A division is only as strong as its weakest link -- or maybe that's a chain. Either way, it's tough to rank divisions that have a wide disparity between the best and the worst teams. Do you give more credit to a division with three solid teams or one with two great teams and two bad teams? In our eternal quest to perfect divisional rankings, today's list will break down each of the NFL's eight divisions into the two top teams and the two bottom teams. They will then be ranked accordingly.

1) NFC East (top) -- New York/Washington

The Giants have played five straight "big" games (Pittsburgh, Dallas, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Arizona) and rocked them all. Don't be surprised to see them come out flat against Washington this weekend. Frankly, given their sizable lead in the NFC, Tom Coughlin probably wouldn't even be too upset about it.

2) AFC South (top) -- Tennessee/Indianapolis

A No. 1 seed has been upset in the divisional playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Tennessee has all the trappings of the next 14-2 team to do the same.

3) NFC South (top) -- Tampa Bay/Carolina

I've gone back and forth on the NFC South this year, but after Atlanta's whooping of Carolina, I'm firmly entrenched in the "these teams aren't very good" camp. In big division games, one team always lays an egg. And the Bucs last four wins have come against teams with a combined 9-35 record. Their one loss during that stretch was to Brad Johnson and the Cowboys. On the bright side, whichever team wins the division will be in good shape for their first playoff game: The Bucs and Panthers are a combined 11-0 at home this year.

4) AFC North (top) -- Pittsburgh/Baltimore

On one hand, don't assign home-field to the Titans just yet, as Pittsburgh travels to Tennessee on December 21. On the other hand, the combined record of the teams Tennessee will face in their next three games is 8-24. The Steelers will likely need to hold serve until Week 16.

5) AFC East (top) -- New York/New England

It can't be stressed enough: The AFC East plays the NFC and AFC West this year, the two worst divisions (by far) in football. The 49ers should remember that before they give Matt Cassel $14 million to sign next March.

6) NFC East (bottom) -- Dallas/Philadelphia

Yet another reason why coaches shouldn't be GMs: Andy Reid the coach should have zero concern with salvaging any possible trade value Donovan McNabb might have. Andy Reid the GM totally has to concern himself with salvaging any possible trade value Donovan McNabb might have. If I was Daryl Johnston, here's where I'd say, "You talk about a conflict of interest," even though we had not been talking about said topic.

7) NFC North (top) -- Chicago/Green Bay

It sounds kooky, but I had a crazy thought last night during the Packers Monday night game: What if -- now, bear with me -- what if Green Bay had kept Brett Favre instead of Aaron Rodgers? I mean, Favre never would have had a three-interception game last night. The Packers would probably be 11-0 right now, right?

8) NFC South (bottom) -- Atlanta/New Orleans

Are the Saints better without Reggie Bush? 9) AFC East (bottom) -- Miami/Buffalo

Remember when the Dolphins passed on Drew Brees to sign Daunte Culpepper?

10) AFC West (top) -- Denver/San Diego

If anything, this placement is too generous. If Ed Hochuli doesn't blow that call, these two teams would be tied atop the AFC West with a 5-6 record. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a tricycle, which Ed Hochuli would promptly try to benchpress.

11) AFC South (bottom) -- Jacksonville/Houston

David Garrard is 30. I don't know how old I thought he was, but it certainly didn't begin with a three.

12) NFC West (top) -- Arizona/San Francisco

Kurt Warner deserves all the praise he's getting and, at this point, would win the NFL MVP (which might be even more improbable than in 1999 when he won his first). However, let's not lose sight of the awesomeness of Anquan Boldin, who is putting up silly numbers after getting his face broken in Week 4. (On a pass that Kurt Warner doesn't get enough criticism for throwing.)

13) NFC North (bottom) -- Minnesota/Detroit

We'll get into this more on Thursday, but it would be a major mistake for the NFL to take the Thanksgiving game away from Detroit ... which is exactly why I expect Roger Goodell to do it.

14) AFC North (bottom) -- Cleveland/Cincinnati

At least Browns fans can take a break from their sports-related troubles tonight to watch LeBron play at Madison Square Garden, an event which is not disconcerting in the least.

15) NFC West (bottom) -- Seattle/St. Louis

These two teams account for five of the past six NFC West titles.

16) AFC West (bottom) -- Oakland/Kansas City

To paraphrase Bob Dylan, "All my powers of expression, and thoughts so sublime, could never do the ineptitude of the Raiders and Chiefs justice, in reason or rhyme."