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- thepixburghkid
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ESPN Power Rankings
by thepixburghkid » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:14 pm
The relative lack of movement atop the latest ESPN.com NFL power rankings sets up a pair of blockbuster showdowns on the field for Week 3.
The Dallas Cowboys, who survived a seesaw, home battle with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, remain the kings of the hill this week. And for the second consecutive polling, our experts deem the Pittsburgh Steelers the second-best team in the league -- even though the Steelers barely edged the host Cleveland Browns.
But the top of the standings could be in a for a shakeup next week. Sunday the Cowboys visit the Green Bay Packers, who rank fourth this week. Earlier in the day, the No. 2 Steelers will visit the Eagles, who rank No. 5 this week despite the "Monday Night Football" loss at Dallas.
In the middle of the logjam atop the power rankings are the New York Giants, up two spots to No. 3. In Week 2, the defending Super Bowl champions dismantled the St. Louis Rams, who for the second consecutive week anchor the bottom of the rankings.
The Giants replace the shell-shocked San Diego Chargers, this week's biggest tumblers. Victim of a last-minute winning score for the second consecutive week, the Chargers fell 10 places from No. 3 to No. 13 overall. The New Orleans Saints -- who could not hold a fourth-quarter lead against the Washington Redskins in Week 2 -- and the Jacksonville Jaguars -- who squandered a fourth-quarter lead over the Buffalo Bills at home -- also took big hits. The Saints (from No. 4 to No. 12) and Jags (from No. 10 to No. 18) each fell eight spots.
We've called upon some of our voting members to provide team-by-team commentary. Thus, for your reading pleasure, you'll have:
The rankings were determined by a poll of ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton, Jeffri Chadiha, Tim Graham, Matt Mosley, James Walker, Kevin Seifert, Paul Kuharsky, Pat Yasinskas, Bill Williamson, and Mike Sando; and Scouts Inc. Insiders Jeremy Green and Matt Williamson.
The Saints could impress our voters again if they manage to upset the host Denver Broncos on Sunday. Fueled by a high-powered offense featuring quarterback Jay Cutler and receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, Denver made the biggest gain in the power rankings this week. The Broncos leaped eight places from No. 19 to No. 11 overall, thanks in part to a dubious fumble ruling in the last minutes of their 39-38 victory over the Chargers.
The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in rarified air this week -- at No. 14, they make a rare appearance in the top half of the rankings. Apparently their home romp over the lowly Miami Dolphins -- who rate 30th this week -- was enough to vault the Cardinals seven spots in the rankings. The Cardinals' legitimacy will be tested as they visit the Washington Redskins in Week 3.
Other notes from the latest rankings: Hurricane Ike had a slight effect on the power rankings. The storm postponed the scheduled Baltimore Ravens Houston Texans matchup. While the inactive Texans remained ranked No. 24 overall, the equally dormant Ravens moved up from No. 22 to No. 20.
The New England Patriots, playing their first regular-season game in ages without quarterback Tom Brady at the ready, beat the New York Jets in Week 2. The Patriots, our perennial leaders in the weekly rankings, moved up three spots from No. 9 to No. 6. The Brett Favre-led Jets, who whiffed on their chance to make a statement in the supposedly wide-open AFC East, only fell from No. 14 to No. 16 in the eyes of our esteemed experts.
(Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
2008 Power Rankings: Week 3
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Cowboys 2-0-0 Survived a game against the Eagles that they easily could have lost. Now they just have to prepare for a showdown with the Packers. (MM)
2 (2) Steelers 2-0-0 The Steelers took control of the AFC North with a big win over Cleveland. Now it's time for Pittsburgh to prove it's one of the elite teams in the NFL with another big road game against Philadelphia. (JW)
3 (5) Giants 2-0-0 The Giants summarily dismissed the Rams, but that's not saying much. The Giants have found success in the post-Umenyiora era. (MM)
4 (7) Packers 2-0-0 They've feasted on two winless teams. Now the Packers face the biggest game of the young season: A home matchup against Dallas that should establish early NFC supremacy. (KS)
5 (6) Eagles 1-1-0 Valiant effort against the Cowboys by Donovan McNabb and the rest of his team. (MM)
6 (9) Patriots 2-0-0 They're still the AFC East team to beat even if they don't have superduperstar QB Tom Brady. Matt Cassel played it safe against the Jets, and that was good enough. They should be 3-0 with the Dolphins coming to Foxborough. (TG)
7 (8) Colts 1-1-0 Fortunate to be 1-1 and in position to drop Jacksonville to 0-3. Run game and run defense have to improve. (PK)
8 (12) Panthers 2-0-0 Undefeated without WR Steve Smith and only better as he comes back from a two-game suspension. Defense playing at best level in years. (PY)
9 (11) Titans 2-0-0 Last time the Titans started 2-0 was 1999, when they made their only Super Bowl appearance. Upcoming schedule is awfully friendly. (PK)
10 (13) Bills 2-0-0 The Bills scored 10 points in the fourth quarter in a comeback victory in the Jacksonville heat. They should be 3-0 after their home game against the reeling Raiders. (TG)
11 (19) Broncos 2-0-0 The Broncos might have been fortunate to beat San Diego, but there is nothing lucky about Denver's offense. It is a scoring machine. (BW)
12 (4) Saints 1-1-0 Looked a lot like the disappointing 2007 team against Washington after a strong opener. (PY)
13 (3) Chargers 0-2-0 The Chargers will not have it easy against the Brett Favre-led Jets on Monday night. But this is a must win if San Diego wants to salvage this season. (BW)
14 (21) Cardinals 2-0-0 Kurt Warner has put together consecutive starts without a turnover for the first time in a season since 2004. That makes the Cardinals a different team. (MS)
15 (15) Bears 1-1-0 There's no shame in losing at Carolina on a 100-degree day. The Bears' defense, at least, is for real. (KS)
16 (14) Jets 1-1-0 They had their chance to assert themselves as the new AFC East force but looked like they weren't ready for the mantle. Will have difficulty avoiding an 1-2 record Sunday at San Diego. (TG)
17 (20) Buccaneers 1-1-0 Looks like Brian Griese will stay as QB of the present and rely on strong defense. (PY)
18 (10) Jaguars 0-2-0 The run game is stalled, and interior line injuries may mean it can't get going. Can Jerry Porter get on the field and help create room? (PK)
19 (23) Redskins 1-1-0 Much-needed win against the Saints. Hopefully coach Jim Zorn can get things going again now that his team has seen how successful it can be. (MM)
20 (22) Ravens 1-0-0 An unexpected bye week allowed the Ravens to get healthy. But 15 consecutive games the rest of the way might catch up to them later in the season. (JW)
21 (16) Vikings 0-2-0 It's already apparent that Tarvaris Jackson isn't the quarterback they should have entrusted with a playoff-caliber team. (KS)
22 (17) Browns 0-2-0 An 0-2 start puts the Browns in an early hole. It's now or never for last year's Cinderella. (JW)
23 (18) Seahawks 0-2-0 The only thing better than a bye week for the banged-up Seahawks: a home game against the reeling Rams in Week 3. (MS)
24 (24) Texans 0-1-0 Coming off an unscheduled bye. Just 2-10 all-time against the Titans, a record that has to improve if they are to move up in the division. (PK)
25 (27) 49ers 1-1-0 The 49ers have new life on offense, but J.T. O'Sullivan has taken sacks on 23 percent of pass plays. (MS)
26 (25) Falcons 1-1-0 Matt Ryan found out it's not always going to be easy. Michael Turner found he can't rush for 220 yards each week (PY)
27 (30) Raiders 1-1-0 "The Darren McFadden Show" earned spectacular reviews against the Chiefs in Week 2. Oakland needs to keep letting the rookie show what he can do. (BW)
28 (26) Bengals 0-2-0 What's going on in Cincinnati? One offensive touchdown in two games from Carson Palmer, Chad Ocho Cinco and Co. is not going to cut it. (JW)
29 (31) Lions 0-2-0 They showed a little life in the second half against Green Bay. But only the Lions could give up 24 points in the final six minutes. (KS)
30 (28) Dolphins 0-2-0 They were thoroughly embarrassed in a 31-10 loss to the Cardinals. The Dolphins couldn't stop the pass and failed to muster any semblance of an offense. RBs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have been invisible. The WRs have been absent, too. (TG)
31 (29) Chiefs 0-2-0 The Chiefs might not have a whole lot of chances to win this season. They must take advantage of their chance Sunday at Atlanta.(BW)
32 (32) Rams 0-2-0 The offense has scored one touchdown in two games. The defense has given up nearly 1,000 yards. Not good. (MS)
The Dallas Cowboys, who survived a seesaw, home battle with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, remain the kings of the hill this week. And for the second consecutive polling, our experts deem the Pittsburgh Steelers the second-best team in the league -- even though the Steelers barely edged the host Cleveland Browns.
But the top of the standings could be in a for a shakeup next week. Sunday the Cowboys visit the Green Bay Packers, who rank fourth this week. Earlier in the day, the No. 2 Steelers will visit the Eagles, who rank No. 5 this week despite the "Monday Night Football" loss at Dallas.
In the middle of the logjam atop the power rankings are the New York Giants, up two spots to No. 3. In Week 2, the defending Super Bowl champions dismantled the St. Louis Rams, who for the second consecutive week anchor the bottom of the rankings.
The Giants replace the shell-shocked San Diego Chargers, this week's biggest tumblers. Victim of a last-minute winning score for the second consecutive week, the Chargers fell 10 places from No. 3 to No. 13 overall. The New Orleans Saints -- who could not hold a fourth-quarter lead against the Washington Redskins in Week 2 -- and the Jacksonville Jaguars -- who squandered a fourth-quarter lead over the Buffalo Bills at home -- also took big hits. The Saints (from No. 4 to No. 12) and Jags (from No. 10 to No. 18) each fell eight spots.
We've called upon some of our voting members to provide team-by-team commentary. Thus, for your reading pleasure, you'll have:
The rankings were determined by a poll of ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton, Jeffri Chadiha, Tim Graham, Matt Mosley, James Walker, Kevin Seifert, Paul Kuharsky, Pat Yasinskas, Bill Williamson, and Mike Sando; and Scouts Inc. Insiders Jeremy Green and Matt Williamson.
The Saints could impress our voters again if they manage to upset the host Denver Broncos on Sunday. Fueled by a high-powered offense featuring quarterback Jay Cutler and receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, Denver made the biggest gain in the power rankings this week. The Broncos leaped eight places from No. 19 to No. 11 overall, thanks in part to a dubious fumble ruling in the last minutes of their 39-38 victory over the Chargers.
The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in rarified air this week -- at No. 14, they make a rare appearance in the top half of the rankings. Apparently their home romp over the lowly Miami Dolphins -- who rate 30th this week -- was enough to vault the Cardinals seven spots in the rankings. The Cardinals' legitimacy will be tested as they visit the Washington Redskins in Week 3.
Other notes from the latest rankings: Hurricane Ike had a slight effect on the power rankings. The storm postponed the scheduled Baltimore Ravens Houston Texans matchup. While the inactive Texans remained ranked No. 24 overall, the equally dormant Ravens moved up from No. 22 to No. 20.
The New England Patriots, playing their first regular-season game in ages without quarterback Tom Brady at the ready, beat the New York Jets in Week 2. The Patriots, our perennial leaders in the weekly rankings, moved up three spots from No. 9 to No. 6. The Brett Favre-led Jets, who whiffed on their chance to make a statement in the supposedly wide-open AFC East, only fell from No. 14 to No. 16 in the eyes of our esteemed experts.
(Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
2008 Power Rankings: Week 3
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Cowboys 2-0-0 Survived a game against the Eagles that they easily could have lost. Now they just have to prepare for a showdown with the Packers. (MM)
2 (2) Steelers 2-0-0 The Steelers took control of the AFC North with a big win over Cleveland. Now it's time for Pittsburgh to prove it's one of the elite teams in the NFL with another big road game against Philadelphia. (JW)
3 (5) Giants 2-0-0 The Giants summarily dismissed the Rams, but that's not saying much. The Giants have found success in the post-Umenyiora era. (MM)
4 (7) Packers 2-0-0 They've feasted on two winless teams. Now the Packers face the biggest game of the young season: A home matchup against Dallas that should establish early NFC supremacy. (KS)
5 (6) Eagles 1-1-0 Valiant effort against the Cowboys by Donovan McNabb and the rest of his team. (MM)
6 (9) Patriots 2-0-0 They're still the AFC East team to beat even if they don't have superduperstar QB Tom Brady. Matt Cassel played it safe against the Jets, and that was good enough. They should be 3-0 with the Dolphins coming to Foxborough. (TG)
7 (8) Colts 1-1-0 Fortunate to be 1-1 and in position to drop Jacksonville to 0-3. Run game and run defense have to improve. (PK)
8 (12) Panthers 2-0-0 Undefeated without WR Steve Smith and only better as he comes back from a two-game suspension. Defense playing at best level in years. (PY)
9 (11) Titans 2-0-0 Last time the Titans started 2-0 was 1999, when they made their only Super Bowl appearance. Upcoming schedule is awfully friendly. (PK)
10 (13) Bills 2-0-0 The Bills scored 10 points in the fourth quarter in a comeback victory in the Jacksonville heat. They should be 3-0 after their home game against the reeling Raiders. (TG)
11 (19) Broncos 2-0-0 The Broncos might have been fortunate to beat San Diego, but there is nothing lucky about Denver's offense. It is a scoring machine. (BW)
12 (4) Saints 1-1-0 Looked a lot like the disappointing 2007 team against Washington after a strong opener. (PY)
13 (3) Chargers 0-2-0 The Chargers will not have it easy against the Brett Favre-led Jets on Monday night. But this is a must win if San Diego wants to salvage this season. (BW)
14 (21) Cardinals 2-0-0 Kurt Warner has put together consecutive starts without a turnover for the first time in a season since 2004. That makes the Cardinals a different team. (MS)
15 (15) Bears 1-1-0 There's no shame in losing at Carolina on a 100-degree day. The Bears' defense, at least, is for real. (KS)
16 (14) Jets 1-1-0 They had their chance to assert themselves as the new AFC East force but looked like they weren't ready for the mantle. Will have difficulty avoiding an 1-2 record Sunday at San Diego. (TG)
17 (20) Buccaneers 1-1-0 Looks like Brian Griese will stay as QB of the present and rely on strong defense. (PY)
18 (10) Jaguars 0-2-0 The run game is stalled, and interior line injuries may mean it can't get going. Can Jerry Porter get on the field and help create room? (PK)
19 (23) Redskins 1-1-0 Much-needed win against the Saints. Hopefully coach Jim Zorn can get things going again now that his team has seen how successful it can be. (MM)
20 (22) Ravens 1-0-0 An unexpected bye week allowed the Ravens to get healthy. But 15 consecutive games the rest of the way might catch up to them later in the season. (JW)
21 (16) Vikings 0-2-0 It's already apparent that Tarvaris Jackson isn't the quarterback they should have entrusted with a playoff-caliber team. (KS)
22 (17) Browns 0-2-0 An 0-2 start puts the Browns in an early hole. It's now or never for last year's Cinderella. (JW)
23 (18) Seahawks 0-2-0 The only thing better than a bye week for the banged-up Seahawks: a home game against the reeling Rams in Week 3. (MS)
24 (24) Texans 0-1-0 Coming off an unscheduled bye. Just 2-10 all-time against the Titans, a record that has to improve if they are to move up in the division. (PK)
25 (27) 49ers 1-1-0 The 49ers have new life on offense, but J.T. O'Sullivan has taken sacks on 23 percent of pass plays. (MS)
26 (25) Falcons 1-1-0 Matt Ryan found out it's not always going to be easy. Michael Turner found he can't rush for 220 yards each week (PY)
27 (30) Raiders 1-1-0 "The Darren McFadden Show" earned spectacular reviews against the Chiefs in Week 2. Oakland needs to keep letting the rookie show what he can do. (BW)
28 (26) Bengals 0-2-0 What's going on in Cincinnati? One offensive touchdown in two games from Carson Palmer, Chad Ocho Cinco and Co. is not going to cut it. (JW)
29 (31) Lions 0-2-0 They showed a little life in the second half against Green Bay. But only the Lions could give up 24 points in the final six minutes. (KS)
30 (28) Dolphins 0-2-0 They were thoroughly embarrassed in a 31-10 loss to the Cardinals. The Dolphins couldn't stop the pass and failed to muster any semblance of an offense. RBs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have been invisible. The WRs have been absent, too. (TG)
31 (29) Chiefs 0-2-0 The Chiefs might not have a whole lot of chances to win this season. They must take advantage of their chance Sunday at Atlanta.(BW)
32 (32) Rams 0-2-0 The offense has scored one touchdown in two games. The defense has given up nearly 1,000 yards. Not good. (MS)
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