1) New York Giants: They continue to play at a high level despite some key player injuries from both sides of the ball. Their balance on offense is hard to disrupt. They'll get their toughest test to date against the Saints this week.

Last Ranking: 1

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), LB (veteran depth)


2) New Orleans Saints: For the first time during the tenure of Sean Payton, they have finally gotten good balance on offense. They've found a running game and badly needed versatility. No one has done a better job of crafting a defense this season than Gregg Williams.

Last Ranking: 2

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), DT (depth), DE (depth)


3) Indianapolis Colts: It can be argued that Peyton Manning didn't deserve his MVP award last season because he struggled for part the first half of last season. So far this year, he's been the league's best quarterback. The defense is more physical this season and is more disciplined.

Last Ranking: 3

Needs Still to be Filled: RT (veteran depth)


4) Minnesota Vikings: While the running game isn't what it has been in previous seasons, the passing game has taken off. The defense clearly isn't dominant this season and is a work in progress.

Last Ranking: 4

Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), C (veteran depth), MLB (veteran depth), OLB (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)


5) Pittsburgh Steelers: The offense can beat teams in many ways and they've finally found their power back since Jerome Bettis retired in Rashard Mendenhall. The loss of Aaron Smith is huge, but getting back SS Troy Polamalu will help. Smith is probably the league's best 3-4 defensive end.

Last Ranking: 5

Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), RT (veteran depth), LT (veteran depth), OLB (depth), S (depth)


6) Philadelphia Eagles: They're feasting on a good schedule so far, no question. But Philadelphia is finding that they might have the deepest receiver corps in the NFL. The defense, while not great, is good enough for this to be a solid team.

Last Ranking: 9

Needs Still to be Filled: LT (veteran depth), RT (depth)


7) Denver Broncos: Kyle Orton finally put together a strong game last week. The passing game has the talent at receiver to succeed. Orton has to be consistent each week if they are to score 20 points or more. The defense really didn't play that well last week. If Tom Brady could find better accuracy, the Patriots would have scored at least 35 points on offense.

Last Ranking: 10

Needs Still to be Filled: LT (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)


8) Atlanta Falcons: There are few offensive coordinator's in the NFL that scheme better than Mike Mularkey. His scheme and design last week made the 49ers look like they had a college defense.

Last Ranking: 11

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), G (veteran depth), DT (veteran depth), OLB (depth)


9) Cincinnati Bengals: They are finding consistency on both sides of the ball for the first time in many seasons. Cedric Benson might be the NFL's most improved player this season.

Last Ranking: 14

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (veteran depth), DT (depth), DE (pass rusher), CB (depth/nickel)


10) Baltimore Ravens: For whatever reason, the play calling has been surprisingly heavy pass based. That isn't what the offensive foundation has been in past seasons. The defense clearly isn't what it once was.

Last Ranking: 8

Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), ILB (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)


11) New York Jets: The reality is that Mark Sanchez is just an average passer and they have to find a way to run the ball better in order to control the clock. The defense has been really a disappointment of late after a hot start to the season.

Last Ranking: 6

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (slot), G (veteran depth), RT (veteran depth), DE (depth), OLB (veteran depth)


12) New England Patriots: Tom Brady had one of the worst games of his career last week and they still had a good chance to win. The defense is just not challenging their opponent enough each week.

Last Ranking: 7

Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), WR (veteran depth), LT (depth), ILB (depth)


13) Chicago Bears: They have to find a way to run the ball better in order to find better balance. That's when Ron Turner's scheme works best.

Last Ranking: 13

Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), RB (veteran depth upgrade), MLB (depth), OLB (depth)


14) San Francisco 49ers: The reality is that Shaun Hill is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL. He's basically a pretty good backup who is being asked to play a role that he's really not suited for. Being a game manager is one thing, but asking him to start 16 games is another issue entirely.

Last Ranking: 12

Needs Still to be Filled: G (depth), OLB (pass rushing depth)


15) Green Bay Packers: The hope is that the issues on their offensive line have been solved after their bye week. The defense has really dropped off after a hot start.

Last Ranking: 15

Needs Still to be Filled: QB (veteran depth), OT (LT veteran depth), G (depth), DE (veteran depth), OLB (pass rushing depth), S (veteran depth)


16) Dallas Cowboys: They have to run the ball better in order to take pressure off of Tony Romo each week. How could Miles Austin not start over Patrick Crayton?

Last Ranking: 17

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), OLB (pass rushing depth), CB (veteran depth)


17) Miami Dolphins: New starting QB Chad Henne was terrific last week against the Jets and he's giving them a chance to find a downfield passing. It was Henne, not Joe Flacco, who was the most impressive passer during Senior Bowl Week of 2008.

Last Ranking: 22

Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), S (veteran depth)



18) San Diego Chargers: They simply will have to put up at least 30 points each week to have a chance to win consistently. The cornerback play so far for this team has been terrible and there's no sign of any improvement on the horizon. The release starting SS Clinton Hart shouldn't be a surprise if you watch this team each week. Some tough decisions are coming on many defensive players after the season is over.

Last Ranking: 18

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (LT/RT depth), G (depth), DE (depth), NT (veteran depth), S (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)



19) Seattle Seahawks: Despite the offensive line injuries, they are able to move the ball pretty well. The defense is at least competitive. They could start to take charge of the division since their schedule is so favorable.

Last Ranking: 23

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), G (depth)

20) Jacksonville Jaguars: It's amazing how the absence of one player (Mike Sims-Walker) was so noticeable last week. And they have to commit to running the ball more as they did in past years to have any chance to win consistently. The trade up last year for DE Derrick Harvey has turned out to be a major mistake and he's playing in the wrong scheme for his skill set.

Last Ranking: 16

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), DE (depth), DT (veteran depth), LB (ILB/OLB-veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)


21) Arizona Cardinals: Have to really question why they are throwing so much. They spent their first-round pick on a running back and there's no better way to keep a bad defense off the field than by running the ball. Their lack of enough quality personnel on defense will keep this team from winning most weeks.

Last Ranking: 21

Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), C (depth), DE (depth), ILB (veteran depth), CB (depth)


22) Buffalo Bills: After a solid start, injuries to their offensive line and secondary have caught up with this team.

Last Ranking: 20

Needs Still to be Filled: TE (veteran depth), G (depth), LT (depth), RT (depth/upgrade), MLB (depth), OLB (veteran depth)


23) Tennessee Titans: They can't run the ball like they want to because they are constantly playing from behind. The secondary can't be this bad, can it?

Last Ranking: 19

Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), LB (OLB/MLB veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)


24) Houston Texans: This offense continues to put up points, but the lack of a ground game is stifling any chance for better balance. The defense still can't stop teams consistently. The secondary must be overhauled next season if they want to have a chance to win.

Last Ranking: 24

Needs Still to be Filled: LT (depth), G (depth), DE (veteran depth)


25) Detroit Lions: The one thing that you notice with this team is despite their lack of talent on both sides of the ball, they play hard each week and don't give up.

Last Ranking: 25

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), DE (veteran depth), DT (veteran depth), OLB (depth)


26) Carolina Panthers: The foundation of their offense is running the ball, but they haven't been able to do it well so far. The defensive personnel doesn't seem to be a fit for the revamped scheme.

Last Ranking: 27

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (depth), OT (veteran depth), G (veteran depth), CB (nickel/depth), S (veteran depth)


27) Washington Redskins: Their offense continues to underachieve each week. Albert Haynesworth has not provided the impact so far that they probably were expecting.

Last Ranking: 26

Needs Still to be Filled: G (veteran depth), OT (veteran depth), DE (pass rushing depth), OLB (depth)


28) Kansas City Chiefs: Looking at all the bad teams, this one at least gives consistent effort. They just have a lack of enough quality talent on both sides of the ball.

Last Ranking: 29

Needs Still to be Filled: OT (depth), DE (depth), OLB (pass rushing depth), CB (veteran depth)


29) Cleveland Browns: To have any chance to win, they have have to get better play from whoever is behind center. The defense still doesn't challenge teams consistently. You can probably make a case that there needs to be an overhaul in personnel after the season ends.

Last Ranking: 28

Needs Still to be Filled: RB (depth), WR (depth-speed), LT/RT (depth), OLB (pass rusher), CB (veteran depth)


30) St. Louis Rams: They are at least competitive for a half of each game, but the wheels seem to fall off in the second half.

Last Ranking: 31

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), DT (veteran depth), OLB (veteran depth), MLB (veteran depth), CB (veteran depth)


31) Oakland Raiders: It's a bad sign that the only thing they were supposed to be able to do well is run the ball and they can't even do that.

Last Ranking: 30

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), G (depth), DT (depth), LB (depth)


32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Johnson showed last week that at least he can be a serviceable quarterback. The defense, however, is still one of the worst in the NFL and that prevents them from having a good chance to win any game.

Last Ranking: 32

Needs Still to be Filled: WR (veteran depth), LT (depth), DT (veteran depth), CB (depth/nickel), S (depth)