NFL Power Rankings: 10 Teams That Could Rise After Week 3 Games
With Week 3 of the NFL season rapidly approaching, it's time to look at the power rankings and see who can make a leap up with a big win this week.
Some teams kept rising up the rankings with more surprise victories while other continued to freefall after starting the season at the top of the chart. Inside you'll find each pick's result last week, where they moved to this week and why they have a shot to be back near the top next week.
If you disagree or think I overlooked someone, leave it in the comments.
No. 10: San Francisco
1 of 10
Last Week's Result
25-22 overtime loss vs. New Orleans
My Current Rank
Down to 24th
Why They Could Rise
San Francisco finally looked like the team people thought they would be coming into the season against the Saints, however, there was reason for concern. The 49ers shot themselves in the foot time and again against New Orleans and there was more bad clock management from San Francisco during the course of the game.
Those mistakes have to be limited this week against Kansas City or else the 49ers could find themselves on the wrong end of another upset.
No. 9: Minnesota
2 of 10
Last Week's Result
14-10 loss vs. Miami
My Current Rank
Down to 19th
Why They Could Rise
Minnesota gets to play host to the Lions and without Matthew Stafford, Detroit isn't the same threat they would have been. That's not to say the Lions can't steal a game in Minnesota seeing as how they almost took down the Eagles last week with a great comeback.
Detroit will show up to play each week, even if they won't walk away with a victory. Jim Schwartz has done a great job getting that team to play hard despite a lack of results.
No. 8: Philadelphia
3 of 10
Last Week's Result
35-32 win at Detroit
My Current Rank
Up to 16th
Why They Could Rise
The Eagles will travel to Jacksonville who looked awful against San Diego last week. The Jags don't exactly get the best home-field advantage from a crowd that's made up more by tarps than by actual human beings.
If Michael Vick was starting this week, I'd have more faith in Philadelphia, but with Kevin Kolb going back under center, I'm not sure what we're getting from the Eagles. Kolb is lucky he's not playing at home; if he started out poorly, you would probably hear some chants for Vick to play.
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No. 7: New England
4 of 10
Last Week's Result
28-14 loss at New York
My Current Rank
Down to 15th
Why They Could Rise
The Patriots are playing the hapless Bills this week and that's almost a guaranteed win. Buffalo has already gone to Ryan Fitzpatrick and it's not going to get any better for Chan Gailey and company. New England should look to avenge a tough loss to a division rival in New York last week.
The Patriots just have too many weapons for the Bills to defend. Buffalo can't move the ball, the Bills can't stop their opponent from moving the ball and it's just too much for them to handle.
No. 6: Tennessee
5 of 10
Last Week's Result
19-11 loss vs. Pittsburgh
My Current Rank
Down to 17th
Why They Could Rise
The Titans play the Giants this week and New York has had issues protecting Eli Manning all season long. The Giants were dominated by the Colts last week and I think the Titans are going to be able to move the ball fairly well against the New York defense.
Tennessee will have to protect the ball better but I think the Titans will be able to get pressure on Manning and stifle the running game. The Titans matchup well in the trenches and I think that will be the difference.
No. 5: Pittsburgh
6 of 10
Last Week's Result
19-11 win at Tennessee
My Current Rank
Up to 5th
Why They Could Rise
Pittsburgh plays Tampa Bay, who have quite shockingly reached 2-0. I don't think the Bucs are really going to live up to that record. Tampa beat Cleveland and Carolina, which isn't exactly the cream of the crop, and Josh Freeman has never seen anything like what Dick LeBeau is going to throw at him on Sunday.
The Steelers do have major issues at the quarterback position, but their defense is just so good right now that I don't think it really matters. Pittsburgh will pound Rashard Mendenhall and ride the defense to yet another victory without Ben Roethlisberger.
No. 4: Cincinnati
7 of 10
Last Week's Result
15-10 win vs. Baltimore
My Current Rank
Up to 9th
Why They Could Rise
The Bengals are going up against Carolina this week and the Panthers are a team in utter disarray. John Fox has already made the call to put Jimmy Clausen in under center and against the tough Cincy defense, it's going to be a rough debut for Clausen.
Cincinnati did a great job of rebounding after a beating at the hands of the Patriots and its reward is a matchup with the 0-2, soon to be 0-3 Panthers. The Bengals should win easily and remind us why some picked them to go to the playoffs at the beginning of the season.
No. 3: Dallas
8 of 10
Last Week's Result
27-20 loss vs. Chicago
My Current Rank
Down to 18th
Why They Could Rise
The Cowboys are a deseperate team right now and must win this week at Houston. The Texans are coming off of two emotional games in a row and you have to wonder how much Houston has left in the tank after games like that.
Dallas hasn't been as bad as we've seen the past two weeks. Eventually, the cream has to rise to the top, and the Cowboys will prove to be the team we expected to see at the beginning of the season. What better time then against an opponent who will probably be favored over them, one who just so happens to reside in the same state as the Cowboys.
No. 2: Chicago
9 of 10
Last Week's Result
27-20 win at Dallas
My Current Rank
Up to 10th
Why They Could Rise
The Bears, fresh off a surprise win over Dallas on the road, get to play host to the red-hot Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers. Chicago has been a decent surprise this year, even if they were the beneficiaries of a bad call against the Lions in week one.
If Chicago can beat Green Bay on Monday Night Football, with the way the Packers have been hyped and the way Green Bay's offense has looked in the early games of the season, it would be a huge statement that the Bears are not a fluke and need to be taken seriously.
No. 1: NY Jets
10 of 10
Last Week's Result
28-14 win vs. New England
My Current Rank
Up to 6th
Why They Could Rise
The Jets got a big statement win last week against the Patriots and a win against the 2-0 Miami Dolphins would do wonders for not only their standing in terms of national perception, but how they look in the AFC East.
The Dolphins are the current leaders of the division, and with a win, the Jets would not only take first place, but also have wins over Miami and New England in their pockets. That type of leverage and opportunity only comes around so often and if New York can get a grip on its own destiny, it will do wonders for its ranking.
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