32. CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-6)
Last week:32
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 29 - Defense: 26
With the 2-4 Bengals and 1-5 Jets next on their slate, the persistent, never-say-die Browns should have just enough to get their first win of the season in the next two games.
31. NEW YORK JETS (1-5)
Last week:29
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 24 - Defense: 29
It's not just that the Jets are losing; they're not close. Their last four defeats are by an average of 18.5 points.
30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-4)
Last week:30
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 32 - Defense: 14
Another team that's not close: Their five losses have come by an average of 17.2 points, and in five games after their Week 1 shutout, they've been gashed for 37.0 points per game.
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- CHICAGO BEARS (1-5)**
Last week:28
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 17 - Defense: 17
Their next two games are at Green Bay and against Minnesota. This gets worse before it gets better.
28. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-3)
Last week:26
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 7 - Defense: 30
Each of their six games has not been decided until the last two minutes, and five were decided by six points or fewer. Self-inflicted errors are killing the Colts, and are all that separate them from a 4-2 record and first place in the AFC South.
27. MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-4)
Last week:31
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 31 - Defense: 16
Miami's offense showed signs of life Sunday, going three-and-out just twice while racking up seven drives that covered at least 50 yards apiece.
26. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-5)
Last week:20
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 13 - Defense: 13
According to pro-football-reference.com, 22 teams have allowed season-long passer ratings of over 100.0 at their expense. Thirteen have come since 2010. All have finished below .500 and out of the playoffs. Carolina's defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to rack up a 100.8 rating so far this season.
25. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-3)
Last week:26
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 26 - Defense: 18
I'm old enough to remember when the Bucs were so allergic to California they went 20 seasons without winning there. They don't need to revert to that state this week against the 49ers in Santa Clara.
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- LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-3)**
Last week:18
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 30 - Defense: 20
Despite their talent on the defensive line, the Rams have allowed at least 30 points in three of their last four games, and conceded 31 points on just seven series in Detroit. It's fair to say that their defense was a bit overrated.
23. CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-3)
Last week:15
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 12 - Defense: 24
A talented team that appears to have picked up where it left off in its January playoff meltdown. The collapse of the defense, which has allowed at least 28 points in three of the last four games, is the most alarming issue here, moreso than Vontaze Burfict, whose meltdowns are to be expected at this point.
22. TENNESSEE TITANS (3-3)
Last week:24
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 23 - Defense: 8
They're 0-3 against winning teams and 3-0 against teams .500 or worse. They don't play another team with a winning record until Nov. 13, when they host the Packers. The defense was only a late fade away from holding an opponent below 20 offensive points for the fifth time in six games.
21. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-3)
Last week:22
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 22 - Defense: 22
Their annual post-London bounce got under way with a win against the Bears. Now comes Jack Del Rio's first chance to go up against his former team as a head coach.
20. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-3)
Last week:23
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 4 - Defense: 31
The Arena Football League could be at death's door, but Arena Football-type scores are alive and well in New Orleans.
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- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-4)**
Last week:25
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 11 - Defense: 12
The numbers dictated that the Chargers would inevitably get a positive result; unfortunately for the Broncos, it came at their expense.
18. BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-3)
Last week:12
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 25 - Defense: 4
It took two weeks for firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in 2012 to get results. Let's see what happens to the Ravens against the Jets and with two divisional home games after their Week 8 bye. They're flailing right now, but can't be written off.
17. NEW YORK GIANTS (3-3)
Last week:27
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 19 - Defense: 15
Five of their six games have been decided by seven points or fewer. This might be the hardest team to predict on a week-to-week basis.
16. DETROIT LIONS (3-3)
Last week:19
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 3 - Defense: 32
Three wins by a combined eight points; three losses by a combined 11 points.
15. OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-2)
Last week:9
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 15 - Defense: 28
The Raiders are 3-0 on the road and 1-2 at home. This bodes well for them as they begin their two-game Florida swing against the Jaguars and Buccaneers.
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- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-2)**
Last week:17
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 21 - Defense: 11
The next team with a winning record on the Chiefs' schedule is the Broncos ... on Nov. 27. In between are teams that are a combined 9-18. This could be a rerun of last year, where the Chiefs get scalding hot against shaky foes.
13. GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-1)
Last week:10
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 10 - Defense: 21
Aaron Rodgers' career yardage per attempt (including playoffs) before last year's game against Denver was 8.52. In the 17 games from that night onward, it's 6.10.
12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-2)
Last week:7
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 9 - Defense: 6
Their offensive struggles last Sunday (no offensive touchdowns in Washington) are alarming with the Vikings lurking.
11. HOUSTON TEXANS (3-2)
Last week:12
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 28 - Defense: 3
Houston is 4-0 at home, winning by an average margin of 6.5 points, and 0-2 at home, losing by 22.5 points per game.
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- ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-3)**
Last week:17
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 17 - Defense: 2
Despite their momentum, a loss to Seattle on Sunday night could leave them down and out in the NFC West race.
9. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2)
Last week:4
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 8 - Defense: 19
The Dr. Jekyll Steelers are good enough to beat the Patriots this Sunday at home. The Mr. Hyde version could lose at Cleveland next month.
8. DENVER BRONCOS (4-2)
Last week:5
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 20 - Defense: 17
With just 27 net points -- 29 scored, minus two for a safety -- from 25 possessions the last two games, the offense has taken a statistical nose-dive.
7. BUFFALO BILLS (4-2)
Last week:16
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 16 - Defense: 9
The change at offensive coordinator shook up the Bills, but it's the defense's improvement that has powered them to a three-game winning streak.
6. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (4-2)
Last week:13
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 5 - Defense: 23
Washington's defense has awakened, allowing just 16 points in the last two weeks (the Eagles' two touchdowns were both on returns). With that sort of offense-defense balance, Washington can be a playoff team once again.
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- ATLANTA FALCONS (4-2)**
Last week:3
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 2 - Defense: 27
I felt a bit lousy having the Falcons below the Seahawks, considering how they were jobbed late in Seattle. But a split from a demanding road swing confirmed the Falcons' status as contenders.
4. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-1)
Last week:6
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 14 - Defense: 5
As with the Broncos, Seattle held the Falcons well below their average points per game.
3. DALLAS COWBOYS (5-1)
Last week:8
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 1 - Defense: 25
A bye and then a visit from Philadelphia give the Cowboys a chance to rest, and then wrest control of the NFC East race.
2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-1)
Last week:2
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 6 - Defense: 10
The Patriots are averaging 3.04 points per possession since Tom Brady's return, which puts them in the 30-points-per-game range.
1. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-0)
Last week:4
Per-possession efficiency rankings --Offense: 27 - Defense: 1
Three of their next four games are on the road, including trips to Philadelphia and Washington. It's not time to crown the Vikings just yet.
