NFL Power Rankings – Week 2, John Crowe
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Yes, after week 1 of the NFL season, our power rankings salute those who went out, without any preseason games and got it done in week 1! If you didn't win week one, you probably can't enter our VIP Football Lounge this week.
It's no secret who's at the top of our list. But there’s good news, for at least a week, to those here in New England as the Patriots have returned to our top ten. Sure, it's only one game, but how often can you talk about the best of the NFL in the past 20 years and not include our hometown team, right?
Cam Newton impressed in his first game as a Patriot in Foxboro. But, let's be honest, he probably won't run the ball 15 times every game and he'll have to get more creative in the passing game, but that will come with time. Head coach Bill Belichick was among the Newton fans after game one.
“He’s a great teammate. He's earned everybody's respect, really, daily. He just continues to do everything that he can to help our team and that's really all you can ask from anyone and he continually does that, puts himself last and puts the team first. So, I think he's done a tremendous job there and I thought he played well today,” said Belichick in his postgame press conference on the team’s website Sunday.
Newton carrying the team wasn't needed against the Dolphins, who aside from a brief momentum burst after a N'Keal Harry Fumble while reaching towards the end zone, didn't really put up much of fight in a 21-11 loss. There was more fight after the game after former Patriot Elandon Roberts tried to snag Newton's chain right off his neck.
“They were reaching for my chain. And I think that kind of got up under my skin, but yet, through it all, I do not want nothing to be taken away from a great team game that we did have and I don't want to be selfish to kind of focus or dwell on that,” said Newton on his postgame video conference according to the team’s website.
But enough of the jawing, it's time to break down the best of the NFL as we head into week 2. Let us know who's in your top 10 too in our comments section below.
Best of the rest:
Bucs (0-1; last week: ranked 5th), Cowboys (0-1; last week: ranked 7th), Eagles (0-1; last week: not ranked)
All three teams are coming in at 0-1 after opening-week losses. All three teams probably think they should be 1-0 instead of 0-1. All three defeats have their warts too. Tom Brady's two interceptions, including a pick-six Saints touchdown, put the Bucs behind the eight ball and they never recovered. The Eagles blew a 17-0 lead at Washington. The Cowboys somehow threw aside a chance at a tie game in the fourth quarter by not going for a game-tying field goal against the Rams and not converting on fourth down in a three-point loss. Look for big rebounds in week 2 from all three.
10. Tennessee Titans (last week: not ranked)
It wasn't pretty, but old friend and former Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicked a game-winning 25-yard field goal after missing three earlier FG's and an extra-point. It's not how you start; it's how you finish and the Titans getting a road win in Denver is definitely a good thing for them.
9. New England Patriots (last week: best of the rest)
How could you not be impressed by quarterback Cam Newton? Two rushing touchdowns, 75 yards on the ground and 155 yards passing on a 15-for-19 day isn't a bad way to start a career with his new head coach, Bill Belichick. (GoLocal Prov). Plus, if the Pats can run it like they did against the Dolphins – 43 carries for 217 yards, they'll be in more games than not. Tough test this Sunday night in Seattle, but easier without fans in the stands.
8. San Francisco 49ers (last week: ranked 3rd)
If you're going to be in back-to-back Super Bowls, there's no way you lose to Arizona at home to start the season. Sure, missing tight end George Kittle for a stretch with a hyperextended knee hurt. Sure, the Cardinals are improved with quarterback Kyler Murray hooking up with new best buddy DeAndre Hopkins (14 catches, 151 yards). But that defense shouldn't blow a late lead at home. It seems the Cards have the Niners number, winning 9 of their last 11 match-ups.
7. Buffalo Bills (last week: ranked 9th)
If they had beaten any other team than the Jets, who looked awful for most of the game, the Bills might be higher on the list. Josh Allen threw for 2 scores and ran for another in a 300+ yard day from scrimmage. They will be a force in the AFC East.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (last week: ranked 10th)
Welcome back Big Ben! After a mediocre first quarter, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense woke up with a trio of touchdown passes, two to JuJu Smith-Schuster. And how about that defense that limited Saquon Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries and made Daniel Jones' night a nightmare with three sacks and two interceptions. Watch out AFC, the Steelers are back. The only downside, another James Connor injury that saw Bennie Snell take over to the tune of 119 yards.
5. Green Bay Packers (last week: ranked 8th)
The national media's reports of Aaron Rodgers' demise may have been a bit too soon. All #12 in green and white did was torched Minnesota's vaunted defense to the tune of 4 TD's and 364 yards passing. Having Davante Adams step up to snag 14 passes for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns always helps the cause too.
4. Seattle Seahawks (last week: ranked 6th)
Not to be outdone by Rodgers in Green Bay, Russell Wilson threw for four touchdown passes of his own against Atlanta. And get this, Wilson led the Seahawks in rushing with 29 yards to go with his 322 yards passing. Maybe Mr. Wilson has his eyes on an MVP trophy in his future. He’s already garnered an NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for week 1.
3. New Orleans Saints (last week: ranked 4th)
No fans in the Superdome, no problem. The Saints took it to Tom Brady and the media darlings from Tampa. Two interceptions including a Jenoris Jenkins pick-six off Brady set the tone early and the Saints never looked back. New Orleans will be without All-World WR Michel Thomas though for a few weeks due to an ankle sprain according to NFL.com.
2. Baltimore Ravens (last week: ranked 2nd)
Ho-hum. 38 points and an easy week one 32-point victory at home over the Browns. The Ravens are in cruise control until the Chiefs come to town in week 3 on Monday night football. All they have to do in week 2 is not get caught looking ahead. How about this stat: Lamar Jackson, who tossed three touchdowns against the Browns, is 20-3 as the starting QB of the Ravens. Impressive!
1. Kansas City Chiefs (last week: ranked 1st)
How do you make the defending Super Bowl Champions better? You give them rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to an explosive offense that can now grind it out too! Edwards-Helaire had a touchdown to go with his 138 yards as KC grinding out four drives of over 70 yards in an easy opening night victory over Houston.
Last week:
Best of Rest: Patriots
10. Steelers
9. Bills
8. Packers
7. Cowboys
6. Seahawks
5. Buccaneers
4. Saints
3. 49ers
2. Ravens
1. Chiefs
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