| | | |
| No. Team | Last week | Record | Comment |
| 1. Patriots | 2 | 11-2 | Winning streak up to nine. |
| 2. Chiefs | 1 | 11-2 | In playoffs for first time since 1997. |
| 3. Colts | 4 | 10-3 | Can clinch playoff spot with victory. |
| 4. Eagles | 5 | 10-3 | Won 10 of 11 after 0-2 start. |
| 5. Titans | 3 | 9-4 | Two losses to Colts spell wildcard spot. |
| 6. Rams | 8 | 10-3 | 12-game home winning streak. |
| 7. Dolphins | 6 | 8-5 | Hoping to avoid annual December collapse. |
| 8. Broncos | 10 | 8-5 | Have hold on second wild-card spot. |
| 9. Cowboys | 7 | 8-5 | Quincy Carter coming back to reality. |
| 10. Panthers | 9 | 8-5 | Can clinch NFC South with victory. |
| 11 Vikings | 12 | 8-5 | Win, with Green Bay loss, gives them NFC North title. |
| 12. Ravens | 15 | 8-5 | Peaking in time for first division title in eight-year history. |
| 13. Seahawks | 11 | 8-5 | 1-5 on the road. |
| 14. Packers | 13 | 7-6 | Look for 600th franchise win. |
| 15. Bengals | 14 | 7-6 | Aim for just second non-losing season in 13 years. |
| 16. Buccaneers | 17 | 6-7 | What a difference a year makes. |
| 17. Bills | 18 | 6-7 | NFL's second-ranked defense. |
| 18. 49ers | 21 | 6-7 | 6-1 at home, 0-6 on road. |
| 19. Saints | 16 | 6-7 | Jim Haslett said to want Penn State job. |
| 20. Jets | 19 | 5-8 | No late-season charge this year. |
| 21. Steelers | 22 | 5-8 | Playing for pride, not playoffs. |
| 22. Texans | 20 | 5-8 | No consecutive wins in record 29 games. |
| 23. Falcons | 31 | 3-10 | Wade Phillips debuts as Atlanta coach. |
| 24. Redskins | 24 | 5-8 | Spurrier finding success on ground. |
| 25. Browns | 25 | 4-9 | Couch starts at QB behind bad line, with third-string RB. |
| 26. Bears | 26 | 5-8 | Rookie QB Rex Grossman to get first start. |
| 27. Jaguars | 31 | 4-9 | Have won season-best two in row. |
| 28. Giants | 21 | 4-9 | Looks like three more games for Jim Fassel. |
| 29. Lions | 28 | 4-9 | Bad team, great O-line with only nine sacks allowed. |
| 30. Raiders | 27 | 3-10 | Have these guys quit, or what? |
| 31. Chargers | 32 | 3-10 | First win in December after nine straight losses. |
| 32. Cardinals | 30 | 3-10 | Have not won since beating Bengals. |
