NFL Power Rankings: 3 Super Bowl Contenders on Upset Alert

The long and winding road that is the NFL season is full of pitfalls. Three contenders with eyes on the Super Bowl will face a sudden test in Week 2.

We have seen some marvelous plummets before. The 2010 New Orleans Saints falling to the lowly Seattle Seahawks come to mind.

Even the Philadelphia Eagles were on their heels in Week 1 before injuries began picking off Rams players one by one.

In fact, no Super Bowl contender is immune from the most humbling of sports entities: the upset. The following teams will go into Week 2, facing a cakewalk that will turn arduous.

There is nothing like shaking off a pesky foe. Their competition will prove to be tremendous nuisances. Here are the teams that may just wake up on Tuesday, wondering what the hell just went wrong.  

New England Patriots

  The New England Patriots handled the Miami Dolphins with sheer brawn and precision. Their offense was too much for the overwhelmed Miami Dolphins. 

It is a good thing too, because their defense was atrocious. The Patriots lacked a consistent pass rush, and couldn't stop a runny nose with their secondary. 

Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers come in with an offense that is much more well-rounded and prolific than the Dolphins'. 

Philadelphia Eagles

 This is an odd pairing. What should be a game of playoff proportions, the Eagles are the only team with battle-approved pedigree in 2011. 

The Falcons have yet to awaken as the contenders that we thought they would be a month ago. That places the Eagles firmly in the driver's seat, but also in the path of a team due for a breakout game. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

 I will let you get all the giggles out. Now, the Steelers looked rusty and confused on offense. Their defense was just as shaky as the Ravens.

I am not about to label the Seahawks as near the quality of the Ravens, but they know what it takes to mount an upset. This is a team that gets up for a big game.

The Seahawks employ a poor man's version of the Ravens efforts. They will pound the ball on the ground and occasionally look down field. The Steelers are allowed to be confident going into Sunday, but an upset is not out of the question.  

2011 NFL Power Rankings
1.Green Bay Packers
2.New England Patriots
3.Philadelphia Eagles
4.New York Jets
5.Baltimore Ravens
6.Houston Texans
7.Chicago Bears
8.New Orleans Saints
9.Pittsburgh Steelers
10.Atlanta Falcons
11.San Diego Chargers
12.Arizona Cardinals
13.Detroit Lions
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15.Dallas Cowboys
16.New York Giants
17.St. Louis Rams
18.Indianapolis Colts
19.Seattle Seahawks
20.Kansas City Chiefs
21.Denver Broncos
22.Oakland Raiders
23.Minnesota Vikings
24.Jacksonville Jaguars
25.Buffalo Bills
26.San Francisco 49ers
27.Tennessee Titans
28.Cincinnati Bengals
29.Carolina Panthers
30.Washington Redskins
31.Miami Dolphins
32.Cleveland Browns