NFL Week 2 Power Rankings
by Alex "Moose" Strizak
What a Week 1! From Lamar Jackson setting records to the Dolphins... well, being the victim of those records...
Hopefully the Dolphins can still field a 53 person roster amid all the trade requests, but I digress.
Let's take a look at how my weekly picks went this week...
I am VERY happy with my Week 1 picks as I always find the first week and last week the hardest to pick. The NFL is known for being a league of quick change, whether it be a superstar talent emerging or a superstar getting injured.
But this Week 1 was just about perfect until Patricia's Lions got cute with the Offensive Coordinator, who is the former Seahawks Offensive Coordinator who never really liked using Marshawn Lynch at the goal line.
Also, the Cleveland Browns obviously disappointed an entire city by laying an absolute egg in what is supposed to be their emergence onto the scene. Instead, it looks like a bouncer threw them back outside.
But the biggest disappointment of the week for me was actually the Broncos. It's time to say it, that John Elway just can't bring in a workable offensive group. The defense is stellar and it's sad to see it wasted.
Congrats to the Dallas Cowboys for winning as my "Survivor Pick of the Week" so I survive to Week 2 and stay tuned for the result of that pick... because I'm taking the Patriots at Miami.
Quick background about "Survivor Pick." This pick is the choice that you say is your most confident. If you pick a winner, you move on to the next week but you can't pick that team again the rest of the season. If you lose, well you're out... "Survive and Advance"...
Yes, I know I can't pick the Patriots the rest of the year after this with such an easy schedule and Miami always gives them a hard time... but my only real choices were three road team: KC @ OAK, CHI @ DEN, and NE @ MIA...
Give me the Pats because I don't want to have spend 15 weeks being eliminated by Gruden or Elway...
Quick background about "Survivor Pick." This pick is the choice that you say is your most confident. If you pick a winner, you move on to the next week but you can't pick that team again the rest of the season. If you lose, well you're out... "Survive and Advance"...
Yes, I know I can't pick the Patriots the rest of the year after this with such an easy schedule and Miami always gives them a hard time... but my only real choices were three road team: KC @ OAK, CHI @ DEN, and NE @ MIA...
Give me the Pats because I don't want to have spend 15 weeks being eliminated by Gruden or Elway...
Let's look at the Power Rankings heading into week 2!
Power Rankings
1. New England Patriots
What a showing on Sunday night. Tom Brady was carving up Pittsburgh's secondary and the Patriots defense looked fantastic! This is not what anyone else in the AFC wanted to see from a team that's historically IMPROVED as the season progresses.
2. New Orleans Saints
What a thriller of a game and the Saints FINALLY came out on top of a heart-breaker. They looked so ready to lose another game in the closing seconds, but Wil Lutz said "Not Today!" They are a very good team and I think it shows us how good Houston is, as well. Sean Payton, stop getting so dang cute with your play calling because it's making me nervous... But I'm never opposed to a Taysom Hill TD...
3. Minnesota Vikings +1
What a great way to start the year. I had high hopes for their Atlanta opponent and they took all of that down with ease. I used to think that as long as Dalvin Cook is healthy, this team looks ready to roll. But Alexander Mattison looked really solid, too... This is a dangerous team and the rest of the NFC North should be on notice.
4. Los Angeles Rams -1
They got the win on the road, which is never easy in the NFL. Also, Gurley didn't look too shabby but didn't set the world on fire. Their newly extended QB didn't seem to get the Pre-Season rust off because... well... none of their starters played a rep in the Pre-Season... Rams fans better hope that it's just rust and not regression...
5. Kansas City Chiefs
A solid win where they scored on a very tough defense. Sadly, they lost Tyreek Hill in the process. It doesn't look like he'll be out long, but it obviously will have an affect on the offense while he is out. Their biggest concern still to me is defense, as a 6th round QB not named Tom Brady looked pretty good against them.
6. Houston Texans
What a game. They battled and one bad defensive call cost them the whole game. The good news for them is the only team that won in their division was Tennessee, so no harm no foul and one of their toughest games is off the schedule. Deshaun Watson stays healthy and it's full steam ahead.
7. Baltimore Ravens
What a showing by Lamar Jackson in my daily fantasy (Thanks Lamar). The Dolphins aren't much competition this year but they showed how good their defense is and that their offense means business this year. They are the rightful front runners for the AFC North after the Browns and Steelers laid eggs Week 1.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Not pretty, but any win they get with Wentz staying healthy is a win-win. Their O-line is steller, their D-line and secondary need to step it up as the season progresses. The good news is the halftime adjustments looked solid on defense.
9. Dallas Cowboys +1
They made a statement. Given the fact it was the Giants that they made a statement against, I'm not looking too much into it. A great defense and solid offense have the sounds of a good season.
10. San Francisco 49ers +6
It took a half, but the 49ers have arrived. After a ridiculously sub-par first half, the 49ers put on a solid display of what is to come the next few years for this fan base, especially their really talented defense. Patience niner fans, football is the sport where you have to wait the least amount of time (Ask the Tigers and Marlins fans about that).
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
They had a tough ask in Week 1 to take down one of the best offenses and their defense absolutely failed at that. It didn't help their starting QB got hurt and their stud LB tried to fight all of Kansas City. But there is still good news out of this game as Minshew looked solid and the schedule gets easier from here on out and the fact that people are sleeping on them now shouldn't distract you from the talent they have.
12. Los Angeles Chargers +2
They had a scare, but they pulled off an early season victory which is different for this franchise. Ekeler looked great, but the Colts were a good matchup for a flex back. It'll get more difficult against teams like Denver and Kansas City who are quick enough to stay with him, but hopefully for the Chargers Melvin Gordon may end the worst holdout in NFL history in 8 weeks or so with the possibility of some injured players returning, as well.
13. Chicago Bears
Defense looked good. Offense looked dreadful. Some of the formations that Nagy ran out there looked like when my Madden video game glitches out. They have some talent and don't need to get too cute. Plus, their division is very unforgiving so they better figure it out soon.
14. Indianapolis Colts +3
They looked good in their first game in the Post-Luck Era... Mack looked like a real lead RB, Brissett made very few mistakes, just the defense bent against a solid offense. They are still a good team, but are they good enough to win a division?
15. Seattle Seahawks +5
Russell Wilson was solid like always, but the defense and run game was a bit shaky. Dalton hit 400 yards through the air against them and Rashad Penny doesn't look like he can even be a back up running back. Russell can only carry this team so far, but he'll still carry them somehow.
16. Green Bay Packers +2
Russell Wilson was solid like always, but the defense and run game was a bit shaky. Dalton hit 400 yards through the air against them and Rashad Penny doesn't look like he can even be a back up running back. Russell can only carry this team so far, but he'll still carry them somehow.
Good showing from a newly revamped defense. Bad showing from an offense that was supposed to lead the way. Many will ask how they don't move up past the Bears on this list, but the offense still looked shaky for Green Bay and I have more faith in Chicago adjusting and their defense than I do in this Green Bay team.
17. Buffalo Bills -2
Oy. Josh Allen just about had us doubting him again. But a win is a win and a division win in the AFC East means nothing because the Patriots still play in that division. The defense and Edmunds were very impressive, Josh Allen just needs to find consistency for them to be a threat.
18. Tennessee Titans +8
They couldn't have had a better Week 1. They took America's favorite flavor of the month and made it look like a gas station hot dog that was 5 days old. Their defense wasn't the question, but their offense answered a few putting up 40+ points.
19. Cleveland Browns -10
Oy. Part 2 this week. Baker woke up feeling dangerous and sadly for Cleveland it was an internal accident. Luckily for them, it only counts as one loss which they've had plenty of so there's still time to make adjustments.
20. Carolina Panthers +1
They played better than I thought I would. It wasn't enough to win, but the NFC South looks pretty open, aside from the Saints. If they can sweep Atlanta and Tampa Bay, they have a chance to steal a Wild Card spot.
21. Atlanta Falcons -9
My co-most disappointing team of the week. I know, somehow even more than Cleveland and Pittsburgh... But I was expecting a real battle of a game between the re-rising of the Vikings and the re-rising of the Falcons. Well, the Falcons didn't quite wake up and the Vikings took them to school... Plus, McKinley scared me for a second limping off before he returned. This team is injury prone and I'm not sure how much trust I can show them to turn it around.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers -3
Rough night. Defense, beaten. Offense, beaten. Special teams, beaten. The road to the Super Bowl lies through New England and the Steelers proved that without AB and Lev Bell, they are NOWHERE NEAR ready for that challenge...
23. Oakland Raiders -1
Let's not carried away here... Actually, what I saw was more troubling... They played well, but against a deteriorating team and will have a hard time against a team that can actually pass (Yes Denver, I'm calling you out). Denver looked more bad than Oakland looked good. So, I'm not taking the bait...
24. Washington Redskins +1
They gave everyone in Philly quite a scare early, but of course they couldn't make it last. It's hard to hold a lead when you have the worst offensive line in the league. But that defense is better than expected and some of their draft picks shined.
25. New York Jets -1
They gave everyone in Philly quite a scare early, but of course they couldn't make it last. It's hard to hold a lead when you have the worst offensive line in the league. But that defense is better than expected and some of their draft picks shined.
They had a free win and let it slip away. That's something you can't afford to do in the AFC East if you want to be a Wild Card team. The good news for Jets fans is that CJ Mosley may be able to suit up for a huge game against the Browns.
26. Arizona Cardinals +3
Kyler Murray settled in and scared the hell out of Patricia. Their O-line is still so bad that it worries me about Murray's health. But they showed a flash of promise and of course the Lions crumbled in that.
27. Denver Broncos
My other co-disappointment of the week. Rough stuff from the offense and John Elway still can't put together a team that can play offense. I was really hoping they would prove me wrong and I'd have to move them up this list. The defensive talent is there, but a wise person once said to me "We can't win if we don't score."
28. Detroit Lions -5
My other co-disappointment of the week. Rough stuff from the offense and John Elway still can't put together a team that can play offense. I was really hoping they would prove me wrong and I'd have to move them up this list. The defensive talent is there, but a wise person once said to me "We can't win if we don't score."
Embarrassment that they didn't win the game. Patricia was on the hot seat, now he's on the roasting seat after getting taken to school by a coach that was under .500 in college last year.
29. Cincinnati Bengals +3
They made a better showing. But it's not enough for me to suddenly believe in this team when their QB throws for 400+ yards against a so-so team and still lose.
30. New York Giants -2
There's many debates about who is going to be the best of the best when Brady retires. But there's no question who will be the best of the worst. Saquan Barkley proves that a stud RB isn't enough to win in this league. That's bad news for the Giants.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1
Jameis Winston is officially not good enough to be a starting NFL QB. The rest of the team doesn't match up to these NFC teams.
32. Miami Dolphins -1
When you get obliterated Week 1 and then half your team asks to be traded... What do you want me to say here?... At least they made trades before Week 1 to bring in draft picks...
When you get obliterated Week 1 and then half your team asks to be traded... What do you want me to say here?... At least they made trades before Week 1 to bring in draft picks...
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