It was another stellar week of football in the National Football League. We had some upsets, some standout performances and of course a near tragedy in Dallas. We've had to adjust our top 12 teams to accomodate the changing landscape that is the NFL. New teams are assuming positions on this list that weren't even on the radar before Week 1. You might ask how we can put the Bears ahead of teams like the Colts and Bengals. The reason is defense. Everyone knows you win championships with defense and that's what this rankings system is all about.
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Rank (PVR) Team Reason
1 1 Bears A very gutsy effort on the road by Chicago. Rex Grossman made a mistake with an interception in the the third quarter and then put up 10 points in the fourth frame to win it. That's the mark of a resilient, championship team.
2 3 Colts It wasn't vintage, but the Colts got the job done in their biggest game of the season versus a hungry Jaguars team. Indianapolis is fallible, but they seem to be playing better as the year wears on. That's a good sign.
3 5 Bengals This team is hungrier than they were last year and that's a scary thought. Cincinnati is looking to win the Super Bowl, an attitude not common in their state. Look for them to go 13-3 or 14-2, they're that good.
4 8 Seattle I don't think Alexander's absence is going to hurt as much as people think. Maurice Morris is good enough to be a starter on some teams and Alexander hasn't even rushed for 100 yards as of yet.
5 6 Ravens We're a little wary of their offensive struggles, but they too have a top defense and that alone is enough to make them contenders. Baltimore fans are still waiting for Jamal Lewis to break free in a game- we are too!
6 2 Jaguars A tough loss to Indy in Week 3, but they only have themselves to blame. Jacksonville was good enough to win that game and they should have won it. No matter, this gritty team will regroup and take it out on Washington in Week 4.
7 7 Chargers The bye week means status quo for this undefeated team. A very big test in Baltimore for Mr. Rivers this week. Can he handle the pressure they will throw at him? I am betting we'll see some trickery from San Diego here.
8 - Saints Okay, we'll bite. Something tells me we'll regret putting New Orleans on this list so high, but that's what happens when you are still undefeated. Sean Payton has been perfect thus far as a head coach.
9 4 Falcons Despite laying a stinker in New Orleans, we know this team will contend all season long. But can Michael Vick be a top passer in this league? And, does he have to be for his team to be successful?
10 12 Eagles We knew they would bounce back with a great effort. The Eagles are going to get another win on Monday night this week, ensuring yet another climb on this list next week.
11 - Broncos It's about time a team that's allowed only one touchdown this season cracks the rankings. If Jake Plummer can continue to take care of the ball, then this team will get back to their 2005 form and continue their climb.
12 9 Patriots Tom Brady may have something in Doug Gabriel, but the key for New England is establishing the run. Expect the ground game to keep them in the game versus Cincinnati this Sunday.
Honorable Mentions
Vikings (If we had 13 teams on this list then they'd be right there), Steelers (Hey, you know they'll rattle off a few wins in a row), Jets (Are they for real? Hard to tell), Panthers (The long road back to dominance begins), Cowboys (A bye week but a media circus with TO. Will it ever stop?).
