Sunday hangouts: every stadium in the NFL comes to life on game day, but some venues have a much stronger pulse than others

Americans don't get romantic and poetic about their football stadiums like they do their baseball stadiums. We don't produce documentaries on football stadiums or refer to them as "cathedrals." Fans don't make "pilgrimages" to football stadiums--they do road trips. A football stadium is a place to drink beer and scream, not get misty-eyed and nostalgic.

Perhaps if we looked at some of the stadiums more closely, our appreciation for them would be heightened. A great football stadium can salvage a nice day out of a bad game. It can be a cauldron for passion and create a dramatic environment.

The NFL offers some exceptional jewels--as well as some exceptional dumps. After visiting all 31 NFL stadiums (remember, the Giants and Jets share one), here is one man's ranking, from best to worst.

1 Qwest Field Seattle

The best place in the world to watch football might not be your easy chair after all. This is the hidden treasure of America's stadiums. The architecture reflects the great Northwest, and the design offers magnificent views of it. From various points around the stadium, you can see Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. The stadium design flows beautifully with neighboring Safeco Field, home of the Mariners. The triangular seating section in the north end zone is a fine touch. Qwest Field is located not far from downtown Seattle in a trendy area that's great for pregame and postgame partying.

2 Raymond James Stadium Tampa

The thing I love most about this place is its strong identity. From the palm trees in the end zone to the flags that line the top of the stadium, this place screams Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 103-foot-long pirate ship in Buccaneer Cove in the north end zone is the best feature in any NFL stadium, and the communal areas are better than any other stadium's. The open end zones give the place an airy feeling. Very few parts of the stadium are shaded, so Florida's sunshine seemingly is everywhere during day games.

3 Reliant Stadium Houston

This is a stunning building that's all glass and light. It literally sparkles. In fact, it looks more like a modern place of worship than a place for football. Still, it's a spectacular venue for a game, regardless of whether the retractable roof is open. The unusual roof, which is made of a translucent fiberglass fabric, allows for natural grass, which players appreciate.

4 Ford Field Detroit

This is the best indoor stadium ever. The brick and the exposed duct work make this place feel like one of those trendy, oversize lofts that was converted from an old factory. The seven-story atrium and the connection to Hudson's warehouse are nice touches. You have to credit the Ford family because the stadium has helped revitalize the downtown area.

5 Cleveland Browns Stadium Cleveland

The location on Cleveland's Northcoast Harbor, near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center, is excellent. The gaps in the seating bowl allow fans to see downtown Cleveland. The stadium's multitude of glass creates a light, airy feel. The Dawg Pound is a distinctive bow to the tradition of Municipal Stadium, which used to occupy the plot of land where Browns Stadium sits.

6 Lambeau Field Green Bay

No stadium reflects its team and community better. It's a shrine as much as a stadium, the place where St. Vince worked miracles. Lambeau has the feel of a high school stadium but with more amenities. The renovations that were completed in 2003 added style and elegance to the place. The new atrium is wonderful. Where else can you get married and then cheer your favorite team to victory all in the same facility? What I don't like about Lambeau--or what my back doesn't like--is the aluminum bleacher seating.

7 Heinz Field Pittsburgh

What makes Heinz special is the open south end zone. A huge community concourse allows spectators to have views of where the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers intersect. The gold seats are a nice touch. When the Steelers score, the Heinz bottle atop the scoreboard tips and pours. No other stadium has made the potentially ugly specter of a corporate sponsor so entertaining. Heinz Field is pleasing to the eye, and it gives class to Pittsburgh's North Shore.

8 Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia

Lincoln Financial Field is to Veterans Stadium what the computer is to the typewriter. Open corners of the north end zone offer a nice view of downtown Philly and also make this one of the windiest venues in the NFL. The vertical design makes this a noisy, intimidating place for visitors.

9 Bank of America Stadium Carolina

With Carolina blue providing the accents, this place is easy on the eyes. The facade, with the arched entryways, is beautiful. The panther statues are excellent greeters. This is a comfortable, pleasant place to spend an afternoon.

10 Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati

You have to love a new stadium with nostalgic touches. You can glimpse inside from neighboring buildings, and it's named after the team's founder, not a corporate sponsor. The views of the city and the Ohio River give this place flair. The architectural design, which includes a canopy over the upper deck on both sides and an angled upper row of seats in the end zones, is interesting. The stadium's exterior enhances downtown Cincinnati.