The AFC still trails the NFC in achievement. There are now three teams with winning records in the AFC, an increase of one from last week, but the seeming collapse of Baltimore's defense makes me question how long they will be winning. It's certainly an NFC-heavy season this year.
Top half of the league [Last week's position]
1. Chicago Bears (5-1) [2] : Technically, the shut out the Lions; that last minute score was due to the Bears backing off because they knew they had the game won. Their defense is stiff and quick. They may not sack the quarterback often, but they pursue the ball and frequently tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage. They also anticipate well on pass plays. This is one tough team.
2. Houston Texans (6-1) [3] : They tore apart the Baltimore Ravens, leaving no doubt about who is the top team in the AFC. They have the third stingiest defense in the league, behind Chicago and the 49ers, and the offense moves well, too.
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-0) [1] : The only unbeaten team in the league, the play by Matt Ryan is still a bit inconsistent. If their offense can get consistent, they will be a real threat.
4. New York Giants (5-2) [4] : The Giants have had the most productive offense in the NFC throughout the season, and Eli Manning's name keeps appearing near the top of everyone's list of best QBs in the league. With their tough defense, they are a challenge for anyone outside the NFC East. After two division losses, the Giants won one against an NFC East opponent, so even teams in that division should be worried.
5. San Francisco 49ers (5-2) [6] : A stingy defense and strong running game keeps San Fran in games. When Smith connects with a receiver, that just makes things worse for their opponents.
6. New England Patriots (4-3) [7] : The Patriots still play close games, but at least they are winning them
7. Minnesota Vikings (5-2) [8] : The Vikings don't have the best offense in the division (Green Bay does) and they don't have the best defense in the division (Chicago does), but the combination of their two squads is potent.
8. Green Bay Packers (4-3) [12] : Two strong offensive performances makes it seem like the Pack is back
9. Denver Broncos (3-3) [11] : Move up two spots during a bye week? That shows what is happening with the top teams
10. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) [5] : The collapse of the defense this week shows the impact of injuries. Since those two players are out for the rest of the season, the Ravens may continue to fall.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) [17] : The running game was very potent, thanks to the return of Rashad Mendenhall. The defense is still good, so the Steelers may be a team on the rise.
12. San Diego Chargers (3-3) [15] : Another bye team that moved up
13. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) [9] : Their offense was really stopped by the 49ers. There is room for them to improve, but Russell Wilson needs to gain some consistency.
14. Arizona Cardinals (4-3) [10] : The Vikings knocked them down, and uninjured quarterbacks are becoming a concern
15. Washington Redskins (3-4) [13] : They lost to the Giants, but RGIII and company continue to rack up yardage
16. Tampa Bay Bucs (2-4) [14] : The Saints scored a lot against them, so their defense may be suspect
Divisional rankings [Last week's position]
Once again, all of the NFC divisions are ranked higher than the AFC divisions
1. NFC North [1] : Three teams in the Top Ten can't be beaten by any other division. Detroit brings this division down a bit, but there is room for improvement
2. NFC West [2] : Three teams with winning records matches the NFC North, but some of the teams in this division seem to be falling instead of improving
3. NFC East [4] : This division has only one team with a losing record, but half of them have negative point differentials. That is usually an indication of weakness. Only the Giants have a winning non-conference record.
4. NFC South [3] : New Orleans is on the upswing, but the future of Tampa Bay is in doubt.
5. AFC North [5] : Baltimore's defensive losses could drop this division
6. AFC East [6] : Pats remain the best in the division. If Miami gets consistent, they could move up
7. AFC West [7] : Denver and San Diego breathe some life into this division, but they need to get better to really boost this division
8. AFC South [8] : Houston remains the only highlight of this division
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