Week 3 Reverse NFL Power Rankings

Our Weekly Reverse Power Rankings continue looking at Power Rankings in an NFL Draft Order. We do our best to project the NFL Draft Order on a weekly basis. Teams 1-20 are the non playoff teams while teams 21-32 are based on playoff elimination. Teams are grouped by record which makes things very interesting early in the season.

 

1. Cleveland Browns (0-3)

For all the promise that this team and has shown, it hasn’t translated to wins. What makes matters worse is this Browns team lost to a Colts team that looked as if they would challenge for the top pick. Instead the Browns could be looking at picking number one overall in back to back years.

 

2. Cincinnati Bengals (0-3)

For a couple of minutes, it looked like the Bengals were going to break their losing streak and get a big time win at Lambeau Field. Instead they let the Packers tie the game and then allowed Aaron Rodgers to work his magic. The Bengals long season continues on.

 

3. San Francisco 49ers (0-3)

Much like the Browns the 49ers have shown a lot of promise and hope for the future, but close loses don’t mean anything. With games against Arizona and Indianapolis on the horizon, maybe they can sneak a win.

 

4. Los Angeles Chargers (0-3)

For what seems like the fourth year in a row the Chargers have been praised by the national media as being a talented team that is much better than their record. But after a 0-3 start along with their past records the last couple of years, can we just say this isn’t a good team?

 

5. New York Giants (0-3)

The schedule hasn’t been easy this year and Giants fans will tell you that the Philly clock operator didn’t do them any favors. However, this team doesn’t seem to have the same type of feel as last year’s group that made the playoffs. With a trip to Tampa next week, don’t be surprised to see them go 0-4.

 

6. New York Jets (1-2)

What the heck are the Jets doing? Winning games? Don’t they know that to properly tank, they have to lose their games? While a win or two was inevitable, I don’t believe many saw them beating the Dolphins this week.

 

7. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)

For a team that has looked lost and out manned, this was a big win for this young team. Sure it was against the Browns, but the Colts came out strong and were able to hold on for the narrow victory.

 

8. Chicago Bears (1-2)

After the dumb move by Marcus Cooper took away a touchdown at the end of the half it looked like the Bears were doomed for yet another loss. Instead behind a strong running game the Bears were able to hold and and get an impressive win in overtime.

 

9. Houston Texans (1-2)

While the Texans didn’t get the win in Foxborough, seeing Deshaun Watson continue to evolve and do it against a Super Bowl caliber team on the road was impressive none the less. As painful as the losses may be to Texans fans, this season is going to be good for their future.

 

10. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

Another loss for the Cardinals as they’ll show glimpses of putting it all together, but this team is just too flawed. Sure they may go on a run but the days of the Cardinals being one of the NFC elites are long gone.

 

11. New Orleans Saints (1-2)

The Saints offense hasn’t been playing at their typical level this year, but who would have thought it took place on the road and not in a dome. Regardless the Saints get a massive division win keeping them within striking distance.

 

12. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)

Normally the Seahawks start the season off slow before getting into a groove and figuring their stuff out. But this doesn’t seem like the same Seahawks team. The offense has struggled and the defense can’t stop the run. Are the Seahawks on the decline?

 

13. Miami Dolphins (1-1)

Losing to the Jets? Come on Miami, your supposed to be a playoff team. Instead Jay Cutler played as if he was coming off a bender and the defense couldn’t stop a Jets offense that is not very good.

 

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)

What a brutal loss for the Bucs. Sure they’ll bounce back and still be a player in the NFC South, but with Bradford out it looked like a great opportunity for the Tampa Bay to steal a road win which would be big in their playoff hopes. This loss could come back to bite them.

 

15. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

With a horrible offensive line and weapons the Ravens are a team that has to rely on their defense to really carry the team. But when you give up 44 points and make Blake Bortles look good, the offense had no chance.

 

16. Carolina Panthers (2-1)

Through their first two games the Panthers have been able to win despite Cam Newton not playing well. Carolina couldn’t keep it going against the Saints as Newton’s struggles and the defense not stopping Drew Brees was a recipe for disaster. Losing at home in the division makes this loss even worse.

 

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)

How about those London Jaguars! Not only did the defense hold the Ravens to only a late touchdown but the offense actually looked tremendous. Not sure many people would have assumed they’d every say that about a team that included Blake Bortles as the starting quarterback.

 

18. Buffalo Bills (2-1)

Based off their first two games I assumed the Bills would be a tough out but struggle to win many games. After their impressive win over the Broncos it looks like the Bills are going to sneak a few of those wins out here and there. So much for tanking.

 

19. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

A strong second half propels the Cowboys to the victory and gets this offense back to its 2016 ways. The win was also crucial for the Cowboys to stay on pace with Philadelphia and Washington in the race to win the NFC East.

 

20. Minnesota Vikings (2-1)

Getting a win over the Bucs was big for the Vikings as it shows they are a team that can make a run at the playoffs. But to do it with Case Keenum playing for the injured Sam Bradford was huge.

 

21. Washington Redskins (2-1)

In their first two games the Redskins offense and Kirk Cousins were not the same explosive unit that we saw last year. But that all changed against Oakland where Washington jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back. We’ll see if this is the game that got them going or was it just a fluke?

 

22. Denver Broncos (2-1)

After two brilliant games it looked like Trevor Siemian was going to provide the Broncos with a steady presence leading the offense. But back to reality as we know that Siemian isn’t a franchise level quarterback and inconsistences will be a problem throughout the season. Likely costing them a playoff berth.

 

23. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)

Remember after only a couple of starts it seemed like EVERYONE was so quick to called Jared Goff a bust. It’s amazing what some competent coaching can do as Goff is thriving under Sean McVay and while the Rams likely aren’t a true playoff contender, but a team that will likely finish in the middle of the pack. A big jump over the past couple of years.

 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

The Steelers road woes continue as they are unable to beat the hapless Bears dropping the game in overtime to a team that likely is picking in the top 10. While the Steelers are 2-1, this doesn’t seem like one of the best teams in the AFC.

 

25. Green Bay Packers (2-1)

For a better part of the game it looked like the Packers were going to face an ugly loss to a Bengals team that has looked lost early in the season. Instead Aaron Rodgers was able to work his magic pulling the Packers to tie the game and then make a play to put them in a position to win with the field goal.

 

26. Tennessee Titans (2-1)

A twenty-one point third quarter allowed the Titans to take a commanding lead and eventually beat the Seahawks to get a crucial win. After losing to Oakland at home previously it was good to see the Titans bounce back and secure a win over a team that most expect to contend for the NFC Championship.

 

27. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)

Giants fans will complain that the Eagles should have never gotten a chance to kick the game winning, but they did and it allowed Philadelphia to improve to 2-1 and take control of the East. Only a narrow loss to the Chiefs have kept the Eagles from perfection.

 

28. Oakland Raiders (2-1)

With the Raiders having their early success it’s easy to brush off this game as it just not being their night traveling across the country (2nd time already this year). But Oakland’s offense was completely shut down and their secondary was exposed yet again. Raiders fans have to hope this isn’t a trend that continues.

 

29. Detroit Lions (2-1)

Sunday seemed like a typical Lions type of game. Fall behind, rally back and then have Matthew Stafford orchestrate another come from behind win. And with Golden Tate’s late catch it looked like they had. As tough as that loss was to take, the Lions know they cannot keep this up on a regular basis. That being said, they’re still one of the best teams in the league.

 

30. New England Patriots (2-1)

Since their opening game loss to the undefeated Chiefs, New England have rebounded and regained their winning ways. Offensively they seem to be gelling with their new additions, but they need to get the defense going because they cannot afford to give up as many points as they have this season.

 

31. Atlanta Falcons (3-0)

Even though Matt Ryan had 3 interceptions the Falcons were able to hold on to get the win in what could be a preview of the NFC Championship Game preview. There were some questions on how the offense would do without Kyle Shanahan and Steve Sarkisian taking over, but this team hasn’t seemed to skip a beat.

 

32. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)

Everyone was waiting for the game where Kareem Hunt is slowed down and comes back to earth. Well they’re going to have to wait another week because Hunt went off again for 172 yards while the defense was able to force Rivers to throwing three interceptions. No team in this league is playing better than the Chiefs.