Once a week, Tony breaks down the balance of power in the National Football League.

	1. ATLANTA FALCONS [unchanged] Overall record: 8-2 Streak: Won four The battle for the NFC South should come down to Week 16. That’s when the Saints visit Atlanta in a prime time showdown.
	2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS [up from 3] Overall record: 8-2 Streak: Won two New England avoided another 17-point collapse to the Colts, and with a favourable second-half schedule, has a great shot at grabbing the top seed in the AFC.
	3. N.Y. JETS [down from 2] Overall record: 8-2 Streak: Won three The cardiac Jets will have to play more consistently if they hope to beat the Patriots in two weeks.
	4. BALTIMORE RAVENS [unchanged] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won one The Ravens’ defence scored two TDs against the Panthers to regain some lost confidence. I suspect Baltimore will need more scoring from that side of the ball if its going to make a Super Bowl run.
	5. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES [unchanged] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won three Quarterback Michael Vick looked more ordinary against the Giants, but the beauty of his performance was that he went another game without throwing an interception.
	6. PITTSBURGH STEELERS [unchanged] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won one Hey, it was a nice rebound game for the Steelers’ defence yet Pittsburgh fans need to remember that the Raiders aren’t the Patriots.
	7. GREEN BAY PACKERS [unchanged] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won four The Packers had to love the fact that it was their romping of Minnesota which put the final nail in the career of Brett Favre.
	8. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS [up from 9] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won three The Saints will only be more dangerous when they get running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush back some time within the next two weeks.
	9. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS [up from 10] Overall record: 6-4 Streak: Lost one The loss to the Patriots has to been pinned on quarterback Peyton Manning. And you know those three inceptions – particularly the one that cost Indy the game – will stay with Peyton for a long time.
	10. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS [up from 10] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won two Despite having one of the worst run defences in the NFL, the Bucs did a nice job in limiting San Francisco to only 71 total rushing yards.
	11.CHICAGO BEARS [up from 14] Overall record: 7-3 Streak: Won three I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t see Chicago’s success this season coming. The defence and running game have carried the Bears to this point.
	12. N.Y. GIANTS [down from 8] Overall record: 6-4 Streak: Lost two Suddenly, the Giants have some major problems. Not only has the team lost two straight, but its best receiver – Hakeem Nicks – will be sidelined for three weeks with a leg injury. Now Eli Manning won’t have Nicks and Steve Smith in the lineup against Jacksonville.
	13. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS [up from 15] Overall record: 5-5 Streak: Won three Quarterback Philip Rivers is lighting regardless of who lines up at receiver. The better news is that holdout receiver Vincent Jackson makes his season debut this week against the Colts.
	14. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS [up from 16] Overall record: 6-4 Streak: Won three The more the Jaguars can rely on running back Maurice Jones-Drew, the better chance this team has of making the playoffs.
	15. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS [up from 19] Overall record: 6-4 Streak: Won one Receiver Dwayne Bowe has caught at least one touchdown pass in a team-record six straight games. If only he had better hands.
	16. OAKLAND RAIDERS [down from 11] Overall record: 5-5 Streak: Lost one The loss to Pittsburgh simply proves that the Raiders aren’t ready to play with the big boys just yet.
	17. WASHINGTON REDSKINS [up from 22] Overall record: 5-5 Streak: Won one Donovan McNabb looked pretty good handling the two-minute offence in Tennessee. Was coach Mike Shanahan paying attention?
	18. TENNESSEE TITANS [down from 13] Overall record: 5-5 Streak: Lost three The Vince Young-Jeff Fisher saga won’t end simply because the quarterback (thumb) is gone for the year. Owner Bud Adams must choose between the two and I have a feeling his allegiance lies with VY.
	19. MIAMI DOLPHINS [down from 17] Overall record: 5-5 Streak: Lost one Head coach Tony Sparano can bid adieu to a post-season berth. Even with the injuries, this team is regressing.
	20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS [up from 21] Overall record: 5-5 Streak: Lost one Seems like whenever the Seahawks lose a game, their NFC West counterparts do the same.
	21. HOUSTON TEXANS [down from 18] Overall record: 4-6 Streak: Lost four How do you allow the Jets to drive 68 yards in 45 seconds to blow the game?
	22. ST. LOUIS RAMS [up from 23] Overall record: 4-6 Streak: Lost two The best thing the Rams can do in the off-season is surround rookie quarterback Sam Bradford with more serious offensive weapons.
	23. CLEVELAND BROWNS [down from 20] Overall record: 3-7 Streak: Lost two Head coach Eric Mangini is in a position where his team is on the right track, but he may not be around to see the payoff.
	24. DALLAS COWBOYS [up from 28] Overall record: 3-7 Streak: Won two I’ll start believing more in this team if they somehow find a way to upset the Super Bowl champion Saints on Thursday’s US Thanksgiving matchup.
	25. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS [down from 24] Overall record: 3-7 Streak: Lost one Ok, I got a little too excited with quarterback Troy Smith and his ability to lead San Francisco to an unlikely division title.
	26. MINNESOTA VIKINGS [down from 25] Overall record: 3-7 Streak: Lost two With head coach Brad Childress gone, players can no longer use a lack of direction as a crutch. It’s time to look in the mirror.
	27. ARIZONA CARDINALS [down from 26] Overall record: 3-7 Streak: Lost five With the Cards in quarterback hell, the franchise could be in line to land Stanford’s Andrew Luck if the team continues its slide.
	28. DENVER BRONCOS [up from 27] Overall record: 3-7 Streak: Lost one Owner Pat Bowlen promised coach Josh McDaniels would be around to see the development of Tim Tebow. But with Tebow expected to take at least two more years to become a productive quarterback, I don’t see McDaniels lasting that long.
	29. BUFFALO BILLS [up from 30] Overall record: 2-8 Streak: Won two For the last month, I have neglected to bring up the impact of receiver Steve Johnson, who is having a breakout season with the Bills. There you go, Steve!
	30.CINCINNATI BENGALS [down from 29] Overall record: 2-8 Streak: Lost seven You can officially bring back the lovely Bungles moniker to describe this sad bunch.
	31. DETROIT LIONS [unchanged] Overall record: 2-8 Streak: Lost three It doesn’t get any easier for Detroit, which faces New England on Thursday afternoon.
	32. CAROLINA PANTHERS [unchanged] Overall record: 1-9 Streak: Lost four I bet quarterback Brian St. Pierre wishes he had stayed at home and change diapers instead of agreeing to play for a last-place club.