After taking some hits early in the season, the home teams struck back this week with an 11-3 mark. A few teams left for dead (Green Bay, Dallas and Kansas City) turned in wins to put some spring in their step. Oh yeah, the Patriots lost and snapped their 21 game ride and we’ll see how they respond to no longer being invincible. Funny how Denver gets busted for a chop block and then can’t run the ball in the following game with the league watching isn’t it? Love those primetime games, I think I’d rather watch reruns of The Love Boat. Here’s my new poll and notice that I don’t ruin teams too much for losing or lift them too much for winning this week. Over the next two weeks we are going to get a great feeling of which teams will make a push and which will fade out. I will also do a halfway report by team showing where they are headed and what to expect. #1 (1) Philadelphia (7-0): While everyone else has to move the Eagles up, I simply leave them where they are because right now this is the best team in football. Even against one of the best defenses Owens had 101 yards and scored, and even without Westbrook they picked up 98 yards rushing. Those are the signs of a great team.

#2 (3) Pittsburgh (6-1): They simply mugged the Pats in a revenge game that proved their string of wins over weak teams was simply a matter of them beating the opponent in front of them. This win makes a believer out of me and they have opened up a two game cushion in the North. Next up is their Keystone State rivals from Philly in a #1 vs. #2 showdown.

#3 (2) New England (6-1): With Dillon on the sideline they had no chance to run the ball and with the Steelers able to control it with their ground game (220 yards) it was no contest. A loss sometimes can be a good thing and this is still a team headed deep into the playoffs. What this shows is that they need Dillon to get it done. They did get Brown back at receiver and should get Branch soon.

#4 (5) NY Jets (6-1): No letdown here as they jump right back on track with a rout of the Dolphins. I feel like McCareins and Moss are starting to catch their stride, and now that Jordan is mixing into the running game this is a dangerous offense. A string of beatable teams await and could they actually win the East?

#5 (8) NY Giants (5-2): Great win in that they truly dominated a team on their home field. The Vikings had issues with Moss ostensibly out and Moore/Bennett uncertain about their roles, but they put the pedal to the floor and never let up. Warner doesn’t wow you with yardage anymore (220) but he didn’t commit a turnover which is the reason he has been so effective.

#6 (12) Atlanta (6-2): Tremendous win on the road and finally Vick is back to doing his thing with 115 yards rushing. They beat the Broncos at their own game and erased their blowout loss to the Chiefs in no time flat. Entering the bye they are in great position with just two winning teams left on the schedule.

#7 (4) Minnesota (5-2): They are really a different team without Moss. Worse yet, the return of Bennett actually hurt them because Moore logged just 8 carries thanks to his whining for playing time. Combined they picked up just 49 yards and that was the big difference in the game for a team that usually runs at will. Suddenly the Packers are nipping at their heels.

#8 (6) Jacksonville (5-3): Leftwich finally came back down to earth with 220 yards and 2 picks without a touchdown and Taylor (3 carries for 9 yards) was invisible even before leaving the game in the third quarter. Even with that, they still had the ball with an opportunity to tie the game. Right now this team can’t take any opponent for granted and should use their bye week to eat some humble pie.

#9 (7) Indianapolis (4-3): How can a game have 1,095 yards in total offense and the teams still punted 6 times? The Colts needed to run James (10 carries, 34 yards) and keep control of the game, but instead they let Holmes go wild (32 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD) and had to play catch up. When Manning throws for 472 yards and 5 scores and you lose by 10 points I think you need a new defensive scheme.

#10 (9) Denver (5-3): What in the world happened to their running game? They were supposed to plow over Atlanta, but instead they allowed 195 yards and gained just 66. Not even 498 yards passing from Plummer could save them. Suddenly the Chiefs and Chargers are right there with them and now a capable Texans team comes to Mile High. Nice job blowing your cushion guys.

#11 (10) Detroit (4-3): It was a tough task going to Dallas without Roy Williams, but in lieu of that I really question their play calling with just 13 rushes. Kevin Jones is back and was good last week, but never got the chance to keep them in this one. With some tough games ahead this team is certainly not a playoff lock.

#12 (11) Baltimore (4-3): Losing 15-10 to the Eagles on the road without Heap and Lewis, their two best offensive players and their top lineman Ogden is almost like a victory. Boller completed 24 passes, more than double any of his past 5 games where he averaged just 10. Travis Taylor made some noise with 80 yards receiving and when they get those components back they will give their defense more of a chance.

#13 (15) San Diego (5-3): Are the Chargers for real? I don’t know yet, but with the Saints on deck and another crack at these Raiders it sure looks good for a 7-3 record heading into crucial games at the Chiefs and versus the Broncos. Tomlinson now has plenty of help on offense and the defense is starting to show some signs with just 41 points allowed over their last three games.

#14 (13) St. Louis (4-3): I don’t think these guys wanted New England coming off their first loss in forever, but that’s what they will get as they exit their bye week. When you lose to the NFL’s worst team 31-14 I don’t know how you can expect to compete with the NFL’s best over the past three plus seasons, but we’ll see.

#15 (14) Seattle (4-3): They are right back on track after letting Alexander (195 yards) just run over Carolina. Koren Robinson will be suspended the next four games, and Rice hurt his ankle after catching one ball for 6 yards so sooner or later teams will pile up on the run. Until then, they have a chance. Fortunately for them, they face the 49ers, Dolphins and Bills while Koren is out, although with a trip to the Rams.

#16 (17) Houston (4-3): Their backfield produced just 58 yards rushing, but they made fewer mistakes than the Jags and the key play when it counted. In fact, they played the kind of football Jacksonville has all season and now they are right there in the division title hunt. Trips to Denver and Indianapolis should fix that.

#17 (16) Green Bay (4-4): Suddenly this team is back in the mix and their bye comes at the perfect time. That’s because they face Minnesota on the flipside with a chance to grab the division lead. There are still tough games ahead, but we know you can never count out Favre and Green.

#18 (20) Kansas City (3-4): Just another 45 points and 590 yards, right? They finally got back to Gonzalez and Holmes who combined for 43 touches, 350 yards and 5 touchdowns. Who needs anyone else when that duo puts up numbers like that, and while the defense still sucks it doesn’t matter when you score 101 points in two games.

#19 (21) Dallas (3-4): I had been waiting for a performance like this out of their defense, which gave up just 14 points and 285 yards and allowed only 3 third down conversions. They finally cut George loose and found out that even with a crummy average (3.2) when you bang him 31 times you wind up with 99 yards and control the game. Now they need to win in Cincinnati or this one meant nothing.


#20 (18) Cleveland (3-4): A week off did them some good because they seem to be making progress, especially in the running game with Suggs and Green while Garcia has really taken off. Now they can try to work Bryant into the mix and see about repeating their win over a Baltimore team that gets Lewis back.

#21 (19) New Orleans (3-4): After stopping the bleeding of a three game skid now they will find out if a second trip to California is as successful against a Chargers team on a roll. If it is, they draw three of four at home and can get back into the playoff hunt. If not, the three winning teams that follow could clobber them into submission.

#22 (23) Tennessee (3-5): This club has a lot of pride and it showed this week. Brown is banged up and still plowed to 147 on the ground. The defense shut Johnson (57 yards) down and Volek completed 66% of his passes with just one interception. Now at least they enter the bye on a high note, and with Chicago coming in next they might earn some confidence heading into a tough three game road trip against their divisional opponents. Who makes these schedules?

#23 (22) Washington (2-5): It took Brunell 44 passes to reach 218 yards, which incidentally was more than his last two starts combined. I would be surprised if I didn’t see Ramsey next week. Still, they were a weird call away from taking a 21-20 lead late in this game and might have been able to fight back in the running game had their onside kick to start the second half worked out.

#24 (24) Cincinnati (2-5): Their glimmer of hope has now faded to black. Palmer only completed 54% of his throws, just below his season average and that doesn’t get it done, especially when you average 3.4 yards per rush. On the plus side Houshmandzadeh and Washington made some plays down the field which bodes well for next season. This one is in the tank even with a pair of games (Cowboys, at Redskins) upcoming that they could win.

#25 (25) Oakland (2-6): They let a second rate quarterback complete 88% of his throws for 5 touchdowns and ran the ball just 11 times while committing 10 penalties and 3 turnovers. That is one way to lose 42-14. How are they supposed to overcome mistakes like this and obvious lapses in coverage? Their revamped defense has now given up 31 offensive points per game over the last five, and this team badly needs new coordinators. Their play calling is terrible and their schemes on defense stink.

#26 (29) Buffalo (2-5): What took them so long to go to McGahee? He picked up 102 yards and a pair of scores, the first by a Bills player on the ground this season. Now they can lie down and die with the Jets, Patriots, Rams and Seahawks next on the schedule.

#27 (26) Arizona (2-5): They finally laid an egg, and boy did it stink. Boldin came back and had 50 yards receiving, but Fitzgerald was held without a catch and McCown had just 101 yards passing. They were never in this game and effectively trailed by 10+ for the final 50 minutes of play. Another clear case of a team struggling while they play far from home. Their next stop is Miami.

#28 (27) Tampa Bay (2-5): They probably needed an extra week to get ready for the Kansas City offense. Even if they hold them to half their normal production that’s about 24 points, so they need to kick it up on offense. I don’t see any type of run in this team, but they are a proud unit and will probably jump up and bite a team or two before all is said and done.

#29 (32) Chicago (2-5): Teams have had a habit of winning in the bottom spot and the Bears were no exception. As a Raiders fan I am sparing the Panthers the bottom spot for a week. They weren’t that bad, but in a game featuring 416 total yards for both teams and no touchdowns in the final 57 minutes it isn’t saying much that they beat a battered 49ers team. The national title game rematch between Dorsey and Krenzel was ugly. They went 29 of 61 (47.5%) for 290 yards with a pair of picks and just that one big touchdown early.


#30 (28) Carolina (1-6): Don’t let the final score fool you because they never had a chance to beat the Seahawks who simply sleep walked past them. Without weapons on offense or a line to block it is an uphill proposition from here on out, but they draw a Raiders team that hasn’t won on the road in a long, long time so maybe they get a win this week.

#31 (30) Miami (1-7): First to six losses and now the first to seven. That’s not what you want as your major accomplishment. I will repeat this many times, but with Booker, Chambers and Boston at receiver next year with McMichael at tight end they could easily lure James to run the rock. Then they simply need to draft the best college quarterback available to run the show and this team is right back at 9-7.

#32 (31) San Francisco (1-6): With 162 yards, 2 turnovers and a 3 of 14 showing on third down they showed even worse than the other Bay Area team. Could we see them picking 1-2 in the draft? Maybe not, but with so many injuries this is a 49er team that will be vastly improved next season once everyone is healthy. They won’t be a playoff contender until 2006 though.