If ranking the 32 teams of the NFL is tough after only one week of games, doing it after two is tougher than Robert Gallery playing on a broken leg. Teams improve to 2-0 but drop in the rankings because their two wins came against the 31st- and 32nd-ranked teams. Elsewhere, teams find themselves ranked behind teams they've beaten, because a team that beat them in Week 1 looked terrible in Week 2. You don't like having that happen, but until there's more evidence to the contrary, the Steelers are above the Bears. One thing that was clear, though, is that this was New York's week. The Giants pulled out a big win in Dallas to grab the top spot in the rankings, while the Jets jumped 10 spots on the back of their dominant defensive performance against the Patriots. The biggest fall belongs to the Eagles, because regardless of quarterback issues, you can't be that dismal on defense and remain in the top 10.
- 1. Giants (2-0) Last Week: 3
Well, it looks as if Eli Manning has a couple of receivers he likes after all. Mario Manningham (must be the name) and Steve Smith have emerged as guys to whom Eli is quite comfortable throwing the ball, thank you, especially in that two-minute drill. Now, about those 251 rushing yards the Cowboys rolled up on the defense... - Dan Graziano - 2. Ravens (2-0) Last Week: 6
Baltimore made it to the AFC Championship game with a rookie quarterback and a play-it-safe passing game. How far can they go now that they trust Joe Flacco to make plays? - JJ Cooper - 3. Saints (2-0) Last Week: 8
The Saints are throwing up 46.5 points per game on opponents and Drew Brees is on pace to throw 72 touchdown passes. Does anything else matter? Hopefully not a healthy set of running backs. It looks like the Saints will be down to Lynell Hamilton this Sunday and at some point they may actually have to use Reggie Bush as a runner. The horror! - Knox Bardeen - 4. Jets (2-0) Last Week: 14
This is a confusing week. As part of the AFL throwback deal, the Jets this week will play as "The Titans of New York," which is of course what they were in the AFL. What's confusing is that they're playing the Tennessee Titans, who will play as the Houston Oilers. So the Titans are Houston and the Jets are the Titans, which means the Titans can come out of this game 3-0. Or 0-3. Or 2-1. Or 1-2. See? Confusing. - DG - 5. Falcons (2-0) Last Week: 11
The Falcons looked sharp on offense against Carolina, but the Panthers found holes in the Atlanta secondary late in the game and almost came back to win. Atlanta has beaten two good teams (or teams people thought would be good) thus far -- another huge test looms ahead in Week 3 on the road in New England. - KB - 6. Colts (2-0) Last Week: 9
Only 14:53 time of possession? Only run the ball 10 times? Tight end is the leading receiver by far? A defense that gives up 71% on third downs? And the Colts still win? Peyton Manning is a witch. - Stephanie Stradley - 7. Steelers (1-1) Last Week: 1
Jeff Reed's worst game of his career gave the Steelers a shake-your-head loss. If Pittsburgh bounces back to beat Cincinnati, it's a one-week blip. But a loss this week would ratchet Steelers fans up to Defcon One. - JJC - 8. Vikings (2-0) Last Week: 4
Two weeks in a row they have done just enough to win against two of the NFL's worst teams. Are they just saving their best play for better competition or really just not that good? We'll soon find out, as the upstart 49ers visit Minnesota this weekend. - Matt Snyder - 9. Patriots (1-1) Last Week: 5
Panic in the cobblestone streets, as Tom Brady and the Pats look ordinary against the Jets. We still say the offense will get it together, though it would help if the receiving corps looked a little deeper. But if you think the Patriots' defense is going to be any good this year, we'd like to see your evidence. Because we've been looking, and haven't found any. - DG - 10. 49ers (2-0) Last Week: 13
An impressive start by an impressive squad that is blatantly winning this division the year AFTER everyone finally stopped picking them. If Kurt Warner's back gives out, the starters will be resting by Week 6. - Will Brinson - 11. Bears (1-1) Last Week: 17
Looking at the schedule, they really needed to at least split the first two games. We know how good the Steelers are and it's never easy for the Bears (or Vikings) to travel to Green Bay. Now, things soften up a bit. They'll visit the likely Matt Hasselbeck-less Seahawks and then host the Lions before a bye week. Looks like 3-1. - MS - 12. Chargers (1-1) Last Week: 7
Norv Turner performed a lobotomy on his own touted offensive mastermind with the potentially game-winning (and ultimately last) play of the game against the Ravens. The 4th and 2 handoff to Darren Sproles was sniffed out and stuffed by Ray Lewis. At least someone got a career highlight, I guess. - WB - 13. Eagles (1-1) Last Week: 2
The quarterback situation is goofy all right, and it's getting the bulk of the attention. But the greater concern here is how meek Sean McDermott's defense looked against Drew Brees and the Saints on Sunday. They get a break this week with the Chiefs coming to town, but the Eagles' D still has some things still to figure out. - DG - 14. Broncos (2-0) Last Week: 19
If Josh McDaniels were an Internet meme, he might yell, "LOL!!!1 your wins iz all for teh Broncos!" or something. The point is that actual football analysis of the Broncos is about as relevant as the Bengals and Browns this year, i.e. not very, but 2-0 is 2-0. - WB - 15. Cowboys (1-1) Last Week: 10
Whether they're playing in old Texas Stadium, JerryWorld or on Saturn, the Cowboys are much more effective when they're running the ball than when they're asking Tony Romo to win games with his arm. This was obvious to everybody who was watching Sunday night except the people calling the Cowboys' plays. They gave away a game, and they'll keep doing it if they keep failing to identify their strength. - DG - 16. Bills (1-1) Last Week: 18
The offense looked even better in Week 2 than it did in its Week 1 near-upset of the Patriots. Could Trent Edwards be at the beginning of his breakout year? With Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish and Fred Jackson -- and Marshawn Lynch still to come -- he's got the weapons. It's going to come down to how well the line protects him and how well he can manage the game. - DG - 17. Texans (1-1) Last Week: 27
The Texans won last week with woeful defense and no running game. They look to get Steve Slaton going this week, and their defense consistent, or at least not letting Maurice Jones-Drew pull a Chris Johnson on them. - SS - 18. Bengals (1-1) Last Week: 29
They may have lost in Week One on a fluke play, but the win over the Packers shows that this is not your normal Bengals team. Carson Palmer feels healthy and for once Cincinnati has a defense. - JJC - 19. Packers (1-1) Last Week: 12
One step forward and two steps back. As Bruce Ciskie wrote earlier this week, the defense could be in serious trouble (again). Plus, if they have to outscore people, Greg Jennings needs to be involved -- the star receiver had an empty stat-line Sunday. - MS - 20. Titans (0-2) Last Week: 15
If it weren't for bad luck, they'd have no luck at all at 0-2. Hard to think that the Jets on the road is a get healthy game. The Titans of last year were mostly about defense, and getting pressure from their front four--so far they've given up 720 passing yards in two games compared to 537 in first three games last year. - SS - 21. Cardinals (1-1) Last Week: 21
You can't ask for a much better division loss bounceback win than the spanking the Cards put on Jacksonville, can you? Of course, if it turns out the Jags are just awful - which is entirely possible - then next week probably won't clear anything up either. At some point old age will catch up. It has to. - WB - 22. Seahawks (1-1) Last Week: 15
R.J. White nearly convinced me that Seneca Wallace can capably replace Matt Hasselbeck, but that's not going to stop me from crying everytime John Carlson gets overthrown in the end zone. At least they didn't draft Mark Sanchez - what a nightmare *that* would be right now! - WB - 23. Redskins (1-1) Last Week: 20
All right, you can buy the Albert Haynesworth-led defense. It looks like a strong unit, and it might keep them in games, especially against their weak early-season schedule. But the Jason Campbell-led offense is another matter, and ought to be handing out apologies and refunds for that performance last week against the woeful Rams. If you can't get in the end zone against the Rams...yikes. - DG - 24. Dolphins (0-2) Last Week: 22
Well, they totally dominated the Colts, controlling the ball for more than three quarters, and they still lost. What this tells us is that they don't have enough good players. Ted Ginn Jr. is their No. 1 receiver, and he can't catch. That's the kind of thing that's going to hold an offense back. After all, Ronnie Brown needs somebody he can throw to. - DG - 25. Raiders (1-1) Last Week: 28
Newsflash to meathead jock dudes who play football: punching a teammate/coach/waterboy somehow makes your team better. Well played, Tom Cable. Well played. For his next trick, Cable will give JaMarcus Russell an atomic wedgie. - WB - 26. Chiefs (0-2) Last Week: 26
This team is 0-2, but Matt Cassel isn't healthy and they're playing with inferior talent. Despite that, they've been competitive both weeks and seem to have a bright future. Kind of like the NFL version of the Royals! - WB - 27. Panthers (0-2) Last Week: 23
Jake Delhomme looked better in Week 2, which wasn't difficult, but came up a bit short in his comeback attempt against Atlanta. More at issue than Delhomme might be the play of Julius Peppers -- only two tackles in Atlanta. - KB - 28. Jaguars (0-2) Last Week: 24
After keeping it close against the Colts, they were embarrassed by the Cardinals. They travel to Houston this week, where their last visit ended in a blowout loss on Monday Night Football. Hard place to go to get their first win especially with the Texans wearing theirketchup bottlesall red uniforms since they're 7-2 on Battle Red Days. - SS - 29. Buccaneers (0-2) Last Week: 25
All of the offseason focus on the quarterback might have been misguided. Tampa Bay's defense is giving up 282 yards in the air each game. In a division with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees throwing against them twice -- it'll be a long season for the Buccaneers no matter who is taking snaps. - KB - 30. Rams (0-2) Last Week: 31
Motorcycle cop: "Tell me, coach, do you have any idea how many points you were scoring?
Steve Spagnuolo: Well, I got an aged QB here, 3/4 a wide reciever corps, a decent running back, I can get 'er up to as good as 155! Never do, though, of course, unless I'm chasing a cute chick in a Ferrari! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I guess I was scorin' about... 65, tops.
Motorcycle Cop: SEVEN! SEVEN points! And normally, when I stop people, they pull onto the shoulder! - WB - 31. Browns (0-2) Last Week: 30
The Bengals usually are the AFC North's cellar dwellers, but the Browns have clearly taken that title away for 2009. The only question is whether or not Eric Mangini can lead his team past the Lions for the title of NFL cellar dweller. - JJC - 32. Lions (0-2) Last Week: 32
It's going to be interesting to see long-term if the Lions are helping or hurting Matthew Stafford by letting him take his lumps as the number one quarterback. It worked out when the Colts did the same with Peyton Manning. Some others (Ryan Leaf, David Carr) ... not so much. - MS
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
This is the only power ranking that I've seen Atlanta get some love on.
Surprised the Pats are ranked so high though. To quote Ricky Ricardo - "..you got some splainin to do..."
Giants....yeah right.
Why is Baltimore rated so high? Neither win was impressive - they came within seconds of losing to the Chiefs and within minutes of losing to the Chargers. They won't be a playoff team.
San Diego needs to be rated higher because despite the loss, their defense already looks better than last year and their offense looks as good as ever even without LT.
If the Ravens had better corners they would have destroyed the chargers not just beaten them. If the chargers played in a harder division they wouldnt be in the playoffs like they did last year , besides you almost lost to the raiders so im sorry. The ravens are rated 2nd in offense this year only behind the saints, so yeah theyre rated high bc theyre better then the chargers.
Don't make me LAUGH! The Chargers should be 0-2 but thanks to an NFL replay official they lucked out in week one when they got their azzes handed to them by the Raiders ... they physically wiped the field with the Chargers! San Diego should be somewhere below Oakland even though Russell can't hit the broad side of a barn the Raiders are a better team than San Diego! Rivers won't last ... he is picking himself off the ground way too often and his mouth is going to get him creamed before mid season.
you are an ass I see!
Put the bottle down on game day, and move into a home of padded walls. Balt. has three good RB's, stronger armed QB, and more catches by multipul recivers. Didn't see The SD defense stop us in the red zone the way (RAY'S) Balt. D did. ESPN has them ranked #1. I guess you don't think they have a clue either.
November 22........Mark Your Calendars....... Clowns vs Detroit in a huge ( NOT ) Game Of The Weak !!!
Peyton Manning is a Warlock, not a witch. The Colts need three or four more talented players, but Manning can get them to the AFC championship game, amd maybe even to the big one, with the current talent. Way to go AOL.
How is the Cleveland Clowns ranked ahead of the Detroit Lionesses? Our season is over this week as the Ravens will make us look like a neighborhood team playing as scabs in the NFL. Lerner, by far, is the worst owner in any major sports league in our nation. The man has no shame and no pride about fielding crap on a stick for the most loyal fanbase in the country. His father was on the plane helping negoiate the deal to sell a storied franchise out from under the city of Cleveland, and more than likely, is keeping a hot seat warm for his traitor friend Art Model down below. Mangini is the twin of Romeo Crennel.... he's enamored with field goals, hired an unimaginative offensive coordinator, will not play his young players, signed a bunch of his former lazy players that have no heart or courage, traded away a 5th pick, and got crab players in return. The players already have quit on him in both games this year and the result were blow outs..... but Randy Lerner loves him.... it's time the fans take out a local ad asking Lerner to sell our team and stop ruining football in Cleveland.... a new owner needs to come in and fire Eric the dictator and hire a real coach who is like Rex Ryan.... After a decade of serving fans crap on a stick, you'd think fans would not show up at the stadium, but they continue to buy Mr. Lerners circus of clowns..... our players should be wearing dresses, not pants..... cause they are like little girls on the field..... no one tackles any running back.... we have no qb, no offensive line, no special teams, no receivers, no tight ends, no defensive line, not one linebacker worth a damn, our corners couldn't cover my grandma, and our saftey couldn't cover a high school player.... the jets basicly stole the 5th pick in the draft because Mangini didn't want to spend money...... prediction 41-9 Ravens, three field goals..... our record 1-15 maybe 0-16 as Randy Lerner is determined to outdue the Ford family that owns the Lions....... Lerner is the reason Cleveland will never win a damn thing in the NFL as long as he's listed as the owner.......
I expected to see a NY team at the top, just the other one. I'm surprised no one is screaming about the Jets being at 4. Nearly every 2-0 team has had one cake walk game (2 if you are the Vikings), but the Jets and Falcons have played the 2 toughest first games of the lot in my opinion. But it is hard to say who is the worst of the worst after 2 weeks, just as it is hard to say who is tops. If the Jets win this week against the Titans and yet again dominate with their defense, they will deserve top-billing next week.
I also think the Niners are getting a bit disrespected. Putting a 1-1 Steelers and Pats teams are purely based on who is believed to be better, not who has performed better in the first 2 weeks as it should be. They should be ahead of the Vikes too, the Vikings have dominated, but against the teams ranked 31 and 32 in this very poll. Are the Niners better than any of those 3 teams? Most likely not, and I'm sure the remainder of the season will demonstrate that, but they have proven more in their two games, and I thought that is what this poll is about.
I feel sorry for Cleveland fans.... their owner is an idiot..... he keeps signing players that should be in dresses not jocks, cause not one of them have balls..... they never show up for a game under the lights...... but how bout them jets out and out stealing their draft pick and giving them 4 players they wouldve cut lol....ain't the first time they got screwed by drafting the worst players and it's gonna continue..... i doubt Cleveland kids under 5 will ever see a championship thats how bad their owner is.... i predict 1 playoff appearance in the next 12 years. This franchise is the dirt for every other teams cleats.
Broncos should be for real this year and are as relevant to analyse as any knob that thinks he knows all there is too know about the game. 2-0 is still undefeated.
How can people wonder why B-More is number 2? Sure we played Kansas, not that well, But we beat the chargers and our Offense is looking monstrous. Our run defense is still tops in the NFL. I'm looking forward to the NE - BAL game.
How is Dallas such a bad team (number 15) when they spot the alleged number 1 team 17 points and then only lose by a last seconf field goal. Don't get me wrong, I think the Giants are a good team but if their number one and should have lost to the 'boys what does that make the 'boys. Probably not 15.