Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	When will they be challenged? Maybe when the Patriots visit in November. Until then, they will keep this thing going forward with Peyton Manning leading the way.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	They get a chance to put a real grip on the division if they can beat the Falcons next Monday in New Orleans. That would put them three up at midseason.
	3	Broncos · Trends	4
	They come off their bye heading to Baltimore to face a team that can't afford another loss. It will be another chance for them to prove all the doubters wrong.
	4	Vikings · Trends	3
	No longer among the ranks of the undefeated, they now head to play the Packers at Lambeau Field in Brett Favre's return. That won't be easy, that's for sure.
	5	Patriots · Trends	7
	Nothing like getting the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in successive weeks to help fix all that ails you. Tom Brady has come alive.
	6	Bengals · Trends	8
	Now that Carson Palmer has played his best game, it will be interesting to see if they start to score more points. Cedric Benson really has it going running the football.
	7	Steelers · Trends	9
	The defense played its best game against Minnesota, which is a good sign heading to the bye. They get Denver coming out of it, which will be tough.
	8	Eagles · Trends	10
	They looked impressive against the Redskins, but who doesn't? The concern coming out of that one has to be the injuries, especially to Brian Westbrook.
	9	Cardinals · Trends	13
	They are 3-0 on the road and are playing some really good defense. The decision to change coordinators on that side of the ball has really paid off.
	10	Giants · Trends	6
	They head to Philadelphia this week on a two-game losing streak. How quickly things can change. They just haven't looked right the past two games.
	11	Cowboys · Trends	12
	With Miles Austin becoming a big-play receiver, it should help Tony Romo the rest of the way. The good thing from the Atlanta game is the defense came alive.
	12	Falcons · Trends	5
	Fresh off the Dallas loss, they head to New Orleans to play the Saints. A loss there, and they'll be thinking about the wild-card road.
	13	Packers · Trends	14
	Here comes Brett Favre. I bet they can't wait. You know Aaron Rodgers is looking forward to it. You know the entire city is.
	14	Ravens · Trends	15
	At 3-3, they can't afford a loss to the Broncos this week. It will be interesting to see if the bye helped wake up that defense.
	15	Jets · Trends	16
	Having problems? Play the Oakland Raiders. They heal all. That was a must-win for the Jets.
	16	Texans · Trends	21
	At 4-3, they're over .500 and that offense is playing good football. I still wonder about the pass defense, especially after what Alex Smith did in the second half.
	17	Chargers · Trends	18
	That was a season-saver at Kansas City. A loss there would have put loads of pressure on Norv Turner, as if he doesn't have enough.
	18	Jaguars · Trends	20
	They come out of their bye week with a chance to get over .500 if they can beat the Titans. The Chiefs come to Jacksonville after that, so 5-3 is possible.
	19	Bears · Trends	11
	They are reeling right now. They were riding high, but two consecutive losses have them searching for answers. Jay Cutler has to quit throwing picks.
	20	49ers · Trends	17
	Alex Smith is in as the new quarterback. It has to be that way. They have to find out if he can be the long-term answer.
	21	Bills · Trends	24
	You have to give them credit for two straight road wins that get them to 3-4. If they can beat the Texans this week to get back to .500, the playoffs would still be a possibility.
	22	Dolphins · Trends	19
	Can the Wildcat stop an offense? Nope. Even when it works, it can't help out that pass defense. Chad Henne will be a good player, but it will take time to get him playing at a high level.
	23	Seahawks · Trends	23
	They better get it going or they can forget about the playoffs. With all their injuries, even coming out of a bye, it will be tough to do.
	24	Panthers · Trends	22
	Can they take much more of Jake Delhomme? Or is it time to go to A.J. Feeley?
	25	Raiders · Trends	25
	The good news for the Raiders last week: Tom Cable was not charged. The bad news: They were, with first-degree lousy football.
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	Scott Pioli has to know what a big rebuilding job he faces. That offensive line is bad right now.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	Would it shock anybody now to see Jim Zorn go? It wouldn't surprise me. It's time.
	28	Lions · Trends	28
	Coming out of their bye, they still don't know about Matthew Stafford. Daunte Culpepper hasn't played that well in his place.
	29	Browns · Trends	29
	The offensive futility comes because they don't have any playmakers. Their offense is an eyesore, no matter who plays quarterback.
	30	Buccaneers · Trends	30
	One has to wonder if Raheem Morris will make it longer than one year. There are doubts about it now.
	31	Rams · Trends	31
	It's becoming clearer by the day that they need to address quarterback at some point early in the draft next season. Marc Bulger isn't the answer anymore.
	32	Titans · Trends	32
	They come out of their bye with many questions. At some point, Vince Young needs to play. Do they get it going against the Jaguars? Does Jeff Fisher wear an opposing team's jersey every week?

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	They're finding ways to win, but they aren't playing great. The offense is moving the ball, but not scoring touchdowns. That can't happen this week against New England.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	The schedule gets tissue soft the rest of the way, except for a game or two. They might really start talking undefeated season.
	3	Vikings · Trends	3
	The concern coming out of the bye is Brett Favre's injured groin. Or at least he says he's injured.
	4	Patriots · Trends	5
	They have a firm grip on the division heading to the second half, but to have a chance at the top seed in the conference they need to win at Indy. The way their offense is getting cranked up, it's definitely possible.
	5	Bengals · Trends	6
	The way their defense is playing, they will be around come January. They can run, throw and play defense. Yes, they're good.
	6	Steelers · Trends	7
	Don't look now, but here come the champs. They have a huge rematch with the Bengals this week in Pittsburgh. They had better win, or risk going the wild-card route.
	7	Cowboys · Trends	9
	Dallas is suddenly a hot team in first place. Where did all those problems go? The defense is really coming on. How do you contain Miles Austin?
	8	Broncos · Trends	4
	Still raving about the way Kyle Orton manages the game? Didn't think so. You need more than that. They are limited offensively.
	9	Eagles · Trends	8
	Hard to believe their offense wend dead against Dallas. Now they have to go to the West Coast and face a surging San Diego team. The last time they went west, they lost at Oakland.
	10	Cardinals · Trends	11
	Weird team. Can't win at home, but they dominate on the road. They are easily the class of the NFC West.
	11	Falcons · Trends	15
	They have to be thrilled with how their coach took up for them on the sideline last week. Mike Smith doesn't back down, and neither do his players. They have to be careful at Carolina this week.
	12	Chargers · Trends	14
	At 5-3, they are now just one game behind the Broncos in the division. So much for being buried. The Eagles will be a tough game this week.
	13	Giants · Trends	12
	They limp to the bye with four consecutive losses. No team has won a Super Bowl after losing four consecutive games during the season.
	14	Texans · Trends	13
	They showed well at Indy, but at some point they have to win a game like that. It's the wild-card route at best for the Texans now.
	15	Ravens · Trends	10
	At 4-4, they have to get it going or they could be playoff-less. Their passing game went dead at Cincinnati.
	16	Jets · Trends	19
	They come out of their bye at .500 and face another .500 team in Jacksonville. They can't afford another loss, not with New England the following week.
	17	Jaguars · Trends	20
	They go to the second half at 4-4, which is a good sign for this young team. At some point, though, they have to win a game on the road like the one they have this week at the Jets.
	18	Packers · Trends	16
	Maybe they're just not as good as we thought they were going to be. They have issues on their offensive line that show up every week.
	19	Bears · Trends	17
	Remember when the Chicago Bears meant defense and nasty football? Now they can't stop anybody. There is nothing black and blue about the way they play now. It's just blue.
	20	Dolphins · Trends	18
	The good news is that Chad Henne is improving. That bodes well for next season, even if the playoffs this season look unlikely.
	21	Panthers · Trends	21
	They are playing better, but to have any playoff shot they have to win at home against Atlanta on Sunday. That won't be easy.
	22	Seahawks · Trends	24
	They actually looked good in the second half against Detroit, but that's nothing to get overly excited about. There is still a lot of work to do.
	23	Bills · Trends	23
	They had a bye, which they badly needed. It could mean Trent Edwards is back. Watching Ryan Fitzpatrick play, you know how much they need Edwards taking snaps.
	24	Titans · Trends	29
	Vince Young is 2-0 as a starter. Really? It helps that Chris Johnson is running wild.
	25	49ers · Trends	22
	Has the hype about this team subsided? They've lost four consecutive games, one at home to the Titans. Ouch.
	26	Raiders · Trends	25
	Hard to believe they're this high, but it says a lot about the bottom of the league. It isn't good.
	27	Chiefs · Trends	26
	Larry Johnson is gone, but does it matter? This isn't a good team right now, with or without him. So why keep him?
	28	Redskins · Trends	27
	How low can they go? You want to point a finger? Blame the men at the top. They didn't do a thing about the offensive line this spring.
	29	Rams · Trends	28
	Here's a hunch: They will be improved in the second half. There are a lot of young players who are starting, and the improvement will show.
	30	Buccaneers · Trends	32
	Josh Freeman showed that he might be their franchise passer of the future. He made some plays in the victory over Green Bay. Maybe they should keep the throwback jerseys they wore that day.
	31	Lions · Trends	30
	There will be calls to pull Matthew Stafford, but that makes no sense. This team isn't going anywhere, so let him learn on the job.
	32	Browns · Trends	31
	Wonder who's getting fired this week? Expect Brady Quinn in as the starter, and that's the way it should be.