NFL power rankings

(Before Monday night's Titans-Saints game)

1. New England (3-0)

2. Indianapolis (3-0)

3. Dallas (3-0)

4. Pittsburgh (3-0)

5. Green Bay (3-0)

6. Seattle (2-1)

7. Houston (2-1)

8. Tampa Bay (2-1)

9. Baltimore (2-1)

10. Jacksonville (2-1)

11. Carolina (2-1)

12. San Diego (1-2)

13. Denver (2-1)

14. San Francisco (2-1)

15. Washington (2-1)

16. Philadelphia (1-2)

17. Chicago (1-2)

18. Detroit (2-1)

19. Tennessee (1-1)

20. Giants (1-2)

21. Arizona (1-2)

22. Cincinnati (1-2)

23. Oakland (1-2)

24. Cleveland (1-2)

25. Jets (1-2)

26. Kansas City (1-2)

27. Vikings (1-2)

28. New Orleans (0-2)

29. Miami (0-3)

30. Buffalo (0-3)

31. Atlanta (0-3)

32. St. Louis (0-3)

Mark Craig's early MVP front-runners

1 BRETT FAVRE, QB, PACKERS

Key stats: 6 TDs, 2 INTs; 64.0 completion percentage; 93.4 passer rating.

Comment: No, I'm not insane for listing Favre ahead of Tom Brady. Hear me out. Brady has Randy Moss and the fourth-ranked running game (151.7 yards per game). Favre is carrying the 32nd-ranked running attack that's averaging 57 yards a game and has nothing remotely close to a feature back.

2 TOM BRADY, QB, PATRIOTS

Key stats: 10 TDs, 1 INT; 79.5 completion percentage; 10.1 average per attempt; 141.8 passer rating.

Comment: I know. You think I'm nuts for not listing him No. 1. And maybe I am. To average more than 10 yards per attempt while completing nearly 80 percent is out of this world.

3 RANDY MOSS, WR, PATRIOTS Ø

Key stats: 22 catches, 403 yards, five TDs, three 40-yard-plus catches.

Comment: There's a reason Brady is even greater than usual this season. It's R-a-n-d-y M-o-s-s.

4 WILLIE PARKER, RB, STEELERS

Key stats: NFL-leading 368 yards; three 100-yard games; 5.0 average per carry.

Comment: The Steelers went back to their roots with great defense and a dominant running back.

5 TONY ROMO, QB, COWBOYS

Key stats: 8 TDs, 2 INTs; 9.8 average per attempt; 111.9 passer rating.

Comment: He's oozing confidence, moving around extremely well and is locked in with T.O.

Honorable mention

PEYTON MANNING, QB, COLTS

Key stats: 5 TDs, 1 INT; 65.3 completion percentage; 104.9 passer rating.

Comment: Oh yeah, this guy is pretty good, too.

MARK CRAIG