1) New York Giants: They are getting it done each week despite key injuries
on both sides of the ball. What you have to like is they don't complain about
it, they just get it done with the players that are out on the field.
Last Ranking: 1
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), LB (veteran depth)
2) New Orleans Saints: For the first time, perhaps ever, they finally have a
defense that can match up against any offense. This could be the league's best
team to watch from a fan standpoint each week.
Last Ranking: 5
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), DT (depth), DE (depth)
3) Indianapolis Colts: The offense is nearly unstoppable and it's hard to see
where there's a weakness on that side of the ball. The defense is clearly more
physical.
Last Ranking: 2
Needs Still to be Filled: RT (veteran depth)
4) Minnesota Vikings: Brett Favre won't be asked to throw the ball as much most
weeks as he did against the Packers, but he finally put together a strong game
from beginning to finish. While they posted eight sacks against the Packers, the
defense isn't as good as you many think it is.
Last Ranking: 3
Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), C (veteran depth), MLB (veteran depth),
OLB (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)
5) Pittsburgh Steelers: They might have found the answer to their struggling
running game in Rashard Mendenhall. They really got the balanced attack they've
been looking for last week against the Chargers. Once they get SS Troy Polamalu
back, this might be one of the most compete teams in the NFL.
Last Ranking: 8
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), RT (veteran depth), LT (veteran
depth), OLB (depth), S (depth)
6) New York Jets: It became increasingly obvious against the Saints that without
help at receiver opposite Jerricho Cotchery, their offense was easy to defend.
It will be interesting to see how new WR Braylon Edwards fits in. Getting OLB
Calvin Pace this week will help to give their pass rush a boost.
Last Ranking: 6
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (slot), G (veteran depth), RT (veteran depth), DE (depth), OLB
(veteran depth)
7) New England Patriots: They need to find more consistency with their passing
game. It's clear that Tom Brady isn't back to where he was two years ago before
his knee injury. The defense is starting to show some improvement, especially in
the secondary.
Last Ranking: 10
Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), WR (veteran depth), LT (depth),
ILB (depth)
8) Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco played quite well last week against the
Patriots. That wasn't the problem. The defense is still solid, but it's not
nearly as good as last season and opposing offenses don't seem to fear them
anymore.
Last Ranking: 4
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), ILB (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)
9) Philadelphia Eagles: The bye came at the right time for this team. The
offense looks like it's going to be solid all season, but finding stability at
MLB remains a big issue.
Last Ranking: 7
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), RT (depth)
10) Denver Broncos: They continue to survive on offense while the defense
continues to shut opposing offenses down. At some point, Kyle Orton is going to
have to show he can beat the better teams in the league with his arm.
Last Ranking: 12
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)
11) Atlanta Falcons: The passing game has been kind of up and down and it's lack
of explosiveness got exposed against the Patriots two weeks ago. The run defense
remains a big concern.
Last Ranking: 10
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), G (veteran depth), DT
(depth), OLB
(depth)
12) San Francisco 49ers: Missing Frank Gore will show up against the better
teams. If they have to ask Shaun Hill to pass to win any game, that's a problem.
The defensive speed is apparent, especially in the front-seven.
Last Ranking: 13
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OLB (pass rushing depth)
13) Chicago Bears: They finally have found their franchise quarterback, but the
running game needs to show more consistency. The linebacker injuries are a
concern as is finding more consistency in the secondary.
Last Ranking: 14
Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), RB (veteran depth upgrade), MLB (depth), OLB
(depth)
14) Cincinnati Bengals: Their defense is finally good enough to keep them in
games. Offensively, the passing game surprisingly hasn't been solid, but the
running game finally is finding some consistency.
Last Ranking: 15
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), DT (depth), DE (pass
rusher), CB (depth/nickel)
15) Green Bay Packers: Their offensive line finally may get healthy after the
bye, but the defense is really struggling of late. Why they were dropping Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins into coverage against the Vikings remains a mystery.
Last Ranking: 11
Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), OT (RT/LT veteran depth), G
(depth), DE
(veteran depth), OLB (pass rushing depth), S (veteran depth)
16) Jacksonville Jaguars: They finally are getting better balance on offense and
third-year WR Mike Sims-Walker is on his way to a breakout season. The defense
has shown steady improvement the past few weeks.
Last Ranking: 20
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), DE (depth), DT (veteran
depth), LB
(ILB/OLB-veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)
17) Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo continues to struggle and their defense can't stop
anyone with any consistency.
Last Ranking: 16
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), OLB (pass
rushing depth), CB (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)
18) San Diego Chargers: Like so many teams, they are uneven. They don't run the
ball well, so they pass it and do that with good efficiency. The defense,
however, can't stop anyone.
Last Ranking: 17
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (LT/RT depth), G (depth), DE (depth), NT
(veteran depth),
S (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)
19) Tennessee Titans: They can't establish their running game because they can't
stop anyone on defense. This is not what head coach Jeff Fisher saw coming
before the season started.
Last Ranking: 19
Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), LB
(OLB/MLB veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)
20) Buffalo Bills: The injuries on the offensive line are a major problem. The
defense has some injuries which are preventing consistency.
Last Ranking: 18
Needs Still to be Filled: TE (veteran depth), G (depth), LT (depth), RT (depth/upgrade), MLB (depth), OLB (veteran depth)
21) Arizona Cardinals: Their passing game hasn't been as good so far as
many thought it should be. Defensively, there seems to be a drop-off from last
season.
Last Ranking: 21
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), G (depth), C (depth), DE (depth),
ILB (veteran depth), CB (depth)
22) Miami Dolphins: They still are one of the better rushing offenses and it's
amazing how good veteran RB Ricky Williams looks from week to week. The defense
is solid, but they still have major problems in the passing game.
Last Ranking: 23
Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)
23) Seattle Seahawks: There are just too many injured players from both sides of
the ball for this to be a winning team.
Last Ranking: 22
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), CB (depth)
24) Houston Texans: The offense continues to be one of the best in the NFL, but
the defense is still one of the worst. The secondary needs a major overhaul. It
would help if they could find a consistent pass rush.
Last Ranking: 24
Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), G (depth), DE (veteran depth)
25) Detroit Lions: They are very competitive on offense, but the defense still
lacks enough talent to hold teams to respectable numbers.
Last Ranking: 25
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), DE (depth), OLB (depth),
CB (speed)
26) Washington Redskins: This is definitely the worst 2-2 team in the league.
Clinton Portis looks to be on the decline and they have an inconsistent passing
game. The defense still isn't forcing enough turnovers and isn't getting enough
pressure on the opposing quarterbacks.
Last Ranking: 26
Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OT (depth), DE (pass rushing depth), OLB (depth), S (veteran depth)
27) Carolina Panthers: The only way they can win is if the defense raises its
level of play significantly. It's hard for this team to control the ball when
they don't get it enough on offense.
Last Ranking: 27
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), OT (veteran depth), G (veteran depth), CB (nickel/depth),
S (veteran depth)
28) Cleveland Browns: It's hard to see how they will be able to move the ball
consistently on offense. The defense is below average and there's no improvement
that looks to be on the horizon.
Last Ranking: 30
Needs Still to be Filled: RB (depth), LT/RT (depth), OLB (pass
rusher), S (depth), CB (veteran depth)
29) Kansas City Chiefs: This is yet another bad team that has no discernible
indentity.
Last Ranking: 29
Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), DE (depth), OLB (pass rushing depth), CB
(veteran depth)
30) Oakland Raiders: They were supposed to be a good running team, but that
hasn't been the case. QB JaMarcus Russell needs major work on his mechanics.
Last Ranking: 28
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), G (depth), DT (depth), LB
(depth)
31) St. Louis Rams: They were actually competitive against the 49ers last week,
but suffered two bad unforced turnovers. The loss of WR Laurent Robinson is much
bigger than most realize.
Last Ranking: 31
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), DT (veteran depth), OLB (veteran depth), CB (veteran
depth)
32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The only thing they do well is run the ball.
Everything else is a huge issue.
Last Ranking: 32
Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), LT (depth), DT (veteran depth), CB (depth/nickel), S (depth)