THE POINT: To rank each of the NFL’s 32 teams based on performance, perception and potential rather than merely by record.
THE PANEL: Our 10-man committee consists of:
Joe Bendel, 970 ESPN, Steelers Radio Network; Tim Benz, 105.9 The X, Steelers Radio Network; Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 970 ESPN, Steelers Radio Network; Rick Gosselin, Dallas Morning News; Jeff Legwold, Denver Post; Cole Pepper, Studio Host Jaguars Radio Network; Mike Prisuta, WDVE, 970 ESPN, Steelers Radio Network; Jon Saraceno, USA Today; David Todd, 970 ESPN, Steelers Nation Radio; Matt Williamson, ESPN.com.
THE PROCESS: Each panelist ranks the teams from No. 1 to No. 32. Teams receive one point for their spot in the rankings (the No. 15 team gets 15 points, etc.). An aggregate score is compiled from the 10 ballots and the teams are stacked in reverse order, with the lowest score achieving the No. 1 ranking and the highest score checking in at No. 32.
THIS WEEK’S POLL: The Texans came as close to a perfect scorecard as any team has since this process started. Houston captured seven of 10 first-place votes in the wake of its win over the Bears and the weather in Chicago.
Green Bay’s two first-place votes helped the Packers achieve a tie with the Bears at No. 4, while the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens wound up sharing the No. 7 spot this week.
Yes, it’s that tight at the top.
THE STEELERS’ STATUS: The Steelers moved up to No. 9 despite a less-than-impressive victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, who got themselves out of the basement (KC has a two-point edge over the Jacksonville Jaguars).
POSITION-TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES)-POINTS
No. 1-Houston Texans (7)-13
No. 2-Atlanta Falcons (1)-30
No. 3-San Francisco 49ers-40
No. 4-Chicago Bears-44
-Green Bay Packers (2)-44
No. 6-Denver Broncos-62
No. 7-New England Patriots-65
-Baltimore Ravens-65
No. 9-PITTSBURGH STEELERS-97
No. 10-New York Football Giants-103
No. 11-Indianapolis Colts-120
No. 12-Seattle Seahawks-125
No. 13-Minnesota Vikings-132
No. 14-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-152
No. 15-New Orleans Saints-153
No. 16-Dallas Cowboys-169
No. 17-Detroit Lions-172
No. 18-Cincinnati Bengals-175
No. 19-San Diego Chargers-192
No. 20-Miami Dolphins-195
No. 21-St. Louis Rams-216
No. 22-Washington Redskins-226
No. 23-Arizona Cardinals-227
No. 24-Philadelphia Eagles-232
No. 25-Tennessee Titans-241
No. 26-New York Jets-246
No. 27-Buffalo Bills-257
No. 28-Oakland Raiders-280
No. 29-Carolina Panthers-284
No. 30-Cleveland Browns-288
No. 31-Kansas City Chiefs-314
No. 32-Jacksonville Jaguars-316
