32. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have looked as good as I’ve ever seen them. They way Rob Ryan has their defense playing is unbelievable and their offense is as good as always. Darren Sproles is a wild card on that team that helps them in so many ways and of course they still have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Drew Brees.
31. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are playing fantastic football on offense and are the media darlings of the NFL. Peyton Manning is playing as well as any quarterback we have ever seen and the receivers are catching everything. However, they still have no defense and it still isn’t cold and in January yet. We will see what they are made of then.
30. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle had a slight hiccup this week, but they are still one of the two best teams in the NFC. They are unbeatable at home and if they can end up with the best record in the NFC, have a sure shot at the Super Bowl. However, to get that they have to get better on the road and sure up a leaky offensive line.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are playing as well as any team in the NFL. Their defense is playing like the best one in the NFL and Alex Smith is playing smart and not turning the ball over. They have one of the better offensive lines and their run game is fantastic. They are one of the few teams that might be able to beat the Broncos this season.
28. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers looked like a team who might not make the playoffs for a couple of weeks there, then they decided to turn it on. They need to continue to feed Frank Gore and their run game and take th pressure off of Colin Kaepernick to win games for them. The defense is still playing as good as ever too.
27. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are a team I thought would regress this year, but so far they seem to be a better team. T.Y. Hilton is a stud and their defense is playing surprisingly well. If their offensive line and defense can hold up, with Andrew Luck under center they can make some noise come playoff time.
26. Chicago Bears
The Bears seem to have two personalities. One game they will come out, force two or three turnovers, score on one of them and Jay Cutler will play fantastic. Then another game, well they will still force the turnovers and score off of them, but Cutler will undo all of that with three of four picks of his own. The offensive line has to hold up and Cutler has to stop turning the ball over for them to be a contender.
25. New England Patriots
The Patriots lack of weapons finally caught up to them this past week against the Bengals. Tom Brady was getting hit in the pocket all day and had very few people getting open for him. Rob Gronkowski is expected to be back for this week’s game against the Saints and that will be a huge boost to that offense.
24. Detroit Lions
When Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush are both healthy, the Lions offense is almost unstoppable. However, the problem is that Bush is often injured and now that he is healthy, Megatron is hurt. The Lions defensive line is one of the best in the NFL and it helps take the pressure off of their poor secondary.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals defense is played lights out this past week, holding the Patriots to six points and keeping Tom Brady from throwing a touchdown for the first time in 52 games. However, the offense is really holding this team back. Andy Dalton isn’t getting any better and it’s really causing the offense to underperform.
22. Dallas Cowboys
If it wasn’t for the fact that someone has to win the NFC East, I wouldn’t have the Cowboys in the playoffs. Tony Romo was his typical self against the Broncos this past week. He looked fantastic for the first 56 minutes of the game, but in the end he fell apart. Dez Bryant is a top five wide receiver in this game.
21. Baltimore Ravens
The Super Bowl champs aren’t clicking on all cylinders yet and aren’t playing like a playoff team. Joe Flacco isn’t living up to his 120 million dollar contract and they are going to need much better play from him. Ozzie Newsom, being Ozzie Newsom did absolutely steal Eugene Monroe from the Jaguars to help sure up their offensive line.
20. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans were another team that was a Super Bowl contender before the season, but bad quarterback play has seen their stock decline. Matt Schaub threw the game against the Seahawks away and they played very poorly against the 49ers. If he doesn’t watch out, his replacement may be drafted this offseason.
19. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were being talked about as possibly dethroning the Patriots in the AFC East and then they lost two straight games. Their offensive line still needs more help and the run game needs to get more consistant. Ryan Tannehill has looked the part of a franchise quarterback so far this year for them.
18. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are another team that has had bad luck with injuries. They have lost starting offensive linemen from an already poor line and now Clay Matthews is out for what looks like about two months. Aaron Rodgers will have to be at his absolute best for them to make a playoff run.
17. New York Jets
The Jets were a team that was thought to be one of the five worst in the league. Geno Smith has taken over that team and make them a legitimate threat. The defense is good and has one of the best front threes in the league. If Smith can keep playing well, they are a playoff contender.
16. Cleveland Browns
The Browns thought that they might have found the quarterback of the future in Brian Hoyer until he went down with a season ending knee injury this past week. The defense is still one of the better ones in the NFL and will keep them in most games.
15. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were looking like they could be a surprise playoff team this season until Jake Locker went down with a hip injury. If Ryan Fitzpatrick can keep them afloat until Locker gets back, they still have a chance to make it.
14. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons went from a Super Bowl contender to 1-4 real fast and in a hurry. Now that Julio Jones is out for the season with an injury, things don’t seem to be looking up for them. The defense has already been devastated with injuries and the offensive line just isn’t any good.
13. Oakland Raiders
Before the season, most people thought the Raiders had the worst roster in the NFL. Terrelle Pryor is making those people look foolish. He is playing very well right now and carrying the Raiders to victories. If he can keep it up and the Raiders defense gets better, they will give some teams problems.
12. San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers is having one of his best seasons in a while, but it’s still not enough for the Chargers. Their defense still isn’t all that improved and the running game has been inconsistent. Danny Woodhead has provided some spark from the running back position however.
11. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo is counting on Thaddeus Lewis to come in and start this week against the Bengals with E.J. Manuel out because of a knee injury. The Bills defense has played fantastic this season, especially with the injuries to their secondary.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles high flying offense found its flight again against the lowly Giants this week. Michael Vick went down with a hamstring injury and Nick Foles stepped in and played well. The Eagles find themselves in a tie for first place with the Cowboys at 2-3.
9. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are a team that should be scoring a lot more and be challenging for a playoff spot. However, like with the Buccaneers, coaching is the biggest problem here. Ron Rivera is a really bad coach and isn’t getting the most out of his team.
8. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are a team who put a statue of a quarterback in Carson Palmer behind what is probably the worst line in the league. The Cardinals have a lot of weapons and a good defense, but the offensive line and quarterback are holding them back.
7. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings just signed Josh Freeman and one has to wonder when he will get his shot to go out and start. If Freeman goes back to his 2010 form then the Vikings could make a push for a wildcard spot, but if he plays like the Freeman since then, the Vikings will find themselves with a top 10 pick.
6. St. Louis Rams
The Rams were a team that a lot of people thought would be good this season, me included. However, that just isn’t the case right now. They have no run game to speak of and Sam Bradford has yet to show why he was the first pick in the draft.
5. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)
Washington's secondary is one of, if not the worst secondary in the league and their offense isn’t clicking yet. Things could get better for Washington on offense as Robert Griffin III gets more games under his belt, but don’t expect the defense to magically get better.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are an all-around bad team. Their defense, which used to be the strength of the team, isn’t good enough to carry them anymore and their offense isn’t any good. They need help on the offensive line and the defensive side of the ball. Ben Roethlisberger won’t last much longer getting beat down like he has been.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On paper the Buccaneers look like an amazing team until you get to the quarterback position and see rookie quarterback Mike Glennon. However, in my opinion the position that is causing the most problems is the coaching position. Greg Schiano doesn’t know how to coach NFL players and it is showing.
2. New York Giants
Anyone who tells you that they thought before the season that the Giants would be this bad can either see the future or is a liar. Eli Manning has been the worst I’ve ever seen him and they have no run game to speak of. On top of that, the defense is really bad as well.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Not much to say here that hasn’t already been said about the Jaguars. They are the worst team in the NFL and I can’t see a game on their schedule that I seem them come close to winning. Teddy Bridgewater, welcome to Jacksonville.