The NFL's Top Ten At The Half

With eight games won and a seemingly easy schedule the rest of the way with the exception of the Patriots, the New Orleans Saints could make a run at 16-0!

Considering what happen to the Patriots when they obsessed over a perfect season, losing a game or two before having what looks like home field advantage throughout the playoffs might not be such a bad thing.

The Saints are the comeback kids no matter what the score and they can beat you almost at will from anywhere on the field.

Drew Brees is having another career season and it will be tough for the Saints not to get to the NFC title game. With Sharper anchoring a great defense, this could be the year the Saints go marching in!

I rank the Saints #1 in the NFL.

#2 The Pittsburgh Steelers

At 6-2, the defending Super Bowl champions have won five in a row and made the Bronocs look real bad at home in Denver.

Big Ben remains underrated and overlooked no matter how many times he plays clutch when the game is on the line. Mike Tomlin has arguably the greatest big time quarterback since Joe Montana and don't be suprised if the Steelers repeat come February!

#3 The New England Patriots

After two divisional losses, Belichick's Patriots are back at the top of the AFC East with no real competition for the title.

Brady has executed and the running game is beginning to come around.

At 6-2, the Patriots will be tested when they play Indianapolis in a match-up that could determine home field advantage come January. There is no better cold weather team in the NFL than the New England Patriots.

#4 The Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning is taking this team into his own hands and he's winning close games week in and week out.

The loss of Tony Dungy has not effected the play of the Colts, but they really haven't been tested thus far. Look for the Patriots game to define the Colt season in another classic Brady/Manning classic.

#5 Dallas Cowboys

With a new stadium and a uplifting win over the Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys are the hottest team in the NFC East.

Tony Romo has taken charge and the offense can stretch the field even in a post, TO offense. I like the Cowboys to go deep into the playoffs in a possible NFC showdown with New Orleans in the Superdome.

#6 The Minnesota Vikings

At 7-1, Bret Favre is looking for home field advantage and hopefully a showdown inside versus an outside match-up back east. For Favre, an NFC Championship game indoors is essential to getting over the hump and back to the Super Bowl for a third and last time. With the division all but clinched, the Vikings will need the #1 or #2 seed to get to the big dance.

#7 Philadelphia Eagles

Don't count out the Eagles.

At 5-3, Philadelphia is poised for the first Wildcard slot and that means winning on the road. If the Eagles can get hot and somehow win the NFC East, they have a clear advantage come playoff time if they force teams to play in the cold of Philadelphia come January.

Andy Reid is a playoff scarred coach who has been to 1 Super Bowl and 5 NFC conference championships. If the Eagles can find lightening in a bottle, they could do some damage come the playoffs.

#8 The Denver Broncos

Josh McDaniels is a leading candidate for coach of the year honors unless the wheels fall off in Denver.

They shouldn't.

The Broncos have a playoff caliber defense and a quarterback who doesn't make the big errors. That should be enough to go 10-6 and win the division, but the Chargers are close on their heals at 5-3.

#9 The Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer and the Bengals are the second biggest shock of the 2009 campaign.

A team that should be 7-1, the Bengals will be tested in December where they have not fared well in the past. They've done enough to make the playoffs, but I'm not sold on how deep they can survive with teams like the Steelers, Colts and Patriots as the competition.

#10 San Diego Chargers

Rivers went into the Meadowlands and won a game many thought they could not win.

The Chargers are not as high powered as in the past with the decline of LT, but the Chargers are a playoff tested bunch that understands the season begins in January.

Don't be shocked if the Chargers overtake the Broncos and win the AFC West.