While juggernauts like the Niners, Ravens, Packers, Patriots, Giants and Eagles continue to jockey for spots in the top 10, three teams with a combined zero Lombardi trophies continue to lead the way as the only undefeated squads in the National Football League. Here are our latest power rankings…
1. Houston Texans (4-0, 1st week): Four absolute walks in the park to start the season. Wait, and with the Jets on deck, we can probably already make that five.
2. Atlanta Falcons (4-0, 2nd last week): Closer than it should have been with Carolina, but Matt Ryan made a huge throw when the moment requested it.
3. Arizona Cardinals (4-0, 3rd last week): Also not pretty for these guys, but Arizona has found a way to win 10 of their last 11 games. When will they start getting credit?
4. San Francisco 49ers (3-1, 6th last week): Can't wait for that Monday nighter in Arizona in Week 8.
5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1, 5th last week): Also excited to see these guys in Houston in a few weeks. They should be 5-1 at that point.
6. Green Bay Packers (2-2, 4th last week): Something's still off with the Packers. At least they're getting it out of their system early, but now they're trailing both Chicago and Minnesota.
7. New England Patriots (2-2, 8th last week): You get the feeling a light switch was flicked on in the fourth quarter in Buffalo. Scary.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1, 9th last week): Fixed their turnover problems in a huge bounce-back victory over the division-rival Giants.
9. New York Giants (2-2, 7th last week): Then again, Philadelphia was supposed to win that game. No reason for Big Blue to panic.
10. Denver Broncos (2-2, 12th last week): I'm still not convinced Peyton Manning is even close to back. Big tests coming with New England and San Diego on deck (both away from home).
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2, 11th last week): Took the bye week to get healthy and prepare for intra-state rival Philadelphia.
12. Chicago Bears (3-1, 19th last week): No defense has accumulated as many takeaways this year as Chicago's.
13. San Diego Chargers (3-1, 15th last week): Nice win in Kansas City. Those were the kinds of games the Chargers used to slip up in often. Have they changed?
14. Minnesota Vikings (3-1, 16th last week): I'm not purchasing this stock yet, but I guess I don't have a choice but to keep moving them up the list.
15. Carolina Panthers (1-3, 14th last week): Cam Newton can't turn the ball over in that spot. This year is taking a foul turn, especially with Atlanta running away with it now.
16. Seattle Seahawks (2-2, 13th last week): Can't pile on for a tough loss across the country on short rest after an emotional victory.
17. Dallas Cowboys (2-2, 10th last week): Can definitely pile on for whatever the hell that was Monday night. That bye week's gonna be rough in Big D.
18. Washington Redskins (2-2, 20th last week): Robert Griffin III has locked up the offensive rookie of the year award, I suppose.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1, 18th last week): OK, but it was Jacksonville. Next up, some real challenges with Miami and Cleveland on the sked. Seriously….
20. St. Louis Rams (2-2, 25th last week): Man, when you consider what they did in Detroit in Week 1, this team could easily be 3-1. The NFC West is a bitch this year.
21. Detroit Lions (1-3, 17th last week): The Lions look like one of the worst teams in the NFC right now. Yet they have too much talent not to rebound, which is why I'm keeping them ahead of Tampa Bay and New Orleans.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3, 21st last week): They've yet to lose by more than a score, which is saying a lot when you consider how 2011 ended.
23. Miami Dolphins (1-3, 32nd last week): Where the hell did that come from?
24. New York Jets (2-2, 22nd last week): It takes one hell of an effort to move up 10 spots on a loss.
25. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3, 23rd last week): Matt Cassel's running out of time.
26. New Orleans Saints (0-4, 28th last week): Darren Sharper, genius?
27. Buffalo Bills (2-2, 24th last week): Is Mario Williams going to become the latest hilariously bad Bills' signing?
28. Oakland Raiders (1-3, 26th last week): Remember Darren McFadden?
29. Tennessee Titans (1-3, 27th last week): Sadly, this is the AFC South's second-best team.
30. Cleveland Browns (0-4, 29th last week): Get ready for that Cleveland-Indy matchup in Week 7.
31. Indianapolis Colts (1-2, 31st last week): Well, they didn't lose this week. Nor did they win.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3, 30th last week): What does it say about the AFC that the worst six teams in the league hail from that conference?
