Week 2 NFL Power Rankings

Seeing as everybody loves NFL Power Rankings I figured it's only right that I start putting mine out for everyone to see, rather than just talking to a few people about it. 

Week 2 of the NFL provided plenty of drama, as always. From the Broncos and Bears taking it down to the last second, to the Patriots embarrassing the Dolphins in a way I haven't seen since last week, let's have a look at the NFL Power Rankings going into Week 3: 

1. New England Patriots (2-0)

This shouldn’t be surprising. This week’s game may have been against the Dolphins, but it doesn’t stop the fact the Pats have outscored opponents 76-3. The defense is balling, and, as far as the football is concerned, Antonio Brown on this team is as bad news for the rest of the league as we expected.

2. Los Angeles Rams (2-0)

The Rams only had to face Drew Brees for less than a quarter, but they ultimately, convincingly, beat the Saints – even if it did take another very poor refereeing decision. This team is uber talented and their win over New Orleans could be a huge tiebreaker come the playoffs.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)

I don’t think anything needs to be said about the Chiefs’ offense. Pat Mahomes is dynamite and I’m sure he’ll be knocking on the door of records once again. What is impressive about the Chiefs, for me, is the way their defense has played for large portions of time. That looked to be their weakness, but they’ve stepped up. If they continue to do so the Chiefs will be better than they were last year.

4. Baltimore Ravens (2-0)

I may be accused of over-reacting to wins over the Dolphins and Cardinals, but what about the Ravens’ performances would lead you to believe they aren’t a legitimate contender? The offense is humming and Jackson has played excellently so far. Defensively, the backfield is very strong and is without one of its top two corners, and the front seven is dominant. This coming week against the Chiefs is a huge game.

5. Dallas Cowboys (2-0)

The NFC East is the Cowboys’ to lose. The Eagles are clearly talented, but the Cowboys look so much better. Dak Prescott is playing out of his mind and they still have Zeke and that offensive line. Kellen Moore has proved to be great so far. The defense is also very solid. The Cowboys are going to be hard to beat.

6. Green Bay Packers (2-0)

It seems the Packers have a defense they can rely on, which should have everyone concerned. If the Packers offense can start games the way they did against the Vikings and let the defense be more aggressive, this team will actually be a powerhouse, rather than a ‘should be’.

7. New Orleans Saints (1-1)

The loss of Drew Brees is huge. Thankfully for them it is expected to be only six weeks, and they have someone they truly believe in as a backup in Teddy Bridgewater. The team around Bridgewater is incredibly talented, and should the Saints be at or above .500 when Brees returns they could still challenge for one of the top two playoff seeds.

8. Houston Texans (1-1)

The Texans have played two games very close, one against an at-the-time top four team, and one against a below-average-to-poor team in most people’s eyes. I think the Jags are going to be a tough game for everyone, and the Texans coming out of it with a win is big. They are very talented, they just need more consistency.

9. Seattle Seahawks (2-0)

Sunday’s win over the Steelers may be a result the Seahawks look back on as a big moment this season. Coming from behind, having done very little early on, and winning at Heinz Field could be a springboard for this team and the ever-dangerous Russell Wilson.

10. Chicago Bears (1-1)

The defense is good, we don’t need to look into that. What worries me about this team is the offensive performance. Two games, 19 points scored, the last three are largely thanks to refereeing error. I don’t think Trubisky is it, he is the new middle ground for QB play over Andy Dalton – if your QB is better than Trubisky you’re good, if he’s worse then you need a new QB. With Trubisky the Bears are limited.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1)

The Chargers continue to do Chargers things. Can they get out of their own way? Apparently not. More missed field goals, very poorly timed and costly penalties and ultimately losing a game they really should have won, which may come back to bite them.

12. Indianapolis Colts (1-1)

The Colts with Jacoby Brissett are a good team. Good enough that I think it’s absolutely realistic they could win the AFC South with him under center. He is a more consistent and reliable Jameis Winston and is guiding a talented and hungry team.

13. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

The 49ers are finally getting returns from their duo of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. I can only imagine Sunday’s offensive performance is what they had in mind two years ago. Well, it’s better late than never and the 49ers could be poised to challenge for a playoff spot once again.

14. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

Sunday night’s win over the Eagles was a statement win for this team. In what was an incredibly physical game the Falcons got a win that, coupled with Drew Brees now missing at least a month, arguably puts them in the driving seat for the NFC South. If not for poor decisions from Matt Ryan, the Falcons would have run away from the Eagles, so if he can straighten that up they could take complete charge of the division before Brees is back.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)

The Eagles were an inch away from potentially being 2-0. Instead they’re 1-1, which isn’t bad by any stretch, but the cost to the team has been possibly immense. It seemed every play put another Eagle in the medical tent and Carson Wentz took a beating. I believe he can take it, but can this team? Their depth is already being tested heavily and to compete with the Cowboys they’re going to have to get healthy and get hot pretty quick.

16. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

The Vikings slow start really cost them against the Packers. Though the defense stiffened and shutout the Packers for much of the game, the offense, specifically Kirk Cousins, couldn’t uphold his end of the bargain. He made poor decisions on both interceptions and couldn’t move the offense consistently. He isn’t it and he will cost this team despite the talent on the rest of the roster.

17. Tennessee Titans (1-1)

The signs are positive for the Titans. The defense is stout and physical and there are signs of growth offensively. I think AJ Brown is going to be a very good receiver, Henry is getting more involved in the passing game, Delanie Walker is back and Marcus Mariota, though still too conservative occasionally, may be taking steps forward too. If he stays healthy and is improving this team will challenge for a competitive AFC South.

18. Buffalo Bills (2-0)

This may seem insulting to have a 2-0 team this low, but are the Bills going to be contending once they get into the tough opponents on their schedule? They’ve played the Jets and the Giants and for the last five quarters they have looked like a good team, but they need to prove their metal first before I’m convinced they’re actually a good team.

19. Cleveland Browns (1-1)

The Browns so far have shown exactly why you can’t crown a team before they’ve played a game. They have a ton of talent, but they haven’t been able to fully come together yet and it will take time. They will be a good team this year and I think they’ll steadily improve, but right now they’re too sloppy and undisciplined to be high up the Power Rankings.

20. Detroit Lions (1-0-1)

Though I think the Chargers did a lot to themselves to lose against the Lions, the Lions came up big when they needed to. Matthew Stafford needs to get more from this offense, but the defense has played pretty well for the most part and this team could be competitive deep into the season.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2)

The Steelers’ loss to Seattle was tough. Their defense was stifling and their offense is always dangerous with Ben Roethlisberger, but then he got injured and now he is out for the year. The Steelers really believe in Mason Rudolph and they just traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick which is huge for their defense, so maybe this team isn’t done. But 0-2 with your backup QB is not a promising situation.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

Is Gardner Minshew II this team’s future? I think he might be. It’s a very small sample size, and he has lost twice, but what he has shown has been very encouraging. This team is going to be tough to beat and could improve once/if Jalen Ramsey is traded, as he appears to be a burden on this team. Or it’s Doug Marrone that needs to go, the Jags sink and Ramsey thrives.

23. Oakland Raiders (1-1)

For a quarter it seemed the Raiders may have taken a bigger step than I thought they would, but then the second quarter happened and it showed the gap between them and the teams atop the NFL. This Raiders team has improved, especially defensively, but they’re not a contender yet.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)

The Buccaneers got their first win under Bruce Arians and are tied atop the NFC South, but that won’t last for long. Like the Redskins, I think this team is due for an ultimately forgettable year. I think Jameis Winston is what he is at this point and we’ve seen pretty everything we will from him.

25. Arizona Cardinals (0-1-1)

The Cardinals had me awfully nervous for a little minute on Sunday. Two games in and I’m pretty convinced that Kyler Murray is the real deal. He looks so poised and his arm talent is incredible. The team around him needs work but the Cardinals have a real one.

26. Denver Broncos (0-2)

The Broncos loss this weekend has to have been one of the toughest to stomach for Broncos fans for a while. They had seemingly won the game in spectacular fashion, only for a dubious-at-best flag and some heroics from the Bears to deny them a win. What’s worse is that may have been their ceiling.

27. Washington Redskins (0-2)

The Redskins are just a completely forgettable team. With Case Keenum under center the offense is going to be average at best and the defense is fine. They’re third in a division with two very strong teams above them and that is going to define their season.

28. Carolina Panthers (0-2)

It does not look good for Cam Newton and the Panthers. He just doesn’t look like the same player. He seems reluctant to run and isn’t throwing the ball well. I wouldn’t be surprised if his story ends much like Andrew Luck’s did.

29. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)

Sunday was bad, real bad. The defense had no answers for the 49ers offense, and their offense couldn’t get a thing going. The only positive for this team is they seem to have unlocked John Ross’s ability, which could be huge when they get AJ Green back and (hopefully) a new QB to distribute the ball next year.

30. New York Jets (0-2)

The Jets weren’t a good team with Sam Darnold, now they don’t have him or their backup Trevor Siemian, who seemingly destroyed his ankle against the Browns. With Luke Falk at QB I don’t see this team being able to do much offensively, and their defense isn’t going to win them games outright, though they are good.

31. New York Giants (0-2)

It’s unfair to put this all on Eli Manning, which is what a lot of people seem to be doing. Outside of Saquon Barkley this team is seriously lacking any sort of star power. They’re poor around the board and I don’t think it’s going to be much different, if at all, with Daniel Jones.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-2)

Absolutely horrid.

So that does it! What do you think? Let me know in the comments below or by commenting on Facebook or Twitter.