As we normally do after Week 1, we’ve had shake-ups all over the Power Rankings. Let’s take a look at where every team sits before we kick off Week 2.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – (1-0) The Steelers looked every bit like a Super Bowl team crushing an inferior opponent when they smacked the Redskins around Monday night. It looked like a glorified scrimmage. This week’s game against the Bengals will be significantly tougher with repercussions that will last the entire season. Last week: 2
2. Green Bay Packers – (1-0) The Packers held of a suprrisingly spry Jacksonville team last Sunday. In the end, Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, especially when the game is on the line. Last week: 3
3. Seattle Seahawks – (1-0) Seattle had its hands full with a well-coached and talented Dolphins squad, but Russell Wilson, even with one foot, still found a way to get the job done on the road. Last week: 4
4. Cincinnati Bengals – (1-0) A.J. Green made Revis Island look more like Gilligan’s Island. For the Bengals’s sake, he better have saved up a few freak catches for this week’s game against the Steelers. Last week: 5
5. Carolina Panthers – (0-1) The Panthers drop four spots after a tough opening night loss. This may be the last time they lose for a while and, frankly, if that game had been officiated correctly (the NFL has handed out about five different fines this week over it), the Panthers would have probably won it. Last week: 1
6. New England Patriots – (1-0) If you’ll think back to my 5 Bold Predictions column I used to open my NFL Preview section (and you don’t really have to think back at all. Just click that link), I prognosticated that not only would the Patriots beat the Cardinals in the Sunday night opener, but that every NFL pundit and talking face would overreact over that Patriots win. If you check out other sites’ Power Rankings, and I know you do (it’s cool. We have an open relationship), then you’ve already seen the first part of that prediction come true. The second part, the Pats go 0-3 the rest of the way with Jimmy Garoppolo at QB begins this week. As it is, enjoy your time in the Top 10, Patsies. Last week: 7
7. Denver Broncos – (1-0) The win over the Panthers was a great one for the Broncos, showing that not only was Gary Kubiak probably the right hire by John Elway (regardless of how well he meshed with Peyton Manning last season – and I realize I’m writing all the caveats about a team that won the Super Bowl, but, you know, they played like shit on offense most of the year), but this team isn’t done being a contender yet. How long will they ride with Trevor Siemian? We’ll have to see. Last week: 9
8. New York Giants – (1-0) The Giants make an 11-spot jump in the rankings thanks to not only a superb game from quarterback Eli Manning, but an excellent job of clock management from head coach Ben McAdoo. They beat Dallas on the road and did it with the right calls and some solid defense, including a rejuvenated pass rush with Jason Pierre-Paul. Time to get scared, NFC. Last week: 19
9. Arizona Cardinals – (0-1) I’m not sure how much the Cardinals will freefall over the coming weeks es everybody starts figuring out this is a team with a lot of problems, one being half its roster’s AARP memberships. This Bucs game Sunday will tell us a lot. Last week: 6
10. Kansas City Chiefs – (1-0) I would make a bigger deal of the Chiefs come from behind win over the Chargers, but it was the Chargers. That kind of thing happens three or four times a year. Last week: 8
11. Houston Texans – (1-0) You can’t go too nuts after the first week, but this is a team that’s been a quarterback away from real contender status for a while. Brock Osweiler has probably solved that problem. Last week: 12
12. Minnesota Vikings – (1-0) The Vikings drew the worst-coached team in the league that didn’t just move to Los Angeles on Week 1, so it’s difficult to take much from that win. How well they match up with the Packers Sunday will tell you how quickly you’ll see Sam Bradford in the line up. Yes, I dropped the Vikings two spots after a blowout win, but, head-to-head, I think every team I ranked higher would beat them on a neutral field. Last week: 10
