32. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks to me are still the best team in the NFL. They looked bad the majority of this week’s game against Houston. However, even trailing 20-3 they found a way to comeback against a playoff team from last year and get the win. The defense is playing outstanding and Marshawn Lynch is an absolute beast.
31. Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning is playing as well as anyone ever has, but they haven’t played anyone yet. The Broncos are the favorite in the AFC and their toughest competition may come from within their division. The addition of Von Miller should be a big boost to their defense as well.
30. New Orleans Saints
After their historically bad defense last year, who would have believed that the defense would be playing so well this year? Drew Brees is still Drew Brees and Jimmy
Graham is still Jimmy Graham. That offense is as good as always and if the defense keeps playing like this they can beat absolutely anyone.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have already doubled their win total from last year and don’t look to be stopping anytime soon. The Chiefs might have the best playing defense in the NFL and Alex Smith isn’t making dumb decisions and losing them games. The two best teams in the AFC are in the same division.
28. New England Patriots
Is there anyone in the NFL doing more with less than Tom Brady? He doesn’t have either tight end from last year, Wes Welker is gone, Danny Amendola and Shane Vereen are hurt and he has a couple of rookies out wide. None of that matters to his as the Patriots are 4-0.
27. Detroit Lions
When Reggie Bush plays, this offense is as dynamic as any in the NFL. Nate Burleson got hurt and that is a big blow for them, but they still have enough weapons that it isn’t going to kill them. If the defense can play well, this will be a tough team for anyone to beat.
26. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have looked like a Super Bowl caliber team since they traded for Trent Richardson. They have absolutely dominated against the 49ers and the Jaguars since then. The big questions for them are can the offensive line and the defense hold up.
25. Chicago Bears
The Bears defense is one of a kind at forcing turnovers and scoring off of them. The only problem is that they have a quarterback, Jay Cutler, who will turn the ball over if pressured. Early in the season he avoided those mistakes, but against the Lions they showed up as three interceptions and a fumble.
24. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are in the process of getting spanked by the Saints right now. Despite that, I still think this is a playoff team. The defense is legit and will only get better when Cameron Wake comes back. Ryan Tannehill has improved and looks the part of a franchise quarterback.
23. San Francisco 49ers
The only reason I have the 49ers in the playoffs is because the NFC looks really down this year. The Falcons are bad, the Packers don’t look great and the NFC East stinks. Colin Kaepernick hasn’t looked great the last three games and he will have to improve if they want to win this year what they lost last year.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
I’ll start this by saying the only reason I’m picking the Bengals is because I did before the season. They aren’t a great football team, but no one in the division is. Giovani Bernard has looked fantastic so far, but Andy Dalton is really holding this team back.
21. Dallas Cowboys
I don’t trust the Cowboys at all, but they are sadly the best looking team in that division. They still have all of the offensive firepower in the world, but it never seems to click for them. Add onto that a defense that isn’t very good and you have a one-and-done.
20. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are a team I might have in the playoffs if Jake Locker were healthy. However, when he went down with a hip injury, the Titans playoff chances went down with him. They still have a chance for a wildcard if Ryan Fitzpatrick can play well.
19. Baltimore Ravens
The AFC North is completely up for grabs. The Ravens, Bengals and Browns are all tied for first place. I don’t think they Browns can keep up, though they could surprise me. Joe Flacco just threw five interceptions against the Buffalo Bills, that isn’t what you want your $120 million dollar quarterback to do.
18. Houston Texans
The Texans are another team that I don’t believe in and it’s because of one player, Matt Schaub. He is a good enough quarterback to manage a team to the playoffs, but not good enough of a quarterback to go out and win you a game.
17. Green Bay Packers
The Packers had a bye this week after a heartbreaking loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Packers still have Aaron Rodgers so they are never out of it, but so far the Bears and the Lions both look like better all-around team.
16. Atlanta Falcons
I didn’t believe in the Falcons before the season and I sure don’t now. Their offensive line is just plain bad and they can’t run the ball at all right now. They get beat on the line on both sides of the ball and you can’t win games like that.
15. San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers is playing as well as he has in a long time. The Chargers won a close game against Dallas Sunday and are a team to watch. If Rivers can keep playing at this level and the defense can play even decently, the Chargers could be spoilers down the stretch.
14. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had a bye week so I kept them around the same place in the draft. Their defense has been playing well and DeAngelo Williams has been running well. Cam Newton needs to step his game up and carry this team.
13. Cleveland Browns
As bad as Browns fans want him to be Brian Hoyer is not the answer at quarterback in Cleveland. Norv Turner has game planned well around his quarterback and has made Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron into future stars.
12. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have a lot of young talent on offense and if it can click it will be fantastic. Robert Woods showed us what he could do Sunday against the Ravens. If E.J. Manuel can play good football, the Bills have a chance to make some noise.
11. New York Jets
The Jets got spanked by the Titans Sunday and the offense didn’t look good. Geno Smith threw two interceptions and they could never get anything going. Smith looks like a quarterback to build a team around and that is good news for the Jets.
10. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals beat the Buccaneers on Sunday, but they looked bad doing it. Their offensive line isn’t any good and Carson Palmer is nearing the end. Their defense is playing well, but it won’t be enough.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles high powered offense doesn’t seem so high powered anymore. They aren’t putting very many points and their defense is just plain bad. Chip Kelly has his work cut out for him.
8. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings were a playoff team a year ago, but few thought they would get back with Christian Ponder still at quarterback. The passing game showed signs of life with Matt Cassel on Sunday but he still isn’t the answer either.
7. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders just lost to the Redskins, but that was without starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor. With Pryor in the game they are a completely different team. If the running game can get going, they have a potent offense.
6. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)
Most of us wondered how Robert Griffin III would look coming back from injury and so far he hasn’t looked great. However, the reason they aren’t winning games is the defense. Unless they are playing against Matt Flynn the defense stinks.
5. St. Louis Rams
I had high hopes for the Rams before the season, but they just aren’t looking like that team. They have no run game and Sam Bradford isn’t making any plays to win games.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers can’t put a whole game together as a team. Their offense has looked horrible for the first three games of the season. In London for game four, their offense finally plays well and their defense plays horrible.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are a team that should really win 10 games with the talent on that team. However, without a quarterback that is any good, they will be lucky to win four.
2. New York Giants
The Giants have been really bad this year. Eli Manning is turning the ball over at a horrible rate and they can’t run the ball at all. The defense isn’t good enough to help the offense out.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars prove again that they are the worst team in the league. I doubt this spot changes all year. They let Blaine Gabbert start again and that wasn’t any better.