1 (1)

Colts

  8-0  

  Indianapolis won in New England getting their fifth win versus a playoff team from a season ago. The Colts’ impressive resume includes road wins versus 3 of the 5 top teams in the power rankings; at N.Y. Giants, at Denver, and at New England. Surely the Colts’ difficult strength of schedule qualifies 2006 as the best half season of football Peyton Manning has ever played.

2 (3)

Broncos

  6-2  

  For the second week in a row the outcome of Denver’s game was a statistical anomaly. Last week the Broncos lost at home to Indianapolis while rushing for 227 yards. This week the Broncos won in Pittsburgh while allowing 433 yards passing. But no matter how you slice it, the Broncos are 6-2. And if the season ended today, Denver would have a first round playoff bye thanks to victories over the 6-2 Patriots, and over the 6-2 Ravens.

3 (6)

Ravens

  6-2

  Baltimore got another solid defensive performance and notched another win, this time at home over the Bengals giving the Ravens a two game lead in the AFC North. With wins over San Diego, New Orleans, and Cincinnati, the Ravens move up to the third spot. Keep in mind that Baltimore’s only losses are versus Carolina with McNair injured for most of the game, and at Denver.

4 (2)

Bears

7-1

Chicago dropped to 7-1, losing to the Dolphins who were 1-6 coming in. Arguably the Bears could be 5-3 with near losses to the Cardinals in week 6, and the Vikings in week 3 (averted thanks to a Chester Taylor fumble with 3 minutes left). So which is it? Are the Bears a 5-3 team masquerading as a 7-1 team? Or are they a legitimate 7-1 team? The answer may be somewhere in between. But in light of the above analysis, and with no wins versus teams with a current record better than .500, Chicago falls behind Denver and Baltimore, each owning two wins over 6-2 teams.

5 (5)

Giants

  6-2  

New York struggled on offense without Burress, but put together a game winning TD drive in the 4th quarter to beat the upset minded Texans… With the victory, the Giants grabbed a two game lead in the NFC East.

6 (4)

Patriots

  6-2  

  Brady threw 4 interceptions as New England fell to Indianapolis at home. With losses to the Broncos and the Colts, qualifying for a first round playoff bye may be difficult for the Patriots in January.

7 (7)

Saints

6-2

New Orleans went on the road to face a Buccaneers’ team that had been playing tremendous defense against the pass, and Brees lit it up. With a record of 6-2 the Saints are another step closer towards making the playoffs. But nothing is written in stone. The Saints’ schedule is plenty tough. But so are these Saints.

8 (9)

Chargers

6-2

San Diego struggled versus Cleveland in the 1st half. But it was all LT in the 2nd half as San Diego grabbed their sixth win of the season… Still, the Chargers have played one of the easier schedules this season. They’ll be tested in the next two weeks with trips to Cincinnati and Denver.

Jaguars

  5-3

  Jacksonville continued their dominant play at home with a 30 point crushing of the Titans. With a 5-3 record the Jaguars’ playoff hopes are more than alive. Cincinnati’s loss in Baltimore could prove key in the wild card chase.

10 (8)

Falcons

5-3

  Just one week after winning in Cincinnati, Atlanta lost to a 1-6 Lions team they beat by 20 points on the road last season. That’s the ultimate in inconsistency. And inconsistent teams usually don’t get very far into the postseason.

11 (12)

Eagles

4-4

After losing at home to the Jaguars in week 8, Philadelphia had a bye in week 9. The Eagles return to action at home in week 10 where they’ll attempt to get back above the .500 mark versus division rival Washington.

12 (10)

Bengals

4-4

After starting the season with 3 wins in a row, Cincinnati has dropped 4 of 5 games. The losses are to teams with solid records including the Patriots, Falcons, and Ravens. But at 4-4 the Bengals’ playoff chances are in question as we suggested could happen in our preseason NFL predictions due to some tough scheduling for Cincinnati in 2006.

Chiefs

5-3

  Kansas City grabbed a road win in St. Louis as Johnson rushed for 172 yards. After starting the season 0-2, the Chiefs are suddenly legitimate playoff contenders with a record of 5-3… Meanwhile Damon Huard has thrown for 11 TD’s and only 1 interception in relief of Green. Decisions? Decisions? Decisions?

14 (16)

Seahawks

  5-3  

  Seattle notched a shutout over Oakland, registering 9 sacks in the process. A key home game versus the Rams is on deck. A win could essentially wrap up the division for the Seahawks, and it’s only week 10.

Cowboys

  4-4  

Parcells decided to go for a two point conversion in the first quarter. Not only did the Cowboys not get the 2, but they missed the 1. That’s NFL math folks. Near the end of the game when Dallas might have been sitting on the ball with a 1 point lead, they were forced to attempt a game winning field goal to break the tie, which was blocked, and returned, setting up Washington’s own game winning kick which was successful. In other notes, Owens performed “Falling Asleep on a Football” in the end zone. Some have wondered if his hands were still asleep when dropping a would be 72 yard TD bomb.

16 (14)

Panthers

  4-4  

  After losing at home to Dallas in week 8, Carolina had a bye in week 9. The Panthers return to action at home in week 10 where they’ll try to get back above the .500 mark in a Monday night game versus Tampa Bay.

17 (18)

Rams

4-4

  St. Louis fell to .500 with a home loss to the Chiefs. With trips to Seattle and Carolina on deck, the Rams’ playoff chances could hang in the balance.

18 (15)

Vikings

4-4

  Last week we suggested Minnesota’s loss to the Patriots might be difficult to recover from. And clearly it was, as the Vikings lost in San Francisco, failing to get into the end zone.

19 (23)

Redskins

  3-5

Washington pulled out an improbable win over the Cowboys, blocking a game winning field goal attempt and returning it to set up the game winning kick by Novak with no time left, thanks to a face mask penalty on the return… However, if the Redskins are going to turn their season around, they’ll have to do against a tough 2nd half schedule that includes playing Philadelphia twice, not to mention games versus Carolina, Atlanta, and the Giants, as well as games in New Orleans, and in St. Louis.

20 (20)

Jets

4-4

After losing at Cleveland in week 8, New York had a bye in week 9. The Jets return to action week 10 in New England where they’ll seek to climb back above the .500 mark.

21 (21)

Steelers

  2-6

  Roethlisberger threw for 433 yards, but he also threw another 3 interceptions as Pittsburgh’s season took another blow in a home loss to Denver. With six losses already on the books, it will take a near miracle for the Steelers to reach the playoffs.

Buccaneers

2-6

  Tampa Bay’s extremely dim hopes of saving the season were dealt another blow as the Bucs got their sixth loss of the season at their halfway point, falling at home to New Orleans.

23 (24)

Bills

3-5

Buffalo grabbed home win versus the Packers. But with several tough games remaining including; at Indianapolis, vesus Jacksonville, versus San Diego, and at Baltimore, the win is most likely too little too late. McGahee broke a rib and could miss the next game.

24 (22)

Packers

3-5

  Green Bay was unable to get to the .500 mark, losing in Buffalo. Meanwhile, their next 4 games are against teams that are currently .500 or better.

25 (29)

Dolphins

  2-6

  Last week we put forth the idea that the Dolphins could “right a lot of wrongs” if they could find a way to beat the Bears. And that’s exactly what they did. In spite of Miami’s poor record, their defense is still solid. And therefore capable of winning games. But with six losses already on the books, it will probably take a near miracle to make the playoffs.

26 (26)

Browns

2-6

  Cleveland added San Diego to the list of top teams they faced and lost to in 2006. Previous losses versus Denver, Carolina, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and New Orleans toughened up the Browns. And they gave the Chargers all they could handle in the first half before Tomlinson finally took over.

27 (30)

49ers

3-5

The 49ers beat a dejected Vikings’ team, and are now above .500 at home this season (3-2). Unfortunately, San Francisco is 0-3 on the road where they have given up and average of 38 points a game.

28 (32)

Lions

2-6

  Detroit surprised Atlanta, leading from start to finish. But it takes more than a single upset to advance significantly in the rankings, especially with a record of 2-6 after week 9.

29 (25)

Titans

2-6

Tennessee’s 2 game winning streak came to an end… The Titans ran into a Jacksonville team which plays lights out at home. Vince Young threw three interceptions in the loss.

30 (27)

Texans

2-6

  Houston gave the Giants all they could handle, but were unable to come away with the win. Of course New Yorks’ offense is easier to handle without Burress in the lineup.

31 (28)

Raiders

2-6

  Just when the Raiders had momentum going, they were shutout for the second time this season on Monday night football.

32 (31)

Cardinals

1-7

  After losing in Green Bay in week 8, Arizona had a bye in week 9. The Cardinals return to action at home in week 10 to face the Cowboys. Meanwhile, Arizona drops to the bottom of the power rankings, being the only 1-7 team in the NFL for the second week in a row.