Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Clark Judge of CBSSports.com:
Week 5
CLARK JUDGE (CBSSports.com)
- Houston Texans - The Texans' biggest obstacle isn't the NFC South; it's complacency.
- Atlanta Falcons - Four games into the season, and they're three ahead in the division. At this rate, the Falcons may clinch their division by Halloween.
- Baltimore Ravens - Say it ain't so, Joe: The Ravens can beat you with defense AND offense?
- Arizona Cardinals - I don't care that they're winning ugly. They're winning.
- San Francisco 49ers - I don't care what happened in Minnesota. This is a team that won't go away.
- Philadelphia Eagles - They win when they commit turnovers. They win when they don't. Plus, their defense protects the fourth-quarter leads it did not a year ago. Connect the dots.
- San Diego Chargers - I don't know what to make of these guys. They tease you every year, yet the teams they've beaten this fall - uh-huh, a combined 3-9.
- Cincinnati Bengals - The more I see of Andy Dalton, the more I wonder if he's not the best quarterback in last year's class.
- Green Bay Packers - Let's be honest: They should be 3-1, and they are the best team in their division.
- New England Patriots - The Patriots have defensive issues, particularly in the secondary, but they won't be enough to keep them from another division title.
- New York Giants - That was a tough loss to Philadelphia, but look at Big Blue's schedule. It's brutal.
- Chicago Bears - So now we know what happens when the Bears protect Jay Cutler, and consider it a wake-up call for the rest of the NFC.
- Minnesota Vikings - Their quarterback doesn't commit mistakes. Their defense is plugging holes. And they just ended an 11-game losing streak in the NFC North. Maybe it's time to get behind the Vikings.
- Denver Broncos - I guess this means that Peyton Manning's OK, after all, huh?
- St. Louis Rams - Not only do they have a tough, physical and relentless defense. They have a quarterback who's starting to excel again.
- Seattle Seahawks - I love their defense. What I don't love is their quarterback. Russell Wilson is a great story, but I don't know that you can win at this level with a 5-10 rookie.
- Pittsburgh Steelers - It's still too early to tell about these guys. My guess is we find out this weekend versus Eagles.
- Buffalo Bills - Just when the Bills are poised to become "relevant," as GM Buddy Nix would put it, Tom Brady rolls into town ... and reality sets in.
- Dallas Cowboys - The first-team offense has exactly three touchdowns the past three weeks. Suddenly, it looks as if there's a Doomsday Offense in Big D.
- Washington Redskins - There's only on thing RG3 can't do, and that's last the season getting hit like this.
- Detroit Lions - Consider this: The Lions are only 10 seconds away from 0-4.
- Carolina Panthers - Good Cam, bad Cam. All I know is that nobody makes enough plays for this team to take a giant step forward.
- New York Jets - Somebody start the bilge pumps. The Jets have sprung so many leaks they're starting to sink in the AFC East.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I can't wait to see what happens when Greg Schiano's offense takes a knee. My only question is: How long do we wait?
- Miami Dolphins - So Ryan Tannehill committed costly mistakes down the stretch Sunday. There were glimpses of a future star last weekend in Arizona.
- Tennessee Titans - Finally, Chris Johnson gets out of neutral. Unfortunately, the Titans have not.
- Jacksonville Jaguars - Not enough offense and not enough defense is no way to try to get ahead.
- Oakland Raiders - No longer do the Raiders lead the league in penalties. So don't tell me they're not making progress.
- Indianapolis Colts - Chuck Pagano, get well. The Colts won't win a lot, but with Andrew Luck it's a team worth watching.
- Kansas City Chiefs - With 15 turnovers, the Chiefs already have more than they did in 2010. Look out below.
- New Orleans Saints - The more the Saints lose, the more Sean Payton looks like this season's Coach of the Year.
- Cleveland Browns - That's 13 losses in their last 14 games, and, no, that's never a good sign for a head coach about to gain a new boss.
Online:
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