Best of the best
This season, just when a team looks like it has found a place, someone comes along to knock it off. And conversely, just when it looks like a team is done, it finds a way to claw its way back into it. Yet, at the top of the hill, things remain stable, with the two best teams remaining undaunted, despite some tough tests in Week 10. Still reigning supreme are...
The Tennessee Titans (Last week: No. 1)
It's true, Kerry Collins is not going to have anywhere near the kind of game he had last weekend perhaps ever again, but there are few teams that are going to be able to stuff the Titans' running game the way the Bears did. Collins is not a guy this team can lean on, but he is a veteran who will hurt a team if they decide to put eight in the box the way Chicago did. The defense remains the key to this team's success and as long as they keep doing what they're doing, the Titans don't need an offense that scores 40 points a game.
New York Giants (Last week: No. 2)
The Giants should thank Andy Reid for being their 12th man on prime time as his mistakes were a huge factor in the Sunday night affair. The Giants now control their own destiny in what at one time was considered - and really still might be - the toughest division in football. The Giants have developed one of the toughest offenses in football to go right along with their defense and it's clear that Eli Manning can no longer be considered just a system quarterback. Even with the Philly defense keying on Plaxico Burress all game long (he had one catch for a 17-yard touchdown), the Giants successfully and consistently moved the football. Kevin Boss is rapidly turning into a fine pass-catching tight end.
Carolina Panthers (Last week: No. 5)
Jake Delhomme looked the worst he has in a long time, but DeAngelo Williams has people remembering why the Panthers used a first-round pick on him in 2006. Williams now has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and a combination of his explosiveness and an injury to Jonathan Stewart has secured the starting job in the Panthers' backfield. Much like the Titans, the Panthers are a defense-first team, ranking second in the league to only those Titans. As long as the offense can produce some points, they defense will do the rest.
Indianapolis Colts (Last week: NR)
Sometimes, it's all about getting hot at the right time. With Peyton Manning looking like Peyton Manning in quality wins over the Patriots and Steelers (both defenses in the top-10 in scoring defense), the Colts have fans believing again. The lack of a good running attack and Marvin Harrison looking older and older each week are both concerns, but the offense has enough going for it to make those concerns not so huge. the Colts defense has been pretty good, surprisingly, especially against the pass and against the run, the re-introduction of Bob Sanders has had an impact. With a soft schedule upcoming, the Colts could definitely be in line for a big run.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: No. 3)
It's not quite time to hit the panic button in Pittsburgh, but it's getting close. The lack of consistency in the starting lineup has led to a lack of consistency on the field and it seems like the only way this team can remain one of the top teams in the league is with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker. Unfortunately, they probably won't have a healthy either until training camp next year. Give Roethlisberger credit - he's doing everything this team could ask of him. A loss to San Diego next week wouldn't be crippling, but it would certainly keep anyone from refering to the Steelers as an elite team.
Worst of the worst
Seattle Seahawks (No. 4 worst)
Yeah, they gave Miami a scare. Unfortunately, scares don't count in this league. By the way, that makes six straight games the offense has failed to reach 300 total yards.
St. Louis Rams (Last week: NR)
Yep. They're back. You can't lose to the Jets by 44 points and expect not to be on this list.
Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: NR)
The Chiefs gave it a fine effort, and Tony Gonzalez made maybe the catch of the year so far, but they still have five straight losses to show for it.
Oakland Raiders (Last week: No. 2 worst)
Hey, look, a Marques Tuiasosopo sighting. Never a good thing.
Detroit Lions (Last week: No. 1 worst)
It's beyond an embarassment at this point. You can't sign a good quarterback on Tuesday, insert him in your lineup on Sunday and hope to win, let alone a washed up quarterback the Kansas City Chiefs even passed on.
