NFL Power Rankings 2011: 3 Super Bowl Contenders That Solidified Their Standing

It's early, but it's already pretty clear who some of the very best and worst teams are just two weeks into the 2011 NFL season.

These three teams asserted themselves among the former group with big-time performances in Week 2. 

New England Patriots

The Patriots are no longer the defensive juggernaut they once were, but that didn't seem to matter much against the Chargers.

New England piled up 35 points, 10 off of four San Diego turnovers, along with 504 yards of offense. Tom Brady was brilliant (again), completing 31-of-40 for 423 yards and three touchdowns.

Sure, the defense could use some work, but for now, the Pats will be fine as is, though the surprising Bills should give them a pretty good test in Buffalo next weekend. 

New York Jets

Elsewhere in the AFC East, the Jets put the Jaguars back in their place at the bottom of the barrel while rocketing themselves back toward the top of the league. Mark Sanchez wasn't particularly impressive, nor was anyone on the offensive side of the ball for Gang Green.

Luckily, New York's defense was dynamic, limiting Jacksonville to 203 yards and picking off Luke McCown four times. Granted, McCown is about as bad as they come and rookie Blaine Gabbert wasn't all that much better in garbage time.

That being said, the Jets will have their chance to prove they can shut down a quality offense when they fly out to Oakland to face the Raiders on Sunday. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers' Super Bowl hangover is officially over.

Ben Roethlisberger and company bounced back from an embarrassing 35-7 shellacking at the hands of the rival Ravens with 24-0 shutout of the sorry Seattle Seahawks. Pittsburgh was balanced on offense and bone-crushing on defense, accumulating 421 yards—297 passing, 124 rushing—while limiting the 'Hawks to just 164 yards and, of course, no points.

Chances are, the Steelers are neither as bad as they looked in Week 1 nor as good as they looked in Week 2, though they'll appear even better after handling the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football this coming weekend.

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

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