| RANK-TEAM | LAST WEEK | W-L | COMMENTS |
| 1. Packers | 1 | 7-1 | Plus-15 turnover margin leads NFL. |
| 2. Buccaneers | 8 | 7-2 | Defense has scored five TDs, allowed nine. |
| 3. Eagles | 4 | 6-2 | Averaging 18.6 points in last three but still winning. |
| 4. Broncos | 5 | 6-2 | Coach Shanahan is 12-2 against the Raiders. |
| 5. 49ers | 9 | 6-2 | Garcia has 10 TD passes, 0 INT on third down. |
| 6. Saints | 2 | 6-2 | Defense yields 400 yards two games in a row. |
| 7. Chargers | 3 | 6-2 | Cracks in secondary, pass offense start to show. |
| 8. Dolphins | 6 | 5-3 | Calling Troy Aikman. |
| 9. Steelers | 10 | 5-3 | After today, just one more opponent with winning record. |
| 10. Raiders | 7 | 4-4 | Fall into basement of tough AFC West. |
| 11. Patriots | 12 | 4-4 | Defending champs keep selves in division race. |
| 12. Bills | 11 | 5-4 | Were 1-8 at this point last season. |
| 13. Chiefs | 13 | 4-4 | 25 TDs in 41 red-zone possessions. |
| 14. Falcons | 14 | 5-3 | 15 takeaways have led to 58 points. |
| 15. Rams | 19 | 3-5 | Marshall Faulk leading way back to top. |
| 16. Titans | 26 | 4-4 | Three wins in a row since owner Adams challenged Fisher. |
| 17. Cardinals | 17 | 4-4 | Possible season-long loss of WR David Boston will hurt. |
| 18. Browns | 18 | 4-5 | Will need 6-1 finish to overtake Steelers in AFC North. |
| 19. Giants | 20 | 4-4 | On pace to break 40-year-old franchise passing record. |
| 20. Colts | 15 | 4-4 | Dungy faces uphill battle to repair Indy defense. |
| 21. Ravens | 16 | 3-5 | Good organization rebuilding quickly. |
| 22. Redskins | 22 | 4-4 | Spurrier and boys head back to Florida for game. |
| 23. Lions | 25 | 3-5 | On pace to cut 66 sacks allowed in 2001 to 28. |
| 24. Panthers | 23 | 3-5 | Defense carries weak offense. |
| 25. Jaguars | 21 | 3-5 | Haven't intercepted a pass in 181 attempts. |
| 26. Jets | 28 | 3-5 | Coach Herman Edwards wills team to win. |
| 27. Cowboys | 24 | 3-6 | Emmitt Smith record can't mask bad offense. |
| 28. Bears | 27 | 2-6 | Injuries have dismantled opportunistic defense. |
| 29. Seahawks | 30 | 2-6 | Coach Holmgren 18-28 since Kitna-led 8-2 start in '99. |
| 30. Vikings | 31 | 2-6 | League-high 24 turnovers, 19 by QB Culpepper. |
| 31. Texans | 29 | 2-6 | OK, you're not a playoff contender just yet. |
| 32. Bengals | 32 | 1-7 | Nice win, but Houston is an expansion team. |
