1. Cardinals
(6-0): Don’t waste your time looking for a chink in the armor. They just blew up the Browns with head coach Kliff Kingsbury sitting on his couch after a positive COVID-19 test. Kyler Murray is that good, and so is the defense. 2. Rams
(5-1): Good teams show no mercy against inferior opponents. They traveled to the east coast and promptly demolished the Giants.
3. Buccaneers
(5-1): It’s not like Tom Brady needed to find another receiving threat in a loaded offense. But he did. O.J. Howard, back from the ruptured Achilles he suffered last year, is now in sync with No. 12.
4.
Bills (4-2):
Sean McDermott is probably being secondguessed for going for a 4th-and-1, rather than kick a field goal in the closing seconds against the Titans. But it’s hard not to love his aggressiveness and faith in Josh Allen.
5. Cowboys
(5-1):
Dak Prescott did something no other quarterback had done to a Bill Belichick-coached defense -- threw for 445 passing yards. It was no fluke.
6.
Ravens (5-1):
Many predicted the Ravens having a let-down after escaping with a win Monday night. Wrong. Another big week, another big win over the Chargers with Lamar Jackson running and passing the Ravens to victory.
7.
Packers (5-1):
Aaron Rodgers has more wins against the Bears than any other opponent. And he had no problem rubbing it in, taunting Bears fans behind the end zone: “I still own you.”
8. Chargers (4-2):
Even with a loss, they remain in good position to win the AFC West. But it won’t happen if they can’t figure out how to improve their NFL-worst run defense.
9. Chiefs
(3-3): Patrick Mahomes’ turnover binge didn’t end. But when he wasn’t throwing interceptions, he picked apart the WFT defense.
10. Titans
(4-2): The Jekyll-and-Hyde Titans upset the Bills with a goal-line stand and a heavy dose of Derrick Henry. Head coach Mike Vrabel says his team can beat anybody. They can also lose to anybody.
11. Bengals (4-2):
They didn’t have their ‘A’ game, but what they had was still good enough to throttle the Lions.
12. Browns (3-3):
All of a sudden, the Browns defense has gone MIA. Two complete no-shows in back-toback games.
13. Saints
(3-2): They survived the first five weeks missing eight starters. They return from a bye next week with many of their wounded having a chance to return.
14. Raiders (4-2):
Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said he wanted the team to treat head coach Jon Gruden’s less-than-glorious departure as a “bump in the road.” Mission accomplished.
15. Steelers
(3-3): T.J. Watt, the Steelers $112 million man, continues to show why the team showed him the money. He had two OT sacks against Seattle, including the one that forced a fumble to set up the game-winning kick.
16. Vikings
(3-3): After an OT win over Carolina, they enter their bye week with the thought of having to face the Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers and Packers in that order, when they return.
17.
49ers (2-3):
After a Week 6 bye, Jimmy Garoppolo, who was dealing with a calf strain, should return as the starter. It remains to be seen for how long.
18. Panthers
(3-3): There’s something to be said about not having your binkie, and Sam Darnold has been awful without his main man, Christian McCaffrey. Add a bad offensive line, and Darnold’s just been a mess.
19. Seahawks (2-4):
They might be goners before Russell Wilson returns. They’re already in a huge hole in the NFC West, and Geno Smith isn’t getting it done.
20. Broncos (3-3):
After starting out with three wins, the defense has disappeared, and so have the Broncos.
21. Patriots: (2-4):
Is it a coincidence the Patriots have struggled to win close games against the good teams without Tom Brady? Doubt it. Their willingness to be aggressive in key situations has gone out the window.
22. Bears (3-3):
Justin Fields might make them legitimate contenders at some point. But the Bears aren’t there at this stage. They still have the Packers monkey on their backs.
23. Colts
(2-4): They got a much-needed shot in the arm playing the Texans. After a grueling early schedule, just what the doctor ordered.
24. Eagles (2-4):
These days, when you face off against the Bucs, the best you can hope for is the dreaded moral victory. The Eagles checked that box Thursday night.
25.
WFT (2-4): Struggling against one of the worst defenses in the NFL doesn’t bode well for Taylor Heinicke.
26. Falcons (2-3):
After returning from a bye week, they’re hoping the Matt RyanKyle Pitts connection doesn’t cool off.
27. Giants (1-5):
Quarterback Daniel Jones was stripped of the ball on the very first play of the game. The Giants recovered. Call that the only highlight in a blowout loss to the Rams.
28. Dolphins: (1-5):
They’re easily one of the league’s most disappointing teams. And watching them against the Jags, Tua Tagovailoa is the least of their worries.
29. Jaguars (1-5):
Their 20-game losing streak, the second-longest in NFL history, came to an end. So did their field-goal missing streak. After going 0-for-the-season, Matthew Wright kicked a pair, including the game-winner.
30. Jets
(1-4): Robert Saleh had a bye week to regroup and try to figure out a way to jumpstart his slow-starting offense.
31. Texans (1-5):
There’s no real mystery about the Texans. They’re terrible. A league-worst minus-80 point differential is prime evidence.
32.
Lions (0-6):
The only remaining winless team. And in recent weeks, they’ve certainly looked the part.