NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE TOP TO BOTTOM

No. Team (1999 Record) Comment

1. St. Louis (13-3) Ho-hum preseason, but Rams are loaded.

2. Indianapolis (13-3) Win one Super Bowl before talking three.

3. Tennessee (13-3) Won’t need a miracle this time.

4. Washington (10-6) Money at least buys win over Panthers.

5. Tampa Bay (11-5) Still adjusting to new offense.

6. Buffalo (11-5) “B” is for better than you think.

7. Minnesota (10-6) Culpepper’s performance lifting hopes.

8. Jacksonville (14-2) Beaten-up offense needs time to heal.

9. Oakland (8-8) Rison a natural for Raiders.

10. Baltimore (8-8) They’ll be Raven about defense again.

11. Denver (6-10) Won’t have another losing season.

12. Green Bay (8-8) Favre, Levens causes for concern.

13. Seattle (9-7) Holmgren made wholesale changes.

14. Carolina (8-8) Injuries might knock Panthers lower.

15. Atlanta (5-11) Anderson’s return revives team.

16. New York Jets (8-8) Chrebet, Johnson fuss from afar now.

17. New England (8-8) Patriots need a running game.

18. Dallas (8-8) Winless in exhibition games.

19. Philadelphia (5-11) Eagles have elements of turnaround.

20. San Diego (8-8) Do you be-Leaf in miracles?

21. Kansas City (9-7) Troubles keep mounting.

22. Miami (9-7) Marino second-guessing from afar.

23. Chicago (6-10) Bears on an upward arc.

24. Pittsburgh (6-10) Cowher cuts the Kord as starting QB.

25. Detroit (8-8) Batch out, Case in for Week 1.

26. New York Giants (7-9) Not-so-great Dayne yet.

27. Arizona (6-10) Hurting--in more ways than one.

28. San Francisco (4-12) Only Young for 49ers now is Bryant.

29. New Orleans (3-13) Big changes, but nothing changes.

30. Cincinnati (4-12) Smith, Warrick bring electricity.

31. Cleveland (2-14) Can’t grow up fast enough.