Commanders Post at The Warpath - Wow, talk about no respect

Check out this garbage

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-rankings102505&prov=yhoo&type=lgns"]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-rankings102505&prov=yhoo&type=lgns[/url]

Where are the Skins ranked you may ask? Keep scrolling, keep scrolling... Yep that's right, the team with the 2nd ranked 'O' and 4th ranked 'D' is in the 'muddled middle'.

Look at the other teams there and tell me what's wrong with this picture.

[b]THE TOP 12[/b]

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/ind.gif[/img] [b]1.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ind/"]Indianapolis Colts[/url] (7-0) – Linebacker [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6534/"]Cato June[/url] leads the NFL with five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. Better yet, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4652/"]Edgerrin James[/url] is on pace to rush for 1,830 yards and 16 touchdowns.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/pit.gif[/img] [b]2.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/pit/"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/url] (4-2) – The running game looks great, but Pittsburgh has to get the wide receiving corps healthy over the second half of the season. Rookie tight end [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7206/"]Heath Miller[/url] has 14 receptions and three touchdowns in the last three games.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/den.gif[/img] [b]3.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/den/"]Denver Broncos[/url] (5-2) – The defense has only been lukewarm all year, but its performance in Sunday's loss to the Giants was troubling. Super Bowl-caliber units don't give up fourth-quarter touchdowns that easily.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/phi.gif[/img] [b]4.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/phi/"]Philadelphia Eagles[/url] (4-2) – Apparently, a fire alarm went off in the second half against San Diego. I mistook it for the emergency siren that warns Andy Reid when he's dangerously close to actually calling a running play for [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5977/"]Brian Westbrook[/url].

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/tam.gif[/img] [b]5.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/tam/"]Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/url] (5-1) – Just when you were starting to worry about [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6774/"]Michael Clayton[/url]'s virtual disappearance from the Tampa offense, San Francisco's crummy pass defense comes to town.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/nwe.gif[/img] [b]6.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nwe/"]New England Patriots[/url] (3-3) – After the bye week, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3914/"]Corey Dillon[/url] is healthy and ready to destroy Buffalo's porous run defense.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/jac.gif[/img] [b]7.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/jac/"]Jacksonville Jaguars[/url] (4-2) – Believe it or not, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6343/"]Byron Leftwich[/url] has never thrown for more than two touchdowns in an NFL game. With St. Louis coming to town, it's as good a time as any for Leftwich to accomplish that feat.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/sea.gif[/img] [b]8.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sea/"]Seattle Seahawks[/url] (5-2) – Don't look now, but the Seahawks have a top-10 defense that's capable of winning games, too. Seattle's 23 sacks rank third in the NFL.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/atl_2.gif[/img] [b]8.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/atl/"]Atlanta Falcons[/url] (5-2) – Say what you want about former receiver [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4703/"]Peerless Price[/url], but first-round picks [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6788/"]Michael Jenkins[/url] and [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7203/"]Roddy White[/url] haven't exactly lit the offense on fire, either. Stop acting like you don't know what the common denominator is in this equation.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/cin_2.gif[/img] [b]10.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/cin/"]Cincinnati Bengals[/url] (5-2) – I realize it was the heat of the moment, but [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6337/"]Carson Palmer[/url] and [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5652/"]T.J. Houshmandzadeh[/url] might want to beat a team with a winning record before they declare themselves better than a team like Pittsburgh.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/nyg_2.gif[/img] [b]11.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nyg/"]New York Giants[/url] (4-2) – The NFL should have a moment of silence on Sunday for the passing of Wellington Mara. He was one of the league's greats, bringing Y.A. Tittle to the Giants and essentially authoring the division of television money in the NFL.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/car.gif[/img] [b]12.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/car/"]Carolina Panthers[/url] (4-2) – Haven't we heard this story? [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5458/"]Dan Morgan[/url]'s shoulder problems mean he's going to have to play hurt for the rest of the season.

[b]RISING[/b]

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/kan.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/kan/"]Kansas City Chiefs[/url] (4-2) – [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2547/"]Trent Green[/url] looked as good as he has all season in the win over Miami. But beyond [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3519/"]Eddie Kennison[/url], the Chiefs aren't going to get much out of their receivers.

[b]THE MUDDLED MIDDLE (in alphabetical order)[/b]

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/bal_2.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/bal/"]Baltimore Ravens[/url] (2-4) – I had a hard time believing the whispers until this weekend, but it's safe to say Brian Billick will have a hard time saving his job if the Ravens' fortunes don't turn on a dime.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/buf.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf/"]Buffalo Bills[/url] (3-4) – If anyone questioned the value of Takeo Spikes to the run defense, they aren't doing it now.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/chi.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/chi/"]Chicago Bears[/url] (3-3) – The No. 1 reason Chicago's defense is clicking? After all the talk about him being one of the NFL's most overrated players, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5038/"]Brian Urlacher[/url] is having one of the best seasons of his career.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/cle.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/cle/"]Cleveland Browns[/url] (2-4) – With [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2900/"]Trent Dilfer[/url] stumbling and the season going down the tubes, the Browns might want to warm up [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7243/"]Charlie Frye[/url] just to see what they've got for the future.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/dal.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/dal/"]Dallas Cowboys[/url] (4-3) – What I can't figure out is why Bill Parcells thought he could count on Jose Cortez in the first place.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/det.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/det/"]Detroit Lions[/url] (3-3) – Despite his fumble, it was nice to see [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5890/"]Mike Williams[/url] finally show some healthy production over the weekend. And if [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5889/"]Joey Harrington[/url] wasn't the problem on offense, then why did [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4924/"]Jeff Garcia[/url] do more with less this weekend?

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/mia.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/"]Miami Dolphins[/url] (2-4) – Before you get all excited about [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5557/"]Sage Rosenfels[/url]' preseason numbers and start shouting for him to start, first consider the fact he faced second-string players.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/min.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/min/"]Minnesota Vikings[/url] (2-4) – After all the offseason hype about [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5492/"]Fred Smoot[/url], [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4117/"]Pat Williams[/url] and [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3921/"]Darren Sharper[/url], the kicker is looking like Minnesota's best free agent pickup of 2005. And coach Mike Tice had the line of the week when he said Sunday was the first time he's gotten "negative" with his team in the last two years. Things are kind of starting to make sense, huh?

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/nyj.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nyj/"]New York Jets[/url] (2-5) – Anyone have the phone number for Ray Lucas or Neil O'Donnell? And sadly, it's possible that this might be the home stretch of [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3164/"]Curtis Martin[/url]'s career.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/oak.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/oak/"]Oakland Raiders[/url] (2-4) – The loss of [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4271/"]Charles Woodson[/url] means we get to see more of [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7214/"]Stanford Routt[/url] and [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7199/"]Fabian Washington[/url]. If that doesn't send Norv Turner scrambling to freshen up his resume, nothing will.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/stl.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/stl/"]St. Louis Rams[/url] (3-4) – Mike Martz stepping away is the best thing for this team and Martz. Will he be back? Anyone who suggests they know that answer is guessing.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/sdg.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sdg/"]San Diego Chargers[/url] (3-4) – Nobody is talking about it, but with A.J. Smith running the show, Marty Schottenheimer isn't safe. The Chargers have lost four games by 12 points, and the conservative play-calling from Schottenheimer has cost San Diego scoring opportunities in each defeat.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/was.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/was/"]Washington Redskins[/url] (4-2) – As if the defense needed any help, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5031/"]LaVar Arrington[/url] looked amazingly inspired after getting out of the doghouse. And while [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5937/"]Clinton Portis[/url] might have finally gotten his much-needed spark, the offense keeps getting pivotal contributions from role players: [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4546/"]Mike Sellers[/url], [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6046/"]Robert Royal[/url], [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6840/"]Chris Cooley[/url], [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6119/"]Rock Cartwright[/url], etc.

[b]FALLING[/b]

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/nor_2.gif[/img] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nor/"]New Orleans Saints[/url] (2-5) – I had to laugh when San Antonio mayor Phil Hardberger boasted that NFL owners would support him if he tried to lure the Saints to his city permanently. If Hardberger wants to preside over an NFL city, he needs to learn that the only thing NFL owners support is the debit portion of their checkbooks.

[b]THE BOTTOM FIVE[/b]

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/ari.gif[/img] [b]28.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ari/"]Arizona Cardinals[/url] (2-4) – The season to this point is pretty much summed up by kicker [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5198/"]Neil Rackers[/url] having the team's most impressive accomplishment: going 20-for-20 on field goal attempts through six games.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/ten.gif[/img] [b]29.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ten/"]Tennessee Titans[/url] (2-5) – [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3114/"]Steve McNair[/url] is ready to return, but with the season pretty much in the dumps (and McNair due an insane balloon payment next season), it would be better to just go with [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5339/"]Billy Volek[/url] and prepare for the future.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/gnb.gif[/img] [b]30.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/gnb/"]Green Bay Packers[/url] (1-5) – Something to keep in mind with all the problems in the backfield: This is a great year to have a high draft pick with a slew of marquee running backs likely to be available.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/sfo.gif[/img] [b]31.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sfo/"]San Francisco 49ers[/url] (1-5) – If there was any question about why [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5241/"]Tim Rattay[/url] got shipped out of town for almost nothing, Sunday should have answered it. No matter how bad the poundings get, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7177/"]Alex Smith[/url]'s starting spot can never be challenged without a serious alternative to replace him. And no, [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6577/"]Ken Dorsey[/url] is not a serious alternative.

[img]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/50x50c/hou.gif[/img] [b]32.[/b] [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/hou/"]Houston Texans[/url] (0-6) – If I were Houston owner Bob McNair, I would be doing anything to get Charlie Weis to leave Notre Dame right now. The Texans have gotten very little out of first-round pick [url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7192/"]Travis Johnson[/url], who has 12 tackles in six games.

[i]Charles Robinson is the national NFL writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send him a [url="http://add.yahoo.com/fast/help/us/sports/cgi_robinson"]question or comment[/url] for potential use in a future column or webcast.[/i]

Meanwhile, here's a poll that gives the Skins some credit

[url]http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2005/10/25/nfl_week_7_power_rankings.php[/url]

1. Indianapolis Colts [1] — Drawing conclusions from two games is not a great idea, but the Colts are a consensus number one, and I'm looking for potential areas of concern, so go with me here. After allowing just 29 points through their first five games — an average of 5.8 — Indianapolis has given up 48 the last two weeks, including 20 this week against Houston's last-ranked offense. That includes a special teams touchdown, and Indy's defense really did a nice job against the Texans, but the last two weeks, the Colts' scores have looked a lot like they did in 2004. If you're looking for a weak point, run defense might be it. The team is allowing opponents a 4.5 average, 27th in the NFL.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers [2] — I wouldn't have played Ben Roethlisberger this week, risking his health in a game the Steelers probably could have won with Tommy Maddox, but it paid off. Roethlisberger played a great game, wasn't re-injured, and led his team to a convincing victory that could play a major role in determining who wins the AFC North. The Steelers are going to breeze through their next three games.

3. Denver Broncos [3] — As if we needed another argument against the use of prevent defense, defensive coordinator Larry Coyer gave it to us on Sunday. Playing on the road against a Giants offense that has been inconsistent but explosive this season, the Broncos gave Eli Manning time to throw. He completed four passes to Amani Toomer, two each to Tiki Barber and Plaxico Burress, and a 24-yarder to Jeremy Shockey. You can't cover those guys forever, even with seven men in coverage.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars [5] — Tom Coughlin is one of the NFL's old-school coaches, a Bill Parcells guy. He's not part of the "old coach" fraternity — that's Parcells, Joe Gibbs, Dick Vermeil, and depending upon who you ask, maybe Marty Schottenheimer. But those four, plus Coughlin and probably Bill Belichick, but not too many others, have their own way of doing things, similar to each other and different from most other coaches in a way I can't articulate in this space, but I really like seeing it. I love the respect they have for each other, too, especially between Gibbs and his rivals.

5. San Diego Chargers [4] — I'm almost positive I've never had a team with a losing record ranked so highly this late in the season, and if they don't start actually winning close games against good teams soon, they'll sink fast. It's tough, though, not to regard this week's loss as a little bit of a fluke. If there were great teams to move ahead of them, I'd do it. For now, just realize I'm not happy about this.

6. Seattle Seahawks [7] — Mike Ditka, talking about this week's last-minute win over Dallas, said, "These are games that they would've lost last year." The difference between the '04 Seahawks and the '05 Seahawks is less about the roster than the attitude. Last year's team went in the tank after it choked against the Rams in Week 5. This year's group has confidence and heart, and it's playing hard even in hard situations.

7. Atlanta Falcons [8] — "If there's any defensive lineman that's close to the speed of Michael Vick, it's John Abraham." Uh, Mr. Madden, I know you've seen Dwight Freeney and Julius Peppers, and they're both faster than Abraham. Or how about Derrick Burgess, who sacked Vick twice in last year's NFC Championship Game? Madden called his worst game since 2001, his last year at FOX with Pat Summerall, when both of them seemed confused or worse.

8. New England Patriots [10] — Key divisional matchup against Buffalo coming up, but the game everyone wants to see is Week 9 against the Colts. The Patriots have dominated the rivalry, but many familiar figures — Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison — will be missing or less than 100%, and this Colts team seems more sound than previous ones. I expect New England to roll against the Bills, and I've raised them above Philly and Washington basically on faith in Bill Belichick's ability to improve the team during its bye week.

9. Philadelphia Eagles [9] — If I were playing against Philadelphia, I would blitz McNabb all game. You'll give up a couple big plays on screens and three-step drops early in the contest, but you'll be hitting an already-injured quarterback on every play. What if the Eagles' problem isn't that they don't run the ball, but that they can't? They're 26th in average (3.4), and I'm beginning to wonder if Andy Reid knows something we don't.

Some analysts say that's just Reid's game, it's the way they play. But if you look at their previous four seasons, when they went to the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles were in the top 10 in average each year, and they finished 14th, 7th, 9th, and 24th in rushing yards. This season they're 32nd, trailing the Cardinals by over 13 yards per game. They're still winning for now, but I think Philadelphia is winning in spite of its offensive philosophy, not because of it. McNabb can't take it forever, and if this keeps up, the defense won't last, either.

10. Washington Redskins [12] — This is less a reaction to their ugly blowout over San Francisco than my getting used to the idea that Washington is good again. It's hard to overstate the degree to which Washington dominated the game, leading 52-7 before a couple of late scores made San Francisco's offensive output seem respectable. Their next three games are all tough, and could be a barometer for Washington's success the rest of the season.

11. Cincinnati Bengals [6] — Run defense is a problem, and opponents have been exploiting it more and more over the past month. Domanick Davis rushed for 81 and a 4.3 average in Cincinnati's disturbingly close victory over Houston, then Fred Taylor posted 132 with a 5.5 average in Jacksonville's Week 5 win. Tennessee's Chris Brown had 84 yards on a 4.7 average, plus his first two TDs of the season. And this week, Willie Parker averaged 7.3 yards per attempt, finishing with 131. The Bengals are 27th in rushing defense and 29th in average per carry against.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [11] — Should win their next two games, then they have tough matchups against Washington and at Atlanta, followed by a home game against Chicago, which should be another win. After that, the Bucs play four of their last five games against NFC South opponents, and that stretch will probably determine whether or not Tampa Bay makes the playoffs.

13. Dallas Cowboys [13] — Probably should be ranked ahead of Cincinnati and Tampa, but first I want to see them beat the Cardinals, soundly, without any fourth-quarter drama. Everyone knew the NFC East would be better this season, but it's become the best division in the NFL.

14. Kansas City Chiefs [15] — Playing on short rest and traveling on game day, Kansas City still dominated the Dolphins in Miami, controlling time of possession by better than 2:1, outgaining their opponents by nearly 200 yards, and holding the Dolphins to just nine first downs. The loser of next week's game at San Diego will miss the postseason. They're both good teams, but at 4-2 and 3-4, the loser is done.

15. New York Giants [16] — Could be higher than this, and will be if they beat Washington next week or ever get a good win on the road. There's a lot of room between 15th and 16th this week, and not much between here and Jacksonville, so the Giants could move up quickly if they play well.

16. Carolina Panthers [15] — All alone in this spot, nowhere near overtaking the Giants for 15th, but way ahead of the Lions at 17th. That could change very quickly if they lose to Minnesota.

17. Detroit Lions [18] — Injuries take some of the shine off their road win in Cleveland, but Jeff Garcia brings vitality to an offense that wasn't going anywhere with Joey Harrington. Garcia is a playmaker, a leader, and winner who sometimes is bigger than his stats, and he's only going to get healthier.

18. Chicago Bears [20] — Like stupid statistics? The Bears are averaging 33 points per game against division opponents, and just 8.5 against teams outside the NFC North. I guess that means you should take the over when they play in Detroit next week. The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the division, with the inside track to a playoff spot. The 2005 Bears remind me of Washington in 2004, only not in the same division as the Eagles.

19. Oakland Raiders [21] — I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop on Kerry Collins. He was an interception machine last season, and over the past two years combined, he had more picks than touchdowns. This year, he's keeping the ball away from opponents and the only real complaint is a low completion percentage. The Raiders' defensive backfield suffered some injuries this weekend, or I'd probably have them higher.

20. Buffalo Bills [17] — Willis McGahee declared definitively that he was the best running back in the NFL, then backed it up by gaining 50 yards, with a 3.1 average and no touchdowns, against the 23rd-ranked Oakland defense.

21. Miami Dolphins [22] — The run defense got slaughtered for the second week in a row, but Ronnie Brown is looking more and more like the real deal, and that has to be encouraging for a team that's rebuilding on offense.

22. Baltimore Ravens [19] — Another 11 penalties, including three 15-yard roughness fouls. The offensive line was once among the best in the league, but this year its leaders, Jonathan Ogden and Edwin Mulitalo, look like the game has passed them by. Both are over 30, and they're not playing at the same level they did in their late twenties. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are expected to miss Monday night's game at Pittsburgh, so I expect it to be an ugly loss.

23. St. Louis Rams [26] — Won without Marc Bulger or Mike Martz, the latter of whom is done for the season and probably with the Rams organization. Not to kick a guy when he's down, and I wish Martz the best with regards to his health, but I think it would be a mistake for the team to bring him back next year. Let Joe Vitt audition for the job over the next nine games, and if he doesn't earn it, hire an assistant from Pittsburgh or Washington.

24. Arizona Cardinals [27] — Gained fewer than half as many yards as the Titans, but scored 20 points in a row for a comfortable 10-point win. Josh McCown's game can't really be called "efficient" — which is the word we usually use for a bad outing from a winning quarterback — because McCown completed fewer than half his passes and averaged only five yards per attempt, but Arizona just seems to win games — at least against bad teams — when McCown plays. Dennis Green would be nuts to put Kurt Warner back in at this point.

25. New Orleans Saints [25] — At what point do you know for sure that your team has been cursed? Is it when the strongest hurricane ever to hit U.S. soil devastates your home city? When you play a "home" game against the Giants in the Meadowlands? Maybe losing to an 0-4 team by seven touchdowns? If you weren't convinced by those, last week's loss to Atlanta on an unusual call by an official, and this week's loss to St. Louis — on a plainly wrong call — have certainly supplied some evidence.

26. Tennessee Titans [23] — The personnel to be competitive really is not there. The Titans have an unusual mix of very good players, and people in totally over their heads. Lack of depth is a problem.

27. Cleveland Browns [24] — Trent Dilfer had his second really rocky day as a Brown, and there were actually rumors on Monday that Charlie Frye could get the start at Houston in Week 8. Two weeks ago Dilfer was still a savior in Cleveland.

28. Minnesota Vikings [30] — How was Mewelde Moore not the starting running back at the beginning of the season? The Vikings' offense, in the second half, finally acted like it did last year. All it took was a really pathetic pass defense.

29. New York Jets [29] — Worst playcall I've seen all season: whatever they had planned from the shotgun on fourth-and-one at the end of the game. By lining up in the shotgun, you give up the threat of a run, which — with the choices being Curtis Martin or Brooks Bollinger — the defense had to be expecting. Why make their jobs easier? Terrible, terrible idea, and it may have cost them the game.

30. Green Bay Packers [28] — Running backs can't stay healthy. Wide receivers can't stay healthy. Brett Favre can't play more than one position. This is why it's so ridiculous when people try to blame quarterbacks for not winning Super Bowls. There are 53 guys out there, and the Dan Marinos and Brett Favres and Warren Moons of the world get stuck on bad teams sometimes. Anyone else notice John Madden saying on MNF that George Blanda was better than Moon? I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with that.

31. Houston Texans [32] — I would like to use this space to issue a public apology to the Texans for ranking them below San Francisco last week. It's worth noting, though, that Houston was outgained by almost 300 yards on Sunday, and hasn't held a lead all season.

32. San Francisco 49ers [31] — Alex Smith is to a good defense as a lamb is to wolves. I don't understand Mike Nolan's timing, starting Smith against Indianapolis and Washington, both of whom ate him alive. The kid looked like a deer in headlights on Sunday. He's injured and may not play next week, but it doesn't really matter at this point.