Before the NFL season even started, I read and heard hundreds of predictions for the NFL post season, with the majority of sports analysts picking the St. Louis Rams and other good teams from last year to finish at the top.

I decided to keep my mouth shut and instead tried to determine what teams might do good that weren’t already hyped. Of course what I came up with hasn’t totally panned out, but that’s the way this business goes.

Now that the season is entering its fifth week of head-pounding action, I’m starting to get a good idea of how things may shape up as the year progresses.

Of course a lot can happen in the remaining weeks to come, especially with injuries and whatnot. Just ask the Rams.

I’ve been an avid Kurt Warner follower since my dad got us season tickets for the Iowa Barnstormers when Warner was the star.

The last Barnstormer game I went to is when they retired his jersey. Very touching.

Anyway, I must say it will be tough for the Rams to salvage their season now that Warner is out with an injury and the team has yet to find its first win, but they’re still loaded with talent and backup quarterback Jamie Martin actually put up semi-decent numbers in his debut last Sunday.

It wasn’t too long ago that Rams star Trent Green went down and some guy named Warner took them to the Super Bowl — though I doubt that will be the case this year.

Among the teams that first appeared to be dominant when the season started, the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders for example, only one remains undefeated.

The Raaaiiiiders.

Oakland is coming off a near bid to the big game last season with their season ending in controversy against the eventual champion Patriots. This year they are hungry and stacked on offense, defense and special teams.

In the Raiders game on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, quarterback Rich Gannon passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns.

Jerry Rice added another record to his mile-long r‚sum‚ by gaining more yards from scrimmage than anyone to ever the play game. He now has 21,281 yards from scrimmage and doesn’t look like he needs to retire any time soon.

Their off-season acquisition, safety Rod Woodson, set a new NFL record for interception return yards with his 63rd and 64th interceptions.

He has a measly 1,340 interception return yards. Woodson also tied an NFL record with three fumble recoveries in one game on Sept. 15.

Special teams returner Terry Kirby already has two touchdowns this season with a kickoff and punt return while rookie Philip Buchanan has also returned a punt for a touchdown.

And you can’t forget running back Charlie Garner — who is having the best year of his career, averaging over seven yards a carry — or receiver Tim Brown, a defensive line that features Sam Adams, a tough-as-nails linebacker in Bill Romanowski and of course cornerback Charles Woodson.

I’m horrible at math, but if you add all of these Raiders together, it equals the most balanced team in the NFL. It’s not the youngest team, but if they stay healthy they won’t only win the Super Bowl, but they shouldn’t lose many games at all.

To find the only other undefeated team in the NFL, you don’t even have to travel out of the Raiders’ AFC West division. The San Diego Chargers’ young offense, which features quarterback Drew Brees and running back LaDanian Tomlinson, is finally living up to its potential.

The Chargers’ solid defense will help this young offense — if it can’t stay consistent — and if this team continues with solid play, the two meetings between the Chargers and Raiders this year will definitely be playoff previews.

The rest of the AFC West — the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs — are strong as well. The Chiefs have been able to score a lot of points, but need to bring some consistency to its defense.

The Broncos were embarrassed on Monday night by the Baltimore Ravens, but may be able to get back on track with impressive coaching from Mike Shanahan.

Many teams have the potential to do some big things this season, but no team’s immediate future shines as bright as the Raiders.

Except for maybe Nebraska football.

Kyle Moss

is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale.