NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

Here's a Ferringo's-eye view of Week 3 in the Nationalaccording to every guffawing columnist across the
Football League:country they're the Best Team Ever so it shouldn't
matter, right?
New England at Pittsburgh (-3)4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) - The Bengals made one
Once again, the Patriots are involved in the Game ofof the largest jumps from last week's Power Rankings
the Week. They're dogs entering the Steel City, and(up eight slots from 12). But memo to Chad Johnson:
are going up against the best team in football rightdon't call out Mike Brown (just ask Marcus Pollard). I
now. Ben Roethlisberger has a ridiculous 153.6 passerhope my Bears knocks these guys back into the
rating, which is nearly perfect. He's also 16-1 as aDave Shula Days.
starter, which is nearly perfect and is looking to5) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) - Despite their off-field
avenge the only loss of his pro career - a 41-27issues, they already have a division road win and are
blowout at the hands of the Pats in the AFC Titleaveraging 161.5 yards per game on the ground.
Game last January.However, they are just 1-4 ATS in Denver, where
they play on Monday.
Pittsburgh is once again the top running team in the6) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - McNabb and Owens
league, bruising its way to 170.5 yards per gameshare the cover on this week's Sports Illustrated. I don't
(without their two best runners) and 4.7 yards perbuy the love fest. It's easy to get along when you're up
carry. The Steelers also rank fourth on defense, but42-3 at home, but let's see what happens when
are just 17th against the run. The Patriots, on the otherthey're in a tough spot.
hand, are only averaging 2.4 yards per carry, and they7) Carolina Panthers (1-1) - Peter King said that Brees'
are the 12th-ranked defense in the NFL. In two games,interception against the Broncos last week was one of
they've yielded 23.5 points a game.the worst he's ever seen. My vote goes to Jake
Delhomme's toss to New England's Mike Vrabel, who
Per usual, Tom Brady will be the key to any upsetreturned it for a TD.
chance that New England has. Brady's shoulder is8) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) - Losing safety Donovin
officially listed as probable, and he'll be looking toDarius for the year is a huge blow. Also, Byron
avenge his poor performance (69.3 rating) againstLeftwich is on his way to becoming the next Steve
Carolina last week. That rating was the 17th worst ofMcNair - doesn't practice due to injury then steps up
his 73 starts (in which he is 58-15). However, he's 10-4and plays/leads his team on Sunday.
in games following his previous 14 losses and has9) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - Backup QB Matt Schaub has
posted a passer rating close to 95 in those games.been an All-World Preseason player the last two
years, and there are actually some rednecks in
Cincinnati (-3) at ChicagoGeorgia that would love to see him get his own shot.
The Pats and Steelers may be the Game of theThose same folks have an IQ lower than Vick's
Week, but I really think that this is the most intriguingpasser rating of 73.4. Atlanta is 2-11 in games that Vick
matchup of Week 3. It pits two young, up-and-cominghasn't started in the last three years.
teams - one with a high-powered offense and one10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - I really didn't think
with a hard-hitting defense - each trying to make aMark Brunell could still throw it that far. I guess Roy
name for itself among the top teams in theirWilliams didn't think so either.
respective conferences.11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) - They've only
faced 32 rushing attempts in two games, but the Bucs
In this corner, Cincinnati has been the "Best Teamdefense is giving up only 40 yards per game on the
That Nobody is Talking About" thus far by demolishingground and 2.5 yards per carry.
Cleveland and Minnesota. The Bengals and their Big12) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - Blame that loss on
Three - Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudiwhichever linebacker that was that got juked by a
Johnson - have led Cincy to the No. 1 offense in the57-year-old Brunell on that 3rd-and-27 scramble.
league. They are averaging 462 yards per game, with13) Buffalo Bills (1-1) - Bills fans, this is what you get
157 coming on the ground and 305 through the air.with a first-year QB. Trust me, I know. I'd be more
Palmer has been lights out (five TD's and a 107.8worried about Willis McGahee dancing in the holes.
rating), and is being backed by a defense that has14) Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - Seattle is that quiet, shifty
already forced a ridiculous 10 takeaways.guy in the corner booth of the bar. He seems
unassuming, but you keep looking over your shoulder
And in this corner, Chicago has been the "Best Teambecause you don't know if he's going to snap and kill
that Everyone Forgot Existed" until they posted aeveryone or just get blasted and stumble home.
32-point win last week over the Lions. The Bears have15) Chicago Bears (1-1) - Brian Urlacher has 15 solo
gone back to their roots - run the ball (114 ypg, 4.1 ypc)tackles and three sacks in two games. Now where
and playing good defense (7th overall). This is a bigare all those ass-clowns that said he was overrated?
spot for a team that's on the verge of having someAlso, linebacker Lance Briggs has just been wrecking
confidence. If they can defend their turf they enterpeople.
their bye week on a 2-1 roll with putrid Cleveland16) Denver Broncos (1-1) - Remember how everyone
waiting on the other side.ripped on them for picking up the Browns front four
(worst in the league against the run in '04)? Well,
But a win is far from given. Kyle Orton played well forDenver is currently 22nd against the rush (115 ypg) with
Chicago last weekend (translation: no turnovers) andK.C. rolling into town.
will again have to protect the ball against the Bengals.17) New York Giants (2-0) - If they go on the road
and beat San Diego I still won't jump on the
Atlanta at Buffalo (2.5)bandwagon - but I'll be very, very impressed.
There are certainly quarterback issues for both of18) New Orleans Saints (1-1) - After what they've
these teams. Mike Vick is listed as questionable thisbeen through and where they've been through over
weekend with a sore hamstring, and J.P. Losman isthe last month (Oakland to Texas to Carolina to New
unofficially questionable after getting benched lastYork and now to Minnesota) Jim Haslett has a right to
week for one drive against Tampa Bay. I would putvent. That team just looked worn out in the fourth
Vick at about 85 percent to play. Also, Losman willquarter of that MNF game.
again seize the reigns for Buffalo, and don't be19) New York Jets (1-1) - The good news is that
surprised to see Mike Mularkey dig into hisCurtis Martin didn't tear any knee ligaments (MRI was
bag-of-tricks and pull out some gimmicks this weekend.negative). The bad news is that safety Erik Coleman
just had thumb surgery and may not be available.
This game will be a slugfest. Atlanta is fifth in the20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Monday, Steve Mariucci says
league in rushing (157 ypg, 4.6 ypc) and Buffalo is 15ththat the team has no interest in ex-Buc Shaun King.
(100 ypg, 3.8 ypc). The Bills are second in the league inTuesday, King and Jeff George worked out for the
total defense, but are just 30th in rushing after gettingLions. Tick-tock, Joey Harrington. Tick-tock.
rolled by Tampa Bay (191 rush yards) last Sunday.21) San Diego Chargers (0-2) - This isn't a bad team
Atlanta, on the other hand, will most likely be withoutat all. However they've absolutely given away two
cornerback/kick returner Allen Rossum and defensivegames already. Ah, Marty Ball.
end Brady Smith, who are two key cogs. Rossum is22) St. Louis Rams (1-1) - I still don't think they're
particularly important because the Falcons are alreadyrunning the ball enough. However, they are third in the
without corner Kevin Mathis - leaving the secondaryleague in offensive time of possession (34:07 per
very vulnerable.game).
23) Oakland Raiders (0-2) - Despite playing two of
New York Giants at San Diego (-5.5)the best rushing teams in the NFL, the Raiders D is
I hope Eli brings his ear plugs. This will be Manning'sgiving up a paltry 3.0 yards per carry. However, they
first appearance in San Diego, the city that drafted himneed to start pressuring quarterbacks. Their two
first overall in 2004 even though he said he wantedsacks are tied for worst in the league.
nothing to do with that organization. Also, Manning and24) Tennessee Titans (1-1) - Their win over Baltimore
the 2-0 G-Men will be rolling into the den of a teamlast week wasn't a fluke from the standpoint that while
that, at 0-2, is desperate for a win.they don't have the depth to compete this season,
they certainly have the talent to jump up and bite an
Yes, the Giants are 2-0. But they are the fraudulentunsuspecting team.
kind of undefeated. They tooled on the Cardinals (who23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - Right now their run-pass
doesn't?) and then topped an emotionally spent Saintsratio is almost 3-to-1, but not the way you'd expect. So
club in a "road" game in Jersey. They have scored 69far they've thrown 95 passes to go with only 34
points so far. Pretty impressive, right? But they're 26thrushes. Unreal.
in total offense and have run the second fewest plays26) Miami (1-1) - People are already calling Ronnie
(104) in the league. They've mostly been theBrown (34 attempts, 94 yards, 0 TD's) a bust because
beneficiary of special teams flukes and turnovers.he's not putting up the numbers that Cadillac Williams
Defensively, they're allowed 370 yards per contest.(54-276-2) is. I think it's way too early to be making
those claims.
San Diego, on the other hand, is playing well until it27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Just a thought, but
matters. Drew Brees and Co. were on their way to amaybe it's not Randy Moss that they miss the most.
crucial road win over Denver last weekend until DrewMaybe it's former offensive coordinator Scott Linehan
Brees threw a horrible INT that Champ Bailey returned(now in Miami).
for a touchdown. The week before, they had benched28) Cleveland Browns (1-1) - As bad as the Packers
Antonio Gates and decided to give LaDainianwere, any time you go into Green Bay and get a win
Tomlinson only two touches in the fourth quarter of ait's an accomplishment.
four-point loss to Dallas. It's tough to have must-win29) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - They lost by 39 points,
games in September, but this is pretty close for thebut I had to move them up one slot this week because
Bolts.the teams behind them looked that awful.
30) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) - Kurt Warner got sacked
FREE PICK (YTD 0-1): This week I like Indianapolis tofive times last week and was hit six others. If they
cover the 13.5 against the Browns. In 2004 the Coltscan't get the running game going - Marcel Shipp will
had one of the Greatest Offenses Football Has Everstart this weekend - then they're going to get Warner
Seen. But over their last three games - dating back tokilled. Their run-pass ratio is 37 rushes to 98 passes.
the playoff loss in Foxboro - they've managed just 12Not good.
points per contest. I'm looking for them to break out in31) Green Bay Packers (0-2) - Wow. This team is a
a big way at home against a Cleveland team that'stotal mess, on all fronts, and shows no signs of
30th in the NFL against the pass. Also, I think theimproving. They just don't have the talent on either side
Brownies are due for a letdown after a tough roadof the ball.
win in Lambeau last Sunday.32) Houston Texans (0-2) - Jason Babin and Philip
Buchanon - a tandem whom the Texans traded a
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - It's really tough to becombined five first-day draft picks for the rights to -
picky about a team that's looked so good, but they arehave both been benched.
allowing the opposition to convert 48 percent of their
third downs.Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail
2) Indianapolis Colts (2-0) - This team has the
purposeful look of a group on a Mission. It hasn't beenDoc's Sports Handy Links:2005 NFL SchedulesSuper
smoke and mirrors, but good ol' fashioned toughness.Bowl 2006NFL power rankingsDoc's Sports
Let's see if they can sustain it.Handicapping Service
3) New England Patriots (1-1) - This game at1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been
Pittsburgh is part of their Murderer's Row schedulerecognized as one of the leaders and most trusted
that has them hosting San Diego, at Atlanta, at Denver,names in sports handicapping information.
bye, hosting Buffalo and hosting Indianapolis. But hey,