Cohen's NFL Rankings

A month of NFL action is now in the books and we are beginning to see a pattern with some teams, which ones are for real, which ones are frauds, and which ones are in for a long season.

Here is how the league stacks up in my rankings:

1) TENNESSEE TITANS (4-0): The Titans keep on rolling. Another stingy effort for the Titan defense as they hold Adrian Peterson to just 80 yards rushing. It is no cliche that defense wins championships. The Titans are first in the league in points allowed and fifth in total defense. They are not the '85 Bears or the 2000 Ravens, but the Titans are working hard to get there.

2) NEW YORK GIANTS (3-0): The only team that had high expectations coming into the season that has not disappointed. Let's face it; the Giants are the best team in the NFC. I don't care that the Redskins are 3-1, the Cowboys are 3-1 and the Eagles are supposed to be good, neither one can beat the G-Men this year.

3) BUFFALO BILLS (4-0): The Bills passed another test on Sunday, not falling for the trap game in St. Louis and blowing out the Rams in the second half to go to 4-0. The Bills are doing it with a balanced attack. They average 102 yards on the ground and 217.5 yards through the air to rip their opponents apart. Marshawn Lynch is 13th in the league in rushing with 275 yards, and receiver Lee Evans is seventh in the league in receiveing with 332 yards. The Bills are also seventh in total defense this year.

4) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-1): Yes, the Redskins finally get some respect from me. After an impressive victory in Texas Stadium against the Cowboys, the Skins are indeed for real. Jason Campbell has settled down nicely at quarterback, passing for a 102.2 rating, 878 yards passing, six touchdowns and no interceptions. If Washington continues to play at this high level, they could be the suprise team in a really tough division.

5) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1): The Bucs just keep on clicking. A big victory Sunday against the Packers, as Ernest Graham ran all over Green Bay for 111 yards on 20 carries. But most importantly, let's give a hand to kicker Matt Bryant who played a key role in the Bucs win only a day after he burried his infant son who suddenly passed away on the weekend.

6) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-1): Not a good effort against the Ravens. The Steelers were dominated for three quarters of their Monday night game against Baltimore, as Joe Flacco moved the ball efficiently, and the Raven D punished the Steelers. Still, Pittsburgh found a way to win in overtime and take first in the AFC North. There has to be concern though for quarterback Ben Rothelisberger, whose entire right side must be ready to fall off. He has a hyperextended right knee and dislocated right shoulder and a injured right hand. Ouch!

7) CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-1): It appears that Jake Delhomme's repaired right elbow is really working. The quarterback has thrown for 860 yards, three touchdowns and one pick this year. Delhomme is back and that is good news for the Panthers.

8) DALLAS COWBOYS (3-1): Finally,the real Dallas Cowboys showed their ugly heads on Sunday against the Redskins. The Cowboys completely fell apart against the Skins as they game planned their entire day around Terrell Owens. In fact,the loud-mouthed receiver had the ball thrown in his direction 20 different times, yet Owens is unhappy that he isn't getting the ball enough.

Here we go again with Owens. It was a matter of time before he took Tony Romo and threw him under the bus and backed over him twice. Maybe Romo should call Donavan McNabb and Jeff Garcia and look at the tire tracks that Owens put all over them and be very afraid. The Cowboys are not the most overrated team in football for nothing.

9) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-2): A goal line stand by the Bears on Sunday night prevented the Eagles from winning and improving to 3-1. The Eagles seemed to have every chance to take that game from the Bears but never did. That will have to change if the Eagles are to beat back the Redskins in the Game of the Week on Sunday.

10) NEW YORK JETS (2-2): Let's look inside the numbers. Brett Favre is first in the league in quarterback rating (110.8), first in touchdowns (12), second in passing completion percentage (70.2) and ninth in yards (935). For a guy who was supposed to be retired back in July, he sure looks like an early candidate for league MVP. Favre is on a pace to throw for 48 touchdowns, which is two shy of Tom Brady's mark of 50 set last year.

The Jets can score points this year, and the defense is the most physical it has been in years. They are fifth in the league in sacks, but they are still learning how to prevent teams from putting up big points and yards.