A bunch of close games and upsets set right some of the Week 1 hype that many teams generated early. For others, the troubles ahead look monumental.
Here’s how teams should be ranked going into Week 3.
Next to each team and rank is their record and last week’s ranking.
1. Denver Broncos 2-0 (-)
Big brother Manning is no fluke. That offence is still lethal and might have finally found their RB1.
They’ve scored 90 points in two games. Even better, the defence is getting results, intercepting Eli Manning and Joe Flacco a combined six times.
2. Seattle Seahawks 2-0 (3)
Russell Wilson is fantastic, and Marshawn Lynch is clearly still a beast this season, but what that defence just did to the 49ers and Colin Kaepernick was astonishing. The ‘Hawks have the best secondary in the league, hands down.
3. San Francisco 49ers 1-1 (2)
Kaepernick might have been befuddled by an ultra-talented Seahawks defence, but they’re still an elite team. How they pick themselves up Week 3 will be vital moving forward.
4. New England Patriots 2-0 (4)
The Patriots were challenged by the Jets. It’s clear they’ve got a problem with their young receiving corp. They need to get their rookies up to speed and catching passes quickly if they want to keep winning.
5. Green Bay Packers 1-1 (5)
Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the league. Yes, the Redskins defence was awful, but Rodgers lit them up. Even better, they got the running game going with James Starks.
6. Houston Texans 2-0 (6)
Another close win for the Texans over what should have been a weak opponent (the Tennessee Titans) keeps them steady. The rise of rookie receiver DeAndre Hopkins is very significant moving forward.
7. Atlanta Falcons 1-1 (7)
The Falcons hold with a win over the developing Rams, but they did allow 21 unanswered points in the second half. They’ve had problems closing games before, and not having Steven Jackson for a few games might hurt too.
8. Chicago Bears 2-0 (8)
The Bears came up with the goods when it mattered to beat the Vikings at the buzzer. Marc Trestman is truly getting the most out of error-prone quarterback Jay Cutler.
9. New Orleans Saints 2-0 (10)
The Saints have clearly shown some improvement on defence with the new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. That’s all they really needed to be a playoff team. They jump up another rank.
10. Cincinnati Bengals 1-1 (9)
This might be unfair, as the Bengals won their divisional match-up against the Steelers. But they did it tough, and the Steelers are not the team they once were. They need to make greater use of rookie running back Giovani Bernard.
11. Kansas City Chiefs 2-0 (17)
The Chiefs surge upwards after a big win over the Cowboys. Their defence looks fantastic and it’s clear head coach Andy Reid is getting the most out of quarterback Alex Smith.
12. Indianapolis Colts 1-1 (11)
The Colts had a tough loss to a very good Miami team. They drop a spot but shouldn’t be too concerned. They still ran the the ball and rushed the passer well.
13. Baltimore Ravens 1-1 (14)
The Ravens held the Browns to six points but only managed 14 of their own. That defence still needs to mesh, and they’ve obviously still looking for a consistent offensive target too.
14. St. Louis Rams 1-1 (13)
The Rams lost to a very good Atlanta Falcons team, and quarterback Sam Bradford seems to be warming up to his talented receiving corp. If they can get the run game going they’ll be dangerous.
15. Miami Dolphins 2-0 (22)
I’m on board the with Dolphins, and they seem to be constantly improving. Second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill got receiver Mike Wallace involved this week, and they found their running game against the Colts.
16. Dallas Cowboys 1-1 (16)
The Cowboys hold with a close loss to the Chiefs. Quarterback Tony Romo remains the enigma he has always been, and they’ll need more consistency to move up. America’s Team will have to get the running game going, too.
17. Buffalo Bills 1-1 (24)
The Bills also have a big jump up these rankings after a fantastic performance against the Panthers in Week 2. Mario Williams’ 4.5 sacks could signal good times ahead.
18. San Diego Chargers 1-1 (28)
I was wrong about the Chargers. Philip Rivers has seven touchdown passes in two games and the emergence of Eddie Royal has been an absolute blessing. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season so far.
19. Philadelphia Eagles 1-1 (19)
The Eagles hold their spot despite a home loss. It’s clear that defence is a weakness. The offence will carry this team so long as they can keep up the pace.
20. New York Giants 0-2 (12)
Am I being kind to the Giants only having them fall eight places? Perhaps. Eli Manning has thrown seven interceptions in two games and that defence is an obvious liability.
21. Arizona Cardinals 1-1 (23)
They’ve only shown improvement since the start of the season. If they get their pass rush back they could surprise.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers 0-2 (15)
The Steelers continue their fall down the ranks. Their issues, as always, remain on the offensive line. If they can’t get a running game going they have to get the ball out faster. Rookie Markus Wheaton should help in Week 3.
23. Detroit Lions 1-1 (20)
The Lions are still a little all over the place, but they clearly have the best receiver in the league in Calvin Johnson and a fantastic pair of runners in Joique Bell and Reggie Bush (hopefully won’t miss games through injury).
24. Tennessee Titans 1-1 (29)
I don’t usually raise a team’s value after a loss, but the Titans were very, very close to beating the Texans this week. They still need to find a way to make quarterback Jake Locker more productive.
25. Washington Redskins 0-2 (18)
Another team that might deserve a worse fall in the ranks. The Redskins are saved only by the fact that they faced one of the best offenses in the league.
Their issues are myriad, but it begins with putting points up on the board early.
26. Minnesota Vikings 0-2 (17)
The Vikings had a tough loss in Week 2. Once again Christian Ponder proved to be a liability with a pick-six.
Still, rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson looks great and second-year safety Harrison Smith is Pro Bowl caliber.
27. Carolina Panthers 0-2 (24)
Some would see the Panthers drop further, but their defence is solid, despite that horrid mistake that cost them the game against the Bills.
28. New York Jets 1-1 (31)
The Jets move up because they had a solid performance against the New England Patriots. They hung in there until the end, and if rookie quarterback Geno Smith didn’t throw those final quarter interceptions they might have even won.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-2 (26)
It’s hard to build a winning football team when the best players are constantly annoyed with the head coach. Go figure. If they do (somehow) trade quarterback Josh Freeman, expect them to get even worse.
30. Oakland Raiders 1-1 (31)
The Raiders got some production from running back Darren McFadden in Week 2. If they could finally get him going they might surprise with one or two more wins this season.
31. Cleveland Browns 0-2 (27)
It’s a fire sale! All pre-Lombardi draft picks must go! The Browns are already blowing the team up and stockpiling draft picks.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-1 (32)
The Jaguars couldn’t get anything going against the Oakland Raiders, and now once again their best player, running back Maurice Jones-Drew, has an injury issue.
Don’t be surprised by the Chiefs continue to rise up my rankings. They’re playing very well for new head coach Andy Reid and could be a genuine wild-card contender this season.
The Bills have also become one of the sneakier teams who are trending up in my book – if rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel keeps improving they could challenge Miami for second place in the division.
In fact, the entire AFC East has been better than previously thought. The Dolphins could be a legitimate wild-card team this season, and even the Jets look better than most thought they would.
The AFC North is looking like a complete mess, and while most expected the Browns to struggle this season it’s the Steelers’ poor efforts so far that has surprised me the most. If the Bengals fail to compete with the Packers in Week 3 – just compete, they don’t need to win – then they might battle the NFC East as the league’s worst division.
It’s hard to gauge what’s going on in the AFC South.
The Texans should be the No. 1 team, but struggled to win both their games so far. Meanwhile, the Colts are knocking on the door and it does look like the Titans are not far behind them.
What do you think? How do my rankings stack up in your book?
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