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Posted: Wednesday October 25, 2006 11:18AM; Updated: Wednesday October 25, 2006 11:55AM
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NFL Power Rankings
Rank LW Team
21 25
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)
Matt Bryant's 62-yard field goal was not just the third-longest field goal in history, but possibly the best of them. Under today's rules Tom Dempsey's 63-yarder probably would be 62 because the ball was placed between the yard lines on that kick. Jason Elam's 63-yarder was kicked at altitude, in Denver. And if you were picking one of the most unlikely people in the league to hit one from 62, Bryant would have to be right up there. He was 2 for 5 this season, with a long of 28 yards. He had missed three, all in the 40s. His lifetime best was 50. But why bedevil you Eagles fans with freaky statistics? It's bad enough for you that it happened.
22 22
Washington Redskins (2-5)
What a sad sight, the end of the Indy game, a tribute to the mock heroic, with Mark Brunell hustling to get his guys lined up quickly so they could put eight on the board in the last 18 seconds, so that a 36-14 blowout would look more respectable at 36-22. So what were they supposed to do, I ask myself, start taking the knee, run into the middle of the line? Oh, maybe get Brunell out of there so he wouldn't have to take anymore shots. They'd already seen Clinton Portis go down with a knee. Sad, depressing questions.
23 26
Green Bay Packers (2-4)
Koren Robinson has been suspended for the year, Robert Ferguson is lost with a Lisfranc injury to the foot. OK, there's room for one. All applicants line up over there. Well, there are some familiar faces: David Boston and Corey Bradford, Scottie Vines and Tyrone Calico. OK, GM Ted Thompson, who's it gonna be? Oh, I see, you're promoting a free agent, Chris Francies, from the taxi squad? I'm sure you know what you're doing. I just don't want to be there when you tell Brett Favre.
24 31
Houston Texans (2-4)
Before Sunday's victory over Jacksonville, assistant head coach Mike Sherman provided some serious motivation. "The Jaguars didn't have respect for us," said DE N.D. Kalu. "I heard they were dancing on the 50-yard line. Coach Sherman got the offensive and defensive lines together and told us that's like somebody coming into your house and walking on your carpet in muddy shoes. We took that personally. We couldn't let them get away with that." Damn right. I went through the same thing myself the other day. The Cablevision repairman walked all over the carpet in his muddy shoes. I told him, "You can't get away with that." He handed me his work order. "Here," he said. "Fix the damn TV yourself."
25 23
Buffalo Bills (2-5)
This hurts. The Patriots' second touchdown Sunday was set up by Laurence Maroney's 74-yard kickoff return. And that's against traditionally the best special-teams forces in the league, year in and year out, Bobby April's pride, one of the few bright spots on this team.
26 24
San Francisco 49ers (2-4)
Nothing new to add by the bye by the Bay. I'll let you know when something washes up.
27 27
Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Every October, in honor of my birthday, I ask this one: The Browns are one of two teams named after an actual person, Paul Brown, the team's first coach. What's the other one? Answer to be found later.
28 28
Tennessee Titans (1-5)
I've always rooted for Travis Henry. Tough little guy. Gave his all to the Bills, playing on a broken ankle one year. He was rewarded by being benched, then traded to Tennessee. Finally he's rushing for some numbers. I'd love to see him on a real contender, but fate just doesn't seem to smile on some people.
29 32
Oakland Raiders (1-5)
I asked my spy in the organization, "So who's it gonna be when Aaron Brooks comes back from his chest injury, Brooks or Andrew Walter?" "We're looking at Marques Tuiasosopo again," he said. "How come?" "Al just hired a coach who can pronounce it."
30 21
Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
Only Shakespeare could have done this justice. Dennis Green chokes off his offense because Edge James complained about not being allowed to finish off a game. Thus they blow the Bears contest. Dennis covers it by flying into a postgame press conference frenzy about the Bears being overrated or something. Then he fires the assistant who wanted to keep the offense open, which would have given the team its best chance to pull the upset. The only reason Dennis still has his job is that Bill Bidwill still hasn't been told that they lost to the Bears. I'd set the drama in Verona, outfit 'em all with swords and pantaloons and let them go at it. The answer, by the way, is the Buffalo Bills.
31 29
Detroit Lions (1-6)
Dominic Riola, the center, had a perfectly legitimate-looking block that set up a 21-yard gain in the second quarter against the Jets. A holding penalty wiped out the play. QB Jon Kitna was not so much angry as saddened, and disgusted. He offered this commentary, which is so true that it makes you want to weep for the downtrodden of this league: "When you're a bad team and something looks funny, they throw the flag on you just because they think they should. It was so perfect a block, so perfect a wipeout, that they figured there had to be something wrong with it. So they threw the flag." OK, NFL, what is the price Kitna must now pay for his eulogy? Fining? Flogging? The stocks, the branding iron? You know he's not about to repent -- or convert.
32 30
Miami Dolphins (1-6)
Medical and rehab specialists are devoting themselves to figuring out a way to restore Daunte Culpepper's physical zip. "This is an issue," Nick Saban says, "of getting explosive movement back, quick explosive movements." Have you tried a diet of beans?

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