AP Pro32 ballot from Kaufman

Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune:

Week 9

IRA KAUFMAN (Tampa Tribune)

1. Atlanta _ Those Matt Ryan MVP chants are getting louder, and with good reason.

2. Houston _ This well-balanced club has the eyes of Texas fixed on a No. 1 playoff seeding.

3. New York Giants _ It's not always pretty, but the defending champs usually find a winning formula.

4. San Francisco _ The Alex Smith bashers don't have much to say this week, do they?

5. Chicago _ One day, those weekly defensive touchdowns will cease in the Windy City. One day.

6. New England _ Crossing the Atlantic seems to bring out the best in these Patriots.

7. Green Bay _ Until Greg Jennings returns, this offense will continue to struggle.

8. Denver _ Welcome back, Peyton, to the top rung of the NFL passing ladder.

9. Pittsburgh _ This defense is coming on strong, as Eli Manning is about to discover.

10. Baltimore _ With Ray Lewis sidelined, John Harbaugh is looking for new leaders. Any takers?

11. Miami _ Only the Bears and 49ers have allowed fewer points than the under-the-radar Dolphins.

12. Seattle _ They should improve to 4-0 at home by beating the reeling Vikings.

13. Minnesota _ After an outstanding first month, Christian Ponder has lost his mojo.

14. Detroit _ That last-minute win vs. Seattle could trigger a surge in Motown.

15. Dallas _ Questions abound, but knocking off the unbeaten Falcons would be quite a statement.

16. Washington _ It took awhile, but RG3 finally looked like a rookie at Pittsburgh.

17. Tampa Bay _ The new-look Bucs have averaged 34 points in the past three weeks.

18. Philadelphia _ They're getting overwhelmed in the trenches right now.

19. Indianapolis _ A win against Miami would leave the Colts in prime playoff shape at the midpoint.

20. Cincinnati _ Seeking to end a three-game slide after a week off to refresh.

21. New Orleans _ If Drew Brees isn't at the top of his game, they have no chance.

22. San Diego _ Charger fans are wondering how it could all go so wrong, so fast.

23. New York Jets _ Something's got to change in a hurry after the bye week.

24. Arizona _ Lambeau Field is hardly an easy place to end a four-game losing streak.

25. St. Louis _ They are 0-3 on the road, facing some tough challenges ahead.

26. Oakland _ They've stopped beating themselves, and that's a start.

27. Buffalo _ A reliable ground game will be severely tested in Houston.

28. Tennessee _ On pace to allow 514 points this season. Ugh.

29. Cleveland _ Respectable at home, awful on the road.

30. Carolina _ Despite every opportunity to beat the Bears, they found another way to lose.

31. Jacksonville _ The NFL's most drab attack has scored nine touchdowns in seven games.

32. Kansas City _ Thinking the unthinkable: going 0-8 at Arrowhead is now a distinct possibility.

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