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Here are my Power Rankings after Week 2 of the NFL regular season:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week: #2, +1) - The Steelers continue to show why they're the best team in the NFL. The defense was able to hold the Cincinnati Bengals offense to only 16 points, while the Steelers offense was able to put up 24, all while missing their starting RB in Le'Veon Bell and their starting WR2 in Markus Wheaton.
2. Denver Broncos (Last Week: #3, +1) - But for the injury to Demarcus Ware, the Denver Broncos would currently be my #1. The defense continues to dominate and the offense is able to capitalize on the shorter fields created by their defense.
3. Arizona Cardinals (Last Week: #12, +9) - After a crushing defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots the week before, the Cardinals absolutely embarrassed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the tune of 40-7. If it took Week 1 for this offense to gel and the defense to start making stops, the NFL needs to watch out.
4. Carolina Panthers (Last Week: #7, +3) - The Panthers were held to a close game in the first half against the 49ers, but were able to show why they're one of the NFC favorites in the second half. Cam Newton continues to impress and WR Kelvin Benjamin has been a force for opposing secondaries.
5. New England Patriots (Last Week: #1, -4) - With an injury to their usual backup QB in Jimmy Garoppolo, the Patriots are looking to potentially start rookie QB Jacoby Briskett in Week 3. The Patriots are still finding ways to win, but the next two weeks might be especially tough.
6. Houston Texans (Last Week: #16, +10) - Even after losing LB Brian Cushing for a significant period of time, the Texans defense, led by All-World JJ Watt, was able to hold the Chiefs offense to only 12 points. This is the same Chiefs team that put up 33 points the week before to the San Diego Chargers.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: #9, +2) - Another week and another strong performance from the rookie QB Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles offense. RB Ryan Matthews has excelled as the feature back in Philly and the Eagles are now one of three undefeated teams in the NFC.
8. Baltimore Ravens (Last Week: #18, +10) - Another undefeated team, this time in the AFC. The Ravens, even with a mediocre showing from their stable of running backs, are able to do just enough to win games, and WR Mike Wallace has thrived since coming over to Baltimore.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (Last Week: #13, +4) - The Bengals have had a tough schedule in the first two weeks, traveling first to New York to face the Jets and then to Pittsburgh. An even 1-1 record at this point is actually an accomplishment.
10. Kansas City Chiefs (Last Week: #5, -5) - Even though they lost to the Texans on the road in Week 2, the Chiefs were never out of the game. Spencer Ware has been great so far, but Pro Bowl RB Jamaal Charles looks to be returning soon, so the Chiefs offense might be getting a boost.
11. New York Giants (Last Week: #14, +3) - The Giants are one of the other undefeated teams in the NFC, having just come off a game where they beat our New Orleans Saints at home by a field goal. The Giants are this point look to be a favorite for the NFC East, but need to fix their turnover problems if they want continued success.
12. San Diego Chargers (Last Week: #28, +16) - The loss of WR Keenan Allen was not as hard-felt as I assumed. WRs Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin stepped up adequately and the Chargers offense was able to put up over 30 points for the second week in a row, this time leading to a win.
13. New York Jets - (Last Week: #21, +8) - The Jets have also had a tough time of it in the first two weeks, having to face the Bengals in Week 1, and then travelling to Buffalo in Week 2. Matt Forte seemingly doesn't age and Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing surprisingly well at QB for New York.
14. Green Bay Packers (Last Week: #4, -10) - So much for the explosive Packers offense after the first two weeks. Aaron Rodgers looks off and Eddie Lacy has yet to find any running lanes. I still have faith the Packers will put it all together soon, but it's far from a sure thing.
15. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week: #29, +14) - After a humbling loss at home to the Bucs in Week 1, the Falcons were able to win on the road against a talented Oakland Raiders team. Matt Ryan looks to be clicking on all cyllinders now, but a tough game is coming on the road against the Saints on Monday Night Football.
16. Minnesota Vikings (Last Week: #15, -1) - Even though the Vikings won (making them the third and final undefeated team in the NFC), they still dropped a spot in this week's rankings. With news now that former-MVP Adrian Peterson is going to miss significant time recovering from knee surgery, the Vikings offense and Sam Bradford will be tested in coming weeks.
17. Oakland Raiders (Last Week: #8, -9) - They beat the Saints on the road with a gutsy 2-PC call near the end of the game. Then they lose at home to the Falcons, again giving up a ton of yards and points to their opponent. This young team will experience some growing pains, but it looks the only thing keeping them from the "winless" category is a flukey gamble against the Saints.
18. Seattle Seahawks (Last Week: #6, -12) - Speaking of flukes, some critics believe the Seahawks loss to the Rams to be just that, that somehow the Rams just seemingly have the Seahawks' number. I'm not so sure about that. Russell Wilson was hobbled with an ankle injury, but the historically dominant Seahawks running game looks to be far from it without Marshawn Lynch.
19. Tennessee Titans (Last Week: #27, +8) - The Titans were able to win a tough game on the road against a good Detroit Lions team. Marcus Mariota will look to continue to improve in the coming weeks, but this was definitely a step in the right direction.
20. Dallas Cowboys (Last Week: #22, +2) - The Cowboys move up a couple of spots after beating their NFC East rival Washington Redskins on the road. Rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott make significant strides from Week 1, and if we see continued growth, the Cowboys will continue moving up.
21. New Orleans Saints (Last Week: #20, -1) - An 0-2 record has the Saints moving down a tick, but they still remain above teams that recorded a win on the young season. A defensive showing for the first time in over a year (the Saints held an opposing team to under 20 points for the first time since Week 15 of 2014), the pressure is now on Drew Brees and the offense to put up points.
22. Los Angeles Rams (Last Week #32, +9) - I still question how much longer this team will go before it inserts Jared Goff at QB to try to help take pressure off Todd Gurley. In the mean time, the Rams defense was able to stuff the Seattle Seahawks offense in Week 2, bumping them way up in this week's rankings.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last Week: #17, -6) - With a record of 1-1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are actually in first place in the NFC South. Yes, that's right: a first place team is ranked #23. "How?" Do you ask? After getting a school-yard whooping of 40-7 where the other team actually rested their starting QB. That's how.
24. Detroit Lions (Last Week: #11, -13) - The Lions lost their game, at home, to the Tennessee Titans, and lost their starting RB Ameer Abdullah to the Injured Reserve. RB Theo Riddick is more than capable full-time back, but losing Abdullah was definitely a big blow.
25. San Francisco 49ers (Last Week: #19, -6) - The 49ers were able to keep it close in the first half, but just had ability to quickly put up points on offense to stay in the game against Carolina. QB Blaine Gabbert (how long does he stay the starter) has no receiving threat and Carlos Hyde can't do it all by himself.
26. Miami Dolphins (Last Week: #26, -) - Two losses against two qualify opponents in the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots is nothing to be ashamed of. The Dolphins schedule eases up in the coming weeks, so soon we'll see what this young team is truly made of.
27. Washington Redskins (Last Week: #24, -3) - The Redskins are sitting 0-2 and the Josh Norman investment doesn't seem to be paying dividends just yet. QB Kirk Cousins has also not impressed like many analysts were expecting, and the Redskins running game still isn't quite at full strength.
28. Indianapolis Colts (Last Week: #23, -5) - I just don't know what's wrong with the Colts right now. Yes, their Week 2 loss came against the best defense in the NFL, but the Colts are putting a lot of weight on the aging Frank Gore. A less-than-stellar run game puts even more pressure on Andrew Luck's arm.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last Week: #10, -19) - I made excuses for the Jaguars after Week 1's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but it's really hard to make excuses after the trudging they took against the San Diego Chargers. This is still a young team that might make some noise in the AFC, but they're not quite there yet.
30. Buffalo Bills (Last Week: #30, -) - The Bills defense just isn't what a lot of fans and pundits thought it would be with the Ryan brothers at the helm. Saints fans probably aren't surprised that Rob Ryan isn't creating an other-worldly defense in Buffalo, but after all his talk about how the Saints didn't let him use his defense, more was expected with the Bills.
31. Chicago Bears (Last Week: #25, -6) - Jay Cutler is the weirdest QB. He can look great one week, and then absolutely God-awful the next. The Bears defense is nowhere near the caliber of the Bears defenses of old, and Cutler still has to get the ball in Alshon Jeffery's general vicinity for Alshon to have a chance on it.
32. Cleveland Browns (Last Week: #31, -1) - If there was a Power Ranking below #32, that's where the Browns would currently sit. Yes, they stayed close against the Baltimore Ravens, but aside from one big run by RB Duke Johnson, the Browns offense just isn't very good, regardless of who is at QB.