NFL Power Rankings: 3 Contenders That Need to Wake Up in Week 2

When I plopped down on my couch to watch some football this past weekend, I couldn't help but notice that it looked like some teams around the NFL were actually just sleepwalking around the field. They had no energy, no drive, no life whatsoever.

Perhaps they were being Inceptioned. Perhaps they had been mysteriously zombified. Perhaps they just weren't ready for the start of the regular season.

Though I wouldn't rule out the first two, the third option is probably the most rational. It was a funky offseason, to say the least, so it makes sense that some teams would greet the regular season by refusing to acknowledge that it was there.

Some teams won't recover from their sleepy starts. The three teams listed below, however, must recover from their sleepy starts. Their playoff lives depend on it.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (No. 17)

The Chiefs were downright awful against the Buffalo Bills. They gained just 213 yards, scored seven points and lost 41-7.

For a team that was good enough to win the AFC West last year, it was a mighty disappointment. And if the Chiefs want to contend for the division crown again, they seriously need to get going against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

It's not going to be easy for the Chiefs to get on track against Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense, but the Chiefs do stand a chance if they can establish the run and get after Stafford.

If the Chiefs lose again, they're going to be much, much lower than No. 17 when I draw up my next set of rankings.

2. Atlanta Falcons (No. 9)

My sources tell me that the Falcons didn't actually show up to play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. My sources, for the record, are my own two eyes.

I'm not one to start guilt tripping people, but Atlanta's performance on Sunday was unacceptable. They're too good to lose 30-12 to a team like the Bears (with all respect), and they need to show as much this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles.

It's not going to be as hard as you might think. All the Falcons need to do is play good, physical football.

In other words, they need to do what they didn't do against the Bears. If the Falcons end up falling flat again, I shall banish them from my top 10 forthwith.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 8)

Has a Super Bowl runner-up ever looked worse in its opening game the following season than the Steelers looked against the Baltimore Ravens?

Judging from what I saw, I don't think so. The Steelers couldn't stop Ray Rice and the Ravens offense, and their own offense was busy committing seven turnovers. I previously thought that only Notre Dame was capable of such carelessness.

The good news for the Steelers is that they now get to play the Seattle Seahawks, who I think are the worst team in the league.

If the Steelers lose to the Seahawks, I'm kicking them out of my rankings altogether. Don't think I won't do it!

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