NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Latest Outlook and 2014-15 Super Bowl Odds
Throw away any assumptions you felt confident about heading into the 2014 NFL season. Heading into Week 3, all of them are already destroyed.
After Week 2, 18 teams have split their opening pair of games, displaying the good and the bad amid a polarizing league. If the Indianapolis Colts defeat the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, that figure rises to 20.
Just as a clear upper class began to emerge, every top team either lost or exhibited vulnerability in victory. The "any given Sunday" cliche holds credence more than ever in a league where the New Orleans Saints are 0-2 and the Buffalo Bills are 2-0.
TOP NEWS
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Colts Release Kenny Moore
Projecting Every NFL Team's Starting Lineup 🔮
Rookie WRs Who Will Outplay Their Draft Value 📈
Courtesy of Odds Shark, here are the Super Bowl odds. The Denver Broncos are the top unbeaten favorite standing, but that could quickly change this Sunday when they face the Seattle Seahawks on the road in a Super Bowl rematch.
| Denver Broncos | 17/4 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5/1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 9/1 |
| New England Patriots | 19/2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 13/1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 17/1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 20/1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 23/1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 26/1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 35/1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 40/1 |
| Detroit Lions | 40/1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 50/1 |
| Chicago Bears | 50/1 |
| Houston Texans | 50/1 |
Week 3 Power Rankings:
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)
The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed 41 points to a team missing its starting quarterback, starting tight end and No. 2 wide receiver. But hey, at least Chad Henne got sacked 10 times.
31. Oakland Raiders (0-2)
While the Oakland Raiders somehow finished with more yards than the Houston Texans during their 30-14 loss, all of the damage came in garbage time, after Houston secured a cushy 27-0 advantage. The Raiders have now surrendered 400 rushing yards through two weeks, by far a league worst. Charles Woodson described the state of the franchise candidly to The San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now dropped two games to teams missing its starting quarterback. At least Bobby Rainey far exceeded Doug Martin's nine-yard Week 1 output with 144 yards in 22 carries. Given those divergent results, Martin is likely no longer Tampa Bay's bell cow back.
29. New York Giants (0-2)
Per ESPN Stats & Info, Eli Manning extended an embarrassing streak by throwing two interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals, although one came during the meaningless final seconds of the New York Giants' 25-14 loss
After his first pick, however, Manning played well. He finished with 277 passing yards, two touchdowns and a 66.7 completion percentage, a rate he exceeded just twice last season. If only New York's special teams unit could tackle or not fumble the football.
28. St. Louis Rams (1-1)
Only six teams are 0-2, so one victory can't vault St. Louis too high up the rankings. Who would have thought third-string quarterback Austin Davis would lead the Rams to a win despite a putrid performance defending against Tampa Bay's running game?
27. Washington Redskins (1-1)
Since the NFL is a loyal sport where everyone shows deep concern for player safety, Mike Wise of The Washington Post waited a few hours after Robert Griffin III suffered a serious ankle injury before reporting that Jay Gruden preferred Kirk Cousins anyway.
"The dirty little secret in Ashburn is that Coach Jay Gruden actually thought Kirk Cousins was better suited to his offense, that Robert Griffin III wasn’t getting it and there was no way to delicately make a change at any point this season without causing major problems throughout the organization. So the new coach was resigned to doing everything he could to develop Griffin into a pocket passer, though he really feared Griffin might not be the guy to lead the team over the long term.
"
But everyone is worrying about his well-being, right Wise?
"Then I walked in the postgame locker room. Back-slaps. Everybody cutting up. A very jubilant scene, really.
“You ever see a postgame locker room this happy after the face of the franchise and the number one free agent in the offseason [DeSean Jackson] went down?” I asked a longtime team employee.
“No,” he said, adding he’d rather not elaborate.
"
26. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
As noted by ESPNBoston.com's Teddy Reiss, Minnesota Vikings fans want a change under center after Matt Cassel threw four interceptions against the New England Patriots.
With a rough schedule (New Orleans, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions) on the horizon, they could get their wish soon enough.
25. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)
Before making "Jamaal who?" jokes after Knile Davis compiled 105 yards and two touchdowns once Charles exited with an ankle injury, Davis averaged just 3.6 yards per carry as the Kansas City Chiefs lost to Denver for the fifth straight time.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Charles suffered a sprain ankle, and his status going forward remains unknown.
24. Tennessee Titans (1-1)
A week after exciting the masses with a flawless victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Jake Locker fell back down to earth with a pair of interceptions against the Dallas Cowboys. The Tennessee Titans' next two games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Colts will tell us a lot about their true credentials.
23. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Is it possible the Cowboys won't brandish the NFL's worst defense again? For that matter, are they actually good now? If anything, they stood in danger of getting worse without Sean Lee and DeMarcus Ware, but they rank 12th in total defense out of the 30 teams that have played two games.
22. Miami Dolphins (1-1)
Well, that sure killed the good vibes attached from upsetting the Patriots in Week 1. For all the talk about Bill Lazor's fast-paced offense reviving the Miami Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill has averaged 5.17 yards per pass attempt.
21. New York Jets (1-1)
The New York Jets played better in defeat than they did in victory. They came a controversial timeout away from tying the Green Bay Packers late at Lambeau Field, but it's still difficult to properly gauge the secondary after facing drastically different quarterbacks in Derek Carr (Week 1) and Aaron Rodgers.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
Usually the NFL's most contested rivalry, the Pittsburgh Steelers instead lost 26-6 to the Baltimore Ravens in Thursday night's one-sided contest. The plastic curtain (zing!) rushing defense has already allowed 340 rushing yards.
19. Cleveland Browns (1-1)
Beating the Saints makes the Cleveland Browns this week's biggest riser. A late drive by Brian Hoyer also gives him some temporary job security, but the defense deserves most of the credit for limiting Drew Brees to 237 passing yards.
18. Detroit Lions (1-1)
Oh Detroit, always the tease. The Lions showed signs of turning the corner with a clean, convincing victory over the Giants during Week 1. Then old problems returned, as they coughed up three turnovers and missed two field goals in a 24-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
17. Buffalo Bills (2-0)
By the transitive property, the Buffalo Bills have beaten both the Patriots and San Francisco 49ers this season. If EJ Manuel can hold his own every week, they got a shot. Considering Buffalo's ferocious rushing attack and pass rush, 16-of-26 with 202 yards and a touchdown is all Buffalo needs from the sophomore quarterback.
16. Houston Texans (2-0)
DeAndre Hopkins picked up his second touchdown in two weeks in a rout over Oakland. The second-year wideout's emergence gives veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick an assortment of riches on offense, putting the Texans in place to exceed last year's win total this Sunday against the Giants.
It's easy for everyone to point to the schedule now, but if the Houston Texans continue to take advantage of exploitable opponents, how will the same people treat a team with a very clear path to double-digit wins?
15. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
Was Week 1's victory over the Saints a mirage, or are the Cincinnati Bengals that good? Matt Ryan went from posting a 128.8 quarterback rating in the opening week to a 48.6 mark last Sunday.
14. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Baltimore broke a streak of five Ravens-Steelers game decided by three points or fewer with a decisive victory on Thursday night. Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett finally gave some life to a listless run game by combining for 152 yards on 30 carries.
13. New Orleans Saints (0-2)
Last year, the Saints lost a road game to the Jets under similar circumstances. Despite big days from Jimmy Graham both times, New Orleans are vulnerable against teams that can pressure Drew Brees. Bleacher Report's Michael Tanier mused that it simply happened sooner this season.
Considering they'll play Detroit, Carolina and Chicago on the road while hosting Cincinnati, San Francisco, Green Bay, Carolina and Atlanta, the squad's margin of error the rest of the way is slim.
12. Chicago Bears (1-1)
Welcome to the NFL, Kyle Fuller. Although the league's worst defense not addressing its front seven seemed odd at the time, the Chicago Bears' first-round selection absconded with two Colin Kaepernick passes during their second-half rally over the 49ers.
Needless to say Chicago's place on the rankings would have looked much different before that fourth-quarter surge.
11. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
The timing of this post saves the Colts here, as a loss to the Eagles would send them much further down the listing. For now, pushing them too low after a loss to Denver is an overreaction, even if constantly playing from behind will likely lead to their doom once their late luck runs out.
10. San Diego Chargers (1-1)
Beating the Super Bowl champions puts you on the map. Against a defense that allowed a league-best 172 passing yards per game last season, Philip Rivers fearlessly aired it out for 284 yards and three scores.
Although often erratic, the San Diego Chargers have proven capable of slaying anyone—they upset Denver last year—when they find their groove.
9. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
Only two teams are currently 2-0 in the NFC. Their NFC West lead won't last for long, but the Cardinals should enjoy it while they can after fending off the Giants without Carson Palmer.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Also getting the benefit of the doubt, the Eagles could easily enter Tuesday at 1-1 with their lone win coming against the Jaguars. That will have them shoving for positioning with the Lions, Falcons, Bears and Cardinals rather than gunning for the NFC's top tier.
7. Green Bay Packers (1-1)
Everybody should have known Aaron Rodgers was fine despite a rough opener at Seattle. The more positive plot point from this game is Green Bay limiting Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson to 64 combined rushing yards on 25 carries.
With the next three bouts coming against their three NFC North foes, the Packers can push for divisional supremacy before playing Carolina and New Orleans later in October.
6. New England Patriots (1-1)
Bill Belichick took Stevan Ridley out of the doghouse during Week 2's victory over Minnesota, giving the fumble-prone back 25 carries. Given his largest workload in the past 10 games, postseason included, Ridley amassed 101 yards and a touchdown.
WEII.com's Christopher Price illuminated Ridley's improved ball-handling, which will once again make him a trusted rusher for the Patriots.
5. Carolina Panthers (2-0)
Carolina's plus-23 point differential leads the NFC, and Detroit can't be written off as an unworthy opponent with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. The Panthers once again enjoyed a fruitful day through the air, this time led by starter Cam Newton.
Early on, they look every bit as good as the squad that earned a first-round bye, but a brutal schedule will test their standing as a Super Bowl contender.
| 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 4 | at Baltimore Ravens |
| 5 | Chicago Bears |
| 6 | at Cincinnati Bengals |
| 7 | at Green Bay Packers |
| 8 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 9 | New Orleans Saints |
| 10 | at Philadelphia Eagles |
4. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)
Surrendering 21 points in the fourth quarter certainly smashed San Francisco's armor. Luckily for the 49ers, the Saints, Packers, Patriots and Seahawks all had their bad moments as well.
Against last year's worst defense, Frank Gore received just 13 carries with the team leading throughout the game. It was an odd distribution of play-calling for one of the NFL's most run-reliant clubs.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
The Bengals knocked off two playoff contenders who looked strong in the young season's other matchup. With Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill forming a dynamic duo in the backfield, Andy Dalton has all the surrounding weapons to orchestrate a deep postseason run after three consecutive early exits.
2. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Exposed. That's the word the Chargers constantly cited after completing their first four passes for 56 yards against Richard Sherman, as documented by NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen especially went after the Pro-Bowl cornerback, per ESPN.com's Terry Blount.
"He's just a normal guy. We can go at him. We took some shots at him. We are not going to shy away from him. He's not really a shutdown corner. We definitely wanted to come out and show we could go any way we wanted to and that we were in control of the game.
"
Unbeatable at home, the Seahawks must prove that they are more than just a normal team on the road. But first they must combat Peyton Manning at CenturyLink Field.
1. Denver Broncos (2-0)
Even the king of the castle doesn't look as good as last season. A year removed from dominating the opposition with a plus-207 point differential and 10 double-digit wins, the Broncos have scrapped together a pair of seven-point triumphs.
The offense has stuttered in each second half, scoring seven points against the Colts and three against the Chiefs. Perhaps last year's lofty standards are simply unattainable, but Denver is beatable right now.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")