NFL Power Rankings Week 5

Expectations were low for the Rams coming into the season, and why shouldn't they be. Coming off a one win season and starting a rookie quarterback, experts didn't think the Rams would win two games all season.

They've won two games in their first four contests and it's due in large part to the maturity of the rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. In his first game as a pro, Bradford dropped back to attempt 55 passes! Talk about easing the rookie into the system. Bradford has been entrusted with the keys to the offense, and the results have been tremendous.

Despite a shortage of receivers (including the season ending injury to Donnie Avery), Bradford has throw for 944 yards and six touchdowns through four games. The competition hasn't been terrific thus far (Arizona, Oakland, Washington and Seattle), but I've got to give props to Steve Spagnuolo and the rest of the coaching staff for the improvement in this Rams team.

If you were to pick a team that will not disappoint this week you might very well pick the New York Jets, whose only loss to the Ravens seems like ages ago.

Since then, the team led by Rex Ryan managed to score victories against the Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.

Their latest victory against the Bills this week, 38-14 was a real show of power.

However, the Saints and the Ravens aren't looking bad either and as we can't see a definite leader in the NFL yet there are other teams who might start showing some results.

One of them is the New England Patriots who played an amazing game based on defense against the Dolphins and still managed to win 41-14, thanks to players who shined, like Patrick Chung.

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Week 1 NFL Power Rankings - From an Amateur

As week one of the NFL season came and went, some teams won, some teams lost, and some teams, like the Buffalo Bills, had life put in perspective. With only one game down, and fifteen to go, it's hard to get a grasp on who is good, who is bad, and who is just plain awful. But, with our week one power rankings, we are trying to do just that.

Week One:

1. Indianapolis Colts: In what was supposed to be a tight game, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne led Indianapolis to a blow out of New Orleans. The only thing the Saints are marching in now is remorse.

2. New England Patriots: We all know that the "real" Super Bowl last year was between the Pats and the Colts. With New England grounding the New York Jets, the same championship may rear its head.

3. San Diego Chargers: Phillip Rivers wasn't exactly a great QB in this game, but the Chargers found a way to win against "Da Bears." Still, if they want to reclaim the chances that evaded them last season, they better make sure their offense isn't offensive to their fans.

4. Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo, rebounding with greatness from his flub in last year's playoff game, made every Fantasy player wish that he was on their team. If the Cowboys can continue to gel, they'll be the team to beat in the NFC.

5. Denver Broncos: The Denver Broncos have recently not faired well on opening day. This trend, until Jason Elam's literal last second field goal, looked to be continuing. Not only was this a huge road win for Denver, but it was a huge emotional win, and one that will give Jay Cutler a boost to his young confidence.

6. Carolina Panthers: Two words for Carolina fans: they're back. The duo of Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith once again provided the grounds for a solid win, on the road no less. The Panthers defense also did a great job of silencing Steven Jackson. Let's face it, that's not easy to do.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sure, they won big, but let's not get carried away: they were playing the Browns. Nonetheless, Big Ben looked great in his 2007 debut, showing fans that the source of his 2005 power wasn't in his appendix. We'll see how they do when they play a team that doesn't come from Cleveland.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: If the most disappointing part of the Cincinnati games continues to be Chad Johnson's hyped up but lame touchdown celebrations, the Bengals could be in for a great season. They cut it close at the end, but their defense found out how to win. That's what good teams do.

9. Chicago Bears: No, they didn't win, but they did hold one of the NFL's most explosive offenses to only 14 points. Still, if they are going to be contenders, even in the NFC, they have got to have some sort of offense: put in Brian, and give Rex the ax.

10. Seattle Seahawks: They started off slow, but the Seahawks eventually found themselves soaring. If their defense continues to play well, and Shaun Alexander can stay in jury free, they'll make the playoffs. Where they go from there, is anyone's guess.

11. Baltimore Ravens: The loss against the Bengals didn't only hurt the Ravens pride, it also left Steve McNair with a separated shoulder and Ray Lewis with a bicep injury. In light of having more turnovers than a neighborhood bakery, the Ravens have a lot of work to do on offense.

12. New Orleans Saints: Yes, they were manhandled in Indy, but don't count out the Saints just yet. If last year taught us anything, it's that this team, and their fans, are full of heart. Heart wins where talent fails.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: A loss to Green Bay wasn't exactly how Donovan McNabb wanted to begin the season, but writing them off is a huge over reaction. Lambeau field on opening day is one of the hardest places to play. Chalk it up to that and hope the Eagles don't get their feathers this ruffled again.

14. Green Bay Packers: Sunday's game reminded people in Green Bay why they root root root for the home team. In a less than stellar division, Green Bay actually has some playoff potential. They have the experience and leadership of Favre coupled with youthful talent. They are going to surprise some people.

15. Houston Texans: After destroying the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston fans may find themselves with the urge to chant "Super-Bowl, Super-Bowl." But, let's not get too crazy. The Chiefs aren't a very worthy opponent. If the Texans can easily beat someone better, Houston fans may actually have a reason to get excited.

16. Tennessee Titans: With Vince Young and Chris Brown as running threats, the Titans could see an explosive year. What's more, their defense actually played...well, good.

17. San Francisco: Their defense and their offense seemed to have swapped roles, with the defense actually playing great and the offense lacking. Still, Alex Smith won when he had to and Frank Gore, running back extraordinaire, will have a good season. This team will have a better than average year.

18. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings were truly warriors against the Falcons on Sunday. While they looked great, keep in mind that Atlanta has had one heck of a bad off season. Still, if the Vikings can do this to teams whose seasons haven't been folded by Fido, Minnesotans may find themselves making the NFC north rather competitive.

19. Washington Redskins: It wasn't pretty, but it was a win. Their offense got the job done when it needed to. An overtime win on opening day is always exciting. For now, the Redskins are sitting pretty.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Chicago Bears of the AFC, Jacksonville is lost when opponents score: without their defense dominating, the Jaguars won't win. If their offense doesn't start to do...anything, this is going to be a long, long season.

21. Miami Dolphins: The loss in OT to the Washington Redskins hurt the Fins, both in the standings and emotionally. Still, there are signs of life: Trent Green did well in his debut (he would have done better if his receivers held onto the ball). If their defense can just stop the run, the Dolphins will bounce back.

22. New York Giants: The Giants and Cowboys game was getting exciting, and then the injuries came. The Giants aren't low in the power rankings because they played horribly, but because seemingly their entire team was injured. Brandon Jacobs is out a month, Osi Umenyiora is out for a few months, and Eli Manning is out for at least a game, maybe longer. The Giants will be glad when it's October.

23. Arizona Cardinals: Their defense actually played well against the 49ers. Too bad the same can't be said for their offense. If they are going to have even a mediocre season, the Arizona receivers are going to have to get open so Leinhart has somewhere to pass.

24. Detroit Lions: In what was the anti-Super Bowl preview, the Detroit Lions destroyed the Oakland Raiders. The Lions aren't going to be winning any championships, but their offense should see a productive year. This could be a turning point.

25. New York Jets: Jets fans are realizing that, if they want to be a good team, they are going to have to learn how to play with the big boys. Not only did they lose to the Patriots, but they looked awful. Hopefully the coach they call Man Genius can find a way to win.

26. Buffalo Bills: With thoughts and prayers going out to Kevin Everett, football seems unimportant. Hopefully he, even if his football career is over, can get well and lead a good, fulfilling life.

27. St. Louis Rams: When your star running back has a dismal game, you aren't going to win. Losing at home on opening day is going to be a hard one for the Rams to shake off. Steven Jackson is going to have to turn it around, and not turn it over, if the Rams are going to salvage the season.

28. Atlanta Falcons: It's really too bad that the entire team has to suffer because of one man's inhumane decisions. It would be nice to see Joey Harrington do well. He might not be a better quarterback than Michael Vick, but here's to betting he's a better person.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Don't count this team out just yet....give it a few games. Their defense showed signs of life, but their offense struggled in every sense of the word. Still, Gruden knows how to coach. He'll find some tricks up his sleeve.

30. Oakland Raiders: Even when they were horrendous last year, their defense was great. That appears to no longer be the case. The Chargers and the Broncos are glad the Raiders are in their division.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Wow this team looks bad. Opponents might even have a chance of winning at Arrowhead in November and December of this year. Like the Raiders, the Chargers and Broncos welcome the Chiefs presence in the AFC West.

32. Cleveland Browns: Look for Brady Quinn to be the starting Quarterback before the season is over. May as well put him in and chalk this up to a "rebuilding" year.

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for www.milleniumlimo.com. An avid sports fan, she likes the Miami Dolphins but her heart belongs to the Denver Broncos.

NFL Week 6 Power Rankings

New England at Denver (-3)

Both of these teams are coming off last-second wins. Denver earned a push against the Falcons in Atlanta (31-28) and the Broncos didn't cover at home against Washington (21-19). In a bit of a scheduling quirk, this is Denver's third straight home game. They've won the first two.

The Pats injury report has 18 listings on it - by far the most in the league. But, as we've learned over the last four years, you can't count the Patriots out. They're an absolutely amazing 22-1 (96 percent) when facing teams with a record over .500.

This is the fourth consecutive year Denver has started 4-1, but they were a combined 17-16 after that point from 2002-2004. Under Mike Shanahan the Broncos are an outstanding 65-18 at home. Jake the Snake is making his first ever start against New England, and is 14-3 with a 93.3 rating in his 17 home starts since 2003. Since 1995, the club has allowed a meager 87 rushing yards per game in Mile High Stadium.

Miami at Tampa Bay (-4.5)

Two teams, four running backs, one winner. Ricky's return, the squaring off of college teammates, and a battle for home state bragging rights will be on the line in Tampa.

Ricky Williams will suit up for the first time since fleeing to Southeast Asia to rip tubes. He's served his four-game suspension for substance abuse, and a very interested public will be waiting to see what he has in the tank. However, that means the NFL's former leading rusher is taking carries away from rookie Ronnie Brown.

Tampa Bay is coming off its first loss of the season, but will be benefited by the home crowd and the return of Cadillac Williams. Even without their Caddy, Michael Pittman is a strong runner and one of the best backups in the league. The Bucs defense is allowing only 20.25 yards per drive so far this season - tops in the NFL.

New York Giants at Dallas (-3.5)

The Giants are just 2-5 ATS in their last five trips to Big D, and are 2-4 in their last six road games. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home contests. Dallas is 2-4 ATS in both their last six overall and their last six against the G-men.

The Giants are coming off a bye week, which is the only thing that has been able to stop their offense. New York swept this series in 2004, winning by double-digits in each game. The totals in those games were 52 and 36, respectively. Hopefully the Giants worked to shore up a defenses that's ceded 425 yards per game and only forcing punts on 30 percent of opponents' drives.

The Dallas offense has been nearly as potent as New York's. They're averaging 370 yards to New York's 353. The difference is that the Cowboys D gives up just 297 yards per game. Another part of the Cowboys' success has been their 44 percent third-down conversion rate, which is fifth best in the league. Drew Bledsoe is now 9-3 in his last 12 starts. Dat Nguyen will be out this week for Dallas with a chronic stinger.

Carolina at Detroit (-1)

Carolina is an astounding 11-2-1 ATS in its last 14 away games. They barely covered last week, using a late rally to top Arizona 24-20. Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games, and 6-3 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Lions have won three straight at home.

The Panthers converted 12 of their 15 red-zone attempts into TD's, the top rate in the league. Their secondary is still banged up (Chris Gamble is questionable), but they're squaring off against a decimated Detroit receiving corps.

Dre Bly getting into Joey Harrington's face in the Lions' game against the Ravens last week showed everyone just how much respect the QB has among his teammates. Harrington fired back, but the defense has been pulling its weight. Detroit's defense has allowed only a 40 percent TD conversion rate in the red zone (4th best in the league), and have ended opponents possessions with an INT 5 percent of the time (4th best).

Here are my Week 5 Power Rankings:

1) Indianapolis (5-0) - Edgerrin James has rushed for over 100 yards in exactly half of his 86 career games. The Colts are 37-6 when he hits the century mark.

2) Pittsburgh (3-1) - It would be ignorant to play Big Ben against the Jags and jeopardize their season. The offense is averaging 38 yards per drive this season, tops in the league.

3) Denver (4-1) - Only 32 percent of the Broncos offensive drives have ended in punts, the best ratio in the NFL. That proves that Plummer isn't turning it over.

4) New England (3-2) - Pats have a minus 6 turnover differential thus far. If they don't value the rock in Denver it could be over quickly.

5) Atlanta (3-2) - Mora is 9-1 when the Falcons rush for over 200 yards, and they face a New Orleans team that yields 122 on the ground.

6) Cincinnati (4-1) - Chad Johnson is whining about not getting the ball enough, but he's first in the AFC with 31 catches (for 426 yards).

7) Philadelphia (3-2) - The week off came at a good time for the Eagles, who need to regroup and realize their divisional foes are no longer their valets.

8) Carolina (3-2) - The Panthers are above .500 for the first time since the 2003 Super Bowl run.

9) Jacksonville (3-2) - Keep an eye on Ernest Wilford. He's only made 26 catches in his brief career, but three of them were game-winning TDs. The Jags are 4-0 when he scores.

10) Tampa Bay (4-1) - The Tampa Bay defense has faced 44 drives this season and only yielded three TDs.

11) Washington (3-1) - The offense is converting on 47 percent of their third downs, second in the NFL. They've had six straight games decided by less than three points - an NFL record.

12) Seattle (3-2) - Look for a big game out of Shaun Alexander. In five prime-time contests he averages 110.4 yards and a 5.6 per carry and tallied seven touchdowns.

13) Kansas City (2-2) - Since 1990, Kansas City is 90-32 (.738) at home, and are 10-6 following the bye week.

14) New York Giants (3-1) - Alex Rodriquez has a new nickname - The Cooler. That's why New York fans are the best.

15) Dallas (3-2) - Julius Jones is questionable against the Giants this week. That's too bad since the Boys rushed for over 150 yards a game against NY last season.

16) San Diego (2-3) - Their three losses are by an average of three points. They took a lead into the fourth quarter each of the losses.

17) Detroit (2-2) - Ironic that with their vaunted receiver depth, rookie Mike Williams and castoff Kevin Johnson will be the go-to guys this weekend.

18) Miami (2-2) - Miami averaged 59.8 yards rushing after four games last year. This year they're gaining 118.5 yards a week on the ground.

19) Tennessee (2-3) - They've won nine of their last 10 against Cincinnati, and McNair has 20 TD's and 3 INT's against them in his career.

20) Oakland (1-3) - Incredibly, the Raiders aren't turning the ball over on offense (3). But their defense isn't forcing any turnovers (4) either.

21) Buffalo (2-3) - I'm calling it right now - Kelly Holcomb will be injured within four games. The Bills have scored a mere six fourth-quarter points, and only 7 percent of their drives have ended in touchdowns.

22) New York Jets (2-3) - 59 percent of Jet drives have ended in a punt in 2005.

23) Cleveland (2-2) - The Browns defense is surrendering 41 yards per possession, worst in the NFL.

24) Chicago (1-3) - Thomas Jones endured a Grad 1+ sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. He may not play on Sunday, but it shouldn't hamper him past that.

25) Baltimore (1-3) - The Ravens are yielding an average of 22 points per game. However, they're forcing punts on 68 percent of opponents drives.

26) St. Louis (2-3) - This week the Indy defense finally gets tested, facing a Rams team that averages 384 yards per game.

27) New Orleans (2-3) - The Saints have won three of their last four against the Falcons.

28) Minnesota (1-3) - So, what does a team that's 1-3 and has been a phenomenal disappointment do with its week off? How about a wild orgy on a Bang Barge!

29) Green Bay (1-4) - They started 1-4 last season and ended up winning the division.

30) Arizona (1-4) - Kurt Warner will be ready to go soon, but I think Denny would be foolish to go away from McCown's hot hand.

31) Houston (0-4) - I can't even tell how big a bust David Carr and Andre Johnson are because they're not even getting a chance. Carr has a 99.1 passer rating in his four starts against NFC teams.

32) San Francisco (1-4) - Starting Alex Smith is a foolish, prideful move by Mike Nolan. Behind that offensive line the kid is going to get killed.

Questions or comments for Robert? E-mail robert@docsports.com

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NFL Week 15 Power Rankings

I just wanted to take a second to wish all of you a happy, fun, safe, bizarre, victory-laden holiday season over the next 10 days. And with that, here's a thumbnail sketch of some intriguing games taking place in Week 16:

New York at Washington (-3), 1 p.m. on Saturday

For the second straight week, Washington finds itself locked in a classic NFC East rivalry game with huge playoff implications. The Redskins are clinging to the final NFC slot while New York is trying to lock up the division title and secure a pair of January home games.

The Giants hammered the Redskins 36-0 back in Week 8 in the Meadowlands, but were crushed 31-7 last December in the nation's capital. New York's struggles on the road (9-13 since 2003) have been well documented, and I think they still have a lot to prove. Their patchwork offensive line was outstanding last week, but I believe they'll be overwhelmed by a rabid Redskins defense.

Washington is currently in control of their playoff destiny. They've won three of their last four and can earn their first winning season since 1999 with a victory. The Redskins have only allowed three touchdowns in their last three games, and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games before facing the Eagles (they go to Philly in Week 17).

Atlanta at Tampa Bay (-3), 1 p.m. on Saturday

Since their Sunday night thrashing at the hands of Chicago, the mood around Atlanta has been melancholy and shell-shocked. Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday saying that he will consider this season a success even if the team doesn't make the playoffs. That seemed like waving the white flag to me, and is something that could've waited until after the season. Instead it's almost like Blank has given the team the OK to pack it in.

Tampa Bay is coming off an equally embarrassing loss in New England last weekend. However, they still have the inside track to a playoff slot and will have a rowdy home crowd backing them. The key match up here is the Bucs' third-ranked rushing defense (3.4-yard average) versus Atlanta's top-ranked rushing offense. Tampa Bay is 12-2-1 ATS recently when they win straight up against a divisional opponent.

Dallas at Carolina (-5), 1 p.m. on Saturday

If the desperate team usually wins in the NFL, the Cowboys could take this one in a cakewalk. Dallas has dropped three of its last four games and its playoff hopes are on life support. Unfortunately for the Boys, Carolina still has a shot at the NFC's No. 2 seed and is looking to salt away the South title.

I expect a huge day out of the Carolina defense on Saturday. The Panthers possess the league's third-rated unit; yet saw only one member (Julius Peppers) selected to the Pro Bowl. Watch for their overlooked front seven to ravage a very vulnerable Dallas offensive line. Carolina is a sultry 16-5-1 ATS in its last 22 contests.

Drew Bledsoe was also snubbed when it came to a Pro Bowl bid. His play has tailed as of late (5.8 yards per attempt over the last five games) but his numbers still blow away those of Ron Mexico. In the Cowboys' eight wins Bledsoe has a quarterback rating of 107. In their six losses his rating is just 61. Dallas has won the last four regular season meetings between these two clubs by seven points or less.

Indianapolis at Seattle (-10), 4:15 on Saturday

On the surface this looks like a thrilling match up of the NFL's top two teams. However, with the specter of Jim Sorgi and Dominic Rhodes leading the way for Indianapolis, this one could be the equivalent of a preseason dud.

Seattle is a double-digit favorite merely because it still has something to play for. A victory will seal home-field advantage in the NFC, and would mark a new franchise record for wins in a season. But don't expect a total gimme game. I think Indy will come out firing in the first half, but if Seattle can withstand the initial burst they should be able to pacify Indy as the game wears on.

Tony Dungy is 24-7 on the road with the Colts. He has stated that he won't limit his playbook and that the starters will play "as long as they need to." I don't imagine that will be longer than the first half for Manning, Edge, and Harrison. However, don't be surprised if they do bring their A-game for that first half.

Without further ado, here is my Week 16 Power Rankings:

1) Indianapolis (13-1) - Peyton Manning is quickly becoming the NFL equivalent of A-Rod. When his team is up, he's superhuman. When they need him in the clutch, he's subhuman.

2) Denver (11-3) - The Broncos have won four of their last five against Oakland, and Mike Shanahan is 16-5 against his former team. Yet, the Raiders have been victorious in two of their last three trips to Mile High.

3) Seattle (12-2) - As of right now, Seattle has the lowest strength of schedule in the league with an opponents winning percentage of just .398.

4) Cincinnati (11-3) - Buffalo has beaten Cincy seven straight times dating back to 1988. The Bengals have yet to turn the ball over more times in a game than their opponent.

5) Pittsburgh (9-5) - The word is that Ben can't throw the ball with any control over 20 yards, not 40 yards as was reported in the mainstream media. Ben was 3-0 against Charlie Frye when the two squared off in college.

6) Chicago (10-4) - I'm very happy that Mike Brown got the Pro Bowl nod. He's been one of the best and most underrated safeties in the league for several years.

7) New England (9-5) - New England has won its last 20 games when the temperature was less than 40 degrees. Also, they're 20-1 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 34 degrees or below.

8) Carolina (10-4) - The Panthers have scored 111 points in the fourth quarter this season, the third most in the league.

9) New York Giants (10-4) - The Giants, along with the Colts and Panthers, are the only teams with 10 wins against the spread this season.

10) Jacksonville (10-4) - In the four games before Byron Leftwich was injured the Jags were averaging 26 points per game. In the four since he's been gone it's dipped to 18 per game.

11) San Diego (9-5) - The Chargers have the league's fourth-toughest schedule (opp. win percentage of .531). They haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 16 games - the league's longest active streak - but face Larry Johnson and his string of seven straight 100+ games.

12) Tampa Bay (9-5) - How huge is that Week 10 two-point conversion to beat Washington right now? Jon Gruden had Joey Galloway simulating Mike Vick this week in practice.

13) Washington (8-6) - Not good times when you're running a story about starting the Oldest Lineman in NFL History (43-year-old Ray Brown), while your opponent is running a story about sending two defensive linemen to the Pro Bowl.

14) Dallas (8-6) - Early reports are that Marco Rivera will not play this weekend against Carolina. Also, middle linebacker Michael Barrow - signed to replace Dat Nguyen - was placed on IR with a torn quad.

15) Kansas City (8-6) - Over the last decade, Kansas City has outscored San Diego by an average of 29-14 at Arrowhead. However, nine of the last 10 overall meetings between these two teams have been decided by 10 points or less.

16) Atlanta (8-6) - The loss of defensive end Brady Smith has crippled this team's front seven. Smith's playmaking ability kept the double teams of Patrick Kearney, who's been a no-show for about four weeks.

17) Minnesota (8-6) - The Vikings began this week as 1.5-point favorites, but by Wednesday the line had already swung to them as 2.5-point dogs. If they win out, they could still win the NFC North title.

18) Miami (7-7) - The Dolphins are looking for five wins in a row for the first time since 1999. The team they beat in '99 for their fifth win? The Titans. Expect to see Sage Rosenfels. Gus Frerotte hasn't practiced because of a sore finger.

19) Cleveland (5-9) - Five of the Browns' losses have been by seven points or less. Cleveland is No. 1 in the AFC in red zone defense (45.2 percent end in TD's).

20) Philadelphia (6-8) - The Eagles have the fourth-lowest payroll in the NFL. Don't feel too bad for how this season has gone because they're going to come back even stronger next year.

21) St. Louis (5-9) - Interim coach Joe Vitt called his offensive line "soft" earlier this week during a tantrum to the press. I expect the line to respond, if only because they're facing a far inferior opponent.

22) Oakland (4-10) - I'm sure that LaMont Jordan is real upset that he isn't playing this week. The Raiders are 27th in the league in time of possession (28:35).

24) Baltimore (5-9) - The Ravens have won five of six at home. In his last three starts against the NFC, Kyle Boller has posted a quarterback rating of 117.2.

26) Tennessee (4-10) - The Titans are just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine games on the road.

23) Buffalo (4-10) - Last week I said that the fans would be storming the field at Saturday's game. Well, police made 22 arrests, and the stadium security manager said that he saw more fans "falling, fighting, and puking" than he ever had.

25) Green Bay (3-11) - This rivalry game against Chicago is the Packers' Super Bowl, so I expect an all-out assault. They've won 13 of 14 December divisional games, including nine in a row at home.

27) Arizona (4-10) - It had to be tough for Pro Bowl voters to select Larry Fitzgerald over Anquan Boldin, seeing that both are in the top five in the league in both receptions and yards.

28) New Orleans (3-11) - New Orleans is 29-5 under Jim Haslett when they enter halftime with the lead. Do you think he broke out that stat when he went to the owner and demanded a five-year extension?

29) Detroit (4-10) - I bet the guy printing the "Fire Millen!" T-shirts is having a merry Christmas.

30) New York Jets (3-11) - No beer at the stadium? I know the Jets play like a college team, but do they have to start adopting their rules as well?

31) San Francisco (2-12) - Alex Smith versus Ryan Fitzpatrick. And they're charging money to see it.

32) Houston (2-12) - It's amazing how players can execute when they know that their job, and their family's livelihood, is on the line. Houston actually swept Jacksonville last year and with an upset could actually play a key role in the 2005 season.

Questions or comments for Robert? E-mail him at robert@docsports.com.

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NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

Here is One Man's View of the National Football League in Week 4.

Denver at Jacksonville (-4), 1 p.m. on Sunday

Denver is hoping that they put up a better showing than their last trip to Florida, a 34-10 drubbing in Miami in Week 1. The Broncos looked outstanding on Monday Night, but as my friend Cody used to say, "Win on Monday, lose on Sunday". The Broncos better be prepared for a muggy, 85-degree day in the panhandle, with scattered thunderstorms throughout.

Jacksonville is just trying to keep pace with Indianapolis, which has another cakewalk in Tennessee. The Jaguars should try to take advantage of the fact that Champ Bailey is expected slowed by a hamstring injury. The Jaguars are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games, while Denver is just 3-5-2 in its last ten.

Seattle at Washington (-1.5), 1 p.m. on Sunday

Seattle has been rolling at home, beating a good Atlanta team 21-18 and then trashing a terrible Arizona team 37-12. However, the Seahawks haven't traveled well the last two seasons (6-11 on the road). I don't see them winning more than three road games this season, and this is a great opportunity to get one of them.

Yup, they're undefeated. Washington has claimed its two wins by a total of three points over the Bears and Cowboys. The Redskins are coming off a bye, so they've had two weeks to fortify their home defenses, and Seattle has to make that West Coast-East Coast trip that they like so much. They'll need Clinton Portis to finally bust out if they want this game.

St. Louis at New York Giants (-3), 1 p.m. on Sunday

Like it or not, one of these teams is going to be 3-1 after this week. Each of these clubs is putting up serious offensive numbers, with New York averaging 30 points per game and St. Louis putting up 24.3. The Rams are 2-7 ATS in their last nine away games, and the Giants are 5-1 ATS in their last six games.

The Giants had some team dissension this week. Plexico Burress was benched for the first quarter of New York's loss to San Diego Sunday night by Tom Coughlin for tardiness to team meetings the week before. Both Burress and Jeremy Shockey came out in the media and criticized the move as "unfair" after the game. A comment like that isn't surprising coming from two guys who have displayed their immaturity over and over again throughout their young, underachieving careers.

San Francisco at Arizona (-3), in Mexico City, 8 p.m. on Sunday

As you can see, I think these are two of the worst teams in the league. However, I do think that this is an opportunity to for some people to cash in. Arizona is the favorite even though they've been absolutely terrible thus far. The main reasons they're favored - because they're the "home" team, and because they're severely due for a win. However, they've been blasted twice, and lost a "real" home game to St. Louis. Kurt Warner is out, meaning the Josh McCown shit-show is back in business. They can't run the ball, can't stop anyone, and they can't finish drives (though kicker Neil Rackers is a fantasy stud).

San Francisco, on the other hand, did get blasted by Philadelphia and did choke against Dallas. But they at least have a win, and only lost by three to a good Dallas squad. They're building confidence, and their front seven has shown an ability to get to the quarterback (11 sacks). Also, it's supposed to rain all day in Mexico City on Sunday, meaning sloppy conditions. I'm not trying to openly campaign for the 49ers (don't underestimate Arizona's Due Factor) but I'm just saying not to completely dismiss this game.

FREE PICK: I hate taking a visiting team, but I'm going to give Seattle (+2) one final shot before I swear them off on the road forever. They're just 4-13 ATS over their last 17 games, but I just think that they have more talent than the Redskins - who have looked downright terrible in spots. If Washington does win, it won't be by much, so my suggestion would be to get Seattle on the money line and then hedge by including them in a teaser. Best case scenario: you win both bets and double up.

Week 4 Power Rankings

1) Indianapolis Colts (3-0) - If they hold the Titans to single digits, they'll join the 1962 Packers as the only teams to achieve that feat in their first four games. But, statistically, the Colts are only 21st (322 yards per) in the NFL.

2) New England Patriots (2-1) - Seventh most penalties, 30th in rushing, and now they're down a defensive leader and a starting lineman. The Pats have the league right where they want them.

3) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) - I know they like to pound the ball, but they have to at least attempt to get Willie Parker outside and in space at least once or twice a game.

4) Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) - The Eagles offense (444 yards per game) is tops in the league, even though McNabb has been playing hurt since opening week. The main reason: free-agent-to-be Brian Westbrook.

5) Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) - They are dominating time of possession (35 to 25) and swarming on defense. It doesn't hurt when Carson Palmer is completing 71 percent of his passes.

6) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) - The Jags look and play like San Diego and the Jets did last season. And like those teams, kicker Josh Scobee (7-for-9) will play an important role in this team's fate.

7) Atlanta Falcons (2-1) - Top rushing team is averaging 187 yards per game on the ground, and are earning 5.3 yards per carry. They should walk through Minnesota's D. However, their secondary is gutted, and the Vikings could shred through it.

8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) - The most important thing about Cadillac running the ball so well is that is sets up third-and-short. The result: the Bucs are converting 49 percent of their third downs.

9) Denver Broncos (2-1) - On the flip side, the Broncos are scoring 20 points per game, but they're only converting 25 percent of their third downs.

10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - It will be interesting to see if the bye week stunted their momentum, or gave them time to regroup and work the kinks out of the offense.

11) Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) - Trent Green took more shots on Monday night than I think he's taken over the past four years. Their home-field edge will be tested by Philly.

12) Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - Looks like Parcells' guys might have a little left in the tank after all, eh? They just better make sure they don't blow their load too early in the season.

13) Carolina Panthers (1-2) - If they're really a Super Bowl contender they will thrash an inferior Green Bay squad in primetime on Monday Night.

14) Seattle Seahawks (2-1) - Ho-hum. The Seahawks are second in total offense (399 per game) and eighth in total defense (283 per). But they still have to prove they can win on the road.

15) Miami Dolphins (2-1) - It's still too early to get too excited. As maligned as their offensive line has been, they've only surrendered two sacks thus far.

16) San Diego Chargers (1-2) - This team is in a great position to pick up a road win, but only if they aggressively attack a decimated Patriots defense.

17) St. Louis Rams (2-1) - These guys are still a sloppy mess. However, they have one mark of a good team: defensively they're stopping teams on third down 75 percent of the time.

18) New York Giants (2-1) - Well, this isn't your father's G-Men. They score in bunches (30.7 per game) and they can't stop anybody (408 yards given up per game).

19) Chicago Bears (1-2) - Any game that Kyle Orton has to throw the ball 39 times the Bears are going to lose. It's such a shame that this outstanding defense is getting wasted on such a piss-poor offense.

20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Well, Motor City Kitties, what team do you want to be? Overachievers or underachievers?

21) Buffalo Bills (1-2) - They were porous against the run (174 per) even before losing TKO, and the offense is getting restless. They're throwing for only 100 yards per game, and both Eric Moulds and Lee Evans voiced displeasure about it this week.

22) New York Jets (1-2) - Is the Brooks Bollinger Era over before it begins? It wasn't really an NFL season until Vinny Testaverde was involved. OK, now everyone can start playing for real.

23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - For their sake, they better have regrouped during the bye week. They need a win over the Jets just to get back into the AFC North race.

24) Tennessee Titans (1-2) - The Titans were aware that Travis Henry was in the league's substance abuse policy before they traded for him, so the suspension shouldn't be too big of a surprise.

25) Minnesota Vikings (1-2) - Offensive coordinator Steve Loney is still calling the plays, kind of. Loney gives them to Tice, who relays them to Culpepper. Tice did change some calls during Sunday's win over New Orleans.

26) New Orleans Saints (1-2) - I know they have excuses, but having the second-worst turnover ratio (-7) and the worst penalty numbers (12 per game) is just sloppiness.

27) Oakland Raiders (0-3) - The front seven has played well, but they wear down in the fourth quarter in part because the offense is 28th in time of possession (27:41). They've had a brutal schedule so far.

28) Cleveland Browns (1-2) - Their offense is only on the field for 26 minutes a game. I bet the Ravens wish they still had Trent Dilfer (who is completing 67% of his passes).

29) San Francisco 49ers (1-2) - Though playing at home, Tim Rattay had to move out of the shotgun and under center last week against Dallas because Cowboys fans were too loud.

30) Houston Texans (0-2) - The Texans reshuffled their deck during the bye week. They better hope for a good hand against a Cincinnati team that's dealing.

31) Green Bay Packers (0-3) - A -8 turnover differential is the NFL equivalent of moldy cheese.

32) Arizona Cardinals (0-3) - It's amazing that the media-savvy NFL execs really picked the Cardinals and Niners to go to Mexico and represent the league in a new market. How do you say "McCown sucks!" in Spanish?

Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail robert@docsports.com.

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Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (From an Amateur)

It might seem like the NFL season is already over. Really, is anyone going to stop the Patriots? We find out next week when the best chance at taking the wind out of New England's sails comes to Foxborough. For now, we wait and see and take a look at this week's results.

Week 8:

1. New England Patriots (8-0) (Previous rank: 1): This is starting to get a little ridiculous. Forget beating this team, can anyone even make it a close game? This week's match up against Indy will be the Patriots biggest test yet.

2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0) (Previous rank: 2): They put Carolina away easily, now onto New England. With a victory this week, the Colts can emerge out of the Pat's shadow and become the team to beat. But, of course, that's easier said than done.

3. Dallas Cowboys (6-1) (Previous rank: 3): No Change: Bye week.

4. Green Bay Packers (6-1) (Previous rank: 5): They weren't outplayed by Denver, but they won when they had to. Brett Favre proved his wonderful career isn't over yet. This was a huge road win for this team. Who would have thought they'd be 6 and 1?

5. New York Giants (6-2) (Previous rank: 4): They are better in the states than they are in Merry Old England, but a win is a win. Despite the strong game from Brandon Jacobs, the offense didn't score many points. They might have lost this one if they were playing anyone besides Miami.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (Previous rank: 6): The Bengals might not be the team they used to be, but give the Steelers some credit: this was a big road win. They played solid on all sides of the ball. They're not quite in the class of the Pats and Colts, but they aren't far behind.

7. Tennessee Titans (5-2) (Previous rank: 7): Last week they didn't have Vince Young, this week they practically didn't either. Nonetheless, their defense cranked out a sloppy win. It was a victory, but Vince needs to get back on track in order for this team to make the playoffs.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) (Previous rank: 8): Their defense gave up big yardage, but they also got big turnovers. Quinn Gray did just enough to get the job done. Their running game was solid.

9. San Diego (4-3) (Previous rank: 12): And here come the Chargers. After a horrible start, San Diego has come to life. They just flat out played better than the Texans. Phillip Rivers was great, but the Charger's defense was even better.

10. Detroit Lions (5-2) (Previous rank: 13): Lions versus Bears, oh my! Even playing against Chicago, Detroit still showed a solid offense. Their defense was great too, only giving up seven points and making Brian Griese look like, well, a Chicago quarterback.

11. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) (Previous rank: 11): No change; bye week.

12. Cleveland Browns (4-3) (Previous rank: 15): With steady solid play, Derek Anderson continues to make fantasy football players everywhere wish they'd drafted him. It's going to be hard to make the playoffs in the AFC, but Cleveland just might squeak in.

13. Carolina Panthers (4-3) (Previous rank: 9): They were off to a good start, but it was ultimately a bad finish. The Colts are just a better team than the Panthers. This doesn't mean the Panthers aren't good, they just aren't good enough.

14. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) (Previous rank: 14): No Change; bye week.

15. Washington Redskins (4-3) (Previous rank: 10): Um, ouch. When a defense gives up 52 points there's really nothing else to say than: Doh! This was a bad, bad game for Washington. Now we see if they rebound or if their stellar start was all for nothing.

16. New Orleans Saints (3-4) (Previous rank: 25): There are a few teams that started slow, and are now starting to ignite: the Saints are one of them. With their offense solidifying, this team is starting to look like their old selves. They are playing great football.

17. Tampa Bay (4-4) (Previous rank: 16): Losing by one point to Jacksonville has got to hurt. Jeff Garcia had an off day and their defense gave up too many yards. Don't count them out yet, but don't count them in either. The next few games will decide their fate.

18. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) (Previous rank: 18): No change; bye week.

19. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) (Previous rank: 19): No change; bye week.

20. Denver Broncos (3-4) (Previous rank: 17): What has happened to Denver's home winning streak? Their defense, despite giving up a few big plays, has gotten a little better but now their offense can't score. They had plenty of chances to win this game; it's kind of ironic that this time they lost...on a last minute play.

21. Buffalo Bills (3-4) (Previous rank: 22): The Bills could easily have a winning record, if not for some last minute points. If they continue to gel, they might find themselves being contenders. Their defense was great against the Jets.

22. Chicago Bears (3-5) (Previous rank: 20): Well, so much for their passing game. Returning back to their old offensive (pun intended) selves, the Bears managed a measly seven points against the Lions. The real problem, however, is their defense: it has gone from dominance to being dominated.

23. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (Previous rank: 26): Donovan McNabb stepped up when his team needed him. This was a must win for the Eagles and they got the job done. On defense, they did a good job stopping Adrian Peterson. Still, they have some digging to do to get themselves out of their hole.

24. Houston Texans (3-5) (Previous rank: 21): What has happened to this team? After a quick start, they can't find themselves in the win column. They were no match for the Chargers. They need Andre Johnson back, like yesterday.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5) (Previous rank: 23): This loss to the Steelers might have put the proverbial nail in the Bengals coffin. Their defense just can't stop anyone and their offense can't carry the load for the entire team. This season is cat-astrophic.

26. San Francisco (2-5) (Previous rank: 24): This team looks like it's imploding. They were once 2-0, now they are 2-5. Obviously, they aren't getting the results they want. They seem to be getting worse every week.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-5) (Previous rank: 27): They continue to do well on defense and poor on offense. They kept it close against the Titans, but in the end, they got no cigar. They're not giving their quarterback enough protection.

28. Minnesota Vikings (2-5) (Previous rank: 28): With their passing game virtually nonexistent, they are forced to rely on the run. In other words, if Adrian Peterson is shut down, they will lose. That's exactly what happened on Sunday. Their defense, unable to stop McNabb, didn't do them any favors.

29. Atlanta Falcons (1-6) (Previous rank: 29): No change; bye week.

30. New York Jets (1-7) (Previous rank: 30): This may have been Chad Pennington's last game as a starter. Something needs to change. They are the opposite of what they were last year. In other words, they are bad.

31. St Louis Rams (0-8) (Previous rank: 31): This team almost appears destined to lose. When their offense steps up, their defense falls down. They could score on Cleveland, but they couldn't keep Cleveland from scoring more on them. Their passing defense needs some work.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-8) (Previous rank: 32): Even outside the US, the result is the same. They made it close against the Giants and that says something. But, this team is still staring down the barrel of a 0-16 gun.

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for www.milleniumlimo.com. An avid sports fan, she likes the Miami Dolphins but her heart belongs to the Denver Broncos.

PSL Power Rankings #7

What an absolutely insane first few weeks it's been in the NFL. Seventeen teams, 17!!!, are still over .500. And it's just crazy how one week a team (let's say, the Giants) can look like total crap and then the following week come out and smoke a top-five team like the Falcons. Powerhouses like the Bengals losing to junk teams like the Buccaneers and surprises like the Saints are making this season something to watch. It's almost impossible to tell who's going to be left standing at the end of the year.

Especially after Monday night's Bears-Cardinals game. Chicago has looked like far and away the best team in the NFL. The offense was rollin' up the points, the defense was shuttin' teams down and appeared to be playing with such consistency. Then, Arizona, a dreg of a team, gets them at home and blows their doors off. But, in the blink of an eye, two lucky defensive plays, a special teams score and a missed Neil Rackers FG later, the Bears are still undefeated.

What Monday night's game showed me is that the Bears are not invinceable. In fact, they may not be as good as we all thought. They've played most of their games at home and haven't really faced a tough road challenge yet. Rex Grossman and Bernard Berrian have yet to show what they can do against a good defense on the road. I'm not sold. However, they stay at #1.

The big movers up this week, the Carolina Panthers, jump up nine spots all the way to #5, while the Falcons fall 11 spots to #16. Meantime, the Birds' second tough loss of the season drops them out of the top 5, but not out of the top 10. Not yet, anyway.

Now... onto the rankings...

(1) Chicago Bears (5-0) - They escaped from the desert by the skin of their teeth, in one of the most bizarre games I have ever seen. To have your quarterback turn the ball over six times and come back from 20 points down in the second half without an offensive touchdown is simply incredible.

(2) Indianapolis Colts (5-0) - Their trade for Bucs' DT Booger McFarland should help out that run defense, which has been the achilles heel of the Colts so far in '06. They paid a steep price though, giving up a second-round pick. We'll see if picking a Booger works out for Indy.

4) San Diego Chargers (4-1) - The Colts are higher because they're undefeated, but for my money, the Chargers are the best team in the AFC, if not the NFL. Of course, Schottenheimer will find a way to sabotage their Super Bowl chances, but we're still at least a couple months away from that. Philip Rivers is for real.

(9) Seattle Seahawks (4-1) - It hasn't been pretty for the Hawks this season, with Shaun Alexander's foot injury and the loss of Steve Hutchinson drastically affecting the running game. However, last Sunday's monster comeback win in St. Louis, with the division lead on the line, was monstrous. Seattle needed that game.

(14) Carolina Panthers (4-2) - Since Steve Smith returned to the lineup, the Panthers are 4-0. It's hard to believe that one wide receiver can make that much of a difference, but the facts are the facts. That was one impressive performance by Jake Delhomme in Baltimore on Sunday, too.

(7) New England Patriots (4-1) - The Pats drop down a spot on the bye week, amid rumors of a possible trade for disgruntled Raiders WR Randy Moss. It didn't happen. Can you imagine Moss and Belichek co-existing? Talk about oil and vinegar. Of course, Tom Brady still has no one to throw to.

(10) Denver Broncos (4-1) - I hate their offense and I think Jake Plummer is a terrible quarterback. But their defense has convinced me to finally move them up a bit. Only one touchdown through the first five games of the season? Never been done before.

(8) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) - I may have these guys rated a bit too high at the moment, I realize that. They're a very uneven team, you just don't know what you're going to get from these guys. But I just feel like this team is ready to really start clicking on offense. Once that happens, watch out.

(12) New Orleans Saints (5-1) - I don't think they're more talented than the Eagles, but they definitely showed they are for real on Sunday. After the Birds completely stole momentum from New Orleans early in the fourth, the Saints took it right back and dominated the entire fourth quarter. Quite an impressive win by a quality team.

(3) Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) - Yes they should be 6-0 but they're not. Frankly, the defense has not been good enough for this team to be undefeated. And we can talk about all the mental breakdowns and the talent level all we want to. But until this team is able to give tacit commitment to the running game and stop the big play on D, they will continue to beat themselves.

(6) Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) - What is going on in Cincinnati? Perhaps all the police blotter activity has caused these guys to lose their focus, but there is no way, NO WAY, a Super Bowl contender should lose to a winless team, I don't care where it is. These guys have been up-and-down all year and they better get it fixed soon.

(11) St. Louis Rams (4-2) - Despite losing a huge intra-division game at home to the Seahawks, they were quite impressive on Sunday. It was quite a slugfest between Hasslebeck and Bulger. Unfortunately, the Hawks got the ball last and scored on a monster FG as time expired. But the Rams appear to be for real too, as long as Bulger keeps playing mistake-free football.

(16) Dallas Cowboys (3-2) - One question... do you think Bill Parcells is happy or disturbed that Terrell Owens caught three touchdown passes on Sunday? It is an absolute zoo in Dallas, with a fight between Owens and his receivers coach, rumors of fines or suspensions that never came about, and reports of severe friction between Owens, Jones and Parcells. Yikes.

(17) New York Giants (3-2) - Despite a very impressive win over the Falcons on Sunday, I just can't put these guys any higher, not until I see it on a more regular basis. This team, along with the Redskins, are two of the most stupefying teams to figure out in the NFL. Some weeks they look like Super Bowl contenders, other weeks they look like crap. I have no idea what the Giants are, so I'm sticking them here in the middle of the pack until I find out.

(13) Baltimore Ravens (4-2) - Again, another team with a very good defense but serious issues on offense. The solution? Fire Jim Fassel. I have no idea if this is going to help anything, and the bye week should give Steve McNair time to be ready to go following his concussion on Sunday. But the offense was misfiring even with McNair in there, and Brian Billick thinks he's the solution. We'll see.

(5) Atlanta Falcons (3-2) - I've said it before and I'll say it again. You stop Mike Vick from running and shut down Warrick Dunn, you beat the Falcons. It's not a difficult formula. Kudos to the Giants for once again showing us all how it's done.

(15) Minnesota Vikings (3-2) - It's becoming apparent that no one's catching the Bears in the North, so the Vikes must focus their attention on the Wild Card. The bad news, there are a bunch of times with more talent who appear to have the inside track.

(20) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) - Finally, the Steelers looked like the Steelers of old. The extra week of rest seemed to do Ben Roethlisburger a lot of good, Willie Parker showed that flash that makes him special, and Hines Ward found the end zone. They've got a long way to go still, but the Stillers are not dead yet.

(22) New York Jets (3-3) - This just feels like an 8-8 team to me. They've got no running game whatsoever, you just don't know what you're going to get from Chad Pennington from week to week, but they play a bad enough schedule to allow them to beat up on some of the dreggier teams in the NFL.

(18) Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) - Have I mentioned that Herman Edwards can't coach? Granted, they played the world champs after a bye week on their home field. That's like lambs to the slaughter. But 45-7? Good teams don't lose like that.

(19) Washington Redskins (2-4) - How on earth, with all that talent and all that money and all those high-profile coaches, do you lose a game at home to a rookie quarterback and the Tennesse Titans? How on earth did that happen? The Skins are proving once again that money isn't always the answer.

(21) Buffalo Bills (2-4) - While Willis McGahee may be having a fine year yardage-wise, he just can't seem to find the end zone yet. The Bills' red-zone offense is almost non-existent and they do just enough each week to lose.

(23) San Francisco 49ers (2-4) - Alex Smith continues to play well, but the San Fran defense is a mess. They've given up 48, 41, 38 and 34 points in their four losses. Yet, they've beaten the Rams. This is a wacky league, friends.

(30) Tennessee Titans (1-5) - Despite my Redskins bashing just a moment ago, that was quite an impressive win by a team that most had counted down-and-out. And while they're certainly not going to the playoffs this year, they do have a young quarterback they can get excited about... Vince Young. He showed the poise of a player much older and calmly led the Titans to a big win on the road on Sunday.

(24) Cleveland Browns (1-4) - Unfortunately, the Browns don't have any young, great player to give them hope. Unless you're counting Kellen Winslow, Jr., who has yet to show he will be worth the investment. It's a long climb up for the Brownies.

(25) Miami Dolphins (1-5) - OK, so we're officially declaring this season for Miami a wash, right? I mean, Daunte obviously came back too soon from injury which is the reason the entire team has flushed its season down the toilet, correct? C'mon guys, show some heart! This season has been as much about the putrid play of the offensive line and the terrible defense as it has Culpepper. No heart in Miami.

(27) Green Bay Packers (1-4) - During the bye week, Brett Favre threw three interceptions during a family picnic. His QB rating actually went up.

(29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) - A very impressive first win of the season for Jon Gruden and the Bucs, beating the Bengals at home. You've got to like how Steve Gradkowski has kept them in both games they've played since Sims went down with a busted spleen. And Cadillac Williams is finally starting to show some life, too.

(31) Detroit Lions (1-5) - Congratulations to the Detroit Lions for their first win of the season over the Bills. And congratulations to Roy Williams who, after I traded him away in week 3 of my fantasy football league season, finally showed a little heart and put up a big week. Friends, if you've got Roy Williams on your fantasy squad, get rid of him now. Because he won't do that again until Week 12.

(28) Houston Texans (1-4) - How many teams were on the bye this week? Geez! I hate this new bye system. It seems like a third of the league didn't play in Week 6.

(26) Arizona Cardinals (1-5) - Wow. What to say about Monday night's loss. Just a staggering, mind-blowing choke job. It wasn't just the fact that they blew a 20-point lead, it's the fact they did without giving up an offensive touchdown. Think about how difficult that is. It's nearly impossible! But not for the Cardinals. The one bright spot... Matt Leinart is going to be a very good quarterback in this league for a long, long, long time.

(32) Oakland Raiders (0-5) - The good ship lollypop was in high spirits during the bye week. Randy Moss almost got traded to the Patriots and Jerry Porter was suspended. How did both of these guys not get traded for draft picks, especially considering how many teams could use a good wideout? I don't get it.

For more NFL News and Philadelphia Sports Info please visit www.phillysportsline.com

NFL Week 7 Power Rankings

Here's a breakdown of some key games on the Week 7 schedule:

Dallas at Seattle (-3)

Last year, Dallas rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes to win a memorable 43-39 Monday Night shootout in Seattle. However, the Seahawks have won twice in three games against the Cowboys since Mike Holmgren has been at the helm.

The big story this week for the Seahawks was the loss of safety Ken Hamlin, who got viciously beaten Sunday night outside a nightclub after Seattle's 42-10 victory over Houston. Marquand Manuel (five starts in four years) will take Hamlin's place, and will likely be tested by Drew Bledsoe and the No. 6 ranked offense in the league. Seattle won't mind a shootout though, since they posses the NFL's top offense (407 yards and 28 points per contest). The Seahawks are tough at home, but are only 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 games at Qwest Field.

Julius Jones and Day Nguyen should return for the Cowboys this Sunday, but the Boys lost starting left tackle Flozell Adams for the season. Torrin Tucker will be Adams' replacement. Also, Patrick Crayton is sidelined for 6-8 weeks, and Peerless Price will get a chance to resurrect his career. The Dallas defense has dominated two of the NFL's best offenses the last two weeks, holding Philly and New York to a combined 23 points, 80 rushing yards, and 3-for-23 on third down.

Cincinnati (-1) at Pittsburgh

This is a crucial clash in the AFC North, and a Bengals win will leave them 2.5 games up on the Steelers. However, Pittsburgh is 8-2 against Cincy recently.

The rumor is that Ben Roethlisberger is going to suit up for Pittsburgh. His absence was obvious last week as Tommy Maddox doubled the team's season turnover total - managing four himself after Pitt had just two all year. Former Bengals coach Dick LeBeau, now the Steelers DC, has beaten his old team three consecutive times since 2003. Pittsburgh is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine road games.

The Bengals have faced the Steelers 28 times since 1990, and this is only the third time that Cincy enters a meeting with a better record. They are 1-1 in those games. I'm going to jinx Carson Palmer by mentioning that he hasn't throw an interception in 148 passes. Cincinnati is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven games, and 5-0 straight up in its last five contests after scoring 30 points.

San Diego at Philadelphia (-3.5)

Since Andy Reid took over in 1999, Philly is 9-0 in games following a bye week (6-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs). Donovan McNabb has had two weeks to recover from his myriad of injuries (chest, leg, sports hernia).

The Eagles have thrown the ball on 72 percent of their offensive plays thus far, so they're looking for more balance. Since 2002, the Eagles are 36-9 versus the NFC but just 8-7 against the AFC. However, they've already squeezed out wins over two AFC West teams in 2005 - Oakland (23-20) and Kansas City (37-31). The Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.

San Diego is an outstanding 15-3-2 ATS in its last 20 games, but just 9-10 SU in road games since the start of the 2003 season. The Chargers have the NFL's No. 2 scoring offense (29.3 ppg) but are just 3-7 OU in their last 10 road games.

Denver at N.Y. Giants (-2)

The last time these two clubs met was on Sept. 10, 2001 - the night before 9/11.

The Giants are averaging 37.7 points a game in the Meadowlands, and are 4-1 ATS in their last five at home. New York needs to find some touches for Tiki Barber, who already has had three games with less than 15 carries. He had only two such games in 2004. The Giants are 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight, and 4-2-1 SU in their last seven meetings with Denver.

Denver is riding a five-game winning streak. They carried a 13-game winning streak into the Meadowlands the last time they visited New York, but were downed 20-16. Tatum Bell is leading the league's third-best rushing attack with his 6.8 yards per carry average. Despite their gaudy record, Denver's defense is just 22nd in the league.

Without further ado, here are my Week 7 Power Rankings:

1) Indianapolis (6-0) - For all that's been made of their offensive "struggles" this season, they're sixth in the NFL in scoring with 25.2 points per game.

2) Denver (5-1) - The Broncos small corners and 26th-rated pass defense could have a long day against Eli and the G-Men.

3) Cincinnati (5-1) - I think their front seven is soft. They have a chance to prove me wrong by holding up against Pitt's running game.

4) Jacksonville (4-2) - I'd be concerned about that 25th-rated offense. But then I'd feel better about that No. 4 defense.

5) Tampa Bay (5-1) - Tim Rattay was a real nice pickup for this club. They're going to need him sooner rather than later.

6) Pittsburgh (3-2) - I hope Big Ben isn't coming back too quickly.

7) Atlanta (4-2) - I didn't think Edge Hartwell had done much for the Falcons this season, but in the two games since he's been gone they've surrendered 352 rush yards.

8) Philadelphia (3-2) - From the week after their bye to the end of the season, the Eagles are 41-10 under Reid. They went 9-3 in 2004 following the off week.

9) Carolina (4-2) - Their offense is ranked just 23rd and the defense is committing 10 penalties a game. Sloppy.

10) New England (3-3) - Since Rodney Harrison went down the Pats are 1-2, have yielded 1,263 yards (421 per game), and have been outscored 97-68.

11) Seattle (4-2) - Like Dallas, Houston employed a 3-4 defense and the Seahawks ran over it for 320 yards.

12) Dallas (4-2) - Adams had started 106 consecutive games for the Boys. A team losing its starting, Pro Bowl left tackle is not something to be taken lightly.

13) Kansas City (3-2) - This game is needed if the Chiefs want to make a run in the West. Their seventh-ranked rush offense will face the 13th-ranked rush defense.

14) San Diego (3-3) - When they meet Philly, the Chargers will have faced three teams in seven weeks that have had a bye the previous Sunday.

15) Washington (3-2) - Clinton Portis has a sore shin and hamstring, but will play. The Redskins are one of just two teams with a winning record and a negative turnover differential.

16) New York Giants (3-2) - Teams are converting an absurd 52% of third downs against the G-Men. However, their defense has forced 17 turnovers in just five games.

17) Buffalo (3-3) - The Bills have only 13 second-half points so far, but find themselves tied for first place in the East.

18) Baltimore (2-3) - This game in The Windy City is critical if the Ravens want to get back into the AFC North race. Baltimore is 4-1 in its last five against the NFC.

19) Chicago (2-3) - Teams have converted only one of 12 opportunities in the red zone into a touchdown against the Bears defense. Also, their D is holding teams to a 28.8% conversion rate on third down.

20) Tennessee (2-4) - The Titans are just 4-8 ATS in their last 12 games, and 2-4 ATS on the road.

21) Miami (2-3) - The Dolphins have won four in a row at home. In two career meetings, Miami has held Priest Holmes to 77 total rushing yards."

22) Detroit (2-3) - Jeff Garcia split first-team reps with Joey Harrington this week and could earn start against Browns, the team he played for in 2004.

23) New York Jets (2-4) - Losing Kevin Mawae may have been the deathblow to their season.

24) Cleveland (2-3) - The Browns are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. Who knew?

25) St. Louis (2-4) - You don't really think that Jamie Martin pickup is going to save your fantasy team, do you?

26) New Orleans (2-4) - Now that the season is rapidly going downhill, the focus is starting to shift towards whether the Saints will stay in New Orleans. Could be another loss for The Big Easy.

27) Oakland (1-4) - The Raiders are the second-worst rushing team in the league with 71 yards per game.

28) Green Bay (1-4) - DC Jim Bates is doing a decent job with a terrible defense. They're 10th in total defense and 14th in scoring defense. Not great, but an improvement from their 25 and 23 rankings, respectively, last year.

29) Arizona (1-4) - Despite a weak rushing attack, the Cards are No. 3 in the NFL in time of possession with 33 minutes per game.

30) Minnesota (1-4) - Remember, between 25 to 35 percent of the "experts" picked this team to win the NFC.

31) San Francisco (1-4) - The 49ers have won three straight outright in Washington, but haven't played there since 1998.

32) Houston (0-5) - Average score of their games is 28-11.

Questions or comments for Robert? E-mail robert@docsports.com

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BGS 2006 NFL Power Ratings: Sept 4/2006

Before getting to the 2006 BGS Pre-Season NFL Football Ratings, there are a few notes you should take into considertaion.

As a rule, effective Power Ratings have no place for opinions or subjectivity of any kind.

Additionally, many publishers of these ratings release Power Ratings 'tweaked' with their own subjectivity which not only deflates the value of the ratings, but in fact defeats the purpose of the ratings.

Put simply, effective power ratings are an unbiased mathematical evaluation of teams based on the actual performances of those teams in action. They are the STARTING POINT of a handicap and not the end result. The handicapper who is using the ratings must be free to interpret them without bias from the publisher of the ratings. Injecting the subjectivity of an individual into unbiased ratings efectively renders them useless.

That said, it is practically impossible to produce meaningful power ratings before all particpants of a group have played AT LEAST 2 games, but we still need a starting point to both set odds and handicap games, leaving us no choice but to accept a certain degree of subjectivity into pre-season and early season ratings. We can then dissolve this subjectivity after all teams have played twice and let the results speak for themselves.

In my 10 years creating the BGS (Brian Gabrielle Sports) Power Ratings, the formula I use for pre-season ratings is a combination of last season's performance combined with public betting patterns on football futures. So take these PRESEASON RATINGS with those grains of salt.

Using the BGS Power Ratings

Add 3 points to the home teams rating, then subtract the biggest number from the smallest number. The negative integer remaining becomes the pointspread for the team with the highest rating.

Example: Jets (83.5) @ Titans (83.5) , Sep 10/2006

Titans 83.5 + 3 = 86.5

(Jets) 83.5 - 86.5 (Titans) = -3

Titans should be a -3 point favorite

BGS NFL Football Ratings

As of August 29/2006

Rank Team Rating

Rank Team Rating

1 Pats 96

2 Colts 96

3 Steelers 95.5

4 Panthers 94

5 Cowboys 93.5

6 Seahawks 93

7 Bengals 93

8 Giants 93

9 Chiefs 93

10 Eagles 92

11 Broncos 91.5

12 Bucs 91

13 Redskins 89.5

14 Falcons 89.5

15 Dolphins 89.5

16 Rams 88.5

17 Cardinals 88.5

18 Bears 88

19 Jags 86.5

20 Saints 86

21 Texans 86

22 Raiders 86

23 Lions 86

24 Packers 85

25 Chargers 85

26 Ravens 85

27 Browns 85

28 Jets 83.5

29 Titans 83.5

30 Bills 83

31 Vikings 82.5

32 49ers 81

Brian Gabrielle is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Brian_Gabrielle.htm]

2010 New England Patriots - NFL Predictions, Odds and Betting Picks

The AFC East is going to be quite the battle this season, and despite the fact that New England no longer sits atop as the legit favorite, they will be in the hunt along with the Jets and Dolphins. After all, the Pats have won the division crown six of the past seven years and the one season they didn't Tom Brady was lost in the season opener and they still tied the Dolphins atop the division.

Sept. 12 Cincinnati at New England (1:00 PM)
Sept. 19 New England at N.Y. Jets (4:15 PM)
Sept. 26 Buffalo at New England (1:00 PM)
Oct. 4 New England at Miami (8:30 PM)

Oct. 17 Baltimore at New England (1:00 PM)
Oct. 24 New England at San Diego (4:15 PM)
Oct. 31 Minnesota at New England (4:15 PM)
Nov. 7 New England at Cleveland (1:00 PM)
Nov. 14 New England at Pittsburgh (8:20 PM)
Nov. 21 Indianapolis at New England (4:15 PM)
Nov. 25 New England at Detroit (12:30 PM)
Dec. 6 N.Y. Jets at New England (8:30 PM)
Dec. 12 New England at Chicago (1:00 PM)
Dec. 19 Green Bay at New England (8:20 PM)
Dec. 26 New England at Buffalo (1:00 PM)

Jan. 2 Miami at New England (1:00 PM)

That Pats' NFL schedule ranks the sixth-hardest in the NFL for strength of schedule with an opponents' cumulative record of 136-120 (.531). By comparison, the Pats' division compatriots, the Jets, Dolphins and Bills, all have the 16th-toughest schedule.

Over the course of the season they will face a playoff team eight times, but six of those games will take place in Gillette Stadium. The only two playoff teams they'll face on the road are the Jets and Chargers. New England will play five games against opponents that won 10 or more games in 2009 and will face every team from the AFC playoffs in 2009 as well as two from the NFC (Green Bay and Minnesota).

Their usual rivalry match with the Colts is on the books again. Somehow it's the eighth straight meeting between the two powers, the longest current streak between non-divisional opponents. The Colts have won five of the past six, and each of the past four including the playoffs have been Decided by four points or fewer. This will be the first time the game is in Foxboro since 2006.

Things don't start easy for New England with divisional road games at the Jets and Dolphins - the Pats lost at both last year -- coming before that early Week 5 bye. The Patriots don't face another AFC East team until Week 13. That sure looks like a 2-2 start, even though New England gets to see the Jets without the suspended Santonio Holmes.

Then look at that six-game stretch following the bye, as there are five potential Super Bowl teams in there with the Ravens, Chargers, Vikings, Steelers and Colts. The only break comes at home against Cleveland. A 4-2 record there would be very nice and 3-3 at worst is doable.

The Pats play on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2002 and should handle the Lions, who haven't won on Turkey Day since 2003. At least the Pats then get plenty of time off before a likely huge Monday nighter against the Jets that could well determine the division. In fact, the Pats are likely to be playing in some major winter weather in four of their final five games. It's hard to see the Dolphins having much of a shot in Foxboro in January.

This looks like a 10-6 record to me for the second year in a row, so I would take the 'over' 9.5 for my NFL season win total football picks I would also still take the Pats to win the AFC East but this doesn't look much like a Super Bowl team. Remember, this team won only one true road game in 2009 (at Buffalo, the win over the Bucs was in London).

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NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

Here's a Ferringo's-eye view of Week 3 in the National Football League:

New England at Pittsburgh (-3)

Once again, the Patriots are involved in the Game of the Week. They're dogs entering the Steel City, and are going up against the best team in football right now. Ben Roethlisberger has a ridiculous 153.6 passer rating, which is nearly perfect. He's also 16-1 as a starter, which is nearly perfect and is looking to avenge the only loss of his pro career - a 41-27 blowout at the hands of the Pats in the AFC Title Game last January.

Pittsburgh is once again the top running team in the league, bruising its way to 170.5 yards per game (without their two best runners) and 4.7 yards per carry. The Steelers also rank fourth on defense, but are just 17th against the run. The Patriots, on the other hand, are only averaging 2.4 yards per carry, and they are the 12th-ranked defense in the NFL. In two games, they've yielded 23.5 points a game.

Per usual, Tom Brady will be the key to any upset chance that New England has. Brady's shoulder is officially listed as probable, and he'll be looking to avenge his poor performance (69.3 rating) against Carolina last week. That rating was the 17th worst of his 73 starts (in which he is 58-15). However, he's 10-4 in games following his previous 14 losses and has posted a passer rating close to 95 in those games.

Cincinnati (-3) at Chicago

The Pats and Steelers may be the Game of the Week, but I really think that this is the most intriguing matchup of Week 3. It pits two young, up-and-coming teams - one with a high-powered offense and one with a hard-hitting defense - each trying to make a name for itself among the top teams in their respective conferences.

In this corner, Cincinnati has been the "Best Team That Nobody is Talking About" thus far by demolishing Cleveland and Minnesota. The Bengals and their Big Three - Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudi Johnson - have led Cincy to the No. 1 offense in the league. They are averaging 462 yards per game, with 157 coming on the ground and 305 through the air. Palmer has been lights out (five TD's and a 107.8 rating), and is being backed by a defense that has already forced a ridiculous 10 takeaways.

And in this corner, Chicago has been the "Best Team that Everyone Forgot Existed" until they posted a 32-point win last week over the Lions. The Bears have gone back to their roots - run the ball (114 ypg, 4.1 ypc) and playing good defense (7th overall). This is a big spot for a team that's on the verge of having some confidence. If they can defend their turf they enter their bye week on a 2-1 roll with putrid Cleveland waiting on the other side.

But a win is far from given. Kyle Orton played well for Chicago last weekend (translation: no turnovers) and will again have to protect the ball against the Bengals.

Atlanta at Buffalo (2.5)

There are certainly quarterback issues for both of these teams. Mike Vick is listed as questionable this weekend with a sore hamstring, and J.P. Losman is unofficially questionable after getting benched last week for one drive against Tampa Bay. I would put Vick at about 85 percent to play. Also, Losman will again seize the reigns for Buffalo, and don't be surprised to see Mike Mularkey dig into his bag-of-tricks and pull out some gimmicks this weekend.

This game will be a slugfest. Atlanta is fifth in the league in rushing (157 ypg, 4.6 ypc) and Buffalo is 15th (100 ypg, 3.8 ypc). The Bills are second in the league in total defense, but are just 30th in rushing after getting rolled by Tampa Bay (191 rush yards) last Sunday. Atlanta, on the other hand, will most likely be without cornerback/kick returner Allen Rossum and defensive end Brady Smith, who are two key cogs. Rossum is particularly important because the Falcons are already without corner Kevin Mathis - leaving the secondary very vulnerable.

New York Giants at San Diego (-5.5)

I hope Eli brings his ear plugs. This will be Manning's first appearance in San Diego, the city that drafted him first overall in 2004 even though he said he wanted nothing to do with that organization. Also, Manning and the 2-0 G-Men will be rolling into the den of a team that, at 0-2, is desperate for a win.

Yes, the Giants are 2-0. But they are the fraudulent kind of undefeated. They tooled on the Cardinals (who doesn't?) and then topped an emotionally spent Saints club in a "road" game in Jersey. They have scored 69 points so far. Pretty impressive, right? But they're 26th in total offense and have run the second fewest plays (104) in the league. They've mostly been the beneficiary of special teams flukes and turnovers. Defensively, they're allowed 370 yards per contest.

San Diego, on the other hand, is playing well until it matters. Drew Brees and Co. were on their way to a crucial road win over Denver last weekend until Drew Brees threw a horrible INT that Champ Bailey returned for a touchdown. The week before, they had benched Antonio Gates and decided to give LaDainian Tomlinson only two touches in the fourth quarter of a four-point loss to Dallas. It's tough to have must-win games in September, but this is pretty close for the Bolts.

FREE PICK (YTD 0-1): This week I like Indianapolis to cover the 13.5 against the Browns. In 2004 the Colts had one of the Greatest Offenses Football Has Ever Seen. But over their last three games - dating back to the playoff loss in Foxboro - they've managed just 12 points per contest. I'm looking for them to break out in a big way at home against a Cleveland team that's 30th in the NFL against the pass. Also, I think the Brownies are due for a letdown after a tough road win in Lambeau last Sunday.

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - It's really tough to be picky about a team that's looked so good, but they are allowing the opposition to convert 48 percent of their third downs.

2) Indianapolis Colts (2-0) - This team has the purposeful look of a group on a Mission. It hasn't been smoke and mirrors, but good ol' fashioned toughness. Let's see if they can sustain it.

3) New England Patriots (1-1) - This game at Pittsburgh is part of their Murderer's Row schedule that has them hosting San Diego, at Atlanta, at Denver, bye, hosting Buffalo and hosting Indianapolis. But hey, according to every guffawing columnist across the country they're the Best Team Ever so it shouldn't matter, right?

4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) - The Bengals made one of the largest jumps from last week's Power Rankings (up eight slots from 12). But memo to Chad Johnson: don't call out Mike Brown (just ask Marcus Pollard). I hope my Bears knocks these guys back into the Dave Shula Days.

5) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) - Despite their off-field issues, they already have a division road win and are averaging 161.5 yards per game on the ground. However, they are just 1-4 ATS in Denver, where they play on Monday.

6) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - McNabb and Owens share the cover on this week's Sports Illustrated. I don't buy the love fest. It's easy to get along when you're up 42-3 at home, but let's see what happens when they're in a tough spot.

7) Carolina Panthers (1-1) - Peter King said that Brees' interception against the Broncos last week was one of the worst he's ever seen. My vote goes to Jake Delhomme's toss to New England's Mike Vrabel, who returned it for a TD.

8) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) - Losing safety Donovin Darius for the year is a huge blow. Also, Byron Leftwich is on his way to becoming the next Steve McNair - doesn't practice due to injury then steps up and plays/leads his team on Sunday.

9) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - Backup QB Matt Schaub has been an All-World Preseason player the last two years, and there are actually some rednecks in Georgia that would love to see him get his own shot. Those same folks have an IQ lower than Vick's passer rating of 73.4. Atlanta is 2-11 in games that Vick hasn't started in the last three years.

10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - I really didn't think Mark Brunell could still throw it that far. I guess Roy Williams didn't think so either.

11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) - They've only faced 32 rushing attempts in two games, but the Bucs defense is giving up only 40 yards per game on the ground and 2.5 yards per carry.

12) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - Blame that loss on whichever linebacker that was that got juked by a 57-year-old Brunell on that 3rd-and-27 scramble.

13) Buffalo Bills (1-1) - Bills fans, this is what you get with a first-year QB. Trust me, I know. I'd be more worried about Willis McGahee dancing in the holes.

14) Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - Seattle is that quiet, shifty guy in the corner booth of the bar. He seems unassuming, but you keep looking over your shoulder because you don't know if he's going to snap and kill everyone or just get blasted and stumble home.

15) Chicago Bears (1-1) - Brian Urlacher has 15 solo tackles and three sacks in two games. Now where are all those ass-clowns that said he was overrated? Also, linebacker Lance Briggs has just been wrecking people.

16) Denver Broncos (1-1) - Remember how everyone ripped on them for picking up the Browns front four (worst in the league against the run in '04)? Well, Denver is currently 22nd against the rush (115 ypg) with K.C. rolling into town.

17) New York Giants (2-0) - If they go on the road and beat San Diego I still won't jump on the bandwagon - but I'll be very, very impressed.

18) New Orleans Saints (1-1) - After what they've been through and where they've been through over the last month (Oakland to Texas to Carolina to New York and now to Minnesota) Jim Haslett has a right to vent. That team just looked worn out in the fourth quarter of that MNF game.

19) New York Jets (1-1) - The good news is that Curtis Martin didn't tear any knee ligaments (MRI was negative). The bad news is that safety Erik Coleman just had thumb surgery and may not be available.

20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Monday, Steve Mariucci says that the team has no interest in ex-Buc Shaun King. Tuesday, King and Jeff George worked out for the Lions. Tick-tock, Joey Harrington. Tick-tock.

21) San Diego Chargers (0-2) - This isn't a bad team at all. However they've absolutely given away two games already. Ah, Marty Ball.

22) St. Louis Rams (1-1) - I still don't think they're running the ball enough. However, they are third in the league in offensive time of possession (34:07 per game).

23) Oakland Raiders (0-2) - Despite playing two of the best rushing teams in the NFL, the Raiders D is giving up a paltry 3.0 yards per carry. However, they need to start pressuring quarterbacks. Their two sacks are tied for worst in the league.

24) Tennessee Titans (1-1) - Their win over Baltimore last week wasn't a fluke from the standpoint that while they don't have the depth to compete this season, they certainly have the talent to jump up and bite an unsuspecting team.

23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - Right now their run-pass ratio is almost 3-to-1, but not the way you'd expect. So far they've thrown 95 passes to go with only 34 rushes. Unreal.

26) Miami (1-1) - People are already calling Ronnie Brown (34 attempts, 94 yards, 0 TD's) a bust because he's not putting up the numbers that Cadillac Williams (54-276-2) is. I think it's way too early to be making those claims.

27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Just a thought, but maybe it's not Randy Moss that they miss the most. Maybe it's former offensive coordinator Scott Linehan (now in Miami).

28) Cleveland Browns (1-1) - As bad as the Packers were, any time you go into Green Bay and get a win it's an accomplishment.

29) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - They lost by 39 points, but I had to move them up one slot this week because the teams behind them looked that awful.

30) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) - Kurt Warner got sacked five times last week and was hit six others. If they can't get the running game going - Marcel Shipp will start this weekend - then they're going to get Warner killed. Their run-pass ratio is 37 rushes to 98 passes. Not good.

31) Green Bay Packers (0-2) - Wow. This team is a total mess, on all fronts, and shows no signs of improving. They just don't have the talent on either side of the ball.

32) Houston Texans (0-2) - Jason Babin and Philip Buchanon - a tandem whom the Texans traded a combined five first-day draft picks for the rights to - have both been benched.

Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail robert@docsports.com.

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Power Rankings, NFL Week Three

Here's a quick breakdown of the three key matchups between undefeated teams this weekend:

Chicago (-3) at Minnesota, 1 p.m. on Sunday

The Bears roll into the Metrodome as a favorite for the first time in more than a decade. That's a bit curious since Minnesota is a place Chicago has not performed well at lately. The Bears are just 3-7 straight-up, but 6-4 against the spread, on the road against the Vikings.

Lovie Smith announced that rookie free safety Daniel Manning will replace Chris Harris in the starting lineup. That's also odd considering how well the defense has been playing. Last year then-rookie Harris replaced Mike Green in week four last season, only to get roasted for two touchdowns in a loss to Cleveland.

Minnesota is 10-2 at home against NFC North opponents since 2002. The Vikings have scored a pair of impressive three-point victories against 2005 playoff teams. The key has been the defense, and the Vikings possess by far the top secondary the Bears have faced yet this season. I don't think the three points will come into play, seeing as Minnesota is 6-76 ATS when they lose SU to a division opponent and Chicago is 57-5-2 ATS when they win.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-7), 1 p.m. on Sunday

This line was set at 9.5 before the Jaguars Monday Night Football performance against Pittsburgh. These teams have been very competitive with one another over the past four years, as all eight of their meetings have been decided by 10 points or less. The Jaguars are 5-2-1 ATS in those contests despite just a 2-6 SU mark.

Don't be mislead by the 21 players that the Colts placed on their injury report this week. They have had no less then 15 men on the list so far this season and that hasn't stopped them from two impressive victories. If anything, Jacksonville should be the sorer team after busting heads with the Steelers.

Winners on MNF are 25-17 SU in their following game since 2003. However, if you take out absurd mismatches (for instance, Indianapolis followed a MNF game against Houston twice last year) then MNF winners are closer to .500 the following week.

Atlanta (-3.5) at New Orleans, 8:45 p.m. on Monday

Heavy action is rolling in on the Falcons. And why not? The past two weeks they've looked like teens lying about their age so they could play another year of Pop Warner against the little kids. Or that kid with the late birthday that got to play an extra year of Little League. It's been domination.

Obviously, everyone knows that this will be the Saints first game back in the Super Dome since the horrors that took place there during Hurricane Katrina. It's taken a full year to repair the roof and get the venue ready. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get the smell of urine and dead people off those seats. It was rough; especially since the federal government was supposed to help with the cleanup but decided to they had more important things to do.

This is a tough draw for Atlanta, which has historically had a tough time in New Orleans. The emotion should be off the charts, and hopefully everyone will be so happy for the Saints that they forget all about the fact that Tom Benson was begging to move the team last fall. Go Saints!!!

And without further ado, here are my Week 3 Power Rankings:

1. Indianapolis (2-0) - The Colts are converting an absolutely ridiculous 71.4 percent of their third downs (20-for-28). Does Dwight Freeney really have a pulled butt muscle? Allegedly he was injured after a savage towel-whipping from punter Hunter Smith.

2. Chicago (2-0) - The Bears run game (2.8 ypg) has been nonexistent, but anyone who thinks that Cedric Benson should be starting hasn't been watching Thomas Jones as a pass blocker. He's outstanding at picking up the blitz, something Benson doesn't do.

3. Seattle (2-0) - Stop me if I'm wrong here, but couldn't Seattle have taken the money they poured into Nate Burleson and Deion Branch and used it to keep Steve Hutchinson? And kept their first- and third-round picks? Would that have made sense to anyone else?

4. Jacksonville (2-0) - The Jaguars have won eight of their past 10 road games, but the two losses both came in domes. Jacksonville is 3-1 ATS at Indy, including a straight-up win there in 2004.

5. Pittsburgh (1-1) - The Steelers are 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS against the Bengals since 2001. Understand that they also have a severe mental edge over the Bengals. It's like a big brother-little brother scenario. And imagine Joey Porter as your big brother. Scary.

6. Baltimore (2-0) - The Ravens are only 24th in total offense with just 267 yards per game. The passing game is 28th with 294 yards and just 55 percent completions. Those look like Kyle Boller numbers to me.

7. Atlanta (2-0) - The Falcons are 7-3 ATS in the Crescent City, but 0-2 in their last two trips. Warrick Dunn is averaging 25 carries per game after averaging 15 hauls during the last nine seasons.

8. Cincinnati (2-0) - Of all the injuries facing the Bengals this weekend, the biggest might be the loss of center Rich Braham. The center is responsible for setting up blitz protection and the Steelers attack more than any team in the league with exotic schemes.

9. San Diego (2-0) - San Diego is playing very well, but they seem like they're licking themselves a bit too much after beating awful Oakland and terrible Tennessee. I mean, you still have Marty Schottenheimer as your coach so it's not like you'll win anything.

10. New England (2-0) - The Patriots, realizing their LBs aren't as strong and that they need help stopping the run, showed a 4-3 look against the Jets. They go with Ty Warren, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilford - all 300+ pounds - and another end.

11. Minnesota (2-0) - In their last 11 regular season games the Bears are 9-2. So are the Vikings. Minnesota is 11-4 ATS off back-to-back wins. They're streaky. And no, that wasn't a subtle Love Boat crack.

12. Denver (1-1) - Mike Shanahan is 4-2 against Bill Belichick, but this is just the second meeting between these two in Foxborough. The Over/Under on passes Jake the Snake throws up for grabs is 5.5.

13. New York Giants (1-1) - That was much more of an Eagles collapse than a Giants comeback. One year after combining for 26 sacks, Osi Umenyiora and Mike Strahan have just one. The Giants are 7-1 ATS with revenge.

14. Carolina (0-2) - Deshaun Foster will start, even though DeAngelo Williams is clearly more explosive. Carolina is 8-2 ATS against the Bucs and 3-0 ATS in their last three at Tampa.

15. Dallas (1-1) - Drew Bledsoe is completing just 49 percent of his passes. Also, good call with No. 1 pick Bobby Carpenter. The guy was inactive in Week 1 and played sparingly against Washington.

16. Philadelphia (1-1) - The Eagles lead the league with 13 sacks. But without Javon Kearse and with a slowed Darren Howard, DC Jim Johnson will have to get creative in applying pressure. Unlike the overtime against the Giants. D'oh!

17. New Orleans (2-0) - Monday night is going to be a lot of fun in the Bayou. Vick vs. Bush. Saints vs. Falcons. Benson vs. his own greed. Good times. But to win the Saints front seven is going to have to crowd the line, plug rushing lanes and force Vick to beat them.

18. Miami (0-2) - Yuk. I'm still so disgusted by their performance last week that I have nothing to say about them. The Dolphins are dead to me.

19. St. Louis (1-1) - The Rams have not taken to Scott Linehan's offense, especially in the red zone. Including preseason they are 1-for-25 this year, and going back to 2005 the Rams have converted just 25 of their past 76 trips in the red zone into touchdowns.

20. Washington (0-2) - Over the past decade, the Redskins are 7-16 SU in the regular season in the second game of back-to-back or three consecutive road games. Al Saunders' offense has succeeded on just six of 27 third down attempts.

21. Arizona (1-1) - Starting CB Eric Green (groin) likely won't play, and former starter David Macklin was inactive last week in Seattle. One place you don't want to have instability when the Rams come to town is in the secondary.

22. Kansas City (0-2) - The Chiefs have just one sack so far this season. The off week should be a tremendous help in getting the offense back on-track.

23. Buffalo (1-1) - I still can't get over that special teams performance last week. It was flawless. But the offense looks like something out of the 1910s. They are 31st in the league in passing, averaging 103 ypg.

24. Detroit (0-2) - Teams are completing a whopping 79 percent of their passes against the Lions secondary. The Lions are 8-1 ATS when Brett Favre comes to the Motor City.

25. Tampa Bay (0-2) - I hope John Gruden doesn't plan to throw the ball 56 times against Carolina unless his wants to get Chris Simms killed. Maybe that's the idea. The Bucs are averaging 14.6 points in Simms' last 13 appearances.

26. San Francisco (1-1) - The 49ers have yielded an average of 36 points per game to Philadelphia in their last three meetings. That includes last year's 42-3 whitewashing. The 49ers are 91-38 SU at home since 1990, winning by an average score of 26-18.

27. Houston (0-2) - David Carr is completing 76 percent of his passes. I think it shouldn't be a surprise the effect that Gary Kubiak has had on Carr, as well as what Kubiak's absence has done to Jake Plummer.

28. New York Jets (1-1) - The Jets are just 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in Orchard Park. They are also 3-10 ATS against a team coming off a win as an underdog.

29. Cleveland (0-2) - The Browns have totaled just 64 yards - combined - in the first five drives of each of their two games. No thanks to Kellen Winslow Jr. or Sr.

30. Tennessee (0-2) - I like Jeff Fisher a lot. Think he's a great coach. But this is the second quarterback in the last four months to leave the team under shady circumstances.

31. Green Bay (0-2) - The Packers offensive line is having trouble with the zone-blocking scheme the offense employs. They face Detroit, which is allowing just 3.0 yards per rush.

32. Oakland (0-2) - According to Peter King, 92 percent of all of Oakland's pass plays have been off a five- or seven-step drop. One year after catching 70 balls, LaMont Jordan has zero catches.

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