Prognosticating this early is rarely effective, especially when it comes to accuracy, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t fun. That’s why I enjoy sitting down and ranking each team against each other every week, even if its not all that effective.

With that in mind, here’s how I see things breaking down one game into the pre-season.

1. New Orleans – With more than enough talent to repeat as champs, the Saints should stay at or near the top of the heap this season.

2. New York Jets – The Jets added more talent than anyone else this off-season on top of their AFC Championship team last year, but chemistry issues could be problematic early on, with a ton of egos competing against each other for face time.

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Here’s our latest set of rankings going into week 16 of the season…  Feel free to respond in the comment thread.

Top Shelf Contenders

1. Indianapolis (14-0)

The Colts keep finding ways to win and a perfect season is in the grasp right now.

2. New Orleans (13-1)

After laying an egg at home against the Cowboys, I think we’ll see a fired up Saints team next week.

3. San Diego (11-3)

The Chargers have that look of invincibility right now and can beat any team in the league the way they’re playing.

4. Minnesota (11-3)

What is it with Sunday night games and the Vikings? Scoring just seven points against the Panthers is inexcusable.

5. Philadelphia (10-4)

Philly is red hot these days and within striking distance of the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Playoff Bound

6. Green Bay (9-5)

The Packers lost a tough game by the slimmest of margins on Sunday, but they’re still on their way to the playoffs for now.

7. Cincinnati (9-5)

Losing Chris Henry was a big blow to this team but you have to give them credit for taking San Diego right up to the wire.

8. New England (9-5)

The Patriots are winning ugly games but the question still remains: can they win on the road in the playoffs?

9. Arizona (9-5)

Another lackluster performance leaves me scratching my head as to what’s going with this team. At least they won.

10. Dallas (9-5)

Have to like the Cowboys chances now, especially if they keep playing the way they did on Saturday night.

11. Denver (8-6)

Not much worse than losing at home to the Raiders and JaMarcus Russell at the end of the game.

12. Baltimore (8-6)

If the Ravens win out, they’re in. But big games are still ahead, so don’t buy those playoff tickets just yet.

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Here’s our latest set of rankings going into week 15 of the season…  Feel free to respond in the comment thread.

Top Shelf Contenders

1. Indianapolis (13-0)

With home field done, it will be interesting to see how long the starters go. A shot at perfection is a big temptation to avoid.

2. New Orleans (13-0)

Bad teams find ways to lose every week. The Saints are the opposite of that, playing their best when the game is on the line.

3. Minnesota (11-2)

Beating Cincinnati the way they did sent a message to the league that the Vikings aren’t done yet.

4. San Diego (10-3)

There’s not a hotter team in football right now and no one will want to play the Chargers when the playoffs roll around.

5. Philadelphia (9-4)

The Eagles can win against anyone if they keep playing as well on offense as they did against the Giants on Sunday night.

6. Green Bay (9-4)

The Packers keep getting better each week, especially on defense, and could be a tough out if they make it into the playoffs.

7. Cincinnati (9-4)

Losing like they did on the road in Minnesota exposed several flaws that could be problematic as the season comes to a close.

8. Arizona (8-5)

Seven turnovers in a crucial division clinching game doesn’t bode well for the Cards down the stretch.

9. Denver (8-5)

The Broncos ran into the buzzsaw that is Indianapolis, so a loss was expected. Time to look at a wild card.

10. New England (8-5)

The Patriots won a crucial game against the Panthers, but the dysfunction in the locker room is still causing problems.

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Here’s our latest set of rankings going into week 13 of the season…  Feel free to respond in the comment thread.

Top Shelf Contenders

1. Indianapolis (12-0)

The Colts are on the fast track to perfection and should be a lock to cinch up home field advantage next week.

2. New Orleans (12-0)

Winning by three in overtime against the Redskins may not seem like much, but it’s huge for this team.

3. Minnesota (10-2)

Injuries are taking a toll on the Vikes and now it’s up to Favre to rally the troops for the home stretch.

4. San Diego (9-3)

The Chargers are as dominant as any other team in the league right now, winning seven straight games.

5. Cincinnati (9-3)

The Bengals got a nice win against the Lions, but they had better bring their A game to Minnesota next week.

6. Arizona (8-4)

Arizona couldn’t have asked for a more dominant performance than what they got on Sunday night.

7. Green Bay (8-4)

Have to love what the Packers are doing right now, playing great on both sides and winning four straight games.

8. Philadelphia (8-4)

The Eagles made a statement in their win against the Falcons but a division title is all they care about now.

9. Dallas (8-4)

Dallas is still in first, but barely, and they’re going to have to get their act together if they want to win their division.

10. Denver (8-4)

It’s easy to crush opponents like Kansas City, but the Broncos are going to need to play even better to ensure a playoff run.

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Here’s our latest set of rankings going into week 13 of the season…  Feel free to respond in the comment thread.

Top Shelf Contenders

1. Indianapolis (11-0)

Another week, another close win for the Colts. They’re the epitome of the word team in every sense.

2. New Orleans (11-0)

Their offense is unstoppable right now and if they get healthy on defense, a trip to Miami may be in their reach.

3. Minnesota (10-1)

Every week the Vikings find a new way to dominate, and with Favre at the helm, they’re as good as anyone else.

4. San Diego (8-3)

The Chargers have been on a wicked roll as of late, with their offense leading the way to six straight wins.

5. New England (7-4)

The Pats offense can score on anyone, but until they find a way to play defense, they won’t be able to win in January.

6. Cincinnati (8-3)

Cincinnati has been too inconsistent as of late to move up, but a sweep of the division is still pretty impressive.

7. Arizona (7-4)

It’s hard to fault the Cards for losing in Tennessee, seeing as everyone else has been doing the exact same thing.

8. Dallas (8-3)

They finally found a way to score on Thanksgiving, but I’m still not impressed as it was against a terrible Raiders team.

9. Green Bay (7-4)

Aaron Rodgers is playing incredibly well these days, thanks in large part to a revamped O-line.

10. Philadelphia (7-4)

Sneaking away with a win against the Redskins isn’t a good sign, but at the end of the day they’ll take it.

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Here’s how I see things shaping up heading into week 12… Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments thread!

Top Shelf Contenders

1. Indianapolis (10-0)

Their defense did the job last week in getting a huge win on the road. Now, can they do it again?

2. New Orleans (10-0)

A total team effort against Tampa Bay and it showed in the final score. Big game this week at home against the Pats.

3. Minnesota (9-1)

Anyone still think Brett Favre is washed up? Didn’t think so…

4. New England (7-3)

The Patriots rebounded nicely at home against the Jets, but the next one won’t be so easy against the Saints.

5. San Diego (7-3)

After giving the Broncos a major beat down to grab first place, things look good with the Chiefs coming to town.

6. Cincinnati (7-3)

Just when I thought they were ready to take the next step, the old Bengals came back to lose a game they should have won.

7. Arizona (7-3)

Things have gone well so far for the Cardinals, but can they keep it up with Matt Leinart at the helm?

8. Dallas (7-3)

Their game against the Redskins was nothing short of torture, but the Cowboys will take it nonetheless.

9. Pittsburgh (6-4)

You can bet the Steelers are feeling the fire under their ass now after getting embarassed by the Chiefs.

10. Green Bay (6-4)

The Packers have seemingly turned the corner on offense, but losing two of their best defenders will hurt down the stretch.

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We’ve had a two week layover of sorts in the power rankings department here at NFLNR, but we’re back this week with our thoughts on how each team stacks up against the competition. Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments thread!

Top Shelf Contenders

1. Indianapolis (9-0)

After a thrilling win at home against the Patriots, a huge road game in Baltimore could cause some trouble for the Colts.

2. New Orleans (9-0)

They’re not winning pretty, but undefeated is undefeated, no matter how you slice it.

3. Minnesota (8-1)

If Sidney Rice can stay consistent from week to week, the Vikings offense might be unstoppable.

4. Cincinnati (7-2)

Beating the Ravens and the Steelers twice in one season is no easy task, which makes this Bengals team a special one for sure.

5. New England (6-3)

One play can spell disaster in the NFL, and the Patriots proved that point in a big way in losing to the Colts.

6. Arizona (6-3)

After a slow start, the Cardinals have solidified their hold on the division and should be a lock to return to the playoffs.

7. San Diego (6-3)

Who would have thought that the Chargers could be tied for first place after losing to the Broncos at home in week six?

8. Pittsburgh (6-3)

Losing at home to the Bengals hurts,  but the Steelers cannot allow it to affect them in negatively as the season moves on.

9. Dallas (6-3)

No offense on the road always spells trouble, and the Cowboys were no different last Sunday in Green Bay.

10. Denver (6-3)

Three straight losses have brought the Broncos back to earth, but a fourth this week against the Chargers would be deadly.

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Here’s how I see the league breaking down, heading into week nine of the season.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!

* Home games are capitalized

Top Shelf Contenders

1. New Orleans (7-0)

Once again the Saints found a way to get it done when it mattered, and if they can keep it up, home field advantage will be within their grasp fairly soon.

Next week: CAROLINA (3-4)

2. Indianapolis (7-0)

Tough wins are the mark of tough teams, and the Colts are just that. They’ll need their A-game this week though against a Texans team that is ready to finally win on the road.

Next week: HOUSTON (5-3)

3. Minnesota (7-1)

The Vikings dominated right from the start in Green Bay, but they’ll need to learn how to put a team away if they want to go deep into the postseason this year.

Next week: BYE

4. Denver (6-1)

Losing to the Ravens as bad as they did will definitely sting, but the real test is whether they can rebound this week at home against the Steelers.

Next week: PITTSBURGH (5-2)

5. New England (5-2)

The high flying Patriots offense is seemingly on cruise control these days, but a tough game at home against the Dolphins is looming this week. Time to see if they can keep it up against a decent team.

Next week: MIAMI (3-4)

6. Cincinnati (5-2)

The Bengals don’t have an easy path to the division crown this season, but so far they’ve been more than up to the task. A win this week over the Ravens would go a long way towards achieving that goal.

Next week: BALTIMORE (4-3)

7. Philadelphia (5-2)

The Eagles couldn’t have asked for a better performance at home against the Giants, but they need to stay just as focused this week to take out the Cowboys in a huge game on Sunday night.

Next week: DALLAS (5-2)

8. Pittsburgh (5-2)

Having a BYE week to rest up and get healthy should be a big help to the Steelers, especially in light of a big time road game coming up this week in Denver.

Next week: @ Denver (6-1)

9. Dallas  (5-2)

They haven’t been all that dominant in doing so, but winning cures all ills last I checked. That said, their game against the Eagles this week won’t be the walk in the park that the their past few games have been.

Next week: @ Philadelphia (5-2)

10. Houston (5-3)

The Texans have played extremely well in recent weeks, but they still have to beat the Colts if they want to take the next step towards legitimacy this season.

Next week: @ Indianapolis (7-0)

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Here’s how I see the league breaking down, heading into week eight of the season.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!

* Home games are capitalized

Top Shelf Contenders

1. New Orleans (6-0)

Great teams find ways to win in the clutch and that’s exactly what the Saints did last Sunday. This team is for real.

Next week: ATLANTA (4-2)

2. Indianapolis (6-0)

42-6… did you really expect anything else against the Rams?

Next week: SAN FRANCISCO (3-3)

3. Denver (6-0)

The BYE week should have helped them health wise but the real schedule starts this week in Baltimore.

Next week: @ Baltimore (3-3)

4. New England (5-2)

The Patriots are looking like the dominant team of two seasons ago once again… albeit against the Titans and Bucs.

Next week: BYE

5. Minnesota (6-1)

Which Brett Favre will show up next Sunday in Green Bay? My money’s on the one headed to the Hall.

Next week: @ Green Bay (4-2)

6. Cincinnati (5-2)

If Cedric Benson keeps running like he did against the Bears, this team will go a long way in January.

Next week: BYE

7. Pittsburgh (5-2)

The defense that showed up in the second half against the Vikes was unstoppable. Now it’s time to be consistent.

Next week: BYE

8. New York Giants (5-2)

The Giants got beat at their own game by Arizona… Can they rebound against Philly next week?

Next week: @ Philadelphia (4-2)

9. Arizona (4-2)

The Cards are flying high right now thanks in part to their defense. Another division title is likely on the way.

Next week: CAROLINA (2-4)

10. Philadelphia (4-2)

The Eagles reached deep this week and came out on fire on MNF. The real test comes next week against the Giants.

Next week: New York Giants (5-2)

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Here’s how I see the league breaking down at this point in the season. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comment section… especially if you disagree!

1. New Orleans (4-0)

The Saints are playing dominant football these days, on both sides of the ball no less, and it’s showing in their impressive wins against the Eagles and Jets. Next week: BYE

2. New York Giants (4-0)

Eli Manning might be on the mend for a few weeks with his foot injury, but overall the Giants are still one of the best teams in the league right now, thanks in part to their tremendous defense. Next week: OAKLAND (1-3)

3. Minnesota (4-0)

Their defense was a bit suspect late in the game last week against the Packers, but the addition of Brett Favre on their offense has more than made up for any deficiencies and then some. Next week: @ St. Louis (0-4)

4. Indianapolis (4-0)

Peyton Manning has the offense rolling once again and their defense has played well when called upon. Adding Donald Brown in the run game hasn’t hurt either. Next week: TENNESSEE (0-4)

5. San Francisco (3-1)

Save a last second miracle at Minnesota, the 49ers would be undefeated right now and sitting real pretty in the NFC West, but 3-1 isn’t half bad given the expectations. Next week: ATLANTA (3-1)

6. New York Jets (3-1)

The Jets showed their mortality and youth last week against the Saints, but the fans of Gang Green have to be pleased with Rex Ryan’s start to the season thus far. Next week: @ Miami (1-3)

7. Denver (4-0)

I still have reservations about their offense, but the Broncos have to be ecstatic about the play of their defense under Mike Nolan through the first four games. Next week: NEW ENGLAND (3-1)

8. New England (3-1)

The Pats got a bit lucky last week against the Ravens, but they’ve shown they’re still a team to be reckoned with this season and Tom Brady’s solid return is a big part of that. Next week: @ Denver (4-0)

9. Baltimore (3-1)

As I said above, the Ravens could have very well been 4-0 if not for a bit of bad luck, but then again, they couldn’t make the plays needed to win so that’s why they’re here and not higher. Next week: CINCINNATI (3-1)

10. Cincinnati (3-1)

The Bengals have been one of the biggest surprises this season, and a big part of their success has been the play of their defense. They’ll have a real test this week though with a division rival. Next week: @ Baltimore (3-1)

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