By Bob Bonnet
1) Jets (7-3) after getting clobbered by San Diego 48-29 in Week 3, and then dropping the overtime game in Oakland, just about everybody - Jets fans included - counted Gang Green out of contention. Now, a Bills' four-game losing streak, coupled with the HUGE win on Thursday night, has New York in the driver's seat in the AFC East.
The talk right now is whether or not New York is relevant in the conference picture. I'll withhold judgment until the tell-all game coming up on Sunday against the Titans, where the ramifications are pretty simple: beat the only undefeated team in the NFL, and start believing an appearance in the Super Bowl is possible, or lose and ... well, what's the point of being pessimistic?
The Titans game, by the way, is going to be one that the classic NFL fan loves: Low scoring, hardnosed football, with a WHOLE lot of Kris Jenkins and Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee's version of Jenkins, in case you forgot).
2) Dolphins (6-4)
Okay, so if New York is in first place in the division, who would you guess would be number 2? New England? Not so fast. Bill Parcells and company are on a mission to resurrect this franchise; the fact that it is happening already is flat-out uncanny.
After salvaging a pair of two-point victories over a couple of not-so-elite teams, the Pats come to town in a game with monumental implications that may be overshadowed by Tennessee vs. New York. But after New England, Miami has arguably the easiest schedule in the NFL. Aside from a game at the Meadowlands in Week 17 - which could, crazy as it sounds, determine the division - Miami's four opponents are a combined 11-29. Translation: at least 10 wins at Dolphin Stadium.
3) Patriots (6-4)
If there is one positive that can be taken from Thursday night's loss, it's that Matt Cassel is the real deal. "Tom Brady Light" passed for 400 yards and rushed for another 62, nearly bringing New England back from an 18-point first half deficit.
However, it's getting to be must-win time for the Pats. With the most intimidating schedule left in the East, New England has yet to bring Pittsburgh and Arizona - two teams with division titles in their radar - to Gillette Stadium. But before they start worrying about Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner, this week it's an old foe that could sink the dagger a little deeper into the Pats' season: Chad Pennington.
4) Buffalo (5-5)
Proclaiming Jauron on the hot seat may have been a bit hasty. Mark my words, though, if Buffalo, after starting 4-0, finishes last in the division, you can be sure as hellfire that the Bills' faithful will be calling for their coach's head.
The Bills still have two very winnable games coming up against Kansas City and San Francisco. But marking them down as victories would be premature after Trent Edwards played like the worst quarterback in the NFL for the second consecutive week.
Bad news comes starting Week 14 for Buff, too, as four above-.500 teams await. Time to start looking toward 2009 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
1) Giants (9-1)
Can anybody beat the Giants from here on out? The Ravens, a team that has been a nightmare for opposing running backs for 10 years (!), looked like a junior varsity defense against Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward.
You know a team is playing the best football in the league when you have to search for a game on their schedule that they might lose; New York has reached that point. Instead of seeing a road game in Dallas or Washington as a tough win for Big Blue, they have turned into contests that merely test the mettle of Eli Manning, Justin Tuck and the rest of the team.
Taking on Kurt Warner, the best offensive player in the league this year, and the Cards' anemic defense could either result in a ton of points being put up by both teams, or a 40-point massacre. Either way? New York comes out on top.
2) Redskins (6-4)
Clinton Portis returned, but his being limited to 15 carries resulted in too much pressure being placed on the right arm of Jason Campbell. Clearly, unless the franchise running back can get back to 100%, scoring touchdowns will be a major problem in the nation's capital for the rest of the year.
Not many gimmes remain on the schedule for Jim Zorn's club. Road games against Seattle and San Francisco shouldn't be a problem, but trips to Baltimore and Cincinnati could be tough to win.
The 'Skins have the 'Hawks this week, the least impressive team in the NFC outside of Detroit. Coming out with a 'W' shouldn't be an issue - unless Washington takes their eye off the ball and start worrying about their November 30th date with Big Blue a week early.
3) Cowboys (6-4)
Romo returns; Dallas wins. About as smooth a gameplan you could ask for in Big D - unless of course you watched the tape of last week's game. Throwing with four fingers on the ball showed that Romo is only four-fifths Romo. Fortunately, Marion Barber stepped up in a big way with over 100 yards on the ground.
The 'Boys are absolutely in contention for a playoff berth; it won't be easy, though. After home games against two NFC West teams - aka NFL Europe - Dallas has Pittsburgh, the G-Men, Baltimore and Philly. Ouch.
Crazy to think that their season may rest on the health of a pinkie finger.
4) Eagles (5-4-1)
I could almost swear that there wasn't a second overtime coming in the Eagles/Bengals tie. Is McNabb playing coy? Is he embarrassed that Philadelphia couldn't beatdown the most dysfunctional group of players ever to be called a "team?" Nobody will ever know, since D-Mac will no longer discuss the NFL's overtime system.
What everybody DOES know is that the Eagles are nothing but a crap shoot. The talent is there on both sides of the ball, with playmakers aplenty at Lincoln Financial Field. Unfortunately, it's clear that Andy Reid's former knack for coaching is slowly but surely going by the wayside.
The Eagles have one easy game left, at home against the Browns. Other than that, Philly may be underdogs from here on out. Sunday's road trip to M&T Bank Stadium may shed some light on the remainder of the Eagles' schedule.