32. Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning finally had a game where he looked mortal and funny enough it was against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Denver better hope that Von Miller and Champ Bailey can come back and help that defense because the Chiefs has a legitimate Super Bowl defense down in Kansas City.
31. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were my preseason pick to go to the Super Bowl from the NFC and I’m going to stick with that pick. The Seahawks need their offensive line to get healthy, but they have all the other tools to be a Super Bowl winner. If they get home field advantage throughout the playoffs, they are almost assured a Super Bowl appearance.
30. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are one of two undefeated teams in the NFL. The bad luck for the Chiefs is that the other team is the Denver Broncos who are in their division. If the Chiefs want to make a run at a Super Bowl, Alex Smith is going to have to be able to step up and help win games, not just avoid losing them.
29. New Orleans Saints
The Saints defense has been much improved since last year and they were one play away from still being 6-0. Jimmy Graham despite being held in check by the Patriots is a beast and they still have Drew Brees. As long as the defense holds up, they will be a contender to go to the Super Bowl.
28. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts play the Chargers tonight on Monday Night Football, but with the way they have been playing lately they should win this game. Andrew Luck is one of the best in football already and T.Y. Hilton and the ageless Reggie Wayne are fantastic.
27. Detroit Lions
As if the Lions weren’t hard enough to defend in the red zone with Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush, they seem to have found a new red zone target in 6’7” tight end Joseph Fauria. Fauria had three catches on the day for three touchdowns.
26. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals got a big win last week against the Patriots and then came out and beat a very game Bills team in overtime this week. The defense played well and the wide receivers, especially Marvin Jones really stepped up this week.
25. San Francisco 49ers
Colin Kaepernick still isn’t looking great, but Frank Gore said that is ok, I’ll carry this team. Gore is throwing all the thoughts about running backs breaking down after hitting 30 out the window. If not for him, this team might be sitting at 2-4 or 3-3 at best.
24. New England Patriots
After losing a game to the Bengals where they scored only six points last week, the Patriots came back and beat the undefeated Saints this week on a last second touchdown on Sunday. Tom Brady is doing more with less than anyone in history. It’s truly amazing to watch.
23. Chicago Bears
The Bears beat the hapless Giants this week to move to 4-2. When the offensive line if protecting Jay Cutler and he has time to throw, there aren’t many quarterbacks more talented out there. However, when the line breaks down, there aren’t a lot of worse ones either.
22. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins had a bye week, but all of the other 3-2 teams lost except the Cincinnati Bengals. Ryan Tannehill is a good quarterback when he has time to throw the ball. If the running game can gain a little consistency and Jonathan Martin can block, the Dolphins are dangerous.
21. Dallas Cowboys
I wouldn’t have the Cowboys in the playoffs if someone didn’t have to win the NFC East. Their defense isn’t overly impressive and Tony Romo has a way of blowing games as we took witness to at the end of their game against the Broncos.
20. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens offense isn’t good enough to get them into the playoffs. They can’t run the ball and Joe Flacco is still nothing more than a slightly above average quarterback. Their defense is playing great, but it won’t be enough.
19. Green Bay Packers
The Packers just beat the Ravens in an ugly game Sunday, but I still don’t think they are a complete enough team to make the playoffs. Their defense, while playing well against the Ravens, isn’t great and their offensive line is still bad.
18. Tennessee Titans
The Titans lost another close game against a Super Bowl contender this week when they lost by a touchdown to the Seattle Seahawks. If Jake Locker can make it back soon, they still have a legit shot at the playoffs.
17. St. Louis Rams
The Rams absolutely put a beat down on the Houston Texans this week. Sam Bradford played an efficient game and Zac Stacy looks like he may win the running back job. The real story was the defense and their domination of Houston.
16. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are sitting at 3-3 and in a tie for first place in the NFC East after beating the Buccaneers this past week. Nick Foles stepped in and played well enough that there is talk of Michael Vick not getting his job back.
15. New York Jets
The Jets got beat by the Steelers on a short week after beating the Falcons on a last minute drive. Geno Smith looked more like a rookie in this game than he did last week and the defense couldn’t get as much pressure on Ben Roethlisberger as they needed to.
14. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals lost to the 49ers this week, in part because of some terrible throws by Carson Palmer. The Cardinals have a good defense, but they are lacking on the offensive side of the ball. Andre Ellington adds a nice weapon in the run game.
13. Buffalo Bills
The Bills almost beat the Bengals yesterday with Thaddeus Lewis at quarterback. Lewis had only started one game in his three-year career and was promoted from the practice squad just this week. The Bills have a good team if they can get more consistent quarterback play.
12. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers play the Colts tonight on Monday Night Football, but I expect the Colts to beat them. That being said, Philip Rivers has been playing fantastic football this year. If he had any weapons around him, the Chargers would be a dangerous team.
11. Cleveland Browns
Brandon Weeden made one of the worst throws I have ever seen near the end of the game yesterday. It’s more than obvious that he isn’t the answer at quarterback, but they already took themselves out of the Teddy Bridgewater race.
10. Carolina Panthers
If the Cam Newton that played for the Panthers shows up the rest of the year, they will be picking much closer to the end of the first round. He was fantastic and no team will want to see them on their schedule.
9. Atlanta Falcons
Injuries have decimated this Falcons team. Julio Jones is now out for the season and it looks like Roddy White is going to miss some time after the bye week. The Falcons defense isn’t any good and their offensive line is just as bad. I almost feel sorry for Matt Ryan. Almost.
8. Houston Texans
The Texans have fallen apart. Matt Schaub isn’t the answer, but it doesn’t look like T.J. Yates is either. With those running backs and that defense, they need to find a quarterback who can take them where they want to go.
7. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders played a hard fought game against the Chiefs, but just couldn’t take advantage of the poor play of Alex Smith. Terrelle Pryor was also sacked 10 times by the Chiefs defense who just abused the Raiders offensive line.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers finally got their first win of the season this past week against the Jets. Their line played well and Ben Roethlisberger was his vintage self. The defense gave Geno Smith fits as well.
5. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)
The Redskins aren’t very good. I don’t know if Robert Griffin III isn’t completely healthy yet or if he is just playing that poorly. What I do know is their defense isn’t any good and it isn’t getting better.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have to go to Josh Freeman now and see if they have anything in him. We all know Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel aren’t the answer. On top of that, how do you only run Adrian Peterson 10 times in a game?
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers seem to have two problems with their team. The first is the head coach. Greg Schiano is not a good coach at all. The second is the quarterback. Mike Glennon has looked better, but still isn’t good enough.
2. New York Giants
The Giants are the only team that could even come close to rivaling the pitiful play of the Jaguars, but they are a distant second. Eli Manning is playing as bad as I’ve seen him play and they have no run game to help.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are far and away the worst team in the league and it isn’t close. They put up a respectable fight against the Broncos to keep it at a 16 point loss. That in itself is sad.