Welcome to the 2nd edition of your Canal Street Chronicles Power Rankings! With one week of action in the books, we have a slightly better, but still awful, idea of just how these teams stack up compared to the rest of the division. This was actually a lot harder than without any regular season games. Some good teams lost to other good teams, some bad teams beat other bad teams. Some teams lost games they shouldn't have, some won games they shouldn't have. Just how much value do you put on one week? Not much... or a lot.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1, Previously #29) - A 42-14 loss at home is bad... a 42-14 loss at home, vs last year's 2nd worst team is awful. The #1 overall pick, Jameis Winston threw a couple picks and was outshone by the #2 pick captaining the other side. Tampa Bay finished dead last in 2014, they are on track for the repeat.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1, Previously #31) - A bad loss vs Carolina... Carolina could just be better than I think they are, but I think this loss said more about Jacksonville. The joke may not be as loud as years past, but this team is still laughable.
30. Cleveland Browns (0-1, Previously #26) - Lost to the NY Jets on the road, and lost their QB to a concussion when he tried to get his John Elway on. Johnny Manziel didn't look great, McCown looked decent... can McCown shake his concussion in time for next week, or will the Browns be forced to roll with Johnny?
29. Oakland Raiders (0-1, Previously #25) They were down 33-0 before two 4th quarter TD's by their 2nd string QB. Their defense couldn't get a stop, and their offense never started. Derek Carr went down in the first half with a hand injury, which could be bad news for a team that's used to it.
28. Chicago Bears (0-1, Previously #28) - Lost to Green Bay at home, with a score closer than the game was, thanks to a last minute TD. Jay Cutler completed 50% of his passes and threw 1 INT to go along with a TD... not a great confidence building performance for a QB who might be running out of chances at proving he can be top level. Matt Forte had a hell of a game, but his talent alone isn't enough to make this team decent.
27. Washington Potatoes (0-1, Previously #27) - Held their own against a tough Miami team, at least defensively. Kirk Cousins struggled and the QB spot really hinders this team's production. Was his performance due to a good Miami defense, or his own ineptitude?
26. Houston Texans (0-1, Previously #23) - They were down 27-9 to an OK Kansas City team, before getting two touchdowns in the last 5 minutes. Bryan Hoyer proved yet again that he's not starting quarterback material, and Ryan Mallet made a case as to why he should be given a shot at leading this team. We knew the offense would be bad, but the defense giving up 27 points in the first half is very concerning. Is Alex Smith that good? Maybe, but I have an easier time buying the Texans being that bad.
25. Minnesota Vikings (0-1, Previously #16) - Teddy Bridgewater looked more a rookie week 1, than he did all of last year. The 49ers brought pressure and he didn't respond well. Good news, AP is back! Oh wait, he got shut down, too. I don't think they are as bad as they played, but man did they play poorly.
24. Tennessee Titans (1-0, Previously #32) - Marcus Mariota came out on fire, completing over 80% of his passes for 200+ yards and 4 touchdowns, earning himself a perfect 158.3 rating. The defense made Jameis Winston look every bit the rookie that he is. This is a great win for a team that needed one, but it comes against just about the weakest opposition you can find in the NFL. While there is a lot to like from week 1, let's not go overboard... Mariota still has to prove he can do it again.
23. Carolina Panthers (1-0, Previously #24) - They got a win in week 1, that's the goal... but it was against a weak team, and their defense did all the work. This defense is great, there's no buts about it.... the offense is not. They can shut down teams with limited offenses, but their defense won't hold everybody to 9 points, nor will they score 7 points of their own every week.
22. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0, Previously #20) - Alex Smith had a good game, especially in the first half when he threw all three of his touchdowns (Still 0 to a WR). I don't consider a win against the Texans to be that meaningful, even on the road. The Chiefs will have a chance to shoot up this board (or prove to be who I think they are), when they take on the Denver Broncos in week 2.
21. New York Jets (1-0, Previously #22) - A good win against a bad team and a 2nd string QB. Antonio Cromartie went down with a seemingly bad injury, but the team still held up after. We'll get a much better idea of where this team stands when they take on the Indianapolis Colts, next week.
20. San Francisco 49ers (1-0, Previously #30) - They shutdown the Vikings completely, and Carlos Hyde looked really good toting the rock. Colin Kaepernick looked decent, but not as good as the 49ers need to become a serious threat. The Minnesota Vikings were a lot of people's pick to be surprisingly good, and the 49ers were many's pick to be really really bad. Looks like it was an overreaction on both parts.
19. Indianapolis Colts (0-1, Previously #7) - Wow, I did not see that coming. A brutal loss at the hands of the Buffalo Bills, and their offense was largely to blame. Was the Indy hype too high? Is Buffalo that good? Time will tell. While I don't want to overreact, it's hard to put them any higher after that woeful performance.
18. Miami Dolphins (1-0, Previously #11) - The defense look as solid as expected, the offense not so much. While opening the season with a road victory is a nice start, it was against Washington. Tannehill (22-34, 226 Yards, 1TD, 1 fumble) is going to have to step it up if the team wants a shot at the post season.
17. Atlanta Falcons (1-0, Previously #19) - The difference a year, and a new coach can make. This defense came out the gate strong, holding a potent Eagles team to 3 first half points. The second half, they gave up some points and the lead, only to claim it back in the end. Was the amazing first half from the D just an aberration, or something they can carry over week to week? Oh yea, one more thing, Julio Jones is really good.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (0-1, Previously #12) - The offense was stifled for the first half of the game, but eventually put things together. They went on the road, and lost a close one (they missed a FG in the game, that would've been the difference), so I'm trying not to overreact. DeMarco Murray getting just 9 yards on 8 carries probably isn't the production the Eagles were expecting when they brought him in in favor over LeSean McCoy... but until it becomes a trend, you have to think he can bounce back.
15. Detroit Lions (0-1, Previously # 13) - They lost a close one to a good San Diego team, blowing a 2nd quarter 21-3 lead by giving up 30 unanswered points. After both sides of the ball put together a solid first half, they failed to keep it up in the 2nd. The first half proved just how good they can be, the second just how bad. The talent level is obviously there, but can they put it together for full games at a time... Why start now?
14. New Orleans Saints (0-1, Previously #8) - They lost on the road to what should be a good team. The game was much closer than the score indicated. Some questionable coaching late, when Sean Payton decided to take the game out of Drew Brees' hands on fourth down and put it into the hands of the defense... who needed to force a three and out to stay alive. Spoiler Alert: They didn't. While 0-1 isn't where they want to be sitting, it was to a seemingly top level team, on the road, in a close game. You can get the life boats ready, but I'm not abandoning ship just yet.
13. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0, Previously #15) - Well, they were up 33-0 at one point, and finished at 33-13 after giving up a pair of garbage time TDs. Oakland has a young team, and 2nd year QB Derek Carr left in the first half with a hand injury. This win is a great start for the Bengals, but it's hard to tell just how meaningful it is, given the opposition.
12. Dallas Cowboys (1-0, Previously #6) - A good last second win in a game that they probably should've lost. Dez Bryant's injury is a big blow to this team until he gets back. Joseph Randle looked ok in his role at running back, but he will be relied upon more with the loss of Bryant (I've heard anywhere between 4-10 weeks, with most saying 6 to 8), we'll see if he's up to the challenge.
11. San Diego Chargers (1-0, Previously #14) - They beat a very solid Lions team at home, after scoring 30 straight points to close out a 33-28 victory. Philip Rivers threw for 400 yards, and the run game was acceptable, though not great. After a shaky start, the defense essentially shut out the Lions potent offense in the second half, setting aside a late TD with one minute left.
10. New York Giants (0-1, Previously #17) - A bad last second loss in a game that they probably should've won. They went on the road and played a good divisional rival to the final whistle. The pass rush was weak and the offense uninspiring, but it's not time to panic yet. They outplayed the Cowboys, on the road, so they deserve to be ahead of them in the Power Rankings, if not the standings.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1, Previously #10) - The defense got picked apart by a very motivated Tom Brady, but that's nothing to be ashamed of. DeAngelo Williams looked like a stud in that offense, it's scary to think what will happen when Le'Veon Bell is back there.
8. St. Louis Rams (1-0, Previously #18) - They beat the defending NFC champs at home, that's a good way to start a season. It's hard to say how good this team is, because even when they've been merely "decent," they still gave the Seahawks fits. Nick Foles looked pretty good in his Rams debut, and gives this team the hope to compete this season. The sky is the limit for this team, but the season is young and they have to prove they can do this consistently.
7. Baltimore Ravens (0-1, Previously #2) - They lost a close game on the road to a good team, so I don't want to over react... but man did their offense look bad, with the team's only touchdown coming from a pick 6. Flacco was garbage, completing 56% of his passes for only 117 yards and throwing two INTs along the way. Justin Forsett didn't help on the ground, either, getting only 43 yards on 14 carries. The offense worries me... but they lost to a top 5 team, on the road, by less than a touchdown. Hard to move them down too far.
6. Arizona Cardinals (1-0, Previously #9) - They got the job done at home against a (hopefully) decent team. They were a top team with Carson Palmer a year ago, and it looks like they're picking up right where they left off. The offense was solid, and the defense was very good. Patrick Peterson took Brandin Cooks out of the game, proving why he's considered one of the best CBs in the NFL.
5. Buffalo Bills (1-0, Previously #21) - I expected this defense to be good, I didn't expect them to effectively shut down Andrew Luck and the Colts offense. LeSean McCoy had a rough debut, but Karlos Williams picked up the slack. Tyrod Tayler did what he had to do, and was the ultimate game manager, completing about 75% of his passes for 195 yards with 1TD and no picks. Rex Ryan did great things in his early tenure with the Jets, he's on pace to do it again in Buffalo.
4. Seattle Seahawks (0-1, Previously #1) - They always seem to struggle against St Louis, so try not to overreact to a loss to a divisional rival, in St. Louis, when the Rams have a healthy QB.
3. Denver Broncos (1-0, Previously #4) - Yea, yea, Peyton Manning didn't look so hot... but they still just beat a very good team. The defense gave the Ravens fits, and the offense did enough against a solid defense to get the win. I'm not going to give up on Manning just yet, especially after a win against a playoff caliber team, and the team does have other nice pieces.
2. New England Patriots (1-0, Previously #5) - That Tom Brady is pretty good... and before a last second TD, the defense held a pretty good Steelers offense to only 14 points. Giving up 127 on 21 carries to DeAngelo Williams might be a little concerning, but Pat fans still have to feel pretty good after that one
1. Green Bay Packers (1-0, Previously #3) - Went to a divisional rival and got the job done. Aaron Rodgers made James Jones (who was cut by two other teams this off season) look like a pro-bowler, and the defense made Jay Cutler look like the bad version of Jay Cutler. With the other top teams failing to get it done, Green Bay moves to the top of the list.
Now tell me why I'm wrong about your team!