1. Kansas City: The Chiefs pulled off a thrilling overtime win over the Chargers that featured rookie QB Justin Herbert. What to make of this? Well, the Chiefs are human, and it’s the NFL. The Chiefs won’t be knocked for barely winning a game in which they were heavily favored. With that said, the Chargers showed the rest of the league that the Chiefs aren’t unbeatable. Last week: 1
2. Baltimore: The Ravens scored 30-plus points for the second straight week. However, they’ve beaten the Browns and Texans. Hardly juggernauts in the AFC. With that said, Baltimore did what elite teams do. They didn’t play down to their competition and just handled business. The Ravens are salty on defense and QB Lamar Jackson has a ‘wow’ moment nearly every week. Last week: 3
3. Seattle: QB Russel Wilson is unconscious right now! He’s playing better than any other quarterback in the league. Don’t believe me? Look at the numbers. Wilson completed 87% of his passes in two games. “DangerRuss” threw 9 touchdowns to just 1 interception for 610 yards in two games. The Seahawks beat the Patriots on a goal line stand to end the game. That was impressive, and the Hawks are going to be a real problem for the NFC. Last week: 4
4. Green Bay: Man, the NFC is top heavy. The Packers throttled the hapless Detroit Lions 42-21. Ok, the Lions are bad, but like I’ve said before, that’s what great teams do. They blow out the weak, the pretenders. I’m not going to penalize Green Bay for wins against two 0-2 teams. I still want to see them tested by a real defense. That will happen this week when they travel to New Orleans. Last week: 5
5. New Orleans: Whoa! The loss to the Raiders was a shocker. Favored by 5.5 points, there is no way the Saints should’ve lost by 10. If you look closely at the numbers, the Saints loss is easily understood. The Saints committed 10 penalties for 129 yards. That equals 7 points. New Orleans defense was awful on 3rd down. The Raiders QB Derrek Carr was 9 of 10 passing on third down for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Saints had no answer for TE Darren Waller, who had a career night with 12 receptions, 103 yards and a touchdown. Drew Brees looked “off” for the second straight week, and we’ll see if the ship is righted or if this is father time catching up to Brees. Things don’t get easier; the Saints face the 2-0 Green Bay Packers at home. We’ve seen this happen before. The Saints lay an egg; everyone jumps off the bandwagon. Then they go dominate a good football team, everyone jumps back on. Don’t bet against #9 and company. Last week: 2
6. San Francisco: The 49ers bounced back with a 31-13 win over the Jets. The Niners suffered a few injuries that could prove costly. Pass rusher Nick Bosa left the game with a leg injury and the team fears he’s torn his ACL. Look it’s the Jets. I can’t get too excited about this team right now. The Jets are one of the worst teams in the league, suddenly that loss to Arizona in week one doesn’t look so bad with the Cardinals sitting at 2-0. Last week: 7
7. Pittsburgh: The Steelers are 2-0, and if not for their defense, would clearly be 0-2. The Black and Yellow is a team to be patient with. Once Big Ben Roethlisberger returns to form, the offense will compliment the stingy defense. Last week: 6
8. Buffalo: The Bills defense has been a disappointment. QB Josh Allen has carried this team so far this season. With a win over the Miami 31-28, the Bills remain unbeaten. If this defense rounds into form, the Bills are dangerous. If the defense stays the same, they’ll have to win on the back of Allen. That can happen, but it won’t happen to the tune of 12 or 13 wins. Last week: 8
9. Los Angeles: The Rams are back! This team looks like the one that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl in 2019. The offense is back to being dynamic and problematic for defenses. This is the team that will contend with the Seahawks for the NFC West crown. Last week: 10
10. Tennessee: I’m just not in love! I know the Titans are 2-0, but they are winning games by three points. I need to see them throttle a team or two. The Titans had to hang on for a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-30. Tennessee could easily be 0-2. The Titans are on the fringe of being good to mediocre. Last week: 10
11. Tampa Bay: The bounce back Bucs earned their first win of the Tom Brady era 31-17 over the Carolina Panthers. I know, it’s the Panthers, but you saw some glimpses that Tampa is a team starting to figure things out. To be honest, the defense is the headline over Tom Brady at QB. Last week: 12
12. New England: Let me be clear, the Patriots are going to be in the playoffs. QB Cam Newton has been impressive in New England. A last second loss to the Seahawks is nothing to sneeze at. Last week: 11
13. Dallas: Ok, Dallas should be 0-2. If I’m Mike McCarthy, I kind of feel like my team didn’t earn that win. You take it, but it tastes off going down. The Falcons gave the game to the Cowboys. How do you win a game after 3 fumbles, down 20 in the first quarter…and have two failed fake punt attempts? You win by playing Dan Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons, who have now created a new way to lose an NFL football game. Last week: 12
14. Indianapolis: The Colts showed me the team I thought they were headed into the season. A team with a good offensive line that can push people around. Indy can be a team that will excite and disappoint in the same game. The Colts feasted on a Vikings team that is just not very good. Last week: 14
15. Arizona: The Cardinals are 2-0 and albeit they might be pretenders, I can’t keep bashing them. I may not believe in Arizona, but hey they are unbeaten through two weeks. The Cardinals could end up 5-0 with their next three matchups vs Detroit, at Carolina and at the Jets. Arizona won’t be tested until week 7 against the Seahawks. Last week: 17
16. Las Vegas: Well, maybe the Raiders are better than I thought. Check that! They ARE better than I thought. Vegas put it on the Saints on Monday night and Derrek Carr is starting to look like a franchise QB. There is no doubt the Raiders have an offense that can score, but their defense is still suspect. We are going to learn exactly what the Raiders are made of over the next three weeks. Las Vegas travels to New England to take on a Patriots team that is 1 yard away from being 2-0. After that, back to back games against playoff teams from a year ago, the Bills and Chiefs. Last week: 24
17. Chicago Bears: Listen, the Bears are 2-0, but I’m not sold on the monsters of the midway just yet. Chicago’s wins came against 0-2 Detroit and the 0-2 Giants. The Bears barely beat New York without the Giants’ starting RB Saquon Barkley for most of the game. The Bears could go on a run with a very, very soft schedule until weeks 7 and 8 with matchups against the Rams and Saints. Chicago also plays an improving Tampa Bay team in week 5. Plus, they have games against the Tennessee Titans, and two battles with the Green Bay Packers. If the Bears were a stock, now is the time to sell. Last week: 21
18. Cleveland: Ok, I’ve been a bit disrespectful to the Browns and for good reason. Yes, they are 1 and 1. Yes, they beat the Bengals with Joe Burrow dropping back to pass 61 times. BUT, the Browns are the Browns, until they prove otherwise. Last week 27
19. Houston: I can’t fault the Texans for their 0-2 start. Houston had the hardest open to the season with back to back games against the Chiefs and Ravens. That’s brutal. It doesn’t get much easier this week on the road against Pittsburgh. Houston could begin to collect some wins in weeks 4 and 5 against the Vikings and Jaguars. Last week: 15
20. Washington football team: Washington lost 30-15 in week 2 to the upstart Cardinals. This will be an up and down team nearly every week. Talented but young. The Browns are up next for Washington, on the road. After that, it could get ugly with home games against Baltimore and the Rams. Last week: 16
21. Los Angeles Chargers: The Justin Herbert era got off to an interesting start in week 2. Staring QB Tyrod Tayler was injured in the pre-game, thereby thrusting the rookie into the starting gig against the defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs. The young signal caller didn’t blink and brought the Chiefs to overtime. The Chargers lost, but Herbert was impressive. Last week: 23
22. Minnesota: This team is in trouble, folks. Kirk Cousins threw three interceptions in a loss to the Colts. I don’t know what to say about this team other than…so far what I said before week one…is holding true. The Vikings aren’t very good. Last week: 18
23. Philadelphia: E-A-G-L-E-S! Oh man…the Eagles are making me Wentz, as in QB Carson Wentz. Philly is setting their franchise QB up to fail. No offensive line, lack of creativity and a lot more issues. If you listen closely, you can hear the boos from Philly all the way down here in New Orleans. Last week: 19
24. Denver: The Broncos are 0-2, and it is time to look closely at GM John Elway. The Broncos haven’t done anything sense Peyton Manning made a pit stop in Denver. Elway is the General Manager, he’s responsible for a talent poor roster. QB Drew Lock, who is a promising talent, is out several weeks with a shoulder injury. Tom Brady and the Bucs await the Broncos this week. Last week: 20
25. Jacksonville: The Jaguars are better than we thought, but not close to a great team. Jacksonville took the Titans to the wire, and at least they know how to properly field an onside kick. Last week: 25
26. Carolina: The Panthers just don’t have the firepower to compete week in and week out in the NFL. Teddy Bridgewater & company lost to the surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last week: 26
27. Atlanta: Insert crying emoji here. The Falcons blew a 29-10 second half lead against the Dallas Cowboys in week 2. We all know about the 28-3 second half lead the Falcons blew in the Super Bowl against the Patriots. 29-10 isn’t 28-3, but it’s across the street. What a joke of an organization. I don’t know how Dan Quinn is still the head coach in Atlanta. The Falcons became the first team in NFL history to score 39 points while collecting 3 turnovers and losing the game. Prior to the dubious Falcons defeat, teams that scored 39 points with three turnovers were 440-0. Last week: 22
28. Cincinnati: The Bengals have their guy in Joe Burrow. That’s not the question. The question is will Zac Taylor (head coach) ruin Burrow before he turns into a super star? Burrow attempted 61 passes in the loss to the Browns. That’s shameful! The Bengals have to recognize that they aren’t winning the Super Bowl this year, but you might in the near future…so protect your biggest asset, Burrow. Protect him! For crying out loud… don’t ruin our beloved adopted son. Last week: 30
29. Miami: South Beach is cool. Again, when you play Tua at QB, I’ll watch.
Until then…no thanks. Last week: 31
30. New York Giants: Quick! Who’s the worst team in New York? Jets? Giants? You really can’t go wrong either way. No Saquon Barkley the rest of the way? This team is in big, big, big trouble. Last week: 28
31. New York Jets: The Jets are ruining QB Sam Darnold. Coach Adam Gase is supposed to be this offensive wizard. Where is it? I don’t see any magic. The Jets will be looking for a new head coach at season’s end. Last week: 29
32. Detroit: The loss to Green Bay was the fourth straight game in which the Lions blew a lead. I mean this is an awful football team. If I’m a Detroit Lions fan, I am not watching this team and it’s not because of some sort of boycott about social injustice. I’m not watching because it’s an injustice to have this bad of a team in the NFL. Last week: 32
