Houston coach Gary Kubiak finally had enough of Steve Slaton’s fumbling and benched him in favor of Ryan Moats in the Texans’ victory over the Bills. Was this a one-week experiment, or will Slaton be relegated to platooning the rest of the season?

Fantasy owners might hope Slaton returns, but the Texans need to get serious quickly. They aren’t going to catch the Colts in the AFC South, and 10-6 in the AFC might not be good enough for a wild card (remember, 11-5 didn’t get the Patriots into the playoffs last year). Houston has little margin for error, and Slaton simply is committing too many errors.

The Texans’ bigger problem emerging from Sunday’s victory: Tight end Owen Daniels is out for the season with a torn ACL. If their offense doesn’t adapt, forget about the playoffs.

– Minnesota’s Brett Favre was tremendous in beating the Packers at Lambeau Field. But before heaping too much praise upon Favre, it must be asked, where was the Green Bay defense all game? Aaron Rodgers did what he could to keep the Packers close, only to see the defense let Favre march down for another touchdown.

– The Giants are regressing fast, and even though third place in the NFC East still could get them into the playoffs, they need something to change quickly. Eli Manning was playing so well to start the season but now doesn’t look like he deserves his big contract. And it won’t help that the Chargers are up next.

– Finally, Tom Cable needs to go. Now.

Not much movement in the rankings this week, with the Panthers making the biggest jump (three spots), and the Broncos and Packers each falling three.

1. Colts (7-0)
2. Saints (7-0)
3. Patriots (5-2)
4. Steelers (5-2)
5. Vikings (7-1)
6. Cowboys (5-2)
7. Broncos (6-1)
8. Eagles (5-2)
9. Bengals (5-2)
10. Giants (5-3)
11. Ravens (4-3)
12. Cardinals (4-3)
13. Texans (5-3)
14. Falcons (4-3)
15. Chargers (4-3)
16. Dolphins (4-4)
17. Packers (4-3)
18. Bears (4-3)
19. Jets (4-4)
20. 49ers (3-4)
21. Panthers (3-4)
22. Jaguars (3-4)
23. Bills (3-5)
24. Seahawks (3-4)
25. Raiders (2-6)
26. Redskins (2-5)
27. Titans (1-6)
28. Chiefs (1-6)
29. Lions (1-6)
30. Browns (1-6)
31. Rams (1-7)
32. Buccaneers (0-7)

Minnesota’s Brett Favre committed two turnovers that Pittsburgh turned into touchdowns, pretty much giving the Steelers the victory. Think there are some Jets fans who watched the game feeling deja vu? After all, Favre started last season like he hadn’t aged, then descended the Jets into a morass of turnovers and losses.

I don’t think the Vikings are going to fall apart like the Jets did last year, but it should be remembered that Favre isn’t the perfect QB. I’m sure the Packers are remembering that as the Vikes prepare to play at Lambeau on Sunday.

Speaking of Jets …

– Give Mark Sanchez a break for eating that hot dog when his team was nearing the end of its easy victory over the Raiders. He was hungry and really not needed anymore; he wasn’t hot dogging (sorry, couldn’t resist).

– But don’t let Kansas City’s Larry Johnson off the hook for tweeting his displeasure after the Chiefs’ loss. He needs to be with another team next year: This marriage is over.

– There are some bad teams in the NFL this season, but why did the Bears pretend to be one of them against the Bengals? One week Chicago is solid, the next week is a disaster. Get ready for 7-9, Bears fans.

– Finally, with the Bills not throwing him the ball, I’m anticipating the Terrell Owens rant we’ve come to know and expect. He’s been unusually quiet the last few weeks as he’s been targeted less and less; something big is coming. And it should be entertaining.

Not too much movement this week, with several teams making nothing more than a two-spot jump. The Falcons and Bears tie for the fall, down four each.

1. Colts (6-0)
2. Saints (6-0)
3. Broncos (6-0)
4. Patriots (5-2)
5. Steelers (5-2)
6. Vikings (6-1)
7. Cowboys (4-2)
8. Giants (5-2)
9. Eagles (4-2)
10. Cardinals (4-2)
11. Bengals (5-2)
12. Falcons (4-2)
13. Ravens (3-3)
14. Packers (4-2)
15. Texans (4-3)
16. Chargers (3-3)
17. Dolphins (3-4)
18. Jets (4-3)
19. Bears (3-3)
20. 49ers (3-3)
21. Jaguars (3-3)
22. Bills (3-4)
23. Seahawks (2-4)
24. Panthers (2-4)
25. Raiders (2-5)
26. Redskins (2-5)
27. Lions (1-5)
28. Chiefs (1-6)
29. Titans (0-6)
30. Browns (1-6)
31. Buccaneers (0-7)
32. Rams (0-7)

In the aftermath of Drew Brees’ mauling of the Giants and Tom Brady’s obliteration of the Titans, I must ask: Which quarterback had the better day? Statistically, it was Brady, but Brees theoretically faced a better defense.

Brady wins because he was passing in a blizzard while Brees was passing in a dome. After the previous week’s loss to the Broncos, do you think the Patriots were trying to make a statement that they still are the team to beat in the AFC?

More random musings from the weekend that was:

– Why do the Eagles always seem to lose a few inexplicable games every season (or last year, tie the Bengals)? Playing the Raiders should have been a gimme, but instead, the Eagles missed a chance to gain ground on the Giants.

– The Broncos’ road throwback AFC jerseys are far less obnoxious than their home jerseys. And maybe it’s just me, but with the team rolling, this might be the wrong week for Denver’s bye.

– Finally, who will get fired first: Dick Jauron, Jim Zorn or Jeff Fisher? Jauron at least got a reprieve when the Bills beat the Jets, and I would think the Tennessee brass respects Fisher’s years of service to wait until the end of the season. That leaves Zorn, whose Redskins now start playing teams with at least one victory under their belts.

It’s kind of a strange week for the rankings: The Cowboys jumped five spots without even playing, thanks to losses to many teams in front of them. Dallas tied Arizona for the week’s biggest gain, while the Chargers tumbled the most, down six.

1. Colts (5-0)
2. Saints (5-0)
3. Vikings (6-0)
4. Broncos (6-0)
5. Giants (5-1)
6. Patriots (4-2)
7. Steelers (4-2)
8. Falcons (4-1)
9. Cowboys (3-2)
10. Eagles (3-2)
11. Cardinals (3-2)
12. Bengals (4-2)
13. Ravens (3-3)
14. Packers (3-2)
15. Bears (3-2)
16. Dolphins (2-3)
17. Texans (3-3)
18. Chargers (2-3)
19. 49ers (3-2)
20. Jets (3-3)
21. Panthers (2-3)
22. Jaguars (3-3)
23. Seahawks (2-4)
24. Bills (2-4)
25. Raiders (2-4)
26. Redskins (2-4)
27. Chiefs (1-5)
28. Lions (1-5)
29. Browns (1-5)
30. Titans (0-6)
31. Buccaneers (0-6)
32. Rams (0-6)

The surprise Bengals make this week’s biggest jump, up six from No. 16 to No. 10. The Jets take the worst tumble, down seven spots.

1. Giants (5-0)
2. Colts (5-0)
3. Saints (4-0)
4. Vikings (5-0)
5. Broncos (5-0)
6. Eagles (3-1)
7. Patriots (3-2)
8. Steelers (3-2)
9. Falcons (3-1)
10. Bengals (4-1)
11. Ravens (3-2)
12. Chargers (2-2)
13. Bears (3-1)
14. Cowboys (3-2)
15. Jets (3-2)
16. Cardinals (2-2)
17. Dolphins (2-3)
18. Packers (2-2)
19. 49ers (3-2)
20. Texans (2-3)
21. Seahawks (2-3)
22. Panthers (1-3)
23. Redskins (2-3)
24. Jaguars (2-3)
25. Titans (0-5)
26. Lions (1-4)
27. Browns (1-4)
28. Bills (1-4)
29. Raiders (1-4)
30. Chiefs (0-5)
31. Buccaneeers (0-5)
32. Rams (0-5)

I experienced a miserable fantasy performance in Week 4 that I’m ready to move on. But in the interest of consistency …

– Congratulations to Brett Favre, who rose to the occasion and defeated his old team. But the biggest reason the Vikings won Monday night was their defense, as well as the Packers’ ailing offensive line. And remember, we were all impressed with Favre for a couple months last season with the Jets, and we know how that ended.

– Is it just me, or do the bad teams look really bad this year? The Chiefs, Browns, Bucs, Rams and Raiders all look worse than the Lions. That’s bad.

– I’m starting to think that it might not be Tony Romo, but the team for which he plays. Was throwing at Champ Bailey twice with the game on the line his bad choice or the coaches’? If the Cowboys go 8-8, expect big changes from Jerry Jones.

– Speaking of the Broncos, nice victory, but it’s going to come crashing down a little over the next five weeks. Still, even if they are 4-4 in November, they will contend for the AFC West title, because the Chargers don’t exactly look that great.

– Finally, I’m thinking this might be the Colts’ year (again) simply because of how Peyton Manning is playing (four games, four consecutive 300-yard passing games). With Tom Brady not quite back to form, there is no better veteran quarterback than Manning, who might be able to carry Indy even if the team’s defense struggles.

Five undefeated teams remain, and they are loading the top six of this week’s rankings. The 4-0 Broncos make the week’s biggest jump, up five spots, while the Cowboys suffer the most severe fall, down five.

1. Giants (4-0)
2. Colts (4-0)
3. Saints (4-0)
4. Vikings (4-0)
5. Patriots (3-1)
6. Broncos (4-0)
7. Ravens (3-1)
8. Jets (3-1)
9. Eagles (2-1)
10. Steelers (2-2)
11. Falcons (2-1)
12. Chargers (2-2)
13. Bears (3-1)
14. Cowboys (2-2)
15. 49ers (3-1)
16. Bengals (3-1)
17. Texans (2-2)
18. Cardinals (1-2)
19. Packers (2-2)
20. Redskins (2-2)
21. Dolphins (1-3)
22. Jaguars (2-2)
23. Titans (0-4)
24. Seahawks (1-3)
25. Panthers (0-3)
26. Bills (1-3)
27. Lions (1-3)
28. Raiders (1-3)
29. Chiefs (0-4)
30. Buccaneers (0-4)
31. Browns (0-4)
32. Rams (0-4)

Every season, it seems some surprising teams start out hot, and then the pundits start screaming “Parity!” This season, they may be right. My reasoning: Even the mediocre teams look somewhat good. How else can you explain the Broncos at 3-0, the Bengals at 2-1 (and possibly 3-0 if not for Brandon Stokley’s lucky touchdown), the 49ers at 2-1 and the Jets at 3-0. The Jaguars beat the Texans, who beat the Titans the week before, who almost beat the Steelers to open the season. Speaking of the Steelers, they are 1-2, better than the Titans, Dolphins and Panthers at 0-3.

Oh, and the Lions finally won. Let’s see if the parity lasts.

– Brett Favre made a veteran, dare I say Hall of Fame, play by stepping up and rifling that winning touchdown for the Vikings. Why do I think that will be his last great play of his career?

– I can’t decide if I like the kelly green Seahawk uniforms. Can you like something and still think it’s atrocious at the same time?

– The Raiders are bad. The Chiefs are bad. The Bucs are really bad. But the Browns might have the worst team in the NFL this season. They should have traded one of their quarterbacks when they had the chance.

– Finally, the Patriots better figure out how to score touchdowns from the end zone soon. Though it was nice to see Fred Taylor turn in his first good game with the Pats, and the Falcons are a good team, did you get the sense it wasn’t that great a victory for New England? I didn’t either.