STEVE SPRINGER’S RANKINGS

TOP 5

1. INDIANAPOLIS--All that offense and, last week, they showed a little defense.

2. ST. LOUIS--All that offense, but they didn’t show much defense.

3. TAMPA BAY--Good, but they’ll need Shaun King to step up if they want to be great.

4. WASHINGTON--Living up to expectations so far.

5. BUFFALO--Hard-and-fast rule: Any team that can beat the Titans with Alex Van Pelt at quarterback in the fourth quarter makes the top five.

BOTTOM 5

27. DALLAS--Retirement must look awfully tempting to Troy Aikman.

28. SAN DIEGO--Retirement must feel awfully good to Bobby Beathard.

29. SEATTLE--Like the Steelers, the Seahawks were shut out. But nobody’s accusing Seattle of being as bad as Pittsburgh.

30. PITTSBURGH--The Steelers may be as bad as Cleveland.

31. CLEVELAND--The Browns will have to sink to new depths to remain the league’s worst team.