There’s a lot of movement in the middle of the poll this week, not much at the top and bottom ends. A lot of pundits say ignore what you see in September, but things might be shaking out pretty early.
1. New England Patriots – (3-0) They’re going to stay in this spot until they lose, so they’ll probably stay in this spot for a while. Since he started playing with properly inflated footballs in the second half of the AFC Championship Game, Tom Brady has thrown 15 touchdowns, two interceptions (both in the Super Bowl) and is a perfect 4.5-0. Makes you think about how many more titles the Pats might have if they hadn’t cheated. Last week: No. 1
2. Green Bay Packers – (3-0) Aaron Rodgers is so dialed in right now that Olivia Munn better make sure her birth control is up to date. Rodgers is in a zone where he can’t miss. Last week: No. 2
3. Atlanta Falcons – (3-0) This Falcons team can play offense with anybody and defense with most. Somewhere out there Mike Smith is kicking himself… then picking up his mop and getting back to work. Last week: No. 5
4. Denver Broncos – (3-0) Gary Kubiak finally saw what everybody else did and adapted his offense more to Peyton Manning’s strengths. With their defense, it doesn’t matter if that strength isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. Last week: 6
5. Arizona Cardinals – (3-0) The Cardinals face their first real test with a game against the Rams this week, but the way the Rams have been playing on offense, it’ll likely be graded on a pretty friendly curve. Last week: No. 7
6. Cincinnati Bengals – (3-0) The Bengals finally showed themselves to be killers, putting a season-defining (and all-but-ending) defeat on the Baltimore Ravens last week. They can do the same to the Chiefs this week and should. Last week: No. 8
7. Seattle Seahawks – (1-2) The Seahawks are the only team with a losing record in our top 10, but if you have to ask why they’re here, I’m sorry you’ve been in a coma the last four seasons. And, hey, this whole Trump thing came out of nowhere for all of us. Last week: No. 11
8. Carolina Panthers – (3-0) Cam Newton said in the offseason he was trying to be something no other player has ever been. Now, after calling out Ed Hochuli publicly for joking that he wasn’t old enough to get roughing calls, he’ll start getting those too. The Panthers could be in for a real run. Last week: No. 12
9. Buffalo Bills – (2-1) Dropping the Bills after the beating they delivered to the Dolphins may seam unfair, but really it’s evidence of my lack of respect for the Dolphins than for the Bills. Last week: No. 10
10. Dallas Cowboys – (2-1) Maybe this is too far to drop after a tough loss to a good team, but every team I put ahead of them would beat this current Cowboys squad. They don’t play any of those teams this week. Last week: No. 3
11. Pittsburgh Steelers – (2-1) If you had told me that I would rather have Brandon Weedon as my team’s quarterback than Michael Vick I would have spit coffee in your face and I don’t even drink coffee. That’s how ridiculous that idea would have been. I would have manifested coffee like a super power. Last week: No. 4
12. New York Jets – (2-1) Welcome to Earth, Jets. You’re going to have a lot more weeks like last Sunday coming up. Not this week against the Dolphins, but, you know, they’re coming. Last week: No. 9
13. New York Giants – (1-2) The Giants actually managed the clock and didn’t cost themselves a game against the Redskins. The Giants should be 3-0 right now. With the Bills coming up, it’ll take a real effort to be 2-2. Last week: No. 13
14. Minnesota Vikings – (2-1) For the first time this season the Vikings actually looked like the team people expected to show up this offseason. They’ve got the Broncos coming, but after that the Chiefs, the Lions and the Bears. This could be a playoff team after all.. Last week: No. 20
15. Indianapolis Colts – (1-2) It took a come-from-behind win and a pick-six for the Colts to beat a team with a rookie quarterback. But sometimes all it takes is a win, any kind of win, to straighten out the season of a talented team. Last week: No. 28
16. Philadelphia Eagles – (1-2) Did the Eagles finally show up or were the Jets finally exposed? With the Redskins coming up Sunday, we may not know for a while. Last week: No. 29
17. St. Louis Rams – (1-2) Jeff Fisher says the Rams are a few plays away from being 3-0 and he’s right. They could also be a different head coach away from the same record. The Cardinals and Packers are both coming up on the schedule so it won’t get any easier. Last week: No. 14
18. Houston Texans – (1-2) The Texans finally picked up a win over the hapless Bucs, but don’t celebrate too much. You’re playing at the Falcons this week in a Hard Knocks reunion of its last two teams. One is significantly better than the other. I won’t say which. Last wee: No. 22
19. Oakland Raiders – (2-1) You know what shows you that you’ve got the right quarterback under center? A road win against a team with similar talent. The Raiders haven’t been in this good a shape since 2002. Last week: No. 24
20. San Diego Chargers – (1-2) The Chargers have the talent to be a playoff contender, but are missing something that’s keeping them from being a factor early in the season. That something is probably future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates. They get him back next week. Last week: No. 15
21. Tennessee Titans – (1-2) The Titans were close to ending the Colts’ playoff hopes last week. Marcus Mariota hasn’t looked like a rookie yet and even his first NFL interception wasn’t his fault. The Titans won’t make a run this year, but this will be the last year they won’t. Last week: No. 23
22. Kansas City Chiefs – (1-2) The Chiefs may have fooled people with their so-called comeback attempt Monday night, but not me. I know desperation offense with the pressure off when I see it. Let’s see them perform that way when the game is really on the line. Oh yeah, we already did the week before against the Broncos. They lost that game too.. Last week: No. 16
23. Miami Dolphins – (1-2) The Joe Philbin deathwatch officially begins. Lucky for him it seems his old job with the Packers will probably open up this next offseason. Last week: No. 17
24. Cleveland Browns – (1-2) Hey, stick with Josh McCown. I’m sure it will all work out for everybody. Mainly anyone who wants to be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Last week: No. 21
25. Washington Redskins – (1-2) The Eagles this week, then the Falcons and then the Jets, the Redskins and Bucs will probably be playing for the top pick in the NFL draft when they meet up in Washington D.C. on Oct. 25. Good luck on the loss, Skins. Last week: No. 22
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – (1-2) There’s no shame in losing to the Pats, Jaguars. You can do a lot to make yourselves feel better by jumping up and shocking the Colts this week. They’re right there for the taking. Last week: No. 25
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (1-2) The Bucs are bad on offense, but they make up for it by being worse on defense. Here come the Panthers. Sorry, guys. Last week: No. 26
28. New Orleans Saints – (0-3) There’s an idea that the Saints need to focus on rebuilding already and start moving players like the Bears. But they were already doing that in the offseason, trading away Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills. The Saints were trashing this season right before our eyes and no one knew it. Last week: No. 27
29. Baltimore Ravens – (0-3) When you line up against Michael Vick leading the Steelers Thursday, remember one thing. Rams safety Mark Barron’s last name has two “Rs” in it for the thank you note. Last week: No. 30
30. San Francisco 49ers – (1-2) There’s a lot of words you could use to describe the season the 49ers have in store, but I’m choosing “diaper fire.” I may change my mind as it continues to gurgle down the toilet. Last week: No. 19
31. Chicago Bears – (0-3) There’s giving up early on the season, then there’s what the Bears are doing. They’ve already shipped two of their better players away in trades and the rumor is that running back Matt Forte is on the block too. Hell, he probably looked around and started the rumor himself. Last week: No. 31
32. Detroit Lions – (0-3) I liked the piece Sunday Night football did last week with Tony Dungy interviewing Jim Caldwell. It was good experience for Caldwell, since he’ll next be interviewing at OfficeMax in January.. Last week: No. 32
