Inside the NFL | Brady injury opens the door for a shuffling of the old order the NFL

    How cruel 2008 has been to the New England Patriots.
    Not only did they suffer an upset loss in the Super Bowl as the heavy favorite at the hands of the New York Giants after a perfect 16-0 regular season, but they also lost their MVP quarterback Tom Brady for the season not even 10 minutes into their Week 1 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs.
    With the offensive juggernaut comprised of Brady and Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss that lit up the league last season intact leading into the opener, hopes had remained high for New England to cruise to another Super Bowl this season. Now, with Brady's season over after a below-the-knees hit from Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard Sunday, and untested career backup Matt Cassel set to take the field, New England's seven-year run atop the AFC East lies in question.
    Needless to say, it's apparent that more teams can make legitimate claims as one of the league's elite. But who steps up and becomes one of the new teams to beat? Any number of teams make a case.
    The discussion should probably start with the Dallas Cowboys, who tied for the league's second-best record at 13-3 last season and should only improve this season. The Cowboys opened 2008 by dismantling a very good Cleveland Browns team, making the Browns look awful by outgaining them 487 yards to 205 in a 28-10 win. Quarterback Tony Romo, despite injuries that left an ache in his finger and blood gushing from under his chinstrap, shrugged it off and went 24-for-32 for 320 yards, nearly tripling the output of Browns QB Derek Anderson.
    Looking equally impressive at the moment is Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles, who went 21-for-33 for 361 yards and thrice put the Eagles in the end zone as Philly thrashed the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, 38-3. While the Cowboys' offense is tremendous, the Eagles' edge may be on the defensive side, especially in their ability to stop the run. The Rams' Stephen Jackson learned that the hard way last weekend, as the Eagles' D-line stuffed him for 40 yards on 14 carries.
    The Eagles' Monday night visit to Dallas is the game to watch this week, but several other teams will be looking to make statements as well. Most notably, the Pittsburgh Steelers should aim to establish themselves as top dogs in the AFC, and with the Patriots Brady-less and the Indianapolis Colts on the verge of a 0-2 start if they lose on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, that title is certainly up for grabs.
    The Steelers are led by one of the league's most underrated quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger, whose passer rating last season was second only to Brady's. Additionally, their offensive line just keeps getting stronger, and their running game was dazzling in Week 1, as Willie Parker ran all over the Houston Texans for 138 yards and three touchdowns.
    And then there's the defense. The Steelers had arguably the league's best last season, especially against the run. Against the pass, they should be improved this year; on Sunday they twice intercepted Houston's Matt Schaub, one of the league's most accurate arms, including one pick by oft-injured Pro Bowler Troy Polamalu, his first in nearly two years. Pittsburgh's defense may be the deciding factor in making the Steelers the team to watch in the AFC.
    The other team competing for the top spot is probably the San Diego Chargers, even if they were knocked off in the final seconds of Week 1 by the Carolina Panthers. Their defense is decidedly average, and losing linebacker Shawne Merriman to season-ending knee surgery clearly won't help, but the Chargers still have too many offensive weapons to ignore.
    LaDainian Tomlinson, at 29, is still one of the league's best running backs, Antonio Gates is one of the top tight ends, and Philip Rivers is one of the most explosive quarterbacks around, though not the most accurate. San Diego will pile up points, and the wins will follow.
    Of course, none of these teams is the defending Super Bowl champion — that honor belongs to the Giants. Although the Giants, while strong contenders to return to the playoffs again this January, aren't even the best team in their own division. They probably aren't even second.