It is now six weeks into the NFL regular season, more than enough time to make some solid decisions about the teams in this league. Of course, with scheduling dynamics, injuries, and the totally unforeseen, things to change quite often in the NFL, but right now is as good a time as any to rank the teams in the NFL.

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There is a lot of talk on SportsCenter and shows of its ilk about which is the best team overall, in the AFC, in the NFC, etc. There are many ways one can reach a conclusion, but one of the ways I have used for years in making these types of decisions is a simple math model I call the Fredrick Value Index. I started these a few years back after stumbling onto the Aikman Efficiency Ratings, done by, of course, Troy Aikman. He broke things down in a simple and logical manner, and I tried to do the same thing in rating the teams. Over time, these have become a big part of my overall Power Rating formula.

The manner in which the numbers are derived is incredibly simple, but simple is not always bad. There are only two steps in coming up with a FVI number. First, give a team five (5) points for every game that it has won. Second, give a team two (2) points for every game that a DEFEATED opponent has won. For example, Kansas City has one win, and the team they beat (Washington) has two wins, so KC has a FVI of 9 (5+2+2). It is that simple, but very telling once you take a close look. So, here are the overall FVI ratings after Week Six:

Pure Points - Rankings

Rank Team Value Points Record 1 Denver 62 6-0 2 New Orleans 53 5-0 3 Minnesota 52 6-0 4 N.Y. Giants 51 5-1 5 Indianapolis 45 5-0 6 Cincinnati 42 4-2 7 Atlanta 40 4-1 8 New England 38 4-2 9 Arizona 31 3-2 10 Chicago 29 3-2 11 NY Jets 29 3-3 12 Pittsburgh 28 4-2 13 Baltimore 27 3-3 14 Houston 27 3-3 15 San Francisco 25 3-2 16 Green Bay 23 3-2 17 Dallas 21 3-2 18 Jacksonville 21 3-3 19 Philadelphia 21 3-2 20 Miami 20 2-3 21 Oakland 18 2-4 22 San Diego 18 2-3 23 Buffalo 16 2-4 24 Seattle 16 2-4 25 Carolina 14 2-4 26 Detroit 11 1-5 27 Washington 10 2-4 28 Cleveland 9 1-5 29 Kansas City 9 1-5 30 Tennessee 0 0-6 31 St Louis 0 0-6 32 Tampa Bay 0 0-6

I have listed the winless teams in order of the combined winning percentages of the teams they have played, and by that measure Tampa is the worst team in the league, as their foes are 17-16 on the year, while the Titans foes are a combined 22-13.

There are a lot of interesting things that come from a look at this chart, but maybe the most telling is the placement of the defending Super Bowl champs, as the Steelers come in at just #12 in the ratings, below three teams that have lesser records. San Diego at #22 is also a little startling. It is true that these numbers are a bit skewed due to bye weeks, and more info can be fleshed out once all the byes are done, but this is definitely an interesting guide.

The FVI shows that the 6-0 Broncos are the top rated team in the league, and even with a bye this week and a Saints win Denver will at least hang onto a share of the lead. That is unless the Vikings beat the Steelers, which the rankings indicate is a strong possibility. In that case Minnesota would pick up five points for the win and eight points for the Steelers' four wins on the year, pushing them above both the Saints and the Broncos.

Another way I use the FVI is to group teams. I take a look at the undefeated teams, the one-loss teams, two loss teams, etc. There are times this type of examination shows some very interesting things. Here is this week's Grouping Report:

Group Report

Team Value Points Record Denver 62 6-0 New Orleans 53 5-0 Minnesota 52 6-0 Indianapolis 45 5-0   N.Y. Giants 51 5-1 Atlanta 40 4-1   Cincinnati 42 4-2 New England 38 4-2 Arizona 31 3-2 Chicago 29 3-2 Pittsburgh 28 4-2 San Francisco 25 3-2 Green Bay 23 3-2 Dallas 21 3-2 Philadelphia 21 3-2   N.Y. Jets 29 3-3 Baltimore 27 3-3 Houston 27 3-3 Jacksonville 21 3-3 Miami 20 2-3 San Diego 18 2-3   Oakland 18 2-4 Buffalo 16 2-4 Seattle 16 2-4 Carolina 14 2-4 Washington 10 2-4   Detroit 11 1-5 Cleveland 9 1-5 Kansas City 9 1-5   Tennessee 0 0-6 St Louis 0 0-6 Tampa Bay 0 0-6

This shows that the one loss Giants actually rate out higher than the no loss Colts, and that four three loss teams have tied or higher ratings than the lowest ranked two loss teams, Dallas and Philadelphia. Situations like this occur when the defeated opponents are weak, and in this case the combined record of the three teams both Dallas and Philly have beaten is 3-15, with those teams being Carolina, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay. Jacksonville shares the dubious honor of beating teams with a combined record of 3-15, but Washington takes the "prize" in that department, as the teams they have beaten this season are a combined 0-10.

A nice way to use these rating is to PLAY ON the team with the higher FVI when they are an underdog to a lower ranked team, especially if that lower ranked team has a better record. This week Dallas (21 on FVI) is a four-point favorite over Atlanta, and the Falcons rate a 41 on the FVI. If you think I like the Dirty Birds in that game you are thinking correctly. The FVI is also strong on the Vikings getting points from the Steelers.