'07 powers failing

AFC

1. Tennessee Titans (5-0, LW: 1)
I don't think anyone can question this team's ranking now. A perfect 5-0 and the undisputed class of the AFC. A 2 1/2 game lead in the AFC South already, this team is built for the long run. Hands down the best defense in the league, a great running game and now a quarterback who can lead them from behind in the dying minutes. At the beginning of the year the schedule looked brutal, but now that we've seen the Colts, Jaguars and Texans to be more or less impotent the run home doesn't look too difficult now.

2. Denver Broncos (4-1, LW: 4)
I'm not in love with this ranking but I think it can be justified. The offense is obviously explosive, the best in the AFC. The win over Tampa Bay was massive, if the defense can play like that all year then the Broncos can win a playoff game or two. The major reason for the high ranking though is the shockingly easy schedule they have.

3. Buffalo Bills (4-1, LW: 2)
Not quite time to panic but pretty close. This is now three consecutive sub-par performances in a row from the Bills, but this time they didn't have Trent Edwards to bail them out in the end. The bye week has come at the right time, hopefully they can get their act together. The home game against San Diego the week after is going to be huge.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1, LW: 6)
Have to give a lot of credit to Ben Roeslithberger, that's two weeks in a row he's practically willed his team to victory. The helmet catch was incredible, but Big Ben was pulling an Eli on pretty much every play in that second half. The bye couldn't have come sooner.

5. New England Patriots (3-1, LW: 4)
Start to like their chances as the division champions. The team we saw against San Francisco is probably going to be the Patriots team we see for the rest of the year. This Pats team has all the makings of a 10-6 unit.

6. Baltimore Ravens (2-2, LW: -)
Two losses in a row moves you up in my rankings. The Steelers and Titans are two quality teams and Baltimore probably should have beaten both of them. The defense is fantastic and if Joe Flacco can get it together this team is an outside chance at the playoffs.

On the outside looking in:

San Diego (2-3, LW: 3)
Who knows with these Chargers. They looked so good against New York I think I might have overrated them. No excuses for losing to Miami. Phil Rivers has come back down to Earth, LT is injured and the defense is terrible. With Denver's lead the Chargers absolutely must beat New England.
Miami (2-2, LW: -)
This Miami team is extraordinary. To be a 1-15 team one year and then beat the two teams that played off in the championship game convincingly the next is amazing. I still can't buy them totally though. I want to see them take care of Houston first.
Indianapolis (2-2, LW: -)
Speaking of extraordinary, how is this team not 0-4? And even more to the point, how is this team in a position to possibly being 0-4? This Colts team has played terribly, but by virtue of luck and some Manning they can still turn it around. They can't afford to keep on playing like this though, the upcoming stretch is brutal. Baltimore, @ Green Bay, @ Tennessee, New England, @ Pittsburgh. Ouch.
Jacksonville (2-3, LW: -)
This team is really not good. I watched the Sunday night clash against Pittsburgh and this team inspires no confidence. The defense is mediocre and the running game is easily stuffed. They're basically dependent on David Garrard's arm to win matches, and that's not really a good thing. I can't see this team making the playoffs, winning half their games is going to be hard enough a task.

NFC

1. New York Giants (4-0, LW: 1)
Everything's shaping up nicely for the G-men. Eli has well and truly taken the leap now, the defense is fantastic and the running game is great too. The best all-round team in the game right now.

2. Washington Redskins (4-1, LW: -)
Okay, now I'm buying it. You can write off one remarkable win, but to beat Dallas and Phildadelphia back-to-back on the road means your the real deal. The defense is stout and Clinton Portis might be the best back in the game right now. The schedule gets much easier now too. A real danger team.

3. Carolina Panthers (4-1, LW: 3)
You know, if I had to bet on one team to make the playoffs it might well be these Panthers. The NFC South is really not that strong, and the Panthers are just a fantastic all round team. Good on defense, good in the air, good on the ground. They just don't seem to have the extra level to maybe match it with the truly elite, but we'll see.

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-1, LW: 2)
The half-hearted win against the Bengals might be more troubling than the loss to the Redskins. This is a game that they absolutely should have won by four touchdowns, but were one fluke play away from having to deal with Carson Palmer marching down the field to win the match. They'll still make the playoffs, but the defense is beatable and Tony Romo hasn't shown himself to be the quarterback we thought he was.

5. Minnesota Vikings (2-3, LW: -)
With Tampa's and Chicago's impotent offenses, Green Bay's injuries and inexperience, I like the Vikes to come out of the North right now. The run game and the defense against the run is one of the best in the league. You can not run against this time. Loved Gus Frerotte bringing the deep ball on Monday night too.

6. Arizona Cardinals (3-2, LW: -)
Three weeks, three different winners I have coming out of the dreary West. After Seattle's performance on the weekend I don't think you can consider them at this point. The 49ers are close, but the Cardinals might be better all round.

On the outside looking in:

Chicago (3-2, LW: 5)
I just don't like the offense. Kyle Orton is not a good quarterback, and against good teams when they fall behind they're going to struggle. Really struggle.
Philadelphia Eagles (2-3, LW: 4)
A victim of their surroundings. In the NFC West the Eagles might go 13-3 and get a bye in the first week. But in the East the Eagles look like a 9-7 team that finishes outside the playoff bracket. They are a very good team, but with Westbrooke's troubles they just aren't quite there.
Tampa Bay (3-2, LW: -)
Putting up 13 points against Denver is not a good sign. The quarterback situation is too messed up to consider this team a contender.
Green Bay (2-3, LW: -)
I still like this team, but losing to Atlanta at home is worrying. By the time they get it together with health they might be too far out to contend.

Super Bowl pick: It's the New York Giants. The most complete team in the league now that Eli Manning has truly made the team his own. More composed than Dallas, better than the Redskins, and their advantage on offense outweighs their disadvantage on defense when compared to the Titans.

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