Dirty dozen
The top six and the bottom six based on current level of play:
| Team | Comment |
| 1. Indianapolis (13-0) | Even if they lose one, they stay here. |
| 2. Cincinnati (10-3) | Slight slip last week. |
| 3. Seattle (11-2) | Won’t have it easy in the playoffs. |
| 4. Denver (10-3) | Narrow escape against Baltimore. |
| 5. New England (8-5) | No one wants to meet the Patriots in the playoffs. |
| 6. Tampa Bay (9-4) | Giants, Cowboys, Panthers, Bears rate just as high. |
| 27. New Orleans (3-10) | Turmoil hurts, but this is a bad team in any event. |
| 28. Green Bay (3-10) | A lot of luck last week. |
| 29. Baltimore (4-9) | Boller’s last season in Baltimore? Billick’s, too? |
| 30. Detroit (4-9) | Roy Williams is a good player. They need more. |
| 31 Houston (1-12) | They have a chance to win this week. |
| 32. San Francisco (2-11) | Two more weeks before Reggie Bush Bowl vs. Houston. |
Source: Associated Press