What a crazy week it was in the NFL. Some teams made statements, other teams crapped the bed, and still a wide host of others fell somewhere in between. But no one, it seemed, did exactly what you'd expect them to.

1. Colts (2) - And just like that, the Colts find themselves perhaps where they have belonged all season. There is no longer any team that Indianapolis must fear - only those they must respect. And if that weren't enough, the only team with a winning record on their remaining schedule is Jacksonville...everyone else is 4-4 or lower at his point. Now, that may change, but right now they look like a candidate to run the table....
2. Bears (1) - ...That being said, however, so did the Bears.
3. Broncos (3) - As the Colts take away the top spot in everyone's Power Rankings, the Broncos take over the top spot in "Fewest Points Allowed" with 98. Time will tell which is more important...
4. Chargers (4) - The Chargers are a team, obviously, that could be a potential trouble date for the Colts in the playoffs. However, the Chargers have a problem, and his name is Marty Schottenheimer.
5. Giants (6) - The Giants Super Bowl chances now look really good, with the Bears being proven beatable. The only problem is, this is also the year they seem to be losing defensive players left and right, and, if that weren't enough, Tiki Barber may just be gone after this season. In other words, the timing couldn't be any worse.
6. Jaguars (8) - I'm starting to believe I may have been wrong about Byron Leftwich all this time. I wonder if the problem is that he always seems to be battling some nagging injury or another.
7. Patriots (5) - True, Tom Brady threw 4 picks, but at least two of those were crazy deflections. The fact is, Brady played well. But the other fact is, Manning played better. Which is what the better quarterback usually does.
8. Cowboys (9) - Yeah, that was a flukey loss, but when you are playing a struggling team missing it's superstar WR, you want to win those games. Oh, and the games where you are lined up for the game-winning 35-yard field goal with 6 seconds to go...yeah, you want to win those, too.
9. Seahawks (12) - Man, that is the way you want to take care of a struggling team. Critics may point to the modest 16 point total for the Hawks, but remember they were playing without their Pro-Bowl QB OR their MVP running back.
10. Ravens (13) - Ok, ok - the Ravens are really good (in contrast with the rest of the NFL, anyway). But they are not Super Bowl caliber, not with that offense. There are two teams with superior defenses AND, by far, superior offenses (Denver and Chicago).
11. Chiefs (15) - As long as I'm admitting things, Herman Edwards is doing a fantastic job in Kansas City.
12. Bengals (7) - And I'll keep going - no way this is a Super Bowl team. Not unless Carson Palmer can figure something very important out in a hurry (and no, I don't even know what it is).
13. Eagles (10) - If Philly wants to hang with the Giants, they have to do what Dallas failed to do Sunday - beat Washington - who will be coming sporting a brand new attitude.
14. Panthers (11) - A dissapointing season but they are still right in the thick of things. They can start the turnaround Monday Night in plenty of time to secure a playoff berth or even more. But they have to start winning again.
15. Saints (18) - Hold off on that, "the miracle season is over" for a little while, the Saints said to me on Sunday. Message noted.
16. Falcons (14) - And while I'm at it, I won't be comparing Michael Vick to Steve Young again any time soon.
17. Vikings (16) - Suddenly the Vikes are in free fall. Fortunately for them, the next three opponents (Green Bay, Arizona, and Miami) provide them with plenty of time to get healthy before the Bears come to town. Unfortunately, they also have plenty of opportunity to prove definitively that they don't deserve to be conisdered a threat for the postseason.
18. Steelers (17) - When is the last time a defending Super Bowl Champion looked this bad 8 games into the defending season?
19. Redskins (21) - It was a lucky win, but the offensive line finally looked like it was making progress and the team managed to pull off the win without their most explosive playmaker even in the line-up to serve as a decoy.
20. Rams (19) - What's that sound? Why, it's the Rams' chances of passing the Seahawks this season sputtering away, even as the Hawks are missing the two biggest pieces on their offense.
21. Buccaneers (20) - The worst part is, you can see their window of opportunity slamming shut as their defenders age. Don't feel too sorry for them - they did just win a Super Bowl.
22. Jets (22) - Ummmm, how would you like to play the Patriots at Gillette the week after they lost there to Manning and the Colts? Hey, at least they're coming off a bye! (I'd lay the points, however many there are.)
23. Dolphins (24) - From the, You'd Know There Are Football Gods Department: The Dolphins have a chance to suck all season, knock off the second to last undefeated team, then stink for the rest of the season, and knock off the last undefeated team in the season finale. I'm not sure whether or not I'm rooting for this to happen.
24. Bills (25) - Although if the Jets think they have it tough, the Bills - who get to travel to face the team that beat Brady's Patriots - would be glad to swap places with them.
25. Browns (23) - Cleveland's next three opponents are Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. What would you say at the beginning of the season if I had told you that, by this point, Atlanta would look like the hardest opponent in that stretch?
26. 49ers (28) - The Vikings wish they got the same 49ers the Bears got the previous week.
27. Packers (25) - So much for the kings of the garbage heap.
28. Titans (26) - Whoa...hold off on the "Vince Young is ready to contribute" talk, asshole! Ok, you got me.
29. Lions (32) - They busted out of the basement in a big way.
30. Texans (30) - Maybe they should get mroe credit for almost beating the Giants, but at the end of the day, almost don't buy you nothin'.
31. Cardinals (31) - Will the Cowboys be in complete disarray when they show up in Arizona, or will they just be angry? The Cardinals are praying for the former. And if they aren't, they fucking should be.
32. Raiders (29) - And just like that, the Raiders find themselves where they have belonged all season.