Below I have ranked the NFL teams into levels as I see it thus far in this season.
Level 1 (Elite)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Philadelphia</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Indianapolis</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Pittsburgh</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 2 (Knocking on the door)<o></o>
<st1:City><st1lace>San Diego</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Denver</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1lace>New England</st1lace>
<st1:City><st1lace>Atlanta</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 3 (Playoff Contenders)<o></o>
<st1lace><st1laceName>Tampa</st1laceName> <st1laceType>Bay</st1laceType></st1lace>
<st1:City><st1lace>Cincinnati</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Carolina</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Jacksonville</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Dallas</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Seattle</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 4 (Pretenders)<o></o>
N.Y. Giants
<st1:State><st1lace>Washington</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:City><st1lace>St. Louis</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Kansas City</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Buffalo</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:State><st1lace>Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:City><st1lace>Green Bay</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Baltimore</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>New Orleans</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Chicago</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Miami</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Detroit</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Oakland</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 5 (The dregs)<o></o>
N.Y. Jets
<st1:State><st1lace>Arizona</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:State><st1lace>Tennessee</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:City><st1lace>Cleveland</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Houston</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>San Francisco</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 1 (Elite)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Philadelphia</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Indianapolis</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Pittsburgh</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 2 (Knocking on the door)<o></o>
<st1:City><st1lace>San Diego</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Denver</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1lace>New England</st1lace>
<st1:City><st1lace>Atlanta</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 3 (Playoff Contenders)<o></o>
<st1lace><st1laceName>Tampa</st1laceName> <st1laceType>Bay</st1laceType></st1lace>
<st1:City><st1lace>Cincinnati</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Carolina</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Jacksonville</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Dallas</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Seattle</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 4 (Pretenders)<o></o>
N.Y. Giants
<st1:State><st1lace>Washington</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:City><st1lace>St. Louis</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Kansas City</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Buffalo</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:State><st1lace>Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:City><st1lace>Green Bay</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Baltimore</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>New Orleans</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Chicago</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Miami</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Detroit</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Oakland</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>
Level 5 (The dregs)<o></o>
N.Y. Jets
<st1:State><st1lace>Arizona</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:State><st1lace>Tennessee</st1lace></st1:State>
<st1:City><st1lace>Cleveland</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>Houston</st1lace></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1lace>San Francisco</st1lace></st1:City>
<o> </o>