Ranking the 10 Highest Octane Offenses After NFL Week 2

The NFL today is undoubtedly a quarterback driven league. Through two weeks, there are more teams capable of putting up huge numbers than ever before. Quarterbacks across the league have gotten bigger, faster and stronger but most importantly, smarter. They are also limiting mistakes and methodically reading defenses knowing exactly where to attack to put points up quickly.

Coming into the season, we expected Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan to be leading their teams on the offensive side of the ball. However in the first two weeks we have seen the likes of Michael Vick, Colin Kaepernick and Jay Cutler playing at extremely high levels.

This article will take a look at the 10 highest octane offenses in the NFL: Which teams are capable of putting up points in a hurry, scoring points in bunches and wearing the other team's defense down?

The criterion for this list is not just each team's performance through two weeks, but also looking ahead at the rest of the season. For example: The San Francisco 49ers are on the list, despite putting up three points in Seattle. Any given week they have the ability to put up huge numbers, and proved that Week 1 against Green Bay.

10) Detroit Lions

When looking for octane in an offense there are two important things to look for, a gun-slinging QB and an elite wide receiver. The Lions have two of the best with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in the NFL and can make game-changing plays at the drop of a hat.

Against the Cardinals, Johnson took a simple slant route to the house for a 72-yard touchdown on a drive that took three plays and only 1:24 off the clock. RB Reggie Bush was sidelined with an injury, but Week 1 against the Vikings was a major threat out of the backfield catching four passes for 101 yards including a 77-yard touchdown reception.

The Lions have one of the best duos in the NFL with Stafford and Johnson but beyond that are limited at WR. Every week the Lions have the ability to put up 24-plus points a game, and if their defense can limit the opposition, the Lions are going to will some games.

9) Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have a dynamic duo of their own with QB Tony Romo and WR Dez Bryant. Bryant is one of the most physical wideouts in the NFL and can take over games at any time. The Cowboys rely on TE Jason Witten and WR Miles Austin on short yardage plays which allows Bryant to be their big-play threat down the field.

While the Cowboys only scored 16 points this week, Dez Bryant had a monster game recording nine catches, 141 yards and a TD. If Dallas can find a running game to open up the play action for Romo, the Cowboys will have one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

If the Cowboys defense can force turnovers like they did against the Giants in Week 1, the offense will take care of the rest. Bryant will have a career year, and Romo will prove worthy of his huge payday this offseason.

8) New York Giants

Despite being 0-2, the Giants can score a lot of points, and do it quickly. QB Eli Manning is one of the best pocket passers in the NFL today, and with weapons like WR Victor Cruz and WR Hakeem Nicks, the Giants are going to be a top-10 offense at season's end. 

What has slowed the Giants down this year is the poor play of RB David Wilson. Through two games, Wilson has 36 yards rushing and two fumbles—not exactly a stellar start to the year. Although Manning leads the league with seven interceptions after two weeks, he is also second with 812 yards passing.

It is no secret that the Giants are going to throw the ball all over the field. With Cruz in the slot and Nicks on the outside, the Giants are going to score a lot of points. Also keep an eye on WR Rueben Randle; he developed a nice chemistry with Manning in training camp and could be a huge weapon with Cruz and Nicks getting all the attention.

7) Chicago Bears

Has any quarterback been under more scrutiny than Jay Cutler? Under new head coach Marc Trestman, Cutler has had two consecutive weeks leading his team to come-from-behind wins, silencing his critics. Cutler and WR Brandon Marshall have the best connection in the league. Marshall is far and away the number one target for Cutler, and Marshall makes plays week in and week out.

Ever since their days together in Denver, Cutler and Marshall have had a special relationship. In their first season together in Chicago a year ago, Marshall put up career numbers across the board.

What makes Chicago’s offense so much more lethal than last year is the signing of TE Martellus Bennett and the continued improvement of WR Alshon Jeffery. In their 31-30 win over the Vikings, Bennett caught seven passes for 76 yards and two TD’s.

The Bears have all the pieces in place, including a healthy RB Matt Forte to have that high octane, consistent offense that they have been missing in years past. Look for Cutler to continue to improve as we get deeper into the season and as he becomes more comfortable in Trestman’s offense.

6) New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints finally have head coach Sean Payton back in 2013, and no one is happier than QB Drew Brees. Brees is considered among many to be the hardest working quarterback in the NFL, and it shows on Sundays. Brees makes everyone around him better: that is why the Saints have one of the best and most high-powered offenses in the league.

Coming off an impressive win against the Falcons in Week 1, the Saints followed that up with some late game heroics from Brees against the Bucs. TE Jimmy Graham had a career game with 10 catches, 179 yards and a TD. If the running back by committee system featuring Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles can be effective and open up the middle of the field for Brees, the Saints could find themselves number one on this list at the end of the year.

New Orleans lives and dies at the hand of Drew Brees, and if his supporting cast can stay healthy, the Saints will be back in the playoffs in 2013.

5) San Francisco 49ers

If this list were made after Week 1, the 49ers would've made a strong case for number one. But the limitations of the offense were exposed against the Seahawks on Sunday night. I think that against Seattle, the bigger take away from the game was the Seahawks defense being the best in the NFL, rather than the poor performance from the Niners offense.

Colin Kaepernick is the best duel-threat QB in the league right now. And with the addition of WR Anquan Boldin and the consistent play of TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore, the 49ers offense is one of the NFL’s most exciting.

Week 1 against the Packers, Kaepernick proved that he could be a pocket passer throwing for over 400 yards. Against the Seahawks, despite his poor passing performance, Kap showed great escape ability outrunning a speedy Seahawks defense.

Kaepernick has the ability to make any play a game-changer, whether with his legs or his arm. The 49ers will ride Kaepernick's back to the playoffs this year, and when WR Michael Crabtree returns from his torn Achilles, watch out.

4) Atlanta Falcons

There is no better wide receiver combination than the Falcons’ Julio Jones and Roddy White. Both players are explosive and capable of making the big catch when the team needs it the most. Jones has become one of the most well rounded receivers in the game; he can beat you deep, but can also come across the middle picking up first downs.

The Falcons have also provided QB Matt Ryan with other weapons including TE Tony Gonzalez and recently signed RB Steven Jackson. Jackson has helped balance out the offense, making it even more difficult for defenses to defend.

Although they lost Week 1 against the Saints, the Falcons have the ability to put up a scary amount of points. If the O-line can give Ryan time, Jones and White will both go over 1,000 yards receiving. Look for the Falcons’ play-calling to get more creative, creating 1-on-1 matchups for Julio Jones down the field where he thrives. 

3) Philadelphia Eagles

There is no doubt that the Eagles have the greatest potential on the offensive side of the ball in 2013. This can be attributed to first-year head coach Chip Kelly and his ability to get the most out of his players. Through two weeks, Philly has been extremely impressive scoring 33 and 30 points respectively.

QB Michael Vick is leading the offense along with RB LeSean McCoy and WR DeSean Jackson. Vick threw for 428 yards against the Chargers while Jackson caught nine passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles offense is being played at a frantic speed, they are scoring points in bunches while barely possessing the ball. It has only been two games under Kelly, so the jury is still out on whether this offense is sustainable in the NFL. 

The Eagles are as explosive a team as any in the league right now and can hurt you in just one play. Look for teams to figure out what Chip Kelly’s scheme is all about, but don’t be surprised if Kelly has some adjustments of his own.

2) Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers continues to prove that he is the best quarterback in the NFL week after week. He scorched the Redskins Sunday for 335 yards and three touchdowns—in the first half! Rodgers finished the day with 480 yards but could’ve easily thrown for 600.

Much like Drew Brees, Rodgers makes everyone around him better. Wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson have started off the year playing very well, and Jermichael Finley has also contributed in a positive way thus far. The real key to the Packers' blowout win over the Redskins was James Starks, who came in for the injured Eddie Lacy. Starks ran for 132 yards on 20 carries. 

If the Packers can develop a running attack, it’s game over for the rest of the league. Rodgers has proven that he doesn’t need great protection to stay effective in the pocket. The Green Bay offense is scary, and if Rodgers can play like this all season, hello MVP.

1) Denver Broncos

The Broncos couldn’t have drawn up a better beginning to this season if they tried. In their first two games they defeated the last two Super Bowl champions by a combined score of 90-50. The Broncos have given QB Peyton Manning plenty of weapons around him and we are seeing him use them all so far. 

WR Wes Welker has been an immediate contributor to the offense that also includes WR Eric Decker and WR Demaryius Thomas. These three studs make up the best receiver corp in the NFL and they are only going to get better down the stretch. Last season the Broncos finished the regular season 11-0.

It is no surprise that the Broncos are number one on the list, but as the only AFC team to crack the top ten, it appears that the Broncos should be the early favorite to be the No. 1 seed heading into the postseason. While there are still 14 games to be played, the Broncos are on fire early in the early part of the season, and look for that to continue.