NFL Power Rankings: Which Divisions Are Strongest So Far?

Even though it's only been two weeks into the 2011 NFL season, it's very apparent as to which divisions are becoming the strongest in the league.

On the flip-side, however, there are also some strong division from years past that have lacked thus far, which in turn is only making the case more arguable for the other divisions.

Also, to this point there are seven teams that are 2-0, and five of those seven lie in one of the two following divisions.

They have dominated through Week 2, so it'll be interesting to see if they continue as the year progresses.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers (2-0), Detroit Lions (2-0), Chicago Bears (1-1), Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

First off, the obvious defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, who are No. 1 in the power rankings (spoiler alert), and secondly, the upstart Detroit Lions, who were expected to be better and will continue to do so.

Then we have the defending NFC North champion Chicago Bears, who dismantled the 2010 NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 but were humbled by the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.

Two tough games for the Bears, but 1-1 is no shame and they will get better.

Alas, the Minnesota Vikings who, although were expected to be at the bottom, are still a much better 0-2 team than advertised.

They hung with the Chargers, who are considered an elite AFC team, in Week 1 on the road and then lost a heart-breaker to Tampa Bay in Week 2.

As a whole, this division is only 5-3, but three of their four teams are ranked in the Top 15.

AFC East: New England Patriots (2-0), New York Jets (2-0), Buffalo Bills (2-0), Miami Dolphins (0-2)

You can't go wrong with three of your four teams being undefeated, and although Miami has yet to win a game (combined division record of 6-2), their two losses came at the hands of New England and Houston (also 2-0 in the AFC South).

It's no secret that the Patriots and Jets are among the NFL's elite franchises, but with the addition of the surprise Buffalo Bills being 2-0, it only makes the AFC East that much stronger.

Also, New England just added more wood to the AFC East fire when they beat the San Diego Chargers at home (considered the best in the AFC West), and the Jets demolished a 1-0 Jacksonville team 32-3, while the Bills won over the Raiders in a shootout.

Nonetheless, with Tom Brady in New England, the Jets having arguably the NFL's best defense, and Buffalo on the rise with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, the AFC East is here to stay as arguably the NFL's best division.

And with the Pats and Jets ranked in the Top 5, having three of the NFL's seven unbeaten teams together is pretty remarkable even though it's only been two weeks.

All together, both divisions combine for a record of 11-5 and currently have six of eight teams ranked in the top half of the Week 3 power rankings.

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.

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