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2013 NFL Power Rankings Week 3
NFL Power Ranks Week 3
This young season has really been a tale of two Mannings, has it not? Peyton and the Denver Broncos high octane offense is flying high with an unbeaten record. Eli and the New York Giants are floundering and find themselves without a win. Peyton leads the NFL in touchdown passes with a remarkable 12 already. Eli leads the NFL in interceptions with a staggering eight. They are the yin and the yang of this season thus far. Sure there are a lot of teams in between, and no, the Giants aren't the worst team in the league, but it makes for a nice storyline, doesn't it? Anyway, enough with the questions. You came here for answers. You want to see where your team is ranked this week. So without further ado...
1. Denver Broncos (3-0) ~ Did you expect someone else? The Broncos seem unstoppable so far in beating their three opponents by an average of 18 points. Yowza. (Last Week's Ranking 1)
2. Seattle Seahawks (3-0) ~ The seahawks instituted a mercy rule, so to speak, in their dismantling of the sad sack Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Russell Wilson was pulled in the third quarter after amassing four TD tosses on the day. (LWR 2)
3. New Orleans Saints (3-0) ~ Can anyone stop Jimmy Graham? I'm being serious here. Dude is a beast. Already with 23 catches for 358 yards and four scores. For some tight ends that is a solid season. (LWR 3)
4. New England Patriots (3-0) ~ There's the Patriots team we expected. A decisive win over hapless Tampa Bay almost makes up for the two squeakers against the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills to start the year. A tough road match looms this week in Atlanta. (LWR 6)
5. Chicago Bears (3-0) ~ The Chicago Bears look good. A big reason? Jay Cutler is thriving in Marc Trestman's offense. A bigger reason? Cutler is taying upright this year having been sacked only three times in three games. (LWR 7)
6. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) ~ Cincy became the first team in NFL history to win a game when leading by 14 or more points and trailing by more than 16 points. You just don't see that. A huge home win over Green Bay this weekend. (LWR 11)
7. Miami Dolphins (3-0) ~ You could have made a lot of money if you bet that the Dolphins would open the season 3-0. You can make even more if you bet on them again and they beat the Saints on Monday night. (LWR 12)
8. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) ~ Andy Reid returned to Philly and picked up his 50th career win at Lincoln Financial Field. This was the first as a visitor. (LWR 13)
9. Houston Texans (2-1) ~ Houston gave up a punt return touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs. Those mistakes are too much even for a good team to overcome. (LWR 5)
10. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) ~ Remember when they were torched opening week against the Broncos to the tune of seven touchdown passes? Well, Baltimore hasn't given up a passing touchdown in the two games since then. (LWR 10)
11. Indianapolis Colts (2-1) ~ The addition of Trent Richardson is going to make this team a force. The Colts will now trot out the first and third picks from last year's draft every week. They could be a scary combo for years to come. (LWR 14)
12. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) ~ What has happened to San Fran's vaunted defense? They have now given up at least 24 points in eight of their last nine games dating back to last year. (LWR 4)
13. Green Bay Packers (1-2) ~ The Packers get an extra week via the early bye to prepare for the Detroit Lions at home. They can't afford to slip-up in a division game and fall to 1-3 if they plan on winning the NFC North. (LWR 8)
14. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) ~ Just like the Niners and the Packers the Falcons find themselves possibly falling to 1-3 as the undefeated Patriots come into town this weekend. This is not what Tony Gonzalez hand in mind when he came back for one more shot at a ring. (LWR 9)
15. Dallas Cowboys (2-1) ~ A win over the St. Louis Rams proved to be the first, and still only, win for an NFC East team outside the division. It wasn't that long ago that this was thought to be the best division in football. (LWR 16)
16. Detroit Lions (2-1) ~ No Reggie Bush no problem. Joique Bell racked up a combined 132 yards of offense including a score in the Lions first win in Washington during the Super Bowl era. (LWR 17)
17. Tennessee Titans (2-1) ~ If nothing else the Titans look like they will be an exciting team to watch. Another nail biter as they scored the go ahead touchdown in the final minute. Jake Locker has looked good this season so far. (LWR 23)
18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) ~ The defense can't seem to stop anyone. A trip to Denver to face Peyton Manning and company probably won't fix that. (LWR 15)
19. St. Louis Rams (1-2) ~ Rookie Tavon Austin has been a model of consistency so far catching six passes in all three games. (LWR 18)
20. Buffalo Bills (1-2) ~ Two tough division losses to the Patriots and Jets coupled with CJ Spiller being hobbled is not how the Bills envisioned the beginning of the season. (LWR 19)
21. San Diego Chargers (1-2) ~ Philip Rivers looks like he might be back. His eight touchdowns this year are second only to that Peyton Manning fellow. (LWR 21)
22. Carolina Panthers (1-2) ~ Well, that's one way to get in the win column. The Panthers decimated the Giants by sacking Eli Manning seven times including five (FIVE!) times in the first quarter alone. (LWR 27)
23. New York Jets (2-1) ~ Am I being too harsh? Perhaps. I refuse to believe the Jets are as good as their record indicates. I won't have it. *crosses arms and harumphs* (LWR 28)
24. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) ~ Rashad Johnson lost part of his finger on Sunday during the game. He didn't even know it happened. NFL playes are tough but I'm pretty sure I would know when part of my body is no longer attached to my body. (LWR 24)
25. Minnesota Vikings (0-3) ~ Boy was that a bad loss. The winless Browns came to town after trading their starting running back and losing their starting quarterback to injury. This was a game the Vikings could not afford to lose and they went and did just that. (LWR 25)
26. Cleveland Browns (1-2) ~ Brian who? Brian Hoyer led the way with over 300 yards through the air and three touchdowns for his first career NFL win. Good on ya Brian. ((LWR 31)
27. Washington Redskins (0-3) ~ If ever there was a time for a trip to Oakland this could be it. The 'skins are desperate for that elusive first win of the season a year after winning the division. (LWR 22)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3) ~ I honestly cannot believe that three games into the season the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has yet to cause a turnover. That is unbelievable. (LWR 26)
29. New York Giants (0-3) ~ A 38-0 loss to a previously winless team. It doesn't get much more embarrassing than that. That was the worst loss for the Giants during the Tom Coughlin era. (LWR 20)
30. Oakland Raiders (1-2) ~ Terrelle Pryor is leading the team in passing and rushing yards. I'd say he has a legit shot of finishing the season that way too. That would be pretty neat. I(LWR 29)
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) ~ I have to believe that Darrelle Revis did not think his team would be 0-3 and his old team would be 2-1. There's just no way. (LWR 30)
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) ~ Week 11. That is when the Jaguars get their first win of the season. Hosting the Cardinals. Mark it down. (LWR 32)