NFL Power Rankings: Where Your Team Stands Heading into Week 3

Week 3 of the NFL season is on the horizon, and there has been some serious shifting in the power rankings through the season's first two weeks. 

A group of undefeated teams have begun to separate themselves from the rest, while a handful of winless squads have given fans little reason to believe they will turn it around anytime soon.

So, where does your team stand heading into this weekend?

Here are my NFL power rankings after two weeks of regular-season football. 

No. 1. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

The Niners have defeated two NFC playoff teams from a year ago in the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. Despite going up against two of the NFL's top offenses, San Francisco has allowed just 41 total points through two weeks. 

No. 2. Houston Texans (2-0)

Gary Kubiak's squad followed up a 20-point home win in Week 1 with a 20-point road win in Week 2. The Texans look like the most consistent team in the AFC thus far.

No. 3. Atlanta Falcons (2-0)

Mike Nolan's Falcons defense made Peyton Manning look like an inexperienced rookie in the first quarter of Atlanta's win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 2.

No. 4. San Diego Chargers (2-0)

The Chargers are averaging 30 points per game this season and have made mince meat of a weak opening schedule. Defensively, though, San Diego looks like a new ballclub, playing stifling defense and allowing just 12 points per week.

No. 5. Green Bay Packers (1-1)

Green Bay's defense finally returned to Super Bowl form in Week 2, and Jay Cutler's four interceptions prove it. If the Packers can continue to hold opponents to 10 points per game, they will be on their way to 15-1 once again this fall.

No. 6. New England Patriots (1-1)

After a huge road win over the Titans to open the season, the Patriots went home and laid an egg against an overlooked Arizona Cardinals team. Now they will attempt to pick themselves up and move on without tight end Aaron Hernandez for the next few weeks. 

No. 7. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Philadelphia is 2-0 despite turning the ball over nine times in two games. If the Eagles keep winning like that, sooner or later their luck will run out. 

No. 8. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)

Surprise, surprise. The Arizona Cardinals are off to an unexpected hot start this fall. After close wins over Seattle and New England, the Cards are allowing just 17 points per game. If they keep that up, they could be a dark horse to win an NFC wild-card berth in 2012.

No. 9. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

The Ravens were my top team after Week 1. But after giving away Sunday's matchup with the Eagles, they fell all the way down to No. 9. It's hard to comprehend how they lost that game after forcing four Philadelphia turnovers. 

No. 10. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

It's not time to press the panic button just yet in Seattle. After a gut-wrenching loss at Arizona in Week 1, the Hawks bounced back in a big way at home against Dallas this past weekend.

After routing the Cowboys, 27-7, they are feeling good about themselves headed into their Monday Night Football matchup with the Packers in Week 3.

No. 11. Denver Broncos (1-1)

Kudos to the Broncos defense for only allowing 27 points in a game in which the Denver offense turned the ball over four times in the first quarter. The Broncos had a chance to win on the road in Week 2 despite Peyton Manning's ineptness, and that's the sign of an emerging team. 

No. 12. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

No team was in more need of some home cooking in Week 2 than the Pittsburgh Steelers, which returned to Heinz Field to throttle the Jets. Pittsburgh will travel west to Oakland in Week 3 in what should will be the biggest lock of the weekend. 

No. 13. Detroit Lions (1-1)

Detroit shouldn't get down after losing at San Francisco. The Niners went 7-1 there a season ago and have been dominant through the season's first two weeks. The Lions will hit the road to face the lowly Titans in Week 3, so expect a 2-1 start from Jim Schwartz's club. 

No. 14. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

After winning a game no one thought they could against the New York Giants in Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys lost a game no one thought they would in Week 2.

Looks like the 'Boys are still up to their inconsistent ways in 2012. Dallas will catch a break in Week 3, though, when it plays its first home game against Tampa Bay.

No. 15. New York Giants (1-1)

It won't matter how many yards Eli Manning can throw for if the Giants continue to give up points in bunches and turn the ball over. The defending Super Bowl champions are 1-1, but they're headed to Carolina on a short week to face the Panthers on Thursday night. 

No. 16. Chicago Bears (1-1)

The Bears were held to just 168 total yards of offense in their brutal loss at Green Bay on Thursday night. Fortunately for Chicago, the Rams will come to town in Week 3. 

No. 17. New York Jets (1-1)

Rex Ryan's club was brought down to earth this past weekend at Pittsburgh, where the Steelers exposed the Jets in a variety of ways. New York's offense must improve, and the defense is far from perfect.

New York will travel to Miami in Week 3 in what should be considered a must-win game the Jets, who host San Francisco and Houston in Weeks 4 and 5.

No. 18. Buffalo Bills (1-1)

C.J. Spiller has been running wild thus far in 2012, and the Bills boast the NFL's No. 1 rushing offense after two weeks. Buffalo's dismantling of Kansas City last weekend proves it's a threat to the AFC East throne, but far from a favorite. 

No. 19. St. Louis Rams (1-1)

Sam Bradford and St. Louis looked potent offensively against the Redskins in Week 2, but Washington ranks 31st in the league this season defending the pass. We'll see what the Rams are really made of when they travel to Chi-town in Week 3.

No. 20. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)

The Bengals have their confidence back after earning a home win over division rival Cleveland in Week 2. They will hit the road to play a banged-up Redskins team in Week 3.

No. 21. Washington Redskins (1-1)

Offensively, the Redskins look phenomenal. Defensively, they look lost and a few steps behind.

With defenders Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker both suffering devastating season-ending injuries, one can only assume that the sort of success Washington experienced in Week 1 will be short-lived in 2012. 

No. 22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)

The Buccaneers are likely still demoralized after giving up 25 fourth-quarter points to Eli Manning and the New York Giants in Week 2. The Bucs looked dominant through the first three quarters but found a way to lose.

Look for the hangover from last weekend's loss to stick with them in Week 3 on the road in Dallas. 

No. 23. Carolina Panthers (1-1)

Carolina finally found its rhythm on the ground last weekend and got in the win column with an eight-point victory over the New Orleans Saints. Not only is Carolina back to .500, but the Panthers earned a much-needed division win at home. 

No. 24. Indianapolis Colts (1-1)

Andrew Luck is the real deal, and now that he has a win under his belt, expect more to follow. The Colts will host the winless Jags in Week 3 in a matchup they will no doubt be favored in. 

No. 25. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

The Vikings won on a field goal in Week 1 and lost on one in Week 2. Life is tough in the NFL, and it won't get any easier for Minnesota in Week 3 when it hosts the No. 1 team according to these power rankings, the San Francisco 49ers. 

No. 26. Miami Dolphins (1-1)

Reggie Bush has looked tremendous to start the season, averaging six yards per carry and running with a purpose. We'll learn a lot about the Dolphins in Week 3 when they host the Jets. It's never a good idea to lose to a division rival at home. 

No. 27. New Orleans Saints (0-2)

If the Arizona Cardinals have been surprising this September, then the New Orleans Saints have been shocking. Despite possessing the NFL's fourth-best passing attack through two weeks this fall, New Orleans is 0-2 and has conceded 75 points in two losses. 

No. 28. Cleveland Browns (0-2)

Brandon Weeden looked much better in Week 2 at Cincinnati, but the Browns are still winless and will host the NFL's top rushing attack in Week 3 when the Bills come to town. That will be a terrible matchup for Cleveland, which is allowing roughly 115 yards on the ground per game already in 2012. 

No. 29. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

Jacksonville was stomped at home by division rival Houston in Week 2 and will hit the road to play the Colts in Week 3. If the Jags don't win this weekend, they likely won't get on the board until Week 7 when they visit Oakland. 

No. 30. Oakland Raiders (0-2)

The Raiders are averaging 13.5 points per game this season, which doesn't cut it when you're allowing more than 28 points per week. After two games, I can come to only one conclusion: Dennis Allen won't last long in Oakland.

No. 31. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)

Kansas City's defense has been nonexistent through the season's first two weeks, and the Chiefs will head to New Orleans in Week 3 for a matchup of 0-2 squads. I don't know about you, but my money is on the Saints to get their first win of the season next weekend.

No. 32. Tennessee Titans (0-2)

Chris Johnson has just 21 rushing yards after two games, and the Titans have been outscored by 49 points heading into Week 3. It won't get any easier for Tennessee this weekend when it hosts the Detroit Lions. 

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