1/1

Giants

  3-0  

The champs had a bye and will get back to action in week five versus Seattle, but without the services of the suspended Plaxico Burress.

2/4

Titans

4-0

The Titans remained undefeated thanks to winning the turnover battle against a tough Vikings squad– most notably forcing 3 fumbles. This game had the potential to go the other way as Tennessee was out-yarded by Minnesota.

3/5

Redskins

  3-1

In the biggest shocker of the week the Redskins upset the Cowboys in Dallas. A healthy Santana Moss makes Washington’s offense mighty dangerous, while Washington’s defense is certainly solid enough to win against most teams.

Cowboys

  3-1  

The Cowboys suffered their first defeat of the season as they were held to just 44 yards rushing at home by Washington while also surrendering nearly 400 yards of total offense to the Redskins.

5/11

Panthers

  3-1  

  As expected, Carolina had little trouble at home handling the Atlanta Falcons and improving to (3-1). The bad news is double digit wins may not be enough to guarantee a playoff spot in the NFC this season.

6/3

Chargers

2-2

Trailing Oakland by 12 points in the fourth quarter raises a flag… Scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter to win is impressive. But there are more than a few questions about the Chargers’ defense this season.

Buccaneers

3-1

  As we mentioned last week the Buccaneers took it on the power rankings chin due to a log jam of similarly ranked teams. And we promised to make it up if they beat the Packers, which they did. In fact, they held Green Bay’s offense to just 181 yards… On the saddest of news possible, our hearts go out to Matt Bryant and his family.

8/6

Eagles

2-2

The Eagles loss at Chicago isn’t the kind of loss that sends them tumbling down the power ranking poll… If they had Westbrook, of if the game was on a neutral field– or in Philly it’s a “W”… Okay Bears’ fans don’t go too crazy on us. After all, we did pick Chicago to win the game.

9/18

Bears

2-2

Let’s talk about a Bears team that could easily be (4-0) if not for close losses versus two other very highly ranked teams (the Panthers and the Buccaneers). We rate these losses higher than we rate some other teams’ wins. Then there is Chicago’s week 1 victory at Indianapolis, and of course this week’s victory over Philadelphia. The Bears are much better than their record shows.

10/7

Packers

2-2

  The Packers dropped their second game in a row as they were held to just 181 yards by the tough Tampa Bay defense.

11/13

Bills

4-0

The Bills improved to (4-0) with another come from behind win– this time over the 32nd ranked Rams. The ability to win late is certainly the sign of a playoff team. But let’s keep it real… When Buffalo beat Seattle the Seahawks were decimated at wide receiver… When they beat Jacksonville it was at the height of the Jags’ offensive line woes with 3 starters out… And they very nearly lost to the Raiders and Rams. Let the hate mail begin and criticize all you like, but we’re not ready to put the Bills into the top five solely based on a (4-0) record. We look at how they got that record. And we ask, how many of the above 10 teams would Buffalo really beat on a neutral field?

12/14

Steelers

  3-1

  With an underperforming offensive line struggling against the Baltimore Ravens’ stout defense, Ben Roethlisberger used his nimbleness to will the Steelers to victory. And credit the Steelers’ top notch defense which registered five sacks and a defensive score.

13/9

Colts

  1-2  

  The Colts had a much needed bye and will get back to action week 5 at Houston against an (0-3) Texans squad.

14/15

Saints

2-2

No Colston, no Shockey, no problem. Another huge day passing the ball for Drew Brees as Lance Moore and Robert Meachem picked up the slack. And we can’t forget to mention Devery Henderson’s typical one catch for 81 yards. Meanwhile it was good to see Deuce McAllister back in action.

15/8

Broncos

  3-1  

  The Broncos were shocked in Kansas City. Lack of a quality defense makes it hard to win on the road– while also making a few miracles needed from time to time to win at home. If Denver hadn’t gotten the lucky call against San Diego, and if Gramatica hadn’t missed the big kick the following week, the Broncos could be (1-3). However in all fairness if Denver had come into this game at (1-2) they probably would have been a lot hungrier for a win, and handled the Chiefs. A little food for thought in the power rankings zone.

16/12

Patriots

  2-1  

  The Patriots had a bye and will return to action in week five at San Francisco. The big question is– how will New England perform coming off such an unexpected defeat at the hands (or should I say fins) of the Miami Dolphins?

17/10

Vikings

1-3

  Fumbles got the best of Minnesota in their loss at Tennessee. The Vikings are by far the best (1-3) team in the NFL. All of their losses, most of them close ones; have come to top ranked teams. The Vikings can’t afford to lose many more games if they are going to have a chance of making the playoffs. Bottom line– a solid team that’s having difficulty getting past a brutal schedule.

Jaguars

  2-2

  For the second week in a row Jacksonville scored a dramatic victory– this time at home against Houston as Garrard willed the Jaguars to victory with his scrambling ability… Our hearts go out to Richard Collier. How can it not make one question if guns are really worthy of existence? They make it far too easy to ruin lives in a split second.

19/19

Jets

2-2

The Jets got back to .500. Favre threw 6 TD’s. Coles caught 3 TD’s. New York’s schedule starts getting much easier now. Anything short of a (5-2) record heading into their week 9 matchup at Buffalo would be a major disappointment in our book.

20/20

Ravens

  2-1

  Ravens’ fans want to know how they could lose a game in which they held Pittsburgh to just 69 yards rushing and 237 yards overall? Answer– overly aggressive play calling on their own side of the field with the lead in a game against a team with a great defense. That said the Ravens do look very tough this season. But this loss could easily be the difference between winning the AFC North and staying at home for the playoffs… Flacco looks like a young Bledsoe firing the ball down field on a rope. We like it.

21/21

Cardinals

2-2

  The Cardinals lost the turnover battle, and hence the game. Hey wait a minute, that’s what we wrote last week. Let us improve upon that… Warner turned the ball over 7 times, wow! With contests coming up against the Bills, Cowboys, and Panthers, make or break time comes early this season for the Cards. Hey wait a minute, we wrote that last week too. At any rate, the West could be won in 2008 with as little as 6 wins, so don’t give up on your cards just yet.

22/22

49ers

2-2

The bad news is the 49ers had a chance to go two games above .500 but couldn’t hang in New Orleans… The good news is the West could be taken in 2008 with as few as 6 wins. I’m already droolin’ just thinking about how nervous the 5 seed would be playing a road game against a (6-10) playoff team in January (if it happens). We’re calling dibs on the headline, “the NFL goes NHL!”

23/28

Raiders

1-3

  The Raiders are quickly turning into this season’s coulda, woulda, shoulda story as they grabbed yet another defeat from the jaws of victory– this time at home versus the Chargers… And this just in, Kiffin is out.

24/23

Dolphins

  1-2

  The Dolphins will try to make it back to back wins over teams that played in last season’s AFC championship game when they host the Chargers in week 5.

25/24

Seahawks

  1-2  

  Seattle had a bye and will attempt to get back to .500 in week 5 on the road against the Burressless Giants.

26/25

Falcons

2-2

  Give em’ a year and they might be winning on the road.

Chiefs

1-3

  The Chiefs got their first win of the season in style by upsetting everybody’s darling (almost everybody) the Denver Broncos. Yes the Chiefs were one of our NFL picks of the week +9 points for members only. Where do the Chiefs go from here? Vegas says back to the “L” column as a trip to Carolina is on deck with K.C. installed as a 9 1/2 point underdog…

28/29

Texans

0-3

  The Texans almost saved their season with an upset in Jacksonville, but Garrard proved too elusive when the game was on the line.

29/27

Browns

1-3

  Even we were surprised Anderson wasn’t pulled after the first half in Cincinnati. In the end Cleveland grabbed their first win of the season. Maybe they’ll get back to playing some good football… Scratch that– their next six games are against the Giants, Redskins, Jaguars, Ravens, Broncos, and Bills. Ouch!

30/26

Bengals

0-4

No Carlson Palmer, no home win against the Browns.

31/31

Lions

0-3

  Detroit had a bye and will try to get their first win at home in week 5 against Chicago… Not an easy task considering the Lions have given up the 2nd most points in the NFC despite only playing three games while most other teams have played four.

32/32

Rams

0-4

  Coach Linehan was sent packing. And it was certainly no surprise considering the Rams have given up the most points in the NFL while also scoring the least.