Another week of football is in the books and, as you’d expect by now, we certainly have some surprises in the standings and therefore in the rankings, as well. There’s usually no point in ranking teams early in the season as team quality fluctuates quite a bit early on and a couple of games is usually not a good barometer for evaluating where a team is. I will say this, though: most power rankings around the web are grossly misleading. The 0-2 Cowboys are not half a league better than the 2-0 Buccaneers. That’s just asinine. See what I mean about early season rankings being a mindbender to make sense out of?
Then again, we just want to talk about football.
ONWARD.
1. New Orleans Saints. Somehow, Brees was able to weather the wind, Patrick Willis and a suddenly formidable Niners team playing inspired Monday Night football under the lights. Did I really say “somehow?” FAIL.
2. Green Bay Packers. They’ve done it on both sides of the ball and have scored the 2nd highest total of points through 2 games and all this without Rodgers’ A game or a running back. OK, they’re really going to need the latter moving forward. Willie Parker, anyone?
3. Pittsburgh Steelers. I hate to put them up this high but that defense alone deserves it. Can you imagine how good they’ll be when Big Ben comes back with something to prove?
4. Indianapolis Colts. The only reason they’re not higher is because of Arian Foster.
5. Chicago Bears. I know this is really high and still really early to be saying it but the Packers are going to get a run for their money from the Bears. Urlacher is healthy, that defense is back to its ways and Cutler is starting to get something going on with his offense. And the Lions are not as bad as you’re used to them being so…
6. New York Jets. Like the Steelers, I’m generally uneasy with this placement but must acquiesce. They had to beat the Pats and they did. For now, they’re in my good graces. But that offense needs to get it going.
7. Houston Texans. Everybody knows their offense is explosive but their success this year will hinge on whether their defense can avoid a shootout every week. Otherwise, these guys are primed to make some major noise in the AFC.
8. Miami Dolphins. They’re being shortchanged just about everywhere. They’re as legitimate an undefeated team as any other. Their defense is swarming and their offense hasn’t even kicked in yet. Watch out.
9. New England Patriots. Despite attending the Jets’ defensive clinic last weekend, the Pats have their offense healthy and ready to roll. The Jets have made a statement and the Fins are for real. However, hold on … New England isn’t going anywhere just yet.
10. Atlanta Falcons. That was a tough loss against Pitts to begin the season but blowing up the house with the Cards in town, while nice to see the offense awaken, is not as impressive as you’d think. Tentatively in the top 10.
11. Baltimore Ravens. The defense is awesome. The offense is confused and without a semblance of identity. If Cam Cameron is all he is talked up to be, he’ll find a way to run this offense without forcing the ball to his new toys.
12. Washington Redskins. They can’t run the ball worth a lick but they’re going to be pretty spry through the air and their defense has looked pretty good through two games. And really, if the worst thing going for a Mike Shanahan team is its running game, don’t you think they’ll be alright?
13. Cincinnati Bengals. It was ugly and full of Nugent but they got it done over a division rival. The Week 1 loss to New England is disappointing but you could chalk it up to rust. They have a string of favorable matchups leading into their bye week so it might be a while before we know if they’re for real.
14. Kansas City Chiefs. The win over the Chargers was impressive. The win against the Browns a little less so but they earned both in the same manner; gritty, get-er-done offense and a surprisingly effective defense.
15. Philadelphia Eagles. The Michael Vick era has officially begun. Why did anyone even think Kolb was the answer? Vick even makes LeSean McCoy look like a normal back.
16. Tennessee Titans. They looked great one week and then downright noobish the next. Granted, that’s because they played the Raiders one week and then the Steelers. But because of that, they’re #16 on the list.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No way that this team should be ranked below 20. Sure, Cleveland sucks and Carolina is getting there but the Bucs have done it with stifling defense and a surprisingly effective passing attack.
18. San Diego Chargers. Must be gut-wrenching for Charger fans to see their team below the Chiefs on the list. But that’s what happens when you lose to the Chiefs to start the season and then beat up on a lame Jags team as your encore. The next four games are all favorable. Anything worse than a steady, dominating 3-1 is gonna drop ‘em even further.
19. Denver Broncos. They beat Seattle at home but losing to Jacksonville is hard to swallow. They haven’t really been tested so it’s hard to tell if they are better or worse than the other two 1-1 AFC West teams but I’m putting them here anyways.
20. Detroit Lions. Don’t lose your head when the Lions beat the Vikings this weekend.
21. New York Giants. I’m not sure what to make of them right now. Granted they got smacked by a ticked off Colts team in the Manning Bowl during primetime TV but it isn’t like that win over the Panthers was anything to write home (or anywhere else for that matter) about.
22. Seattle Seahawks. The verdict is really still out on them, to be sure. Even this placement is too high as you can’t take their beat down of the Niners too seriously as the Niners were too busy having communication breakdowns.
23. San Francisco 49ers. Alex Smith looked great Monday night. The Niners were beat by maybe the best QB in the league and the defending champs in the final minute. So yeah. Look, if Smith keeps playing like he did on Monday and with that defense of theirs, the Niners win the West.
24. Dallas Cowboys. Awful.
25. Minnesota Vikings. Even more awful than the Cowboys. 19 points? Better than only the Bills (yuck). A lot of the blame will understandably land on Brett but really, is anyone in this offense paying any attention?
26. Arizona Cardinals. Something tells me they’re heading down this list and not up it. If they don’t beat Oakland, I’m not going to be very merciful next week.
27. Oakland Raiders. Hey, higher than most are puttin’ em. Really, though, the ground game looks poised to have a big year, the receivers respond to BRUUUUUCE well enough and the defense looks good… ish. They’re down this far because of their horrendous offensive line and the beat down they took from the Titans.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars. They beat up on the Broncos which might have said more about the Broncos than it did of the Jags because whatever that was they were doin’ against the Chargers won’t win you very many games.
29. Carolina Panthers. Determined to lose as many games as possible, the Panthers have been very good at not running the ball well with two beastly running backs, not utilizing Steve Smith in any semblance of a passing game and letting anyone and everyone move the ball on them.
30. Cleveland Browns. I never thought I’d say it but I really can’t wait for Delhomme to come back for the Brownies because UGH.
31. St. Louis Rams. My worst fear for the Rams is that Sam Bradford wakes up one morning and finds himself transformed into David Carr. Or worse. Joey Harrington.
32. Buffalo Bills. We’ve reached the bottom already? Durr…
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