NFL Power Rankings: Week 3
Things have changed quite a bit the last two weeks in the NFL season, the emergence of the Texans, the early down falls of Dallas and Minnesota, and the Resilience of the Pittsburgh Steelers are all the top stories of the past two weeks. I would also like to note that the plus minus marks next to the teams indicate their rise and fall in the rankings. The biggest rise in the rankings was the Chicago Bears with +22. The biggest fall in the rankings was the Minnesota Vikings with -20.
1. (-+) New Orleans Saints (2-0): You can say all you want to about the Saints not winning prettily, and they aren't the same "Saints" that they were last season, etc. But as of right now, the Saints have won every game they've had to play this season. Drew Brees is still playing well, and the defense has been stepping it up as well over their last 2 victories. With the Cowboys and the Vikings in 0-2 holes right now, the Saints have gotta be feeling good about their chances to get a #1 seed in the NFC again. The only concern that they should have is that Reggie Bush is gonna be out for a few weeks due to the trauma that his leg went under on that muffed punt return in which his leg seemed to snap back like a twig. If they are in the lead when he gets back, they should be in good shape.
2. (+18) Houston Texans (2-0): Of all the 2-0 teams, the team that has been the most impressive has been this Texan team, beginning with that beat down of the Indianapolis Colts. Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub are once again playing great football, and the emergence of Arian Foster has given this team a third dimension in the running game along with Steve Slaton. The Defense is lead by DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams. Those two guys can give any running game a tough game. Ultimately, I really think that this team is playing great football, and I look for them to beat the Cowboys on Sunday.
3. (+6) Green Bay Packers (2-0): As if Packer fans were ever questioning the move to get rid of Brett Favre and go with Aaron Rogers, these first two weeks should help argue in favor of getting rid of Favre, though at the end of the season things may be different. They haven't played anybody of real relevance yet, but the beat down against the Bills up in Lambeau of 34-7 sent a message to the rest of the NFL that they are an elite team, and that they aren't gonna be an easy out. Aaron Rogers threw for 255 yards in that game along with 2 TD passes. In addition to that, he had a rushing TD to top it all off. His Passer rating over the first two games is 94.0 and against Buffalo his rating was 116.3. If he plays well every game, they are gonna be a tough team to face come playoff time. People are saying that this is your NFC Champ this year, and right now, I don't see why not.
4. (-2) Indianapolis Colts(1-1): The loss to the Texans in week 1 was sad, but they bounced back quite nicely by mauling the New York Giants. Peyton had fun beating his little brother. They got the weapons and pieces to return to the Super Bowl, but they gotta fix the run defense.
5. (+22) Chicago Bears (2-0): For the time being, the Bears have reached the top 5 of my power rankings, and here is why: Jay Cutler is playing way better than he has ever played, and they just beat the Cowboys in the Big D. Perhaps the Mike Martz era will bring about a serious run to the Super Bowl.
6. (+12) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0): The Steelers were said to be "Lucky" if they could come out of the Ben Rothelisburger with a 2-2 record. Here they are, with 2 wins, and going into week three they are starting Charlie Batch, with Byron Leftwich at Backup, and get this, Antwaan Randel El is their third string QB! At the rate things are going, he might play QB this year for them and start. With Charlie Batch starting this week, things will be interesting as they go into Tampa Bay. I think they'll come out with a win, and move on to 3-0. This start is truly a testament to the kind of defense that they play up in Pittsburgh. Everybody in that organization who has played or coached in the last 2 games should be applauded. They and the Dolphins have given up the fewest points in the NFL with only 20 in the first two weeks.
7. (+7) Miami Dolphins (2-0): They squeaked past Buffalo, they slithered past Minnesota into this 2-0 start, and honestly, they've shown that they are a team to be reckoned with. Chad Henne's rating of 85.1 isn't bad at all either, he has only thrown one TD pass all season, but he hasn't thrown an INT to his credit. Look for them to put together a solid campaign now that they got Brandon Marshall. Also, like I mentioned above, they have given up the fewest points of any team in the NFL along with Pittsburgh with a mere 20 points. Definitely a good sign.
8. (-+) Cincinnati Bengals (1-1): Despite getting spanked up in New England, I like the way Carson Palmer and his gang came back the next week to beat the Baltimore Ravens at home. The Bengals showed substance with that win. I expect this team to be a contender all the way down the line this season. They are looking good so far, and have an important three game stretch coming up against Carolina, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay. All three teams that they should beat. They should go into their bye week with a 4-1 record. Also to note, they picked up QB Dan LeFevour from the Bears. Don't be surprised if he comes in and does a little bit of damage this season, and make the Bears feel really bad for letting him go. The kid has a remarkable ability to throw a football accurately, and he can move.
9. (-4) Baltimore Ravens (1-1): A let down did follow in Cincinnati after they beat the Jets on Monday Night to open up their season. Joe Flacco is supposed to have a great season, and he didn't excel against the Bengals. I love their D, and Ray Lewis is still scary as ever. But if Flacco struggles, it could bring the whole team down. They don't want a situation where they have the defense, the running game is great, they got the wide outs, but the QB isn't up to snuff. I think Flacco will bounce back this week, when they play the Browns this Sunday.
10. (-6) New York Jets (1-1): The loss to the Ravens stung, but the win against the filthy Patriots was more than just a Moral victory, it was a statement that they are here to stay in the AFC East as a division threat and that they have a great young QB in Mark Sanchez. However, with Darrelle Revis sidelined and Braylon Edwards getting a DWI, this team is in a critical situation early.
11. (+15) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0): The wins haven't been pretty, and Matt Cassel hasn't exactly wooed their fans with his 55.8 passer rating, but they've won, and the defense has seemed vastly improved. Also, I like the fact that they've got Dexter McCluster out their as their own version of Reggie Bush. McCluster is a very exciting player to watch. He already has a Punt Return for a TD that was 94 yards.
12. (+18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0): The defense is playing well, the QB hasn't blown any games, and now they'll get their first real test against the Steelers this week. We'll see how good they really are this Sunday. I hold my tongue on what I said about them in the last rankings, they might be good this year. Maybe.
13. (-2) New England Patriots (1-1): Losing to the Jets was depressing, but Moss did have the catch of the week with that one handed grab on Revis Island. Too bad Mark Sanchez had to spoil their party.
14. (+3) Washington Redskins (1-1): The Loss to Houston will sting like rubbing alcohol on a shark bite, but the win against Dallas trumps it. They have to feel good about the way things have started in the Shanahan/McNabb era.
15. (+4) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1): The big controversy brewing in the City of Brotherly Love, is the QB situation about Vick getting the nod over Kolb. It's a bold decision that may comeback to haunt them.
16. (-10) San Diego Chargers (1-1): I really don't like how this team is handling the Vincent Jackson situation. Don't trade him, use him! He's the best WR you got, and without him you guys ain't going no where.
17. (-5) Atlanta Falcons (1-1): They lost to the Steelers in OT, and had vengeance the next week by torturing the Arizona Cardinals 41-7, the less aggressive bird of the two.
18. (-2) Tennessee Titans (1-1): Similar deal as Philly, only they're making the right QB move, not the bad one. Kerry Collins is a nice substitute QB, but benching Vince Young to put in Kerry Collins after what happened last season would be atrocious. Vince Young will bounce back this week against the Giants.
19. (+3) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): The win against the Broncos was a nice way to open up week one, but the way that the Chargers beat them was embarrassing. They have a better team then people think, and they are dangerous, but they need to do better on the road.
20. (+1) Denver Broncos (1-1): The arrival of Tim Tebow has brought hope to this team, and hopefully they'll let him get his feet wet this year and make a difference for them. They looked good against Seattle, and played the Jags tightly in their week 1 loss. Nothing to worry about yet.
21. (-6) New York Giants (1-1): The loss to the Colts was embarrassing, and the way the Panthers got stomped by Tampa Bay, their week one win over Carolina doesn't look as good as they thought.
22. (-15) Dallas Cowboys (0-2): They've played like complete crap over the last 2 weeks and have kicked themselves in the shins by losing to the Redskins and Bears. Right now, they are looking like a Mirage, completely over-rated, and over-hyped. They need to win against the Texans this week, otherwise you can kiss their playoff chances goodbye. As far as Wade Phillips is concerned, why is he still coaching in the NFL? What does he do in the post-season? Lose!
23. (-20) Minnesota Vikings (0-2): They've played close games, but lost them both. Luckily they got the Detroit Lions this week, and then a Bye Week. I expect them to climb back into the Top 10 sooner than later, but right now, they're gonna have to play a lot better offense. Adrian Peterson is playing great, and the defense is stepping up, but the O-Line and Favre is the concern right now. I think they'll get things straightened out this week and beat the Lions by 20 points.
24.(+5) Seattle Seahawks (1-1): The way they flogged the 49ers in week one was great, but the Broncos whipped them wasn't good. They'll have a pretty weak season, but may get a few wins thanks to the Cards and Rams.
25. (-15) San Francisco 49ers (0-2): The third 0-2 team in the NFC that is seeming to be under achieving. The Seattle game was a hoodwiking, and the Saints game was sad. Alex Smith played well on Monday Night, but the Saints were too good for them. I expect them to get back on track and beat the Chiefs in KC, but that will be no easy task. Their defense has been superb and it isn't like Matt Cassel has been hitting monkeys in barrels with his accurate passing. Luckily for them, their division is a buffoonery.
26. (-2) Oakland Raiders (1-1): They barely beat a Rams team that is in rebuilding mode. Is it a good sign that they won? Well, at least they won. It's better than the week 1 game against the Titans. They played like a bunch of 3rd graders in that game.
27. (+1) Detroit Lions (0-2): The Lions have wounded themselves the past two weeks by letting 2 games against the Bears and Eagles slip from their grasp, but the bright spot is they've been competitive, and Jahvid Best has run very well. They may be 0-2, but they look like a different team. They remind me of the Houston Texans of a couple of years ago. They'll need to go through some growing pains first.
28. (-15) Carolina Panthers (0-2): Good luck Jimmy Clausen, the Panthers are throwing you into the fire against the Bengals this Sunday. Don't worry, Troy Aikman had his growing pains as well.
29. (-6) Buffalo Bills (0-2): Once again, another ghastly performance by the Buffalo Bills leaves fans scratching their heads about whether or not this team once went to 4 straight Super Bowls in the 90's. Obviously they are worlds away from the Jim Kelly/Thurman Thomas/Bruce Smith/Don Beebe/Marv Levy era, but they should feel encouraged that they aren't at the very bottom of my list just yet. I have to say that when they lost the Music City Miracle to the Titans, and Wade Phillips was on the sidelines, that really marked the end of their run as a team of relevance.
30. (-5) Arizona Cardinals (1-1): Any sort of sense of encouragement that you could have drawn from beating the Rams was completely erased by your perturbing loss to the Falcons. I can't believe that they let Matt Leinart go to make Derek Anderson their starting QB.
31. (+1) St. Louis Rams (0-2): They are in a state of rebuilding, but they should feel good that they have a good rookie QB in Sam Bradford with a bright future. They aren't a disappointing team, they are right where we all thought they would be, in the bottom of the league.
32. (-1) Cleveland Browns (0-2): Seneca Wallace to the Rescue!
1. (-+) New Orleans Saints (2-0): You can say all you want to about the Saints not winning prettily, and they aren't the same "Saints" that they were last season, etc. But as of right now, the Saints have won every game they've had to play this season. Drew Brees is still playing well, and the defense has been stepping it up as well over their last 2 victories. With the Cowboys and the Vikings in 0-2 holes right now, the Saints have gotta be feeling good about their chances to get a #1 seed in the NFC again. The only concern that they should have is that Reggie Bush is gonna be out for a few weeks due to the trauma that his leg went under on that muffed punt return in which his leg seemed to snap back like a twig. If they are in the lead when he gets back, they should be in good shape.
2. (+18) Houston Texans (2-0): Of all the 2-0 teams, the team that has been the most impressive has been this Texan team, beginning with that beat down of the Indianapolis Colts. Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub are once again playing great football, and the emergence of Arian Foster has given this team a third dimension in the running game along with Steve Slaton. The Defense is lead by DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams. Those two guys can give any running game a tough game. Ultimately, I really think that this team is playing great football, and I look for them to beat the Cowboys on Sunday.
3. (+6) Green Bay Packers (2-0): As if Packer fans were ever questioning the move to get rid of Brett Favre and go with Aaron Rogers, these first two weeks should help argue in favor of getting rid of Favre, though at the end of the season things may be different. They haven't played anybody of real relevance yet, but the beat down against the Bills up in Lambeau of 34-7 sent a message to the rest of the NFL that they are an elite team, and that they aren't gonna be an easy out. Aaron Rogers threw for 255 yards in that game along with 2 TD passes. In addition to that, he had a rushing TD to top it all off. His Passer rating over the first two games is 94.0 and against Buffalo his rating was 116.3. If he plays well every game, they are gonna be a tough team to face come playoff time. People are saying that this is your NFC Champ this year, and right now, I don't see why not.
4. (-2) Indianapolis Colts(1-1): The loss to the Texans in week 1 was sad, but they bounced back quite nicely by mauling the New York Giants. Peyton had fun beating his little brother. They got the weapons and pieces to return to the Super Bowl, but they gotta fix the run defense.
5. (+22) Chicago Bears (2-0): For the time being, the Bears have reached the top 5 of my power rankings, and here is why: Jay Cutler is playing way better than he has ever played, and they just beat the Cowboys in the Big D. Perhaps the Mike Martz era will bring about a serious run to the Super Bowl.
6. (+12) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0): The Steelers were said to be "Lucky" if they could come out of the Ben Rothelisburger with a 2-2 record. Here they are, with 2 wins, and going into week three they are starting Charlie Batch, with Byron Leftwich at Backup, and get this, Antwaan Randel El is their third string QB! At the rate things are going, he might play QB this year for them and start. With Charlie Batch starting this week, things will be interesting as they go into Tampa Bay. I think they'll come out with a win, and move on to 3-0. This start is truly a testament to the kind of defense that they play up in Pittsburgh. Everybody in that organization who has played or coached in the last 2 games should be applauded. They and the Dolphins have given up the fewest points in the NFL with only 20 in the first two weeks.
7. (+7) Miami Dolphins (2-0): They squeaked past Buffalo, they slithered past Minnesota into this 2-0 start, and honestly, they've shown that they are a team to be reckoned with. Chad Henne's rating of 85.1 isn't bad at all either, he has only thrown one TD pass all season, but he hasn't thrown an INT to his credit. Look for them to put together a solid campaign now that they got Brandon Marshall. Also, like I mentioned above, they have given up the fewest points of any team in the NFL along with Pittsburgh with a mere 20 points. Definitely a good sign.
8. (-+) Cincinnati Bengals (1-1): Despite getting spanked up in New England, I like the way Carson Palmer and his gang came back the next week to beat the Baltimore Ravens at home. The Bengals showed substance with that win. I expect this team to be a contender all the way down the line this season. They are looking good so far, and have an important three game stretch coming up against Carolina, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay. All three teams that they should beat. They should go into their bye week with a 4-1 record. Also to note, they picked up QB Dan LeFevour from the Bears. Don't be surprised if he comes in and does a little bit of damage this season, and make the Bears feel really bad for letting him go. The kid has a remarkable ability to throw a football accurately, and he can move.
9. (-4) Baltimore Ravens (1-1): A let down did follow in Cincinnati after they beat the Jets on Monday Night to open up their season. Joe Flacco is supposed to have a great season, and he didn't excel against the Bengals. I love their D, and Ray Lewis is still scary as ever. But if Flacco struggles, it could bring the whole team down. They don't want a situation where they have the defense, the running game is great, they got the wide outs, but the QB isn't up to snuff. I think Flacco will bounce back this week, when they play the Browns this Sunday.
10. (-6) New York Jets (1-1): The loss to the Ravens stung, but the win against the filthy Patriots was more than just a Moral victory, it was a statement that they are here to stay in the AFC East as a division threat and that they have a great young QB in Mark Sanchez. However, with Darrelle Revis sidelined and Braylon Edwards getting a DWI, this team is in a critical situation early.
11. (+15) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0): The wins haven't been pretty, and Matt Cassel hasn't exactly wooed their fans with his 55.8 passer rating, but they've won, and the defense has seemed vastly improved. Also, I like the fact that they've got Dexter McCluster out their as their own version of Reggie Bush. McCluster is a very exciting player to watch. He already has a Punt Return for a TD that was 94 yards.
12. (+18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0): The defense is playing well, the QB hasn't blown any games, and now they'll get their first real test against the Steelers this week. We'll see how good they really are this Sunday. I hold my tongue on what I said about them in the last rankings, they might be good this year. Maybe.
13. (-2) New England Patriots (1-1): Losing to the Jets was depressing, but Moss did have the catch of the week with that one handed grab on Revis Island. Too bad Mark Sanchez had to spoil their party.
14. (+3) Washington Redskins (1-1): The Loss to Houston will sting like rubbing alcohol on a shark bite, but the win against Dallas trumps it. They have to feel good about the way things have started in the Shanahan/McNabb era.
15. (+4) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1): The big controversy brewing in the City of Brotherly Love, is the QB situation about Vick getting the nod over Kolb. It's a bold decision that may comeback to haunt them.
16. (-10) San Diego Chargers (1-1): I really don't like how this team is handling the Vincent Jackson situation. Don't trade him, use him! He's the best WR you got, and without him you guys ain't going no where.
17. (-5) Atlanta Falcons (1-1): They lost to the Steelers in OT, and had vengeance the next week by torturing the Arizona Cardinals 41-7, the less aggressive bird of the two.
18. (-2) Tennessee Titans (1-1): Similar deal as Philly, only they're making the right QB move, not the bad one. Kerry Collins is a nice substitute QB, but benching Vince Young to put in Kerry Collins after what happened last season would be atrocious. Vince Young will bounce back this week against the Giants.
19. (+3) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): The win against the Broncos was a nice way to open up week one, but the way that the Chargers beat them was embarrassing. They have a better team then people think, and they are dangerous, but they need to do better on the road.
20. (+1) Denver Broncos (1-1): The arrival of Tim Tebow has brought hope to this team, and hopefully they'll let him get his feet wet this year and make a difference for them. They looked good against Seattle, and played the Jags tightly in their week 1 loss. Nothing to worry about yet.
21. (-6) New York Giants (1-1): The loss to the Colts was embarrassing, and the way the Panthers got stomped by Tampa Bay, their week one win over Carolina doesn't look as good as they thought.
22. (-15) Dallas Cowboys (0-2): They've played like complete crap over the last 2 weeks and have kicked themselves in the shins by losing to the Redskins and Bears. Right now, they are looking like a Mirage, completely over-rated, and over-hyped. They need to win against the Texans this week, otherwise you can kiss their playoff chances goodbye. As far as Wade Phillips is concerned, why is he still coaching in the NFL? What does he do in the post-season? Lose!
23. (-20) Minnesota Vikings (0-2): They've played close games, but lost them both. Luckily they got the Detroit Lions this week, and then a Bye Week. I expect them to climb back into the Top 10 sooner than later, but right now, they're gonna have to play a lot better offense. Adrian Peterson is playing great, and the defense is stepping up, but the O-Line and Favre is the concern right now. I think they'll get things straightened out this week and beat the Lions by 20 points.
24.(+5) Seattle Seahawks (1-1): The way they flogged the 49ers in week one was great, but the Broncos whipped them wasn't good. They'll have a pretty weak season, but may get a few wins thanks to the Cards and Rams.
25. (-15) San Francisco 49ers (0-2): The third 0-2 team in the NFC that is seeming to be under achieving. The Seattle game was a hoodwiking, and the Saints game was sad. Alex Smith played well on Monday Night, but the Saints were too good for them. I expect them to get back on track and beat the Chiefs in KC, but that will be no easy task. Their defense has been superb and it isn't like Matt Cassel has been hitting monkeys in barrels with his accurate passing. Luckily for them, their division is a buffoonery.
26. (-2) Oakland Raiders (1-1): They barely beat a Rams team that is in rebuilding mode. Is it a good sign that they won? Well, at least they won. It's better than the week 1 game against the Titans. They played like a bunch of 3rd graders in that game.
27. (+1) Detroit Lions (0-2): The Lions have wounded themselves the past two weeks by letting 2 games against the Bears and Eagles slip from their grasp, but the bright spot is they've been competitive, and Jahvid Best has run very well. They may be 0-2, but they look like a different team. They remind me of the Houston Texans of a couple of years ago. They'll need to go through some growing pains first.
28. (-15) Carolina Panthers (0-2): Good luck Jimmy Clausen, the Panthers are throwing you into the fire against the Bengals this Sunday. Don't worry, Troy Aikman had his growing pains as well.
29. (-6) Buffalo Bills (0-2): Once again, another ghastly performance by the Buffalo Bills leaves fans scratching their heads about whether or not this team once went to 4 straight Super Bowls in the 90's. Obviously they are worlds away from the Jim Kelly/Thurman Thomas/Bruce Smith/Don Beebe/Marv Levy era, but they should feel encouraged that they aren't at the very bottom of my list just yet. I have to say that when they lost the Music City Miracle to the Titans, and Wade Phillips was on the sidelines, that really marked the end of their run as a team of relevance.
30. (-5) Arizona Cardinals (1-1): Any sort of sense of encouragement that you could have drawn from beating the Rams was completely erased by your perturbing loss to the Falcons. I can't believe that they let Matt Leinart go to make Derek Anderson their starting QB.
31. (+1) St. Louis Rams (0-2): They are in a state of rebuilding, but they should feel good that they have a good rookie QB in Sam Bradford with a bright future. They aren't a disappointing team, they are right where we all thought they would be, in the bottom of the league.
32. (-1) Cleveland Browns (0-2): Seneca Wallace to the Rescue!
posted by Ben Parker at 8:35 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home