NFL Power Rankings: Giants plummet, Redskins on rise
http://weblogs.newsday.com
Plenty of movement at the top, thanks to yet another string of upsets. Pats look Super to us. Cowboys starting to make us believe … a little, anyway. Jets get a break in the schedule. Giants have turned into a break in the schedule for whoever they play.
Read on. Rip us if you must. We listen, Black N Gold. We pay attention, Craig.
Team, record, last week’s ranking
1. Patriots (2-0) (1): Patriots haters now refer to the coach as Bill Belicheat. Say what you want about him getting nailed by commish Goodell last week, but you cannot deny that this is the best team in football right now. They pounded a very good Chargers team on Sunday night.
2. Colts (2-0) (2): Tony Dungy told his players there’d be games like this in 2007. When you’re the defending champs, you’re not always gonna be at your best. Case in point: Colts’ 22-20 nail-biter over inferior Titans team.
3. Cowboys (2-0) (8): Another nice performance by Tony Romo, who will cash in big-time with a few more now that he’s in the final year of his contract.
4. Steelers (2-0) (6): The early-season schedule is soft – they’ve beaten Cleveland and Buffalo – but the Steelers are using the same formula that won them the Super Bowl last year. Great defense, excellent running game, and efficient passing from Big Ben.
5. Chargers (1-1) (3): Mistake No. 1 by Norv Turner: Hiding the playbooks from the Patriots for fear Belichick’s staff would steal them. Please. You think with all the scrutiny on Belichick now that he’s been nailed that he’s gonna try something this soon? Chargers no match for Pats at Gillette.
6. Broncos (2-0) (13): Two last-second wins via field goals. Not a bad way to start off in Jay Cutler’s first full season as the starter. Great move by Mike Shanahan for calling timeout a split second before Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 52-yarder through the uprights in OT. On the re-kick, Janikowski hit the left upright.
7. Bears (1-1) (9): The boo birds were out in force to greet Rex Grossman, who threw two more picks on Sunday. Good thing for the Bears it was only the Chiefs, who don’t scare anyone these days.
8. Texans (2-0) (17): Most improved team of the early part of the season. Texans have stability at QB with Matt Schaub, and their defense is now better than good.
9. Panthers (1-1) (4): If Panthers underestimated Texans, they made a massive mistake. Schaub completed 20-of-28, and even though Jake Delhomme had three more TD passes, the Panthers had just seven second-half points.
10. Ravens (1-1) (11): Kyle Boller actually looked decent against the Jets, so it looks like the Ravens were justified in signing him to a one-year extension. He’ll hit the bench again once Steve McNair is healthy, but don’t be surprised to see Boller figure in later this season.
11. Bengals (1-1) (5): Chad Johnson had a brilliant game with 209 receiving yards and two TDs. But the Bengals defense might have trouble containing St. Anthony’s High.
12. Seahawks (1-1) (7): There’s something about playing in Arizona that always seems to bring out the worst in the Seahawks.
13. Packers (2-0) (23): Man, how long has it been since we’ve seen the Packers make an early-season statement like this. They might have gotten lucky beating the Eagles at home in Week 1, but they were nothing short of dominant against the pitiful Giants.
14. 49ers (2-0) (24): Niners still far from being a complete team, but they are definitely making strides. They take advantage of Rams mistakes and win what could be a key NFC West matchup in St. Louis.
15. Lions (2-0) (20): Jon Kitna saved the day after going back into the game despite suffering what he called the worst concussion of his career. We’re not fans of this kind of macho stupidity, and neither is the NFL brass. Then again, Lions fans aren’t complaining about 2-0 getaway.
16. Redskins (2-0) (25): The Redskins are an exceedingly boring team to watch … but at 2-0, no one in Washington is complaining. Up next: Giants at home.
17. Eagles (0-2) (12) Who in their right might would have picked the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl this year?
18. Rams (0-2) (14): Memo to the Rams: Hey, fellas, the season started two weeks ago. The Rams talked big in the preseason about this being The Year. At 0-2, they’d better just try and win one. Won’t be easy. They’re at Tampa on Sunday.
19. Saints (0-2) (10): It was a magical year in 2006. It is a nightmare so far.
20. Vikings (1-1) (19): This is what Vikings fans feared with Tarvaris Jackson. He had four picks against the Lions.
21. Jets (0-2) (18): Kellen Clemens nearly saves the day with a huge fourth-quarter comeback. In the end, Jets receivers dropped three would-be touchdowns, and Ray Lewis ended up with the ball in his hands to ruin the Jets’ hopes.
22. Buccaneers (1-1) (27): Must win? Not in Week 2, but it was pretty close. The Bucs look mighty impressive against Saints after showing nothing in Week 1 loss to Seahawks.
23. Titans (1-1) (21): Vince Young had the ball in his hands with the game on the line, but this time, the Colts defense came up big.
24. Cardinals (1-1) (29): Stunning win over mistake-prone Seahawks in the desert. Let’s see if the Cards can do it again in Baltimore on Sunday.
25. Browns (1-1) (32): Derek Anderson for the Hall of Fame!
26. Jaguars (1-1) (22): Forget the Ambien. Just pop in a tape of Jaguars-Falcons, and you’ll go to sleep. Promise.
27. Giants (0-2) (15): A combined 80 points allowed the first two weeks. Hey, Steve Spagnuolo, how’s it going as defensive coordinator? (Somewhere in Carolina, Tim Lewis is getting a good laugh out of all this.)
28. Bills (0-2) (16): Bills still reeling from trauma of Kevin Everett injury, so getting pasted by Pittsburgh no real surprise.
29. Dolphins (0-2) (26): Is there anything to like about this team? Maybe Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, but that’s about it. Trent Green looks done.
30. Raiders (0-2) (30): Lose to the Lions at home, then lose to the hated Broncos on the road on a disputed timeout right before what would have been the winning field goal. Enjoying yourselves so far?
31. Chiefs (0-2) (28): Larry Johnson contained easily by Bears’ defense, while Cedric Benson goes for over 100 against Chefs.
32. Falcons (0-2) (31): The good news: Joey Harrington didn’t throw an interception. The bad news: He didn’t have a touchdown either. This team is painful to watch.
Plenty of movement at the top, thanks to yet another string of upsets. Pats look Super to us. Cowboys starting to make us believe … a little, anyway. Jets get a break in the schedule. Giants have turned into a break in the schedule for whoever they play.
Read on. Rip us if you must. We listen, Black N Gold. We pay attention, Craig.
Team, record, last week’s ranking
1. Patriots (2-0) (1): Patriots haters now refer to the coach as Bill Belicheat. Say what you want about him getting nailed by commish Goodell last week, but you cannot deny that this is the best team in football right now. They pounded a very good Chargers team on Sunday night.
2. Colts (2-0) (2): Tony Dungy told his players there’d be games like this in 2007. When you’re the defending champs, you’re not always gonna be at your best. Case in point: Colts’ 22-20 nail-biter over inferior Titans team.
3. Cowboys (2-0) (8): Another nice performance by Tony Romo, who will cash in big-time with a few more now that he’s in the final year of his contract.
4. Steelers (2-0) (6): The early-season schedule is soft – they’ve beaten Cleveland and Buffalo – but the Steelers are using the same formula that won them the Super Bowl last year. Great defense, excellent running game, and efficient passing from Big Ben.
5. Chargers (1-1) (3): Mistake No. 1 by Norv Turner: Hiding the playbooks from the Patriots for fear Belichick’s staff would steal them. Please. You think with all the scrutiny on Belichick now that he’s been nailed that he’s gonna try something this soon? Chargers no match for Pats at Gillette.
6. Broncos (2-0) (13): Two last-second wins via field goals. Not a bad way to start off in Jay Cutler’s first full season as the starter. Great move by Mike Shanahan for calling timeout a split second before Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 52-yarder through the uprights in OT. On the re-kick, Janikowski hit the left upright.
7. Bears (1-1) (9): The boo birds were out in force to greet Rex Grossman, who threw two more picks on Sunday. Good thing for the Bears it was only the Chiefs, who don’t scare anyone these days.
8. Texans (2-0) (17): Most improved team of the early part of the season. Texans have stability at QB with Matt Schaub, and their defense is now better than good.
9. Panthers (1-1) (4): If Panthers underestimated Texans, they made a massive mistake. Schaub completed 20-of-28, and even though Jake Delhomme had three more TD passes, the Panthers had just seven second-half points.
10. Ravens (1-1) (11): Kyle Boller actually looked decent against the Jets, so it looks like the Ravens were justified in signing him to a one-year extension. He’ll hit the bench again once Steve McNair is healthy, but don’t be surprised to see Boller figure in later this season.
11. Bengals (1-1) (5): Chad Johnson had a brilliant game with 209 receiving yards and two TDs. But the Bengals defense might have trouble containing St. Anthony’s High.
12. Seahawks (1-1) (7): There’s something about playing in Arizona that always seems to bring out the worst in the Seahawks.
13. Packers (2-0) (23): Man, how long has it been since we’ve seen the Packers make an early-season statement like this. They might have gotten lucky beating the Eagles at home in Week 1, but they were nothing short of dominant against the pitiful Giants.
14. 49ers (2-0) (24): Niners still far from being a complete team, but they are definitely making strides. They take advantage of Rams mistakes and win what could be a key NFC West matchup in St. Louis.
15. Lions (2-0) (20): Jon Kitna saved the day after going back into the game despite suffering what he called the worst concussion of his career. We’re not fans of this kind of macho stupidity, and neither is the NFL brass. Then again, Lions fans aren’t complaining about 2-0 getaway.
16. Redskins (2-0) (25): The Redskins are an exceedingly boring team to watch … but at 2-0, no one in Washington is complaining. Up next: Giants at home.
17. Eagles (0-2) (12) Who in their right might would have picked the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl this year?
18. Rams (0-2) (14): Memo to the Rams: Hey, fellas, the season started two weeks ago. The Rams talked big in the preseason about this being The Year. At 0-2, they’d better just try and win one. Won’t be easy. They’re at Tampa on Sunday.
19. Saints (0-2) (10): It was a magical year in 2006. It is a nightmare so far.
20. Vikings (1-1) (19): This is what Vikings fans feared with Tarvaris Jackson. He had four picks against the Lions.
21. Jets (0-2) (18): Kellen Clemens nearly saves the day with a huge fourth-quarter comeback. In the end, Jets receivers dropped three would-be touchdowns, and Ray Lewis ended up with the ball in his hands to ruin the Jets’ hopes.
22. Buccaneers (1-1) (27): Must win? Not in Week 2, but it was pretty close. The Bucs look mighty impressive against Saints after showing nothing in Week 1 loss to Seahawks.
23. Titans (1-1) (21): Vince Young had the ball in his hands with the game on the line, but this time, the Colts defense came up big.
24. Cardinals (1-1) (29): Stunning win over mistake-prone Seahawks in the desert. Let’s see if the Cards can do it again in Baltimore on Sunday.
25. Browns (1-1) (32): Derek Anderson for the Hall of Fame!
26. Jaguars (1-1) (22): Forget the Ambien. Just pop in a tape of Jaguars-Falcons, and you’ll go to sleep. Promise.
27. Giants (0-2) (15): A combined 80 points allowed the first two weeks. Hey, Steve Spagnuolo, how’s it going as defensive coordinator? (Somewhere in Carolina, Tim Lewis is getting a good laugh out of all this.)
28. Bills (0-2) (16): Bills still reeling from trauma of Kevin Everett injury, so getting pasted by Pittsburgh no real surprise.
29. Dolphins (0-2) (26): Is there anything to like about this team? Maybe Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, but that’s about it. Trent Green looks done.
30. Raiders (0-2) (30): Lose to the Lions at home, then lose to the hated Broncos on the road on a disputed timeout right before what would have been the winning field goal. Enjoying yourselves so far?
31. Chiefs (0-2) (28): Larry Johnson contained easily by Bears’ defense, while Cedric Benson goes for over 100 against Chefs.
32. Falcons (0-2) (31): The good news: Joey Harrington didn’t throw an interception. The bad news: He didn’t have a touchdown either. This team is painful to watch.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:24 PM
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