NFL Power Rankings: Week 5
10/09/2007
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After five weeks, the only thing we learned was that parity still is king in the NFL. Okay, that’s not all we learned. We learned that the Patriots, Colts and Cowboys aren’t messing around, the Saints are another loss or two away from proving 2006 was a fluke, and the top two seeds in the playoffs last year – the Chargers and Bears – are highly flawed. Below is our first crack at ranking all 32 NFL teams. Along with a ranking, you’ll find a couple of observations for what has and hasn’t worked for each team thus far. Due to the ebb and flow of the NFL season, these rankings will probably look much different by midseason. Damn parity!
1. New England Patriots (5-0)
What’s right: Everything. Tom Brady and Randy Moss must feel like they’re playing against air, while the defense is suffocating opponents, yielding just over 250 yards a game. And just think, New England has been this dominant with Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison and Laurence Maroney each missing significant action.
What’s wrong: They can’t tape opponents’ defensive signals anymore.
2. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)
What’s right: Despite missing last week with an injury, Joseph Addai has been everything Edgerrin James used to be for the Colts offense. With him running has well as he has, Peyton Manning and the rest of the offense has remained balanced, efficient and very productive.
What’s wrong: The defense still shows signs of weakness against the run, but a healthy Bob Sanders can fix that issue.
3. Dallas Cowboys (5-0)
What’s right: Even though they played like crap against Buffalo, Tony Romo and the offense look like an absolute juggernaut. Save for Tom Brady, Romo (again, minus his performance against the Bills) is far and away the best quarterback in the league and a true MVP candidate. Marion Barber is running like a Mack truck, too.
What’s wrong: The secondary is still an issue, but with how many points the offense is scoring a game, it’s not a major concern at this point.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)
What’s right: Behind new head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have their swagger back and Tomlin’s players all seem to love playing for him. Ben Roethlisberger has really responded well under Tomlin’s guidance and is off to a great start.
What’s wrong: With how well the defense and running game is playing, the Steelers haven’t had to pass much. However, their loss to Arizona showed that this team doesn’t have a quick-strike offense and that could be an issue down the road if/when they play the Colts and Patriots.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1)
What’s right: The defense has played lights out since being run over by Tennessee in the opening week. David Garrard has also brought stability and reliability to the quarterback position, which had previously been an issue under Byron Leftwich.
What’s wrong: Just like Pittsburgh, the Jags don’t have an offense that can score quickly. They have a very methodical offense, which won’t be a good thing when they’re down a couple scores in the fourth quarter.
6. Green Bay Packers (4-1)
What’s right: Brett Favre has been outstanding, taking what defenses give him and passing the ball with resounding timing and accuracy. The defense has played fairly well too, limiting opponents to only 18.4 points a game.
What’s wrong: Up until last week the Packers’ run game had been non-existent, something they’ll need to correct before weather conditions in Green Bay begin to wreak havoc on the passing game. Favre still has a tendency to turn the ball over, but he’s limited his mistakes so far this year.
7. Tennessee Titans (3-1)
What’s right: The Titans defense is completely shutting teams down in the second half of games and has yet to give up a fourth quarter touchdown. Only the Saints have been able to get into the end zone in the second half against the Tennessee defense. Talk about clutch.
What’s wrong: Vince Young has a long way to go with the mental aspect of the game. He still makes dumb decisions at times and tries to make things happen instead of just taking what defenses give him. He’s still winning ballgames, however, and that’s the only thing that matters.
8. Washington Redskins (3-1)
What’s right: Unlike last year, the defense has created pressure and is playing very physical. Jason Campbell is also developing into a nice quarterback and having a healthy Clinton Portis has kept the Skins balanced offensively.
What’s wrong: Campbell had an issue with turnovers earlier in the year but hasn’t thrown an interception in two straight games, so maybe that problem is fixed.
9. San Diego Chargers (2-3)
What’s right: The offense has started to show signs of gelling under Norv Turner and still has some of the best weapons in the game.
What’s wrong: When the offense can’t get into a rhythm, it seems to completely fall apart and players start to turn on each other. The defense hasn’t played up to expectations either, especially in the secondary where the unit is giving up close to 250 yards a game through the air.
10. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
What’s right: The defense remains lights out against the run and Ed Reed continues to be a hawk in the secondary. Willis McGahee has been a great addition to the offense too.
What’s wrong: This team seems to struggle for every win and loses focus from time to time (as evidence from the loss to Cleveland two weeks ago). Steve McNair hasn’t been bad by any means, but with only two touchdowns in five games, he hasn’t been very effective either.
11. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
What’s right: The defense has been at its best when playing aggressively and the offense has remained tough to stop when it can find a rhythm.
What’s wrong: Shaun Alexander can’t seem to shake the nagging injuries and he hasn’t scored a touchdown in three weeks. The defense has a tendency to spring a leak at times against the run too.
12. Chicago Bears (2-3)
What’s right: While the defense has been ransacked by injuries, it still is one of the best turnover-producing units in the league. The offense is starting to show life under Brian Griese too.
What’s wrong: Aside from injuries and inconsistent play by Rex Grossman, Cedric Benson hasn’t been overly impressive as a feature back. The secondary is giving up big plays too, and Adam Archuleta has really struggled trying to replace Mike Brown at safety.
13. Tampa Bay Bucs (3-2)
What’s right: Before the Colts game, the Bucs defense had played a very physical brand of football and completely dominated the Panthers and Rams. Offensively, Jeff Garcia has brought a spark to the quarterback position and Joey Galloway is once again putting up big numbers.
What’s wrong: The backfield has taken huge hits with injuries to Cadillac Williams (out for the season) and now Michael Pittman (out three to four weeks). Can Earnest Graham carry the entire rushing load? Also, the Colts might have proven that the Bucs defense still has some major weaknesses at the safety position.
14. Detroit Lions (3-2)
What’s right: Rod Marinelli has this team believing in itself, which is a bigger deal than one might think. Jon Kitna is continuing to play well under Mike Martz and although he’s missed some time due to injury, rookie Calvin Johnson looks like the real deal. Defensively, the front seven is highly underrated.
What’s wrong: If the Lions can’t force turnovers, their secondary is liable to give up huge plays and big scores every week. This is a completely different team on the road, as the thrashings they’ve taken at Philadelphia and Washington prove.
15. New York Giants (3-2)
What’s right: With a healthy Brandon Jacobs in the backfield, the Giants boast some of the best offensive weapons in the game. Eli Manning has really played well in the clutch this season, which has been a major problem in years past. The defense is also playing extremely well against the run and is starting to force turnovers.
What’s wrong: In the beginning of the season the secondary was a huge problem area, but it has played significantly better over the past three weeks. Can this team ever stay healthy?
16. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
What’s right: Before his injury, Jake Delhomme was putting together a nice season and was benefiting from DeShaun Foster actually staying healthy for once. Steve Smith has been clutch as usual and the defense has come up with big stops in all three of the team’s wins.
What’s wrong: Delhomme is hurt and David Carr has been highly ineffective filling in for him. This team just has Jekyll and Hyde moments every week and has a major problem with inconsistency.
17. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
What’s right: The offense has been rejuvenated under Kurt Warner and should only get better when Anquan Boldin returns from injury. Darnell Dockett is starting to garner Pro Bowl attention and Adrian Wilson continues to be one of the most underrated defensive players in the game.
What’s wrong: Injuries have hurt, but other than that the main problem with the Cards is winning the close games. Arizona could reasonably be 5-0 right now if they had played better in the fourth quarter in losses to San Francisco and Baltimore.
18. Houston Texans (3-2)
What’s right: Matt Schaub has been everything the Texans dreamed he would be and much more. He’s kept this team together through injuries and has been a bona fide leader. Rookie Amobi Okoye has been outstanding too, recording at least one sack in three games this year.
What’s wrong: Injuries to Andre Johnson, Ahman Green and Jacoby Jones have left Schaub with marginal weapons offensively. While the defense has played well in stretches, they’ve got a knack for giving up long scoring drives.
19. Denver Broncos (2-3)
What’s right: They can still run the ball and wide receiver Brandon Marshall has developed into a great target for Jay Cutler. The Broncos also showed grit in close wins over the Bills and Raiders earlier in the year.
What’s wrong: This team could easily be 0-5 if not for a couple of last second field goals in the first two games. Stopping the run has been a major issue and on a whole, the lack of fight that the defense showed against the Chargers last week has to be a concern for Mike Shanahan. Cutler has also turned the ball over at least once every game.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)
What’s right: Obviously the offense is still a beast, although without Rudi Johnson in the lineup, Carson Palmer has faced major pressure. This unit can still score at will when they’re in rhythm.
What’s wrong: The prisoners are running the asylum and this team might have some of the most selfish players in the league. The defense is a mess too and is liable to give up 30 points a game.
21. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
What’s right: The components that San Fran added on defense during the offseason have played fairly well. Rookie Patrick Willis, leading the team in tackles with 50, might have been the steal of the first round.
What’s wrong: Injuries to Alex Smith and Vernon Davis have ransacked the offense, although it’s not like Smith was playing particularly well before his injury.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)
What’s right: Donovan McNabb has shown signs that he’s healthy again after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year. The run defense has been excellent as well.
What’s wrong: Andy Reid is going to get McNabb killed if he doesn’t turn the play calling back over to Marty Mornhinweg. Reid seems to have no concept of a balanced offense.
23. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
What’s right: The secondary has been nearly flawless thus far, giving up just 174.4 yards a game. Rookie Dwayne Bowe has finally given the offense a legitimate deep threat too.
What’s wrong: Outside of one game, Larry Johnson has been highly ineffective and it’s mostly due to a terrible offensive line. Can Brodie Croyle step in for the injured Damon Huard?
24. Cleveland Browns (2-3)
What’s right: Rob Chudzinski has brought more imagination and creativity to the offense in five games than Maurice Carthon did all of last year before he was fired. The Browns are averaging 25 points a game and actual pose an offensive threat every week.
What’s wrong: For as well as Chudzinksi has done with the offense, Todd Grantham has done equally as bad with the defense. The line can’t create pressure, the front seven can’t stop the run and the secondary is prone to the big play.
25. Oakland Raiders (2-2
What’s right: Lane Kiffin has done a fantastic job getting his players to believe in his system. Shockingly, Oakland is leading the NFL in rushing, racking up 194.3 yards a game.
What’s wrong: Last season the Raiders’ secondary was so good that it forced opposing offenses to abandon the pass. This year, however, the Raiders have given up 226 yards a game through the air, allowing the opposition to attack them with a more balanced offense.
26. New York Jets (1-4)
What’s right: Although his limitations are still apparent, Chad Pennington has been effective this year in getting the ball out of his hands quickly. He just can’t stretch the field. Defensively, rookie corner Darrelle Revis has been a pleasant surprise and Kerry Rhodes is still one of the most underrated safeties in the NFL.
What’s wrong: To win consistently in the NFL, teams need to be able to run the ball effectively on offense and stop the run on defense. The Jets can do neither. Thomas Jones has been a major bust and the defense is giving up close to 130 yards a game on the ground.
27. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
What’s right: Rookie Adrian Peterson is an absolute stud and the run defense is still the best in the league, giving up just 62 yards a game on the ground.
What’s wrong: As predicted by many in the preseason, quarterback play has been a major issue for this team. Maybe Kelly Holcomb can provide the offense with a spark, but it’s doubtful.
28. Atlanta Falcons (1-4)
What’s right: At times, Bobby Petrino’s offense has really clicked. The defense has actually played well too, getting major contributions from underrated linebacker Michael Boley (47 tackles) and John Abraham (4 sacks).
What’s wrong: While he’s played well at times, Joey Harrington still appears to lack confidence and consistency. The running game is also non-existent and Petrino is starting to lose the trust of some of the veteran players.
29. New Orleans Saints (0-4)
What’s right: Not much has gone right for this team, but Sean Payton has kept all his players united, which is encouraging. There hasn’t been any of the usual bickering (at least publicly) that occurs when a team is winless after five weeks.
What’s wrong: You name it. Drew Brees has been a disaster, Deuce McAllister is out for the year and the defense still can’t stop anybody.
30. Buffalo Bills (1-4)
What’s right: The kids look like they can play – Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch have provided a nice spark for the offense recently.
What’s wrong: It’s hard to win games when the defense is giving up 430 yards and 23 points a game, although they turned in a great performance against the Cowboys Monday night. When J.P. Losman was healthy at the beginning of the year, he commanded the worst offense in the entire league.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-5)
What’s right: Under Gus Frerotte and rookie running back Brian Leonard, the Rams finally produced a solid offensive performance last week, scoring 32 points.
What’s wrong: It’s amazing to think that an offense featuring Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Steven Jackson has only averaged 14 yards a game. All three of those players have been banged up, but even when they were healthy at the beginning of the year they were bad. Defensively, opponents are gashing the Rams on the ground, gaining nearly 150 yards a game.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-5)
What’s right: Ronnie Brown is starting to cash in on some of his potential, gaining 5.1 yards a carry and rushing for 425 yards and four touchdowns.
What’s wrong: The defense has shown its age and isn’t getting the same contribution from players like Jason Taylor as it has in years past. Quarterback play is still a huge issue as well and now the team faces uncertainty after Trent Green suffered another concussion last week.
Questions or comments? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.