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NFL Power Rankings: 2008 Week 2
ESPN.com
If Week 1 was any indication, we're in for a wild NFL season.
In their regular-season debuts, starting rookie quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan played with the calm of 10-year pros. Meanwhile, four reigning division champions stumbled in their openers -- the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each suffered losses -- while a fifth needed a last-second goal-line stand to win.
Yes, the New England Patriots escaped an upset bid by the Kansas City Chiefs with a four-play stand at the end. But nothing could prevent the Patriots, who lost quarterback Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury early against the Chiefs, from falling from their perch atop the ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings.
The Patriots, who ended the 2007 season atop the ladder and reigned atop the Week 1 rankings, are now ranked ninth in the league, according to the weekly poll of our experts.
The new kings of the hill are the Dallas Cowboys, who turned in an impressive romp over the homestanding Cleveland Browns in Week 1. The Cowboys vault from third to the top position, just past the Pittsburgh Steelers. After rocking the Houston Texans in Pittsburgh, the Steelers moved up four spots to No. 2.
We've called upon some of our voting members to provide team-by-team commentary. Thus, for your reading pleasure, you'll have:
• Tim Graham on the AFC East
• James Walker on the AFC North
• Paul Kuharsky on the AFC South
• Bill Williamson on the AFC West
• Matt Mosley on the NFC East
• Kevin Seifert on the NFC North
• Pat Yasinskas on the NFC South
• Mike Sando on the NFC West
Despite a last-play home loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Chargers fell just one spot in the Week 2 rankings, to third overall. The fourth-ranked New Orleans Saints and the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants round out the top five. Each team vaulted three spots in the voting.
The Chicago Bears made the biggest leap of the week, thanks to an unexpected romp over the host Colts. Powered by rookie running back Matt Forte, the Bears moved from 25th to 15th overall in the voting.
The Seahawks, who apparently never got the wakeup call on a visit to Buffalo, tumbled nine spots to 18th overall. (Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
2008 Power Rankings: Week 2
1 (3)Cowboys1-0-0This team owns Sept. and Oct. It made the Browns look awful. (MM)
2 (6)Steelers1-0-0New England has been a thorn in the side of the Steelers for quite some time. With Tom Brady out, the Steelers can start to dream big. (JW)
3 (2)Chargers0-1-0The Chargers are too good to keep squandering games in the first month. (BW)
4 (7)Saints1-0-0Defensive overhaul is working wonders and Reggie Bush is off to a hot start. (PY)
5 (8)Giants1-0-0Three teams in The Beast could be in the top five, but that would be blatant favoritism. (MM)
6 (12)Eagles1-0-0Even though he was facing the Rams, Donovan McNabb was superb. And DeSean Jackson is making an early bid for rookie of the year. (MM)
7 (10)Packers1-0-0They protected their home turf against a division rival. (KS)
8 (4)Colts0-1-0A rusty, disjointed team has to piece things back together in time for a Sunday trip to the Metrodome. If Adrian Peterson does what Matt Forte did, could the Colts be looking at 0-2? (PK)
9 (1)Patriots1-0-0The season-long loss of QB Tom Brady will be the test. Without him, they had to hang on to beat the lowly Chiefs 17-10 at home. (TG)
10 (5)Jaguars0-1-0Will have backups in place at both guards and center for Marcus Stroud's homecoming party. That is not a good recipe at all for the running backs or David Garrard. The defense needs to step up and win this one. (PK)
11 (14)Titans1-0-0Repeat after me: the quarterback doesn't necessarily matter. If the Titans can execute their defensive and run-game formulas, the passing offense doesn't have to do anything big. (PK)
12 (17)Panthers1-0-0Beating San Diego without Steve Smith was Carolina's biggest win in three seasons. (PY)
13 (18)Bills1-0-0The 34-10 victory over Seattle was perhaps the most complete Week 1 performance. Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters ended his holdout and could play Sunday against Jacksonville. (TG)
14 (16)Jets1-0-0Brett Favre seemed comfortable in his new duds, slinging the Jets to a 20-14 victory in Miami. The O-line looked solid, but now they get to face the Patriots' stellar front seven. (TG)
15 (25)Bears1-0-0They shocked the world in Indianapolis, and the health of their defense remains the key. (KS)
16 (11)Vikings0-1-0They have to get more consistency from QB Tarvaris Jackson. (KS)
17 (13)Browns0-1-0The Browns held true to form by falling to 1-9 in their last 10 season openers. They will aim to buck another tough trend Sunday by beating division nemesis Pittsburgh. (JW)
18 (9)Seahawks0-1-0The Seahawks temporarily join the ranks of the pretenders while they figure out how to function without four injured receivers and running back Maurice Morris. The special teams were abysmal in the opener. (MS)
19 (22)Broncos1-0-0The Broncos couldn't have had a better start to the season. They dominated Oakland on both sides of the ball and they introduced a new weapon in rookie receiver Eddie Royal. (BW)
20 (15)Buccaneers0-1-0Showed no big-play capability and the defense is looking old. (PY)
21 (21)Cardinals1-0-0The Cardinals showed a more patient, disciplined side in grinding out a 23-13 victory at San Francisco. Arizona must improve its red-zone offense. (MS)
22 (24)Ravens1-0-0Joe Flacco mania is sweeping through Baltimore after his first victory Sunday. Can the rookie quarterback keep it going? (JW)
23 (19)Commanders0-1-0Redskins can't afford too many more dress rehearsals. This team desperately needs a solid performance after the debacle in the Meadowlands. (MM)
24 (20)Texans0-1-0When the coaching staff preaches the importance of tackling all week and then counts 12 missed tackles -- in just two series -- you've got some issues. Add to that Ahman Green's ankle injury. (PK)
25 (32)Falcons1-0-0Matt Ryan era started with win, due largely to Michael Turner. (PY)
26 (23)Bengals0-1-0The Bengals are bungling early. Head coach Marvin Lewis needs to right the ship fast before things go farther south. (JW)
27 (29)49ers0-1-0The 49ers can run the ball. Too bad they couldn't hold onto it, committing five turnovers in the opener. (MS)
28 (30)Dolphins0-1-0They failed to mount any semblance of a ground game and their receivers were invisible. Breakdowns and penalties showed the Dolphins have a ways to go. (TG)
29 (31)Chiefs0-1-0The Chiefs hung with the Tom Brady-less Patriots. Yes, the team lost quarterback Brodie Croyle but there seem to be some reasons to be encouraged. (BW)
30 (27)Raiders0-1-0What a horrible start to the season for a team with high aspirations. Nothing went right for Oakland as it was embarrassed at home by Denver. (BW)
31 (26)Lions0-1-0How can you not see the same old Lions? (KS)
32 (28)Rams0-1-0No team looked worse than the Rams during opening week. Zero third-down conversions in 11 chances, and the defense allowed big plays with alarming regularity. Injuries are already hurting this team. (MS)
ESPN.com
If Week 1 was any indication, we're in for a wild NFL season.
In their regular-season debuts, starting rookie quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan played with the calm of 10-year pros. Meanwhile, four reigning division champions stumbled in their openers -- the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each suffered losses -- while a fifth needed a last-second goal-line stand to win.
Yes, the New England Patriots escaped an upset bid by the Kansas City Chiefs with a four-play stand at the end. But nothing could prevent the Patriots, who lost quarterback Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury early against the Chiefs, from falling from their perch atop the ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings.
The Patriots, who ended the 2007 season atop the ladder and reigned atop the Week 1 rankings, are now ranked ninth in the league, according to the weekly poll of our experts.
The new kings of the hill are the Dallas Cowboys, who turned in an impressive romp over the homestanding Cleveland Browns in Week 1. The Cowboys vault from third to the top position, just past the Pittsburgh Steelers. After rocking the Houston Texans in Pittsburgh, the Steelers moved up four spots to No. 2.
We've called upon some of our voting members to provide team-by-team commentary. Thus, for your reading pleasure, you'll have:
• Tim Graham on the AFC East
• James Walker on the AFC North
• Paul Kuharsky on the AFC South
• Bill Williamson on the AFC West
• Matt Mosley on the NFC East
• Kevin Seifert on the NFC North
• Pat Yasinskas on the NFC South
• Mike Sando on the NFC West
Despite a last-play home loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Chargers fell just one spot in the Week 2 rankings, to third overall. The fourth-ranked New Orleans Saints and the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants round out the top five. Each team vaulted three spots in the voting.
The Chicago Bears made the biggest leap of the week, thanks to an unexpected romp over the host Colts. Powered by rookie running back Matt Forte, the Bears moved from 25th to 15th overall in the voting.
The Seahawks, who apparently never got the wakeup call on a visit to Buffalo, tumbled nine spots to 18th overall. (Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
2008 Power Rankings: Week 2
