Rank the NFL's teams from top to bottom and you'll realize that there aren't many good teams, that there are lots of mediocre-to-bad teams and that there are about five awful teams. This is the modern NFL: a bunch of teams trying to go 9-7 rather than 7-9 with luck playing a big part in which side they land on.
1. Patriots (3-0)
Previous rank: 1. Result: Bye. Next: Sun. at Cowboys.
They got better during the bye week. Trading for run-stufffers Akiem Hicks and Khyri Thornton helps to shore up their one big weakness.
2. Packers (4-0)
Previous rank: 3. Result: Won 17-3 at 49ers. Next: Sun. vs. Rams.
They won by two touchdowns on the road when the offense wasn’t clicking. The defense looked great.
3. Falcons (4-0)
Previous rank: 4. Result: Won 48-21 vs. Texans. Next: Sun. vs. Redskins.
Maybe the Texans just aren’t that good. But the Chiefs and Panthers didn’t beat them down like the Falcons, who didn't even need much from Julio Jones to do it.
4. Broncos (4-0)
Previous rank: 5. Result: Won 23-20 vs. Vikings. Next: Sun. at Raiders.
They are winning with D. Road games at the Raiders and Browns give the offense a chance to get better before showdown with Packers.
5. Bengals (4-0)
Previous rank: 6. Result: Won 36-21 vs. Chiefs. Next: Sun. vs Seahawks.
Andy Dalton is looking like a bona fide first-tier QB. The defense is bending-but-not-breaking.
6. Cardinals (3-1)
Previous rank: 2. Result: Lost 24-22 vs. Rams. Next: Sun. at Detroit.
They got smacked by physical Rams D and didn’t respond well. They are still a very good team.
7. Panthers (4-0)
Previous rank: 8. Result: Won 37-23 at Buccaneers. Next: Bye.
The D that has been living off of takeaways. They are getting healthier just as the schedule gets tougher.
8. Rams (2-2)
Previous rank: 21. Result: Won 24-22 at Cardinals. Next: Sun. at Packers.
Finally, the offense backed up the defense. The running game got a huge boost from rookie Todd Gurley, who ran for 144 yards in the second half of his debut.
9. Giants (2-2)
Previous rank: 18. Result: Won 24-10 at Bills. Next: Sun. vs. 49ers.
That’s two weeks in a row the Giants closed out Ws after they couldn’t do it against the Falcons and Redskins. A tough run D so far is compensating for the lack of a pass rush.
10. Colts (2-2)
Previous rank: 14. Result: Won 16-13 (OT) vs. Jaguars. Next: Thurs. at Houston.
QB Andrew Luck was a late scratch so 40-year old Matt Hasselbeck leads them to a winning drive in OT. A win at Houston would set the record for consecutive victories against one division (16).
11. Jets (3-1)
Previous rank: 13. Result: Won 27-14 vs. Dolphins. Next: Bye.
They could have blown out the Dolphins if not for 163 (!) yards in penalties. Can’t always expect big games from Chris Ivory and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
12. Seahawks (2-2)
Previous rank: 17. Result: Won 13-10 vs. Lions. Next: Sun. at Bengals.
The Seahawks needed a bad call by officials to escape with a home win against the Lions. The pass protection was shaky for QB Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch’s balky hamstring has become an ongoing issue.
13. Redskins (2-2)
Previous rank: 24. Result: Won 23-20 vs. Eagles. Next: Sun. at Falcons.
See what can happen when QB Kirk Cousins stops making big mistakes? The Redskins still are committing too many penalties, though.
14. Vikings (2-2)
Previous rank: 12. Result: Lost 23-20 at Broncos. Next: Bye.
They turned two interceptions of Peyton Manning into 10 points and still lost. Adrian Peterson couldn’t get on track and missed a blitz pick-up leading to sack/strip of QB Teddy Bridgewater on final drive.
15. Chargers (2-2)
Previous rank: 15. Result: Won 30-27 vs. Browns. Next: Mon. vs. Steelers.
They won after rookie kicker Josh Lambo missed a 39-yard field goal, got another chance after a penalty, and made a 34-yarder. Everybody needs luck to win sometimes.
16. Bills (2-2)
Previous rank: 7. Result: Lost 24-10 vs. Giants. Next: Sun. at Titans.
Coach Rex Ryan lamented the “ridiculous” 17 penalties committed by his team against the Giants. Flags are holding back the Bills.
17. Steelers (2-2)
Previous rank: 9. Result: Lost 23-20 (OT) vs. Ravens. Next: Mon. at Chargers.
Kicker Josh Scobee couldn’t kick and so coach Mike Tomlin went for it twice on fourth down in OT. The Steelers failed both times, and Scobee is now their ex-kicker.
18. Cowboys (2-2)
Previous rank: 10. Result: Lost 26-20 at Saints. Next: Sun. vs. Patriots.
Remember when everybody thought the D was good? It got carved up by sore-armed Drew Brees and a bunch of no-name wide receivers.
19. Raiders (2-2)
Previous rank: 11. Result: Lost 22-20 at Bears. Next: Sun. vs. Broncos.
Just when you want to give the Raiders credit they go and lose to the Bears. They blew it after leading with two minutes left.
20. Ravens (1-3)
Previous rank: 27. Result: Won 23-20 (OT) at Steelers. Next: Sun. vs. Browns.
They got lucky with those missed Steelers field goals. But credit to them for finding a way to win on the road against a division rival when a defeat would mean a lost season.
21. Saints (1-3)
Previous rank: 29. Result: Won 26-20 (OT) vs. Cowboys. Next: Sun. at Eagles.
Drew Brees awkwardly fluttered passes because of his sore shoulder but he got it done somehow. He’s not going to last if the pass blocking doesn’t get better.
22. Texans (1-3)
Previous rank: 16. Result: Lost 48-21 at Falcons. Next: Sun. at Falcons.
A team that falls behind 42-0 has serious problems. Time to question that touted defensive front after the Falcons easily punched holes through it.
23. Eagles (1-3)
Previous rank: 19. Result: Lost 22-20 at Redskins. Next: Sun. vs. Saints.
Remember when everyone thought Chip Kelly was brilliant? Now DeMarco Murray is complaining about his lack of carries and Kelly’s failure to build offensive line depth is haunting him.
24. Titans (1-2)
Previous rank: 20. Result: Bye. Next: Sun. vs. Bills.
This is another team that could be a lot better if it cleaned up the penalties. Then again, maybe they commit so many penalties because they aren’t better.
25. Chiefs (1-3)
Previous rank: 22. Result: Lost 36-21 at Bengals. Next: Sun. vs. Bears.
Keep losing to good teams and soon it’s clear you aren’t one of them. It also gets you in the AFC West cellar.
26. Browns (1-3)
Previous rank: 25. Result: Lost 30-27 at Chargers. Next: Sun. at Ravens.
Sure, blame Tramon Williams for jumping offsides on San Diego’s missed field-goal attempt. Don’t blame him for Chargers QB Philip Rivers slicing through the D in spite of a makeshift offensive line.
27. Bears (1-3)
Previous rank: 32. Result: Won 22-20 vs. Raiders. Next: Sun. at Chiefs.
QB Jay Cutler returned from injury and overcame a late interception with a game-winning field-goal drive against the Raiders. Hey, it’s something.
28. Buccaneers (1-3)
Previous rank: 23. Result: Lost 37-23 to Panthers. Next: Sun vs. Jaguars.
QB Jameis Winston (four INTs, botched snap) keeps turning the ball over. Lose at home to the Jags and coach Lovie Smith may not make it through the bye week.
29. Lions (0-4)
Previous rank: 28. Result: Lost 13-10 at Seahawks. Next: Sun. vs. Cardinals.
They got jobbed by the bad call against the Seahawks. That should have been their one W against a brutal early schedule.
30. Dolphins (1-3)
Previous rank: 26. Result: Lost 27-14 vs. Jets. Next: Bye.
The Dolphins canned coach Joe Philbin after another listless defeat. Neither the high-priced defense nor the high-priced QB is living up to expectations.
31. Jaguars (1-3)
Previous rank: 30. Result: Lost 16-13 (OT) at Colts. Next: Sun. at Colts.
The Jags are yet another victim of poor kicking over the weekend. At least the defense made a stand after getting embarrassed by the Patriots in Week 3.
32. 49ers (1-3)
Previous rank: 31. Result: Lost 17-3 to Packers. Next: Sun. at Giants.
The defense finally showes signs of life. This time the boos were directed at QB Colin Kaepernick.
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