NFL Power Rankings: Rex Grossman and the Washington Redskins

NFL Power Rankings, I stated in a previous article, are notoriously flexible at the start of each season. However, one thing that every Washington Redskins fan could count on was being placed low. With Rex Grossman at the helm this year, the Redskins started off 25^th on Brian Billick's Fox Rankings, and 28^th on ESPN's list.

Well, we are entering week three now, and how about them Skins?

After the week one victory over division rival New York Giants, the Redskins made a huge leap up both lists. ESPN jumped them up nine places to 19^th, and Billick jumped them ten spots to 15^th.

This was more an example of everyone being wrong about the Redskins, rather than the Redskins somehow becoming better over the weekend. But the big question remained: How would Rex Grossman play next week?

Well week two has come and gone and the Redskins sit with a record of 2-0 after beating the Arizona Cardinals. Rex had his moments, both good and bad, but did what he had to do to win.

ESPN used the victory to move the Redskins up to match Fox, putting Washington into 15^th.  Brian Billick, on the other hand left them alone in the same spot.

So now all the talking heads are in agreement: Washington is the third best team in the NFC East. Right under the Dallas Cowboys (14^th at Fox, and 13^th at ESPN).

Having revised their preseason guesses, the “experts” have the Redskins beating the now lower ranked (17^th and 18^th) New York Giants and the lower ranked (18^th and 19^th) Arizona Cardinals. This is fine and appropriate as the Redskins are clearly the better team than either of those.

As I stated previously, quarterback concerns over Rex Grossman's history will continue to plague Washington's ability to rise in the rankings.  Seeing as how the Redskins have already won as many games as most print publications predicted them to win all season, there really isn't anywhere to go but up.

Unless, of course, they lose to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys made no moves on either ranking this week, and they get to face the Redskins at home on a Monday night. However, Tony Romo may decide to commit literal suicide by playing with a punctured lung against the sack happy Redskins, and Miles Austin is out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury.

This game is a gut check for both teams and looks to be one of the most important games of the season.

Don't expect a lot of movement in the power rankings this week for either team, as they are so close to each other already, but this game is far more important than the power rankings could ever encompass anyway.

The Redskins can walk away with a 3-0 record over all, and a 2-0 record against division rivals, placing them firmly in charge of their own destiny. The Cowboys can place themselves in a three way fight for the NFC East and muddy the waters of the division completely with a win against Washington.