They wear uniforms that are ugly, yet, strangely awesome and beautiful. Their quarterback has a neck-beard. And they aren’t sexy.
While “sexy” gets you style points in today’s NFL, running opposing offenses into the ground and playing, smart, efficient football gets you wins.
I doubted the Denver Broncos as the best team in football last week, but a very solid performance from all facets of the game showed (in front of the nation, mind you), that this team just isn’t “for real”.
They’re pretty damn good.
Read on to see who makes the top five, and then check to see where everyone else fits in:
1. Denver Broncos (6-0)
If it weren’t for a Darren Sproles punt return for a touchdown, this defense would have had it’s sixth straight game of allowing 17 points or less. This team is for real.
2. Minnesota Vikings (6-0)
Did they get a little lucky? Sure, but great teams have to, especially when you’re still undefeated. Brett Favre is really cooking up something special in Minnesota.
3. New Orleans Saints (5-0)
Forget about their soft opponents. They just destroyed a good Giants team. If everything works out as it “should”, it could be Minnesota and New Orleans in the NFC Championship game.
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)
A fairly weak schedule for the next three weeks (starting with the Rams), could easily have this high-powered offense at 8-0 heading into a week 10 match-up with the New England Patriots. Talk about potential fireworks.
5. New York Giants (5-1)
Their defensive line was completely manhandles by New Orleans’ offensive line. We haven’t seen that happen in a while. This is a good lesson in humility for a team that was riding high and facing cakewalk teams. They’ll be ready for the Cardinals in week seven.
6. New England Patriots (4-2)
Another performance like that, and it’ll be hard to keep them out of the top five. It makes you wonder, are the Patriots suddenly that good, or is Tennessee just that bad?
7. Atlanta Falcons (4-1)
They have been very impressive on offense overall, but showed their grit as they won a messy game against Chicago. The real story here is the run-stopping effort by their short-handed defensive line.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Their schedule has been easy lately, but good teams win when they’re supposed to, and that’s exactly what Pittsburgh is doing. It’s nice to have Willie Parker and Troy Polamalu back, too. With tough match-ups against the undefeated Vikings and Broncos the next two weeks, they’ll need all the healthy bodies they can get.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
This was a disappointment. They passed too much, were ineffective, and never got the running game going against a porous run defense. Losing Antwan Odom is going to hurt.
10. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
They’ve really bounced back in a big way. While the offense has found it’s rhythm again, the biggest positive is their run defense, which is allowing opposing running backs a mere 2.7 yards per carry.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
Andy Reid did not call a good game, as he passed 40+ times when the Eagles were having some success on the ground. The big story here is Donovan McNabb’s poor awareness yet again hurting his team.
12. Green Bay Packers (3-2)
The defense was dominant at home against a horrible and star-depleted Lions squad Big deal. The more telling stat is how the Green Bay offense couldn’t punch it in the end-zone on their final four scoring drives. They can’t play like that and expect to win against good teams.
13. Chicago Bears (3-2)
They fought hard against a good team and came up short. That will happen when you can’t run the ball. Jay Cutler played well, but some of his gunslinger mistakes arose again. He has to play smarter football.
14. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
Three straight losses after starting 3-0? That’s not the part that kills Ray Lewis. It’s the way they’re losing these games. These Ravens could just as easily be 6-0.
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
They used the bye to rest up all of their offensive stars, and they’re going to need it. They face a hot Atlanta team coming up, and there will be no room for an ineffective Tony Romo.
16. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)
Their week off was likely all about self-reflection. Forget humility. The Atlanta Falcons taught them enough about that. They need to beat Houston this week to keep pace with the rising Arizona Cardinals.
17. New York Jets (3-3)
Two of their three losses hang solely on Mark Sanchez’s shoulders, and there’s really no arguing that. While it’ll be nice to take a bye week off and get healthy, it’s clear that Sanchez just needs to make better decisions. You can’t afford to throw the game away when your rushing attack piles up 300+ yards. That’s just inexcusable.
18. Houston Texans (3-3)
This is where we always find the Texans: hovering around .500 ball, pondering whether or not they’re good enough to climb the ladder. Well, a win over San Francisco would put them in a solid position, and would have them as an early contender for a wild card spot.
19. San Diego Chargers (2-3)
What do you expect from a Norv Turner-led team? Don’t expect this immensely talented team to start to gain focus until there’s four games left in the season.
20. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
Chad Henne is only getting better, and a bye week to let the offense soak-in can only help. It looks like we were under-estimating the depth of this offense, as Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams continue to take positive steps in a very solid rushing attack.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
They won, but it took overtime to beat the winless Rams. Very few of the Jacksonville players can feel too good about that.
22. Seattle Seahawks (2-4)
One week they look like they’re Super Bowl contenders, and the next they can’t do anything right. Does this team even have an identity right now?
23. Carolina Panthers (2-3)
If the running game can come anywhere close to the type of production we saw on Sunday the rest of the way, this could be a good team. Then again, they were facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their third straight easy contest (Buffalo Bills) could have them as the most over-rated 3-3 team in the league.
24. Buffalo Bills (2-4)
That was a huge win for Dick Jauron and co. Still, the loss of Trent Edwards and a lack of an effective offense as a whole doesn’t help their confidence. Seriously, it took five Mark Sanchez interceptions and an overtime to beat the Jets by three? Chalk this one up as plain old lucky.
25. Oakland Raiders (2-4)
Their defense hounded Donovan McNabb all day, forcing him into errant throws and sending him to the ground countless times. That’s great and all, but they won’t win many games with their offense only producing 13 points.
26. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)
Larry Johnson came to life a bit against a solid run defense, and Matt Cassel earned his first win as a Chief. Things aren’t great in KC, but they’re getting better.
27. Washington Redskins (2-4)
Jim Zorn lost his play-calling duties, and Washington found out the hard way that Todd Collins isn’t the answer, either.
28. Detroit Lions (1-5)
The Lions organization should apologize for playing it “safe” and sitting both Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. It’s quite clear that they are the team’s only offensive weapons.
29. Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Derek Anderson continues to struggle, while Josh Cribbs continues to be the Browns only dependable offensive option-and he does most of his damage on returns.
30. Tennessee Titans (0-6)
I know it doesn’t mean the Titans will start winning, but why not sit Kerry Collins and run the rest of the way with Vince Young? After you get dropped 59-0, you literally have nothing left to lose anymore.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6)
Tampa Bay should hold-off on switching to Josh Freeman just yet. Josh Johnson is slowly progressing as he starts to really grasp this offense. They’re getting closer and closer to a win with him under center.
32. St. Louis Rams (0-6)
A hard-fought overtime loss almost gets them out of the cellar. Almost. This has got to be the most inept team on both sides of the ball that we have seen in some time. Steve Jackson is the only thing holding that offense together, and it’s by a microscopic thread.
