Unconfirmed NFL Power Rankings Week 2

Alright, we have two weeks officially in the books, and one thing is for certain, no one is as good as advertised. Every team has holes and chinks in their armor.  It is possible that a shortened offseason  is to blame, or maybe it has to do with the salary cap and parody league wide. But there are 18 1-1 teams in the NFL and this sucker is wide open.

Rank (Last Week)

#1 (1) Green Bay Packers (2-0)  The champs are undefeated, but they needed all 60 minutes to beat the rookie lead Panthers, and their defense is ranked 30^th in the league.

#2  (2) New England Patriots (2-0) The offense still looks scary good, but this is another elite team with problems at the defensive end. Can Brady and Co. keep putting up video game numbers to offset the liabilities on the other side of the ball?  Answer:  Yes.

#3 (4) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) This may be a little high for a team with a loss already, but the Eagles would be 2-0 if Vick would not have gotten hurt. They are undersized but fast, and that defensive front is really taking to the new scheme.

#4 (6)  Houston Texans (2-0) I am pretty sure we are going to regret putting the Texans so high up after beating two teams at the bottom of the league, but they are currently sporting the league’s top defense (after ranking last last season), and the offense can tack on yardage no matter who is running the ball. Now points in the red zone on the other hand….

#5 (7)  New York Jets (2-0)  The Jets needed a few lucky breaks to come out with a win in week one, but were totally dominant in week two. Rex Ryan still has that defense playing at a high level. If only they could get some consistency in their QB play they could really make some noise.

#6 (8) New Orleans Saints (1-1) Losing to the best team in the league on the road week one is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when you follow it up with a beat down of the defending NFC runners up in week two.

#7 (3) Baltimore Ravens (1-1) The Ravens started out the season by dominating the defending AFC Champs on both sides of the ball, then followed it up by being dominated the same way by the previously winless Titans.

#8 (9) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) The Steelers did what they had to do in week two by dismantling the Jaguars to make up for the stinker they put up the week before. Age, wear, and tear may be the downfall to a team that has been a dominant force in the AFC for a decade.

#9 (10) Detroit Lions (2-0) Are the young Lions for real? They look good on both sides of the ball, and Matthew Stafford is looking like the player they thought he would be when they took him #1 overall. If he stays healthy, the Lions will go as far as his arm can carry them.

#10 (5) Chicago Bears (1-1) Five spots is a big drop for a team that was dominant in week one and lost to a really good team on the road in week two, but the defending NFC runners up might not be in the top two in their own division. Week to week Jay Cutler either wins it or loses it for his team.

#11 (11) San Diego Chargers (1-1) The Chargers had their hands full with the high octane Patriots in Foxboro, and even had several chances to take control, but as long as Norv Turner is calling the shots, just outside the top 10 is about right for this underachieving team.

#12 (15) Buffalo Bills (2-0) The Bills already have two wins after recording only four all of last season.  They took advantage of playing the worst team in the league in week one, but looked far from dominant in a come from behind win at home against a middle of the pack team in the Raiders. I am not sure what exactly the ceiling is for this team, but they have been exciting to watch.

#13 (12) Washington Redskins (2-0) How does a team drop a spot after a win? They play like the Redskins did this week at home. There is not a lot of consistent play there in Washington, but they have a chance to really impress us this week when they head to Big D.

#14 (13) Atlanta Falcons (1-1)  The Falcons are another team to drop a spot after a big win, but that would not have even been a W if Vick would have been able to stay in the game, and possibly if Maclin does not drop that late ball. The offense has been disappointing thus far and the defense suspect in the ATL.

#15 (14) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) Tony Romo silenced the critics with his toughness by leading a huge comeback with a broken rib and a collapsed lung out in San Fran last week, but the injuries are really starting to pile up for the ‘Boys. Can they stay healthy enough to bring it when they host the division leading Redskins on Monday night?

#16 (16) Oakland Raiders (1-1) It’s hard to read the Raiders so far. They beat a bad Broncos team and the Bills needed some late game heroics to finish of the comeback at home. Their run game is one of the best in the league, so if they can keep Al Davis from trying to call plays and lean on Darrin MacFadden and Michael Bush to carry the load, the Raiders could make some noise in a largely inept division.

#17 (17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) The Bucs were one of last year’s surprise teams lead by their young QB Freeman, but they aren’t sneaking up on anyone this season. The Lions roughed them up at home and they needed a comeback to beat a one dimensional Vikings squad.

#18 (22) New York Giants (1-1) The G-Men jump up four spots, but do not get too excited, there is lots of room for fluxuation in the bottom half of the league, and that is exactly where the Giants will stay if Eli keeps throwing picks and the injury depleted defense lets the opposition continue to move the ball at will.

#19 (18) Arizona Cardinals (1-1) The Cards allowed over 400 yards passing to a rookie in his first game, but don’t worry too much, the Packers did the same the next week. Arizona is just a few miss steps from being undefeated and they play in the worst division in the NFL. There is a lot of room to move up for this team.

#20 (20) San Francisco 49er (1-1) After a semi-impressive win against a division rival in week one, the 49ers looked really good against a pretty solid Cowboys team for most of their second game. That is until Romo’s Kirk Gibson-esque return and comeback to take it in overtime. San Fran has a ton of talent and an up and coming coach. They are a QB away from being really good. Too bad they are too good to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

#21 (21) Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) The Bengals have had a fairly easy schedule so far with Cleveland and Denver and split those games. This has helped the rookie QB/WR tandem of Andy Dalton and AJ Green transition to the NFL. It will be interesting to see what happens this week when they host a highly talented 49er team that is reeling after an overtime loss to the Cowboys. 

#22 (24) Carolina Panthers (0-2) Cam Newton has already thrown for over 800 yards in just two career starts. It's too bad they do not have a win to show for it. No surprise that defensive minded new head coach Ron Rivera has improved that side of the ball. If Newton can limit the turnovers and continue to sling the ball, this team has a ton of upside.

#23 (29) Tennessee Titans (1-1) Tennessee has proved to be the most unpredictable team so far in this young season. They looked like a train wreck in a week one lose on the road to a mediocre team in Jacksonville, and then wrecked shop against a superior Ravens squad at home. Hasselbeck looks like he still has a little left in the tank, CJ2K is still explosive, but really needs to get going, and Kenny Britt is starting to look like a star in this league. Too early to tell, but Tennessee may shake things up in a division that is lead by a young team in Houston that has not proved they have staying power.

#23 (19) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) 23 is the highest Jacksonville will be all season. They were adequate in Week One to get an inter-division win, but after a 1.8 QB rating the following week, McCown has found his place on the bench and rookie Blain Gabbert is slated to start Week Three. Let the growing pains begin.

#25 (30) Denver Broncos (1-1) Denver barely squeaked by the young Bengals to get a home win to be one of the 18 1-1 teams, but the Broncos look far from good. Orton is going to have to play flawlessly to keep the wide receiver gloves on Tebow's holy hands.

#26 (32) Cleveland Browns (1-1) That win on the road against Indy was enough to jump the Browns up six spots, but they are going to have to show us something with home games against Miami and Tennessee the next two weeks going into their early season bye week to not fall back to the basement.

#27 (23) St. Louis Rams (0-2) We did not like dropping the Rams this far down, and still think that they are the 0-2 team most likely to turn things around and still make the playoffs (they play in the NFC West after all), but turn overs, mental mistakes and losing Steven Jackson to injury have the Rams reeling. Look for these guys to not be in the cellar too long.

#28 (27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) The Vikings are better than their 0-2 record. They gave the Chargers fits at home to start the season and Tampa Bay needed late game heroics to take them down the following week. Not to mention the fact that they have the best running back in the game. Playing in the most competitive division in the NFL means that the playoffs are a little bit too lofty a goal, but the Vikings sure could make keep a team or two from not making it as well.

#29 (25) Miami Dolphins (0-2) Miami was not done any favors by the scheduling department the first two weeks by having to face New England and Houston at home. They may be happier to go out on the road, especially since the road trip starts in Cleveland.

#30 (28) Indianapolis Colts (0-2) The importance of Peyton Manning is becoming more and more apparent each week. Losing to an up and coming team in the Houston Texans the first week was excusable. Losing to a bad Browns team at home was not.

#31 (31) Seattle Seahawks (0-2) The Seahawks are a mess and do not look to be getting better anytime soon.

#32 (26) Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) The Chiefs lost their best defensive play in week one with Eric Berry, and then followed up by losing their best offensive player the following week with Jamal Charles. The good news is they are now the front runners to go get Andrew Luck.