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So it's finally here. No. 1 Pats vs. No. 2 Colts. Will the Pats win Sunday's showdown and continue to reign atop the Power Rankings? Or will the Colts win to force a change (we presume) at the top next week?
Up to this point, it's easy to pinpoint which team has been more impressive. Or is it?
Yes, the Patriots are obliterating opponents, winning by an average margin of 25.5 points. Yes, they're on so many record paces that we can't keep up with them all. Yes, we could be watching the greatest single-season performance in the history of the NFL.
But consider what the Colts have done. They've won all seven of their games -- against statistically better opposition than the Pats -- despite their all-time leading receiver, Marvin Harrison, scoring just one touchdown.
Who would've predicted that going into this season?
Harrison has missed two games with a bruised left knee and hasn't produced that low a TD total in the first seven games since his rookie season in 1996. But Reggie Wayne, who is averaging only two fewer receiving yards a game than Randy Moss this season, has picked up the slack.
While it's hard to ignore what Tom Brady & Co. have done through the air, they've also done it against some of the worst pass defenses in the league (five of their opponents currently rank in the bottom seven in the league in passing yards allowed, albeit thanks in part to getting shelled by the Pats).
So should we be dazzled by the gaudy numbers the Pats are putting up, or should we appreciate the grittiness displayed by the Colts? Of course, we can do both -- and then wait for Sunday's outcome to tell us which one should have more influence on the Rankings.
So how would you rank the teams after Week 8? Click here to access SportsNation's ranking tool.
BIGGEST RISE: Cleveland Browns from 19th to 13th.
BIGGEST DROP: Carolina Panthers from 12th to 18th.
2007 Power Rankings: Week 9 RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Patriots 8-0-0 The issue for us is not running up the score -- it's risking Tom Brady's health during times when the game no longer is in doubt. Bill Belichick may be the best coach in the league, but that sure seems like a stupid, stubborn move.
2 (2) Colts 7-0-0 Win or lose on Sunday, the Colts suspect this will be the first of two against the Pats. "We will see New England twice this season," Dwight Freeney told the Indy Star. Presumably, No. 2 will be the AFC title game.
3 (3) Cowboys 6-1-0 That Week 10 matchup against the Giants looms large -- and that makes Sunday's contest against the Eagles even more difficult from a focus standpoint. The Cowboys are just 1-7 in their last eight games in Philly.
4 (5) Packers 6-1-0 The first time Brett Favre's Packers started a season 6-1, they won the Super Bowl. The second time, they lost in the first round of the playoffs.
We're thinking somewhere in between this season.
5 (4) Giants6-2-0Perhaps on any other day, Eli Manning's low passing totals (8-of-22, 59 yards) on Sunday would've meant a defeat. But this was rainy London, the opponents were the woeful Dolphins and the Giants just can't seem to lose right now.
6 (6) Steelers 5-2-0 The AFC North-leading Steelers can really put some separation between themselves and the rest of the division in the next two weeks with home games against the Ravens (next Monday) and Browns.
7 (9) Chargers 4-3-0 Was there ever any doubt that the emotionally charged Chargers would win for the beleaguered home folks on Sunday? Of course it helps that San Diego's on a roll. The Chargers have won their last three by a combined 77 points.
8 (7) Jaguars 5-2-0 Who figured that the first backup quarterback ever to beat Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin would be the Jags' Quinn Gray? Of course, the Jags didn't ask Gray to do much; they opened with 14 consecutive running plays.
9 (8) Titans 5-2-0 The Titans are winning the close, low-scoring games. That's good for building character but bad for an offense that can't seem to produce many points. "As an offense, we have to get it together," Vince Young told The Tennessean.
10 (11) Lions 5-2-0 Who wants Matt Millen fired now? For the first time in his tenure, the Lions have started out 5-2. They've swept the Bears and are 3-0 in the division. But they still must face the Packers twice in the final six weeks.
11 (13) Chiefs 4-3-0 Defensive end Jared Allen has eight sacks, just one behind NFL leader Trent Cole of the Eagles. Only two Chiefs have ever led the league in sacks -- Derrick Thomas in 1990 (20 sacks) and Neil Smith in 1993 (15 sacks).
12 (15) Seahawks 4-3-0 Expect the Seahawks' offense to get a jump start this week against the Browns. Starting wide receivers Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett are expected back from injuries. Hackett hasn't played since the opener.
13 (19) Browns 4-3-0 The Browns' last two wins have come against the league's two winless teams, but who cares? It's the first time since 2003 that Cleveland has won two straight games. At 4-3, the Browns are over .500 for the first time in Romeo Crennel's tenure.
14 (14) Ravens 4-3-0 In case you're trying to get over a Colts-Pats hangover, the Ravens' Monday nighter at Pittsburgh is a critical AFC North battle. With two weeks to prepare, perhaps Brian Billick can come up with some fresh wrinkles for the offense.
15 (10) Commanders 4-3-0 Until Sunday's 52-7 loss to New England, the Commanders had not allowed 50 or more points since 1961 (to the Giants, 53-0). "We got utterly embarrassed in every facet of the football game," LB London Fletcher told the Washington Post.
16 (17) Broncos 3-4-0 Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly have nine Pro Bowl appearances between them and are supposed to give the Broncos the best pair of corners in the AFC, if not the entire league. Could've fooled us on Monday.
17 (16) Buccaneers 4-4-0 Veteran WR Ike Hilliard took the blame for the 24-23 loss to the Jags after failing to latch onto a pass that was intercepted in the final minute. "It's nobody's fault but mine," Hilliard told the Tampa Tribune.
18 (12) Panthers 4-3-0 All four Panthers wins this season have been on the road; all three losses have come at home. In fact, Carolina has lost five straight at home dating back to last season, and is now 49-50 at home since joining the league in 1995.
19 (24) Saints 3-4-0 After their 0-4 start, the Saints have won three straight and are now just one game behind the division-leading Panthers. "You know, we're on a little bit of a roll here," Reggie Bush told the Times-Picayune.
20 (22) Eagles 3-4-0 QB Donovan McNabb's knee must be feel better. On Sunday, the Eagles called a designed running play for McNabb for the first time this season. "He's getting better every week," coach Andy Reid said.
21 (20) Cardinals 3-4-0 The Cardinals have played 105 minutes of first-quarter football this season ... and have exactly two field goals to show for it. Penalties and turnovers are partly to blame; five of the Cards' 16 turnovers have come in the first quarter.
22 (25) Bills 3-4-0 Don't get too excited about J.P. Losman's performance in relief of an injured Trent Edwards on Sunday. Yes, he had the 85-yard TD pass to Lee Evans, but that ball was underthrown and should've been picked off.
23 (18) Bears 3-5-0 The Bears' playoff hopes don't look good, but the 3-5 start is not insurmountable. Ten teams in NFL history have made the playoffs after starting out 3-5, but Brian Griese (38.3 passer rating Sunday) will need to improve.
24 (21) Texans 3-5-0 How bad has it gotten in Houston? Even the long-snapper is making mistakes. For the first time in 599 career snaps, Bryan Pittman botched a special-teams snap, leading to an easy San Diego touchdown.
25 (23) Bengals 2-5-0 The Bengals enter Sunday's game at Buffalo having lost eight straight to the Bills. Cincy's last win came in the 1988 AFC title game, leading to a Super Bowl appearance. We're pretty sure a win Sunday won't lead to the same.
26 (26) Vikings 2-5-0 Jeff George -- yes, 39-year-old Jeff George -- is intrigued by the Vikings' offense and wants to come back, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. One problem: George hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2001. Hey, is this April 1?
27 (27) Raiders 2-5-0 The Raiders were hit with 14 penalties for 100 yards in the loss to Tennessee. Of those 14 penalties, 11 were committed by the offense -- eight by the offensive line (six false starts, two holding calls).
28 (28) 49ers 2-5-0 The 49ers have lost five straight and now play four of their next five on the road, making it difficult to keep a positive outlook. The 49ers could be officially eliminated before their three-game homestand to end the season.
29 (29) Falcons 1-6-0 DeAngelo Hall, who has been fined $100K this season for being critical of rookie coach Bobby Petrino, said the only time he'll talk to the media the rest of this season is after games. Bad for us; good for Hall's bank account.
30 (30) Jets 1-7-0 It's official: Chad Pennington is out, and Kellen Clemens is in as the starting QB. The Jets had to make the move, not because it will save the season (too late for that), but to see if they need to draft another QB.
31 (31) Rams 0-8-0 Better play out of the offense made the Rams more competitive on Sunday ... but they still lost to the Browns. The bye week should allow Steven Jackson to fully recover from his groin injury.
32 (32) Dolphins 0-8-0 Perhaps in the wet, chewed-up turf at Wembley Stadium, the Dolphins found a suitable replacement for Ronnie Brown. Jesse Chatman ran for 79 yards on 16 carries and had the longest play of the game, a 22-yard run.
Up to this point, it's easy to pinpoint which team has been more impressive. Or is it?
Yes, the Patriots are obliterating opponents, winning by an average margin of 25.5 points. Yes, they're on so many record paces that we can't keep up with them all. Yes, we could be watching the greatest single-season performance in the history of the NFL.
But consider what the Colts have done. They've won all seven of their games -- against statistically better opposition than the Pats -- despite their all-time leading receiver, Marvin Harrison, scoring just one touchdown.
Who would've predicted that going into this season?
Harrison has missed two games with a bruised left knee and hasn't produced that low a TD total in the first seven games since his rookie season in 1996. But Reggie Wayne, who is averaging only two fewer receiving yards a game than Randy Moss this season, has picked up the slack.
While it's hard to ignore what Tom Brady & Co. have done through the air, they've also done it against some of the worst pass defenses in the league (five of their opponents currently rank in the bottom seven in the league in passing yards allowed, albeit thanks in part to getting shelled by the Pats).
So should we be dazzled by the gaudy numbers the Pats are putting up, or should we appreciate the grittiness displayed by the Colts? Of course, we can do both -- and then wait for Sunday's outcome to tell us which one should have more influence on the Rankings.
So how would you rank the teams after Week 8? Click here to access SportsNation's ranking tool.
BIGGEST RISE: Cleveland Browns from 19th to 13th.
BIGGEST DROP: Carolina Panthers from 12th to 18th.
2007 Power Rankings: Week 9 RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
We're thinking somewhere in between this season.
