(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
ON THE MOVE: New York Jets
While all the focus is on the New Orleans Saints’ horrendous start, the Jets aren’t exactly setting the league on fire. A surprise playoff team last year, the Jets have the look of the 2005 Jets. In the first two games of his second season, Jets coach Eric Mangini is struggling to recapture his rookie season’s magic. The Jets are 0-2 and really haven’t competed so far.
1. (1) Indianapolis: Colts know how to win the close games.
2. (2) New England: This team will be difficult to beat.
3. (4) Dallas: We’ll find out just how good the Cowboys’ offense is Sunday at Chicago.
4. (6) Denver: Point total not matching yardage dominance.
5. (3) San Diego: Norv Turner has to show he deserves this job.
6. (8) San Francisco: NFC’s version of Broncos after two weeks.
7. (9) Pittsburgh: Mike Tomlin has these Steelers looking like the Bill Cowher Steelers.
8. (11) Chicago: Bears’ defense will be ready for the Cowboys.
9. (5) Seattle: Seahawks must show they are class of the NFC West.
10. (7) Cincinnati: Bengals’ defense should be ashamed of itself.
11. (15) Baltimore: Ravens’ defense will still keep them in games.
12. (16) Jacksonville: Jags will lose a lot of games if they can’t run.
13. (17) Arizona: Cardinals have confidence, and they should.
14. (19) Detroit: There is some offense going on in Detroit.
15. (20) Houston: Gary Kubiak early coach of the year candidate.
16. (21) Green Bay: Packers could open some eyes with a win over the Chargers.
17. (22) Washington: Redskins have an impressive young defense.
18. (14) Tennessee: Titans did right thing by extending Jeff Fisher’s contract.
19. (10) New Orleans: Last year’s sweethearts might be this year’s punch line.
20. (12) Carolina: Look like the same old inconsistent Panthers.
21. (26) Cleveland: For one day, Browns were lots of fun to watch.
22. (13) N.Y. Jets: Challenging the Saints for flop of early season.
23. (27) Tampa Bay: Nice progress, Jon Gruden.
24. (18) Philadelphia: QB McNabb deserves patience, not boos.
25. (23) St. Louis: Rams will get it together soon.
26. (24) Buffalo: Bills, understandably, look like a beaten team.
27. (25) Minnesota: The Vikings are feisty, if anything.
28. (28) New York Giants: It’s just not a fun place to be around these days.
29. (29) Kansas City: Where is the offense?
30. (30) Miami: The Dolphins are a lousy team right now.
31. (31) Atlanta: Should we be surprised that this team can’t score?
32. (32) Oakland: Lane Kiffin has this team playing hard.
