The NFP Power Rankings

I know you guys are on the east coast and it was late, but didn't you watch the Chargers vs. Raiders game. While the Raiders played better than most thought, how can you justify not lowering the Chargers?

Their O-line got beat up and man-handled, their running game was irrelevant and the only time they really moved the ball was when the Raiders were in a prevent mode and passes were dumped off underneath. Merriman was a non-factor and their D-line got pushed around by a mediocre Raiders O-line. I don't think they are the 4th best team in football and don't understand the crush the media has on the Bolts.

Still no love for my Broncs even though they showed a strong D. Offense still has a lot to work on but they will get there.

This team will continue to surprise people.

This is pro football Jon. The Bolts came back and won in the 4th on the road. They weren't playing San Jose State.

Agreed, the Chargers are much too high. That is not a team that anyone fears playing.

Giants and Colts are too high as well.

As a Packer fan I hate to admit it, but the Vikes are too low.

These rankings just don't make sense, the Steelers didn't look great in thier win, but I'll give you that one, but a team that took them to OT and should have won is ranked 10th? And the Chargers barely beat the 28th ranked team, so they are the 4th best? The Bills looked good against your #3 team, but because they allowed the Pats to come back they are ranked 27th?

These rankings are horrible. The Ravens barely beat the Chiefs (don't let the last second TD fool you), the Chargers barely pull it off in Oakland and Seattle is waaay too high. The only reason Hass looked healthy and Jones looked explosive is because they went up against the worst team in the league.

Agreed Pitt should be a little bit lower. At Home, coming off a SB win. Against a tough rival and they got beat most of that game in the trenches on both sides. Titans did not seem to miss Haynesworth at all, getting constant pressure. And the Pitt running game was awful. Pats could be lower as well. Looks like the ranking were done on expectations and not objective analysis of week one play

You guys need to get a grip. It is one game. After a couple of weeks, we should have a better handle on where every team ranks.

It seems that no one here today understands how Power Rankings work. They are based on ranking the teams, not on one performance.

Seattle won by 28, so they should be at the top because they won by the most?

No, Pitt was No.1 last week and they beat Tennessee (home field last year) yet they should drop?

Are you people serious?

I don't see a hot for Bills head coach Dick Jauron at all. The Bills should have fired Jauron after last season, but because owner Ralph Wilson does not want to pay someone for not working, they are stuck with this dufus. He signed a 3-year extension before the Dolphins game in Miami last year. To me, he is staying on this team until further notice.

This list looks a bit better than last week...I think the Chargers, Ravens, and Colts should have dropped at least one spot. I knew you guys would come around on the Falcons and Vikings, although both should be in the top ten.

Something tells me Bowen provided the beverages for the staff meeting that concocted this list. How many Bud Heavies did it take to come up with the logic that ranked Miami, who played like crap and should've been blown out by an average Falcon team, ahead of the Seahawks, Jets, 49ers and Broncos, all of whom at least had the decency to win their own games. Chargers at 4? Colts at 7?? Both of these teams struggled against supposedly lesser opponents - nobody in the top 8 (25% of the league) should be struggling against lesser opponents.

Ravens should be at 4, Titans at 5, and as much as it pains this Packers fan to admit it.... Cowboys should be at #7 until someone proves otherwise.

The NFC North shouldn't move up the list until the beat someone from the NFC East. If you spread the NFC East around the NFC the Eagles or Giants could win any other division in football. The Cowboys could win the North and the Redskins could win the West.

J-E-T-S are too low. Despite missing 2 starting defensive linemen and starting a rookie QB ON THE ROAD, the Jets completely dominated the Texans. Perhaps, Houston is over-rated, but imo the Jets looked much better than anticipated.

Go Pats!!

Who made these rankings? I don't see a name. They are so disparate with what I & others are thinking, as well as what other sports media outlets (SI etc) are putting out. You can't put out rankings that are so different from what everyone else is thinking with out explainging directly why you put teasm X an Y over team Z.

Strange. And without the above explanation -- with just two rather trite sentences about each team, that does nto reference their position on the list at all -- kinda worthless. Even Peter King does better than this.

Matt
I have issues with you putting the Titans in the top 10 and leaving the Jets out of the top 5.

Titans are top 10 worthy but they are always going to be under 17 pts. when they play the top defenses. IMO, Kerry leaves way too many plays on the field. He lacks mobility and when you come up the middle, he doesn't panic but he doesn't make a completion either.

Going back to last year he throws the ball out of bounds at least 3 times a game, when rushed up the middle. VY10 on the other hand can manuever everywhere in and out of the pocket. I know this is crazy sounding but when I face a top 5 defense like the Ravens, Steelers, Jets - I'd start VY10!

Those defenses wipe their ass with Offensive gameplans, so moving the chains conventionally is not going to happen.

Case in point - Texans vs. Jets
Rush Schaub up the middle, he has no mobility and no pocket to work from. End result was a long day. If you are a defense that can't do this then Schaub and Houston may still beat you.

It was sad when they tried to do some ball handling with Schaub in the 2nd half. He did a playaction fake left then pirouetted to throw a screen developing on the right.

It took too long and Schaub looked like a bull in a china shop doing it.
You can't change your stripes in Year 5!

Jets are a top 5 team, they will prove it vs. Patriots.

Jets Defense tops the NYGiants as well.

No one has the talent that NYJ has in their secondary, the LB's cover better as well.

So although I love the Giants D, the tipping point is Bart Scott over A.Pierce. As well as D.Revis over C.Webster.

I'm not saying this team will end up in the top third of the rankings by year's end, but the Browns are getting no respect at all. The defense is improved and this team will run the ball and finish 6-10 at worst.Not as the 30th ranked team...which may sadly, put them out of reach of Mays or Berry next April.

Jets are a top 5 team, they will prove it vs. Patriots.

Jets Defense tops the NYGiants as well.

No one has the talent that NYJ has in their secondary, the LB's cover better as well.

So although I love the Giants D, the tipping point is Bart Scott over A.Pierce. As well as D.Revis over C.Webster.

I am not sold on the Vikings. They beat one of the worst teams in the league. Favre did nothing. Let's see how AP holds up as the season wears on, I don't think he can keep up the pace. Eventually the old DIVA will have to produce.