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As a top team falls, others rise including two new additions to the top ten.
- New England Patriots 7-0 (1)-With the Packers getting destroyed on Sunday night, there is no doubt who the best team in the NFL is after eight weeks. The Patriots dismantled another division foe and humbled the Dolphins with a 29 point margin victory. Unless Tom Brady has a game like Aaron Rodgers, he is now the clear favorite for MVP.
- Cincinnati Bengals 7-0 (3)- This was the perfect chance for a team to knock off the Bengals when the Steelers brought back Ben Roethlisberger after being injured for three weeks. The Bengals took the challenge in stride by taking control of the second half and never letting the Steelers snatch victory in the final moments of the fourth quarter. This team is still the talking point of the league and the Cinderella story a majority of NFL fans can get behind.
- Denver Broncos 7-0 (5)- It is hard to believe that a Peyton Manning team winning by 19 is considered shocking. I can’t think of another word to describe the Packers implosion against the Broncos defense who held the best quarterback in the NFC to just 77 yards. 77. Yards. The Packers defense which has also been very good allowed Manning to do Manning things and completely pick apart the pass defense. I would have figured this score would have been the other way around. Up until this game, Aaron Rodgers was playing like a young Peyton Manning who has a bit more mobility and Manning was playing like a rookie with something to prove. This may be the turning point the Broncos needto make people stop talking about when they will lose (like me) and start talking about if they will lose.
- Green Bay Packers 6-1 (2)- I just wrote a paragraph about the Packers losing so I’ll try to shorten this one up. I think it is very possible the Packers went into this game with a bit too much confidence. Nobody was picking the Broncos and the Packers got to comfortable. This is the wakeup call they need to not be taking anyone else lightly. Just because the world says you are going to win doesn’t mean you don’t have to show up on Sunday.
- Carolina Panthers 7-0 (4)- The Panthers nearly waltzed their way to another win but decided to make things interesting in the fourth quarter. Cam Newton Pulled it together to match Andrew Luck and get his team in winning position. The rain played a heavy factor early on but once the skies cleared the game became much more interesting. The Panthers defense also stepped up stopping the Colts from getting into the end zone which would have ended the game. Newton may be the face of the team but the defense is the reason they have yet to lose a game.
- Arizona Cardinals 5-2 (6)- It has been a long time since I have rooted against the Cardinals, but now that the Rams are within striking distance for the top spot in the NFC West. I keep hoping they lose but are continuing to win in impressive fashion.The Browns jumped out to a decent lead in the first half but they must have forgotten that they need to play the second half. The Cardinals went on to score 24 unanswered points and crush any hopes I had of the Rams being in first place. This may be one of the oddest teams in the league. This is a team that never scares opponents but still finds a way to win.
- Minnesota Vikings 5-2 (7)- The Vikings continue to break expectations by traveling into soldier field and beating the Bears with a last second field goal. Adrian Peterson is clearly back to full form but the real surprise comes from rookie wide out Stefon Diggs who continues to give an underwhelming Teddy Bridgewater someone to throw to. With a top ranked defense, a strong running game and a new receiving core, if Bridgewater can make an Andy Dalton like turn around, this will be one of the most feared teams in the NFL.
- Atlanta Falcons 6-2- Last week the Falcons should have destroyed the Titans but barely came away with a win. This week at home they should have routed the Buccaneers but ended up losing in overtime. The NFC South is quickly becoming a tough division with the Saints going on a three game winning streak and the Falcons showing their humanity. If the Panthers drop a couple of games we have a tight race going into the last quarter of the season.
- St. Louis Rams 4-3 (N/A)- Maybe I am being a homer here, but the Rams defense is playing at a playoff level. They have allowed the third fewest points in the league and that include games against the Seahawks, Packers and Steelers. Todd Gurley is cleary the x-factor in the Rams turn around which forces defense to put more emphasize on the run game leaving open receivers. If the Rams receiving core learns to catch Nick Foles may be upgraded from just an alright quarterback to a leader of the team. This upcoming game against the Vikings will be a real test for the Rams. It was expected they would lose against the Packers and Steelers but the Vikings are playing at the same level using the same parts. Something has to give.
- Oakland Raiders 4-3 (N/A)- Along with the Rams this is one of the most surprising teams to make the top ten but considering they are two of eleven teams with a winning record, it should not be that much of stretch. Offensively this is an impressive team to watch. Derek Carr is playing much better than you would expect from a sophomore and Latavius Murry is one of the best running backs in the league. If the defense can keep points off the board this a team that very well could make it to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Teams knocked out of the top ten-Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets
Photo- Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America
