NFL Power Rankings: Most Critical Stat for Every Team Heading into Week 2

Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season is officially in the books, and that means it's time to see where all 32 teams stand after opening week. 

Some teams emerged as Super Bowl favorites this past weekend, while others have lots to prove before we can buy into them as contenders. 

So, where does your team rank after Week 1?

Here are my current NFL power rankings heading into the second week of the season, along with a key statistic for each team to watch moving forward. 

No. 1. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

Baltimore scored on the ground, through the air and on defense in their rout of Cincinnati on Monday Night Football in Week 1. They are almost impossible to beat at home. 

No. 2. New England Patriots (1-0)

The Pats had 35 rushing attempts to just 32 passing attempts in their 21-point win over the Titans on the road in Week 1. They have become more balanced and even scarier on offense, if that's possible.

No. 3. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

Niners passer Alex Smith had a passer rating of 125.6 in Sunday's win over the Packers. What helped make Smith and San Francisco so successful, though, was balance in Week 1. The 49ers rushed the ball 32 times and dropped back to pass 30 times.

In the end, the Niners finished the game with 191 passing yards and 186 rushing yards. That balance will be key for them moving forward in 2012. 

No. 4. Houston Texans (1-0)

Houston averaged just 2.4 yards per rush in their 20-point win over Miami at home in Week 1. Although the Texans survived the Dolphins with that poor average, they will need to improve up front if they are to challenge for the AFC title in 2012. 

Arian Foster needs to be a major factor for Houston offensively this season, and if he isn't reeling off big runs, the Texans are just an average offensive football team. 

No. 5. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

The Cowboys racked up 433 total yards of offense in their shocking Week 1 win over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

No. 6. Denver Broncos (1-0)

Peyton Manning boasted a passer rating of 129.2 against 2011's No. 1-ranked pass defense in the Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver's Week 1 win at home.

No. 7. Atlanta Falcons (1-0)

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts and 4-for-4 on extra point attempts versus the Chiefs last weekend. If Atlanta can put up 16 points in the kicking game alone every week, they will be just fine. 

No. 8. Chicago Bears (1-0)

Running back Matt Forte averaged 5.0 yards per carry against the Colts in Week 1. The Bears finally have a feared offensive attack. 

No. 9 San Diego Chargers (1-0)

The San Diego defense had nine tackles for a loss in its dominating performance against Oakland in a win this past Monday night.

No. 10. Detroit Lions (1-0)

Detroit allowed just one offensive play of more than 20 yards from St. Louis in its Week 1 victory. Sure, it was the Rams, but that's still great tackling and execution from the Lions' D.

No. 11. Washington Redskins (1-0)

The Redskins scored exactly 10 points in each quarter of their Week 1 win over the Saints in New Orleans. If Robert Griffin III can keep it up, Washington can make a run at the playoffs this fall.

No. 12. Green Bay Packers (0-1)

The Packers averaged just 6.3 yards per pass in Week 1. Green Bay was unable to make any big plays through the air against Jim Harbaugh's tough defense. 

No. 13. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)

Pittsburgh averaged four yards per play against the Denver Broncos' defense on Sunday night. It was ugly. 

No. 14. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

Quarterback Michael Vick tossed four interceptions against Cleveland in Philadelphia's one-point win on the road. The Eagles have five giveaways after one game in 2012.

No. 15. New York Jets (1-0)

The Jets were 10-of-14 converting third downs in Week 1. That remarkable efficiency must continue for New York if they are going to get back to the postseason in 2012. 

No. 16. New Orleans Saints (0-1)

New Orleans possessed the ball for slightly over 20 minutes in its Week 1 home loss to Washington.

No. 17. New York Giants (0-1)

The Giants had just 54 total plays in their opening night loss to the Cowboys. Mistakes are magnified when you only give yourself a few opportunities. 

No. 18. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)

The Cardinals committed 102 yards' worth of penalties in Sunday's home win over the Seahawks. Hey, they still won. 

No. 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)

Tampa Bay held the Panthers to just 0.8 yards per rush in Week 1. They will need to improve in the secondary, though, if they are to continue to succeed. 

No. 20. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

The Vikings were just 2-of-10 converting third downs in their overtime win over the Jaguars this past weekend. 

No. 21. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)

Quarterback Matt Cassel turned the ball over three times in Kansas City's loss to Atlanta at Arrowhead last Sunday. 

No. 22. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton was sacked four times by the Ravens on Monday night. Cincinnati lost by 31. 

No. 23. St. Louis Rams (0-1)

The Rams punted on all four of their third quarter possessions in their season-opening loss to the Lions. More like the Lamest Show on Turf.

No. 24. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)

Seattle averaged a dismal 3.6 yards per play in its loss at Arizona on Sunday. Matt Flynn might be warming up sooner than expected. 

No. 25. Carolina Panthers (0-1)

The Panthers ran the ball for just 10 yards total in their season-opening loss at Tampa Bay. Dreadful, terrible, awful. The list goes on. 

No. 26. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)

Jacksonville averaged just 4.7 yards per play in its season-opening loss to Minnesota in overtime. Maurice Jones-Drew is the only legitimate offensive threat they seem to have right now. 

No. 27. Oakland Raiders (0-1)

Darren McFadden was Oakland's leading receiver in Week 1, catching 13 passes for 86 yards. Come on, Carson Palmer. 

No. 28. Tennessee Titans (0-1)

Chris Johnson averaged 0.4 yards per carry on 11 rushes against the New England Patriots last Sunday. Tennessee only managed 20 rushing yards as a team in the defeat. 

No. 29. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2012, rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, dropped back 48 times in Week 1. He was sacked three times and picked off three times. 

No. 30. Buffalo Bills (0-1)

Buffalo averaged 7.5 yards per rush in its Week 1 loss to the Jets. The Bills must continue to establish their running game as the season wears on in order to be effective. Running back C.J. Spiller averaged more than 12 yards per carry against New York, and he is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball.

Given the Bills' interception problems, they are better off handing the ball to Spiller 30 times per game and dictating the pace of the game.

No. 31. Miami Dolphins (0-1)

Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw three interceptions in Miami's loss to Houston in Week 1. Things should get a little easier at home against Oakland this Sunday. 

No. 32. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

The Browns did not score a single offensive touchdown in Week 1 against the Eagles. Perhaps Cleveland's offense will the find end zone versus Cincinnati this weekend. 

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