Power Rankings: Fast forward to Nov. 4, Patriots-Colts
By Pete Prisco | CBSSports.com Senior Writer Follow PeteUpdated Oct. 23
JACKSONVILE, Fla. -- A short while after the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 29-7 on Monday night, the talk in the Colts' locker room wasn't about what they had just done but rather what they can do in two weeks.
Forget their dominant performance against the Jaguars and forget their game this week with the Carolina Panthers. All anybody cares about is this:
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| Bob Sanders makes all the difference for Indy's defense. (Getty Images) |
Did you know the Super Bowl is in November this year? When those two teams meet in two weeks, the hype will be over the top. It's already almost there.
That's because we have a two-team league right now. If you lined the Colts and New England Patriots, the two remaining unbeaten teams, up against any of the other 30 teams on a neutral field, they both would be at least a touchdown favorite.
That's not to take anything away from the nice start by the Green Bay Packers or the five-game winning streak by the New York Giants or the revitalization of the San Diego Chargers, but our eyes don't deceive us. None of those teams right now is in the same league with the big two.
What's even more significant is how easily they're both going about their business. The Patriots are on pace to break the single-season scoring record, while Tom Brady has 27 touchdown passes and two interceptions.
The Colts have won all three division road games after losing all three last season, and have a hammerlock on the AFC South, which might be the best division in football. They are also winning with good defense, and you know the offense can crank it up when needed.
Can Nov. 4 get here soon enough?
When the season started, we thought the Colts and Patriots and San Diego Chargers were clearly the three best teams, which is why they were atop the CBSSports.com Power Rankings. Two, the Colts and Patriots, have lived up to it. Seven weeks in, we know they're the two best, while San Diego has struggled some.
The Colts are a better team than they were in 2006 when they won the Super Bowl. The Patriots are significantly better than they were when they lost to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game, blowing a 21-3 lead.
"We know what they're doing, but we can't worry about that," Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson said after Monday night's game. "Let's not forget that's just one game and we have one before that."
Do they have to play it? Do the Patriots have to play the Redskins?
Get on with the November Super Bowl. We can hardly wait. Our network, which airs the game, will have mega-ratings for that one.
Nothing else matters in the NFL right now but two words. Colts and Patriots.
Here are the Power Rankings through Week 7:
| Power Rankings | |||
| Current | Team | Previous | |
 | 1 | Giants · Trends | 8 |
| With a young team, an elite quarterback and a coach who knows how to make these playoff runs, they will be a Super factor again. | |||
 | 2 | Packers · Trends | 1 |
| They have to do a better job on the defensive side of the ball in 2012. There was a major regress by a lot of defensive players in 2011. | |||
 | 3 | Patriots · Trends | 3 |
| Bad drafting is starting to catch up with this team. It's time to fix that. And one has to ask: Has Tom Brady lost his postseason magic? | |||
 | 4 | 49ers · Trends | 4 |
| Alex Smith is a free agent, but don't expect him to go anywhere. But if the 49ers are going to stay a good team, they have to throw it better. | |||
 | 5 | Ravens · Trends | 5 |
| This is a team getting up in years at some spots, which might mean the window is closing. | |||
 | 6 | Saints · Trends | 2 |
| Biggest offseason priority: Getting Drew Brees signed to a long-term deal. You can bet it will happen soon. | |||
 | 7 | Steelers · Trends | 6 |
| They face a lot of uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball. What veterans won't be back? Who shouldn't be? | |||
 | 8 | Texans · Trends | 10 |
| If Matt Schaub comes back healthy, this could be the team to beat in the AFC next season. They have a tough decision on Mario Williams in free agency. | |||
 | 9 | Falcons · Trends | 7 |
| They have two new coordinators, and that might be a good thing. Dirk Koetter will bring more down-the-field stuff to the offense. | |||
 | 10 | Bengals · Trends | 11 |
| This is a young team on the rise. As the young players mature, especially Andy Dalton, they will be a Super contender. | |||
 | 11 | Lions · Trends | 9 |
| It's all about improving the defense and getting more out of the running game on offense. Cliff Avril is a priority free agent. | |||
 | 12 | Cowboys · Trends | 13 |
| We think they underachieve every year, but are they really as good as we think? | |||
 | 13 | Broncos · Trends | 12 |
| The entire offseason will be devoted to making Tim Tebow a better passer. Good luck with that. | |||
 | 14 | Eagles · Trends | 14 |
| The Eagles' big splash last year didn't pay any dividends. Now they have to regroup and try and get back to playoff football. If not, Andy Reid could be gone after the 2012 season. | |||
 | 15 | Titans · Trends | 15 |
| Jake Locker needs to be the starter in 2012. It's time to move forward. | |||
 | 16 | Jets · Trends | 16 |
| How do they fix that broken team? The locker room seems to be a mess. There is a lack of discipline. | |||
 | 17 | Cardinals · Trends | 17 |
| There is talk they will get into the Manning derby? If that's true, what's that say about Kevin Kolb? | |||
 | 18 | Chargers · Trends | 18 |
| Was keeping Norv Turner the right move? Philip Rivers thinks so. But we know he has to win in 2012. | |||
 | 19 | Raiders · Trends | 19 |
| Dennis Allen takes over the NFL's most dysfunctional franchise. Is Greg Knapp the right guy to lead that talented offense? | |||
 | 20 | Seahawks · Trends | 20 |
| Who will be the starting quarterback in 2012? Do they make a push for Matt Flynn? | |||
 | 21 | Bears · Trends | 21 |
| With Mike Martz out, and Mike Tice in, it appears they will move more to a running offense. Is that a good thing? Matt Forte is a top offseason priority. | |||
 | 22 | Chiefs · Trends | 22 |
| Romeo Crennel gets his second chance to be a head coach. Better sweep the office for bugs first. | |||
 | 23 | Dolphins · Trends | 23 |
| I like the hire of Joe Philbin, a bright offensive mind. Now they need to get him a quarterback. Peyton Manning? | |||
 | 24 | Redskins · Trends | 24 |
| Here's another team that is expected to be in the Manning sweepstakes. They have to do something there. | |||
 | 25 | Panthers · Trends | 25 |
| Cam Newton fixed the offense. Now it's time for the defense to be addressed this offseason. | |||
 | 26 | Bills · Trends | 26 |
| They are switching to a 4-3 front. That means they have to find some ends to help the pass rush. | |||
 | 27 | Jaguars · Trends | 27 |
| Mike Mularkey is the new coach, but the key will be how much of new owner Shad Kahn's money they are willing to spend in free agency. | |||
 | 28 | Buccaneers · Trends | 28 |
| New coach Greg Schiano's first order of duty has to be to get Josh Freeman playing to his 2010 levels again. | |||
 | 29 | Browns · Trends | 29 |
| They have to decide if Colt McCoy is the long-term answer. He didn't look like it in 2011. | |||
 | 30 | Vikings · Trends | 30 |
| They need to get better players around Christian Ponder. He needs weapons, especially with Adrian Peterson coming off a torn ACL. | |||
 | 31 | Colts · Trends | 31 |
| The Peyton Manning saga is getting old. The team needs to make a decision soon and move on. New coach Chuck Pagano has a lot of work to do. | |||
 | 32 | Rams · Trends | 32 |
| Jeff Fisher takes over a team with a lot of holes. They have to get Sam Bradford some weapons. | |||
