NFL Power Rankings Week 2: 3 Week 1 Losers That Will Vault Up Rankings

Did the opening week of the season change your views on anything? I'll be the first to admit that I was flat wrong about a few things.

The preseason is really nothing but speculation. Even the opening week provides a lot of false positives (and negatives).

So, let's look at a few of those negatives. These teams are eager to get a win and find themselves higher up in the power rankings next week. Of course, any team that lost is looking to make that move, but these are the ones that will be significantly higher on the list in pretty short order.

Carolina Panthers

Unlike the other teams on this list, I don't see the Panthers winning this week. Actually, I don't see them really coming close.

Going against the reigning Super Bowl champions is never going to be an easy task. When you're coming off a season where you were the worst team in the league, it's even more daunting.

But did anyone see what Cam Newton did in his first game? Now, did anyone see what Drew Brees did against the Packers' defense in the opener? Newton, is not Brees, but look for him to have another step forward.

With that, the Panthers will steadily climb. They won't be playoff contenders in 2011, but they will be significantly better this year. If they haven't already stepped out of the NFL cellar, they aren't far from it.

Pittsburgh Steelers

They looked dismal in the opener against Baltimore. In the end, are we really expecting the Steelers to be that bad?

I really can't see that happening.

Looking at their next few weeks, they host Seattle and then travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. By the time the Steelers take on the Texans in Week 4, they should be a much stronger team.

Honestly, I don't see them as a viable Super Bowl contender, but they will be a strong team by the end of the season. The next two weeks will provide two easy wins. If they don't, then Pittsburgh will find themselves at the bottom of this list. Who really expects that?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I will never count a team with Adrian Peterson out. Still, Donovan McNabb had a poor start to the season, which does not bode well.

My expectation was for McNabb to come out strong this year to try to show Washington and even Philadelphia that they were wrong in giving up on him.

Obviously the season is still too early to judge any player's performances, but he's off to an awful start. I see that continuing against the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay lost a big game to the Lions in their opener. This was a 10-6 team in 2010. Look for them to get back on track with a road win in Week 2 in Minnesota.

Michael Dixon's Week 2 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record
1	Green Bay Packers	1-0
2	New England Patriots	1-0
3	Philadelphia Eagles	1-0
4	Baltimore Ravens	1-0
5	Chicago Bears	1-0
6	New Orleans Saints	0-1
7	San Diego Chargers	1-0
8	New York Jets	1-0
9	Houston Texans	1-0
10	Detroit Lions	1-0
11	Pittsburgh Steelers	0-1
12	Atlanta Falcons	0-1
13	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	0-1
14	Arizona Cardinals	1-0
15	San Francisco 49ers	1-0
16	Oakland Raiders	1-0
17	Buffalo Bills	1-0
18	Washington Redskins	1-0
19	Dallas Cowboys	0-1
20	Cincinnati Bengals	1-0
21	Jacksonville Jaguars	1-0
22	Minnesota Vikings	0-1
23	St. Louis Rams	0-1
24	Tennessee Titans	0-1
25	New York Giants	0-1
26	Kansas City Chiefs	0-1
27	Miami Dolphins	0-1
28	Indianapolis Colts	0-1
29	Denver Broncos	0-1
30	Cleveland Browns	0-1
31	Carolina Panthers	0-1
32	Seattle Seahawks	0-1