2012 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings

Detroit Lions: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#21)

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Last week: 22 (+1)

Record: 1-1

I had the Lions much lower than most people to start the season because I thought they were one dimensional, had a bad defense, and a bad running game, and overall thought they were overall too reliant on their passing attack for wins (4 comebacks from 13+ points last year, an NFL record), which, by the way, was led by a quarterback who had a history of injury problems and who had only had one good year in the NFL. So far in 2012, Matt Stafford is 51 of 80 for (63.8%) for 585 yards (7.3 YPA), 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, and that doesn’t tell the whole story because a big chunk of those yards were garbage time yards. As a result, the Lions almost lost at home to the Rams and weren’t competitive in San Francisco (down by double figures throughout the 2nd half until a garbage time touchdown with 1:29 left in the game). At least Stafford hasn’t gotten hurt yet.

Studs

WR Calvin Johnson: 8 catches for 94 yards on 12 attempts on 33 pass snaps, 6.0 YAC per catch

MLB Stephen Tulloch: Allowed 4 catches for 32 yards on 8 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 5 solo tackles, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle

Duds

QB Matt Stafford: 19 of 32 for 230 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, 1 batted pass, 1 throw away, 1 drop, pressured on 5 of 34 drop backs (2 sacks, 2 of 3)

WR Nate Burleson: 1 catch for 11 yards on 2 attempts on 33 pass snaps, 15.0 YAC per catch

ROLB Justin Durant: Allowed 4 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown on 7 attempts, 6 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 2 missed tackles

DT Corey Williams: 1 sack on 24 pass rush snaps, 1 stop

DE Kyle Vanden Bosch: 1 sack on 1 quarterback hurry on 23 pass rush snaps, 1 stop

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Carolina Panthers: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#22)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings, Panthers

Last week: 23 (+1)

Record: 1-1

The league’s #2 ranked team in terms of yards per play differential: the Carolina Panthers. You can’t tell a ton from that after just 2 games and I still think they’re weak defensively where it matters, on the defensive line and in the secondary, but they have a very good chance to pull the upset at home on Thursday Night this week against the Giants, who, by the way, have a negative points per play differential. Home teams have a clear advantage on Thursday Nights, as home teams have won 74 of the last 118 Thursday Night games and have covered at a record of 66-46-4 ATS.

Studs

QB Cam Newton: 14 of 20 for 253 yards and a touchdown, 2 throw away, 1 drop, 112.0 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 9 of 23 drop backs (2 scrambles, 1 sack, 3 of 6, 2 throw aways), rushed for 75 yards (47 after contact) and a touchdown on 13 yards, 1 broken tackle, 1 fumble

WR Steve Smith: 3 catches for 104 yards on 4 targets on 23 pass block snaps, 18.3 YAC per catch

CB Chris Gamble: Allowed 1 catch for 4 yards on 3 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 4 solo tackles, 2 assist, 2 stops

Duds

RG Geoff Hargartner: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 24 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards on 1 attempt

MLB Jon Beason: 4 catches for 66 yards on 7 attempts, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection, 6 solo tackles, 3 assist, 1 stop, 4 missed tackles

CB Captain Munnerlyn: Allowed 5 catches for 45 yards on 5 attempts, 3 solo tackles, 1 stop, 2 missed tackles, 1 special teams tackle

DT Sione Fua: Did not record a pressure on 15 pass rush snaps, no tackles

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Arizona Cardinals: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#23)

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Last week: 23 (+7)

Record: 2-0

The Cardinals are one of only 6 undefeated teams left in the NFL, but they’re by far the weakest of the bunch. They’ve been outgained in each of their first 2 games, but won anyway, and have a negative yards per play differential and are tied with Jacksonville for the worst yards per play rate at 4.2. They’ve got a nice defense, but I still don’t trust either of their quarterbacks and neither of their running backs have gotten much going on the ground. Eventually, they won’t be able to just rely on their defense and you can’t win consistently in the NFL without winning the yardage battle.

Studs

RT Bobby Massie: Did not allow a pressure on 31 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards on 2 attempts

RE Calais Campbell: 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hit on 45 pass rush snaps, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 6 stops, 1 missed tackle

CB Patrick Peterson: Allowed 2 catches for 18 yards on 6 attempts, 1 interception, 3 solo tackles and 2 stops

ROLB Sam Acho: 1 sack and 4 quarterback hurries on 48 pass rush attempts, 4 solo tackles, 5 stops

Duds

LT D’Anthony Baptiste: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 4 quarterback pressures on 31 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 2 yards on 3 carries

WR Larry Fitzgerald: Caught 1 pass for 4 yards on 4 attempts on 31 pass snaps, 1.0 YAC per catch

RB Ryan Williams: 13 yards (21 after contact) on 10 carries, 1 fumble, caught 2 passes for 10 yards on 2 targets

RB Beanie Wells: 44 yards (18 after contact) on 13 carries, caught 1 pass for 24 yards, allowed 1 quarterback hit on 1 pass block snap

WR Andre Roberts: Caught 1 pass for 2 yards and a touchdown on 1 target on 30 pass snaps, 2.0 YAC per catch

LOLB O’Brien Schofield: Did not record a pressure on 37 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop

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Seattle Seahawks: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#24)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings, Seahawks

Last week: 24 (+0)

Record: 1-1

I haven’t really moved the Seahawks much, starting them at 25, then moving them to 24, then keeping them at 24 this week. They’re a good team at home and a bad team on the road. Nothing that’s happened with this team has been unpredictable at all. This week, however, they get their toughest home test as Green Bay comes to town. The stadium will be rocking on Monday Night, but the Packers represent as big of a test as any. At the end of the day, this team will go as far as Russell Wilson takes them. They can run the football and play defense, but if Russell Wilson keeps playing like this, 61.1% completion, 5.6 YPA, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception, they won’t go far. Given the history of non-1st round pick rookie quarterbacks and non-1st round pick quarterbacks in general in this league, I don’t expect much more from him than this as the year goes on.

Studs

RB Marshawn Lynch: Rushed for 122 yards (103 after contact) and a touchdown on 26 carries, 8 broken tackles,

ROLB KJ Wright: Allowed 5 completions for 51 yards on 9 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 1 quarterback hurry on 7 blitzes, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops

CB Richard Sherman: Allowed 2 completions for 14 yards on 3 attempts, 2 solo tackles

LE Red Bryant: 2 quarterback hurries on 18 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 3 stops

P Jon Ryan: 4 punts for 215 yards, 2 of 4 inside 20, 2 returns for 2 yards, 48.3 net yards per punt

Duds

None

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Tennessee Titans: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#25)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings, Titans

Last week: 11 (-14)

Record: 0-2

Before the season, I had the Titans as a playoff team. I thought they had a very strong supporting cast and that Jake Locker would be an upgrade over Matt Hasselbeck, who took this team to 9-7 last year as nothing more than a game manager. I felt that Chris Johnson would continue his strong running from the 2nd half of last season (4.8 YPC in the final 8 games, as opposed to 3.0 YPC in his first 8) and that the addition of Kendall Wright and the re-addition of Kenny Britt to this receiving corps, as well as the continued maturity of receivers like Jared Cook and Nate Washington would make this a more explosive offense. I felt their depth at cornerback, the addition of Kamerion Wimbley and potential breakout of Derrick Morgan as much needed pass rushers, as well as the continued maturity of a 8th ranked scoring defense in 100 that had 6 of 11 starters in their 3rd year or younger, would counteract the loss of Cortland Finnegan at cornerback.

I did mention that if Jake Locker didn’t play well, it would derail the whole thing and that’s been the case over the first 2 games. On top of that, Chris Johnson has been awful, rushing for 21 yards on 19 carries in 2 games and the defense has really missed Finnegan, surrendering 8.3 YPA, 25th in the NFL, and 36.0 points per game, 30th in the NFL. I know they’ve had a tough schedule, but they’re the only team in the league who hasn’t been in either of their first 2 games and they rank 27th in yards per play differential. I said before the season they could be anywhere from 5-11 to 11-5. I thought it’d be closer to 11-5. Now it’s looking closer to 5-11.

Studs

CB Alterraun Verner: Allowed 2 catches for 16 yards on 5 attempts, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection

MLB Zach Brown: Allowed 4 catches for 43 yards on 4 attempts, 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, 4 stops, 2 quarterback hurries on 4 blitzes

LOLB Will Witherspoon: Allowed 3 catches for 13 yards on 4 attempts, 7 solo tackles, 3 assists, 5 stops, 1 missed tackle, 1 sack and quarterback hurry on 4 blitzes

RE Kamerion Wimbley: 9 quarterback hurries on 32 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 penalty

LE Derrick Morgan: 1 sack and 2 quarterback hits on 27 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, 3 stops

P Brett Kern: 7 punts for 361 yards, 3 of 7 inside the 20, 1 return for 1 yard, 48.6 net yards per punt

Duds

RT David Stewart: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 3 quarterback hurries on 32 pass block snaps

C Fernando Velasco: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 1 quarterback hurry on 32 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 3 yards on 4 attempts

LG Steve Hutchinson: Allowed 2 quarterback hits and 2 quarterback hurries on 32 pass block snaps

TE Jared Cook: Caught 3 passes for 23 yards on 7 targets on 29 pass snaps, 1.3 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to, 2 drops

RB Chris Johnson: Rushed for 17 yards (17 yards after contact) on 8 carries, 1 broken tackle, caught 2 passes for 11 yards on 3 targets

SS Robert Johnson: 2 catches for 27 yards and 1 touchdown on 2 attempts, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 2 missed tackles

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Minnesota Vikings: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#26)

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Yards per play differential is my favorite measure of how a team’s played and the Vikings actually rank 5th in that statistic through 2 games, despite sitting at 1-1. Level of competition is obviously a factor, playing Jacksonville and Indianapolis, but Christian Ponder seems to be the only 2nd year quarterback who is actually improved over his rookie year, completing 47 of 62 for 515 yards and 2 touchdowns through 2 games, including 12 of 20 on throws that go longer than 10 yards through the air, which was an issue for him as a rookie (44 of 108). The coaching staff is using Percy Harvin properly this year and he’s become a legitimate #1 receiver and his offensive line is much improved over last year. Again level of competition is a factor there, but the Vikings get a real benchmark game this week against the San Francisco 49ers in Minnesota. Even if they don’t win, if they keep it close and stay competitive, people will start having to take them more seriously.

Studs

LT Matt Kalil: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 46 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 6 yards on 1 attempt

C John Sullivan: Did not allow a pressure on 46 pass block snaps, run blocked for 26 yards on 9 attempts

WR Percy Harvin: Caught 12 passes for 104 yards on 13 attempts on 39 pass plays, 5.9 YAC per catch, 2 carries for 13 yards

LOLB Erin Henderson: Allowed 3 catches for 42 yards and a touchdown on 4 attempts, 9 solo tackles, 1 assist, 7 stops, 1 missed tackle, 1 sack on 5 blitzes

SS Harrison Smith: Allowed 2 catches for 16 yards on 3 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops

ROLB Chad Greenway: Didn’t allow a catch on 2 attempts, 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, 4 stops, 1 quartberack hurry on 7 blitzes

K Blair Walsh: 5 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks, 73.4 yards per kickoff, 19.2 opponent average starting distance, 2/2 FG (29, 51)

Duds

RT Phil Loadholt: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 4 quarterback hurries on 46 pass block snaps, 2 penalties

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Kansas City Chiefs: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings

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Last week: 25 (-2)

Record: 0-2

Matt Cassel is a limited quarterback, so their best chances of making the playoffs would have been to follow the solid defense, good running game, conservative offense, easy schedule, don’t make mistakes model they made it on in 2010. That doesn’t work so well if the defense doesn’t play well. Allowing 40 at home in the opener to Atlanta, missing your top cornerback and top pass rusher, is excusable. Allowing 35 to the Bills at full strength is not. The Chiefs have had to abandon their conservative offensive game plan in each of their first 2 games, passing a whopping 42 times to 24 runs last week, and they’ve predictably turned it over 6 times in 2 games. The Chiefs stand at 0-2 and head into New Orleans this week with a good chance to go down 0-3. It’s starting to look like the best Chiefs fan can hope for is their team finally bottoms out this season and takes a franchise quarterback through the draft. Matt Cassel is what he is and he’s owed a non-guaranteed 7.5 million heading into his age 31 season in 2013.

Kansas City Chiefs

Studs

WR Dwayne Bowe: Caught 8 passes for 102 yards on 14 targets on 50 pass snaps, 2.3 YAC per catch

LOLB Justin Houston: 1 quarterback hit and 2 quarterback hurries on 18 pass rush snaps, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops

Duds

LG Ryan Lilja: Allowed 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hurry on 51 pass block snaps

RG Jon Asamoah: Allowed 1 sack and 3 quarterback hurries on 51 pass block snaps

TE Tony Moeaki: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 3 pass block snaps, run blocked for 7 yards on 5 attempts, 1 catch for 9 yards on 4 attempts on 46 pass snaps, 0.0 YAC per catch

FS Abram Elam: Allowed 4 catches for 77 yards and a 2 touchdowns on 4 attempts, 7 solo tackles, 3 stops

RE Glenn Dorsey: Didn’t record a pressure on 15 pass rush snaps, no tackles

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Miami Dolphins: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#28)

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Last week: 27 (-1)

Record: 1-1

Ryan Tannehill is going to have days like he had in the opener (20-36 219 yards, 3 interceptions) and days like he had last week (18-30 200 yards, 1 touchdown). He’s a raw rookie with 19 collegiate starts. He’s going to be inconsistent. I don’t give them too much credit for beating a crappy Raiders team at home, especially when the Raiders were playing a 1 PM start as a West Coast team and coming off a short week because of Monday Night Football. Also, I’m still not sold that last week’s hero, Reggie Bush, will be able to stay healthy for 16 games. Bush rushed for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries, and added 25 yards more through the air on 3 catches. He made live easy for Tannehill and was the primary reason they won.

Studs

RB Reggie Bush: Rushed for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns (51 yards after contact) on 26 carries, 4 broken tackles, 3 catches for 25 yards on 4 attempts, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 7 pass block snaps

C Mike Pouncey: Run blocked for 59 yards on 13 attempts, did not allow a pressure on 34 pass block snaps

CB Sean Smith: Allowed 2 catches for 50 yards on 8 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 3 solo tackles

SS Reshad Jones: Allowed 1 catch for 13 yards on 3 attempts, 1 interception, 4 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 quarterback hit on 7 blitzes

DT Randy Starks: Allowed 3 quarterback hits and 2 quarterback pressures on 35 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops

P Brandon Fields: 6 punts for 319 yards, 5 of 6 inside the 20, 5 returns for 58 yards, 43.5 net yards per punt

Duds

ROLB Koa Misi: Allowed 4 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 stop, 2 missed tackles

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Cincinnati Bengals: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#29)

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Last week: 29 (+0)

Record: 1-1

I’m still sticking with the whole, the Bengals are overrated thing. A 7 point win over the Browns doesn’t change that. If anything, it enforces it. The Bengals also rank 31st in the league in yards per play differential, allowing 1.9 yards per play more defensively than they gain offensively. The good news, some reinforcements are on the way as they could get top pass rusher Carlos Dunlap and two cornerbacks, Jason Allen and Dre Kirkpatrick, back from injury this week. A secondary featuring a still not 100% Leon Hall and the washed up Nate Clements and Terence Newman with no pass rush to support it has been predictably torched for 617 yards (9.4 YPA) in 2 games, which ranks 29th in the league, despite facing Joe Flacco and Brandon Weeden. The bad news is the Bengals just put two more players on IR, every down linebacker Thomas Howard and rotational defensive end Jamaal Anderson, and they have a tough test in Washington this week against the upstart Redskins.

Studs

CB Leon Hall: Allowed 5 catches for 40 yards on 7 attempts, 3 pass deflections, 1 quarterback hurry on 1 blitz, 6 solo tackles, 2 assist, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle

DT Geno Atkins: 5 quarterback hurries on 31 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop

CB Adam Jones: Did not allow a completion on 1 attempt, 3 punt returns for 90 yards and a touchdown

Duds

C Jeff Faine: Allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 40 pass block snaps, run blocked for 38 yards on 9 attempts

TE Jermaine Gresham: Caught 4 passes for 37 yards on 5 targets, 2.0 YAC per catch, run blocked for 0 yards on 2 attempts, 2 penalties

MLB Rey Maualuga: Allowed 4 completions for 68 yards on 5 attempts, 7 solo tackles, 2 assists, 2 stops, 3 missed tackle, 1 quarterback hurry on 1 blitz

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Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#30)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings, Jaguars

Last week: 28 (-2)

Record: 0-2

Remember when Blaine Gabbert looked like a functional quarterback? That was fun. Against Houston, Gabbert finished 7-19 for 53 yards, after leaving with an injury and in the middle of the 3rd quarter, he was averaging less than 1 yard per pass attempt. His pocket presence regressed as he was pressured on 8 of 23 drop backs, scrambling once, taking 3 sacks and going 1 for 4. He won’t face a defense as good as Houston’s every week, but he won’t face one as bad as Minnesota’s every week either. He’s got 14 games to prove he’s the future of the team, otherwise, the people who brought him in, especially his biggest backer GM Gene Smith, could be fired, leaving Gabbert’s future with the team murky at best.

Studs

FS Dwight Lowery: Did not allow a completion on 2 attempts, 2 solo tackles

P Bryan Anger: 9 punts for 470 yards, 4 of 9 inside the 20, 5 returns for 77 yards, 43.7 net yards per punt

Duds

QB Blaine Gabbert: 7 of 19 for 53 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 batted passes, 2 drops, 59.4 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 8 of 23 drop backs (1 scramble, 3 sacks, 1 for 4 and a touchdown)

RT Guy Whimper: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 1 quarterback hurry on 28 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for -4 yards on 1 attempt

LG Herbert Taylor: Allowed 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries on 28 pass block snaps, 2 penalties

RG Uche Nwanari: Allowed 1 sack and 1 quarterback hit on 28 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 3 yards on 1 attempt

WR Justin Blackmon: Did not catch a pass on 3 targets on 24 pass snaps

TE Marcedes Lewis: Did not catch a pass on 1 target on 22 pass snaps

ROLB Kyle Bosworth: 2 solo tackles, 3 assists, 2 stops, 1 missed tackle, allowed 5 completions for 47 yards on 5 attempts

DT Tyson Alualu: Did not record a pressure on 26 pass rush snaps, 5 solo tackles, 4 stops

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