(last week’s ratings in parentheses)
1. San Diego (1): Philip Rivers needs to straighten out, or the Chargers could stumble.
2. Chicago (2): Brian Griese to the rescue?
3. Baltimore (3): Steve McNair’s hand is fine, and so are the Ravens.
4. New England (5): Pats wouldn’t be thrilled to face Denver in the playoffs.
5. New Orleans (7): Saints ranked higher than the Colts. What?
6. Indianapolis (4): Starting to look like an early playoff exit again.
7. Philadelphia (8): Did the Eagles really want T.O. at their hotel?
8. New York Jets (10): The best story in the AFC.
9. Tennessee (12): Not too far behind the Jets as far as good stories go.
10. Denver (14): The rookies are making the present and future look good.
11. Dallas (6): Here’s the worst thing about T.O. – he’s not a great player anymore.
12. Cincinnati (9): Bengals are too sloppy to go far.
13. Jacksonville (11): Jaguars are too unpredictable to go far.
14. Seattle (13): This smells like a one-and-out outfit in the playoffs.
15. Kansas City (19): Chiefs need a whole lot of help to make the playoffs.
16. N.Y. Giants (15): Everyone has to go in this Giant house-cleaning project.
17. Buffalo (16): Things will be better next year.
18. Atlanta (17): Pack your bags, Jim Mora.
19. Pittsburgh (18): It was a nice ride while it lasted.
20. St. Louis (23): Maybe the best of the bad in the NFC.
21. Green Bay (24): How great would it be to see Brett Favre in the playoffs?
22. San Francisco (20): Niners just playing for pride today.
23. Miami (21): Defense still can get it done.
24. Carolina (22): Still can sneak into the playoffs.
25. Arizona (27): Pack your bags, Denny Green.
26. Houston (29): There is hope for the future in Denver South.
27. Tampa Bay (30): Jon Gruden deserves to keep his job.
28. Minnesota (25): Brad Childress takes himself a tad too seriously.
29. Washington (26): Redskins can never get on a roll.
30. Cleveland (28): Pull the plug on this disaster.
31. Detroit (31): Firing Matt Millen may be too nice a fate.
32. Oakland (32): Raiders have 15 wins – in four seasons.
Note: Rankings compiled before the game between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins on Saturday night.
ON THE MOVE
Dallas
The Cowboys still have a chance to make some noise, but they are squandering it a bit. That loss to the Eagles on Christmas Day hurts. Now they have to fight to win the NFC East. This team should have a bye in the playoffs instead of possibly being a wild-card team. What a waste.
