Around the league

Korth's power rankings

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007

---

Korth's power rankings

Top 10Bottom 5RankTeamLast weekComment28. Bengals (-) - Haven't won a game since Week 1.

29. Jets (-) - Chad Pennington deserves better than this.

30. Rams (31) - Really miss left tackle Orlando Pace.

31. Falcons (28) - Byron Leftwich isn't the answer.

32. Dolphins (32) - Sorry, not available for homecoming games.

1Patriots1Averaging 38.3 points per game.2Colts2Healthy coming off a bye week.3Steelers4They, too, are healthy coming off a bye week.4Cowboys3Still the best team in the NFC.5packers6Still winning without a running game.6jaguars7Better off without Byron Leftwich.7chargers9Finally, Norv Turner has discovered LaDainian Tomlinson.8giants8Coming into their own without Tiki Barber.9bucs-Jeff Garcia deserves a midseason raise.10ravens-Turns out, Kyle Boller is the future.

Quote of the week

"Adrian looks like a grown man playing in a Pee Wee game."

Vikings quarterbackTarvaris Jackson on rookie teammate Adrian Peterson, who leads the league with 607 rushing yards

Quote of the week, II

"They're ugly."

Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, right, explaining why after bad plays that television cameras seek out him and not his teammatese_SClBStat ofthe week

0Sacks and turnovers by the Denver defense in its past two games.

Hot reads

For coaches, NFL not like college

When are NFL owners going to learn that the NFL is nothing like college? Rookie Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, above, is finding out - like Steve Spurrier, Butch Davis and others before him - the motivational techniques that work with teenagers on scholarship do not play with men who make millions of dollars.

Finally, he made the right move

It's completely fair to question Chargers general manager A.J. Smith's decision to fire Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season, but you have to applaud his trade-deadline deal to acquire receiver Chris Chambers, below, from the Dolphins. Young quarterbackPhilip Rivers has two viable targets: running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight endAntonio Gates. Picking up Chambers just before the bye week will pay huge dividends.

How the West has lost and lost again

Of the eight teams that play in the NFC and AFC west divisions, none has a winning record. Four teams - the Chargers and Chiefs in the AFC, Seahawks and Cardinals in the NFC - are 3-3. Combined, the two divisions are 18-27. Blech.

Who's hot

Chiefs RB Priest Holmes

After missing nearly two years because of head and neck injuries stemming from a hit by Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman on Oct. 30, 2005, Holmes is making a comeback at age 34. He could be active for today's AFC West game against Oakland.

Who's cold

Denver coachMike Shanahan

The Broncos are two last-minute field goals away from being 0-5. The defense can't rush the passer and can't stop the run. The offense is misfiring under second-year quarterbackJay Cutler. Finally, in Shanahan's 13th season, the Broncos are rebuilding.