Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs before he dove in for the game winning touchdown in overtime of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Broncos 26-20.
NFL logoThere was a sigh of relief across the NFL landscape this weekend as the discussion returned to the field, leaving the courtrooms and news-conference podiums behind.
Yes, the swirling stories of seediness will return, but at least for a Sunday we had football, and it was good.
1. Seattle (2-1): The most complete team in the hard salary-cap era, these Seahawks are balanced and fast and good. And if they get home-field advantage and the NFC playoffs roll through Seattle, well, good night and thanks for playing.
2. Cincinnati (3-0: The AFC's version of Seattle, the Bengals have a complete roster and a small window before quarterback Andy Dalton's big paydays alter the team's cap space. The Bengals have the best scoring differential in the league and can beat you in just about any way you'd like.
3. Denver (2-1): A serious contender as long as No. 18 is taking snaps. Seriously, that game-tying drive Sunday in Seattle was like what Martin Riggs said in the first "Lethal Weapon" when he describing how lethal he was. There were only five guys in the world who could make that shot. Peyton Manning continues to do things that you find hard to believe or quantify.
4. Philadelphia (3-0): The worst thing for specific SEC fans about the Eagles' success is Chip Kelly is proving that pace and spread can work in the league. Some enterprising owner is going to call Gus Malzahn or Kevin Sumlin sooner rather than later.
5. Arizona (3-0): This week's Bill Parcells honoree for the teams that are what their records say they are. The Cardinals have one of the game's best pass rushes, and in a pass-first, pass-last league, if you can get to the opposing quarterback you have a chance every week.
Bottom five
28. Minnesota (1-2): The Vikings ship is sinking, and you could see this bunch finishing 1-15, right? When your offense in a pass-happy league is built around an elite running back and a terrible passing game, and you lose that running back, well, buckle up, Buttercup, because points are going to be tough to find.
29. Oakland (0-3): There was a Darren McFadden sighting this weekend, which is always nice. Still, the Raiders are not really good at much of anything.
30. Jacksonville (0-3): You could make an argument that you could flip the Jaguars and the Raiders, since Jacksonville at least feels like it's building something. Blake Bortles will be taking the training wheels off sooner rather than later. Plus, the Jags have a pool in their stadium. Pool or a pond ... pond would be good for you.
31. Tampa Bay (0-3): What was that? The Bucs were down 56-0 at the end of three quarters last Thursday at Atlanta. Man, that's almost Goodell bad, but not really.
32. Roger Goodell (0-for-2014): Nowhere to go but up, right? Tick-tock, tick-tock, Roger. Senator, love the suit.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp. Listen to Jay and David Paschall on Press Row every weekday from 3-6 on ESPN 105.1 FM and timesfreepress.com.