1. Kansas City: The Chiefs did exactly what we thought they would do against the Texans in week one. KC is a legit contender to repeat as Champs, but this is the NFL. Injuries are going to happen, it’s just a matter of time. The Chiefs play in a weak AFC West, with neither the Chargers, Broncos nor Raiders expected to compete for the post-season. I predict the Chiefs will go 6-0 in the division. Pat Mahomes and company play three more playoff teams from last year over the final 15 games. In other words, the path is paved for them to really do so damage. Last week: 1
2. New Orleans: It’s funny, the Saints scored 34 points yet some fans are complaining about the offensive production. So, if you break it down, the Saints offense scored 27 points, and the defense made a house call on Brady with a pick six. Do you know how many teams scored less than 27 points in week one? TWENTY! Staggering, right? The offense will be fine. Those who are complaining about the offense are spoiled, and I am asking them this...did you watch the defense? The Black & Gold D was fantastic. The Saints offense will get going, and that will make this team incredibly dangerous. Last week: 2
3. Baltimore: The Ravens derailed the Cleveland Browns hype train in week one. The Ravens face the Kansas City Chiefs in week 3, and could try to establish an early lead for the AFC No. 1 Seed. The Ravens will be tested a few more times than the defending champions. The Texans are up this week and Houston will do whatever is necessary to avoid an 0-2 start. Baltimore better be ready. Last week: 3
4. Seattle: In my week 1 power rankings, I gushed over the Seahawks, especially on offense. They didn’t disappoint; they gave the Falcons an absolute spanking, cranking out 38 points. The defense isn’t the Legion of Boom D that once patrolled NFL sky waves, but they might not have to be with an offense that can score with anyone, including the Saints in the NFC. Last week: 6
5. Green Bay: Told you! The Packers are still in the mix, and QB Aaron Rodgers is still very much elite! The Cheese Heads posted a 43 burger on the Vikings in week one. The final score was 43-34. Looks close, right? Don’t be fooled. The Packers dominated this game. The defense is a concern in title town. Last week: 11
6. Pittsburgh: Big Ben is back and the Steelers are now a contender once again. While Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t terribly impressive, he was good enough for the win over the Giants. The Steelers defense was fantastic, shutting down the G-Men’s running game. Saquan Barkley was held to six yards rushing. Pittsburgh is a threat to Kansas City and Baltimore in the AFC. Last week: 8
7. San Francisco: The Super Bowl hangover is a real thing. I wrote about it last week, if this Covid-19 pandemic effected one team more than the other, it was the 49ers. After losing in the Super Bowl, they needed to get back on the field quickly. The Cardinals upset San Francisco in week one. That shouldn’t happen, not to a team as talented as the Niners. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see San Fran take a nose dive out of the top 10 by the halfway point of the season. The 49ers have two soft matchups in weeks 2 and 3 with the Giants and Dolphins. They still have two battles with the Seahawks in the division, along with 2 matchups against the Rams. What’s more, games against the Saints, Packers and Titans. Three playoff teams from last season. Last week: 4
8. Buffalo: Through no fault of their own, the Bills slide one spot. Blame San Francisco! Bills Mafia, you got a good football team up there. Let’s be honest, though, you just beat the Jets. A team I ranked No. 31 last week in my power rankings. The defense should have been more dominant. I’ll give the Bills a pass this week. Oh, by the way, New England is still the king of the EAST, until you show them they are not. Last week: 7
9. Tennessee: Some are sold on the Titans as a dark horse team in the AFC. The Broncos gave Tennessee all they could handle in the season opener. The Titans are going to win some games this year, and probably make the post-season, but every game they win or lose will be a close one. They don’t have elite talent to blow teams out. Last week: 10
10. Los Angeles Rams: Okay, I was wrong about where I initially ranked the Rams last week. I even told you that I could be wrong in week 1. Sean McVay and the Rams beat the Dallas Cowboys 20-17 and they looked a lot more like the team that played in the Super Bowl in 2019…offensively. You could see shades of McVay’s championship contenders. With that said, you beat Dallas. I mean…it’s Dallas! Ha! Yes, I’m taking a shot at the Cowboys. Last week: 13
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11. New England: The Cam Newton era in Chowder Town went well with a win over the Dolphins in week one. As you would expect, the Patriots completely revamped their offense to fit Newton’s skill set, and it worked. New England called in 65% running plays to defeat the Fins. The defense wasn’t tested by the Dolphins all that much. Again, Emperor Bellichick still rules the AFC east galaxy…for now. Last week: 14
12. Tampa Bay: So Tom Brady’s debut was spoiled by the Saints. Let me be clear, Brady didn’t look old. He looked like a QB, who joined a new team during a pandemic, that prevented off-season team organized workouts. Brady threw two interceptions that were very indicative of a QB who just isn’t on the same page as his skill position players. That will get solved over time. The Bucs will be in the mix by season’s end. Super Bowl? Not sold on that just yet. The Saints offense moved the ball through the air, when they had to. Tampa is an improved team from a season ago. Last week: 8
13. Dallas: The Cowboys proved to be exactly what we thought they were. A team that continues to be hyped, and continues to disappoint. The Rams defense isn’t all that and a bag of chips. The offensive minded head Coach Mike McCarthy was hired to get QB Dak Prescott to the next level, along with bringing some imagination to an offense that was led by Kellen Moore last season. Moore was retained by McCarthy as the OC, but the offense didn’t change. It looked the same! Kind of had some wow moments, followed by… that was gross...execution. Dallas is gonna do Dallas things ya’ll. Last week: 9
14. Indianapolis: So the Colts were the biggest losers of week 1, after falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Are the Jags really tanking for Trevor (Lawrence)? My take? This loss is a hiccup. The bad news, RB Marlon Mack is lost for the season with a torn achilles. OUCH! With that big loss, I’m still not giving up on the Colts just yet. Currently, I have Indy on the fringe of the playoffs. Of the QB’s in the “senior” category (Brees, Brady and Big Ben), week one, Phillip Rivers with the Colts looked like the elder statesman. Rivers led the league in interceptions last year with 19 thrown to the other team. That turnover bug, reared its ugly head again in the 4th quarter, when Rivers tossed one to the Jags effectively ending the game. I’m going to cut Rivers some slack. Like Brady, he’s joined a new team during a pandemic. Last week: 12
15. Houston: I can’t really think too poorly of the Texans. They lost to the Chiefs in week one. No one outside of Houston picked them to beat the defending champs. QB DeShaun Watson’s talent is being pissed away in Houston. Who’s the guy in the AFC who can play at the same level of Mahomes? Ok, well, that guy doesn’t exist. Who’s the guy who could push Mahomes as the AFC’s king QB? It’s Watson. I know Lamar Jackson is in that conversation too, but you get the point. Houston is a team that torments their fan base. The talent is there, but the coaching is not. Last week: 17 (Yea, I don’t know how they moved up, but they did. Wild week 1.)
16. Washington Football Team: This might be one of the best storylines to play out in the NFL this season. Or, it could be just a flash in the pan moment. Washington upset the Eagles 27-17. The defense got after Eagles QB Carson Wentz all day long. To be fair, Philly lost two offensive linemen before the season even started. Now, here’s the story. Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera is battling cancer. During halftime he was getting an IV. His second year QB Dwayne Haskins delivered a powerful halftime speech that inspired his teammates. As much controversy that surrounded that organization this off-season, it was good to see something good happen for them. Washington makes the biggest leap from my first power rankings. Last week: 29
17. Arizona: Anytime you beat the reigning NFC champs, you deserve to move up. Anytime you come back in the 4th quarter, you deserve to move up. QB Kyler Murray has grown in Cliff Kingsbury’s offense. Could the Cardinals be better than expected? Maybe! That’s a tough division in the NFC West. I think the Cardinals should enjoy this win, and just understand it’s week one of the season. Last week: 20
18. Minnesota: So far the Vikings are making me look right. Last week I said I wasn’t high on a team that had too much turnover to deal with in the off-season. Aaron Rodgers feasted on the Vikings defense. SKOL-Drug? Yea, that happened. Again, don’t be fooled by the final score. Green Bay pillaged the Vikings. This is a team that made the playoffs a year ago who will be watching from home in the post-season.
19. Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love is about to explode on coach Doug Pederson and company. The Eagles might be the biggest pretenders in the NFC. Sure, they are banged up on the offensive line. Elite play callers find ways to work around those obstacles. Pederson’s on the brink of going from Philly hero to Philly zero. This is a team that should be way better than what we saw in week 1. Fly Eagles Fly? Or Cry Eagles Cry? Last week: 16
20. Denver: Denver is a team that can be very frustrating to watch. Does Vic Fangio know that you can’t take unused timeouts home? Fangio swallowed two timeouts in the loss to the Titans. Tennessee missed 3 FG’s and Fangio decided not to ice Steven Gostkowski before the game winner. A day later he accepts some blame. YIKES! Last week: 18
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21. Chicago: I was critical of the Bears and QB Mitch Trubisky in my first power rankings of the season. I can’t move them dramatically up the rankings based on beating the Lions. Albeit in comeback fashion, I just can’t get too high on the Bears. I still don’t believe in Trubisky. It’s the Lions, who I think will end up with the first pick of the 2021 draft. Last week: 21
22. Atlanta: Too bad Matt Ryan plays for the Falcons. I told you last week that head coach Dan Quinn’s days were numbered. The Falcons gave up 38 points in a loss to the Seahawks. To be fair, I’ve gushed over Seattle’s offense, but it was like a hot knife through butter. Russel Wilson threw 4 TD passes against the Falcons. Again, the offense is real for Atlanta, they can score with most, but the defense is not good. Atlanta will look for a new coach, and my money is on Quinn to be let go by week 8. Last week: 19
23. Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers are feeling good about themselves. Ok, back to reality. You faced a rookie QB in Joe Burrow. You have an advantage. Also, the Bengals should have beat you twice. The Chargers were beneficiaries of an offensive pass interference call on a would-be game winning touchdown pass from Bengals QB Joe Burrow. Then, the Bengals line up for a game tying field goal, only to miss it, giving the Chargers a win. Last week: 22
24. Las Vegas: Great! You beat the Panthers in week one. The Panthers, who are in complete rebuild mode. The Saints come to town this week. Humility is a dish best served cold. The Raiders scored 35 points on a Panthers defense that isn’t even in the same zip code as the defense that wears black and gold. Last week: 24
25. Jacksonville: Raise your hand, if you had Jacksonville beating the Colts in week 1. If you did, you are waaaaay smarter than me. The Jags beat Indy. Minshew Mania is back! How about the kid Gardner Minshew from Gulfport? Minshew was 19 for 20 with 173 yards in the air, and 3… count them…3 touchdown passes. By the way, Gardner Minshew has more passing yards than Drew Brees in week one. Last week: 32
26. Carolina: I know they lost in week one, but it was against the Raiders. I thought Teddy Bridgewater played well in the loss. The defense has a long way to go. Last week: 30
27. Cleveland: The Browns! (Just leave it at that, it’s not a typo.) Last week: 23
28. New York Giants: Pizza? Sure. Deep dish? Thin crust? The Joe Judge era got off to a poor start in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Big Ben wasn’t his usual elite self, but he’ll get there.
29. New York Jets: I’ll have what the Giants are having.
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30. Cincinnati: A team that still has to learn how to win. We got ya back, Joe Burrow.
31. Miami: Until the Dolphins play Tua, they will hover at 31.
32. Detroit: The Lions blew a 17point lead headed into the 4th quarter against Mitch Trubisky and the Bears. Coach Matt Patricia says it’s not his fault. Funny, Patricia’s Lions have blown 11 fourth quarter leads in his 33 games as head coach. The Lions are 9-23-1 with Patricia as a head coach. At the end of the season, they will blame QB Matt Stafford.
