NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Appear to be NFL's Elite?

Although it's only been two weeks, we as fans have a pretty good idea as to which teams are the NFL's elite and which ones are standardized elsewhere.

We also had these elite teams in mind even prior to the season beginning, and as expected, they have lived up to expectations.

There are four, and you should know them all too well.

Green Bay Packers

Both games have been close wins, but it's no secret that every team on Green Bay's schedule is going to give them their absolute best.

The Carolina Panthers definitely performed better than expected, and may have an outside shot at being in the NFC playoff race.

Nonetheless, when the Packers found themselves down, they did what all great teams are expected to do, and that's win the close "trap-esque" games in a hostile environment.

They did that, and have no reason not to continue dominating as they are much, much healthier than last season.

New England Patriots

It's obvious that QB Tom Brady is going to shred defenses all season long, but after the pass defense was obliterated by Miami QB Chad Henne in Week 1, Bill Belichick's dark side (irony at it's finest) had a lot of skeptics to prove wrong.

And what better way to do so, than by picking off San Diego QB Philip Rivers twice, as well as recovering two fumbles.

Now, although they still gave up almost 400 yards, the Pats' D also had a very impressive goal-line stand.

As the season continues they will get better, so watch out because New England is becoming a complete team once again.

New York Jets

After a slow start in Week 1, the New York Jets picked it up in the final quarter and stole a W from the visiting Dallas Cowboys.

Adding to it, the Jets kept their momentum rolling and significantly dismantled a 1-0 Jacksonville team, 32-3, in Week 2.

QB Mark Sanchez still has some kinks to work out, but the defense is arguably the best in the NFL and picked off the Jaguars four times.

Not to mention they shut down RB Maurice Jones-Drew to only 107 total yards on 21 touches.

New Orleans Saints

The only 1-1 franchise to make the list, however, for those that don't know, the Saints' loss came at the hands of Green Bay, 42-34.

But The Big Easy bounced back in Week 2, and QB Drew Brees picked apart a solid Chicago Bears defense for 270 yards and three TDs en route to a 30-13 victory.

Right now New Orleans is the best that the NFC South has to offer, and with them being better than Atlanta (on paper), and Atlanta defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, the Saints have some good things brewing.

Next week, however, will be very telling as the upstart Houston Texans come by for a visit to the Superdome and try to upset the rolling Saints.

That will be one fun game to watch.

Week 3 Power Rankings

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.