We’re through nine weeks in the NFL season and at least one thing we know for sure: the Patriots are the best team in the NFL But how do the rest of the teams stack up? There’s only one way to settle this: arbitrary Power Rankings!

1. New England Patriots- They have now beaten the two next-best teams in the NFL on the road. The 72’ Dolphins have officially begun to worry.

2. Indianapolis Colts- I was really impressed by the speed of their defense, and Bob Sanders might be THE impact player on the defensive side of the ball. Even though Peyton now has his ring, one thing remains clear: Tom Brady OWNS the fourth quarter, Peyton Manning does not.

3. Dallas Cowboys- The offense is potent and they are clearly the best team in the NFC. Marion Barber, how can you not love him? Unfortunately, we’ve seen what happens when they play the Pats. Super Bowl champs? Not this year.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers- You win with defense and a running game and no one knows this better than the Steelers. Big Ben is a top seven QB who can pick apart porous defenses with time. This was a team that didn’t make the playoffs last year. Mike Tomlin has done an excellent job.

5. Tennessee Titans- Once again, when you can run the ball, control the clock, and play defense, you can beat just about anyone in the league. That being said, Jeff Fisher should open up the offense more and allow Vince to throw it.

6. Green Bay Packers- Favre’s looking good, but you’re going to need to run the ball for more than 70 yards a game to win, especially late in the year when weather comes into play. I know they only have lost one game, but barely getting by Denver and KC isn’t much to write home about.

7. New York Giants- Have gotten fat off a weak schedule (opponents are 13-33). Eli Manning is not going to win many games for you in the fourth quarter either.

8. Cleveland Browns- Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow. Those, my friends, are offensive weapons. Whodathunkit?

9. Detroit Lions- With the way this team is putting up points, you would’ve thought that they had drafted offensive players in the top 10 in each of the last five drafts or something.

10. San Diego Chargers- Did Marty make this much of a difference? Phillip Rivers is regressing and meanwhile the NFL best running back is being wasted. On the plus side, we don’t have to see much of Shawn Marriman’s lights-out dance.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars- This team needs Garrard back, bad.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Quietly leading the NFC South. Does anyone get more out of less then John Gruden?

13. New Orleans Saints- We might not find out if this team is for real until they make the playoffs---five of their remaining opponents are last in their division.

14. Washington Redskins- Had to put them here because of their record, but say it with me now: This team is not good.

15. Buffalo Bills- Loses to the Cowboys and Broncos by a combined two points hurt, otherwise they’re looking at 7-2.

16. Kansas City Chiefs- With LJ likely out, time to see how Priest handles a full workload. Defensive end Jared Allen might be the most underrated defensive player in all of football.

17. Carolina Panthers- What has happened to their defense? Haven’t heard a word about Julius Peppers all year. This team desperately needs Jake Delhomme---David Carr shouldn’t start another game in this league.

18. Seattle Seahawks- Their four wins are against Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, San Francisco and St. Louis. With Shaun Alexander looking like an old man in the backfield, this is no longer a dangerous team.

19. Minnesota Vikings- Now can they please find a decent quarterback so Adrian Peterson’s prime is not wasted?

20. Houston Texans- This team needs Matt Schaub back to give them some offensive firepower. Don’t think anyone has said that before.

21. Chicago Bears- I could see this team turning it around in the second half of the season. With Oakland, Seattle and Denver next, they could easily be 6-5 and right back in the thick of things in the NFC. They’ve beaten KC and Philadelphia on the road, and Green Bay at home.

22. Philadelphia Eagles- Tough schedule partly to blame. They did demolish Detroit, which we can call a quality win. Not much else to get excited about though. Schedule doesn’t let up down the stretch.

23. Baltimore Ravens- I’ve held off for this long, but now I guess I got to put them up here. THEIR OFFENSE IS PATHETIC. There isn’t any way around it. It’s simply unbelievable how they can continue to stick with Kyle Boller and Steve McNair and not go after a quality QB. It’s a shame because Brian Bellick has wasted one of the best defenses in the game for the past five years.

24. Denver Broncos- And this Jay Cutler is who exactly? Kept hearing from all the ESPN draft guys how amazing he was, but guess what? When you win like six total games in college, your not that good.

25. Arizona Cardinals- Explain to me how Edge gets nine carries in a game? This should not happen.

26. Cincinnati Bengals- Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, TJ, and Rudi. I don’t care what anyone says---It’s the coach’s fault and Marvin should go.

27. Oakland Raiders- And JaMarcus Russell isn’t playing because…?

28. New York Jets- Kellen Clemens will breath some life into the Jets. And by that I mean maybe help them win two more games this year.

29. St. Louis Rams- I’m sorry, but they aren’t THIS bad. Bulger, Holt and Jackson should be good for at least 3 wins the rest of the way.

30. Miami Dolphins- They aren’t the worst team in the NFL. Only lost to the Giants and Redskins by 3 points each. Shows you how bad the NFC is.

31. San Francisco- At least they have Frank Gore.

32. Atlanta Falcons- Free Mick Vick.

Quickly, if you care to know, who I like in week 10… (Home team in CAPS)

CHIEFS over Broncos
Like the Chiefs at Arrowhead, one of the toughest places in the NFL to play.

Bills over DOLPHINS
Like Marshawn Lynch and Lee Evans against a suddenly very old Dolphins defense.

PANTHERS over Falcons
Like whomever the Falcons play.

TITANS over Jaguars
Like Vince Young (but you already knew that) and LenDale White.

STEELERS over Browns
Like the fact that Pittsburgh crushed them the first time, but Cleveland could give them trouble.

Eagles over REDSKINS
Like McNabb to throw for 350 and get the win.

SAINTS over Rams
Like the Rams, but to remain winless.

PACKERS over Vikings
Like the Packers to focus all their energy in shutting down AP.

Bengals over RAVENS
Like Baltimore’s offense to remain inept.

Lions over CARDINALS
Like Jon Kitna to get one win closer to his prediction of 10.

Bears over RAIDERS
Like Devin Hester to take one to the house.

Cowboys over GIANTS
Like the Cowboys to expose the Giants defense for the overrated fraud that they are.

Colts over CHARGERS
Like the Colts to take out some post-Pats anger on the Bolts.

SEAHAWKS over 49ers
Like to see a competitive game on MNF for once.


Last Week: 10-4
Season: 82-49