(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Every week I will be running down my list of the best and worst teams in the NFL. I'll look at and dissect all 32 teams and rank them accordingly. Looking for power rankings? Look no further than the official 2M2MG.com Power Rankings.
Here's how things look heading into Week Three.
1. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week: 4)
Right now, the Falcons are the most consistently good team in the NFL. Are they the overall best team in the league? Maybe, maybe not. However, they're currently getting the job done when it needs to get done, which cannot be said of some of the other top teams.
2. Baltimore Ravens (Last Week: 8)
Their defense is a little worrisome, but they should be able to get it together here soon. And really, there's not much shame in giving up over 400 yards to a quarterback like Philip Rivers. The offense is the really impressive part, as they've just been tearing it up. Joe Flacco just might be the real deal in Baltimore.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week: 2)
They didn't play real well against the Bears, but they should rebound this week. Like a lot of other good teams, we saw them have a let-down, but good teams don't allow a let-down to go past one week. The Steelers are a good team and will be just fine.
4. New York Giants (Last Week: 6)
The Giants were down in a hard-fought game with the Cowboys, but Eli Manning was able to drive them down the field to pull out the tough win. I've been critical of Eli, but that was an impressive showing. A few more games like that and he might just have me sold. Let's also not forget Mario Manningham, who appears to be a star in the making.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: 2)
The Eagles are in the same boat as the Steelers. Yes, they lost. Yes, they lost pretty bad. No, their season isn't over because of it. While Kevin Kolb played well, there's just a difference in a team when its starting quarterback isn't in there. I expect them to rebound with an easy slate of games in the coming weeks.
6. San Diego Chargers (Last Week: 5)
The Chargers drop a spot this week because of their loss, but it was to a very good Ravens team, so it's difficult to drop them too far. Philip Rivers is a top five quarterback, and as long as they have him they will be contenders. Darren Sproles is really turning into their go-to guy, and as soon as the defense can get it together, they're going to get hot.
7. New York Jets (Last Week: 15)
The Jets manhandled the Patriots. There's really no other way to put it. They talked all week long about beating the Pats, and they did just that. Rex Ryan has instilled an attitude in that team that could have them overachieving all year long. And in case you hadn't put it together, a good team that is overachieving can mean bad things for the other 31 teams.
8. New England Patriots (Last Week: 3)
It's tough to drop the Patriots further than this, but they did not look good against the Jets. They were exposed as a finesse team that will shut down if you hit them in the mouth hard enough.
Tom Brady looked shaky, and according to Bart Scott, Randy Moss was afraid to go over the middle, as he probably should be. They need to get more physical if they even want to win their division.
9. Minnesota Vikings (Last Week: 9)
The Vikings beat the Detroit Lions. That does not warrant moving up at all, and in fact, may warrant consideration to move down because they didn't destroy them. The Lions were up 10-0 at one point, which is bad news for a Vikings team that has to play with a lead.
10. Indianapolis Colts (Last Week: 10)
They only had about 15 minutes of possession, but it was all they needed to squash a valiant effort by the Miami Dolphins. Chad Pennington and the offense played well, but the defense could not stop Peyton Manning and the big play all night. If they want to win games and be contenders, they're going to have to play defense.
11. Houston Texans (Last Week: 13)
The Texans played a tough game against the Titans, but they made far too many mistakes on defense. Allowing Chris Johnson to be that wide open is completely unacceptable for a team that feels like they can make a playoff push this year. The offense bailed them out, but they won't be able to do that all year.
12. New Orleans Saints (Last Week: 12)
Yes, the Saints did go into Philadelphia and beat an Eagles team that many have slated for the Super Bowl. However, they did it against an Eagles team without Donovan McNabb. Not only that, but their defense still did not look very good.
The Eagles lost that game more than the Saints won it, as evidenced by the good numbers Kolb put up against them in his first start.
13. San Francisco 49ers (Last Week: 16)
Personally, I expected the 49ers to be a fairly decent team this year. In the preseason, I put them somewhere between 8-8 and 10-6 because of playing in the NFC West, and it appears as though I may have been right. They have done very well the past two weeks against division opponents, but that's not saying a whole lot. They've got a test this week in the 2-0 Vikings.
14. Arizona Cardinals (Last Week: 19)
The Cardinals bounced back from their Week One loss to the 49ers by completely dismantling the Jaguars. Kurt Warner was on fire, completing 92 percent of his passes and making the Jaguars defense look like they belonged on a high school field. There's reportedly some friction between Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, but I don't buy into that.
15. Chicago Bears (Last Week: 21)
Defeating the defending world champions should mean something, and for the Bears it means moving up six notches in the rankings. Jay Cutler played the way that we know he can, and may have found an early connection with rookie receiver Johnny Knox. If they can cope with the loss of Urlacher all year, they could surprise at the end of the season.
16. Tennessee Titans (Last Week: 7)
The Titans are taking a tumble down the rankings because of the way they lost to a division opponent. They allowed 34 points and seemingly are unable to rely on what was once their strength in the defense. They seem to be playing decent football, but just can't come up with the right plays when they need them.
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