Saints move up after win over Rams but Houston rocket up the list

Each week, we will list the 32 NFL teams in order of best to worst and see how far each one climbs up or falls down the list during the course of the regular season.

Last week's rankings

Here's this week's 1-32:

1 Los Angeles Rams unchanged
Record: 8-1
Last week: Lost 45-35 at New Orleans
This week: Ten-point favourites at home to Seattle

The bubble has finally burst but it would be easy to get carried away with one defeat. The Rams still look the best team in the league and staying unbeaten is no longer a burden.

2 New Orleans Saints up two
Record: 7-1
Last week: Won 45-35 at home to the Los Angeles Rams
This week: 4.5-point favourites at Cincinnati

Expectations have to be sky high in the Big Easy after a seventh successive win and a victory over the Rams. They have to be conscious of bouncing now though as winning the NFC South is not a given.

3 New England Patriots down one
Record: 7-2
Last week: Won 31-17 at home to Green Bay
This week: 6.5-point favourites at Tennessee

The Patriots continue to follow a well-established Foxborough recipe and it seems realistic to expect them to continue to get stronger, even if Rob Gronkowski remains sidelined. Remember, they won the Super Bowl without him a couple of years ago.

4 Kansas City Chiefs down one
Record: 8-1
Last week: Won 37-21 at Cleveland
This week: 16.5-point favourites at home to Arizona

The stature of the Saints' win mean the Chiefs slip down the list as well, despite a straightforward victory over the Browns. As long as quarterback Patrick Mahomes keeps shining, they are going to be right in the mix.

5 Minnesota Vikings unchanged
Record: 5-3-1
Last week: Won 24-9 at home to Detroit
This week: Bye

The Vikings look the best team in a competitive NFC North but they have yet to take a grip on the division. Their win over the Lions helped and they have a great chance to boost their credentials against Chicago and Green Bay following this week's bye.

6 Carolina Panthers unchanged
Record: 6-2
Last week: Won 42-28 at home to Tampa Bay
This week: Four-point underdogs at Pittsburgh

The Panthers have won four of their last five games and their offence are looking strong, but five of their six wins have come at home. Can they do it on the road? We should find out in a tough trip to the Steelers.

7 Los Angeles Chargers unchanged
Record: 6-2
Last week: Won 25-17 at Seattle
This week: Ten-point favourites at Oakland

The Chargers returned in strong shape after their bye with a win over Seattle who it appeared were starting to flex their muscles. They are doing a great job trying to keep up with the Chiefs and look well-placed to at least claim a wildcard spot.

8 Pittsburgh Steelers up four
Record: 5-2-1
Last week: Won 23-16 at Baltimore
This week: Four-point favourites at home to Carolina

A win against the Ravens is always a shot in the arm for the Steelers, who have won their last four games. Their defence is looking stronger and James Conner has been a revelation at running back. Don't be surprised if they get even stronger.

9 Philadelphia Eagles unchanged
Record: 4-4
Last week: Bye
This week: 6.5-point favourites at home to Dallas

The Eagles have not yet hit the heights of last season's Super Bowl winning campaign and just one of their games has been settled by a margin of more than six points. Four divisional clashes and trips to the Saints and Rams in the next six weeks will decide their destiny.

10 Baltimore Ravens down two
Record: 4-5
Last week: Lost 23-16 at home to Pittsburgh
This week: Bye

Three successive defeats have seen the wheels fall off in Maryland and even though those losses came against New Orleans, Carolina and Pittsburgh, they showed how far they have to go. There's plenty to ponder on their week off.

11 Houston Texans up nine
Record: 6-3
Last week: Won 19-17 at Denver
This week: Bye

The Texans have charged up the list with six successive victories which have allowed them to take a firm grip on the race for the AFC South. A place in the playoffs looks theirs for the taking.

12 Green Bay Packers down two
Record: 3-4-1
Last week: Lost 31-17 at New England
This week: Ten-point favourites at home to Miami

The Packers just don't seem to be the force they once were and three victories in eight games is a poor return. Keeping Aaron Rodgers fit will be vital to their hopes of staging a recovery in the second half of the campaign.

13 Atlanta Falcons up one
Record: 4-4
Last week: Won 38-14 at Washington
This week: 4.5-point favourites at Cleveland

The Falcons have recovered well with three successive wins and they have to keep going if they have any chance of staying with the Saints and the Panthers. It's a big ask but their win over Washington was impressive.

14 Jacksonville Jaguars down three
Record: 3-5
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point underdogs at Indianapolis

The Jaguars have had much to ponder on their week off and the fact they are underdogs at the Colts shows how far they have slipped in the last few weeks. It's crunch time and their worst fears could be realised if they fail to perform in this week's key AFC South clash.

15 Washington Redskins down two
Record: 5-3
Last week: Lost 38-14 at home to Atlanta
This week: Three-point underdogs at Tampa Bay

They never got going against Atlanta but evidence is beginning to point to the NFC East not taking a lot of winning. They remain at the top of the tree and Houston are the only team they face in their remaining eight games who currently have a winning record, so it seems fine for them to be optimistic.

16 Denver Broncos down one
Record: 3-6
Last week: Lost 19-17 at home to Houston
This week: Bye

The Broncos' defeat to Houston was narrow but it is difficult to see the making up much ground in a division that included the red-hot Chiefs and the excellent Chargers. They should remain competitive though.

17 Chicago Bears unchanged
Record: 5-3
Last week: Won 41-9 at Buffalo
This week: 6.5-point favourites at home to Detroit

Chicago have matched their win tally from last year and are exceeding expectations in being a real force in the NFC North. However, no one is going to get carried away when they beat the Bills this year and there's plenty of work to do.

18 Tennessee Titans up one
Record: 4-4
Last week: Won 28-14 at Dallas
This week: 6.5-point underdogs at home to New England

A win over the Cowboys ended a run of three straight defeats and they look likely to be Houston's main challengers in the AFC South. An average of 16.8 points scored per game has to be improved upon, though.

19 Cincinnati Bengals down three
Record: 5-3
Last week: Bye
This week: 4.5-point underdogs at home to New Orleans

Victories for teams around them saw the Bengals perhaps unfairly slip down the list on their bye week, but they could not have a better opportunity to prove their strength than against the Saints this week.

20 Miami Dolphins up three
Record: 5-4
Last week: Won 13-6 at home to New York Jets
This week: Ten-point underdogs at Green Bay

The Dolphins had lost three of their four games before a key divisional success over the Jets. Four of their five wins have been at home, so progress needs to be shown on the road for them to be considered potential playoff material.

21 New York Jets down three
Record: 3-6
Last week: Lost 13-6 at Miami
This week: 7.5-point favourites at home to Buffalo

The Jets' season is slipping out of their control following three straight defeats. Their chances of extending their campaign look slim, particularly as they have two games against New England still to play.

22 Detroit Lions down one
Record: 3-5
Last week: Lost 24-9 at Minnesota
This week: 6.5-point underdogs at Chicago

The Lions continue to struggle with consistency issues and it remains to see how they cope with the departure of receiver Golden Tate. They missed him against the Vikings and their next four games are against teams who have winning records, so it is not going to be easy for them to climb into a position to challenge.

23 Seattle Seahawks down one
Record: 4-4
Last week: Lost 25-17 at home to the Los Angeles Chargers
This week: Ten-point underdogs at the Los Angeles Rams

The Seahawks had their wings clipped by the Chargers, which was deflating before a clash with the Rams that they must win to have any chance of clawing their way back into the NFC West race. The need to pick themselves up quickly.

24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers unchanged
Record: 3-5
Last week: Lost 42-28 at Carolina
This week: Three-point favourites at home to Washington

Being in a red-hot division means life is tough for Tampa Bay. Failing to keep their opponents under 30 points in six of their eight games makes their task particularly difficult. At least it's good entertainment.

25 San Francisco 49ers up five
Record: 2-7
Last week: Won 34-3 at home to Oakland
This week: Three-point favourites at home to the New York Giants

Finally there is something for Niners fans to cheer after a fine performance from quarterback Nick Mullens in their win over the woeful Raiders. Five consecutive games against teams who do not have a winning record can help them make more progress.

26 Indianapolis Colts unchanged
Record: 3-5
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point favourites at home to Jacksonville

The Colts would have thought a lot in the last week that a win over the Jaguars could give their season a massive boost. Even though Andrew Luck looks back in the mood, it still looks a big task for them to push the Texans in the AFC South.

27 Dallas Cowboys down two
Record: 3-5
Last week: Lost 28-14 at home to Tennessee
This week: 6.5-point underdogs at Philadelphia

The Cowboys are stuck in a rut and the pressure looks is on for head coach Jason Garrett. They've kissed goodbye to next-aeason's first-round draft pick too, but a big divisional clash on national TV could be just the thing to galvanise their effort.

28 Cleveland Browns down one
Record: 2-6-1
Last week: Lost 37-21 at home to Kansas City
This week: 4.5-point underdogs at home to Atlanta

The Browns remain in transition following the departure of Hue Jackson. They fought hard enough against an elite outfit in their first game under interim head coach Gregg Williams, but suffered some more costly defensive injuries. They will be looking forward to next week's bye to help get themslves on an even keel.

29 Arizona Cardinals down one
Record: 2-6
Last week: Bye
This week: 16.5-point underdogs at Kansas City

The Cardinals have had their feet up and need to prove they can beat someone apart from San Francisco. They don't look prolific enough offensively for that to happen this week against the league's top scorers.

30 New York Giants down one
Record: 1-7
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point underdogs at San Francisco

Getting to last season's win total of three remains the first priority and they have a Monday game to prove they are not a terrible team. Just don't expect a week off to have miraculously changed their prospects.

31 Oakland Raiders unchanged
Record: 1-7
Last week: Lost 34-3 at San Francisco
This week: Ten-point underdogs at home to the Los Angeles Chargers

The Raiders are already rebuilding and were put to the sword by one of the league's weakest teams. There is little to smile about.

32 Buffalo Bills unchanged
Record: 2-7
Last week: Lost 41-9 at home to Chicago
This week: 7.5-point underdogs at the New York Jets

Another week when the Bills failed to reach a double-figure points total. Their offence looks the weakest in the league and now their defence look to have packed up as well.

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