| CNN/SI Power
Rankings |
| Rank | LW | Team |
| 1 | 1 |  |
St. Louis Rams 5-0
|
|
A lot of players around the league are rooting for the Rams
this week because it will prove that Mike Martz's experiment of giving his
players the full bye week off has considerable
merit.
|
| 2 | 4 |  |
Minnesota Vikings 5-0
|
|
OK, I'm a believer. The thing that really impressed me about
the Vikings was something the Tampa Bay offensive geniuses never seemed to catch
on to, that the Bucs couldn't, can't and never will be able pound them in
short-yardage situations because Minnesota's D-line is simply too
quick.
|
| 3 | 3 |  |
Tennessee Titans 4-1
|
|
With big-money wideouts Thigpen and Pickens out of action,
they handed the ball to Eddie George 36 times and let him win it for them. Now
that's the kind of thinking I can
understand.
|
| 4 | 7 |  |
Miami Dolphins 5-1
|
|
Bengals hit them for 350, then they held Buffalo to 254. What was
the big difference? The return of Zach Thomas, plus the fact that it's tough to
generate real hatred for those poor devils in Cincinnati
uniforms.
|
| 5 | 5 |  |
Oakland Raiders 4-1
|
|
Niners were sky-high. So was the Raiders' defense until it
tired out. Rich Gannon went through a rough period when his ball was nosing and
sailing in the Candlestick Point gusts, plus Sebby the Kicker went in the tank.
Nevertheless they still won, and these are the kind of games they lost last
year.
|
| 6 | 2 |  |
New York Jets 4-1
|
|
Ray Lucas was minding his own business on the bench,
checking the stock-market tables, when all of a sudden he heard the battle
trumpet. Now where did I put that helmet? OK, he was blah. And so was the
run defense. But let us not forget what this team has accomplished this season.
And after we're through not forgetting that, let us try to figure out next
week's copout, which we'll hear after the Patriots unscrew the Jets offense,
particularly if it's minus
Vinny.
|
| 7 | 8 |  |
Washington Redskins 4-2
|
|
Execution vs. passion was the story of their victory over
the Eagles last Sunday. In Philly, they're still complaining that the missed call
on the Stephen Davis fumble cost them the ballgame, but who's to say the Eagles
would have triumphed in
OT?
|
| 8 | 10 |  |
Baltimore Ravens 5-1
|
|
The bounce of the ball has been the Ravens' biggest friend.
Last year they were plus-two in the old turnover ratio. So far this season,
they're
plus-14.
|
| 9 | 5 |  |
Indianapolis Colts 3-2
|
|
They lost to the Patriots in Foxboro, and if this were the
Fair Deal Saloon, New England would be a notch higher in the rankings. Let's not
rush things. Everything will be sorted out, I
promise. |
| 10 | 9 |  |
Kansas City Chiefs 3-2
|
|
Hey, the Rams were on vacation for the whole bye week, why
not us? Because there's a little number called 2 on your record. |
| 11 | 13 |  |
New England Patriots 2-4
|
|
Bledsoe's getting more time to throw, not a lot more, just
a little, but it's meaningful. I like their new guard combo of Joe Andruzzi and
Sale Isaia, and never, ever, did I dream that I'd ever put together a sentence
like
that.
|
| 12 | 10 |  |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-3
|
|
Yes, that's right, their season is over. But only if they
were to start the playoffs this Sunday. And I can see you hotshots with your
computers, trying to prove me wrong, via the wild-card formula. OK, you win.
They edge Philly for the sixth playoff spot, based on point
differential.
|
| 13 | 10 |  |
Buffalo Bills 2-3
|
|
Four of the five teams they've faced have winning records.
Isn't it time for a bit of a letup? Yes it is, and they've got San Diego at
home Sunday. Then it's back into the meat grinder for a trip to
Minnesota.
|
| 14 | 14 |  |
Denver Broncos 3-3
|
|
Another running back, for heaven's sake, this time a guy called
KaRon Coleman. What is this, the Rockettes, with a never-ending parade of good
legs?
|
| 15 | 15 |  |
Detroit Lions 4-2
|
|
They overcame a crippled Green Bay team (seems that I've used
this phrase before), and it's not that I don't like the Lions, it's just that
those above them are more
deserving. |
| 16 | 18 |  |
New York Giants 4-2
|
|
New York should change its name to What's Wrong, USA.
All I've been reading this week is What's Wrong With the Giants? -- with the
offense, with the coach, with Michael Strahan. Thank God they're not
2-4. |
| 17 | 16 |  |
Philadelphia Eagles 3-3
|
|
I'm not sure about Donovan McNabb. At times, he's
positively dynamic; at times, the whole thing looks like a seat-of-the-pants
operation. |
| 18 | 24 |  |
Pittsburgh Steelers 2-3
|
|
Kordell wins a couple, then he sits. I'll tell you, buddy,
this thing called life is one hell of an unfair
deal. |
| 19 | 20 |  |
San Francisco 49ers 2-4
|
|
There was real passion in their effort against the
Raiders. I like them Sunday in Green Bay, then the following Sunday at Carolina.
And if they can figure out a way to score 50 against the Rams, we could be
looking at a 3-0 burst.
|
| 20 | 20 |  |
Jacksonville Jaguars 2-4
|
|
I'll tell you what scares me about the Jaguars. The shot
of Mark Brunell on the bench after his replacement, Jamie Martin, drove them for
a TD. Brunell looked glad to be out of
there. |
| 21 | 21 |  |
Dallas Cowboys 2-3
|
|
Still can't get over that guy who wrote me the letter last week
about Emmitt faking
injuries.
|
| 22 | 25 |  |
New Orleans Saints 2-3
|
|
The Saints lead the league in defense and here's why: The
total stats are driven by passing yards allowed, and these are the QBs the
Saints have faced so far: Stoney Case, Ryan Leaf, a declining Jon Kitna, Donovan
McNabb and a heavily booed Cade McNown last
weekend.
|
| 23 | 26 |  |
Carolina Panthers 2-3
|
|
They're singing the praises of their new offensive
coordinator, Richard Williamson, but this is a guy who's been around the block a
few times, and I've never heard anyone say he deserves a spot in
Canton.
|
| 24 | 19 |  |
Seattle Seahawks 2-4
|
|
Brock Huard, the new QB, Mike Holmgren's man, averaged 9.1
yards per completion, and the Hawks scored three points. The No. 3 is Matt
Lytle, who taxied for Carolina last year. Is it still possible for K.C. to let
the 'Hawks have Warren Moon
back?
|
| 25 | 22 |  |
Chicago Bears
1-5
|
|
McNown, minus both his varsity wideouts, got booed out of
Soldier Field Sunday. Which is why they call it the Windy
City.
|
| 26 | 23 |  |
Green Bay Packers 2-4
|
|
GM Ron Wolf said it best: "Do you guys understand we're
an injured football
team?"
|
| 27 | 28 |  |
Arizona Cardinals 2-3
|
|
Even with his one longie (54 yards to Frank Sanders), Jake
Plummer ran a controlled attack that netted him 10.1 yards per completion. When
they let him do what he does best -- air it out downfield -- and when his
average is up in the high 12's or so, I'll take this team
seriously.
|
| 28 | 26 |  | Atlanta Falcons 2-4
|
|
I heard one of the Giants' defenders quoted that Chris Chandler
is a "finesse quarterback" who comes apart when serious heat is
applied. I thought this was pretty unfair -- my god, the punishment he took --
but it got me
thinking.
|
| 29 | 29 |  |
Cleveland Browns 2-4
|
|
Now comes the battle for supremacy among the Little Three,
and I don't mean Amherst, Williams and Wesleyan. All three, the other two being
Cincy and San Diego, of course, are on the road against tough opponents,
relatively speaking. When you're at this level they're all
tough.
|
| 30 | 30 |  |
San Diego Chargers 0-6
|
|
Nope, Jim Harbaugh isn't the answer, even though the players
clamored for him. Any volunteers for the trip to
Buffalo?
|
| 31 | 31 |  |
Cincinnati Bengals 0-5
|
|
Heard some speculation that the Bengals might trade Corey
Dillon to pile up extra draft picks. Why stop there? Willie Anderson's a damn
good tackle. Takeo Spikes is an active linebacker. Surely there must be a
receiver or two who commands market value. Then they could bring dozens of high
draft picks to camp, devise a fancy logo for them, promote them as the new,
young, exciting Bengals and sell more tickets to their new
stadium. |
