Month: September 2013

Denver Broncos: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#4)

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Peyton Manning had the game of his life, but that’s all it was: the game of his life. He’s not suddenly a better quarterback than he was the week before. Great quarterbacks do amazing things sometimes. Tom Brady opened with 500+ yards a couple of seasons ago. It’s incredible to watch, but it shouldn’t change how we view them. We’ll see how the Broncos do going forward.

Week 1 Studs

QB Peyton Manning

WR Demaryius Thomas

LE Shaun Phillips

SS Duke Ihenacho

CB Chris Harris

Week 1 Duds

LT Ryan Clady

WR Eric Decker

DT Mitch Unrein

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Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#5)

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I’m not changing the Panthers as my pick to go from out of the playoffs to a first round bye after they played tough a Seahawks team that could easily win the Super Bowl. Their defense looked as dominant as I expected, particularly the front 7, even further fortified by the addition of Star Lotulelei. However, their offense didn’t look good, even against a tough Seattle defense. The Panthers admit their game plan was too conservative and it really was as they frequently eschewed 4th and 1 chances and just 6 of Newton’s 23 attempts went 10+ yards downfield. That’s not even close to how you best utilize Cam Newton. I’ll give them another chance and I like how the coaching staff admitted their mistake, but if they don’t live up to their talent, it’ll be because of the Ron Rivera/Mike Shula combination. That would leave the door open for the Saints or Lions to go from the playoffs to a first round bye. All of the NFC teams are going to beat up on each other and 11 wins could get you a first round bye.

Week 1 Studs

RE Greg Hardy

DT Star Lotulelei

Week 1 Duds

LG Chris Scott

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Green Bay Packers: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#6)

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The good news for the Packers is they won’t face the 49ers every week. They’ll still win 10-12 games and be in the mix in the NFC. But it has to be concerning the way Jim Harbaugh has destroyed Dom Capers in the coaching part of the game 3 times in 2 years. There are no guarantees the Packers won’t have to face the 49ers again in the post-season. If that happens, the Packers will have to game plan better and hope that the 49ers eventually tire out as reigning Super Bowl runner ups like the Patriots did last year. The Packers should also have key secondary contributors Morgan Burnett and Casey Hayward back by then.

Week 1 Studs

WR Jordy Nelson

Week 1 Duds

LG Josh Sitton

RG TJ Lang

SS Jerron McMillian

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Dallas Cowboys: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#7)

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After forcing just 16 takeaways last season, the Cowboys forced 6 against the Giants week 1. They won’t do that every week, but it’s just another sign that takeaways are very inconsistent on a year to year basis. They’re also very inconsistent on a week-to-week basis unfortunately for the Cowboys as teams who win the turnover battle by 5 have a turnover margin of -0.4 the following week on average. Their secondary will have to play better next week, but the good news is that injury filler starters Nick Hayden and George Selvie dominated in their first career start. So much for them having no depth. Once Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer return, they could have a loaded front.

Week 1 Studs

RE DeMarcus Ware

LE George Selvie

DT Jason Hatcher

DT Nick Hayden

SS Barry Church

Week 1 Duds

RG Mackenzy Bernadeau

CB Morris Claiborne

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New Orleans Saints: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#8)

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The Saints have to be very pleased with their defense holding Atlanta to 17 points. Junior Galette, Cameron Jordan, and David Hawthorne all excelled in their new roles in Rob Ryan’s new 3-4 defense. They probably won’t play that well every week as they just don’t have the talent, but if they can be even average defensively like they were in 2011, they’ll have a chance to be a very, very dangerous team once more.

Week 1 Studs

RT Zach Strief

ROLB Junior Gallete

RE Cameron Jordan

MLB David Hawthorne

Week 1 Duds

RG Jahri Evans

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Detroit Lions: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#9)

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Almost every year, one team goes from out of the playoffs to a 1st round bye. I picked Carolina to do so before the season and I’m sticking with that right now, but with Carolina losing a tough game and the way Detroit played week 1, the Lions appear to have thrown their hat in the ring, as did the Saints. The Lions could have easily won by more if it wasn’t for stupid mistakes as the Lions outgained the Vikings by 139 yards and had 28 first downs to 16 for Minnesota.

Week 1 Studs

QB Matt Stafford

RB Reggie Bush

RB Joique Bell

RG Larry Warford

RE Willie Young

LOLB DeAndre Levy

DT Ndamukong Suh

Week 1 Duds

RT Corey Hilliard

CB Darius Slay

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Chicago Bears: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#10)

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The way AJ Green shredded a secondary that was supposed to be the strength of this team is concerning, but AJ Green is a top-3 receiver in this league so maybe they get a pass. The good news is their offense looked very good against a very strong Cincinnati defense. Jay Cutler wasn’t sacked once by a dominant Cincinnati defensive line as their retooled offensive line help up. The most impressive was rookie right tackle Jordan Mills, as the 5th rounder allowed just 1 pressure all game.

Week 1 Studs

QB Jay Cutler

ROLB James Anderson

DT Stephen Paea

Week 1 Duds

TE Martellus Bennett

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Baltimore Ravens: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#11)

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Obviously, the Ravens got smoked last week, but it’s important to remember it’s just one game. Peyton Manning had the game of his (and a lot of other people’s) life. I still think this is the best team in the AFC North and that they’ll make the playoffs in the weak AFC. I trust what Ozzie Newsome did this off-season. It may take a little bit to gel, especially defensively, and I would like to see rookies Matt Elam and Arthur Brown play more, but they should be a solid team still. The good news: Michael Oher is expected back this week after going down early last week with an ankle injury. He allowed just 1 pressure in 21 pass block snaps when on the field, but replacement Ricky Wagner, a 5th round rookie, got destroyed by a previously washed up Shaun Phillips.

Week 1 Studs

RG Marshal Yanda

Week 1 Duds

TE Ed Dickson

RT Ricky Wagner

LG Kelechi Osemele

CB Corey Graham

FS Michael Huff

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Atlanta Falcons: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#12)

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So far, so good on my pick of the Falcons missing the playoffs. They’d make it in the AFC, but the NFC is so loaded and the Falcons schedule is so much tougher than it was last season. Add in that they have less talent and they’re unlikely to continue recovering a high percentage of fumbles that hit the ground and dominating the turnover battle like they did last season and I think they’ll be on the outside looking in.

Week 1 Studs

DT Corey Peters

DT Jonathan Babineaux

Week 1 Duds

LT Sam Baker

RG Garrett Reynolds

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Houston Texans: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#13)

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The Texans’ comeback was impressive, but it was just another instance of them barely beating an inferior opponent. They won all 5 of their games decided by a touchdown or less last season, 3 of which came against the Jets, Jaguars, and Lions, who were among the worst teams in the NFL last season. The 2013 Chargers are in that group. The good news is they’ll get Antonio Smith back from season this week, but the Texans are only contenders because they’re in the AFC.

Week 1 Studs

QB Matt Schaub

RG Brandon Brooks

LE JJ Watt

Week 1 Duds

LT Duane Brown

LOLB Brooks Reed

CB Brice McCain

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