| No. Team | Last Week | Record | Comment |
| 1. Chiefs | 1 | 7-0 | Lead NFL with 20 takeaways |
| 2. Vikings | 7 | 6-0 | Gained credibility by beating Denver |
| 3. Broncos | 2 | 5-2 | Two-QB experiment didn't work |
| 4. Buccaneers | 3 | 3-3 | Defense vulnerable to run |
| 5. Colts | 5 | 5-1 | 10 sacks in two games against Houston's David Carr |
| 6. Titans | 8 | 5-2 | Franchise-first 30 points four games in a row |
| 7. Panthers | 4 | 5-1 | Coach John Fox calls loss a needed wake-up call |
| 8. Patriots | 11 | 5-2 | Winning in spite of injuries |
| 9. Dolphins | 6 | 4-2 | Most wins on Monday night, 37 |
| 10. Seahawks | 9 | 5-1 | Seeking first ever 6-1 start vs. Bengals |
| 11. Cowboys | 10 | 5-1 | Lead NFL in defense at 242 yards a game |
| 12. Rams | 12 | 4-2 | Perfect at home, winless on road |
| 13. Bills | 17 | 4-3 | Improved defense will get true test in KC |
| 14. Eagles | 15 | 3-3 | RB by committee to take heat off Donovan McNabb |
| 15. Ravens | 13 | 3-3 | World no longer ends after losing to Bengals |
| 16. Packers | 14 | 3-4 | Pass rush is major weakness |
| 17. 49ers | 23 | 3-4 | Riding high after man-handling Tampa Bay |
| 18. Redskins | 16 | 3-4 | On pace for NFL records for penalties, yards |
| 19. Browns | 18 | 3-4 | Butch Davis not popular in locker room |
| 20. Giants | 19 | 2-4 | Not meeting high expectations |
| 21. Steelers | 20 | 2-4 | Hoping Jerome Bettis can kick-start running game |
| 22. Bengals | 24 | 2-4 | No longer a one-man team |
| 23. Jets | 25 | 2-4 | Made playoffs after 1-4 start in 2002 |
| 24. Saints | 26 | 3-4 | Rebounding from terrible start |
| 25. Texans | 22 | 2-4 | Crushing loss to Jets |
| 26. Raiders | 21 | 2-5 | QB Marques Tuiasosopo provides a spark |
| 27. Falcons | 27 | 1-6 | Allowing 34.5 points a game in losing streak |
| 28. Jaguars | 28 | 1-5 | Byron Leftwich has eight turnovers in three starts |
| 29. Lions | 29 | 1-5 | Lost 19 in a row on the road |
| 30. Bears | 30 | 1-5 | Yes, Kordell Stewart, you're really benched |
| 31. Chargers | 32 | 1-5 | Looking at eight seasons in a row without playoffs |
| 32. Cardinals | 31 | 1-5 | Most irrelevant franchise in NFL |
