NFL Power Rankings: 3 Teams Contending for NFL's Top Spot After Week 2

Degenerate gamblers long for the day that NFL games aren’t so difficult to predict.

In Week 2 of the NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens, who were just coming off a massacre of the Pittsburgh Steelers, were taken out by the Tennessee Titans.  The Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills being 2-0 at the same time seemed worthy of “when pigs fly” just a year or so ago.  The Philadelphia Eagles looked primed to explode out of the starting gates 2-0…until Michael Vick left the game with an injury.

After the insane shakeup this week, here are three teams that deserve to be in consideration for the No. 1 spot in the NFL power rankings.

3. New Orleans Saints

Sorry, New York Jets.  Beating the Chicago Bears 30-13 and losing to the defending Super Bowl champs on the last play of the game outweighs Tony Romo’s choke job and dominating the Luke McCown-led Jacksonville Jaguars.

Despite being without No. 1 wide receiver Marques Colston, Drew Brees continues to put up MVP-like numbers.  After throwing for over 400 yards and three touchdowns against one of the best secondaries on paper in the league, he threw for 270 and three more scores vs. the Bears.

Just imagine what he'll do against the Carolina Panthers.

2. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rogers and company fall in the rankings after a scare against Carolina. 

The Packers pass defense is either extremely poor this season or they’ve just faced two tough matchups this season.  Getting torched by Drew Brees is understandable, but by rookie Cam Newton, who has played just two meaningful games in a pro offense, raises eyebrows.

Of course, Newton did the same thing against the Arizona Cardinals last week, but even Rex Grossman toasted the Cards.

Green Bay’s offense looks unstoppable, but their defense has some catching up to do.

1. New England Patriots

The Patriots finish first in the rankings following Week 2 after zapping the San Diego Chargers, an AFC title contender, by two scores. 

Led by Tom Brady, New England’s offense has been a machine.  Even more impressive than averaging 36.5 points a game is that their defense held Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson and the Chargers offense to just 21 points.

If New England’s defense improved this season, they were going to be a hard team to beat, and early in the year, they look head-and-shoulders above the rest of the AFC. 

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.