Well, I told you I would change it if Cleveland beat the Bills, so I did. Buffalo goes down to number 20, but I don't feel comfortable moving the Browns up past San Diego yet.
Consider, though: If the Ravens were as bad as everyone thought they would be, then perhaps the Browns win both games against the Ravens. Then the Browns are 6-4, and my prediction that the Browns would be terrible this year would be wrong. I love contradicting myself.
2. New York Giants (2; 0): Brandon Jacobs physically abused the Ravens in a way I didn't think any player could.
3. Carolina Panthers (3; 0): They keep playing as bad as a team can play, but getting away with it because of their competition. Next week we truly find out about the team, as they play at Atlanta.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5; +1): It wasn't pretty, but it was a huge win for the Steelers. The slot for the second best team in the AFC is open; are they it?
5. Arizona Cardinals (6; +1): It wasn't pretty, just like it wasn't last week. Unlike the Panthers, though, I'm giving the Cardinals credit because these were divisional games, and it's just so refreshing to see the Cardinals beat the teams they're supposed to beat for once.
6. New York Jets (10; +4): They continue to surprise me. Thomas Jones is making Brett Favre look better than he is.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12; +5): I'm still not sold on them, but at some point you just have to accept their record. Jeff Garcia is a winner.
8. Indianapolis Colts (13; +5): In a way, the high-scoring game against the Texans affirmed them. You don't want to see them give up that many points, but they have to be heartened by the fact their offense kept them afloat.
9. New England Patriots (8; -1): The Colts and Patriots, numbers 8 and 9 in the power rankings, as wild card teams in the AFC?
10. Dallas Cowboys (19; +9): I don't believe the Cowboys are Super Bowl contenders at all, and I know the Redskins didn't play well. The Cowboys kept things basic, though. I liked what they did with Marion Barber. Tony Romo should not be discounted, either.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (4; -7): Ties are gross. Why does the NFl allow them? Just keep playing.
12. Denver Broncos (18; +6): They made a positive statement by going into Atlanta and getting the win. That lets me give them their due - at least for one week.
13. Atlanta Falcons (7; -6): Perhaps they don't deserve to be dropped 7 after a tough close loss. You have to protect home turf, though, and they didn't.
14. Baltimore Ravens (9; -5): A brutal beat-down by the Giants. They do that a lot, though, and it will just make the defense angrier going into next week against Philadelphia.
15. Miami Dolphins (14; -1): Too close to be comfortable against the Raiders. They've quietly won four in a row now, though, without a real statement win amongst the bunch. That can change next week if they play the Patriots like they did in Week 3.
16. Washington Redskins (11; -5): The Redskins haven't played like an elite team five weeks in a row now.
17. Minnesota Vikings (15; -2): Enter the NFC North teams. They're all so even I just kept them together. Green Bay looked like the worst of the bunch this week, but Minnesota did beat them two weeks ago, so they get the nod.
18. Green Bay Packers (20; +2): They took out a few weeks of frustration by pounding the Bears into submission. The most important part of that game was Ryan Grant playing well.
19. Buffalo Bills (16; -3): Remember when everyone thought Buffalo was good?
20. Chicago Bears (17; -3): What needs more work, their offense or defense?
21. New Orleans Saints (21; 0): They beat the Chiefs in a pretty close game, but who doesn't?
22. San Diego Chargers (22; 0): The only thing keeping them alive in the playoff picture is the fact you don't know how Denver will play during any given week.
23. Cleveland Browns (23; 0): Brady Quinn plays well again, leading many to already predict the Browns will have a breakout season in 2009. Then, they will not have their breakout season, and people will wonder why they are forced to watch the Browns in 4 night games again.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (24; 0): Peter King picked them in the upset against the Titans. I'm not sure I would pick them in any game this year. They're simply not clicking.
25. Houston Texans (25; 0): The Texans are good at this whole "give the game away with an untimely turnover" thing.
26. San Francisco 49ers (27; +1): They played the Cardinals tough, and just smacked around the Rams. After the Mike Singletary era got off to such a terrible start, you can see things looking a little brighter in San Francisco.
27. Seattle Seahawks (26; -1): Seattle played Miami tough, but you have to think they're already looking at next year.
28. Cincinnati Bengals 30; +2): Good work, Bengals. They're playing tough against their competition, something I didn't think their character was strong enough for. Unlike how gross the tie looks for the Eagles, the Bengals have to be pretty content.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (31; +2): Interesting article on si.com earlier this week about how Tyler Thigpen is the best young quarterback in the NFL. Not sure I agree, but to each his own.
30. Oakland Raiders (28; -2): Hooray! The Raiders were competitive! Hooray!
31. St. Louis Rams (29; -2): So when's Haslett going to be fired?
32. Detroit Lions (32; 0): As upsetting as it is to me, Daunte Culpepper may get them a win in spite of themselves.
Division Rankings: No changes, but things get tight at the top and the bottom. The Cowboys' big rise was offset by the Eagles' and the Redskins' falls, leaving the NFC South and AFC East well within striking distance. At the other end, the Broncos' rise still leaves them in west, but at least they can see the NFC North and West now.
1. NFC East (average rank: 9.75)
2. NFC South (11.00)
3. AFC East (12.25)
4. AFC South (14.50)
5. AFC North (17.25)
6. NFC North (21.75)
7. NFC West (22.25)
8. AFC West (23.25)
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