Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Bob Glauber of Newsday:
Week 5
BOB GLAUBER (Newsday)
1. Houston Texans - Best start in franchise history for Gary Kubiak,
whose Texans have outscored opponents by better than a 2-1 margin.
They should fatten up those stats even more next Monday night against
the Jets.
2. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan off to the best start of his career,
adds another comeback win to his resume by bailing out Falcons in a
nail-biter against Carolina.
3. San Francisco 49ers - Jim Harbaugh's decision to stay on East Coast
time for the week pays off. After hanging out in Youngstown, Ohio
following loss to Vikings, 49ers obliterate the Jets. They did it all,
including showing the Jets how the wildcat's supposed to work.
4. Baltimore Ravens - Ravens take a well-earned weekend off after
playing four games in 18 days, finishing it up by holding off pesky
Browns.
5. Arizona Cardinals - Cardiac Cardinals win in dramatic fashion
thanks to Kevin Kolb's late-game heroics. Amazing how this stuff works
sometimes. Love how Kolb has overcome the doubts and adversity. First
4-0 start for Cardinals since 1974 and the days of Jim Hart and Don
Coryell.
6. Green Bay Packers - A week after that Monday night mess in Seattle,
where the Packers lost on a disputed call on the final play, Pack
sweats out one-point home win over reeling Saints. Aaron Rodgers and
the offense look like they're supposed to.
7. Chicago Bears - Last time the Bears played in prime time, Jay
Cutler melted down and bumped a teammate. This time, he watched as
Tony Romo imploded under a fierce assault from Chicago's defense.
8. New England Patriots - Shades of 2007, as the Patriots pour it on
in the second half of a 52-28 win over Buffalo. Did they run up the
score? Better yet, do they care if anyone thinks that's the case?
9. Philadelphia Eagles - There were a combined 12 turnovers in the
first three weeks, but zero against the Giants. That was the
difference in Philly extending its domination over New York. That's
eight of the last nine over Big Blue.
10. New York Giants - Tom Coughlin admits Giants got too fancy with
the game on the line in the final minute. Now he's faced with his
first 0-2 start in the NFC East.
11. San Diego Chargers - Chargers convert five first-half turnovers
into a 27-6 lead over the Chiefs on the road. And this just in: no
fumbles for Ryan Matthews!
12. Denver Broncos - Another convincing effort for Peyton Manning with
three more TDs against Oakland's leaky defense.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers - Bye week could give Troy Polamalu and James
Harrison time to get back in the lineup. Good news for a Steelers'
team that has been woefully inconsistent on defense. Next up: Eagles
at home.
14. Cincinnati Bengals - More aerial magic from Andy Dalton and A.J.
Green as Bengals make it three straight to keep pace with Baltimore.
15. Minnesota Vikings - Adrian Peterson's first 100-yard game since
surgery. Just the beginning, says the NFL's most powerful runner.
16. Seattle Seahawks - After three picks by rookie Russell Wilson,
Pete Carroll isn't ready to turn to Matt Flynn. More arm problems for
the former Packers' backup. Suspect that's the big reason Wilson has
the job in the first place.
17. Dallas Cowboys - Break out the Tony Romo bashing. Five picks on
national TV and the heat is back on the Cowboys' QB.
18. Washington Redskins - Robert Griffin III's headset goes out at the
end, but he finds a way to get the Redskins in position for the
game-winning field goal against the Bucs. And this time, Billy Cundiff
makes good on his field goal attempt after three previous misses.
19. Carolina Panthers - Cam comes close, but can't put away the
Falcons. His costly fumble down the stretch opens the door for
Atlanta's comeback win.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Freeman's Bucs erase an 18-point
deficit in the second half, but it's too little too late as RG III
comes to the rescue and ruins Tampa's comeback.
21. St. Louis Rams - Rams have already equaled last year's win total.
Big effort from kicker Greg Zeurlein, who becomes first in NFL history
to boot field goals of at least 50 and 60 yards in the same game.
22. Detroit Lions - Lions looking like the classic case of a team that
overachieves one year and regresses the next.
23. New Orleans Saints - Not even an impassioned speech from Drew
Brees at a midweek team meeting was enough to get the Saints in the
win column. Stunningly, the season's just about over after a month.
24. Tennessee Titans - More shoulder problems for Jake Locker, and
more defense problems for the Titans, who are mauled by new AFC South
power Houston.
25. Buffalo Bills - It was all going so well until C.J. Spiller's
fumble near the goal line. It all came unglued from there against the
Pats, who have now beaten Buffalo 17 of the last 18 games.
26. Miami Dolphins - Brian Hartline channels his inner Jerry Rice and
hauls in a franchise record 253 yards receiving. Still not good enough
as Miami loses a heartbreaker in OT to the Cardinals. Encouraging
signs for rookie Ryan Tannehill, though.
27. Kansas City Chiefs - And now for the inevitable whispers about
teammates losing faith in Matt Cassel. Three first-half interceptions
will do that.
28. New York Jets - Mark Sanchez has Rex Ryan's backing ... for
another week, anyway. This thing is getting ugly fast.
29. Oakland Raiders - Raiders on pace to allow 500 points this season.
Not quite the "pride and poise" this team used to be known for.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jags honored Fred Taylor at halftime of
Bengals game. Too bad home team couldn't return the favor. Jags with
another clunker before the hometown fans.
31. Indianapolis Colts - Football doesn't really matter all that much
when you find out your head coach is battling leukemia. Get well soon,
Chuck Pagano.
32. Cleveland Browns - At least Brandon Weeden isn't looking like a
deer in the headlights. Small consolation for an 0-4 team about to
face the defending champs on the road.
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