| No. Team | Last week | Record | Comment |
| 1. Chiefs | 1 | 8-0 | Team had bye week off. |
| 2. Colts | 4 | 7-1 | Best start since 1977. |
| 3. Titans | 5 | 6-2 | K Gary Anderson has 60 points in 8 games. |
| 4. Patriots | 7 | 7-2 | Best start since 1980. |
| 5. Vikings | 2 | 6-2 | Sixth 6-2 start for proud franchise since 1984. |
| 6. Buccaneers | 3 | 4-4 | 7-0 after a loss under John Gruden. |
| 7. Panthers | 6 | 6-2 | Stephen Davis should eclipse 1,000 rushing yards today. |
| 8. Seahawks | 11 | 6-2 | 5-0 at home, 1-2 on road. |
| 9. Dolphins | 9 | 5-3 | Low-scoring offense reason for slump. |
| 10. Cowboys | 12 | 6-2 | Rookie CB Terence Newman off to great start. |
| 11. Broncos | 9 | 5-4 | Losing games in the fourth quarter. |
| 12. Rams | 10 | 5-3 | Nine consecutive wins at home. |
| 13. Eagles | 13 | 5-3 | 21-7 road record since start of 2000 season. |
| 14. Ravens | 14 | 5-3 | Now 12-5 in November under Brian Billick. |
| 15. Packers | 16 | 4-4 | 261 rushing yards vs. Vikings most since 1985. |
| 16. Bills | 15 | 4-4 | Have lost 14 turnovers in three road losses. |
| 17. Giants | 18 | 4-4 | .500 at midseason for third year in a row. |
| 18. 49ers | 17 | 4-5 | Have scored 50 more points than allowed. |
| 19. Saints | 23 | 4-5 | Have won three of last four games. |
| 20. Bengals | 19 | 3-5 | Playoff shot could've been lost in desert. |
| 21. Redskins | 20 | 3-5 | Steve Spurrier's future hangs in balance. |
| 22. Browns | 21 | 3-5 | Benching of WR Kevin Johnson angers teammates. |
| 23. Texans | 26 | 3-5 | Joining the fat mediocre belly of NFL. |
| 24. Steelers | 22 | 2-6 | Hurtling toward worst season since pre-Noll. |
| 25. Jets | 23 | 2-6 | Run defense allowing 159 average in last three games. |
| 26. Raiders | 25 | 2-6 | Next QB? That would be Rick Mirer. |
| 27. Cardinals | 28 | 3-5 | Start Emmitt ahead of Marcel Shipp? Get real. |
| 28. Bears | 29 | 3-5 | Bad picks in draft's early rounds haunt team. |
| 29. Lions | 31 | 2-6 | Aim for two wins in a row for first time in 44 games. |
| 30. Falcons | 27 | 1-7 | Dan Reeves running out of chances for win No. 200. |
| 31. Jaguars | 30 | 1-7 | 11-27 since start of '01 season. |
| 32. Chargers | 32 | 1-7 | Doug Flutie starts team's first home game since Sept. 21. |
