NFL Power Rankings: Charting Every Team Heading into Week 3

The NFL season is only two weeks old, but we've already seen enough to form early opinions about the contenders and pretenders in the league. This year, heading into Week 3, there are seven undefeated teams remaining.

While it's no shock to see the Denver Broncos with an unblemished record at this point, the Buffalo Bills are a definite surprise. There are also a few surprises on the other end of the spectrum as well.

The Indianapolis Colts are still winless, as are the New Orleans Saints. Can either of these teams reverse their fortunes in Week 3? Will the Broncos and Bills stay unbeaten? We'll have to wait and see, but for now, here's a look at the power rankings with another action-packed week of football on tap.

32. Oakland Raiders (0-2)

Based on the odds presented by FiveThirtyEight editor-in-chief Nate Silver, it can't be any fun being a Raiders fan these days. 

At least Derek Carr has shown some flashes. At the end of the day, the team is still 0-2, and that's not very good.

31. New York Giants (0-2)

Giants fans hoped Eli Manning's turnover woes were done, but that hasn't been the case. He's already thrown four picks in two games, and the Giants are averaging only 14 points per contest.

Would the team ever consider benching a two-time Super Bowl MVP?

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

After the Jags blew a huge first-half lead against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, there was reason for optimism. After all, Jacksonville had severely outplayed the heavily favored Eagles in the first half.

However, after the Jags laid an egg against Washington the following week in a 41-10 rout, that optimism has quickly faded.

Not only did they lose but the offensive line surrendered 10 sacks. With that type of protection, there should be no hurry to throw rookie quarterback Blake Bortles to the wolves.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)

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Thursday night's clash is a must-win situation for the Buccaneers if they plan on having any chance of making the playoffs. Lovie Smith's defense has only allowed 39 points through two games, but the offense led by free-agent signing Josh McCown has sputtered.

The team has scored just 31 points, and McCown has thrown three interceptions and just two touchdown passes. If he has a slow start against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night, Smith might be compelled to turn to second-year pro Mike Glennon.

28. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)

The awesome start the Chiefs got off to in 2013 is nowhere to be found in 2014. At 0-2—and with the Broncos being the Broncos and the Chargers upsetting the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks—Kansas City can't afford a bad start.

Offense has been the biggest problem. Only one team in the NFL has scored fewer points than the Chiefs. That's not a good look for a quarterback (Alex Smith) in a contract year and a head coach (Andy Reid) lauded for his offensive expertise.

27. St. Louis Rams (1-1)

Injuries have decimated the Rams roster on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Sam Bradford was lost for the season before the campaign began, and now defensive leader Chris Long is out for an extended period. 

In one of the most unforgiving divisions in the league, the Rams are in trouble.

26. Tennessee Titans (1-1)

The Titans have had success this season when they've run the ball. The team is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but it has still thrown the ball 11 more times than it has run it.

That's hard to figure. It's also hard to get a bead on just how good or bad this team is overall. It did hold the offensively challenged Chiefs to 10 points, but it also allowed 26 to the Dallas Cowboys. Perhaps most concerning about the Titans is their offense.

The Cowboys are widely regarded as having one of the worst defenses in the league. Against that unit, Tennessee mustered only 10 points.

25. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

With the rushing attack clouded in uncertainty, Matt Cassel and the Vikings' receivers are going to have to step up. Minny blew out the Rams but had the trick pulled on it in Week 2 when a peeved Tom Brady ambushed the Vikings 34-7 at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots are a quality team, but are the Vikings really that bad? Moving forward, they probably will be. The team simply doesn't have the secondary or offensive weapons to escape a tough season.

24. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

In Week 2, Tony Romo and Co. rebounded from a season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers with a 26-10 win over the Chiefs. That's nothing to write home about, but for a team with a defense as maligned as the Cowboys' unit, holding any team to 10 points is cause for a celebration.

23. Indianapolis Colts (0-2)

Andrew Luck looked to be poised for a huge year, but he's still turning the ball over at too high of a clip. In Week 1 against the Broncos, he threw two key picks. One led to a score, and the other stopped a drive while the Colts were attempting a comeback.

In Week 2, Luck threw for three scores, but he also had a fourth-quarter pass picked off with his team up 27-20. The Philadelphia Eagles turned the possession into the game-tying score and went on to win 30-27.

It's clear that Luck still has a ways to go when it comes to ball security.

22. New Orleans Saints (0-2)

What's the deal with the Saints defense? It's acceptable to allow 37 points to a healthy Atlanta Falcons team in overtime, but to give up 27 to the Cleveland Browns is perplexing.

As of right now, the Saints pass defense is ranked dead last in the NFL. If things don't change, this is going to be a massively disappointing season.

21. New York Jets (1-1)

Geno Smith has had some really encouraging moments through the first two weeks of the season. Few—if any—are calling for Michael Vick to start, and that's because Smith has improved his completion percentage from 59 percent last season to 65 this year.

He's still thrown two picks and fumbled twice, but he is playing with confidence and kept his team in it until the very end against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.

20. Detroit Lions (1-1)

As usual, it's hard to know what to make of the Lions. A team with a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball still sits at .500.

After blowing out a woeful Giants team and being soundly beaten by a tough Carolina Panthers squad, it's impossible to gauge Detroit's ability to be a contender.

Week 3's matchup with the Packers will tell us a lot about what the Lions will be this season. 

19. Cleveland Browns (1-1)

Brian Hoyer has hushed the Johnny Manziel talk with his solid play. He nearly brought the Browns back to a win in Week 1, and he helped to light up the Saints secondary in Week 2.

The team will get a real test when it faces hated division rival, the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3. If the Browns win, they will be the biggest story in the city—at least until basketball season starts.

18. Washington (1-1)

Robert Griffin III fans will hate to admit it, but the team is going to take off with Kirk Cousins under center. RG3 went down with a dislocated ankle against the Jags in Week 2. Before he made it to the locker room, Cousins had put the team in the end zone.

Sometimes, it's just time for a change, and that could be the case for both Washington and RG3. Don't be surprised if RG3 has played his last game for the team. It sounds drastic now, but if it comes to pass, remember where you heard it.

17. Green Bay Packers (1-1)

As long as Aaron Rodgers is on the field, the Packers have a chance to beat just about any team—except the Seahawks at home. Week 1's matchup with the champs was a certified beatdown. 

Week 2's win over the Jets was shaky, but a victory is still a victory. When the Pack take on the Lions in Week 3, it'll go a long way toward determining which team will present the Chicago Bears with the most competition for the NFC North crown.

16. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)

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Is it just me, or does it look as if Colin Kaepernick has regressed as a passer? Give Chris Conte and Kyle Fuller credit for making great plays to pick off Kaepernick three times on Monday night, but the 49ers star just didn't seem to have the confidence to make plays with his arm.

Without several pieces on the defense available, Kaepernick is going to have to throw the ball better if the Niners want to keep pace with Seattle and the Arizona Cardinals.

15. Miami Dolphins (1-1)

For anyone who thought the Dolphins' Week 1 win over the Patriots was a fluke, it wasn't. The truth is, Miami is going to be very tough to beat at home all year, and the Bills team Miami lost to in Week 2 is not the same old AFC East doormat it has been in the past.

The AFC East is going to be as competitive as any division all season long, and the Fins will remain in the thick of things if they stay healthy.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Over the last six quarters of football, the Steelers have scored nine points. It's going to be hard to win with an offense sputtering like that. 

Pittsburgh was humbled by the rival Ravens in Week 2, but it must show that it can bounce back with a strong performance against the Panthers on Sunday night.

This is obviously not an easy matchup, especially considering the game takes place on the road. If the Steelers fall to 1-2, they will also likely find themselves outside of the top 20 in every power ranking.

13. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

Despite the distractions they have had to endure, the Ravens have played well this season. The 27-6 win over the Steelers should have excited fans about the rest of the first half of the season.

Not many consider the Ravens a major threat in the AFC, and that's just the way they like it. If this team can stay healthy and the young defense can continue to improve, Baltimore could be dangerous again in 2014.

12. New England Patriots (1-1)

The loss in Week 1 was a bump in the road. You're crazy if you think this team isn't going to be one of the top four squads in the AFC by season's end. Because of the start a few teams have had, it was difficult to put the Pats higher, but we should fully expect a rise in the next few weeks.

Over the next two weeks, Tom Brady and Co. should feast on the Raiders and Chiefs. Bet on a 3-1 start.

11. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

Against most teams, the Falcons offense will be handful. The fact that the Cincinnati Bengals held Atlanta to 10 points in Week 2 is more a compliment to Marvin Lewis' team than it is an insult to the Falcons offense.

Consistent pressure from the Bengals pass rush and some poor decisions from Matt Ryan led to three interceptions. Matty Ice will clean up his act on Thursday against the Bucs' Tampa 2 look.

10. San Diego Chargers (1-1)

Beating the Seahawks is nothing to sneeze at. Scoring 30 points in the process is even more impressive. Philip Rivers was impeccable in Week 2 with 284 passing yards, three scores and no interceptions. His performance has to give the entire Chargers team confidence moving forward.

San Diego won't get any rest as it gets set to take on the undefeated Bills on Sunday.

9. Chicago Bears (1-1)

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That season-opening loss to the Bills isn't looking as bad as we thought. Buffalo ran through a Dolphins team that had just knocked off the Patriots, and the Bears took an injured squad into Levi's Stadium and ruined the Niners' homecoming party.

Jay Cutler played phenomenal against San Francisco, and Brandon Marshall again showed why he is one of the best in the league at his position. The duo connected for three scores, and Cutler found Martellus Bennett for a fourth touchdown pass.

The defense also played extremely well in the second half to help facilitate the thrilling, come-from-behind 28-20 win on Monday night.

8. Buffalo Bills (2-0) 

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The two wins to start the season for Buffalo are both quality victories. The Bears proved their mettle in Week 2, and the Dolphins showed they aren't a league doormat in Week 1.

It's hard to believe in the Bills, but with a steady pass rush, a good young secondary and dangerous weapons on offense, Buffalo could remain a factor all season long. Could the playoff drought be coming to an end? Stay tuned.

7. Houston Texans (2-0)

The early favorite for Coach of the Year has to be Bill O'Brien. Despite having a castoff like Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback and playing without No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney, the Texans are 2-0.

The Week 2 win did come over the Oakland Raiders, but the Texans handled them the way a good team should. With a game against the Giants on tap, the Texans have a great shot to start 3-0.

6. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)

At the end of last season, the Cardinals were the non-playoff team that every other squad was happy didn't make the postseason. Arizona has carried that momentum over into this season to start off 2-0. Since Week 8 of the 2013 season, the Cardinals are 9-2, and that includes the only win over the Seahawks in Seattle in the champs' last 18 games.

In Week 3, the Cards will get their first major test against a divisional opponent. How Arizona fares against the Niners and Seahawks head-to-head will dictate the success of its season.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Philly has narrowly escaped losses in both of its games this season, but it's hard to ignore the team's talent. Nick Foles is a smart and capable leader, while LeSean McCoy is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league.

The defense has proved it can step up and shut down an opposing offense when it needs to. The early road has been rocky, but this team still looks elite.

4. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

How long will the Seahawks sit outside of the top three? Less than a week if they defeat the Broncos in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl.

Everyone knows Seattle is good but not great on the road. It ran up against a motivated Chargers team that was clicking on all cylinders and was fired up by the hometown crowd.

Against the Broncos, the Seahawks will be back in Seattle where they are as close to unbeatable as you'll ever see in the NFL. Since 2012, the Seahawks are 17-1 at home.

3. Carolina Panthers (2-0)

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Winning without Cam Newton was a good thing for the Panthers in Week 1. An even better thing is the consistent development of rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. We already know the defense is stout and that Greg Olsen is a stud pass-catching tight end.

The rookie already has four catches for 20-plus yards.

If Benjamin can continue to be near impossible to check one-on-one, the Panthers offense might finally have the bite it needs.

2. Cincinnati Bengals 2-0

The Bengals defense is really good. Cincinnati is allowing just 13 points per game, and that's after facing the capable attacks of Atlanta and Baltimore.

Andy Dalton is taking good care of the ball. He hasn't thrown an interception and is averaging 276.5 yards passing per game. With the Titans coming to town in Week 3, the Bengals are set up to move to 3-0.

1. Denver Broncos (2-0)

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Peyton Manning is the greatest regular-season quarterback in the history of the game. This is his time, and he's been as sharp as one would expect. Manning has completed 69.4 percent of his passes, throwing for 594 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Broncos have new pieces on defense and look to be a more complete bunch this season. All that said, this team is saddled with Super Bowl-or-bust expectations. We'll see what happens in the postseason.

All stats per Pro-Football-Reference.com