Each Thursday, we'll rank the games from least to most watchable. The following Tuesday, we'll re-rank the games based on what actually went down. At season's end, we'll tally up the pre- and post-game rankings from throughout the year to determine the league's most and least watchable squads -- and the 30 teams in between. All times Eastern.
ONLY IF YOUR OTHER OPTION IS YARDWORK
14. Kansas City at Carolina, 1:00 p.m., CBS
Nice job against the Broncos, Chiefs. But we've gotta hear about you doing it again before we actually tune in.
13. Cincinnati at Dallas, 4:15 p.m., CBS
Let's see: A winless team with a banged-up QB against an elite squad still seething from losing to its archrival at home. We smell blowout. And we all know those ain't watchable.
12. Chicago at Detroit, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Matt Millen may be gone, but it doesn't mean the Lions don't still suck. But hey, at least the future's bright.
IT AIN'T GONNA BE EPIC, BUT HEY, IT'S FOOTBALL
11. New England at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m., CBS
There's a chance Game 3 of Red Sox-Angels could coincide with this game, meaning if Patriots fans aren't tuned in for the big Matt Cassel-J.T. O'Sullivan duel, why should you?
10. San Diego at Miami, 1:00 p.m., CBS
Imagine if the Chargers give the Dolphins a taste of their own medicine, lining up LT and Sproles in that Wildcat formation? That possibility alone is worth flipping over to see.
9. Indianapolis at Houston, 1:00 p.m., CBS
Dangerous game for the Colts, who will be rusty coming out of the bye week. And a golden opportunity for the winless Texans, who played with confidence last week against the Jags.
8. Atlanta at Green Bay, 1:00 p.m., FOX
We know we'll see one rookie QB named Matt, but will we see another? Even if Aaron Rodgers' shoulder is OK at the start of the game, one bad hit and Matt Flynn
will be opposite Matt Ryan. Too, two 2-2 teams is always a good time.
7. Seattle at N.Y. Giants, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Love the running games of both these teams. The Giants can do it all with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, while the Seahawks mix it up with Julius Jones and the bruising T.J. Duckett. Throw in a couple game-managing QBs who can turn into gunslingers when they need to and we'll be watching this one.
6. Minnesota at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. (Monday), ESPN
The Vikings desperately need to turn things around and we have a hunch their underachieving defense will finally break through on the big MNF stage. The Saints, though, aren't stopped easily, leading the league in passing yards, so look forward to a classic irresistable force vs. immovable object game.
5. Buffalo at Arizona, 4:15 p.m., CBS
An unbeaten team playing a squad that just gave up 56 points, yet the spread is only one point? Vegas thinks it'll be a heckuva game and we agree.
4. Pittsburgh at Jacksonville, 8:15 p.m., NBC
The Steelers are beat up, but are still finding ways to win. The Jags are hoping to get on a little roll after last week's overtime win over Houston. Physical game with two tough QBs trying to hang in there against aggressive defenses.
SUPERGLUE YOURSELF TO THE COUCH
3. Washington at Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m., FOX
The NFC East is like the SEC of the NFL -- seemingly every week, there's another huge, can't-miss game. The Eagles can't afford to drop below .500 in this deep division and the Redskins don't want to lose the momentum they've gathered after their no-show Week 1. Lots of offensive stars in this game (Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss) that it'd be a shame if Brian Westbrook can't go.
2. Tampa Bay at Denver, 4:05 p.m., FOX
Master game breaker-downer Adam Duerson of SI.com will be giving this one his Game of the Week treatment Friday, so be sure to check it out. The Broncos' offense is gross (in a good way), its defense is gross (in a bad way) and the Bucs have enough talent on both sides of the ball to turn this into a sick cross-conference matchup.
1. Tennessee at Baltimore, 1:00 p.m., CBS
Once upon a time, this was one of the best rivalries in the league. Keith Bulluck says it still is. Watching Ray Lewis and company against speedy rookie Chris Johnson should be a ton of fun.
Marisa Miller
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College Football, Top 25 Review
Comments (21) Add A Comment
Finally, some frigging respect for the 3-1 Bucs!
Gruden Needs Lovin…
Elizabeth, CO
Total Comments (10936)
Same for the 4-0 Bills. I mean, 5th isn't as good as I'd like, but it's the highest it's been since... well, probably since he started doing these rankings.
Egon196
Rochester, NY
Total Comments (24)
God, please let Atlanta have a decent showing...
BigFletchDog
Total Comments (1482)
Wow! Back-to-back weeks rating the Ravens' game as Top Game! Who slipped the Purple Kool-aid into your diet? Let's Go Joe!
Aside Question: Who looks more like Bert from Sesame Street?
Michael Phelps (Olympian) ...OR... Joe Flacco (NFL QB)?
Baltimore Sports Fan
Total Comments (10)
Phelps is "special" .... his momma said so, cuz he rides the "short-bus"
Mr Wiz
****, WA
Total Comments (436)
Dominic you missed a few things:
Pats@Niners - Martz vs Belichick if you care about the Xs and Os of the game it doesn't get much better.
Chiefs@Panthers - Gonzales breaking Sharpe's record. All NFL fans should rejoice. Steve Smith is often worth price of admission and both coming off impressive wins.
Bears@Lions - First game without Millen since before realignment!
Between MLB playoffs and this impressive slate of NFL games (I count 12 good or interesting games) plus the start of hockey this has got to be one of the best sports weekends of 2008.
Lex from NorCal
San Francisco , CA
Total Comments (82)
"The NFC East is like the SEC of the NFL -- seemingly every week, there's another huge, can't-miss game."
difference is Skins and Eagles fans don't boast that the NFC East teams invented football and they don't care if their stadiums can't hold 200,000 fans. NFL fans root for team, SEC fans root for their conference first, then team.
Lex from NorCal
San Francisco , CA
Total Comments (82)
"Who slipped the Purple Kool-aid into your diet?" - rack him
RoDawg
Cleveland , OH
Total Comments (16)
"Wow! Back-to-back weeks rating the Ravens' game as Top Game! Who slipped the Purple Kool-aid into your diet? Let's Go Joe! " - rackkkk em.
RoDawg
Cleveland , OH
Total Comments (16)
No kidding. They are playing very good offense, and the defense still has teeth, even if they are giving up a few big plays. They will need to get that under control this weekend if they want another road victory in a very tough house. I love Brian Griese's comment about wondering how good this offense is when he doesn't throw 3 picks.
jrscott
Cumming , GA
Total Comments (76)
Saints by 10+
TIGERNOLE
New Orleans , LA
Total Comments (49)
NEVER!!!! :-)
Mr.Whistler
Total Comments (740)
Tennessee and Baltimore had one of the league's best rivalries? When? Neither team has been around long enough to have had a rivalry unless you are talking about some Houston Oilers/Cleveland Browns rivalry I've never heard of....Pittsburgh/Jacksonville will be the second best game behind only Washington/Philly....
-Loki-
Total Comments (8367)
I'm not even sure I'd call it a rivalry at all any more. Titans/Ravens used to be a rivalry when they were in the same division. There after the Titans got a little miffed their SB hopes were crushed early in 2000. Even then I doubt if I'd call it one of the best.
macbrak
Severn , MD
Total Comments (5)
NFC eacst is the best and hardestst division for each other i dont know much about collage foot ball but the last thing we do is root for another team in out confrence unless our team is not in the play all our fans (excluding most but not all eagles fans) respect the other teams the NFC east almost always have the hardest games and all the games are intresting if i were 2 complare us to the only other sprot im really in to it would be the ACC they respect each team they hate each tema but respect them and most are old school yes im not trying 2 brag about the NFC east dommonating but they are all good teams in the AFC have droped i know it hard for ur fans 2 addmitit but bradys out and pats are not doing all that great, payttons not playing great (but his brothers doing allright) chargers a mediocere maybye they will have fire at the end of the year right now teams that were not much last year are doing great titans did ok last year getting 2 the play off and losing 2 sandiego ( titans shoulda won) bills are good they still need 2 proove them selves agenced a good team when in thier game aginced the bills 2day should be good and steelers thier having a deacent year u never know how thier gonna do from wat i know thier good but then they will loose some games during the year that no one notices and might makeit 2 the playoffs but unever know but i am a die hard skins fan and i think skins r on the rise and that they can and will beat eagles so take that eagles fans i respect the team
chasermanx77
Potomac, MD
Total Comments (14)
Since the Oilers became the Titans in 1999 their biggest rivalry has been Baltimore. The rivalry has cooled down some since the AFC Central was broken up but these organizations still hate each other. Baltimore took the playoff game in Nashville during the 2000 season on their way to the Super Bowl win but the Titans did get a little pay back when they won the 2003 playoff game in Baltimore. I agree that it is not one of the best rivalries in the NFL but for the last 10 years it has been a pretty solid rivalry, all you need to do is ask the coaches, players, and fans of the two cities and they'd agree too.
zazzi82
Franklin , TN
Total Comments (16)
well dallas redskins rivalry is arguably the most well know and most hard fought rivalry in foot abll and even sports in genral but many people dont know (unless ur a fan for the NFC east the whole division is a rivalry every game they compete at almost en equal level theres raely a divisional game in hte NFC east that is a blow out they dont care if thier already in the playoffs or notits always a hard fought battle with every team so redskins egals huge divisionall games so far eagals dallas CLOSE, giants skins (ok i admitit the skins suked the 1st 1/2 of the game and then the D did good in the 2nd) with in 9 points, skins vs cow girls CLOSE (example redskins unfavored in many of thier matches yet they still have beeten the many of the times so this upcomming skins @ eagles is gonna be a great one and a close one
chasermanx77
Potomac, MD
Total Comments (14)
Regardless of rivalries, the Ravens-Titans game should still be ranked #1 of the week. The fact is you've got an undefeated team that's been playing well going up against the best defense of the league. And the Ravens are at home which means Ray will have the crowd fired up. It should be one heck of a game.
Matt86
Essex , MD
Total Comments (1)
yea its a big game but i definetly think it sould be sendond 2 behind the skins eagles srry the skins eagles is husge right now not only importance for each team and division
chasermanx77
Potomac, MD
Total Comments (14)
goin 2 giants game! gonna see em lose!!!!!
mamosa1993
Teaneck , NJ
Total Comments (54)
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