NFL Rankings: Falcons perched at the top

There is only one unbeaten team remainingthe 1972 Dolphins are that much closer to popping the bubblyand no more winless teamsthe 2008 Lions are lonely at 0-16as we have finished six weeks of the 2012 NFL season. We have a new team atop the rankings in the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, who survived a home scare against the Raiders, and some shuffling at the top, including a massive leap by the defending champs after the Giants thumped the 49ers.

1 (2)Atlanta Falcons (6-0)Matt Ryan's 19 careergame-winning drives most by QB in first five seasons since 1960.2 (5)Baltimore Ravens (5-1)Defense teetering, though,with Ray Lewis lost for season with torn triceps.3 (12)New York Giants (4-2)Defending champs servenotice to league with dominant performance at the 'Stick.4 (1)Houston Texans (5-1)Still only defense in NFLyet to give up a rushing TD this season.5 (6)Chicago Bears (4-1)Bye week enables Bears tomove into stingiest points-allowed status at 14.2 per game.6 (3)Minnesota Vikings (4-2)Vikings humbled a bit by RGIII, but Percy Harvin has league-leading 49 catches.7 (4)49ers (4-2)Who's got it better thanthem? At the moment, six other teams.8 (7)Arizona Cardinals (4-2)Cue the Kevin Kolb-JohnSkelton dilemmaagain.9 (14)Seattle Seahawks (4-2)CB Richard Sherman tauntingTom Brady early candidate for Tweet of the Year.10 (18)Green Bay Packers (3-3)Yeah, Aaron Rodgers and hisfranchise-tying six TD passes sent a message.11 (8)New England Patriots (3-3)Benefactor of Tuck Rule andSpyGate Tom Brady complains of piped-in noise at Seattle?12 (19)Denver Broncos (3-3)Peyton Manning's 37fourth-quarter comebacks most by NFL QB since 1950.13 (20)New York Jets (3-3)Mark Sanchez shines, so calloff the call for Tim Tebowfor now.14 (22)Washington (3-3)Robert Griffin III. That isall.15 (23)Miami Dolphins (3-3)Raise a flipper if you sawHard Knocks and thought they'd be .500 after six games.16 (13)St. Louis Rams (3-3)Can they just get it overwith and move back to L.A. already?17 (21)Buffalo Bills (3-3)C.J. Spiller's7.6-yards-per-carry average leads the NFL.18 (10)Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)Being the victims of theircross-state rivals' first win is not a good look.19 (24)Detroit Lions (2-3)Jason Hanson's ninth OTfield goal tied for most in NFL history.20 (11)Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)Yeah, it's all JuanCastillo's fault. Right?21 (9)San Diego Chargers (3-3)Oh, Norv.22 (15)Dallas Cowboys (2-3)Looking for a positive fromAmerica's Team? Cowboys have top pass defense in the league.23 (31)Tennessee Titans (2-4)Chris Johnson's personalrecord without a TD has now reached 10 games.24 (16)Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3)BenRoethlsberger surpasses Terry Bradshaw as Steelers' all-time leading passer.But TB's appearance on 'Hooper' is way cooler.25 (26)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)Buc's already have four100-yard receiving games, after three combined in'10 and '11.26 (17)Indianapolis Colts (2-3)Defense needs to give AndrewLuck help; its three takeaways an NFL worst.27 (27)Carolina Panthers (1-4)What does an"entertainer" and an "icon" do over a bye week?28 (29)New Orleans Saints (1-4)Something says Saints aboutto embark on a potentially season-saving run after bye.29 (25)Raiders (1-4)No truth to rumor teamchanging motto to "Just keep it close, baby."30 (30)Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)MJD about to get his firsttaste of the Black Hole.31 (32)Cleveland Browns (1-5)They've turned the ball overin 24 straight games, the NFL's current longest streak.32 (28)Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)Introducing, the lone teamyet to hold a lead in regulation this season.