Tonight we have the Titans on the road at Jacksonville and favored by 1.5...only the turmoil on the coaching and defensive side coupled with the lack of offensive coherency for Jacksonville leads me to take Tennessee going away.
The 2019 NFL Season is Finally Here!
- Thread starter Jerry Shugart
- Start date
Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
Me too!
Last edited:
drbrumley
Well-known member
Docs Week 2 Rankings (1=5)
Docs Week 2 Rankings (1=5)
1. New England 2-0-0
Through two weeks, the New England Patriots have outscored their opponents 76-3. That, my friends, is how you remain atop a Power Rankings exercise on the internet. Antonio Brown made his Patriots debut, finishing with four catches and the first touchdown reception of his career on a pass not thrown by Ben Roethlisberger. Mr. Big Chest fireworks aside, this was not a dominant performance by a Patriots offense in cruise control against a truly woeful Dolphins team. It's a reminder that New England's most talented unit is the defense, which you know just tickles an old DC like Bill Belichick. Maybe that explains why Belichick sent the house at Poor Josh Rosen (this is his official name now) on the last snap of a 43-0 game. The 16-0 talk will continue to build as the schedule stays soft next week, with a home date against the injury-ravaged Jets.
2. Baltimore
It wasn't nearly as easy as it was against the Dolphins in Week 1, but the Ravens are 2-0 nonetheless after beating the Cardinals on Sunday. Lamar Jackson's 41-yard deep shot to Marquise Brown on third-and-11 late in the fourth quarter was the play of this game, defined by a perfectly thrown ball and great sideline catch. Brown is the guy who takes the top off the defense, but he's far from Jackson's only weapon. Tight end Mark Andrews now has two 100-yard games in two tries, and Mark Ingram is -- just like in his Saints days -- a fine second-banana running back. The Numero Uno Banana? Well, that would be Lamar Jackson, who rushed for 120 yards on 16 carries. That yardage total wasn't inflated by one breakaway; rather, it was a series of 8, 10, 12 and 14-yard runs that slowly broke Arizona's back. This Sunday brings us Lamar vs. Mahomes at Arrowhead. Buckle up.
3. San Francisco
All those summertime concerns feel so far away now, don't they? The 49ers are 2-0 and coming off a game in which the offense dominated in the way the Niners envisioned when they lured Kyle Shanahan from Atlanta to the Bay. Jimmy Garoppolo -- looking increasingly comfortable in his second start since undergoing knee surgery last year -- threw for 297 yards and tied a career high with three touchdown passes. Jimmy G was supported by a 49ers rushing attack that piled up 259 yards on the ground. Matt Breida -- playing like a Pro Bowl candidate -- led the way with 121 yards on just 12 carries. Raheem Mostert added 151 yards of total offense and a touchdown. Marquise Goodwin broke wide open -- 13.2 yards of separation from the nearest defender (!), per Next Gen Stats, when the ball arrived -- to initiate the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown. Shanahan has some pieces to work with here, and it should be a joy to watch.
4. Kansas City
Here were Patrick Mahomes' final five completions of the first half against the Raiders: 42-yard TD to Mecole Hardman, 32 yards to Damien Williams, 43 yards to Demarcus Robinson, a 27-yard TD to Travis Kelce and a 39-yard TD to Robinson. Superman stuff. Mahomes threw for an astounding 278 yards and four touchdowns in the second quarter alone and finished a game with more than 350 yards and four-plus touchdowns for the fourth time in 18 career starts. Oh, and he turned 24 today. Happy birthday, MVP. Kansas City's defense -- which Derek Carr labeled as "really good" after the game -- deserves credit after holding Oakland scoreless in the final three quarters. Answer me this: Who (besides New England) has a chance of beating this team if Mahomes stays healthy and Steve Spagnuolo's defense develops into an above-average unit?
5. Dallas
The Cowboys are locked in. Sunday was a complete effort on both sides of the ball, but let's call special attention to the offensive line, which plays a lot like the Dallas lines that dominated the trenches earlier this decade. Ezekiel Elliott went for over 100 yards with a score, and Dak Prescott was sacked once and hit only twice by an overmatched Redskins front seven. Prescott, perhaps emboldened by his star running back and ace blocking, is playing with MVP-like confidence. He had another big game against Washington, throwing for three touchdowns, averaging 9.0 yards per attempt and rushing for 69 yards, which included a career-high 42-yard sprint in the second quarter. Promising second-year wideout Michael Gallup is going to miss time with a knee injury, but enter Devin Smith, the star-crossed former Jets second-round pick, who channeled his blazing Ohio State days on a 51-yard touchdown reception.
Docs Week 2 Rankings (1=5)
1. New England 2-0-0
Through two weeks, the New England Patriots have outscored their opponents 76-3. That, my friends, is how you remain atop a Power Rankings exercise on the internet. Antonio Brown made his Patriots debut, finishing with four catches and the first touchdown reception of his career on a pass not thrown by Ben Roethlisberger. Mr. Big Chest fireworks aside, this was not a dominant performance by a Patriots offense in cruise control against a truly woeful Dolphins team. It's a reminder that New England's most talented unit is the defense, which you know just tickles an old DC like Bill Belichick. Maybe that explains why Belichick sent the house at Poor Josh Rosen (this is his official name now) on the last snap of a 43-0 game. The 16-0 talk will continue to build as the schedule stays soft next week, with a home date against the injury-ravaged Jets.
2. Baltimore
It wasn't nearly as easy as it was against the Dolphins in Week 1, but the Ravens are 2-0 nonetheless after beating the Cardinals on Sunday. Lamar Jackson's 41-yard deep shot to Marquise Brown on third-and-11 late in the fourth quarter was the play of this game, defined by a perfectly thrown ball and great sideline catch. Brown is the guy who takes the top off the defense, but he's far from Jackson's only weapon. Tight end Mark Andrews now has two 100-yard games in two tries, and Mark Ingram is -- just like in his Saints days -- a fine second-banana running back. The Numero Uno Banana? Well, that would be Lamar Jackson, who rushed for 120 yards on 16 carries. That yardage total wasn't inflated by one breakaway; rather, it was a series of 8, 10, 12 and 14-yard runs that slowly broke Arizona's back. This Sunday brings us Lamar vs. Mahomes at Arrowhead. Buckle up.
3. San Francisco
All those summertime concerns feel so far away now, don't they? The 49ers are 2-0 and coming off a game in which the offense dominated in the way the Niners envisioned when they lured Kyle Shanahan from Atlanta to the Bay. Jimmy Garoppolo -- looking increasingly comfortable in his second start since undergoing knee surgery last year -- threw for 297 yards and tied a career high with three touchdown passes. Jimmy G was supported by a 49ers rushing attack that piled up 259 yards on the ground. Matt Breida -- playing like a Pro Bowl candidate -- led the way with 121 yards on just 12 carries. Raheem Mostert added 151 yards of total offense and a touchdown. Marquise Goodwin broke wide open -- 13.2 yards of separation from the nearest defender (!), per Next Gen Stats, when the ball arrived -- to initiate the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown. Shanahan has some pieces to work with here, and it should be a joy to watch.
4. Kansas City
Here were Patrick Mahomes' final five completions of the first half against the Raiders: 42-yard TD to Mecole Hardman, 32 yards to Damien Williams, 43 yards to Demarcus Robinson, a 27-yard TD to Travis Kelce and a 39-yard TD to Robinson. Superman stuff. Mahomes threw for an astounding 278 yards and four touchdowns in the second quarter alone and finished a game with more than 350 yards and four-plus touchdowns for the fourth time in 18 career starts. Oh, and he turned 24 today. Happy birthday, MVP. Kansas City's defense -- which Derek Carr labeled as "really good" after the game -- deserves credit after holding Oakland scoreless in the final three quarters. Answer me this: Who (besides New England) has a chance of beating this team if Mahomes stays healthy and Steve Spagnuolo's defense develops into an above-average unit?
5. Dallas
The Cowboys are locked in. Sunday was a complete effort on both sides of the ball, but let's call special attention to the offensive line, which plays a lot like the Dallas lines that dominated the trenches earlier this decade. Ezekiel Elliott went for over 100 yards with a score, and Dak Prescott was sacked once and hit only twice by an overmatched Redskins front seven. Prescott, perhaps emboldened by his star running back and ace blocking, is playing with MVP-like confidence. He had another big game against Washington, throwing for three touchdowns, averaging 9.0 yards per attempt and rushing for 69 yards, which included a career-high 42-yard sprint in the second quarter. Promising second-year wideout Michael Gallup is going to miss time with a knee injury, but enter Devin Smith, the star-crossed former Jets second-round pick, who channeled his blazing Ohio State days on a 51-yard touchdown reception.
drbrumley
Well-known member
6-10
6-10
6. Los Angeles Rams
Drew Brees' thumb injury took a lot of juice out of Sunday's NFC Championship Game rematch between New Orleans and Los Angeles, but don't hate on the Rams if they don't feel any less pleased about a convincing win. The offense remains out of sync when compared to the best times of the last two seasons under Sean McVay, but Sunday brought progress. The most impressive play? A gorgeous 57-yard rainbow from Jared Goff to Brandin Cooks to set up L.A.'s opening field goal. Cooper Kupp, meanwhile, has not skipped a beat following reconstructive knee surgery. He's been Goff's favorite receiver this season, leading the team with 19 targets. His 66-yard catch-and-run to the goal line showed speed and power that backs up the offseason reports that he's more explosive now than he was before the ACL tear. The Rams are 2-0 and have yet to hit their stride. Good place to be.
7. Buffalo
For the second straight week, the Bills came to the Meadowlands and throttled the home offense. My favorite stat from the 28-14 win over the Giants comes from ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, who noted that only three of the Giants' 12 drives spanned more than six plays. That's called having your way with an opponent. The Bills took control of the game with three consecutive touchdown drives spanning the first and second quarters. Unlike his sloppy start and strong close against the Jets in the opener, Josh Allen delivered a strong, consistent performance, picking on the Giants' weak secondary for his second straight game of more than 250 yards passing. Allen spread the ball around to eight different receivers and avoided making the mental errors that have held him back in the past. Get excited, Bills fans. This season could be fun.
8. Green Bay
What a strange, strange game. The Packers ripped off touchdown drives of 75, 63 and 33 yards to start the day against the Vikings ... then were shut out the rest of the way, gaining just 164 more yards in an eventual 21-16 win. Had the Vikings not repeatedly shot themselves in the foot (and been on the wrong end of three questionable OPI calls), Green Bay probably loses this game. So, yes, we saw progress in the Aaron Rodgers-Matt LaFleur marriage in Week 2 -- but not nearly as much as one would expect, given how the game started. For the second straight week, it was Mike Pettine's defense that took the Packers home. Kevin King's fourth-quarter interception in the end zone preserved Green Bay's lead with five minutes to play, and after another Packers three-and-out, the D got one last stop to finish off Minnesota.
9. Seattle
For the second consecutive week, we saw how having Russell Wilson on your side in a close game can make all the difference. Wilson's numbers against the Steelers were excellent (29 for 35, 300 yards, 3 TDs), but I was most impressed by how the QB closed out Pittsburgh after the Steelers scored a touchdown to pull within two. After taking over at his own 25 with 5:34 to play, Wilson converted a pair of first downs on passes to tight end Will Dissly and receiver Tyler Lockett, then scrambled 10 yards for a third first down, scrambled again for 9 yards (a play wiped out by penalty), then scrambled once more on third-and-16, picking up 15 yards to set up Chris Carson for the game-clinching fourth-and-1 conversion. Art. Speaking of Dissly, the 2018 fourth-round pick was targeted five times and finished with five catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Another hit for general manager John Schneider.
10. Detroit
There's nothing like a dramatic comeback win at home to wash out the bad taste of last week's disappointing draw with the Cardinals. Kenny Golladay was the hero, pulling in the Matthew Stafford 31-yard touchdown pass with 7:21 to play to put the Lions ahead for good in the fourth quarter. Golladay -- who finished with eight catches for 117 yards and the TD -- looks like he'll build off the 1,000-yard season of a year ago that seemed to announce the Lions had found their playmaking successor to Calvin Johnson at wide receiver. Golladay's big frame and explosive athleticism pop off the screen, and it's clear by Stafford's throws that he has a lot of faith in his 25-year-old teammate. Lastly, let's give some props to cornerback Darius Slay, who got humbled by Keenan Allen for the better part of four quarters, then saved the day with an end-zone interception of Philip Rivers in the final minutes.
6-10
6. Los Angeles Rams
Drew Brees' thumb injury took a lot of juice out of Sunday's NFC Championship Game rematch between New Orleans and Los Angeles, but don't hate on the Rams if they don't feel any less pleased about a convincing win. The offense remains out of sync when compared to the best times of the last two seasons under Sean McVay, but Sunday brought progress. The most impressive play? A gorgeous 57-yard rainbow from Jared Goff to Brandin Cooks to set up L.A.'s opening field goal. Cooper Kupp, meanwhile, has not skipped a beat following reconstructive knee surgery. He's been Goff's favorite receiver this season, leading the team with 19 targets. His 66-yard catch-and-run to the goal line showed speed and power that backs up the offseason reports that he's more explosive now than he was before the ACL tear. The Rams are 2-0 and have yet to hit their stride. Good place to be.
7. Buffalo
For the second straight week, the Bills came to the Meadowlands and throttled the home offense. My favorite stat from the 28-14 win over the Giants comes from ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, who noted that only three of the Giants' 12 drives spanned more than six plays. That's called having your way with an opponent. The Bills took control of the game with three consecutive touchdown drives spanning the first and second quarters. Unlike his sloppy start and strong close against the Jets in the opener, Josh Allen delivered a strong, consistent performance, picking on the Giants' weak secondary for his second straight game of more than 250 yards passing. Allen spread the ball around to eight different receivers and avoided making the mental errors that have held him back in the past. Get excited, Bills fans. This season could be fun.
8. Green Bay
What a strange, strange game. The Packers ripped off touchdown drives of 75, 63 and 33 yards to start the day against the Vikings ... then were shut out the rest of the way, gaining just 164 more yards in an eventual 21-16 win. Had the Vikings not repeatedly shot themselves in the foot (and been on the wrong end of three questionable OPI calls), Green Bay probably loses this game. So, yes, we saw progress in the Aaron Rodgers-Matt LaFleur marriage in Week 2 -- but not nearly as much as one would expect, given how the game started. For the second straight week, it was Mike Pettine's defense that took the Packers home. Kevin King's fourth-quarter interception in the end zone preserved Green Bay's lead with five minutes to play, and after another Packers three-and-out, the D got one last stop to finish off Minnesota.
9. Seattle
For the second consecutive week, we saw how having Russell Wilson on your side in a close game can make all the difference. Wilson's numbers against the Steelers were excellent (29 for 35, 300 yards, 3 TDs), but I was most impressed by how the QB closed out Pittsburgh after the Steelers scored a touchdown to pull within two. After taking over at his own 25 with 5:34 to play, Wilson converted a pair of first downs on passes to tight end Will Dissly and receiver Tyler Lockett, then scrambled 10 yards for a third first down, scrambled again for 9 yards (a play wiped out by penalty), then scrambled once more on third-and-16, picking up 15 yards to set up Chris Carson for the game-clinching fourth-and-1 conversion. Art. Speaking of Dissly, the 2018 fourth-round pick was targeted five times and finished with five catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Another hit for general manager John Schneider.
10. Detroit
There's nothing like a dramatic comeback win at home to wash out the bad taste of last week's disappointing draw with the Cardinals. Kenny Golladay was the hero, pulling in the Matthew Stafford 31-yard touchdown pass with 7:21 to play to put the Lions ahead for good in the fourth quarter. Golladay -- who finished with eight catches for 117 yards and the TD -- looks like he'll build off the 1,000-yard season of a year ago that seemed to announce the Lions had found their playmaking successor to Calvin Johnson at wide receiver. Golladay's big frame and explosive athleticism pop off the screen, and it's clear by Stafford's throws that he has a lot of faith in his 25-year-old teammate. Lastly, let's give some props to cornerback Darius Slay, who got humbled by Keenan Allen for the better part of four quarters, then saved the day with an end-zone interception of Philip Rivers in the final minutes.
drbrumley
Well-known member
11-15
11-15
11. Tennessee
After sucking in their fan base with an explosive second-half effort against the Browns in Week 1, the Titans reverted back to their old ways in a home-opener loss to the Colts. The culprit was again an ineffectual offense unable to make a big play when it mattered. Marcus Mariota struggled throughout, finishing with just 154 air yards in the face of consistent Colts pressure. Mariota had a chance to salvage his day in Tennessee's final possession, but could not cobble together a drive to put his team in field-goal range. That Mariota's lone touchdown came on a tackle-eligible pass to offensive lineman David Quessenberry tells you everything you need to know about the lack of explosiveness on display. Time to send out a missing-persons report on buzzed-about free-agent acquisition Adam Humphries. He has three catches for 4 yards through two games. Not a typo
12. Minnesota
What a frustrating Sunday for the Vikings, who fell in a 21-0 hole, then took control of the game, but could not figure out a way to get over the hump against the Packers. Much of the failure falls at the feet of Kirk Cousins, the pricey quarterback who was brought in to be a steadying presence in tense divisional showdowns like this. At Lambeau Field, Cousins buckled. His worst moment came with 5:17 to play in the fourth quarter, when he was intercepted on a first-and-goal lob into double coverage. It was a terrible decision, and Minnesota never threatened again. It should be noted that the Vikings were on the wrong end of three questionable offensive pass interference calls, including a penalty buzzed down from upstairs that negated a Stefon Diggs TD. Mike Zimmer won't sleep 'til Thursday.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
A terrible loss for the Chargers. Two touchdowns called back by penalty, a goal-line fumble by Austin Ekeler, and Ty Long misses field-goal tries from 41 and 39 in an eventual 13-10 defeat to the Lions. Philip Rivers' pained expression on the sideline after the second Long miss said it all. Sand is running through the hour glass for the 37-year-old quarterback -- he doesn't have time for these special teams-related shenanigans anymore. Still, Rivers could have been better in this one. He took a bad delay-of-game penalty on the Chargers' last drive, then forced a ball into double coverage on third-and-19 that was intercepted in the end zone, with Los Angeles down just three and in field goal range (purportedly). It was an overly difficult throw, but perhaps Rivers wasn't going to put the game back in Long's hands. The Chargers have to regroup after losing a game you probably win nine out of 10 times. Those sting the most.
14. Philadelphia
Nelson Agholor had the game in his hands ... he just couldn't hold onto it. Carson Wentz's perfectly placed dart down the far sideline with two minutes to play hit his receiver in stride, but Agholor dropped what would have been a sure touchdown. (For what it's worth, Agholor confirmed he lost it in the lights in the postgame, but still took accountability.) When Zach Ertz was stopped one foot short of a first down deep in Falcons territory, it was the final painful chapter in a frustrating loss to the Falcons. It's a shame, too, because this was one of the more enjoyable Wentz games ever. The quarterback struggled mightily in the first half and lost two of his top playmakers, Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, to injury, but he nearly brought the Eagles all the way back with a series of money throws in high-leverage spots. It was a reminder that, even in defeat, Philadelphia is in good hands. Now the Eagles have to get healthy after a punishing Sunday.
15. Houston
The Texans have something in their new 1-2 punch at running back. For the second straight week, Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson made a big impact on the Houston offense, this time resulting in a win over the Jaguars. Hyde ran for 90 yards on 20 carries; Johnson added 31 yards on six carries. The Texans need that balance, especially on days when Deshaun Watson and the Texans' passing game can't light it up like they did against the Saints in the opener. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Whitney Mercilus looks revitalized with Jadeveon Clowney now doing his work in Seattle. Mercilus had two sacks and two forced fumbles against the Jaguars, giving Houston's defense a much-needed counterpart to J.J. Watt. Speaking of Watt, it was another quiet day for the All-Pro, who finished with two tackles, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hit.
11-15
11. Tennessee
After sucking in their fan base with an explosive second-half effort against the Browns in Week 1, the Titans reverted back to their old ways in a home-opener loss to the Colts. The culprit was again an ineffectual offense unable to make a big play when it mattered. Marcus Mariota struggled throughout, finishing with just 154 air yards in the face of consistent Colts pressure. Mariota had a chance to salvage his day in Tennessee's final possession, but could not cobble together a drive to put his team in field-goal range. That Mariota's lone touchdown came on a tackle-eligible pass to offensive lineman David Quessenberry tells you everything you need to know about the lack of explosiveness on display. Time to send out a missing-persons report on buzzed-about free-agent acquisition Adam Humphries. He has three catches for 4 yards through two games. Not a typo
12. Minnesota
What a frustrating Sunday for the Vikings, who fell in a 21-0 hole, then took control of the game, but could not figure out a way to get over the hump against the Packers. Much of the failure falls at the feet of Kirk Cousins, the pricey quarterback who was brought in to be a steadying presence in tense divisional showdowns like this. At Lambeau Field, Cousins buckled. His worst moment came with 5:17 to play in the fourth quarter, when he was intercepted on a first-and-goal lob into double coverage. It was a terrible decision, and Minnesota never threatened again. It should be noted that the Vikings were on the wrong end of three questionable offensive pass interference calls, including a penalty buzzed down from upstairs that negated a Stefon Diggs TD. Mike Zimmer won't sleep 'til Thursday.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
A terrible loss for the Chargers. Two touchdowns called back by penalty, a goal-line fumble by Austin Ekeler, and Ty Long misses field-goal tries from 41 and 39 in an eventual 13-10 defeat to the Lions. Philip Rivers' pained expression on the sideline after the second Long miss said it all. Sand is running through the hour glass for the 37-year-old quarterback -- he doesn't have time for these special teams-related shenanigans anymore. Still, Rivers could have been better in this one. He took a bad delay-of-game penalty on the Chargers' last drive, then forced a ball into double coverage on third-and-19 that was intercepted in the end zone, with Los Angeles down just three and in field goal range (purportedly). It was an overly difficult throw, but perhaps Rivers wasn't going to put the game back in Long's hands. The Chargers have to regroup after losing a game you probably win nine out of 10 times. Those sting the most.
14. Philadelphia
Nelson Agholor had the game in his hands ... he just couldn't hold onto it. Carson Wentz's perfectly placed dart down the far sideline with two minutes to play hit his receiver in stride, but Agholor dropped what would have been a sure touchdown. (For what it's worth, Agholor confirmed he lost it in the lights in the postgame, but still took accountability.) When Zach Ertz was stopped one foot short of a first down deep in Falcons territory, it was the final painful chapter in a frustrating loss to the Falcons. It's a shame, too, because this was one of the more enjoyable Wentz games ever. The quarterback struggled mightily in the first half and lost two of his top playmakers, Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, to injury, but he nearly brought the Eagles all the way back with a series of money throws in high-leverage spots. It was a reminder that, even in defeat, Philadelphia is in good hands. Now the Eagles have to get healthy after a punishing Sunday.
15. Houston
The Texans have something in their new 1-2 punch at running back. For the second straight week, Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson made a big impact on the Houston offense, this time resulting in a win over the Jaguars. Hyde ran for 90 yards on 20 carries; Johnson added 31 yards on six carries. The Texans need that balance, especially on days when Deshaun Watson and the Texans' passing game can't light it up like they did against the Saints in the opener. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Whitney Mercilus looks revitalized with Jadeveon Clowney now doing his work in Seattle. Mercilus had two sacks and two forced fumbles against the Jaguars, giving Houston's defense a much-needed counterpart to J.J. Watt. Speaking of Watt, it was another quiet day for the All-Pro, who finished with two tackles, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hit.
drbrumley
Well-known member
16-20
16-20
16. Indianapolis
Turns out the Colts still own the Titans, even with Andrew Luck enjoying early retirement. Jacoby Brissett connected with T.Y. Hilton for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and the Indy defense smothered a Marcus Mariota-led offense that had so much success moving the ball up and down the field a week earlier against the Browns. Despite the win, much of the postgame focus was on kicker Adam Vinatieri, who missed two more extra points on Sunday and is up to seven misses in his last three games (including last January's playoff clunker against the Chiefs). Reports out of Indianapolis had Vinatieri leaning toward retirement after the game, but it appears Frank Reich and the Colts talked him out of it, as Reich announced on Monday that Vinatieri will kick against the Falcons in Week 3. If he struggles again, you don't imagine the Colts will fight quite as hard to change the future Hall of Famer's mind.
17. Chicago
How can you not feel happy for Eddy Pineiro? Bears coach Matt Nagy waged psychological warfare with his kickers all summer, showing an almost maniacal determination to find someone with the physical ability and mental resolve not to double-doink it when it matters most. When the SI story came out detailing the methods of Nagy's madness, how the team brought in nine kickers and used a byzantine scoring system posted daily at team headquarters, the whole saga felt doomed. But there was Eddy Money (R.I.P.) smoking a 53-yard field goal through the uprights to steal a win from the Broncos at Mile High. Pineiro only had that chance because Mitchell Trubisky made the biggest throw of his young season, a 25-yard strike to Allen Robinson to put the Bears on the fringe of field-goal range with one second to play. It's a throw that could be huge from a confidence perspective going forward.
18. Tampa Bay
Welcome to the Todd Bowles Redemption Season. The Bucs' defensive coordinator saw his reputation take a hit during four forgettable seasons as head coach of the Jets, but Thursday was a reminder of why Bowles got that gig in the first place. The man can flat coach ball on D, and his unit stifled Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey in a huge prime-time win over the Panthers. The victory snapped the Bucs' seven-game losing streak away from home and sent the rival Panthers to a dark place at 0-2. Tampa Bay's defense has been excellent through two games, allowing just one touchdown in Week 1 against the 49ers and four piddly field goals to Carolina. Shaquil Barrett piled up three sacks, and Vernon Hargreaves saved the day in the final minute with his tackle of McCaffrey at the 2-yard line. This isn't the Bucs team we all envisioned when Bruce Arians came aboard as head coach, but it'll play.
19. Carolina
Cam Newton doesn't seem right. That should be evident after watching the 30-year-old's performance against the Bucs in a dispiriting Thursday night loss. Newton repeatedly missed gimme completions with inaccurate throws and -- for the second straight week -- stayed glued to the pocket instead of using his athleticism to extend plays and improvise big gains with his feet. Most disconcertingly, his arm strength was suspect. This was most notable on a key fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter, when Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett came free on a blitz. Newton saw Barrett, quickly loaded up and fired toward Curtis Samuel, who had gained separation behind the secondary. Newton's pass fell woefully short and far off the target. That was six points during Cam's MVP season in 2015. You wonder if the Panthers are worried that guy is gone for good.
20. Cleveland
Getting the injury-ravaged Jets was a perfect antidote for the Browns after their Week 1 stumble. The highlight of the 23-3 win was a slant pass from Baker Mayfield to Odell Beckham Jr., who took it 89 yards to the house. It was the longest play of Beckham's career and it came in the building where he became a star with the Giants. The TD also served as a statistical lifesaver for Mayfield, who was not sharp against a talent-deficient Jets secondary. On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett is up to five sacks in 2019 after recording three on Monday. The former No. 1 overall pick is an early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. The Browns have effectively rebooted their season at 1-1 and will compete in a division where Ben Roethlisberger is no longer a factor. Still plenty of reason for optimism in Believeland.
16-20
16. Indianapolis
Turns out the Colts still own the Titans, even with Andrew Luck enjoying early retirement. Jacoby Brissett connected with T.Y. Hilton for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and the Indy defense smothered a Marcus Mariota-led offense that had so much success moving the ball up and down the field a week earlier against the Browns. Despite the win, much of the postgame focus was on kicker Adam Vinatieri, who missed two more extra points on Sunday and is up to seven misses in his last three games (including last January's playoff clunker against the Chiefs). Reports out of Indianapolis had Vinatieri leaning toward retirement after the game, but it appears Frank Reich and the Colts talked him out of it, as Reich announced on Monday that Vinatieri will kick against the Falcons in Week 3. If he struggles again, you don't imagine the Colts will fight quite as hard to change the future Hall of Famer's mind.
17. Chicago
How can you not feel happy for Eddy Pineiro? Bears coach Matt Nagy waged psychological warfare with his kickers all summer, showing an almost maniacal determination to find someone with the physical ability and mental resolve not to double-doink it when it matters most. When the SI story came out detailing the methods of Nagy's madness, how the team brought in nine kickers and used a byzantine scoring system posted daily at team headquarters, the whole saga felt doomed. But there was Eddy Money (R.I.P.) smoking a 53-yard field goal through the uprights to steal a win from the Broncos at Mile High. Pineiro only had that chance because Mitchell Trubisky made the biggest throw of his young season, a 25-yard strike to Allen Robinson to put the Bears on the fringe of field-goal range with one second to play. It's a throw that could be huge from a confidence perspective going forward.
18. Tampa Bay
Welcome to the Todd Bowles Redemption Season. The Bucs' defensive coordinator saw his reputation take a hit during four forgettable seasons as head coach of the Jets, but Thursday was a reminder of why Bowles got that gig in the first place. The man can flat coach ball on D, and his unit stifled Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey in a huge prime-time win over the Panthers. The victory snapped the Bucs' seven-game losing streak away from home and sent the rival Panthers to a dark place at 0-2. Tampa Bay's defense has been excellent through two games, allowing just one touchdown in Week 1 against the 49ers and four piddly field goals to Carolina. Shaquil Barrett piled up three sacks, and Vernon Hargreaves saved the day in the final minute with his tackle of McCaffrey at the 2-yard line. This isn't the Bucs team we all envisioned when Bruce Arians came aboard as head coach, but it'll play.
19. Carolina
Cam Newton doesn't seem right. That should be evident after watching the 30-year-old's performance against the Bucs in a dispiriting Thursday night loss. Newton repeatedly missed gimme completions with inaccurate throws and -- for the second straight week -- stayed glued to the pocket instead of using his athleticism to extend plays and improvise big gains with his feet. Most disconcertingly, his arm strength was suspect. This was most notable on a key fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter, when Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett came free on a blitz. Newton saw Barrett, quickly loaded up and fired toward Curtis Samuel, who had gained separation behind the secondary. Newton's pass fell woefully short and far off the target. That was six points during Cam's MVP season in 2015. You wonder if the Panthers are worried that guy is gone for good.
20. Cleveland
Getting the injury-ravaged Jets was a perfect antidote for the Browns after their Week 1 stumble. The highlight of the 23-3 win was a slant pass from Baker Mayfield to Odell Beckham Jr., who took it 89 yards to the house. It was the longest play of Beckham's career and it came in the building where he became a star with the Giants. The TD also served as a statistical lifesaver for Mayfield, who was not sharp against a talent-deficient Jets secondary. On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett is up to five sacks in 2019 after recording three on Monday. The former No. 1 overall pick is an early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. The Browns have effectively rebooted their season at 1-1 and will compete in a division where Ben Roethlisberger is no longer a factor. Still plenty of reason for optimism in Believeland.
drbrumley
Well-known member
21-25
21-25
21. Oakland
In what might have been the final game in NFL history to be played on a baseball dirt infield, the Raiders' defense held reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes hitless in three of his four at-bats. The problem was that one at-bat -- or quarter -- featured a moon shot of Ruthian proportions. Mahomes threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the second quarter ( just the second quarter), the only scoring the Raiders allowed in a 28-10 loss. Oakland actually jumped out to a 10-0 lead and forced the mighty Chiefs offense to punt on back-to-back drives to start as the Black Hole roared. Then Mahomes shut everyone up. No shame in that for the Raiders, who still should feel pretty good about themselves through two weeks. The next six weeks will be about survival, with five straight games away from Oakland, including a London trip to face the Bears (followed by a bye week) and road matchups against the Vikings, Colts, Packers and Texans.
22. Atlanta
It was a thing of beauty. On fourth-and-3 and staring down the very real possibility of 0-2, Matt Ryan checked into a screen pass to Julio Jones and, moments later, the Falcons were ahead of the Eagles for good. Ryan was at his field-general best, Jones showed the playmaking ability that will put him in Canton one day, and Jake Matthews delivered the pancake block to spring Jones that left tackles dream about. It was the best play of an otherwise-sloppy night for Ryan, who missed open receivers and threw three interceptions. His final pass wiped away all sins. We'd be remiss not to bring attention to cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who saved the game in the final minute with a textbook tackle of Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz on fourth down. If Ertz gets an extra half yard, the Eagles have first-and-goal. Instead, Oliver sent the Falcons' offense back on the field in victory formation.
23. New Orleans
Sunday started as an opportunity for some sweet revenge on the Rams after January's infamous NFC Championship Game officiating fiasco. Instead, the Saints find themselves in crisis after Drew Brees suffered a thumb injury that will require surgery and at least six weeks of recovery time. Sean Payton now turns to Teddy Bridgewater to keep the Saints afloat. The trepidation here for New Orleans stems from the fact that Bridgewater did not look overly sharp against the Rams and failed to inspire confidence in his lone Saints start, a Week 17 loss last December. He'll need to be better, but you get the feeling with Payton and the skill players around him, the former first-round pick will make enough plays to keep the team competitive until Brees returns. If not, we might just see intriguing utility man Taysom Hill get his shot. Speaking of Bridgewater, you think he's happy he turned down the Dolphins starting job to stay on as the backup with the Saints?
24. Arizona
Two weeks in, and it's safe to say Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray won't be barnstorming across America with an unstoppable, paradigm-shifting offensive attack. There's no shame in that, of course. That was always presented as an unlikely, best-case scenario for Cardinals faithful. But you want to see more consistency from the unit, and a lot better execution in the red zone. Murray took the Cardinals deep into Ravens territory three times in the first three quarters on Sunday, but Arizona had to settle on field goals of 22, 21 and 21 yards. In a game decided by six points, that hurts. Kingsbury seemed reluctant to trust his running game when the Cards got close to the end zone, instead preferring to run fades to Larry Fitzgerald. In fact, Arizona ran the ball just twice in 10 red zone plays during those stalled field goal drives. Mix it up, boss.
25. Denver
There are bad losses, there are terrible losses, and then there's what happened to the Broncos on Sunday at Mile High. If that final second had ticked off following Allen Robinson's catch, if Eddy Pineiro had yanked his 53-yard field-goal attempt wide left or right, the Broncos are 1-1 and feeling confident about what lies ahead. But the clock halted at one second and Pineiro's kick was true, and now the Broncos find themselves at an early crisis point. One positive in that roller-coaster of a final stretch came on offense, where Joe Flacco and Co. showed life on a 12-play, 62-yard drive that culminated in a brilliant Emmanuel Sanders catch in the back of the end zone and a 2-point conversion (also by Sanders) that gave Denver a short-lived 14-13 lead. One question: What happened to Denver's supposedly fearsome pass rush? Zero sacks through two games. Seems impossible.
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21. Oakland
In what might have been the final game in NFL history to be played on a baseball dirt infield, the Raiders' defense held reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes hitless in three of his four at-bats. The problem was that one at-bat -- or quarter -- featured a moon shot of Ruthian proportions. Mahomes threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the second quarter ( just the second quarter), the only scoring the Raiders allowed in a 28-10 loss. Oakland actually jumped out to a 10-0 lead and forced the mighty Chiefs offense to punt on back-to-back drives to start as the Black Hole roared. Then Mahomes shut everyone up. No shame in that for the Raiders, who still should feel pretty good about themselves through two weeks. The next six weeks will be about survival, with five straight games away from Oakland, including a London trip to face the Bears (followed by a bye week) and road matchups against the Vikings, Colts, Packers and Texans.
22. Atlanta
It was a thing of beauty. On fourth-and-3 and staring down the very real possibility of 0-2, Matt Ryan checked into a screen pass to Julio Jones and, moments later, the Falcons were ahead of the Eagles for good. Ryan was at his field-general best, Jones showed the playmaking ability that will put him in Canton one day, and Jake Matthews delivered the pancake block to spring Jones that left tackles dream about. It was the best play of an otherwise-sloppy night for Ryan, who missed open receivers and threw three interceptions. His final pass wiped away all sins. We'd be remiss not to bring attention to cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who saved the game in the final minute with a textbook tackle of Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz on fourth down. If Ertz gets an extra half yard, the Eagles have first-and-goal. Instead, Oliver sent the Falcons' offense back on the field in victory formation.
23. New Orleans
Sunday started as an opportunity for some sweet revenge on the Rams after January's infamous NFC Championship Game officiating fiasco. Instead, the Saints find themselves in crisis after Drew Brees suffered a thumb injury that will require surgery and at least six weeks of recovery time. Sean Payton now turns to Teddy Bridgewater to keep the Saints afloat. The trepidation here for New Orleans stems from the fact that Bridgewater did not look overly sharp against the Rams and failed to inspire confidence in his lone Saints start, a Week 17 loss last December. He'll need to be better, but you get the feeling with Payton and the skill players around him, the former first-round pick will make enough plays to keep the team competitive until Brees returns. If not, we might just see intriguing utility man Taysom Hill get his shot. Speaking of Bridgewater, you think he's happy he turned down the Dolphins starting job to stay on as the backup with the Saints?
24. Arizona
Two weeks in, and it's safe to say Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray won't be barnstorming across America with an unstoppable, paradigm-shifting offensive attack. There's no shame in that, of course. That was always presented as an unlikely, best-case scenario for Cardinals faithful. But you want to see more consistency from the unit, and a lot better execution in the red zone. Murray took the Cardinals deep into Ravens territory three times in the first three quarters on Sunday, but Arizona had to settle on field goals of 22, 21 and 21 yards. In a game decided by six points, that hurts. Kingsbury seemed reluctant to trust his running game when the Cards got close to the end zone, instead preferring to run fades to Larry Fitzgerald. In fact, Arizona ran the ball just twice in 10 red zone plays during those stalled field goal drives. Mix it up, boss.
25. Denver
There are bad losses, there are terrible losses, and then there's what happened to the Broncos on Sunday at Mile High. If that final second had ticked off following Allen Robinson's catch, if Eddy Pineiro had yanked his 53-yard field-goal attempt wide left or right, the Broncos are 1-1 and feeling confident about what lies ahead. But the clock halted at one second and Pineiro's kick was true, and now the Broncos find themselves at an early crisis point. One positive in that roller-coaster of a final stretch came on offense, where Joe Flacco and Co. showed life on a 12-play, 62-yard drive that culminated in a brilliant Emmanuel Sanders catch in the back of the end zone and a 2-point conversion (also by Sanders) that gave Denver a short-lived 14-13 lead. One question: What happened to Denver's supposedly fearsome pass rush? Zero sacks through two games. Seems impossible.
drbrumley
Well-known member
26-32
26-32
26. Washington
Defense was supposed to be the side of the football that carried the Redskins this season. Not so far. The D looked overmatched against a great Cowboys offense, unable to sniff Dak Prescott (two hits, one sack) and surrendering over 200 yards on the ground to Ezekiel Elliott and company. That's back-to-back weeks of 30-plus points for Redskins opponents, both division rivals. The trenches have been an issue in general for the Redskins during their 0-2 start. The ground game has averaged just 2.5 yards per carry on 30 rushes against the Eagles and Cowboys. On Sunday, it was Adrian Peterson's turn to repeatedly run into a wall of defenders. Jay Gruden was an obvious hot-seat candidate entering the season -- you have to wonder if defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is the first to go if Washington's defense tosses off another stinker next week in prime time against the Bears.
27. Jacksonville
Things have gotten ugly in a hurry for the Jaguars, now 0-2 and playing under the massive cloud of Jalen Ramsey's trade request. Don't consider it a coincidence that the trade-request reports surfaced a day after Ramsey and Jags coach Doug Marrone had a verbal altercation on the sideline during the team's loss to the Texans. They say winning cures everything, and that makes you wonder if things would be different this week had Leonard Fournette been able to crash into the end zone on Jacksonville's two-point conversion attempt in the final minute. Marrone gambled big and lost, and now he's dealing with wars on multiple fronts: Last place in the standings, starting quarterback on injured reserve, star cornerback looking for escape hatch. You wonder what Jaguars executive vice president Tom Coughlin is thinking right now. We might find out.
28. New York Jets
It's going to be one of those seasons for the Jets. The Week 1 loss to the Bills was brutal. The Sam Darnold mono diagnosis was hard to believe. A lopsided loss to the Browns on Monday night was more expected. Trevor Siemian's time as the QB1 lasted less than two quarters before he suffered a nasty ankle injury, and backup Luke Falk -- who started the day on the practice squad -- did a respectable job to keep things from devolving into a total farce. With Darnold out indefinitely and an upcoming schedule that includes the Patriots, Eagles, Cowboys and Patriots again, the Jets have a better chance of getting the first overall pick than making the playoffs. That wasn't supposed to be the road map under first-year coach Adam Gase, but things rarely stay on course for the Jets.
29. Cincinnati
A week ago, the Bengals looked like a fun, frisky bunch who could sneak up on teams in 2019. On Sunday, they looked like one of the worst teams in football. The real Bengals are probably somewhere in the middle. Against the 49ers, Cincy allowed 572 total yards, one of the worst defensive performances in franchise history. San Francisco went 5 for 9 on third down and averaged 6.2 yards per carry en route to a 259-yard day on the ground. The Bengals' defensive performance was doubly disappointing when you remember how stout the unit was against the Seahawks in Week 1, holding a Russell Wilson-led offense to just 232 yards in a one-point loss. Now it's back to the drawing board for first-year coach Zac Taylor, who's 0-2 with a road trip to meet the surprising 2-0 Bills next.
30. New York Giants
The time is here. On Monday, after another lifeless showing by the Giants on both sides of the ball in a loss to the Bills, coach Pat Shurmur told reporters he was not ready to name a starting quarterback for Big Blue's Week 3 matchup against the Buccaneers. A day later, apparently Shurmur was indeed ready -- and he made a change: Your turn, Danny Dimes. The franchise displayed substantial patience and loyalty to two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, but this certainly felt like an acceptable time to move to first-round pick Daniel Jones. Remember, Jones balled out during the preseason, a series of performances that planted a seed. Shurmur, meanwhile, knows there is no guarantee he gets a third year on the job if the G-Men bumble to 4-12 without any development at the game's most important position. Shurmur needs to show management that this team is going in the right direction. Having Jones on the field making plays and learning on the job is the only way to do it.
31. Pittsburgh
They're all gone now. Le'Veon Bell is in New York, Antonio Brown is in New England and now Ben Roethlisberger is on injured reserve after suffering an elbow injury on Sunday that will require season-ending surgery. It's an absolute disaster scenario for Mike Tomlin's team, 0-2 and suddenly in the precarious position of asking 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph to save the season. The silver lining here is that Rudolph played with confidence after replacing Roethlisberger against the Seahawks, throwing two touchdown passes to Vance McDonald and running the offense smoothly, which backs up his reputation as a diligent worker. Still, there's no sugarcoating the situation here: Heading into Week 1, the Steelers felt like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. After losing two games and their future Hall of Fame quarterback, the ceiling has been lowered considerably, even after their bold move to acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins.
32. Miami
Somehow, it got worse in Week 2. The Dolphins are now sitting on a minus-92 point differential after a 43-0 drubbing by the Patriots. That their blowout losses to the Ravens and Pats were played at home only adds to the indignity and the realization that we might be looking at one of the worst teams in the 100-year history of the NFL. On Monday, head coach Brian Flores (bless his heart) said Ryan Fitzpatrick would remain his starting quarterback for a Week 3 road matchup against the Cowboys. Yes, that's right. After back-to-back home slaughters, the Dolphins will travel to Dallas to face one of the most complete teams in the league, and with one more talented player taken out of the equation by Miami's decision to ship cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers Monday night. That's two former first-rounders (Fitzpatrick and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, traded to Houston in August) sent out of the building in the past few weeks. If you're still here, that means you've either read the entire Power Rankings -- thank you -- or you're a Dolphins fan who clicked in to read about your favorite team. If you're in the latter group, just know you deserve better.
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26. Washington
Defense was supposed to be the side of the football that carried the Redskins this season. Not so far. The D looked overmatched against a great Cowboys offense, unable to sniff Dak Prescott (two hits, one sack) and surrendering over 200 yards on the ground to Ezekiel Elliott and company. That's back-to-back weeks of 30-plus points for Redskins opponents, both division rivals. The trenches have been an issue in general for the Redskins during their 0-2 start. The ground game has averaged just 2.5 yards per carry on 30 rushes against the Eagles and Cowboys. On Sunday, it was Adrian Peterson's turn to repeatedly run into a wall of defenders. Jay Gruden was an obvious hot-seat candidate entering the season -- you have to wonder if defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is the first to go if Washington's defense tosses off another stinker next week in prime time against the Bears.
27. Jacksonville
Things have gotten ugly in a hurry for the Jaguars, now 0-2 and playing under the massive cloud of Jalen Ramsey's trade request. Don't consider it a coincidence that the trade-request reports surfaced a day after Ramsey and Jags coach Doug Marrone had a verbal altercation on the sideline during the team's loss to the Texans. They say winning cures everything, and that makes you wonder if things would be different this week had Leonard Fournette been able to crash into the end zone on Jacksonville's two-point conversion attempt in the final minute. Marrone gambled big and lost, and now he's dealing with wars on multiple fronts: Last place in the standings, starting quarterback on injured reserve, star cornerback looking for escape hatch. You wonder what Jaguars executive vice president Tom Coughlin is thinking right now. We might find out.
28. New York Jets
It's going to be one of those seasons for the Jets. The Week 1 loss to the Bills was brutal. The Sam Darnold mono diagnosis was hard to believe. A lopsided loss to the Browns on Monday night was more expected. Trevor Siemian's time as the QB1 lasted less than two quarters before he suffered a nasty ankle injury, and backup Luke Falk -- who started the day on the practice squad -- did a respectable job to keep things from devolving into a total farce. With Darnold out indefinitely and an upcoming schedule that includes the Patriots, Eagles, Cowboys and Patriots again, the Jets have a better chance of getting the first overall pick than making the playoffs. That wasn't supposed to be the road map under first-year coach Adam Gase, but things rarely stay on course for the Jets.
29. Cincinnati
A week ago, the Bengals looked like a fun, frisky bunch who could sneak up on teams in 2019. On Sunday, they looked like one of the worst teams in football. The real Bengals are probably somewhere in the middle. Against the 49ers, Cincy allowed 572 total yards, one of the worst defensive performances in franchise history. San Francisco went 5 for 9 on third down and averaged 6.2 yards per carry en route to a 259-yard day on the ground. The Bengals' defensive performance was doubly disappointing when you remember how stout the unit was against the Seahawks in Week 1, holding a Russell Wilson-led offense to just 232 yards in a one-point loss. Now it's back to the drawing board for first-year coach Zac Taylor, who's 0-2 with a road trip to meet the surprising 2-0 Bills next.
30. New York Giants
The time is here. On Monday, after another lifeless showing by the Giants on both sides of the ball in a loss to the Bills, coach Pat Shurmur told reporters he was not ready to name a starting quarterback for Big Blue's Week 3 matchup against the Buccaneers. A day later, apparently Shurmur was indeed ready -- and he made a change: Your turn, Danny Dimes. The franchise displayed substantial patience and loyalty to two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, but this certainly felt like an acceptable time to move to first-round pick Daniel Jones. Remember, Jones balled out during the preseason, a series of performances that planted a seed. Shurmur, meanwhile, knows there is no guarantee he gets a third year on the job if the G-Men bumble to 4-12 without any development at the game's most important position. Shurmur needs to show management that this team is going in the right direction. Having Jones on the field making plays and learning on the job is the only way to do it.
31. Pittsburgh
They're all gone now. Le'Veon Bell is in New York, Antonio Brown is in New England and now Ben Roethlisberger is on injured reserve after suffering an elbow injury on Sunday that will require season-ending surgery. It's an absolute disaster scenario for Mike Tomlin's team, 0-2 and suddenly in the precarious position of asking 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph to save the season. The silver lining here is that Rudolph played with confidence after replacing Roethlisberger against the Seahawks, throwing two touchdown passes to Vance McDonald and running the offense smoothly, which backs up his reputation as a diligent worker. Still, there's no sugarcoating the situation here: Heading into Week 1, the Steelers felt like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. After losing two games and their future Hall of Fame quarterback, the ceiling has been lowered considerably, even after their bold move to acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins.
32. Miami
Somehow, it got worse in Week 2. The Dolphins are now sitting on a minus-92 point differential after a 43-0 drubbing by the Patriots. That their blowout losses to the Ravens and Pats were played at home only adds to the indignity and the realization that we might be looking at one of the worst teams in the 100-year history of the NFL. On Monday, head coach Brian Flores (bless his heart) said Ryan Fitzpatrick would remain his starting quarterback for a Week 3 road matchup against the Cowboys. Yes, that's right. After back-to-back home slaughters, the Dolphins will travel to Dallas to face one of the most complete teams in the league, and with one more talented player taken out of the equation by Miami's decision to ship cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers Monday night. That's two former first-rounders (Fitzpatrick and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, traded to Houston in August) sent out of the building in the past few weeks. If you're still here, that means you've either read the entire Power Rankings -- thank you -- or you're a Dolphins fan who clicked in to read about your favorite team. If you're in the latter group, just know you deserve better.
Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
Wrong again!
I'm going to have to face facts, Jerry. With my math I'm a prognosticating Einstein. Without it, I'm the guy who washed Einsteins car.
lain: When someone helped him. :chuckle:
Well, who cares? I'll get back in the calculating saddle by mid season. I'm having fun throwing darts with you for now. Give me a minute and I'll look up what's coming.
1. Ten @ Jac (1.5): we should have picked the Jags on paper, but who would quibble taking the Titans given the turmoil?
2. Atl @ Ind (2.5): Indy is better without Luck than I thought they'd be, but the Falcons just got a tough win at home against the Eagles but this one is on the road, where the Birds don't fare well...the Colts won @ Ten last week on the road. I'm going to begin my "Colts as dark horse" routine now and take Indy in a pick'em game.
3. Cin @ Buf (6.5): at home I'd be conflicted, but in Buffalo, even though it's a lot of points against a team that looked anemic at home and is due for a rebound game, I'm taking the Bills.
4. Miami @ Dal (21.5): that's an ungodly point spread. Can any team be that comparatively bad? We'll see, but this is purely a heart chance to keep it closer by the Fins...and I don't think theirs is beating. Give me Dallas to cover the ridiculous. I mean, who wants to be the team that Miami kept it close with?
5. Den @ GB (7.5): I think this week is the week when Rodgers' offense catches fire to help that suddenly stout defense and everyone begins to more seriously consider the chance that the most talented qb of a generation may be chasing hardware. I'll take the Pack 31-17.
6. Det @ Phi (6.5): the Eagles need a balm after that road loss to Atlanta and Detroit had trouble finding points against a Chargers team that looks to be one of the fall offs from last years playoff run, sadly. I'll take Philly in a statement game.
7. Bal @ KC (6.5): this is the game of the week. I get that Mahomes may be the next great one from the new generation, but he still plays for a team with a suspect defense and there has to be at least one road line upset for the week. I'm going to take Baltimore to kick the card table over.
8. Oak @ Min (7.5): the Raiders aren't very good and the Vikings are...and in their backyard. I'll take the Vikes to cover easily.
9. Jests @ NE (22.5): a bigger line than Miami? Wow. And I can see it, but I'm going to side with the underdog on this one. New York will need/have to slow this one down and emphasize the running game and short pass. It won't work, but it may keep this one from being worse than it has to be...essentially I see this one being at best a 33-14 affair. At worst? Think 45-3 ish...because they weren't a completely horrible team trying to be horrible I'm going to go against the notion of two historically big lines coming true in the same week and choose this one as my upset. I'll take the Jets. Mostly because they deserve better. The football gods will not punish them as they will Miami.
10. Gia @ TB (6.5): the clock is ticking on Winston and the folks in Tampa are grumbling. The fans in New York are having a bittersweet prep-parade in celebration of the future king. The smart money is on a cover. I'm feeling bold...sort of...I'll say here comes a moral victory for the Giants hopefuls and a "Whew" for Winston's agent. Give me the Giants to spoil the cover in a closer Tampa victory, say 28-24.
11. Car (2.5) @ Arz: Given the state of Cam, taking Arizona for the "upset" doesn't really feel like a stretch.
12. NO @ Sea (4.5): the Saints aren't a great road team to begin with and without Brees (and with Teddy still brushing off the rust) it's hard for me to see this not being Seattle's game to lose. Seattle at home in double digits.
13. Pit @ SF (6.5): the other AFC team primed to fall off, along with the Chargers, but for a more comprehensible reason. Too many good pieces off the board and SF is looking the way we they did before Jimmy's injury. I had the Niners by 6 before Ben went down. That has to be worth double digits. Come on Niners!
14. Hou @ LAC (3.5): the Chargers need to reconsider paying Gordon. His from line of scrimmage contributions are the difference in the Bolts' play. Maybe this week will drive that one home. I'm taking the Texans in a mild road upset. They'll either hold it to a fg or win outright.
15. LAR (2.5) @ Cle: a statement game for both teams early. This is actually a pick'em game for me. Both qbs need to regain their form from last year. Almost no one likes the Browns to manage it. Me either. Rams.
16. Chi (4.5) @ Was: a great defense is your only surety on the road, but that Bears offense...I see this as more of a defense, chip shot fg sort of game, so I'll take Washington.
2. Atl @ Ind (2.5): Indy is better without Luck than I thought they'd be, but the Falcons just got a tough win at home against the Eagles but this one is on the road, where the Birds don't fare well...the Colts won @ Ten last week on the road. I'm going to begin my "Colts as dark horse" routine now and take Indy in a pick'em game.
3. Cin @ Buf (6.5): at home I'd be conflicted, but in Buffalo, even though it's a lot of points against a team that looked anemic at home and is due for a rebound game, I'm taking the Bills.
4. Miami @ Dal (21.5): that's an ungodly point spread. Can any team be that comparatively bad? We'll see, but this is purely a heart chance to keep it closer by the Fins...and I don't think theirs is beating. Give me Dallas to cover the ridiculous. I mean, who wants to be the team that Miami kept it close with?
5. Den @ GB (7.5): I think this week is the week when Rodgers' offense catches fire to help that suddenly stout defense and everyone begins to more seriously consider the chance that the most talented qb of a generation may be chasing hardware. I'll take the Pack 31-17.
6. Det @ Phi (6.5): the Eagles need a balm after that road loss to Atlanta and Detroit had trouble finding points against a Chargers team that looks to be one of the fall offs from last years playoff run, sadly. I'll take Philly in a statement game.
7. Bal @ KC (6.5): this is the game of the week. I get that Mahomes may be the next great one from the new generation, but he still plays for a team with a suspect defense and there has to be at least one road line upset for the week. I'm going to take Baltimore to kick the card table over.
8. Oak @ Min (7.5): the Raiders aren't very good and the Vikings are...and in their backyard. I'll take the Vikes to cover easily.
9. Jests @ NE (22.5): a bigger line than Miami? Wow. And I can see it, but I'm going to side with the underdog on this one. New York will need/have to slow this one down and emphasize the running game and short pass. It won't work, but it may keep this one from being worse than it has to be...essentially I see this one being at best a 33-14 affair. At worst? Think 45-3 ish...because they weren't a completely horrible team trying to be horrible I'm going to go against the notion of two historically big lines coming true in the same week and choose this one as my upset. I'll take the Jets. Mostly because they deserve better. The football gods will not punish them as they will Miami.
10. Gia @ TB (6.5): the clock is ticking on Winston and the folks in Tampa are grumbling. The fans in New York are having a bittersweet prep-parade in celebration of the future king. The smart money is on a cover. I'm feeling bold...sort of...I'll say here comes a moral victory for the Giants hopefuls and a "Whew" for Winston's agent. Give me the Giants to spoil the cover in a closer Tampa victory, say 28-24.
11. Car (2.5) @ Arz: Given the state of Cam, taking Arizona for the "upset" doesn't really feel like a stretch.
12. NO @ Sea (4.5): the Saints aren't a great road team to begin with and without Brees (and with Teddy still brushing off the rust) it's hard for me to see this not being Seattle's game to lose. Seattle at home in double digits.
13. Pit @ SF (6.5): the other AFC team primed to fall off, along with the Chargers, but for a more comprehensible reason. Too many good pieces off the board and SF is looking the way we they did before Jimmy's injury. I had the Niners by 6 before Ben went down. That has to be worth double digits. Come on Niners!
14. Hou @ LAC (3.5): the Chargers need to reconsider paying Gordon. His from line of scrimmage contributions are the difference in the Bolts' play. Maybe this week will drive that one home. I'm taking the Texans in a mild road upset. They'll either hold it to a fg or win outright.
15. LAR (2.5) @ Cle: a statement game for both teams early. This is actually a pick'em game for me. Both qbs need to regain their form from last year. Almost no one likes the Browns to manage it. Me either. Rams.
16. Chi (4.5) @ Was: a great defense is your only surety on the road, but that Bears offense...I see this as more of a defense, chip shot fg sort of game, so I'll take Washington.
drbrumley
Well-known member
LOL!!!!
Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
I'll take Atlanta and give the points.
I'll take Cincy.
I hate to bet against my Cowboys but that is too many points so I will take the points and the fins.
Me too!
Philly for me also!
Gotta go with my man Mahomes.
Vikes for me as well.
Me too!
The future king will blow it so I take the Bucs to cover.
I will also go for the Cardinals and the points.
Me too.
I'll take the Steelers this week and take the points.
I don't have much confidence in the Texans so I will take the Chargers and give the points.
I also take the Rams.
The Skins don't impress me much so I take the Bears and give the points.
Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
Patriots say bye-bye to Antonio Brown!
And now he's filing a lawsuit for his signing bonus, naming the Pats and Kraft. Yeah, that's going to make your NFL future secure, suing an owner who tried to help you.
lain:A decent day yesterday. I'm 10-4, though I did change my mind on the Carolina game. I was looking at the defenses and noticed, late, that the Cardinals were one of the worst at defending the run and porus enough on the pass to help out a pitch-in.
Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
Now you are back to your old self.
I did so bad I don't want anyone to know how bad. I too am back to my old self.
Well, we'll see.
It's hard without a system...went back today and figured the math on this week. I'd be one game ahead of where I am, so that's not bad. I have Chicago winning by 3, so the math is telling me to go with the Redskins...but everyone and their mother says take the Bears. I'm on the verge, but I'll stick with my instinct and ride the math.
Closest scores from this week:
Called by math: Den 17, GB 28
Actual score: Den 16, GB 27
CBM: Atl 23, Ind 26
AS: Atl 24, Ind 27
CBM: Jets 14, NE 33
AS: Jets 14, NE 30
Biggest win while significantly off:
CBM: Car 25, Arz 21
AS: Car 38, Arz 20
So the math said a squeaker with Car by 3 and bam, 18...but there's a significant fudge factor when you have a back up under center without a hard record. My scale would have been from 3 to 10 pts, but all I needed was the three when it posted. I think the line shifted significantly by game day.
drbrumley
Well-known member
That's also with cam as QB, not the newbie..
This year, so far, it wouldn't be a big difference. He's been playing hurt and hurt the team. They need him sitting until he's actually 100%. Let the young man help the way Teddy is in New Orleans.