Three weeks into the NFL Power Rankings and we’re shuffling teams around, but there are no big rises or drops. That could come this week with plenty of close match ups and upset opportunities.
1. Atlanta Falcons – (2-0) If the Falcons can roll through their first five games of the season at least 4-1, there’s a chance they’ve avoided the Super Bowl hangover to end all hangovers. The Lions will be a test Sunday. Last week: No. 1
2. Pittsburgh Steelers – (2-0) A convincing win over the Sam Bradford-less Vikings doesn’t help your case for the top spot. Frankly, the Bears coming up on the schedule don’t either. Last week: No. 3
3. Oakland Raiders – (2-0) The Raiders delivered the beat down the Jets earned in the preseason thanks to a roster purge. The Redskins could put up a surprising fight Sunday. Last week: No. 4
4. Kansas City Chiefs – (2-0) Up next for the Chiefs — the Chargers, Redskins and Texans. That looks like 5-0 to me. If Kansas City can lock down home-field advantage in the playoffs, this could very well be a Super Bowl team. Last week: No. 6
5. Dallas Cowboys – (1-1) Denver is a tough place to play, but that was a shockingly inept performance, Cowboys, especially for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. It’ll be interesting to see how Dallas handles their business after a solid defeat. Even the games they lost last year were close. This one was over in the third quarter. Last week: No. 2
6. Green Bay Packers – (1-1) Not even Aaron Rodgers could overcome Mike McCarthy’s shitty play calling with two new offensive tackles protecting him. Last week: No. 5
7. New England Patriots – (1-1) Dismantling a pitiful Saints defense is no real feat for the Patriots. Facing a Bill O’Brien coached team this weekend won’t be either. Last week: No. 7
8. Denver Broncos – (2-0) Trevor Siemian’s first road start of the season is against the Bills? This kid is living right. Last week: No. 10
9. Seattle Seahawks – (1-1) Another week, another awful performance from the Seahawks offense. On the bright side, this could be the best defense Seattle has fielded since 2014. Last week: No. 8
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (1-0) You got a solid win over the Bears to open your season, but just one field goal in the second half? Hmm. Last week: No. 11
11. Miami Dolphins – (1-0) Jay Cutler was 24 of 33 for 230 yards and threw the winning touchdown against a team a lot of people (not me) picked to go to the playoffs this season. Last week: No. 12
12. Detroit Lions – (2-0) If this is too low Lions, forgive me. Knock off the Falcons and you will be significantly higher. If the MVP contest has already started, Matthew Stafford is in the lead by a pretty wide margin. Last week: No. 13
13. Minnesota Vikings – (1-1) The Vikings aren’t going to do much without Sam Bradford at quarterback and he’s been limited in practice this week. Last week: No. 9
14. Tennessee Titans – (1-1) Mike Mularkey got his annual win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sunday the Seahawks come to Nashville. Last week: No. 14
15. Baltimore Ravens – (2-0) Joe Flacco looked better last Sunday against the Browns, but the defense looked the same as they did in Week One; incredible. Last week: No. 18
16. Carolina Panthers – (2-0) No touchdowns, last weekend, but the Panthers are still perfect on the young season and facing the hapless Saints Sunday. Last week: No. 19
17. Washington Redskins – (1-1) Kirk Cousins bounced back and the running game was dominant in a win over the Rams. Last week: No. 17
18. Philadelphia Eagles – (1-1) The Chiefs are just better, but Philadelphia was in the game until the end. It bodes well. Last week: No. 16
19. Arizona Cardinals – (1-1) Overtime against the Colts? Good God, Cardinals. What the hell? Last week: No. 21
20. Los Angeles Rams – (1-1) Jared Goff had the chance to lead a fourth-quarter comeback, but delivered a pick on his first pass attempt after the two-minute warning. There’s still work to do. Last week: No. 20
21. New York Giants – (0-2) Ben McAdoo is going to badmouth Eli Manning all the way to the unemployment office. Last week: No. 15
22. Houston Texans – (1-1) Deshaun Watson made his first start and got his first win. If he can make it two in a row, against New England no less, it’ll make plenty of draft gurus eat their scouting reports. Not me, but those other assholes. Last week: No. 24
23. Buffalo Bills – (1-1) Three points on the road against a decent defense and LeSean McCoy cost lots of people their Daily Fantasy bets with a measly nine yards against the Panthers. Last week: No. 22
24. Jacksonville Jaguars – (1-1) The Jaguars couldn’t put any points on the board until the game was already decided against the Titans. Now the Ravens are coming to town. Last week: No. 23
25. New Orleans Saints – (0-2) Sean Payton is safe as the head coach in New Orleans, but this is probably the Drew Brees farewell tour. Last week: No. 26
26. Los Angeles Chargers – (0-2) Anthony Lynn strikes again and now the Chiefs are coming to your teensie soccer stadium. Last week: No. 27
27. Chicago Bears – (0-2) How much longer is John Fox going with Mike Glennon? Does he really think he has that kind of job security? Last week: No. 28
28. Cleveland Browns – (0-2) Two weeks, two losses and you still aren’t the worst team in the league, Browns. Kudos to you. Last week: No. 29
29. Indianapolis Colts – (0-2) Jacoby Brisett put up a spirited battle against a suddenly pedestrian Cardinals team, but it wasn’t good enough. And it will continue to not be good enough. Last week: No. 30
30. Cincinnati Bengals – (0-2) The Bengals have now played eight quarters of football and not scored a single touchdown. In fact, they have scored just nine points. That’s why offensive coordinator Ken Zampese hit the bricks. Last week: No. 25
31. San Francisco 49ers – (0-2) The Rams’ defense isn’t the Seahawks’, but Kyle Shanahan’s offense needs to do more than just kick a few field goals. Like the Bengals, they too have yet to score a touchdown this season. No one expects a miracle, but this isn’t why Shanahan was hired. Last week: No. 31
32. New York Jets – (0-2) Nestle in, Jets. Get comfortable down here. It’s going to be a while. Last week: No. 32
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