The 5 remaining unbeatens snatch the Top 5 spots:

1. New England Patriots (3-0) - Three games and three big wins. While the Chargers win doesn't look as \"great\" now that they lost to the Packers as well, it's still hard to debate keeping them out of the number 1 spot.

2. Indianapolis Colts (3-0) - While they did beat a tough 2-0 Texans team, it should be noted that the Texans were missing their best reciever the entire game and using their 3rd string running back for the entire second half. The Colts should have won by more than 6, but a wins still a win. They won a lot of close games last year too that they should have won by a larger margin and they had a fairly good end to that season.

3. Dallas Cowboys (3-0) - While holding the Bears offense to 10 points isn't exactly a milestone, scoring 27 points on their defense (and 24 in the second half alone) is quite the accomplishment. It seems their offense will be tough to stop and barring any injuries they have to be the early NFC favorite.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) - Defense is looking as good as ever and Roethlisberger looks in great shape. Will be a tough team to beat and seems to be the only team in their division that has any consistency at all.

5. Green Bay Packers (3-0) - I'm not sold on how good the Chargers are but I still thought the Packers would lose to them. Favre is playing inspired ball and their defense is looking pretty tough. Will they go to 4-0 against the Vikings next week...I predict yes.

Honorable Mentions:

- Texans: Hell of an effort for how hurt their offense was.
- Niners: Offense didn't look half bad, game just got away from them at the end. Need to bring same offensive intensity next week against Seattle.
- Redskins: Bid for 3-0 (or at least for OT) fell short at the goal line. I wasn't a big fan of the plays they called there (2 runs and no Portis?) but give the Giants D credit for holding them.

Congratulations:
To the Jets: Finally another team besides the Patriots in the AFC East wins a game. It only took two of them playing each other.
To McNabb the Eagles: Not only did you play through a bunch of crap that doesn't really matter, but you beat those damn annoying Lions.
To the Raiders: For winning. That's always cause for celebration in Oak Town.
To Kurt Warner: For showing that you deserve to start next week, although chances are you won't.

Key Match-Ups next Week:

Niners vs. Seahawks and Panthers vs. Bucs - the top two teams of their divisions (and seemingly the only two that look like they will compete in either division) will be facing off next week for early season division position. These games might prove to be crucial come play-off time if the divisions are close (which I predict they will be).

I predict a victory for the Niners and Bucs.

Great rundown... another Howl for you.

And yeah, your top five rankings are exactly the same as mine. Thusly I don't really have much to add. It does look like the Patriots could go 16-0 (or even 19-0) though. Moss is back, and the Cowboys seem to be for real. Wow.

Yeah, I completely agree with your Top 5 assessment and everything else that you wrote, althought I'll have to go with Seattle over San Fran next week(sorry).

DeROK wrote:
BLASPHEMER!! Ohh, wait..they're playing in Seattle, you're probably right...

Ryan, I couldn't agree more with your assessment. I'd almost have to put Indy 2 and Dallas 2a...but the Colts are the defending champs and deserve to be #2 unless Dallas continues to kill its opponents while Indy wins by 7 or less.

You don't think Warner's gonna start this week??

whiskeydizzy wrote:
As much as he deserves to start, it would kill Leinart's mentality. They have to start Leinart and give him a chance to bounce back...but I don't see them giving him very long before they pull him and play Warner exclusively.

Leinart still starting, Warner to run hurry up...

sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=3034815

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Matt Leinart still is the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

Kurt Warner will be still waiting in the wings as the team's \"no-huddle\" specialist after nearly leading the team to a comeback victory at Baltimore on Sunday.

\"We're going to try to find ways to keep Kurt playing based on how he played yesterday,\" coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Monday. \"But I don't feel like Matt has done anything to lose the job.\"

What?!?!

They should put Leinart in as the slot reciever. That way they both get to play.