NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Updated Team Records and Review

As shocking as Week 1 of the NFL regular season was, it can certainly be argued that Week 2 featured just as many twists and turns.

After looking invincible in a Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks proved to be human by falling on the road in Week 2. Also, some surprising 1-0 teams bettered their records to 2-0 and have already put themselves in prime playoff position.

There is undoubtedly a lot of football left to be played, but the league abounds with uncertainty right now to say the least.

On the heels of two exciting weeks of play, here is a look at how the NFL's hierarchy breaks down.

32. Oakland Raiders (0-2)

The Raiders were never in Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, as they turned the ball over four times and possessed the ball for a mere 21 minutes.

Rookie quarterback Derek Carr showed some flashes of competence throughout, but all signs point to this being a long and arduous season for Oakland's fans.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

Following a Week 1 game in which they blew a 17-point lead against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jaguars were dominated by the Washington Redskins in every facet of the game on Sunday.

Jacksonville was especially poor defensively, as Kirk Cousins replaced an injured Robert Griffin III at quarterback for the Redskins and picked the Jags' secondary apart. This season could get away from the Jaguars quickly, which might signal the beginning of the Blake Bortles era.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)

Despite facing an injury-riddled St. Louis Rams team that was thumped at home in Week 1, the Buccaneers couldn't come away with their first win of the season in Week 2.

The Bucs fell 19-17 at home, as quarterback Josh McCown struggled once again. Tampa Bay was a chic sleeper pick to make some noise in the NFC South this season, but it has looked like one of the conference's worst teams thus far.

29. New York Giants (0-2)

The Giants' nightmarish start to the 2014 season got even worse in Week 2, as they lost at home to an Arizona Cardinals team that was without starting quarterback Carson Palmer.

New York turned the ball over on four occasions, including two interceptions from signal-caller Eli Manning. According to ESPN Stats & Info, that marked the continuation of an awful run that dates back to last season:

The G-Men are already in danger of letting this campaign get away from them, which could be extremely bad news for Manning and head coach Tom Coughlin.

28. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)

The Chiefs were the surprise team of 2013, as they went from last place to the playoffs in just one season. They fought valiantly against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, but it wasn't enough to prevent a disappointing 0-2 start.

Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reports that superstar running back Jamaal Charles suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss, so what was already an uphill climb will undoubtedly get even tougher in the coming weeks.

27. St. Louis Rams (1-1)

St. Louis seemed destined to go into a tailspin after being blown out at home by the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, but it bounced back in a big way by upsetting the Buccaneers on the road in Week 2.

The win was particularly surprising since Austin Davis made his first career start at quarterback for the injured Shaun Hill. Davis proved to be a capable caretaker, as he didn't turn the ball over and did just enough to lead the Rams to victory.

26. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

After a dominant showing in Week 1, the Vikings regressed in a big way on Sunday, as they were blown out by the New England Patriots.

The absence of running back Adrian Peterson likely had plenty to do with that, since Minnesota couldn't get anything going on the ground.

The Vikes are a totally different team without AP in the fold, but SportsCenter suggests he will return to action in Week 3:

If quarterback Matt Cassel performs in Week 3 like he did in Week 2, though, Peterson's presence won't matter. The pressure is now firmly on Cassel to turn it around. Otherwise, rookie Teddy Bridgewater might get a look in the near future.

25. Tennessee Titans (1-1)

The outlook of a single team can change wildly over the course of one week in the NFL. The Titans are a perfect example, as they went from destroying the Chiefs in Week 1 to being dominated by the seemingly moribund Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

Tennessee had no answer for DeMarco Murray and Dallas' running game, and it possessed the ball for a mere 18 minutes.

The true Titans probably lie somewhere between their Week 1 and Week 2 performances, but they may be little more than an average team.

24. New York Jets (1-1)

The Jets seemed poised to shock the NFL with a 2-0 start, as they led the Green Bay Packers 21-3 on the road. Ultimately, New York's defense couldn't hold up long enough against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pack's explosive passing game.

In addition to that, a coaching error resulted in a game-tying touchdown pass being wiped out late in the game.

Gang Green probably played well enough to win in Week 2, but there is no consolation after losing in such a heartbreaking way.

23. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wasn't exactly a dominant force in the team's win over the Titans in Week 2, but he didn't have to be. After throwing three interceptions in a Week 1 loss, Romo didn't turn the ball over at all against Tennessee.

Murray did much of the legwork with 167 rushing yards, and that could prove to be a winning formula for Dallas if it commits to it moving forward.

22. New Orleans Saints (0-2)

There is currently no bigger disappointment in the NFL than the 0-2 Saints. New Orleans dropped a tough game to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in Week 1 and followed that up with a surprising loss to the Cleveland Browns at the end of regulation on Sunday.

According to NewOrleansSaints.com, head coach Sean Payton took much of the responsibility for his team's failure to come through in Week 2:

"

We have to look at the concept of "situational football." For the past two games, we haven't been very good at this. The issue is that we never specifically know which plays are coming, but we certainly didn't react to them as well as we should have. This is the most disappointing part of the loss, and I take responsibility for it. I will make sure that gets corrected, but we obviously need to play better.

"

A team with quarterback Drew Brees at the helm has a great chance to win whenever it takes the field, but the Saints simply haven't figured out how to finish.

21. Cleveland Browns (1-1)

If nothing else, the Browns have proven to be a resilient bunch over the season's first two weeks. They very nearly came back to win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, and they displayed a never-say-die attitude against New Orleans in Week 2 as well.

The Browns' secondary held up extremely well against the Saints' passing game, while quarterback Brian Hoyer continued to prove that he is capable of winning games as an NFL signal-caller.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Much like last season, it is difficult to get a good read on the Steelers.

They looked dominant for part of Week 1 before letting the Browns back in it. They then struggled mightily to move the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 2 loss.

Pittsburgh has a chance to contend for a playoff spot in the AFC due to the presence of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the defense isn't what it used to be. That could prove to be a big problem throughout the 2014 campaign.

19. Indianapolis Colts (0-2)

Like with the Saints, few could have predicted that the Colts would start the season with two consecutive losses. Indianapolis has had an extremely tough schedule thus far, with games against the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles.

As such, it wouldn't be wise to get too down on the Colts.

Indy is probably still the AFC South favorite despite being 0-2 thanks largely to quarterback Andrew Luck. The Colts got the running game going against the Eagles as well, and that could be the biggest key to a turnaround in the coming weeks.

18. Washington Redskins (1-1)

The Redskins turned in an excellent offensive performance against the Jaguars in Week 2, but they did so without quarterback Robert Griffin III for much of the game.

He suffered a dislocated ankle that will keep him out indefinitely, although no fracture was found, according to NFL on ESPN:

That means RG3 should be able to return at some point this season, but it is possible that the starting job won't be waiting for him. Backup Kirk Cousins was spectacular in Griffin's absence, and there is reason to believe that Cousins could give Washington the best chance to win in 2014.

17. Miami Dolphins (1-1)

Expectations were high for the Dolphins in Week 2 after upsetting the New England Patriots to open the season, but things went south quickly. Miami was thoroughly dominated on the road by the Buffalo Bills, and it is now quite unclear precisely how good or bad the Dolphins are.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been extremely inconsistent through two weeks, which has been an issue over the course of his young career.

The Dolphins are good enough to play with anyone when they are firing on all cylinders, but they didn't put forth the needed effort in Week 2.

16. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

Much like the Dolphins, the Falcons came crashing back down to reality in Week 2. Atlanta scored an emotional win at home over the Saints to open the season. However, it was no match for the all-around performance turned in by the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

The Bengals pressured quarterback Matt Ryan from start to finish, which resulted in him throwing three interceptions.

Atlanta has no running game or defense to speak of, so the onus will be on Matty Ice all season long to carry this team on his back. He simply couldn't do it on Sunday.

15. Detroit Lions (1-1)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The Lions looked like a team on the verge of something special after picking apart the Giants in Week 1, but they learned that things won't come that easily each and every week. Detroit's explosive offense was stymied on the road in Week 2 by a determined Carolina Panthers defense.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson was largely held in check, while the running back combo of Reggie Bush and Joique Bell couldn't get much going.

Carolina's defense may very well be the best in the NFL right now, but Detroit's offense was definitely exposed to some degree. The Lions will have to prove that what happened in Week 2 was an outlier if they truly want to contend in the NFC.

14. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

Despite playing in the face of turmoil, the Ravens turned in an awesome performance to kick off Week 2, as they crushed the division rival Steelers 26-6 at home. Baltimore has long had success due mostly to its defense, and the Ravens were especially impressive on that side of the ball against Pittsburgh.

The Ravens also ran the ball effectively with Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett, which is something that didn't happen often last year.

As long as quarterback Joe Flacco continues to protect the ball, Baltimore will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC North.

13. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)

All signs pointed toward the 49ers picking up another easy victory in Week 2 with a 17-point lead over the Chicago Bears. That lead quickly evaporated, though, as quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw three interceptions in a losing effort.

The Niners out-gained and out-possessed the Bears, but they were their own worst enemy.

San Francisco should be fine provided Kap keeps the mistakes to a minimum, but Sunday night's showing proved that the 49ers are most definitely a beatable team.

12. Chicago Bears (1-1)

Through two weeks, it is nearly impossible to know what to make of the Bears. They were gashed on the ground in a season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills, but they displayed great resiliency in coming back to beat the 49ers on the road in Week 2.

Unfortunately, Chicago has already been struck by a number of injuries. The worst among them was suffered by cornerback Charles Tillman on Sunday, as ESPN's Adam Schefter indicates he will miss the remainder of the season:

The Bears defense was already a major question mark, and this loss won't help. The offense is explosive, though, and that should at least keep Chicago competitive in the NFC North.

11. Green Bay Packers (1-1)

The season couldn't have started off much worse for the Packers, as they were totally outmatched against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. Green Bay's performance in Week 2 wasn't flawless by any means, but it was good enough to top the Jets.

The presence of Rodgers under center gives the Packers an advantage over the opposition essentially every week, and that was the case on Sunday. He threw for nearly 350 yards and three touchdowns, which covered up deficiencies in the running game and on defense.

Rodgers will need more help moving forward, but he now appears to be locked in.

10. New England Patriots (1-1)

New England got back on track in Week 2 after a disappointing start to the season. The Patriots defense shut down the Vikings and made life miserable for Cassel all day long.

The Pats' 30-7 win looks great on paper, but there is still reason to worry about the offense.

Quarterback Tom Brady threw for just 149 yards, so he didn't exactly silence the critics. One can only assume that Brady will right the ship and find his groove eventually, but it is tough to get too excited about New England until he turns in a vintage performance.

9. Houston Texans (2-0)

After starting off 2-0 last season, the Texans proceeded to lose their next 14 games. Houston finds itself in the same position this year, but it is difficult to imagine the Texans going on a similar skid.

Houston thrashed the Raiders in Week 2 and currently leads the league in scoring differential. It has gotten the job done with excellent defense and a simplistic approach on offense that features a high dose of running back Arian Foster.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't been forced to win a game for the Texans yet, so it will be interesting to see how the team fares when his responsibilities are increased.

8. Buffalo Bills (2-0)

The Bills proved in Week 2 that they aren't a fluke, as they took it to the Dolphins and seized lone control of first place in the AFC East. Much like the Texans, the Bills have found success by defending well and controlling the tempo of games with a great running attack.

There hasn't been anything particularly flashy or complicated about what Buffalo has done, but it has been quite effective. This year's Bills team is somewhat reminiscent of the 2013 Chiefs.

As long as quarterback E.J. Manuel continues to play competently and the defense is able to pressure opposing signal-callers, the Bills will look like they are for real.

7. San Diego Chargers (1-1)

San Diego let what seemed like a sure victory slip away in Week 1, but it didn't allow that to put a damper on Week 2. The Chargers faced a colossal challenge in the form of the Super Bowl champion Seahawks, and they rose to the occasion by picking up a 30-21 upset victory at home.

Quarterback Philip Rivers carved up Seattle's vaunted secondary, throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns.

All of those scores went to veteran tight end Antonio Gates, who felt great about the Bolts' form after the game:

San Diego will need to get some more production from the running game in order to capitalize on the momentum gained on Sunday, but it is hard not to get excited about the Chargers' prospects after such a huge victory.

6. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)

The Cardinals simply found ways to win last season, and that mentality has already carried over to 2014. A late comeback netted Arizona a victory in Week 1, while a hard-fought effort in Week 2 led to the same result.

Quarterback Drew Stanton started in favor of the injured Carson Palmer, but not even that could hold back the Cards.

Stanton didn't do much. However, the Arizona defense forced four Giants turnovers, which proved to be the difference.

The Cardinals still have a big challenge ahead of them playing in the NFC West against the Seahawks and 49ers, but it is already abundantly clear that their 10-6 record from 2013 wasn't an aberration.

5. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

Perhaps the Seahawks are still favored to win it all this year, but Week 2's loss to the Chargers proved that they aren't bulletproof.

Seattle's Legion of Boom had trouble stopping San Diego's passing game, and wide receiver Keenan Allen had some pointed words for cornerback Richard Sherman after the contest:

Not surprisingly, Sherman had a retort and was quite defiant following the Seahawks' defeat:

It is entirely possible that Sunday was nothing more than a blip on the radar, but it goes to show that the Seahawks are clearly a different team on the road. They will host the Denver Broncos in Week 3, and it will be interesting to see if Week 2's bad habits return in a Super Bowl rematch.

4. Carolina Panthers (2-0)

Despite a 12-4 season that saw them win the NFC South in 2013, there were plenty of doubters surrounding the Panthers at the start of 2014. Just like last year, though, Carolina has used suffocating defense and timely offense to establish itself as one of the NFL's top teams.

The Panthers held the Lions' uptempo offense to just seven points, while quarterback Cam Newton looked sharp in his first start of the season.

What the Panthers do is rarely pretty, but they are an extremely difficult team to play against and perfectly capable of beating anyone at any venue.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

The Eagles have failed to get off to ideal starts in each of their first two games, but they are 2-0 nonetheless. Philadelphia's offense woke up in the second half of Monday night's game against the Colts, and much of that was due to the play of running back Darren Sproles.

The diminutive star racked up an incredible 152 receiving yards on seven catches, and Ross Tucker of NBC Sports Network views him as perhaps the Eagles' biggest difference-maker so far this season.

Sproles has thrived in Chip Kelly's breakneck offense, while LeSean McCoy has yet to truly hit his stride. The fact that the Eagles are undefeated despite failing to fire on all cylinders is a scary thought for the rest of the league.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)

It remains to be seen if the Bengals will be able to conquer their playoff demons this season, but it is clear that they are still among the NFL's best regular-season teams.

Cincinnati took it to the Falcons in all phases of the game this past weekend, and it can be argued that the Bengals are the most complete team in football.

The defense continues to be one of the best in the league, while running back Giovani Bernard is running with explosiveness and quarterback Andy Dalton is making great decisions.

Cincinnati is playing like a team that is capable of winning the AFC, but there will continue to be some form of doubt until it wins an postseason game.

1. Denver Broncos (2-0)

The Broncos have allowed their opponents to hang around through the season's first two weeks and haven't blown anyone out yet, but they sit atop the league at 2-0.

Quarterback Peyton Manning has six touchdowns passes in a pair of games, while the defense appears to be much improved from last season.

Denver's first true test will come in the form of the Seahawks in Week 3. The Broncos can really prove themselves by beating Seattle on the road, and there is little doubt that Manning and Co. will enter that game with a chip on their shoulders.

Until someone knocks them off, the Broncos have to be considered the NFL's best team right now.

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