| No. Team | Last week | Record | Comment |
| 1. Chiefs | 1 | 9-1 | Have won five home games by average of 17.8 points |
| 2. Titans | 2 | 8-2 | Need to fix top-ranked run defense |
| 3. Colts | 3 | 8-2 | Edgerrin James will be difference at Buffalo |
| 4. Patriots | 4 | 8-2 | Excel at winning close games |
| 5. Panthers | 5 | 8-2 | Four of last six away from home for good road team |
| 6. Cowboys | 6 | 7-3 | Scored just 31 points in last four games |
| 7. Eagles | 7 | 7-3 | NFL-best 23-5 in November-December since 2000 |
| 8. Rams | 10 | 7-3 | Job security: QB Marc Bulger 13-3 as starter |
| 9. Dolphins | 11 | 6-4 | Need more than orange jerseys to reverse fortunes |
| 10. Seahawks | 12 | 7-3 | Need to improve 1-3 road record |
| 11. Broncos | 13 | 6-4 | 31-11 in November since 1993 |
| 12. Packers | 15 | 5-5 | Go figure: 1-3 at Lambeau this season |
| 13. Buccaneers | 8 | 4-6 | Keyshawn Johnson move is addition by subtraction |
| 14. Vikings | 9 | 6-4 | Four-game skid should end today against Lions |
| 15. 49ers | 18 | 5-5 | Rattay 2-0 in starts thanks to run game, happy T. Owens |
| 16. Saints | 19 | 5-5 | Defense yielding 10 fewer points a game in last five |
| 17. Bengals | 20 | 5-5 | Can't repeat Arizona game at San Diego |
| 18. Ravens | 14 | 5-5 | Ten turnovers in past two games |
| 19. Bills | 16 | 4-6 | Three consecutive games without offensive TD |
| 20. Giants | 17 | 4-6 | Depleted on pass offense and in pass defense |
| 21. Redskins | 21 | 4-6 | Offense too one-dimensional toward pass |
| 22. Browns | 24 | 4-6 | Healthy O-line could key stretch-drive surge |
| 23. Texans | 25 | 4-6 | Allowed 100 rushing yards in first half, three games in row |
| 24. Steelers | 22 | 3-7 | Would help Bengals by beating Browns |
| 25. Jets | 23 | 3-7 | D-line should give Jags' Byron Leftwich big problems |
| 26. Raiders | 27 | 3-7 | Jerry Rice needs two catches to be first with 1,500 |
| 27. Falcons | 26 | 2-8 | No good can come from QB roulette |
| 28. Jaguars | 31 | 2-8 | Reunion of Marshall QBs (Chad Pennington-Leftwich) |
| 29. Cardinals | 28 | 3-7 | 10-game road losing streak |
| 30. Lions | 29 | 3-7 | Road losing streak should reach 22 at Minnesota |
| 31. Chargers | 32 | 2-8 | Have allowed 65 points, 908 yards in last two games |
| 32. Bears | 30 | 3-7 | Last-ranked offense for league's worst team |
