| CNN/SI Power Rankings |
| Rank | LW | Team |
| 1 | 1 |  | Jacksonville Jaguars 8-1 |
| Mark Brunell's 5.9 yards per completion last week was the lowest I've ever seen in any game not hampered by freak conditions, such as blizzard, drought, insects, frogs or murrain. |
| 2 | 6 |  | Indianapolis Colts 7-2 |
| While everybody was oohing and aahing about young Peyton's development, what was not noted was his tendency to be wild at times. |
| 3 | 8 |  | Seattle Seahawks 7-2 |
| Joey Galloway returns; plug him in and he catches the deep one for you. Next case. |
| 4 | 9 |  | Buffalo Bills 7-3 |
| Within the space of two weeks they murdered two of the NFL's showpiece teams, Washington and Miami. You tell me where it's all headed. |
| 5 | 2 |  | Miami Dolphins 7-2 |
| O.K., Buffalo in November is a vicious place for a young QB. Watch what happens this weekend against the Patriots -- at home. |
| 6 | 3 |  | Tennessee Titans 7-2 |
| Too many ugly wins. I sense trouble ahead. Way ahead, like on Dec. 26, when the Jaguars come a-calling. |
| 7 | 4 |  | St. Louis Rams 7-2 |
| Two losses got them focused again. Dick Vermeil wouldn't like to hear this, but I have the feeling that they were beginning to sense how good they were. They'll be up for the Niners. Make that the poor Niners. |
| 8 | 5 |  | New England Patriots 6-3 |
| Here's what I didn't like: Down by seven, with the Jets defense starting to come unglued, the Patriots have the ball on New York's 27 with more than five minutes left. And they go into that frantic, hurry-up mode that screws them up worse than it does the Jets, and they blow it. There's still something goofy about that New England offense. |
| 9 | 7 |  | Detroit Lions 6-3 |
| Bobby Ross proved one thing: In high-pressure, game-day situations he can get just as wacky as anyone else. |
| 10 | 13 |  | Minnesota Vikings 6-4 |
| Cowboys killed them on the ground, Bears killed them through the air. Two weeks to get ready for that offensive powerhouse called San Diego. |
| 11 | 12 |  | Oakland Raiders 5-4 |
| Long, sustained, grinding drives against the once-formidable Chargers defense. Is this what we can now expect from the formerly explosive Raiders? |
| 12 | T14 |  | Dallas Cowboys 5-4 |
| No levity here. That was one hell of a courageous performance against Green Bay. |
| 13 | 19 |  | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-4 |
| In two weeks Trent Dilfer has climbed 10 places in the rankings, from 24th to 14th, and they're still dropping passes on him. On the defensive side, Warren Sapp has learned the trick of making himself invisible. |
| 14 | 10 |  | Kansas City Chiefs 5-4 |
| Thought the D-line would generate more of a rush on Dilfer. Never thought the Bucs would run on them the way they did. And here you thought that I knew everything. |
| 15 | 11 |  | Green Bay Packers 4-5 |
| At first I thought it was Favre's thumb. Then I figured it was the offensive line that was the problem. Then the fact that there was only one functional receiver, Antonio Freeman. How about a combination of all of them, plus the fact that the Dallas running game had them on their heels. |
| 16 | T14 |  | Washington Redskins 5-4 |
| They scored 50 on the Giants last time. Guess what? I see a low-scoring dogfight this weekend, with turnovers and special teams deciding it. |
| 17 | T14 |  | New York Giants 5-4 |
| What would have happened if Pete Mitchell didn't fumble against Indy last weekend? They would have gotten into the end zone, tried a running play for the two-point conversion, gotten stuffed, and all week we would have been reading rips about Jim Fassel's play calling. Be thankful it turned out the way it did. |
| 18 | 17 |  | Denver Broncos 3-7 |
| This team plays with spirit and pride, and as long as it continues to do so it will not be embarrassed in these rankings. |
| 19 | 23 |  | New York Jets 3-6 |
| If I believe what I saw Monday night, this team is still capable of 9-7 and the playoffs. Whoops, hold everything. Every remaining game is against a team with a winning record. Well, it's capable of the playoffs next year. |
| 20 | 18 |  | Pittsburgh Steelers 5-4 |
| There are teams with lower-ranked offenses, but for consistency, the Steelers can't be beat. They've been under 300 yards in each of the last eight games. |
| 21 | 20 |  | Chicago Bears 4-6 |
| Bears at San Diego is an intriguing contest. Let-'er-fly pass attack against a defense that's starting to crumble. I'll take the visitors in this one. |
| 22 | 27 |  | Philadelphia Eagles 3-7 |
| Who can handicap it? Big hoo-ha about the debut of Donovan McNabb, but the kid can't throw the ball in the ocean and they win anyway on big running and six Skins turnovers. Do they have a chance against Indy? Depends on the weather. I don't like dome teams facing the elephants, uh, the elements. |
| 23 | 28 |  | Arizona Cardinals 3-6 |
| Last week the Cards hit a season high in rushing yards, with Detroit's defense likewise giving up a season high. Put these statistics in a pan, add oregano and basil, stir lightly for two hours, and you'll have exactly zip in the way of information for the Dallas game. |
| 24 | 24 |  | Baltimore Ravens 3-6 |
| Big emotional drainer against the Jaguars, and I wouldn't be surprised if Cincy hangs one on them this weekend. Depends, of course, on whether or not the Bengals are still serious about 1999. |
| 25 | 21 |  | San Diego Chargers 4-5 |
| Sometimes I have to laugh at the things I hear on the TV. Bonnie Bernstein, CBS' crack sideline interviewer, gives us this big spiel about how the offense and defense are one big happy family, and one quarter later Junior Seau has to separate Jim Harbaugh and free safety Michael Dumas before they waste each other. The way the defense played, I can't figure out who had a right to be madder at whom. |
| 26 | 22 |  | Carolina Panthers 3-6 |
| Now it's the offensive line's turn to crumble. Eighteen sacks in the last four games. |
| 27 | 26 |  | Atlanta Falcons 2-7 |
| Bye week. Cost 'em a spot in the rankings. I'm not friendly toward byes. |
| 28 | 25 |  | San Francisco 49ers 3-6 |
| Never mind Jeff Hostetler. Call Joe Montana. Call Frankie Albert. Call Wally Yonamine and run out of a single wing. |
| 29 | 29 |  | Cleveland Browns 2-8 |
| Do you know when the Browns have their bye? Jan. 2, Week 17. Just the thing. Get 'em rested up for the playoffs. |
| 30 | 30 |  | New Orleans Saints 2-7 |
| Well, I do realize that a victory over the Niners should have lifted them out of the near-cellar spot, but, unfortunately, all three teams immediately above them last week also won. |
| 31 | 31 |  | Cincinnati Bengals 1-9 |
| The Bengals behave as cellar dwellers ought to behave and don't make things tougher for your poor, beleaguered rank maker. |
