NFL Power Rankings: Where Should Steelers Be Ranked After Embarrassing Loss?

To say the Pittsburgh Steelers were thoroughly embarrassed at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens in their season opener would be an understatement. The Steelers gave up 21 points in the first half on their way to a 35-7 loss against their division rivals.

So where does that leave the 2010 AFC Champions when it comes to NFL power rankings heading into Week 2? How much of that game was a fluke, and how much was it a sign of serious trouble brewing in the Steel City?

These are tough questions to answer. The Steelers are not a team prone to blowout losses, let alone being blown out by the Ravens. Until more evidence is provided to the contrary, this loss is more of an anomaly than an indicator of yet another disappointing, Super Bowl-hangover season for the Steelers.

They have dropped in my power rankings, but not by much; I had them ranked third heading into opening weekend, and now I've kept them in the top-10, in the No. 6 position.

When I compile my power rankings, I consider more than just the previous week's performance. I also take into account the general expectations for each team, the nature of each team's win or loss and how what happened the previous week will inform the one that follows.

As such, unless the Steelers struggle in their Week 2 home opener against the lowly Seattle Seahawks, they won't drop out of my top 10.

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