After Exciting game-play and the close out of Week 2, we have a little bit more insight into the NFC. Lets look at a few key factors to determine what the road might look like ahead for the NFL and National Football Conference.
NFC Power Rankings Week
3
Week 2 is in the books
and here is how we see the power rankings going into the third week of the
season.
1.
San Francisco – The Niners did not let down after a
huge Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The 49’ers stingy defense rose to the occasion once again, limiting the
high octane arsenal of Matthew Stafford, Megatron and his coterie of touchdown
makers. Alex Smith is the colorless face
of what is steadily becoming the NFL's offensive force to be reckoned with.
2. Atlanta Falcons -
Perhaps the Falcons should be renamed the Vultures after their opportunistic
defense feasted on the carcasses of bad throws, missed blocks and an overall
poor opening half for the Denver Broncos. Matt Ryan was surgical in his
dissection of the Denver defense and connected on 12 of 13 passes when calling
for play-action at the line of scrimmage. He was the consummate field
general on Monday night while the Falcons defense set the tone with a tenacious
pass rush which caused three sacks, three interceptions and one fumble
recovery.
3.
Green Bay Packers – The Pack is back with a big win over
the Bears after a startling opening day loss to the 49’ers. Though the air force that is Aaron Rodgers
& company only put up 23 points it was the solid play of the defense –that
many believed was nonexistent –that ruled the day.
4.
Philadelphia Eagles – Though we are not ready to declare
this year’s edition of the Eagles a Dream Team, they nonetheless rebounded from
a thoroughly underwhelming opening day performance against the Browns. They got
a gritty victory over one of the best in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens.
5.
Chicago Bears – Yes the boys from the Midway got
handled by the Packers and Jay Cutler blamed everyone from his offensive line
(rightfully so) to the referees proving yet again he is a magnificent winner
but a very sore loser.
6.
New York Giants – Whatever you can say about Jay
Cutler’s temperament you can say the
complete opposite about Eli Manning. The
guy doesn’t get rattled even when he throws three picks it gets outweighed by a
500+ yard passing performance and a
determined come from behind victory over the new and improved Bucs.
7.
Detroit Lions – The game against the 49’ers went fairly
predictably as the offensive juggernaut that is Stafford to Megatron struck
eight times but amassed no points. Field
goal kicker Jason Hanson did most of the damage as the Lions proved once again
they are just a click below the elite.
8.
Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton played a controlled gamed
as he struck once through the air and once on the ground as the Panthers
limited their mistakes and outgunned the winless Saints.
9.
Arizona Cardinals – How far down can I go on this list
and continue to ignore the undefeated Cardinals? They are 2-0 with road victories over the
Seattle Seahawks and an absolute shocker against the New England Patriots. Are they for real? I doubt it.
Are they better than anyone expected?
Absolutely! Thus far they have beaten the odds.
10. Washington Redskins – RG3 has proven thus far that he is
as good as advertised and if the Redskins defense can play even marginally
better, they may find themselves in the postseason.
11. New Orleans –
How the mighty have fallen. I suggested
before the season that the protracted contract negotiations with Drew Brees and
the lingering Bountygate scandal may see them off to a rough start and lo and behold
the boys on the Bayou are winless thus far.
They are too good not to climb up these charts but right now, here they
are.
12. St. Louis
Rams – Sam Bradford and the Rams battled gamely in their Week 1 loss to the
Lions and then outdueled the rising young gunslinger RG3 in their first victory
of the season.
13. Dallas Cowboys – If anyone team suffered from a Week 1 letdown, look no further than your
Dallas Cowboys. Schizophrenia rules in
the Lone Star State.
14. Seattle Seahawks – Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson was solid in victory while running
back Marshawn Lynch was positively dynamic in their win over Dallas. Then why is Dallas ahead in the
rankings? Because the Seahawks were
better on Sunday but I don’t project them to be better down the road.
15. Tampa Bay Bucs – The Buccaneers have come a long way baby but we’re still not convinced
that this defense has so vastly improved over last year’s atrocity that they
will be able to outgun their opposition on a regular basis.
16. Minnesota Vikings – Sure it’s unfair to put the Vikings in the cellar because they are 1-1
but so is everyone else in the NFC (Saints excluded) and they did lose to the
Colts.
The Mighty Atlanta Falcons To Be Added Shortly!