The best seat in the house is the view from the couch

1) New England (5-0): They finally beat an opponent by less than 21 points. That's the biggest story of the game, and that's saying something. For all you Patriots haters out there, get used to this - they're going to be up top here for a long time.

2) Indianapolis (5-0): Boy is it going to be fun watching these two teams going at it in the RCA Dome in about a month. The game is on my birthday - Indy isn't that long of a drive from Pittsburgh, for anybody out there looking for a last minute gift...

3) Pittsburgh (4-1): Speaking of the Steel City... Looks like that hiccup against the Cardinals was exactly that - a hiccup against a team that had a long time to game plan for the Steelers, and who knew all of their flaws. They'll be a force for the next three months at least.

4) Dallas (5-0): They win, and I still drop them 2 places. They just looked absolutely awful for the first three quarters of the game last night. Five turnovers by Tony Romo alone? There goes that big fat new contract...

5) Washington (3-1): I'm vaulting them over Green Bay this week simply because of how dominant they looked against the Lions. And because I was lucky enough to pick up Jason Campbell for a start.

Others receiving votes: Green Bay (duh...), Arizona (at least now they have one quarterback), Baltimore (beginning to look a lot like the 2000 team), San Diego (do it a couple more times)

5) Atlanta (1-4): They forced five turnovers against a team that already had a suspect offense, and still managed to pull defeat from the jaws of victory. You can't tell me this team hasn't already quit on the 2007 season and started looking ahead to next year.

4) San Francisco (2-3): At least when the Falcons lost their starting quarterback for the year, they had a relatively good option as a backup. The 49ers have Trent Dilfer. Sure, he's got a Super Bowl ring (as a starter no less!), but he doesn't exactly have that 2000 Ravens' defense backing him up this year.

3) New Orleans (0-4): I just can't believe they're this bad. I know they were huge overachievers last season, but c'mon - this is just ridiculous. They probably won't get win #1 this week against Seattle, but they've got 2 winnable games - against the two teams above them on this list - immediately following.

2) Miami (0-5): Regardless of Trent Green's injury, this Miami team wasn't going anywhere this season. His concussion and the subsequent ascent of Cleo Lemon to the starting role leaves this team with exactly one offensive weapon - Ronnie Brown. Ask Larry Johnson or Cedric Benson how well it works when offenses know you can't pass.

1) St. Louis (0-5): Steven Jackson has already been ruled out for this week's game. It's Tuesday. That's a little premature, if you ask me. But without Jackson, probably without Bulger, and without any semblance of a defense, this team is going nowhere fast. Shame too, since that division was completely up for grabs this season.

Others receiving votes: Denver (Wow. I mean... wow), Buffalo (Heartbreaking loss, but the offense did nothing to help them win that game), NY Jets (As a Patriots' fan, I love the AFC East right now).

Picks Friday (though after a 2-11-1 week, I'm sure no one is exactly waiting with baited breath.)

Lata.