1. New Orleans Saints (1) – Okay, so they gave up some points in Miami. It happens. The fact that they expertly engineered a big comeback is just as important, since they hadn’t had to do it all season.
2. Indianapolis Colts (2) – Oh, the poor Rams. What a mismatch. And here come the Cardinals – into Lucas Oil Stadium – for their beating… we think…
3. Minnesota Vikings (3) – A loss! They’re HUMAN! Not a lot of teams march into Heinz Field and come away with a win against the home team. The bigger story is, did Old Man River start to show his age, just a bit? The answer is YES. I’ll be very interested to see how he looks in bad weather. Unfortunately, they may not be challenged in a bad weather game until the playoffs. Only a week 16 meeting in Chicago has frigid potential. They may roll until then.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10) – Quite a leap for the defending champs, who weren’t even on the list two weeks ago. That’s what happens when you are as hot as anybody in the league, starting to get healthy, and knocking down one of the few remaining unbeatens. Can they beat their second unbeaten in a row when they travel to…
5. Denver Broncos (5) – …who are coming off a bye, and hosting their toughest challenge to date.
6. New England Patriots (6) – No bump for beating the Bucs, even if they did have to travel all the way to London to do it. Sorry, Brady. I’m afraid I won’t be impressed until you throw six touchdowns in a quarter.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (9) – Well, welcome to the big boys club. That was a statement game at home against a (previously) solid Bears team who needed a win. Baltimore, and a rematch with the Steelers are on the agenda now. Pivotal stretch.
8. Green Bay Packers (7) – They didn’t deserve a one-notch bump after doing as they should and disposing of the Browns. But let’s face it, they should’ve won by eight touchdowns, not four. Hell comes to breakfast this week though, with Old Man River returning to Lambeau for the first time without the green and yellow dress. The reception should be interesting, but the game should be awfully tough for the home crowd.
9. New York Giants (not ranked) – I don’t know what I was smoking last week, dropping the Giants from the top spot in Week 6 to unranked after only one loss. That was clearly an overreaction to the betrayal I felt after they laid down and died in the Superdome. But with a little more time to think about it – and a tough loss to the Cardinals (?) – I remembered that I still think this is one of the best teams in football, and still expect them to play ball in February. Mea culpa.
10. Atlanta Falcons (4) – A little premature, popping them into the top 4 last week after that win at home against the Bears. But going into the JerryDome is nothing to sneeze at, even if Dallas hasn’t exactly played what you’d call Cowboys Football this season. I like this team quite a bit, and I REALLY like the Falcons-Saints on Monday night; should be a wild one.