'07 rankings: Cheaters do prosper

TOP 12

Cole: The Patriots have taken one good team (the Jets) and one very good team (San Diego) to the woodshed through the first two games. There's not much to pick on with the Pats, at least on the field. It's fair to say that the Pats had a little incentive to prove that cheating wasn't the real source of their greatness all these years, but that doesn't explain everything they did against the Chargers. Indianapolis struggling against Tennessee isn't new, so take that with a grain of salt. As for the rest of the top, Dallas is moving fast and has a big one at Chicago on Sunday night.

Robinson: The Patriots and Colts (when healthy) already look like they are a cut above everyone else. New England put a hammer lock on the No. 1 slot after its win over San Diego last weekend. Amazingly, despite all the controversy surrounding Bill Belichick this season, he might be doing the best coaching job of his career with that Richard Seymour-less defense. But don't sleep on the Colts. Their defense pulled one out against the Titans without two of their starting linebackers, and look like they could be every bit as good as they were down the stretch last season. Washington and that terrific safety tandem are legit. But Green Bay? We'll find out this week if the Packers are pretenders.

MUDDLED MIDDLE

Cole: Tampa Bay in the top 20 of the league? Am I nuts? New Orleans barely in the top 20? What's going on here? It took nearly seven quarters for the Saints to score an offensive touchdown this season. By the time they did, they had allowed 69 straight points, including 28 to Tampa Bay. Were the Saints a big fraud last year? It's hard to believe that, but it sure looks like it right now.

Robinson: It's too bad Andre Johnson's injury is clouding the Texans' good start. Jacoby Jones has his shot to make an early impact, but don't be surprised if the Texans get slammed by Indianapolis this week. Seattle should be 2-0. That blown dummy call cost them the game against the Cardinals and was nothing less than embarrassing. Don't fret, Philadelphia fans. Your season isn't done yet. But the Saints – saddle up Deuce McAllister already and put Reggie Bush into the third-down role. Still, expect Tennessee to prevail on Monday night, even in the Superdome.

BOTTOM OF THE PACK

Cole: The Raiders have won the pennant! The Raiders have won the pennant! OK, sorry, mixing sports and getting way too excited in the process. But when the Raiders actually escape the bottom of the NFL rankings, you have to be a little surprised. Actually, don't expect the Raiders to drop back down, barring a Falcons miracle. The Raiders are playing respectably. Not great, but respectably.

Robinson: Orlando Pace's injury is going to mean a long season for Steven Jackson. The Rams have to start coping with that reality – now. The Raiders were robbed of a win, plain and simple. The NFL's competition committee should look at tweaking the ability of teams to call timeouts milliseconds before a field goal is attempted. And how long before the Bills start looking at pulling the plug on J.P. Losman? What happened to all that talk of him leading such an explosive offense this year?