnati has played in the second half under head coach Marvin Lewis over the last two seasons. The Bengals started slow in each of those years and made a late run at a playoff spot in November and December. They'll do the same this year, especially since quarterback Carson Palmer will only improve as this season progresses.

7. Drew Bledsoe probably won't get his wish. The Cowboys quarterback had hoped the offense would become more aggressive the longer he played in it. That isn't likely to happen now. Dallas lost left tackle Flozell Adams for the season and Bledsoe certainly didn't help his cause by throwing a late interception that set up the game-winning field goal in the Cowboys' loss to Seattle last Sunday. As much as Bledsoe wants the offense to cut loose, he'll have to stick with what coach Bill Parcells wants most right now from his quarterback: A leader who just manages the game.

8. Norv Turner, meet LaMont Jordan. Turner is already on the hot seat in Oakland, so he might as well return to the type of play-calling that made him a successful offensive coordinator. That means handing the ball to Jordan and letting the running game set up those play-action passes to Randy Moss and the gang. Turner finally let Jordan take over a game in last Sunday's win over Buffalo and the result was impressive -- 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Imagine what would happen if Jordan could do that over the next few weeks. Turner might as well think about that option. He's got nothing to lose at this stage.

9. It's time to clean house in Houston. Dumping offensive coordinator Chris Palmer was only the beginning. At this point, head coach Dom Capers is the next guy out the door and general manager Charley Casserly isn't safe, either. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Quarterback David Carr isn't the only problem on this team. I don't see much help around him -- on either side of the ball -- and that's an issue that goes straight to the front office.

10. The AFC West is still the best division in the NFL. I'm not falling for all this talk about the NFC East re-establishing its dominance. Denver will still win 12 games this season. Kansas City will become more dangerous once its offense gets healthy. As for San Diego, it just has to start winning close games. Special teams play led to two of the Chargers' four losses (The Steelers beat them with a field goal and the Eagles got past the Chargers by blocking a field goal attempt and returning it for a touchdown). And San Diego probably would have beaten Dallas in Week 1 had Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates not been on the sidelines. The Chargers will be there at the end.