|
Week 8 |
| Rank
| Team | LW | Comment |
| 1. | Denver
Broncos (6-0) | 1 | I'd like Jacksonville's chances against the mighty
Broncs a little better on Sunday if the Jags were healthier in the
running-back department. |
| 2. | Minnesota
Vikings (6-0) | 2 | This'll get me in just swell with my many Vikings fans
out there, but I like Detroit in a shootout Sunday. Bet the
over. |
| 3.
| San
Francisco 49ers (4-1) | 4 | The 49ers have got real cornerback problems, and I'd
move 'em down a notch if there were anyone worthy of the
elevator. |
| 4.
| Jacksonvi
lle Jaguars (5-1) | 3 | Mark Brunell didn't open it up against the Bills
because that's almost impossible when the Buffalo winds are howling, but
the Jags could let him try for the big numbers in Denver. |
| 5. | TIE (imagine that)
New
England Patriots (4-2)
and Miami
Dolphins (4-2) |
6&7 | I find it impossible
to separate this pair, which is why they're playing this Sunday (to make it
easier for your faithful narrator). Tell me this: If Drew Bledsoe is so great,
why did Vinny Testaverde
find it possible to operate under difficult conditions Monday night while
Drew was herky-jerk? |
| 7. | Green Bay
Packers (4-2) | 5 | Cheeseheads are moaning that the Pack is finished. Not
so fast, please. Things'll change if Robert Brooks gets his
giddyups back. |
| 8.
| Atlanta
Falcons (5-1) | 10 | Who has the best front four in football? The
Cardinals? Giants? Midgets? Uh-uh, I'll take the Falcons' quartet of
Archambeau, Dronett, Hall and Smith. |
| 9. | Kansas
City Chiefs (4-2) | 9 | Two straight in the sea of red called Arrowhead will
help erase memories of the horrors of Foxboro. |
| 10. |
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) | 11 | Steelers and Chiefs to thrash it out Monday night for
the coveted No. 9 spot. The winner could even get to No. 8 if Atlanta gets
thumped by the Jets. |
| 11.
| Oakland
Raiders (3-2) | 12 | Why did I have the Raiders rated behind Dallas, whom
they beat, last week? Senility. But the Cowboys made it easy for me Sunday.
|
| 12. |
New York
Jets (4-3) | 22 | What I want to know is what did Pepper Johnson put in the
mix in practice last Friday when he took over after Bill Parcells staged
his legendary stormout? Pepper's got a great future as a one-day interim
coach. |
| 13. |
Dallas
Cowboys (4-3) | 8 | The strange decline of left cornerback Kevin Smith is a big
question for this team. |
| 14. | Seattle
Seahawks (3-3) | 13 | We are beginning to see the Hawks for what they are: a
team capable of beating the losers but not quite talented enough for the
elite. Sunday's confrontation in San Diego won't change things much--unless
they lose. |
| 15. |
Tennessee
Oilers (3-3) | 14 |
They crushed the Bengals with backup wideouts. This could be the sleeping
giant in the AFC, but the Oilers will be 3-4 if they do any sleeping
against Chicago this weekend. |
| 16. | New York
Giants (3-4) | 23 | The much-maligned (mostly by me) offensive line
rendered the vaunted Cardinals' front four comatose. Now they've got the
bye week to congratulate themselves. |
| 17. | Buffalo
Bills (3-4) | 21 | Wade Phillips, I'm telling you straight up, if you
send Doug Flutie back to
the bench, I'll never root for your team again. |
| 18. | Chicago
Bears (2-5) | 24 | What a gutsy team! If only they had better players.
|
| 19. |
Detroit
Lions (2-4) | 25 | Lions played a near-perfect game against the Pack, and
I think they'll score heavily vs. the Vikes. |
| 20. |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers (3-3) | 17 | It ain't how you win, it's just winning, say the
coaches. But they aren't doing the rankings. I am, see. |
| 21. |
Baltimore
Ravens (2-4) | 15 | Eric Zeier came up with a case of the stumbles in
Pittsburgh, and it won't get any easier this week in Lambeau. |
| 22. |
Cincinnat
i Bengals (2-4) | 16 | The Bengals' version of the zone blitz still has to
prove that it can function against a team that runs the ball. |
| 23. |
New
Orleans Saints (3-3) | 19 | Believe it or not, Billy Joe Tolliver is much
improved over his younger days. But now he's got the ghost of Kerry Collins looking over
his shoulder. |
| 24.
| Arizona
Cardinals (3-4) | 18 | This front four's pass rush, unaided by much of a
blitz scheme, gave Danny
Kanell hours to pick 'em apart. Jake Plummer still looks
like a zombie in Trestman's safety-first offense. |
| 25. |
St. Louis
Rams (2-4) | 20 | Tony Banks didn't look right against Miami. He's
normally an over-the-top passer, but he was sidearming 'em against the
Dolphins. I don't care what they say, his shoulder ain't healthy, and
there's no running game to take the pressure off. |
| 26. | San
Diego Chargers (3-4) | 26 | They won a game they should have lost ... to a bad
team. Ryan Leaf shows
little progress, and I don't foresee a happy outing vs. the Seahawks' rush.
|
| 27. |
Indianapoli
s Colts (1-6) | 28 | Nice day for Peyton against the Niners. A
heartbreaking loss to a top team, and the bye week to think it
over. |
| 28. |
Carolina
Panthers (0-6) | 27 | They're still losing but at least they're playing
better under Beuerlein. |
| 29. |
Philadelphia Eagles (1-6) | 29 | First down on the Chargers' 30, needing a field goal
to send the contest into overtime. Naturally they screwed it
up. |
| 30. |
Washingt
on Redskins (0-7) | 30 | A bye, then a home game. The worst possible formula.
What the Skins need at this point is a long road trip--to
Antarctica. |
