Top 12 Power Rankings Through Week 3

1. Dallas Cowboys - The Dallas Cowboys have shown they can win the close games by beating the Philadelphia Eagles in a close shoot-out in Irving. The Cowboys are 3-0 now having defeated the Browns, Eagles, and Packers respectively. All assumed playoff contenders. Hmmm..

2. Denver Broncos - Jay Cutler is having his breakout season. He is the only quarterback out of that 2006 class who is still starting for his team (Young benched after injury in favor of Kerry Collins and Leinart lost starting job to Kurt Warner in preseason). But not only is Cutler starting, he's lighting it up. He's second in the NFL in passing yards (914) and is leading the NFL's number one scoring offense (38 ppg).

3. Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles beat the Rams and Steelers in convincing fashion, but dropped a close shoot-out with the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. The defense is ranked fourth overall (242 ypg) and is first in rush defense (45.7 ypg). Nine sacks, a safety, an interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries all in one game against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.

4. Buffalo Bills - For the first time in 46 consecutive weeks, the New England Patriots do not boast at least a share of first place in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills, sittin' pretty at 3-0, own that title for now. Trent Edwards is showing he can be a franchise quarterback and Marshawn Lynch is piggy-backing off of an impressive rookie season. The defense is playing big time football and could create this year's Cinderella team.

5. Tennessee Titans - Defense, defense, defense. This team is third for overall defense so far through the year, but has shut down their opponents even more than the stats may indicate. Vince Young has issues to work out but I believe this team is better off with Kerry Collins under center for this year. Young will never realize his potential if this is as mentally tough as it gets for him. Something needs to change for that young man.

6. Green Bay Packers - Newsflash, Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is here to stay. I was in the group of people who thought getting rid arguably the best quarterback to ever play was a questionable call at best, but I have to admit Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy come out of this smelling like a rose so far. It's early in the season, but Green Bay appears to be on the right course under Rodgers.

7. New York Giants - The Giants are 3-0 at the moment and are playing good football. Eli Manning looks comfortable and Burress seems to be 100 percent after battling an ankle injury last year. The defense hasn't missed a beat without their top-flight DE's, racking up six sacks against Carson Palmer and the Bengals. They almost fell into a trap game but that's what good teams do; they win the close ones.

8. Carolina Panthers - If you had the Panthers picked to beat the San Diego Chargers in the first week, you're some kind of superhero. The only play I got to see of that game was the very last play and I thought for sure Delhomme would be sacked and that would be that. But, well, you know. Carolina has shown they can win without Steve Smith. In fact, their first loss came in his first game back. However, you had to expect that kind of performance from a Minnesota team backed into a corner.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers - Ninth may be a bit harsh right now, but boy did they look bad against Philadelphia. The run game was non-existent and the passing game was a negative. The line got absolutely manhandled. However, their division still gives them a very good chance of righting the ship and making the playoffs. Right now, their only competition is the Baltimore Ravens.

10. Washington Redskins - All four of the NFC East teams in the top ten? Yeah, I think so. The Redskins looked absolutely clueless week one against the Giants. But since then they have beaten two teams in close contests. Jason Campbell seems to be hitting his stride as a quarterback. It's gonna be nice and cozy this year under Jim Zorn's talented wing.

11. Baltimore Ravens - This may be generous but I think the Ravens are a team to be reckoned with. Jon Harbaugh brings an intensity similarly to the way Jon Gruden does in Tampa Bay. He's a young guy but he can get a team excited. And a team this rich in talented veterans, with a coach who can get them to play like they're in their 20's, spells bad news for their opponents.

12. New England Patriots - Yes, they lost to the Miami Dolphins. Yes, they got blown out by the Miami Dolphins. No, they're not the same without Tom Brady. No, they're not out of it by any means. The defense got handled by Ronnie Brown. The offense just couldn't get going. But hey, everyone, even the Patriots, can have a mental let-down. That's what this game was, just a mental let-down. This is rare to see from a Bill Belichick team but it happens. I think they bounce back and this division goes down to the wire between them and the Buffalo Bills.

Still in the Mix (In no particular order)

• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• San Diego Chargers
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Chicago Bears
• New York Jets
• Miami Dolphins
• Oakland Raiders
• Minnesota Vikings
• San Francisco 49ers
• New Orleans Saints

Bottom of the Barrel (In no particular order)

• Seattle Seahawks
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Detroit Lions
• Houston Texans
• Kansas City Chiefs
• St. Louis Rams