Did Someone Say NFL Power Rankings?

Okay, so the big question is, why do I have a tie for first place, when all season long I've had the Pats #1 and the Colts #2.

First off, I don't believe in this bull crap about how the Colts should be #1 because, after all, they are the defending champs and they are undefeated. Who the hell cares who the defending champs are, that was last season?! Just ask the Chicago Bears how much last season matters. Or the Saints.

Secondly, the Pats have blown everyone out of the water, whereas the Colts' games against Tennessee and Houston were both relatively close (score-wise, at least). By the way, Brady is averaging 3.857 TD tosses per game. If he keeps up this pace, he'll break Manning's 3-year-old single season TD pass record of 49...by 12!!! That's right, he's on pace to throw 61.7 TDs this season (per his average). Thank God I'm a genius and drafted him in BOTH my fantasy leagues. Suckers.

Anyway, back to reality. All of these things are why the Pats were solo #1 on my list this entire time. On most people's list, I'm sure. Until now.

On Monday night, the Colts manhandled their division rivals 29-7...in Jacksonville...at a time when the Jags were coming off back-to-back-to-back-to-back wins. We can talk about how the Pats did the same on Sunday...only their division rivals are arguably the worst team in football. Hell, all three of the Pats' division rivals (all of whom they've manhandled) have a combined record of 3-17. Way to go, Brady, next time why don'tcha kick the fat kid while he's down.

The Colts' division rivals, on the other hand, (all of whom they've faced and beaten) have a combined record of 11-8. If the season were to end today, 3 of the 4 AFC South teams would make the playoffs, while the 3 of 4 AFC East teams (all except the Pats, of course) would be preparing their draft picks, which would be (roughly), #1, #3 and somewhere between #5 - 11 (seven teams are all 2-4).

Yes, the Pats have played amazingly. Kinda like how the Colts were playing in 2005 when PeyPey's D learned how to stop sucking it up and all the pundits were calling him Jesus Christ resurrected in a #18 jersey.

Sound familiar? Insert Brady. Repeat each year, inserting the most amazingly unstoppable team ever to take the field for the first 8 weeks. Call me crazy, but I'm not willing to pop a boner for the Pats just yet, unlike all the talking heads...every single season.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Why don't the Pats deserve #1? Besides the Cowboys, who have they played?

San Diego? Yes, but in Week 2 the Chargers were playing like the Saints. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed LT's chronic slow-out-the-gate syndrome plaguing him each year? Plus, a new coach playing against the well-oiled machine that is Indianapolis? Please, the Chargers were lucky to have scored 14.

And guess what, take away the Cowboys and the Chargers and what are you left with? The Cleveland Browns. The Cincinnati Bengals. And, of course, the Triple Powerhouse: the Bills, the Jets and the Dolphins. I think I need to change my shorts. Tom Brady, thou art Apollo.

Compare that with the Colts. They've beaten all 3 of their division rivals on the road, most recently destroying the Jags on both sides of the ball. They've also hosted--and crushed--a Tampa Bay team coming off 3 wins (they've also hosted and crushed Denver and New Orleans, who are about as good as the competition facing Brady and the Pats thus far this season, which is why they're not worth mentioning).

Bottom line: The Colts are playing terrific ball against better competition than that facing the Pats. Yes, the Pats look even more impressive. And so would you, if you were playing the equivalent of the Bay City Rollers in cleats, Dallas Cowboys aside. I also think the Colts are going to grind that Patriots bangwagon to a screeching halt, come Week 9.

That said, my Power Rankings:

1. (tie)/1./1. Patriots 7-0 (NYJ, SD, BUF, CIN, CLE, DAL, MIA)

1. (tie)/2./3. Colts 6-0 (NO, TEN, HOU, DEN, TB, JAX)

3./4./4. Cowboys 6-1 (NYG, MIA, CHI, STL, BUF, NE, MIN)

4./5./5. Packers 5-1 (PHI, NYG, SD, MIN, CHI, WAS)

5./3./2. Steelers 4-2 (CLE, BUF, SF, AZ, SEA, DEN)

6./7./21. Chargers 3-3 (CHI, NE, GB, KC, DEN, OAK)

7./6./8. Jaguars 4-2 (TEN, ATL, DEN, KC, HOU, IND)

8./9./10. Panthers 4-2 (STL, HOU, ATL, TB, NO, AZ)

9./11./23. Giants 4-2 (DAL, GB, WAS, PHI, NYJ, SF)

10./12./7. Titans 4-2 (JAX, IND, NO, ATL, TB, HOU)

11./8./6. Ravens 4-3 (CIN, NYJ, AZ, CLE, BUF, STL, BUF)

12./14./16. Lions 4-2 (OAK, MIN, PHI, CHI, WAS, TB)

13./10./15. Buccaneers 4-3 (SEA, NO, STL, CAR, IND, TEN, DET)

14./13./11. Redskins 4-2 (MIA, PHI, NYG, DET, GB, AZ)

15./16./13. Seahawks 4-3 (TB, AZ, CIN, SF, PIT, NO, STL)

16./19./27. Chiefs 4-3 (HOU, CHI, MIN, SD, JAX, CIN, OAK)

17./17./25. Browns 3-3 (PIT, CIN, OAK, BAL, NE, MIA)

18./24./14. Broncos 3-3 (BUF, OAK, JAX, IND, SD, PIT)

19./15./18. Cardinals 3-4 (SF, SEA, BAL, PIT, STL, CAR, WAS)

20./22./22. Bears 3-4 (SD, KC, DAL, DET, GB, MIN, PHI)

21./27./31. Bills 2-4 (DEN, PIT, NE, NYJ, DAL, BAL)

22./18./9. Texans 3-4 (KC, CAR, IND, ATL, MIA, JAX, TEN)

23./26./17. Bengals 2-4 (BAL, CLE, SEA, NE, KC, NYJ)

24./21./20. Vikings 2-4 (ATL, DET, KC, GB, CHI, DAL)

25./20./24. Raiders 2-4 (DET, DEN, CLE, MIA, SD, KC)

26./28./32. Saints 2-4 (IND, TB, TEN, CAR, SEA, ATL)

27./25./19. Eagles 2-4 (GB, WAS, DET, NYG, NYJ, CHI)

28./23./12. 49ers 2-4 (AZ, STL, PIT, SEA, BAL, NYG)

29./29./26. Jets 1-6 (NE, BAL, MIA, BUF, NYG, PHI, CIN)

30./30./30. Falcons 1-5 (MIN, JAX, CAR, HOU, TEN, NO)

31./31./28. Dolphins 0-7 (WAS, DAL, NYJ, OAK, HOU, CLE, NE)

32./32./29. Rams 0-7 (CAR, SF, TB, DAL, AZ, BAL, SEA)