Saints Rise, Ravens Fall: NFL Power Rankings After Week 2

Another weekend of shocks and surprises in the NFL, none bigger than the Ravens falling to Tennessee. Frank Doyle ranks ’em after Week 2.

1 (-). Green Bay Packers. (2-0, 1-1-0 ATS.)
They’re entitled to stay number one until someone beats them. Big game on Sunday at Soldier Field though, and safety Nick Collins is a huge loss.

2 (-). New England Patriots. (2-0, 2-0-0 ATS.)
Awesome displays in the first two weeks of the season. Awesome. They look at the Sports Interaction No 1 Power Ranking with envious eyes in New England.

3 (+2). New York Jets. (2-0, 1-1-0 ATS.)
The undisputed football kings of New York.

4 (-1). Philadelphia Eagles. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
If Jeremy Maclin had caught that final ball in the fourth quarter – who knows? Mike Kafka didn’t let anybody down on Sunday but the Eagles are so reliant on Vick. He’s the difference-maker.

5 (+4). New Orleans Saints. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Excellent response to their opening day loss with a beatdown of the Bears in the Super Dome.

6 (+1). Houston Texans. (2-0, 2-0-0 ATS.)
Huge test for Houston this week at New Orleans. If the Texans can win that, anything is possible.

7 (-3). Baltimore Ravens. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Baltimore was a huge favorite and a very popular NFL betting choice against Tennessee last week. The Ravens’ loss is unforgivable. But it’s unlikely to happen again, and may stand to them in the long run.

8 (-2). Chicago Bears. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Jay Cutler, for all his faults, must wonder which offensive line will turn up on any given day. His health and well-being depends on it.

9 (-1). Pittsburgh Steelers. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
The Steelers did what they had to do after getting spanked by Baltimore, but they’ll face tougher examinations that the Seahawks could offer.

10 (+1). Detroit Lions. (2-0, 2-0-0 ATS.)
Detroit’s win over (admittedly hapless) Kansas City was the Lions’ biggest win since they beat Cleveland to win the 1957 NFL title. Fifty-four years is a long, long time.

11 (-1). Washington Redskins. (2-0, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Washington is 2-0, but the Redskins got away with one against the Cardinals. Huge Monday night game at Dallas this week.

12 (+4). Buffalo Bills. (2-0, 2-0-0 ATS.)
The Bills are a throwback to the early days of the AFL with their light-em-up style of offense. They get to measure themselves against the best on Sunday when New England visits Buffalo.

13 (-). San Diego Chargers. (1-1, 0-2-0 ATS.)
The Chargers had their chances against New England but they just couldn’t deliver. Story of Norv Turner’s career.

14 (-2). Oakland Raiders. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
The Raiders were very unlucky against the Bills – Jason Campbell’s Hail Mary that was ruled a interception could just as easily have been ruled a TD. Nobody will be looking forward to playing them.

15 (-). Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Tampa Bay couldn’t have dealt with a 0-2 start, but you have to wonder just how often the Bucs can rely on Josh Freeman heroics to save them.

16 (+5). Atlanta Falcons. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Huge win for Atlanta after the disappointment of Chicago last week. But if Maclin held that ball …

17 (-3). Dallas Cowboys. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Dallas pulled one out of the fire at San Francisco. How the Cowboys got into that fire in the first place is food for thought for Dallas bettors.

18 (-1). Arizona Cardinals. (1-1, 1-0-1 ATS.)
The Cardinals are competitive on offense but a little porous on defense.

19 (-1). Jacksonville Jaguars. (1-1, 0-2-0 ATS.)
It’s never a good thing when your quarterback rating is lower than your score.

20 (-1). Cincinnati Bengals. (1-1, 2-0-0 ATS.)
Andy Dalton is doing very well at quarterback for the Bengals.

21 (-1). San Francisco 49ers. (1-1, 2-0-0 ATS.)
A new head coach can only do so much. And there’s still an awful lot to do in San Francisco.

22 (+1). New York Giants. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
The Giants boiled their offense down to its constituent parts to beat the Rams. But they’re still second banana in the Big Apple.

23 (-1). Denver Broncos. (1-1, 0-2-0 ATS.)
Denver is a bit unlucky to drop a place after a win, but the Giants covered while the Broncos have yet to. That makes a difference.

24 (+3). Cleveland Browns. (1-1, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Cleveland got back on track last week but a win at Indy isn’t what it was.

25 (+3). Tennessee Titans. (1-1, 2-0-0 ATS.)
Holy cow! But can they keep it up?

26 (-2). Miami Dolphins. (0-2, 0-2-0 ATS.)
Still looking for the next Dan Marino.

27 (-2). St. Louis Rams. (0-2, 0-2-0 ATS.)
Injuries kill you in the National Football League.

28 (-2). Carolina Panthers. (0-2, 1-0-1 ATS.)
Everybody’s enjoying Cam Newton’s spectacular performances but the Panthers lack claws.

29 (-). Indianapolis Colts. (0-2, 0-2-0 ATS.)
The Colts have to decide if they’re going to man up this year. The window is closing quickly. They have to show some pride.

30 (-). Minnesota Vikings. (0-2, 1-1-0 ATS.)
Time to start Christian Ponder. They’ve nothing to lose.

31 (-). Seattle Seahawks. (0-2, 0-2-0 ATS.)
At least the Vikings have Adrian Peterson. Seattle has no such consolation.

32 (-). Kansas City Chiefs. (0-2, 0-2-0 ATS.)
It’s going to be the season from hell in Kansas City. Hard to see where any win will come from.