Wherein I attempt to make distinctions between six undefeated teams and 10 with 2-3 records.
1. Patriots (4-0)
Previous rank: 1. Result: Won 30-6 at Cowboys. Next: Sun. at Colts.
That’s seven Ws in a row for the Pats going back to the playoffs. The pass protection for Tom Brady was a little shaky at times but the defense shut down the short-handed Cowboys.
2. Packers (5-0)
Previous rank: 2. Result: Won 24-10 vs. Rams. Next: Sun. vs. Chargers.
Aaron Rodgers’ NFL-record streak of consecutive passes at home without an interception ended at 587 as he threw two picks. The defense picked him up with four interceptions, included two in the final period inside Green Bay’s 10-yard line.
3. Falcons (5-0)
Previous rank: 3. Result: Won 25-19 (OT) vs. Redskins. Next: Thurs. at Saints.
Yes the Falcons got lucky (again) but even good teams need good luck to win sometimes. There’s little doubt the Falcons are a good team.
4. Bengals (5-0)
Previous rank: 5. Result: Won 27-24 (OT) vs. Seahawks. Next: Sun. at Bills.
They rallied after trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter and the defense forced two punts in OT. Everyone will wait for the inevitable flame out but QB Andy Dalton may not let it happen.
5. Broncos (5-0)
Previous rank: 4. Result: Won 16-10 at Raiders. Next: Sun. at Browns.
The Broncos didn’t score an offensive TD but were saved by a fourth-quarter pick six. Peyton Manning looks to be on a rapid decline so how long can the defense carry them?
6. Cardinals (4-1)
Previous rank: 6. Result: Won 42-17 at Lions. Next: Sun. at Steelers.
They bounced back from a tough home loss to the Rams to steamroll the Lions at their place. They are two games clear of the NFC West field.
7. Panthers (4-0)
Previous rank: 7. Result: Bye. Next: Sun. at Seahawks.
Their victories are at Jags, vs. Texans, vs. Saints and at Buccaneers. We’ll find out more about them with games at the Seahawks and vs. Eagles over the next two weeks.
8. Colts (3-2)
Previous rank: 10. Result: Won 27-20 at Texans. Next: Thurs. at Houston.
They set an NFL record with their 16th straight victory against opponents from the same division. And they've won the past two games with 40-yard old Matt Hasselbeck filling in for Andrew Luck.
9. Giants (3-2)
Previous rank: 9. Result: Won 30-27 vs. 49ers. Next: Mon. at Eagles.
They’ve closed out Ws three weeks in a row. This time Eli Manning connected with Larry Donnell for a superlative TD with 21 seconds left.
10. Bills (3-2)
Previous rank: 16. Result: Won 14-13 at Titans. Next: Sun. vs. Bengals.
I hereby pledge to stop with the Tyrod Taylor jokes. The Bills QB had two big fourth-quarter runs for a road W without Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy.
11. Jets (3-1)
Previous rank: 11. Result: Bye. Next: Sun. vs. Jets.
DT Sheldon Richardson returns from a four-game drug suspension. The Jets have been very good on D even without their 2013 first-round pick.
12. Steelers (3-2)
Previous rank: 17. Result: Won 24-20 at Chargers. Next: Sun. vs. Cardinals.
RB Le'Veon Bell scored the winning TD on a direct snap with no time left when coach Mike Tomlin made the gutsy decision to go for it. Michael Vick looked bad until he led the Steelers 80 yards for the winning score.
13. Redskins (2-3)
Previous rank: 13. Result: Lost 25-19 (OT) at Falcons. Next: Sun. at Jets.
A bad throw by QB Kirk Cousins and a slip by WR Ryan Grant led to Robert Alford’s game-winning pick six. But don’t forget how the Redskins couldn’t score a TD after gaining a first-and-goal at the 10 with less than five minutes left in regulation.
14. Rams (2-3)
Previous rank: 8. Result: Lost 24-10 at Packers. Next: Bye.
No shame in losing at Lambeau but they’ve got to be kicking themselves for not taking better advantage of an off day by Aaron Rodgers. Todd Gurley was good again but QB Nick Foles threw four picks, including two in the red zone.
15. Vikings (2-2)
Previous rank: 15. Result: Bye. Next: vs. Chiefs.
They already are 2 ½ games behind the Packers but they’ve got a chance to pick up some Ws before facing Green Bay. After the Chiefs (1-4) they get the Lions (0-5) and three 2-3 teams: Bears, Rams and Raiders.
16. Eagles (2-3)
Previous rank: 23. Result: Won 39-17 vs. Saints. Next: Mon. at Giants.
The beat down of the Saints keeps them alive in the mediocre NFC East. Win at the Giants and everyone forgets the 0-2 start.
17. Browns (2-3)
Previous rank: 26. Result: Won 33-30 at Ravens. Next: Sun. vs. Broncos.
Are the Ravens really that bad or are the Browns actually pretty good? The Broncos will provide the answer.
18. Chargers (2-3)
Previous rank: 14. Result: Lost 24-20 vs. Steelers. Next: Sun at Packers.
The defense collapsed on that final Steelers TD drive. Before that, the Chargers should have had more than one pick of Michael Vick.
19. Seahawks (2-3)
Previous rank: 12. Result: Lost 27-24 (OT) at Bengals. Next: Sun. vs. Panthers.
They beat the Lions on a bad call but no such luck against the Bengals: kicker Mike Nugent’s game winner in OT bounced off the upright and through. That’s three blown fourth-quarter leads for the Seahawks.
20. Raiders (2-3)
Previous rank: 19. Result: Lost 16-10 vs. Broncos. Next: Bye.
They blew a lead with two minutes left against the Bears in Week 4. This time QB Derek Carr threw a pick six when they were in position for a g-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter.
21. Bears (2-3)
Previous rank: 27. Result: Won 18-17 at Chiefs. Next: Sun. at Lions.
QB Jay Cutler led them to a comeback win for the second week in a row, this time dropping a shotgun snap before tossing a TD to Matt Forte with 18 seconds left. Beat the Lions and suddenly the Bears are back in the NFC North race.
22. Buccaneers (1-3)
Previous rank: 28. Result: Won 38-vs. Jaguars. Next: Bye.
A week after he had five giveaways, QB Jameis Winston passed for 209 yards with a touchdown and no picks. They ended their home losing streak at 11 games but should celebrate during the bye because after that they are at the Redskins, at the Falcons and at home against the Giants.
23. Cowboys (2-3)
Previous rank: 18. Result: Lost 30-6 to Patriots. Next: Bye.
It’s hard to blame backup QB Brandon Weeden for the struggles when he’s missing Dez Bryant. But Matt Cassel is going to have to get a shot at some point.
24. Chiefs (1-4)
Previous rank: 25. Result: Lost 18-17 vs. Bears. Next: Sun. at Vikings.
After losing three straight to good teams (Broncos, Packers, Bengals) the Chiefs mixed it up with an awful home defeat to the Bears. They also Jamaal Charles to a season-ending knee injury.
25. Titans (1-3)
Previous rank: 24. Result: Lost 14-13 vs. Bills. Next: Sun. vs. Dolphins.
They blew a double-digit lead at home for the second straight week and lost both games by a combined three points. Rookie QB Marcus Mariota has shown promise considering the lack of pass protection or a running game.
26. Ravens (1-4)
Previous rank: 20. Result: Lost 33-30 (OT) vs. Browns. Next: Sun. at 49ers.
They lost at home to division for Cleveland for the first time since 2007 as Josh McCown threw for a Browns record 457 yards. Now the Ravens are 1-4 for the first time ever.
27. Texans (1-4)
Previous rank: 22. Result: Lost 27-20 vs. Colts. Next: Sun. at Jaguars.
Linebacker Whitney Mercilus retweeted a local columnist’s unflattering comparison of the Astros and Texans. Things are so bad for the Texans that no one could tell if Mercilus agreed with the tweet or not.
28. Saints (1-4)
Previous rank: 21. Result: Lost 39-17 at Eagles. Next: Thurs. vs. Falcons.
There will be a lot of talk about how the Saints are always dangerous against the Falcons, especially at home. More likely is that the Falcons find their pass rush against this leaky offensive line and harass Drew Brees into mistakes.
29. Jaguars (1-3)
Previous rank: 31. Result: Lost 38-31at Buccaneers. Next: Sun. at Colts.
They lost their 12th straight road game. At least the offense came alive.
30. Dolphins (1-3)
Previous rank: 30. Result: Bye. Next: Sun. at Titans.
Interim coach Dan Campbell’s first big moves include running his players through an Oklahoma drill and changing their locker assignments. That should fix things.
31. 49ers (1-4)
Previous rank: 32. Result: Lost 30-27 at Giants. Next: Sun. vs. Ravens.
They don’t look as if they’ve quit. They also don’t look as if they will win more than five games.
32. Lions (0-5)
Previous rank: 29. Result: Lost 13-10 at Seahawks. Next: Sun. vs. Bears.
They got drubbed and QB Matt Stafford got benched. The Bears aren’t looking like pushovers anymore so 0-6 is a real possibility.
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