NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

A quarter of the way through the season, we’re already down to just two unbeaten teams, and there are a good handful of teams who appear to be searching for their identity. Some teams are predictable at this point but for the majority of the NFL, we don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s what makes this league so entertaining to watch; you just never know who is going to impress and who is going to crumble under pressure.

This week’s rankings are slightly strange. I wasn’t able to write my week 4 power rankings (schoolwork took priority of course), so I tried to make the transition and considered both weeks 3 and 4 for this column.

32) Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) Previous week: 32

The mighty Jags have already given up 152 points this year. And they’ve only played 4 games. That’s nearly 40 points a game. Its also a -94 point differential. I’ll let you paint your own picture for this one.

31) Oakland Raiders (0-4) Previous week: 31

Oakland is so boring; they are yet to score more than 15 points in a game and easily have the worst offense in the league. Their game against the Pats was so gross; I tried to watch it but I couldn’t. Oakland came into week 4 with the fourth worst passing game, second worst run game and second worst run defense. They are now dead last in running the ball, and probably won’t improve upon that. They’re on the bye this week, so maybe they can regroup and put together a respectable performance in week 6 against San Diego.

30) Tennessee Titans (1-3) Previous week: 25

Cincy worked Tennessee this week, and despite having one of the tougher schedules in the league they don’t show much promise. Their workload doesn’t get any easier this week with Indy, but they follow it up with 3 games against sub-.500 teams. Currently, however, Tennessee isn’t showing much upside.

29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) Previous week: 29

The Bucs got spanked on TNF, but once Mike Glennon was put in, things improved. Of course it was a lost cause by the end of the first half but Glennon posted respectable numbers nonetheless. Glennon had a solid rookie year last year (19 touchdowns/9 picks) and he resumed his role as starting quarterback this Sunday against the Steelers. He didn’t have an outstanding game but he was one of nine quarterbacks to throw for 300 yards, and he led the Bucs to their first win of the season.

28) St. Louis Rams (1-2) Previous week: 28

Austin Davis had the Rams in prime position to lead his team to a solid win over the Cowboys to move to an impressive 2-1 record. However their defense tripped up over their own feet and Davis helplessly looked on as Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray tore the field apart in the second half, keeping the Rams on the lower part of the totem pole. They didn’t play last week, so they had time to prepare for the Eagles as they try to even their record.

27) New York Jets (1-3) Previous week: 21

The Jets dropped a tough one two weeks ago against Chicago, but they didn’t deserve to win. They were way too sloppy and they weren’t able to get anything going. Geno Smith looks like he’s the starting QB for the time being, but he put together another sub-par outing this past week against the Lions. He had his chances but was unable to cash in. If he keeps this up, more and more Jets fans may call for Michael Vick.

26) Minnesota Vikings (2-2) Previous week: 27

Matt Cassel had a solid first week, but after that he looked absolutely terrible. Vikings fans have welcomed Teddy Bridgewater into the starting role, and so far he’s 1-0 as the starter with a win over the Falcons. He threw for 317 yards against Atlanta’s defense, and rushed for 27 yards and one score. Minnesota has a positive outlook for the future, and Adrian Peterson apparently does as well. He sent Vikings’ coach Mike Zimmer a text before their game encouraging and motivating them. They played a strong game and are looking forward to their first divisional matchup next week against the Packers.

25) Miami Dolphins (2-2) Previous week: 22

After getting pumped by the Bills and Chiefs I’m calling the Dolphins win over the Pats a fluke. They looked strong in their 38-14 win against the Raiders, and it was a good way for them to enter their bye week. They play the inconsistent Green Bay in week 6, and Ryan Tannehill will be looking forward to the opportunity to put his season back on track.

24) Washington Redskins (1-3) Previous week: 20

It’s tough to rank the Redskins because we don’t actually know how good Kirk Cousins is. He looked great against the Eagles and horrific against the Giants. Cousins’ life doesn’t get any easier as he faces Seattle’s Legion of Boom this week. Expect Cousins to play his heart out, since he both wants and needs the starting job. I don’t think RG3 is a solidified starter anymore, but when he comes back he will have the job if there are any more disastrous outings from Cousins.

23) New York Giants (2-2) Previous week: 30

The Giants are starting to look like their old selves after starting the season 0-2. With back-to-back convincing wins against the Texans and Redskins, they look to extend their run this week against the Falcons. Both of these teams are so unpredictable, who knows what we’ll see.

22) Atlanta Falcons (2-2) Previous week: 24

Atlanta beat the Bucs to the moon and back this week, which should be a confidence booster. I was hoping that this was a sign of consistency, but they got their own favor returned to them by the Vikes in week 4. Atlanta still can’t consistently compete, and they play the Giants this week, who are playing well.

21) New Orleans Saints (1-3) Previous week: 13

I’m tired of watching the Saints struggle against the weakest defenses, and their defense struggle against the weakest offenses. Drew Brees lost on back-to-back close contests with mediocre teams to begin the season, and despite squeaking by the Vikings they still didn’t look in form. They looked even worse on Sunday night against the Cowboys, losing 38-17. Besides Marques Colston being less effective than a rusted statue, I don’t know why the Saints aren’t winning.

20) Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) Previous week: 26

Knile Davis has officially established himself as a feature back in the Chiefs offense, whether Charles plays or not. With his third straight productive outing he helped lead the Chiefs to their second straight win. With Jamaal Charles back, Alex Smith appears more confident, and we’ll see how he does in his former stadium this week against the ailing 49ers.

19) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) Previous week: 23

Pittsburgh picked up a huge win against the Panthers, led by a ridiculously dominant ground game. 264 total yards on 34 carries is enough to give any team fits, but they were unable to continue to dominate on the ground. The Bucs managed to beat the Steelers on Sunday by scoring 17 of the last 24 points. The Bucs didn’t win the run game, but they held Pittsburgh to 85 yards on 27 carries. We’ve found yet another inconsistent team in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

18) Buffalo Bills (2-2) Previous week: 16

The Bills weren’t able to get anything going against either the Texans or Chargers, and because of that they’ve lost two straight. Despite their lesser play in the past two weeks, they still maintain the lead in the AFC East division.

17) Chicago Bears (2-2) Previous week: 14

Matt Forte finally got his run game going against the Packers, but Chicago’s defense was finally exploited and they wound up losing by 21. They play the distraught Panthers this coming week in what should be an interesting matchup. Jay Cutler will look to have both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery 100% healthy for the first time since week 1. If that’s the case then the Bears stand a decent chance of winning.

16) Carolina Panthers (2-2) Previous week: 6

The Panthers have surrendered 37 and 38 points in their last two outings against the Steelers and Ravens respectably. I have no clue as to why they are getting torched by the AFC North, but that division must know something that we don’t. Carolina will look to rebound this week against daaa Bears (I’ve been looking to fit that poorly humorous comment in my writing for quite some time, so bear with me).

15) Cleveland Browns (1-2) Previous week: 17

I feel so sorry for the Browns, I really do. This poor team cannot catch a break. They’ve lost on a last twice on last-second field goals, which means they could very well be 3-0. However they won a game on a last-second field goal as well, so they could also be 0-3. Cleveland had the bye this week, which should have given them time to right their defensive wrongs. Cleveland also has Ben Tate back, which could give them the edge they need.

P.S. Cleveland still has not turned the ball over yet. I don’t know the statistic off the top of my head but it’s been quite some time since a team was 1-2 without turning the ball over once.

14) New England Patriots (2-2) Previous week: 5

It needs to be said that Tom Brady doesn’t look like Tom Brady. Aside from the countless statistics that have been all over our Twitter feeds (supposedly proving his declining performances), he doesn’t look comfortable and I think that’s the biggest issue. He isn’t getting enough time in the pocket, but that’s not all it is. His arm strength and precision aren’t what they once were, and he can’t seem to zone in on any particular target. You can’t fault him for it since it comes with age, but it’s still weird to see. I don’t want to say it’s time to enter panic-mode in New England, but after that game against the Chiefs…I don’t know if the Pats have what it takes to climb out of this slump.

13) Green Bay Packers (2-2) Previous week: 9

Finally! Aaron Rodgers looked like himself against the Bears, as he slung four touchdowns to familiar faces (two each to Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson). They own the NFL’s worst run defense allowing a disgusting 176 yards per game. However if Rodgers continues his stellar quarterbacking, they have a fighting chance no matter whom they play.

12) Baltimore Ravens (3-1) Previous week: 18

The Ravens are a low-key 3-1 with a top-ten ground game and run defense. They look better than expected this year and are coping nicely with the loss of Ray Rice. Don’t blink, but if they can continue this quiet win streak we may be in for another playoff run.

11) Dallas Cowboys (3-1) Previous week: 19

DeMarco Murray has obliterated opposing defenses, leading the NFL in rushing yardage and touchdowns. He fumbled every game except in week 4, so believe it or not his game can still improve. Add to that, Tony Romo is slinging the ball with consistency, and the defense held it’s own against the Saints. I know we’re only a quarter of the way through, but it may be Dallas’ year to return to the playoffs.

10) Houston Texans (3-1) Previous week: 10

They picked up their first L at the hands of the G-Men, but quickly got back on track with a win against Buffalo. Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t exactly play well, but he did enough to beat his former squad. J.J. Watt’s 80-yard interception return for a touchdown proved to be the difference, and the Texans are now atop the AFC South.

9) Detroit Lions (3-1) Previous week: 15

The Lions are randomly in the top seven in passing, defending the pass and defending the run. The defense looks a lot better this year, but the run game is struggling, which is leaving a lot of pressure on Stafford to single-handedly move the ball down the field. The Lions look good though, and also confident, which is something that we haven’t seen in a while. The only potential bugaboo in the near future is the health of Calvin Johnson. He was only targeted twice on Sunday, but he did manage to catch both balls for 12 yards.

8) San Francisco 49ers (2-2) Previous week: 3

The 49ers finally picked up their second win against the previously unbeaten Eagles, but not without difficulties. They went down early on a blocked punt return for a touchdown, and were trailing 21-13 at the half. They scrounged out 13 points in the second half to win 26-21, and the defense didn’t allow a single point. In fact, they held Chip Kelly’s offense to 213 yards, and just 3.8 yards per play. If the defense plays like that every week, the 49ers would never lose.

The one cause for concern that San Francisco fans should look out for is Colin Kaepernick. He’s back to his old ways of throwing missiles at his receivers no matter what the case may be, and I’ve found myself holding my breath on many occasions. If he can re-learn to slow himself down he will be fine, but he’s been a scary player to watch so far this year.

7) San Diego Chargers (3-1) Previous week: 11

The Bolts are one blown lead away from 4-0, and they seem determined to make up for that Monday night choke-job. Rivers is on point right now and the defense is exceeding everyone’s expectations. The only immediate downside for San Diego is the run game. With Danny Woodhead likely out for the year and Ryan Mathews out for another few weeks, Donald Brown his trying to shoulder the load. Brown has gained a mere 100 yards on 50 carries, and what’s even worse is that he’s rushed for just four first downs. He’s still searching for his first touchdown of the year, and he’s facing a stingy Jets defense this week.

The only reason the Chargers aren’t ahead of the Eagles is because of a weak strength of schedule. They’re coming off wins against the Bills and Jaguars, and in the next two weeks they play the Jets and Raiders. Combined, those four teams are 3-13.

6) Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) Previous week: 7

I said before last week that the Eagles are skating on thin ice. I knew it would only be a matter of time before Nick Foles was unable to bail them out, and I also voiced my concerns about their run game. Why McCoy can’t produce anything more than a 5-yard carry, I don’t know. But I do know that if it continues, the Eagles will slowly slip further and further in the NFC standings.

5) Indianapolis Colts (2-2) Previous week: 12

Andrew Luck finally put together a strong showing as he cut up the Jaguars’ secondary, and followed it up with another 40+ point performance against the Titans. I know that those two wins aren’t hard to come by, but when Andrew Luck throws for four TD’s and over 370 yards in consecutive weeks, you have to be feeling pretty good.

4) Denver Broncos (2-1) Previous week: 2

Denver suffered a heart-wrenching overtime loss to Seattle. Peyton didn’t get a chance, which seems unfair to most people, but rules are rules. They fought valiantly, but it ultimately wasn’t enough in the end. The Broncos will obviously be fine, and they had the week off to reflect and improve. I imagine they studied a lot of Seahawks film in addition to their preparation for the Cardinals in week 5.

On a side note, I just realized that my four top-ranked teams had a week 4 bye. It probably doesn’t mean anything significant, but it may give these four teams a slight edge in the coming weeks.

3) Arizona Cardinals (3-0) Previous week: 8

The Cards have impressed the league more and more each week, capping off their 3-0 start with a win over the 49ers. Their offense isn’t in the top half of the league in rushing, passing, or scoring but their lockdown D is providing them with opportunities to win games. It’s weird to put them ahead of the Broncos but they’ve earned it with 3 quality wins over the Chargers, Giants and 49ers.

2) Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) Previous week: 4

Who would have thought the Bengals would look this good? They were on the bye this week which kind of stinks for them since they’ve played so well, but it shouldn’t slow their momentum. The week off allowed for AJ Green to fully recover, along with Gio Bernard who’s been getting a lot of work. They face the ever-so-shaky Patriots in a crucial week 5 SNF showdown.

1) Seattle Seahawks (2-1) Previous week: 1

Seattle proved why they are the best with their win against Denver. LOB was all over the place and Peyton struggled to find holes in the defense. Their front 7 proved to be unbreakable once again, and we saw a promising quality out of Russell Wilson; he took over when it was do or die. He torched Denver’s defense on that overtime drive, and proved to everybody once again that he is a top-notch quarterback. They plan on resuming their winning ways against the ‘Skins on Monday Night Football.

2014 Ryder Cup: Roster Analysis and Predictions

The Ryder Cup is a highly prestigious golf tournament held between the Americans and the Europeans. It builds a strong friendly rivalry and provides golf fanatics with one of the best weekends of golf that there could possibly be. The Europeans have won 2 in a row, 5 of the last 6, and 7 of the last 9 tournaments. The Americans are going to be trying to change the tide, and win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993.

This year’s Ryder Cup is greatly anticipated, and for good reason. The USA is looking to rebound from the last tournament, where they blew a 4-point lead heading into the final day. “Miracle at Medinah” was a huge moment for the Europeans while the Americans were left in disarray. Despite the blowup from Team USA, it was great golf to watch. Seeing Henrik Stenson match Tiger’s final score to earn the half point needed for Team Europe to win was unreal. Both sides gave strong performances, which I was pleased about because it meant that the competition in golf is heating up. As much as I enjoyed seeing Tiger dominate throughout my entire life, seeing young stars being born is just as thrilling. Among them I see Jordan Spieth, Martin Kaymer, Victor Dubuisson and Rickie Fowler having a standout tournament. My favorite part of the Ryder Cup is knowing that everyone will bring his A-game; the question is, who will come out on top?

Here’s a quick view of the layout of both squads:

Position	USA	Europe
Captain	Tom Watson	Paul McGinley
1	Bubba Watson	Rory McIlroy
2	Rickie Fowler	Henrik Stenson
3	Jim Furyk	Victor Dubuisson
4	Jimmy Walker	Jamie Donaldson
5	Phil Mickelson	Sergio Garcia
6	Matt Kuchar	Justin Rose
7	Jordan Spieth	Martin Kaymer
8	Patrick Reed	Thomas Bjorn
9	Zach Johnson	Graeme McDowell
Captain’s Pick 1	Keegan Bradley	Stephen Gallacher
Captain’s Pick 2	Webb Simpson	Ian Poulter
Captain’s Pick 3	Hunter Mahan	Lee Westwood

By now, you probably know my prediction for this tournament. If you’ve been following golf all year, than you, like myself, know that Europe has a high chance to walk away with the trophy again.

From top to bottom, Europe has the better roster. From the current best player in the world with Rory McIlroy, to one of the most consistent Ryder Cup players the world has ever seen in Ian Poulter; Europe outmatches the US in nearly every category.

Tom Watson made some quality captain’s picks, but he has faced some scrutiny for it. He made his picks “too early” according to some. He also elected to go with experience with his captain’s picks rather than potential talent. He left Chris Kirk off of his roster, who a few say deserve a spot more than all 3 of Watson’s picks. Kirk would have been the fourth rookie on Team USA, but he’s had his best year yet and he’s proved that he can consistently compete at a high level.

Another option for Watson was the late bloomer and FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel. Despite winning the Cup, the BMW Championship, and placing second in the Deutsche Bank Championship (the final 3 tournaments he played in), Horschel didn’t do enough early enough in the eyes of Tom Watson, or as Watson described it “He was a day late, but not a dollar short.” Horschel would truly have been cheated out of the luxury of being selected had he wanted to be selected in the first place. Horschel’s wife is due with their first child this Saturday, and he clearly stated that he wants to be there for her. Ironically enough, Tom Watson went through the same thing. In 1979 Watson was going to play in his second Ryder Cup, but withdrew so he could be there for his wife and child.

So don’t be too critical of Watson and his selections, he went with what he knew was best for Team USA. Besides, he’s Tom Watson… No one can be mad at Tom.

Paul McGinley had a few options himself and despite wanting nothing more than America to win, I was upset that Luke Donald didn’t get the nod. He has performed admirably in the tournament throughout his career posting a 10-4-1 overall record through 4 tournaments, including a thrilling win over Jim Furyk at Medinah last year. Donald deserves a spot on this Ryder Cup team as much as everybody, yet McGinley left him off for Stephen Gallacher, a 38-year old who doesn’t typically face the Americans. I get that Gallacher had a good year on the European tour, but Luke Donald is a player that any captain should be begging to play. He went with the incredibly reliant Ian Poulter, who has a 12-3 overall record through 4 tournaments. Donald is essentially another Poulter, and McGinley did not take advantage of that. His third pick was also based on experience with Lee Westwood so I don’t know why he wouldn’t stick to the game plan. Other than that hiccup, McGinley has one heck of a team.

What we can expect:

For obvious reasons, one of the most anticipated potential matchups is Fowler vs. McIlroy. Personally though, I’m hoping to see the rookies match up with each other. Both sides possess 3 rookies (Spieth, Walker and Reed for USA and Dubuisson, Gallacher and Donaldson for Europe), and I would love to see them go head-to-head on Sunday. If it were up to me, I would pair up Spieth with Dubuisson, Walker with Donaldson and Reed with Gallacher. Spieth and Dubuisson would be a sick match to watch, considering they both play well beyond their years. I think we can expect to see at least 1 rookie matchup on Sunday, and a couple rookies going against each other in the foursomes and fourballs on Friday and Saturday. Look out for the rookies this year, because they can make or break their respective teams.

On the American side, I think we can expect Jim Furyk to continue his poor Ryder Cup performances. Despite playing in the tourney 8 times he’s posted a 9-17-4 record. Jim is one of my all-time favorites, but I won’t be able to stand watching the man choke again. He’s had a great year and I hope he can right his own ship, but the odds are against him.

Also be wary of Phil. He’s off-and-on every tourney, and we never know which Phil Mickelson will show up. In that aspect, Phil and Keegan Bradley are somewhat similar. Bradley had a strong showing in 2012 going 3-1, but his one loss was huge. And as we’ve seen in past years, Bradley can be either dangerously awful or dangerously good.

If there’s one player that I expect to perform above the competition, it’s Rickie Fowler. He’s coming off his best year on the tour, and he’s confident about his game. He’s improved his swing a great deal, and he can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best. He’ll probably be the American’s anchor, so look for him to win a couple crucial matches.

For Europe, expect McIlroy to be playing nearly all weekend except in Saturday’s afternoon matches. He’s their stud, and has been the world’s best golfer all year. He’ll be tough to stop, and I don’t know if anyone will be able to do so. Apart from McIlroy, Europe has Henrik Stenson who is nasty, Sergio Garcia who has been playing excellent golf recently, and Martin Kaymer who has had a great season. In addition to that, the veterans for Europe can be expected to perform well, specifically Ian Poulter.

Final thoughts:

If America is going to win this year, each of their twelve players is going to need to bring their best golf all weekend. They’re clearly outmatched by Europe, and they can’t afford any slip-ups. I’m projecting the Europeans to win 8 points out of the 12 Sunday matches. I just don’t think we can match-up with them going head-to-head. Taking that into consideration, I think the US will need to win the foursomes and fourballs by at least 4 points (but don’t count on them being able to do that).

It’s going to be an interesting tournament and America is the outside team coming in. I’m going with Team Europe to win again this year, 16.5-11.5. But after all it is the Ryder Cup, and as we’ve seen, anything can happen.

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

The NFL hasn’t only been a headline on ESPN in the past weeks; it’s been on multiple news channels due to off-the-field events. To mention a few of the wrongdoers I’m thinking of Ray Rice, Ray McDonald, Greg Hardy, Aaron Hernandez, Wes Welker, Josh Gordon, Le’Veon Bell and most recently Adrian Peterson. These guys have made headlines for domestic violence, murder, the usage of marijuana and other recreational drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, you name it. However, the NFL season is well underway and we’re starting to see what teams are made of. With that being said I’m going to put the off-field events aside for now and focus on what’s happening on the field with this season’s first power rankings.

32) Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

The Jaguars shocked everybody by putting together a 4-12 record last year. They were looking to improve on that this year and coming in to the season they had a small chance. They added Toby Gerhart to the mix, and a few defensive pieces as well. The Jags played well in week 1, as Allen Hurns burst on to the scene and they found themselves up 17-0 at the half. It seems as if they were just as surprised as we were, because nobody was prepared to be playing with a 3-score lead. They lost the game 34-17, and took that bad momentum through this week. Kirk Cousins steamrolled the Jaguars in a 41-10 beat down, which proved to me that they are still the worst team in the NFL. Lastly I’ll add that Henne has been sacked thirteen times so far, 9 of those coming from the Redskins this week.

31) Oakland Raiders (0-2)

Is it just me or does it seem as if the Raiders never get any better? They picked up Derek Carr, which isn’t a bad move but it isn’t very beneficial. If anything, they just stepped sideways. They picked up MJD who’s getting worse every year, and a receiver whose only true value comes with the arm of Aaron Rodgers. (James Jones). Their offense is as disheveled as it’s ever been, and for some untold reason Darren McFadden hasn’t been booted yet. How much does this man need to fail before Oakland realizes that he’s never going to amount to what he was supposed to? Their defense is the only thing they have “going” for them and it’s still not nearly enough to compete. They’ve given up the sixth most points in the AFC despite having Justin Tuck, Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Khalil Mack, LaMarr Woodley and of course Charles Woodson. They can be considered bottom feeders once again.

30) New York Giants (0-2)

I don’t want to do this but I have to. I honestly get sad when I watch the Giants, due to piss-poor quality of play. The O-line is putrid, in both run and pass protection. Each of their receivers drops more balls then Braylon Edwards… Remember him? The guy that was good for at least 1 drop per game on a wide-open over-the-middle crossing route? Imagine having four of him on the field at once. In addition to their sub-par hands they all run routes like Randy Moss and DeSean Jackson; the only difference is that they aren’t athletic or big enough to get away with it, perhaps with the exception of Victor Cruz. Lastly there’s Eli. Poor, poor Eli. Yeah I know he throws a lot of picks. At least half of those are deflected balls from his receivers, and another quarter of them are from his receivers running incorrect routes. I’m not trying to say Eli is great, because he’s not. But don’t be fooled by thinking that the Giants horribleness is a product of Eli. I say all these bad things about the G-men, and the saddest part is that they actually have a chance to make playoffs. For now NYG is going to remain in the bottom of my rankings.

29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)

Like last year, the Bucs are barely losing. Also like last year, the Bucs haven’t shown signs of being able to beat an NFL team. Bobby Rainey is doing a good job running the ball, but that is it. That is literally it. The passing game is gross to watch, and the defense is focusing on preventing big plays, so teams are getting whatever they want underneath.  They’ve allowed 28 first downs through the air, which is a killer for the defense. They also got out-possessed in both games, more so by the Panthers than the Rams. So despite only losing by a combined 8 points, the Bucs are this low because they cannot score enough, especially with Doug Martin hurt.

28) St. Louis Rams (1-1)

The Rams beat the Bucs this week so if you’re expecting me to be impressed, you got it all wrong. As I just said the Bucs don’t pose much of a threat to anyone, so this victory from the Rams was almost guaranteed. However I will say that if Zac Stacy can continue to run effectively, and if the defense can continue to get stops in the coming weeks, the Rams may surprise us with a handful of genuine wins.

27) Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

We all knew the Pats were going to smack the Vikes, but i didn’t expect Cassel to toss 4 balls their way. Okay I knew he would commit a few turnovers, cause there is no way that Minnesota can go 2 straight weeks without a turnover. Anyways, Matt Asiata supplied a respective outing in AP’s absence but it wasn’t enough. Minnesota could scrape out a couple wins in the first half of the year, and if Peterson comes back sooner rather than later, they have a chance to be a spoiler team in the NFC. If Peterson gets permanently suspended though, they will continue the sub-par showings.

26) Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)

I really don’t want to put the Chiefs this low, but I have no choice. Their defense is underperforming, Jamaal Charles has 19 things wrong with him for the fourth straight season, and Alex Smith is failing to run an aggressive offense. They don’t look like themselves, and I don’t know why. Granted I’ve been saying the Chiefs were overrated since they were 6-0 last year, but still. I know they’re better than this. Until someone for KC steps up and makes a difference they’re going nowhere but down.

25) Tennessee Titans (1-1)

It was a historic week for the Titans! Delanie Walker was their first player to catch 10 balls for 140 yards since Drew Bennett in 2004. They also have the best pass defense in the league. I don’t know how that happened, but they’re bound to come back down to Earth soon. I’m not convinced by the Titans win against the Chiefs considering how awful KC looks. I’ll be keeping a close eye on Tennessee in coming weeks.

24) Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

ATL has the second worst pass defense and the seventh worst run defense. They’re twenty-first in rushing, but it’s okay cause they’re the “best” passing team in the business (based on total yardage). They beat New Orleans in week 1 in OT on a Matt Bryant field goal, but they looked out of sorts against the Bengals this past week. I need to see some form of consistency before I put them any higher.

23) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Sorry Pittsburgh but you are not good and your beloved QB isn’t impressive to me. Maybe my bias is kicking in but a win against the Browns on a game-winning field goal isn’t something to be overly excited about, and getting beat down by the Ravens this week only makes matters worse. If they can hold their own against Carolina in week 3, I’ll reconsider their status.

22) Miami Dolphins (1-1)

Well, they beat New England! At least there’s that. After week 1 I had multiple people telling that Miami is a legit playoff contender this year. I told them to not jump the gun after 1 strong performance. Low and behold the Dolphins rolled into Buffalo with confidence and left with nothing but sad defeat. Don’t worry Miami fans! You have a chance to bounce back in the next couple weeks with the Chiefs and Raiders, both of which are struggling 0-2 teams.

21) New York Jets (1-1)

The Jets should be 2-0. They really should, but Marty Mornhinwig didn’t trust his quarterback. Instead he tried to play hero and it cost NYJ a big game. I want to give credit where credit is due here: Geno has played well thus far and the rest of the Jets roster is actively involved in the team’s early success. If they can keep performing at this same level I think they can challenge teams like San Diego for a wild card spot.

20) Washington Redskins (1-1)

Washington would be a lot lower had RG3 not gotten hurt. It sounds bad, but Kirk Cousins gives them the bets chance to win. He deserves his time in the starting role, and I hope he gets more than a few weeks in the number 1 spot. I honestly considered ranking the ‘Skins higher, and for good reason. They’re tenth in passing, third in rushing, third in opponent passing yardage, and they’re fourth in opponent rushing yardage. They have a test coming up with Philly, but I think they can handle it.

19) Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

Per usual Dallas has a chance to make a splash this year, but won’t amount to the hype. They’re 1-1 so far with a disgusting performance and a strong outing. The Dallas team that we see wavers from week to week, so we’ll see how they handle St. Louis this week. On a quick side note, I’d like to point out that DeMarco Murray has started off the year with back-to-back 100-yard games. Also, Jason Garrett is now 7-1 when his team runs more than passes. Take a hint Jason, and take advantage of the ground game.

18) Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

The old Ravens with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were exciting, and Bernard Pollard too. Now when I see their logo or team name I immediately get bored. Joe Flacco is one of the most boring athletes I’ve ever had the displeasure to watch, and their defense has lost its pizazz. Even Terrell Suggs has lost his appeal. Their defense is still solid but they don’t do anything exciting. Flacco meanwhile is still the most overpaid guy in the league. The Ravens will do okay this year, they’ll win when they’re supposed to win and they’ll lose when they’re supposed to lose. I don’t sense any shocking performances so they’ll most likely be hovering around the middle of the pack all year.

17) Cleveland Browns (1-1)

I don’t expect people to understand why I have the Browns this high. But I’ll tell you that Brian Hoyer is good, they have a quality ground game (even with Ben Tate out), and their defense is surprisingly not terrible. Cleveland is now 4-1 when Hoyer has started at QB, and they should be 5-0 (defensive slip-up week 1 @Pittsburgh). Not to mention the Browns haven’t turned the ball over once this year. Don’t look now but they may be in position to make a playoff run when Josh Gordon returns in week 11.

16) Buffalo Bills (2-0)

Forgive me if I don’t put the undefeated Bills ahead of a few winless teams. They’ve earned 2 respectable wins; they’re sixth in rushing and fifth in run defense. They’re +4 in turnovers and their defense is solid. EJ Manuel is also playing well and they have the outright lead in the AFC East. Nevertheless, facts are facts and they are still the Bills. I doubt they’ll continue winning like this for long, but I’ll give them credit for what they’ve accomplished thus far.

15) Detroit Lions (1-1)

They should be better than they are but for some reason they can’t stop beating themselves. This past week Calvin Johnson only caught 6 balls for 83 yards. His numbers should never be that low, I do not care who he plays. Stafford going 27/48 is also inexcusable. Those two should light it up every game, so when they score a mere 7 points it puts sincere doubt in my mind. I know we’re only 2 weeks in and I’m being pretty harsh, but I’ll go crazy if I see Detroit underachieve for the fourth straight year.

14) Chicago Bears (1-1)

The Bears got a lot of help from the zebras against the 49ers so don’t tell me how good they are. I’ll give credit to Jay Cutler but I’m going to wait a little while longer before I invest in the Bears. As we’ve seen in the past they’ve been injury prone, and prone to under-performing.

13) New Orleans Saints (0-2)

I have a feeling that I overrated the Saints coming in to this year. Their defense has looked terrible thus far and it’s not like they’re playing elite offenses either. They rank dead last in pass defense and they’re in the bottom half of the league defending the run. If they can’t get their act together on both sides of the ball it’s going to be a long and painful year for them.

12) Indianapolis Colts (0-2)

The Colts have narrowly missed winning both games in this early season, and they played two of the better teams in the league. I’m not going to drop them too far down because I know they’ll pick it up soon. But Luck needs to get it together and do what we all know he’s capable of. Don’t worry folks, Indy will climb into the single digits soon enough.

11) San Diego Chargers (1-1)

I’d like to put my boys higher up after their win against Seattle but I can’t. They’re too unpredictable and too unsteady to be trusted. Plus after their second consecutive Monday night blow-up who knows how they’ll do this year. Rivers looks great so far, and the defense is performing better than I expected. The big question mark of this season will be the offensive line. With Nick Hardwick out the line is crumbling. We saw 5 holding calls come in the red zone this past week, including 3 by the backup center, and we can’t forget his 2 fumbled snaps either. The Chargers have potential to fall to as low as twentieth and as high as fifth. Until I see them more they’ll hover around this spot in the rankings.

10) Houston Texans (2-0)

The Texans have gotten off to a hot start and for their sake I hope it continues. It will be painful to watch them fall apart again like last year, but I don’t think JJ Watt will let that happen. They’ve beaten 2 sub-par teams so we won’t know how good they really are until about midseason when they get into the meat of their schedule. For now I’ll let them keep climbing.

9) Green Bay Packers (1-1)

The Packers honestly haven’t looked very good so far. They got spanked by the Seahawks and narrowly escaped the Jets. Their defense s getting torched by every running back it sees, and it doesn’t bode well for their future. If they can’t pull it together soon then they’ll find themselves behind in their division. To me, the most worrisome thing about Green Bay is the tentativeness of Aaron Rodgers. The fact that he didn’t throw Richard Sherman’s way is still unnerving. Whether it’s a lack of trust in his receivers, or a lack of confidence in himself to beat the fearsome cornerback, it doesn’t look good for anybody. The season is early but I would keep on eye on this squad.

8) Arizona Cardinals (2-0)

The Cardinals might be overrated but it’s hard to overlook they’re victories. They didn’t dominate the Giants or Chargers, and they don’t do anything in superb fashion. In fact, as I’m writing this I’m already questioning my decision to put them at the 8 spot. We’ll see how good they really are this week when they play the 49ers at home. As of right now I’ve bought the Cardinals due to their all-around solid play.

7) Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Nick Foles hasn’t been his usual self yet this year and that’s the only reason why they aren’t higher. They pulled off a huge win against Indy on Monday night. so they’ve proven that they can win in tight situations against good teams. Seventh is a fair spot for them but don’t be surprised if they move up a few rungs on the ladder throughout the next month.

6) Carolina Panthers (2-0)

I probably have the Panthers lower than they deserve after 2 solid wins. Despite their stellar defensive play and solid offensive production, I’m waiting for a collapse on the offensive end. I’m ready for Carolina to prove me wrong but until they do I’ll keep them out of the top 5.

5) New England Patriots (1-1)

Like the Saints, I’m worried I overrated the Patriots coming into the year. Despite putting up 50 points through the first 2 weeks, the Pats are twenty-seventh in passing and sixteenth in rushing. They handled the Vikings with ease for obvious reasons but I’m curious to see how they look against top tier teams. I want to wait until they play the Bengals in week 5 before I put them any higher than fifth.

4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)

I love Andy Dalton, I really do. He’s ridiculously underrated and no matter what he does people don’t seem to recognize him for it. He lost his go-to guy this past week but still took care of the Falcons with relative ease. I love the combination of Bernard and Hill in the backfield, and combined with their defense the Bengals have turned into one of the best teams in the NFL for me. We’ll see in the coming weeks if I’m right but I have confidence that the Bengals are on a promising path.

3) San Francisco 49ers (1-1)

Here it is, my surprise pick of the week! I have no issue with their loss to Chicago, because as I was watching that game I knew that wasn’t the real 49er team. I think they’ll bounce back this week and torch Arizona. Harbaugh will put them through a week of torture at practice and whip them back into shape. I have no doubt in my mind that San Francisco is still a top tier team in this league.

2) Denver Broncos (2-0)

They’re Denver. I don’t know what else to say. Peyton has looked nearly flawless as usual. They haven’t turned the ball over yet, and the defense is clearly better than last year. However they aren’t the best team in the NFL. They’re obviously Super Bowl contenders and they are clearly the best team in the AFC, but they aren’t my number 1 team.

1) Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

Last year I continuously held the Seahawks at the top of my power ranking, and people wondered why. They proved to everybody why they were number one last year, and they’ll do the same this year. I think they will adapt to whatever teams throw at them from here on out, and next week they’ll look just as good as they did in week 1. In no way am I saying Seattle is invincible, but I’m not worried about Denver. Seattle is still the best for me, hands down.

Also, while I’m writing about the Seahawks, I want to say that Richard Sherman is still the best cornerback in the league. I do not care that he let up 4 catches this week. If anybody is expecting him to not get thrown at all year than they don’t know football. It’s impossible to stop everybody all the time, but Richard Sherman does it more than anybody else. Philip Rivers knows how good he is which is why he threw to receiver-linebacker and tight end-linebacker matchups the majority of the game. People need to stop expecting perfection from Sherman, that’s all I’m trying to say.