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Published on 09/18/2007 at Tue Sep 18 11:20.
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Week 2 Power Rankings

Posted Tue Sep 18th by

What a wild and wacky week 2 in the NFL. I knew I wouldn’t repeat my 13-3 from week 1, and I was right, losing twice as many picks and going 10-6 (Cleveland?! Tampa Bay?! Washington?!). Now my season record is 23-9, and I’m 2-1 in picks against the spread.

1. [Colts] Indianapolis Colts (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 1

This defense is speedy and small, and they only seem to struggle when they face an opponent who is speedy and big, a la Vince Young. Yeah, the Pats look better, but I’m just a “defending champion gets the nod” kinda guy.

2. [Patriots] New England Patriots (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 2

The only team that looks better statistically than the Broncos is the Patriots. And they’re not having to kick game-winning field goals. They look insane right now.

3. [Steelers] Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 6

They’ve yet to play a good team, but neither have we, and we’re not blowing them up like these guys are (60-10).

4. [Broncos] Denver Broncos (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 5

Once we get past these sloppy mistakes, watch us go!

5. [Chargers] San Diego Chargers (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 4

There’s something about these Chargers that tells me they’re not like last year’s Chargers. The X-Factor might just be Norv Turner.

6. [Bears] Chicago Bears (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 7

I’m not sure what to make of these Bears, but I know they need Cedric Benson.

7. [Cowboys] Dallas Cowboys (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 8

These guys, our Broncos and the Niners are all 2-0 after surviving close games.

8. [Seahawks] Seattle Seahawks (1-1)| PREVIOUS: 9

The Cards almost blew it and gave this team another win, but I wouldn’t have ranked them any higher if they had.

9. [Texans] Houston Texans (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 7

Part of me hopes they best the Colts in Houston this weekend. Another part doesn’t feel like facing a pissed off Colts team in Week 4.

10. [49ers] San Francisco 49ers (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 12

Some are calling Niners-Steelers the game of the week. Yeah, right. I’m predicting 38-17 Steelers right now. They’re good, but not THAT good.

11. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 3
12. Green Bay Packers (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 20
13. Washington Redskins (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 24
14. Detroit Lions (2-0) | PREVIOUS: 22
15. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 19
16. Carolina Panthers (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 11
17. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 13
18. New Orleans Saints (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 10
19. Tennessee Titans (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 25
20. Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 14
21. Buffalo Bills (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 16
22. Minnesota Vikings (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 23
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 27
24. Cleveland Browns (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 30
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) | PREVIOUS: 26
26. New York Giants (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 17
27. New York Jets (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 21
28. Miami Dolphins (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 28
29. Oakland Raiders (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 31
30. St. Louis Rams (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 18
31. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 29
32. Atlanta Falcons (0-2) | PREVIOUS: 32

Notes on 11-32 – Ravens looked bad in both games since my previous Power Rankings (published before Monday Night). They drop huge. I’m not all that surprised by some of the other things going on in the NFL. I chose the Redskins to finish above the Eagles in the East, I just didn’t think they’d beat em this early. I chose the Texans to finish second, and they’re on pace to do just that in the AFC South. It won’t be until Week 4 or 5 that we get a really good idea of what teams are going to be, but the Packers, Lions, Browns and Titans look surprisingly good, and the Jaguars, Saints, and Rams look surprisingly bad (especially the Rams, losing two straight home games against the NFC – ouch).

  • AaronR

    I hate the chargers and love the broncos, but until week 5, you can’t put the chargers below the broncos. They smoked us last year and our defense does not match up as well with them. We can’t stop the run and our linebackers/safeties haven’t faced quality tight ends the first two weeks. Who cares if Jackson is covered when gates and LT are open on the short routes? Our run defense was poor against the bills and raiders. What should we expect against the chargers? But aside from that, I like the rankings.

  • evergreen bronco fan

    How in th3 world do you tabulate such statistically significant projections? Broncos are not in this upper echolon right now — their defensive line and special teams remain achilles’ heels (Elam, c’mon man). Their red zone offense continues to be one of the league’s worst. And Cutler is shakey still making game changing mistakes in first two outings, despite obvious signs of brilliance.

    This week should be telling if we see marked improvements in consistency and red-zone offense.

  • Jack

    Aaron- We don’t have to be ranked below the Chargers, just because we match up poorly with them. I don’t know that I’d put us ahead of the Chargers just yet either, but you logic is faulty.
    I think we match up well against the Pats, and we’ve beaten them repeatedly throughout the Belichick era. However, I wouldn’t rank us above the Pats.