NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Detroit Lions Make Big Jump

With their bandwagon already straining from an unexpected load, the Detroit Lions continue their climb up the NFL Power Rankings this week after a 48-3 drubbing of the hapless Chiefs. The 45-point margin of victory was the biggest in franchise history and enough to bump the Motor City monsters into the top ten for the first time since the invention of power ranking (unconfirmed, but you know it’s true).

As for the other 31 squads?

I’m not going to give everything away in the introduction. Read on.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)

It’s not often we can bury a division winner two games into their title defense. That’s how bad things have gotten in KC, with Jamaal Charles’ ACL injury only adding injury upon an Everest-sized pile of insult.

Former NFL Coach of the Year candidate Todd Haley better strap oven mitts onto his butt cheeks, because that seat is only getting hotter. No team looks less cohesive or less motivated than the defending AFC West champs.

Quoted: “We’ll do better. I thought we’d do better today.”—LB, Derrick Johnson

31.Seattle Seahawks (0-2)

I’m not sure how this team is supposed to score. Forget a 12th man, Pete Carroll’s bunch need at least 14 on the field to move the ball.

Of all the teams that passed on a quarterback in the first round last year, the Seahawks must have the most regret.

No worries. They’ll be picking near the top of the heap in 2012, with Andrew Luck within reach.

30. Indianapolis Colts (0-2)

A home loss to the Cleveland Browns? We’ve officially reached a new low in Indianapolis.

I’m not one of those who think Peyton Manning won’t ever play at a high level again, but he won’t return in time to save this season.

With Peyton's health in question, it'll be interesting to see which way the Colts go if they do land a high pick in the next draft.

29. Cleveland Browns (1-1)

A win in Indianapolis isn’t what it used to be, but the Browns offensive stars showed up on Sunday. Josh Cribbs, Peyton Hillis and Mohamed Massaquoi all featured in key plays, helping Colt McCoy keep Cleveland ahead of Indy’s pace.

It may not sound like much, but a win is a good place to start for the Browns.

Quoted: “We knew he was not going to run the offense like Peyton [Manning] does, so we knew we could rattle him after we hit him a couple times.”—DT, Phil Taylor 

28. Miami Dolphins (0-2)

Ugh.

Two home games and two home losses for the Dolphins leave a cloudy stink of desperation in their wake, one made stinkier by the Patriots, Jets and Bills' 2-0 starts.

I hear LeBron James is out of a job. Any chance he’d throw on the orange and teal?

27. Carolina Panthers (0-2)

The Panthers are the 0-2 team everyone wants to watch and no one wants to face. They’re not ready to win, but they’re certainly ready to compete. That’s more than this franchise could say last year.

At this rate, the NFL should just go ahead and give Offensive Rookie of the Year honors to Cam Newton. They should rename the award after him. If his stellar play holds and his team can mix in a few wins, Carolina will keep moving up this list.

For now, we'll have to settle for the highlights and add this play to the “ohmygoddidcamnewtonjustdothat?” file.

Did he really he hit Steve Smith in stride 60 yards down the field without setting his feet? I believe he did.

Quoted: “I want to get it right, and I’m going to get it right right now.”—QB, Cam Newton 

26. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)

Don’t get caught up in the wins and losses, Bengals fans. Measure this team by the progress of their young offensive stars—A.J. Green and Andy Dalton—and take solace in the youngsters’ plus performances on the road in Denver.

And how’s this for silver lining? The Bengals first six opponents in 2011 are Cleveland, Denver, San Francisco, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Indianapolis. That ledger ought to make for a smooth initiation into the National Football League for Cincinnati’s young core.

25. Denver Broncos (1-1)

Broncos fans, lighten up.

Kyle Orton is the only thing keeping this football team afloat. I can understand your impatience, but quarterback play isn’t the problem in Denver. Kyle Orton proved that with another solid performance in a Week 2 win over the Bengals.

Orton’s no superstar, but with the right players around him he can lead a winning team. Where’s the outrage over those deficiencies?

24. Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

An 0-2 start in a division like the NFC West doesn’t close any doors, but in a stacked NFC North it sounds like a death knell for the Vikings.

What's worse, the Vikings look like they're about to waste the best years of Adrian Peterson's career.

Next week’s game against the surging Detroit Lions is a last gasp for this group. After blowing sizable halftime leads against San Diego and Tampa Bay, they can ill afford another missed opportunity.

Quoted: “I think the word for the day is, ‘Wow, not again.’”—CB, Antoine Winfield

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)

It’s hard to understand the Jaguars’ decision to release David Garrard after watching their offense sputter in back-to-back weeks.

The defense can play, and Maurice Jones-Drew remains a load in the backfield, but without a signal caller I don’t see Jacksonville topping eight wins.

After a long, slow burn on the hot seat, I think Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio finally hits the unemployment line this year.

22. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)

Those swing games are crucial to a team trying to break out of the perennial doldrums.

Bottom line, San Francisco could have staked an early NFC West lead by finishing things against the Cowboys.

Now they’ll have to settle for a first-place tie and the bittersweet satisfaction of a hard-fought loss against a veteran team.

21. St. Louis Rams (0-1)

St. Louis gets a national stage on Monday Night Football to bury last week’s dud against Philadelphia.

Sam Bradford needs to prove he’s healthy if the Rams want to compete in the NFC West this year, and the Giants’ pass rush will certainly test his mettle.

20. Oakland Raiders (1-1)

The Raiders lost Sunday, and the Hue Jackson job watch is officially on. I’m just not sure there’s much Jackson can do to carry this team into the playoffs.

Two close games against two mediocre teams tells me the Raiders are headed right back for 8-8. At least Darren McFadden looks like a long-term solution in the backfield.

Quoted: “We’ve got a six-hour flight to figure out what the hell happened.”—DT, Tommy Kelly

19. Tennessee Titans (1-1)

Matt Hasselbeck turned back the clock in a resounding defeat of the Baltimore Ravens that gives Titans fans hope for the year ahead.

With Indianapolis reeling, Jacksonville punchless and Houston still unproven, Titans fans can actually see a way to the AFC South crown. It’s a long shot, but at least they can see the target.

In Tennessee, that’s progress.

18. Buffalo Bills (2-0)

Oakland’s stout defensive front was supposed to expose an overrated Bills attack. Not so.

Ryan Fitzpatrick looks like an above-average starter in this league, the first Buffalo has had at quarterback since Doug Flutie skipped town.

Buffalo’s 2-0 surprise gets a big checkup next week against New England. Pass that stiff test, and you’ll see a lot more ink spilled over these Bills.

17. New York Giants (0-1)

That loss in Washington doesn’t look so bad anymore, and a Monday night win would put this team right back on track.

Even with a hurting secondary, there’s enough juice in the Giants’ defensive line and running game to keep them in the hunt.

16. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)

After Arizona's tough road loss in Washington, I still think the Cardinals have the best team in the NFC West.

New quarterback Kevin Kolb looks like a keeper behind center, and the strength of their offense separates them from the pack in a weak division.

It would have been a nice feather in the cap for Arizona, but they didn’t need this game. They still look solid and figure to stay in the playoff race all year long.

Quoted: “Ebb and flow, both sides. They made enough plays to win… one more than us.”—LB, Clark Haggans

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)

The mojo is back in Tampa Bay.

One half away from a stifling defeat, the Buccaneers turned it loose and stunned Minnesota in the Metrodome.

A team that some pegged for a letdown season, Tampa Bay showed the league a full house of talent—Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount, Arrelious Benn—that will keep them relevant through the growing pains.

The NFC South and a playoff berth are both still within reach.

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

A costly, gritty win should help assuage fears about this team’s toughness.

Still, I think a lot of folks in Big D thought this team had enough talent to steamroll squads like the San Francisco 49ers. We haven’t seen that Dallas team yet.

Now without Miles Austin until Week 5 it appears, Dallas will need to summon whatever moxie gained in this win for the tough road ahead.

Quoted: “I know what he had to do before (painkillers) took hold to relieve him from his pain. But, boy, did he come back. That was inspirational.”—Owner, Jerry Jones

13. Washington Redskins (2-0)

The Rex Grossman-led Washington Redskins are 2-0 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Do not adjust your computer monitor.

Another noteworthy home win, this one in dramatic fashion over the Arizona Cardinals, gives Washington’s credibility a boost heading into a big showdown at Dallas. 

I’ll need to see Grossman win a tough road game before I crown the ‘Skins. They do that and they’re in this race to stay.

12. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

No doubt, the Falcons ought to celebrate a needed comeback win against an NFC contender. I’d just keep the back-slapping within reason.

Atlanta can’t count on concussing the other team’s best player in every game, and the defense offered little resistance. I suppose you could say that unit “stiffened” on the game’s final drive, though a dropped pass delivered by a third-string quarterback with no NFL playing experience hardly counts as heroic.

Atlanta will take the win, but this team needs to fix a lot of things before cracking the bubbly. Short fields and dizzy opponents won’t materialize every week.

11. Chicago Bears (1-1)

From year to year, from week to week, I haven’t met anyone who can make sense of the Chicago Bears.

Against New Orleans, the same offensive line bugaboos resurfaced to keep Jay Cutler and company from truly opening up the playbook.

Chicago fans hoped Mike Tice would fix the unit up front. Now it’s back to the drawing board heading into a monster home matchup against Green Bay. Probably not the best time for new beginnings.

Quoted: “Probably going to be pretty sore.”—QB, Jay Cutler

10. San Diego Chargers (1-1)

The Chargers didn’t underwhelm in their road loss to the Patriots, as they are wont to do in early-season contests. But in a way, this loss was worse.

Forget let-downs and slip-ups against doormats, San Diego’s inability to stop the Patriot’s offense rings much more hallow. Up against a top opponent, San Diego did not have the goods.

Good news is, the Chargers still lead a weak division with an opportunity to learn from their first yardstick game of the year.

9. Houston Texans (2-0)

It’s a joy watching Wade Phillips get his due as defensive coordinator for the Texans, coaching in the same state from which Dallas management rode him out of town and in the same city where dad Bum Phillips piloted the Houston Oilers years ago.

So far, Phillips’ unit has been the difference between this Texans team and failed Texans teams of old. In past years, a 23-point road performance in Miami would have resulted in a 30-23 loss. This year it’s a 23-13 win that signals Houston’s title intentions in a watered-down AFC South.

Tough games against New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the coming weeks will show us how far these perennial underachievers have come.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

No one thought the Pittsburgh Steelers would go 0-16 after last week’s embarrassing loss in Baltimore, but it was fair to question if this team could truly dominate inferior opponents like they have in past years.

Sunday’s rout against Seattle was resounding proof that Pittsburgh still has the goods to play bully. Ben Roethlisberger shook off a blow to the knee and finished the game strong.

And guess what? At 1-1, the Steelers are back in first place.

Quoted: “I am still chewing on last week, I am sure we all are. That’s just the nature of this thing. It’s not going to take one performance to take that stench off of us.”—Coach, Mike Tomlin

7. Detroit Lions (2-0)

Last week against Tampa Bay, we saw how good Detroit can be when things don’t go their way.

Facing Kansas City this week, Detroit experienced the opposite—six turnovers via Matt Cassel and the Chiefs offense—and the results were scary.

It’s fine to reserve judgment on a team that went 6-10 last year and hasn’t made the playoffs since Ricky Martin lived la vida loca. But this is much is clear: In the NFL, the more talented team usually wins, and the Lions are going to have more talent than their opponent in at least 70 percent of the games they play this year.

Quoted: “I’ve never seen anything like this, where it’s happening—and it’s pretty much expected to be that way?”—CB, Eric Wright

6. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

From best win to worst loss in a matter of one week, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco couldn’t keep his critics silent for long.

Most troubling? The Titans outgained the Ravens by 203 yards. This wasn’t just a loss for the Ravens to a middling team, it was a lopsided loss to a middling team.

With Anquan Boldin, Lee Evans and Ray Rice playing wingmen, Joe Flacco’s out of excuses. He needs to right this ship and do it quickly.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)

Fumbles, injuries, missed challenges. Almost everything that could have gone wrong for Philadelphia did. And yet they were still a dropped pass away from a shot at a huge road win against a prominent opponent.

There’s enough talent on this team to overcome the errors they seem to make regularly. Enough talent, that is, if Michael Vick’s concussion doesn’t linger. Still, Philadelphia is the 1-1 team with the most postseason potential.

Quoted: “Michael Vick has a neck injury. He has been taken to the locker room for observation.”—Press box announcement

4. New Orleans Saints (1-1)

The Saints headlined a bounce-back week for the NFC South with a resounding home win against the Chicago Bears at home.

After their valiant defeat in Lambeau Field Week 1, this victory gives Saints fans plenty of reason for optimism. The offense continues to look like a juggernaut.

Among the 1-1 teams, the Saints have one of the best wins and easily the best loss.

3. New York Jets (2-0)

I heard words like “luck” and “fluke” thrown around after the New York Jets' Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Not so after this week’s thrashing of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a game that saw Gang Green make sausage out of Jaguars quarterback Luke McCown.

They’ll need that momentum heading into a brutal three-game road swing that takes them to Oakland, Baltimore and New England. If the Jets win two of those games, I think they’re a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

2. Green Bay Packers (2-0)

I’ll table concerns about the Packers’ pass defense for now. Back-to-back games against an electric rookie (Cam Newton) and an elite veteran (Drew Brees) might make a lot of secondaries look bad. If Jay Cutler does the same next week, Wisconsinites can start to fret. 

Right now, though, the Packers are doing exactly what good teams do: making one less mistake than the opposition.

Having Aaron Rodgers at the helm helps matters. He’s ruthlessly efficient and just as sure-handed. Good luck, NFL.

1. New England Patriots (2-0)

From this point forward, it’s Tom Brady against the record books, because NFL defenses are simply no match.

Similar to the Packers, New England’s defensive woes raise some red flags. Though an offense this good tends to dull those concerns. 

Quoted: “We’ve got a tough one coming up, so we can’t celebrate this one too long.”—Coach, Bill Belichick