1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)
The defending champs get the bye at a perfect time.
The defending champs get the bye at a perfect time.
If it's possible to quietly be the best team in football, even as last year's Super Bowl winner, that's what the Packers are. I think it's because there is so much mediocrity around the league that the Packers are a given as the best team. Hopefully over the bye week the defense had a little powwow, because if that side of the ball can get back to last year's level of play, we will hear 16-0 talk pretty soon.
2. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
Being sixth in rushing offense and first in rushing defense is a pretty good formula for winning football. The passing game is far from spectacular, but it's efficient and used when necessary. Alex Smith is having his best year ever simply because he is not turning the ball over, but if this team really wants to talk about winning it all, he has to be able to create more plays down the field. If he steps up, the weapons are there.
2. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
Being sixth in rushing offense and first in rushing defense is a pretty good formula for winning football. The passing game is far from spectacular, but it's efficient and used when necessary. Alex Smith is having his best year ever simply because he is not turning the ball over, but if this team really wants to talk about winning it all, he has to be able to create more plays down the field. If he steps up, the weapons are there.
Frank Gore has been a work horse, plowing for over 125 yards in 4-straight games.
Offensively, the Niners are getting creative. They threw first down passes to left tackle Joe Staley and nose guard Isaac Sopoaga in last week's game. Defensively, the linebacking group of Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, and Parys Haralson might be the league's best.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Winners of four straight games, the defending AFC champs are rolling. They got a huge win last week against New England, and the defense is again playing at an elite level as Ben Roethlisberger has one of the better stretches of his career. Still, I think this team is vulnerable for speedy teams like the Packers that can spread them out.
4. Detroit Lions (6-2)
I think the Lions were trying to prove in one game that Tim Tebow isn't fit for this league. He's been sacked 14 times in two games. The Lions, meanwhile, are on pace for twelve wins this season, which would be an incredible feat for the long suffering franchise. Matthew Stafford has 19 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions this year and is developing into a Pro Bowl player in his third season.
5. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
This team has lost twice this year by a combined six points. They play as a unit, can score on anybody, and have very good balance on offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven to be more than a game manager this year, and the defense, while still a work in progress, at least creates turnovers.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
It's time to pay my respects to a team I've mostly ignored thus far. The defense is truly one of the best in the league, and Andy Dalton has already figured out how to play like a game-managing veteran seven games into his career. AJ Green is having a monster rookie year as well with 33 catches, 516 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Dalton-to-Green could be a great combination for years to come.
Side Note: Who would have thought it conceivable to start the year that the Bengals, Lions, 49ers, and Bills could be considered by anybody to be elite NFL teams?
7. New England Patriots (5-2)
Some of the intimidation factor is wearing off of these Patriots. It's actually been a while since this team won a Super Bowl, and the Bill Belichick-led defense no longer scares any one. Tom Brady has to be perfect if this team wants to win another title.
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
This is a Super Bowl team if Joe Flacco plays better. It's that simple. They have the weapons, the coaching, and the defense. All they need is for their signal caller to put a nice bow around all of it and this team can beat anyone. Whether or not Flacco is able to do that is yet to be seen, but I think he can turn things around.
9. New York Giants (5-2)
They are dinged up at running back with Ahmad Bradshaw nursing a broken foot and Brandon Jacobs perhaps just breaking down. On the flip side, Eli Manning has been great this year, notching a 102 passer rating. If they can reassemble their ground attack, this team can challenge anybody because of a tremendous pass rush.
10. Houston Texans (5-3)
Andre Johnson still might not be back, but as long as Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Ben Tate, and an improved defense (fifth against the pass, sixth against the run) keep rolling, this is the team to beat in the AFC South.
11. New Orleans Saints (5-3)
That was a really bad loss at St. Louis, just a game the Saints gave away. The formula used to be for the defense to cause turnovers and let Drew Brees be perfect. Brees is still great, but the last couple years he has thrown too many interceptions. He's on pace to throw 20 this year.
12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Falcons had a bye week to get some bugs worked out and now get the Colts at home. So basically, two straight bye weeks. They can get on a little roll here and perhaps start to look like the team we thought would challenge for the Super Bowl.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Winners of four straight games, the defending AFC champs are rolling. They got a huge win last week against New England, and the defense is again playing at an elite level as Ben Roethlisberger has one of the better stretches of his career. Still, I think this team is vulnerable for speedy teams like the Packers that can spread them out.
4. Detroit Lions (6-2)
I think the Lions were trying to prove in one game that Tim Tebow isn't fit for this league. He's been sacked 14 times in two games. The Lions, meanwhile, are on pace for twelve wins this season, which would be an incredible feat for the long suffering franchise. Matthew Stafford has 19 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions this year and is developing into a Pro Bowl player in his third season.
5. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
This team has lost twice this year by a combined six points. They play as a unit, can score on anybody, and have very good balance on offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven to be more than a game manager this year, and the defense, while still a work in progress, at least creates turnovers.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
It's time to pay my respects to a team I've mostly ignored thus far. The defense is truly one of the best in the league, and Andy Dalton has already figured out how to play like a game-managing veteran seven games into his career. AJ Green is having a monster rookie year as well with 33 catches, 516 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Dalton-to-Green could be a great combination for years to come.
Side Note: Who would have thought it conceivable to start the year that the Bengals, Lions, 49ers, and Bills could be considered by anybody to be elite NFL teams?
7. New England Patriots (5-2)
Some of the intimidation factor is wearing off of these Patriots. It's actually been a while since this team won a Super Bowl, and the Bill Belichick-led defense no longer scares any one. Tom Brady has to be perfect if this team wants to win another title.
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
This is a Super Bowl team if Joe Flacco plays better. It's that simple. They have the weapons, the coaching, and the defense. All they need is for their signal caller to put a nice bow around all of it and this team can beat anyone. Whether or not Flacco is able to do that is yet to be seen, but I think he can turn things around.
9. New York Giants (5-2)
They are dinged up at running back with Ahmad Bradshaw nursing a broken foot and Brandon Jacobs perhaps just breaking down. On the flip side, Eli Manning has been great this year, notching a 102 passer rating. If they can reassemble their ground attack, this team can challenge anybody because of a tremendous pass rush.
10. Houston Texans (5-3)
Andre Johnson still might not be back, but as long as Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Ben Tate, and an improved defense (fifth against the pass, sixth against the run) keep rolling, this is the team to beat in the AFC South.
11. New Orleans Saints (5-3)
That was a really bad loss at St. Louis, just a game the Saints gave away. The formula used to be for the defense to cause turnovers and let Drew Brees be perfect. Brees is still great, but the last couple years he has thrown too many interceptions. He's on pace to throw 20 this year.
12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
The Falcons had a bye week to get some bugs worked out and now get the Colts at home. So basically, two straight bye weeks. They can get on a little roll here and perhaps start to look like the team we thought would challenge for the Super Bowl.
--from @AdamHocking
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