| No. Team | Last week | Record | Comment |
| 1. Chiefs | 1 | 6-0 | Coach Dick Vermeil 6-0 for third time in career |
| 2. Broncos | 2 | 5-1 | Turning to 38-year-old QB Steve Beuerlein |
| 3. Buccaneers | 3 | 3-2 | Simeon Rice leads league with eight sacks |
| 4. Panthers | 8 | 5-0 | QB Jake Delhomme 5-1 as Carolina starter |
| 5. Colts | 4 | 5-1 | Peyton Manning has 150 career TD passes |
| 6. Dolphins | 5 | 4-1 | No. 1 defense at 11.6 points per game |
| 7. Vikings | 6 | 5-0 | Averaging 6.2 yards per play |
| 8. Titans | 7 | 4-2 | 14-3 record in last 17 games |
| 9. Seahawks | 9 | 4-1 | Good on third down, only four giveaways |
| 10. Cowboys | 12 | 4-1 | Talent the same, coaching better |
| 11. Patriots | 13 | 4-2 | All Tom Brady's INTs (7) in two losses |
| 12. Rams | 21 | 3-2 | Throwing for 275.2 yards a game |
| 13. Ravens | 20 | 3-2 | QB Kyle Boller 2-0 vs. AFC North rivals |
| 14. Packers | 14 | 3-3 | Brett Favre 13-20 record indoors (at Rams) |
| 15. Eagles | 15 | 2-3 | Can get healthy with six weak opponents |
| 16. Redskins | 10 | 3-3 | Injuries strike previously healthy team |
| 17. Bills | 11 | 3-3 | Offense lets Buffalo down |
| 18. Browns | 19 | 3-3 | Couch is 2-1 this year as starter |
| 19. Giants | 18 | 2-3 | Offense out of balance with 59 passes last week |
| 20. Steelers | 17 | 2-4 | Coach Bill Cowher juggling O-line combinations |
| 21. Raiders | 16 | 2-4 | Tied for second with 36 Monday night wins |
| 22. Texans | 22 | 2-3 | 0-6 after victories in one-plus season |
| 23. 49ers | 24 | 2-4 | Terrell Owens drops three passes vs. Seahawks |
| 24. Bengals | 25 | 1-4 | Season hinges on today's game |
| 25. Jets | 29 | 1-4 | Made playoffs after 1-4 start in 2002 |
| 26. Saints | 27 | 2-4 | Scoring down 13 points a game |
| 27. Falcons | 23 | 1-5 | Coach Dan Reeves still needs one more for 200 |
| 28. Jaguars | 26 | 1-5 | Decent offense, bad defense |
| 29. Lions | 28 | 1-4 | WR Charles Rogers out 4-8 weeks (broken collarbone) |
| 30. Bears | 31 | 1-4 | Kordell Stewart experiment ends in Chicago |
| 31. Cardinals | 30 | 1-5 | Vultures circle coach Dave McGinnis |
| 32. Chargers | 32 | 0-5 | Talented roster couldn't imagine winless start |
