NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE TOP TO BOTTOM

No.: Team (Record): Comment

1. Minnesota (11-2): Say hello to NFL’s leading rusher: Robert Smith.

2. Miami (10-3): Promising stat for playoffs: Mare 22 for 23 on field goals.

3. Tennessee (10-3): Needs to get offense in tune for playoffs.

4. Oakland (10-3): Raiders best keep one eye on Denver.

5. Baltimore (9-4): League’s best defense goes against Leaf. Uh-oh.

6. Denver (9-4): Injuries haven’t hampered Broncos.

7. Philadelphia (95): This Eagle defense is legitimately good.

8. St. Louis (8-5): Turnovers might lead to turning over the title.

9. New York Jets (9-4): Jetting out to Oakland for key game.

10. New York Giants (9-4): Giant sweep of Philadelphia could prove key.

11. Washington (7-6): What’s next, Snyder wearing headset in his suite?

12. New Orleans (8-5): Incredible words: The magic number for NFC West title is three.

13. Tampa Bay (8-5): Keyshawn mentioned South Beach--maybe he can go during playoffs.

14. Indianapolis (7-6): Nah-nah-nah-nah . . .

15. Jacksonville (6-7): Jaguars started their run too late.

16. Buffalo (7-6): Crushed by injury to Sam Cowart.

17. Detroit (8-5): Bloom is off the Moeller era.

18. Pittsburgh (7-6): Gearing up for goodbye to Three Rivers.

19. Carolina (6-7): Hoover and Hetherington making a small name for themselves.

20. Green Bay (6-7): Two teams--Lions and Buccaneers--must visit Lambeau in December.

21. San Francisco (5-8): Defense tightened up, but consider the opponents.

22. Seattle (5-8): Green Bay’s Matt Hasselbeck would be good fit at quarterback.

23. Dallas (4-9): This defense is a running back’s dream.

24. Kansas City (5-8): That’s correct: Five consecutive losses.

25. Chicago (3-10): Crowton’s offense will do better at BYU. Couldn’t do any worse.

26. New England (4-9): Only Atlanta, Cleveland average fewer yards.

27. Cincinnati (3-10): Dillon should get bonus yardage for playing for Bengals.

28. San Diego (1-12): Riley’s call: Three more years here or a move to USC?

29. Atlanta (3-11): Does Dan Reeves really need this?

30. Arizona (3-10): Too many Cardinal sins to count.

31. Cleveland (3-11): Two first downs, 53 total yards in last game.