(Last week’s ratings in parentheses)
1. Chicago (2): Even in the AFC, this would be a top-shelf team.
2. Indianapolis (1): Relax, 1972 Dolphins, relax.
3. Baltimore (4): Ravens looking for a bye in the playoffs.
4. San Diego (5): Guess L.T. has solved his Denver problem.
5. Denver (3): Broncos can’t beat the offensive stars.
6. New England (8): Patriots have to protect the AFC against the Bears.
7. Dallas (10): Win over the Colts could spur the Cowboys on.
8. Jacksonville (11): Jaguars could race with the Broncos for a wild-card berth.
9. Carolina (12): It’s time for the Panthers to run away with the division.
10. Seattle (6): Matt Hasselbeck needs to come back now.
11. New York Giants (7): Suddenly have lost two in a row.
12. New Orleans (9): Saints’ season rides on game in Atlanta today.
13. Kansas City (14): Chiefs hope to hang around for December push.
14. New York Jets (13): Jets are improved, but were no challenge to the Bears.
15. Cincinnati (17): Chad Johnson finally is playing the way he talks.
16. Philadelphia (15): McNabb is one of the good guys. Get well soon.
17. Atlanta (16): Falcons need today’s game as much as Saints do.
18. San Francisco (22): Why not? Niners riding three-game win streak.
19. Pittsburgh (23): Steelers starting to figure things out.
20. Miami (24): Dolphins finally are coming alive.
21. Buffalo (21): J.P. Losman lives.
22. Cleveland (19): Kellen Winslow is taking Chad’s role – more talk than action.
23. Minnesota (18): Dropping like the Twin Cities’ temperature.
24. Tampa Bay (25): Can you blame Jon Gruden if he wants to leave?
25. St. Louis (20): Rams don’t have the spirit they had earlier in the season.
26. Tennessee (27): Nice to see Pacman Jones actually make headlines for what he does on the field.
27. Houston (26): Tough loss for Denver South against the Bills.
28. Green Bay (28): How does Brett Favre keep bouncing back?
29. Washington (29): No spirit in D.C.
30. Arizona (32): Denny Green still will go.
31. Detroit (30): Lions hit a new low in loss to the Cardinals.
32. Oakland (31): Welcome home, Raiders, welcome home.
ON THE MOVE
Minnesota
A month ago, Brad Childress was getting coach of the year buzz. The Vikings were 4-2 and all was well. Well, the Vikings still are stuck on four. After four consecutive losses, Minnesota is 4-6 and out of the playoff race. The worst thing is, Minnesota has lost consecutive games to San Francisco, Green Bay and Miami. The loss to New England, which started the losing streak, is understandable, but the Vikings have fallen out of the race by losing to weak competition.
