#1 Atlanta Falcons (8-0)

After the first eight games of the season, the Atlanta Falcons continue to fly high with a perfect record heading into the final stretch.

With Matt Ryan making a strong case for NFL MVP and the Falcons firing on all cylinders, there’s an outside chance that Atlanta can go undefeated in the regular season with a relatively weak schedule ahead.

Although it’s doubtful the Falcons pull off the same feat as the New England Patriots did a few years back, anything is possible in the NFL.

#2 Houston Texans (7-1)

The loss to the Green Bay Packers a few weeks ago still resonates in Houston as it was a game that gave this up-and-coming franchise a bit of a reality check in terms of not yet being elite in the NFL.

Regardless of the loss, the Texans have been on hot streak as of late with seven wins in eight games thus far.

In Week 10, Matt Schaub and company may face their toughest test all season long against the surprisingly solid Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

#3 Chicago Bears (7-1)

As if playing in one of the most competitive divisions in the league wasn’t enough to doubt the Bears this season, Chicago has been shaky on offense regardless of the arrival of Jay Cutler a few years ago.

Fortunately, it appears to be a breakout year for Cutler and company as the Bears have been near unstoppable as of late with a dominant offense and defense leading the way.

#4 San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

After the devastating loss to the defending Super Bowl champions a few weeks ago, the 49ers were thought to be a flawed and streaky football team.

Fortunately, that no longer seems to be the case with Frank Gore and Alex Smith leading the offense and the defense coming back to form as one of the best in the NFL.

#5 New York Giants (6-3)

The Giants are coming off a disappointing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the NFC East is basically locked up at the halfway point if they can hold off the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

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