Another Week, Another NFL Evaluation

Thinking about making this a weekly thing. No "power rankings," just evaluating teams in order of standings. The only rankings that matter are how you finish the season.

Undefeated Teams:

• Houston Texans - The Texans should feel embarrassed after allowing the Jets to score 17 points. Their pedestrian defensive effort won't cut it against Aaron Rodgers. (Next vs Packers)
• Atlanta Falcons - Signs of weakness are there, but their defense improved and took full advantage of Kirk Cousins' unexpected first NFL game. (Next vs Raiders)

4-1 Teams:

• Minnesota Vikings - After an absolute beat-down against the Titans, the Vikings are looking legit.  (Next @ Redskins)
• Baltimore Ravens - Joe Flacco isn't doing a whole lot to make his case for being the best QB in the NFL. They played like shit on the right day, against the Chiefs. Next time they won't be so lucky. (Next vs Cowboys)
• Chicago Bears - That elusive Bears defense that was missing last year is back with a fury. Poor Jacksonville didn't stand a chance. (Next vs Lions after Bye)
• Arizona Cardinals - The Cards definitely have a good defense, but their offense is just plain bad. They're incredibly lucky to be where they are right now. (Next vs Bills)
• San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers became the first team in NFL history to have 300+ passing and 300+ rushing yards in the same game. How's that for a balanced attack? (Next vs Giants)

3-2 Teams:

• San Diego Chargers - Although they lost to the Saints, it looks like Phillip Rivers is going to have a much better year than he had last year. They're still atop the AFC West, but maybe not for long. (Next vs Broncos)
• New England Patriots - Tom Brady continues doing what Tom Brady does. The biggest  surprise has been the emphasis in rushing offense, making the Patriots 3rd in rushing yards. (Next @ Seahawks)
• Cincinnati Bengals - After a tough loss against the Dolphins, next week against the Browns couldn't possibly look more refreshing. (Next @ Browns)
• St. Louis Rams - The Rams are above .500 for the first time since 2006. The Jeff Fisher thing is definitely working, even though it looks like the days are numbered that they're still in St. Louis. (Next @ Dolphins)
• Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles had a pretty big crash landing against the Steelers. Although the game was very close, the game was lost directly because of Michael Vick. Next week doesn't get any easier against a Lions team hungry for a win. (Next vs Lions)
• Seattle Seahawks - This team is a quarterback away from being elite. 6th in rushing, 5th in opp passing, 3rd in opp rushing... 31st in passing. The Seahawks are winning games in spite of Russell Wilson, not because of him. Matt Flynn may get his big chance next week. (Next vs Patriots)
• New York Giants - After an embarrassing loss to the Eagles, the Giants didn't impress anybody by beating the Browns 41-27. While not as injured as their roommates, they're still not the team they once were. (Next @ 49ers)

2-2 Teams:

• Pittsburgh Steelers - 2011's #1 ranked defense this definitely is not. They are blessed with having the Titans as their next opponent, but Matt Hasselbeck ain't dead yet. (Next @ Titans)
• Indianapolis Colts - While they probably won't be a playoff team, it's already clear that Andrew Luck was the #1 draft pick for a reason. An emotional win over the Packers might be the catalyst this team needs. (Next @ Jets)
• Dallas Cowboys - Their bye week couldn't have come at a better time. Statistically, this team should have a better record.  They're 4th in passing, 1st in opp passing, and 15th in opp rushing, so why are they only .500? Next week they get another chance to put up or shut up. (Next @ Ravens)

2-3 Teams:

• New York Jets - It's not Tebow Time yet, but the rest of the schedule does look very friendly: Colts, Patriots x2, Dolphins, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals, Jaguars, Titans, Chargers and Bills. Other than the Patriots and Chargers games, the remaining 8 games look winnable. (Next vs Colts)
• Miami Dolphins - The Miami Dolphins have the best rushing defense in the NFL. They also go up against the #1 ranked rushing offense 49ers and the #3 ranked Patriots twice this season. The Dolphins have a friendly schedule going forward and could just be the shocking team of the AFC. (Next vs Rams)
• Buffalo Bills - Oh good god. The Bills are trying very hard to make a case for having the worst defense in the NFL, allowing the 49ers 621 yards of total offense. They're not the worst team in the league, but they're definitely gunning for a top 5 draft pick. (Next @ Cardinals)
• Green Bay Packers - Something smells bad in Green Bay. Even if they had won the Monday night game against the Seahawks, they would still be in 3rd place of the NFC North. Their defense still sucks, even though it's slightly better than last year. (Next @ Texans)
• Denver Broncos - Once again, Tom Brady got the better of Peyton Manning. Manning needs to jell with his receivers faster if he wants to avoid becoming Rams!Namath, Chargers!Unitas, Chiefs!Montana, or Vikings!Favre. (Next @ Chargers)
• Washington Redskins - Just when things were looking up in D.C., RG3 has concussion and their next opponent is the Vikings. If Griffin does end up playing next week, the Redskins vs Vikings matchup looks like one for the ages. (Next vs Vikings)

1-3 Teams:

• Oakland Raiders - The Bye week couldn't have come at a better time, but now they are given the nigh-impossible task of defeating the undefeated Atlanta Falcons. When your team's strongest point is Carson Palmer, you have a problem. (Next @ Falcons)
• Detroit Lions - Another team with a great time for a Bye week. Luckily they have the Eagles next week because they desperately need a bounce-back win. (Next @ Eagles)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers - What's with every 1-3 team getting a Bye week? This team had high expectations coming into the season, but the only thing they're doing right is their rushing defense; they're dead last in passing yards allowed. Next week should come an easy victory. (Next vs Chiefs)

1-4 Teams:

• Jacksonville Jaguars - Uh.... Wow. At least Blaine Gabbert isn't the worst quarterback in the league anymore, but they're still dead last in passing yards. The Bye week couldn't have come at a better time. (Next vs Raiders after Bye)
• Kansas City Chiefs - Fair or foul to cheer for Matt Cassel getting knocked out? I say fair because he was playing so poorly that Chiefs fans cheered BRADY QUINN playing. This team is well on it's way to the #1 draft pick and Geno Smith. (Next @ Buccaneers)
• Carolina Panthers - $cam Newton? After an impressive rookie year statistically, Newton is having the stereotypical sophomore slump. Newton is getting a lot of blame for the poor record, but he needs more options than Steve Smith. (Next vs Cowboys after Bye)
• Tennessee Titans - This team just can't do anything right. How does anyone expect them to do anything Thursday after being so awful against the Vikings? (Next vs Steelers)
• New Orleans Saints - A much needed win against the Chargers right before the Bye week might be just what this team needed to start winning more games, but they're still a team 100% dependent on Drew Brees. 1st in passing, 28th rushing, 29th opp passing, 32nd opp rushing. (Next @ Buccaneers after Bye)

Winless:

• Cleveland Browns - This team is better than their record indicates, yet the rest of their schedule looks impossible with only the Chiefs game looking winnable. What's more, even if the Browns get the #1 pick, Brandon Weeden is without question their quarterback of the future. Their best option will probably be to trade down in exchange for defensive players. (Next vs Bengals)