2014 NFL Power Rankings Week 2

Well, two weeks in and there's already a new team atop the rankings. I said the Seattle Seahawks would remain there until someone knocked off the champs. It didn't take long.

1. Denver Broncos (2-0) ~ They escaped the Colts in Week 1 and escaped the Chiefs in Week 2. On deck is a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks in Seattle. I have a feeling people are going to be excited for that one. (Last Week's Ranking 2)

2. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) ~ Eight of Seattle's last nine regular season losses have come on the road so I will give them a slight pass for losing in San Diego. That said, they've got a tough home game this week when Peyton Manning and company roll into town. (LWR 1)

3. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) ~ The Bengals' defense bottled up Matt Ryan intercepting him three times and sacking him two more. This a week after Ryan could do no wrong against the Saints. Cincy is for real kids. (LWR 4)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) ~ Philly has been outscored 34-6 in the first half so far this year. In turn they have outscored their opponents 68-10 in the second half. Maybe they should try scoring in the first half a bit more often to lessen the need for all those second half points. (LWR 6)

5. San Francissco 49ers (1-1) ~ So the Niners choked and gave the Bears the first victory in their new stadium. What's more worrisome is that tight end Vernon Davis left the game early and was on crutches on the sideline. He is vital to San Fran's passing attack so losing him for an extended period of time would be huge. (LWR 3)

6. Green Bay Packers (1-1) ~ They took a shot early and fell behind 21-3 before rallying to beat the visiting New York Jets. Jordy Nelson had himself quite the afternoon with nine catches for a career-high 209 yards and a touchdown. (LWR 7)

7. Arizona Cardinals (2-0) ~ Drew Stanton led the Cardinals to the road win against the New York Giants while filling in for the injured Carson Palmer. It is not yet known whether Palmer will be back for this week's showdown with San Fran but I don't see them winning again without him. Not this week at least. (LWR 8)

8. Carolina Panthers (2-0) ~ To play or not to play. That is the question that head coach Ron Rivera will be tasked with answering again this week regarding Greg Hardy. In case you've been living under a rock Hardy is involved in a domestic violence case and was held out of Sunday's game. (LWR 10)

9. New England Patriots (1-1) ~ Stevan Ridley ran for 100-plus yards, Chandler Jones blocked a field goal and returned in for a touchdown and the Patriots picked off their former QB Matt Cassel four times in a road demolition of the Vikings. (LWR 11)

10. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) ~ OK, maybe I was a little overzealous with my ranking of the Falcons last week. They were manhandled in Cincy and their defense hasn't decided to show up at all having yielded 58 points already through two games, fourth most in the NFC. (LWR 5)

11. Chicago Bears (1-1) ~ Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall gutted through injuries and helped the Bears stun San Fran Sunday night. When those two are healthy there isn't a better 1-2 receiving core in the league. (LWR 16)

12. San Diego Chargers (1-1) ~ They played keep-away from the champs holding the ball for a whopping 42:15 in their win over Seattle. Oh, and Antonio Gates scored three times. I mentioned last week he isn't done and he's proving it yet again. (LWR 18)

13. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) ~ Now that Ray Rice is gone Bernard Pierce is the man in the backfield for Baltimore. He responded Thursday with 96 yards on 22 carries. A solid run game will only help Joe Flacco distribute the ball to the Smiths (Torrey and Steve). (LWR 19)

14. Buffalo Bills (2-0) ~ What makes the Bills start seem even more impressive is that the teams they have defeated, Chicago and Miami, have taken down San Franciso and New England respectively. That bodes well for this young Bills squad that hasn't made the playoffs since last century. (LWR 23)

15. Houston Texans (2-0) ~ I know it was only one play but I mean, c'mon, J.J. Watt caught his first NFL pass and it went for six. There really was no way I wasn't going to mention that here. (LWR 24)

16. New Orleans Saints (0-2) ~ Their two losses are both by a field goal, one in overtime and one at the end of regulation. If they catch a break in either of those games the Saints are 2-0. There's a little saying about "ifs", isn't there? (LWR 9)

17. Indianapolis Colts (0-2) ~ Some people will say the Colts got hosed by the refs on Monday Night Football. I, an Eagles fan, am among those people. (LWR 12)

18. Detroit Lions (1-1) ~ Rookie kicker Nate Freese missed two field goals and is now just 2-for-5 on the young season. It isn't Jason Hanson coming through that door anymore. (LWR 13)

19. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) ~ They barely escaped Cleveland in Week 1 and were throttled in Week 2. Maybe Pittsburgh isn't as good as some people might think they are. Just maybe. (LWR 14)

20. Miami Dolphins (1-1) ~ Week 1 rushing leader Knowshon Moreno left the game with a serious elbow injury and will be sidelined four-to-eight weeks. It's back to the Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas time share in Miami. (LWR 15)

21. Cleveland Browns (1-1) ~ Cleveland won their home opener for only the second time since they were reinstated back in 1999. Somehow, some way, Brian Hoyer is getting it done without Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron and even Ben Tate. (LWR 27)

22. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) ~ DeMarco Murray ran for 167 yards and Dez Bryant caught 10 passes. That's how the Dallas offense is supposed to run. Tony Romo is off the hook. For now. (LWR 28)

23. Washington Redskins (1-1) ~ They completely dismantled Jacksonville but the bigger issue here is RG3's dislocated ankle. There is hope he can make it back this season but in the meantime it is now the Kirk Cousins show in DC. (LWR 29)

24. Minnesota Vikings (1-1) ~ No Adrian Peterson and no run game make Matt Cassel something something. Throw picks? Don't mind if I do! Cassel threw four, count 'em FOUR picks against the Patriots Sunday. D'oh! (LWR 17)

25. Tennessee Titans (1-1) ~ A week after making Alex Smith and the Chiefs look silly the Titans secondary had to be licking their chops with Tony Romo coming to town. It just wasn't meant to be this time around. (LWR 20)

26. New York Jets (1-1) ~ Did a timeout really cost the Jets the game? Maybe. But that timeout didn't blow an 18-point lead. (LWR 22)

27. St. Louis Rams (1-1) ~ Greg "the leg" Zuerlein booted four field goals and the Rams picked up a surprise win in Tampa Bay. Austin Davis gets his first career win as a starting QB. (LWR 32)

28. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) ~ They lost Jamaal Charles but Knile Davis nearly helped spearhead a comeback in Mile High. Counting the playoffs KC has lost 8 of their last 10 after starting 2013 9-0. (LWR 21)

29. New York Giants (0-2) ~ Each year the Giants start poorly the rumors about coach Tom Coughlin being on the hot seat start floating around. This year they might have a little bit more to them. (LWR 25)

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) ~ Bobby Rainey rushed for 144 yards in place of the injured Doug Martin. There might soon be a running back controversy in Tampa. (LWR 26)

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) ~ Since rushing out to that 17-0 halftime lead in Philadelphia Week 1 the Jags have been outscored 75-10. Yikes. (LWR 30)

32. Oakland Raiders (0-2) ~ In what might be the play that can best describe the Raiders over the last decade James Jones fumbled, recovered and scampered close to the end zone only to fumble it away. That really sums it up right there. (LWR 31)