2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings

Atlanta Falcons: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#11)

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Last week: 12

The Falcons built a big early lead against the Rams and eventually won, improving to 1-1, but the way they played after they lost regulars with injuries has to be concerning going forward. Asante Samuel will probably be back this week, but Steven Jackson, Kroy Biermann, and Sean Weatherspoon are all expected to be out for an extended period of time. With a sneaky tough trip to Miami and a game against the Patriots next on the schedule, they could be in trouble.

Week 2 Studs

RG Garrett Reynolds

Week 2 Duds

LT Sam Baker

LE Malliciah Goodman

DT Jonathan Babineaux

MLB Akeem Dent

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Houston Texans: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#12)

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Last week: 13

The Texans pulled another win out of their ass, winning in overtime at home for Tennessee. They are now 7-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less since the start of last season. That’s not going to be unsustainable and it’s concerning that 3 of those wins in 2012 came against teams with poor records and the 2 wins this year came against teams that were supposed to have poor records. They could have a lot of trouble with contending caliber teams. I don’t understand how they’re favored in Baltimore this week.

Week 2 Studs

WR DeAndre Hopkins

LT Duane Brown

C Chris Myers

LE JJ Watt

Week 2 Duds

LG Wade Smith

LOLB Brooks Reed

MLB Joe Mays

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Kansas City Chiefs: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#13)

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Last week: 14

The Chiefs have already matched their win total from a year ago with their 2-0 start. The lesson, as always, fire Romeo Crennel. The upgrade from Crennel to Andy Reid is enormous as is the upgrade from Brady Quinn to Alex Smith. Smith isn’t the greatest quarterback in the world, but he’s stabilized their turnover margin, as the Chiefs have gone from a league worst -24 last season to 0 total turnovers through 2 games thus far this season. That’s allowed their supporting cast to shine, a supporting cat that has been further improved by what looks like the start of a 2nd year breakout year by 2012 1st round pick Dontari Poe.

Week 2 Studs

Studs

Week 2 Duds

CB Brandon Flowers

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Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#14)

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Last week: 5

The Panthers are now 2-14 since 2011 in games decided by a touchdown or less. Part of my reasoning for them having a big season was that their record in close games would even out, as it always does in the long run, but it’s very possible that won’t happen this year. They need to fire Ron Rivera. They should have done it last off-season (can you imagine how good they’d with be Chip Kelly, you know his #1 choice would have been working with Cam Newton?). You can’t put the entire 2-14 record in close games on him, but he has to take the blame. This week, the reason they lost on their final drive was because they only had 4 healthy defensive backs, but you could also blame Rivera for opting to kick a field goal to push the lead to 6 rather than trying to ice it on 4th and 1 late. Instead of putting his faith in his expensive running game or his great short yardage quarterback, he put his faith in a defense that literally didn’t have enough healthy bodies to be successful.

Week 2 Studs

TE Ben Hartsock

DT Star Lotulelei

Week 2 Duds

QB Cam Newton

RT Byron Bell

LOLB Jon Beason

ROLB Thomas Davis

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Cincinnati Bengals: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#15)

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Last week: 17

The Bengals beat the Steelers this week, but I wasn’t that impressed by them, especially if Pittsburgh is really as bad as they’ve looked in the first two weeks of the season. It was a close game and I feel like the Steelers would have won if it were in Pittsburgh. Dalton continues to struggle against top level defenses, completing 25 of 45 for 280 yards and a touchdown. He managed the game well and avoided the back breaking turnover that cost him in Chicago the week before, but he also missed open receivers and was very reliant on his receivers’ abilities after the catch. Fortunately, the AFC North is as clear as mud right now so the Bengals could easily be a playoff team when all is said and done.

Week 2 Studs

LT Andrew Whitworth

LG Clint Boling

RE Michael Johnson

Week 2 Duds

TE Jermaine Gresham

LE Carlos Dunlap

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New York Giants: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#16)

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Last week: 15

The Giants’ -8 turnover margin to start the season is probably more of a fluke than anything. That type of thing tends to be really inconsistent on a week to week basis. Teams that previously had a +4 turnover margin and teams that previous had a -4 turnover margin both average about +0 the following week. The Giants are not to be overlooked going forward. However, starting 0-2 in the NFC is basically a death sentence for their playoff hopes. They might be able to sneak in if the NFC East doesn’t produce a true playoff caliber team, but I believe Dallas is that kind of team.

Week 2 Studs

None

Week 2 Duds

WR Rueben Randle

RE Mathias Kiwanuka

CB Terrell Thomas

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Tennessee Titans: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#17)

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Last week: 19

The Titans were one of the real wild cards for me this season, as they were 8th in opponent’s scoring in 2011 and 32nd in 2012 with essentially the same unit. They had a very impressive week 1 performance in Pittsburgh and after hanging with the Texans and forcing them to overtime in Houston, the Titans definitely look for real as a playoff contender in the weak AFC. Their offense will hold them back and I don’t think Jake Locker is the long-term answer, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they finished as a top-10 scoring defense again. They have a lot of young, talented players.

Week 2 Studs

FB Colin Mooney

LT Michael Roos

CB Alterraun Verner

SS George Wilson

Week 2 Duds

LG Andy Levitre

RG Chance Warmack

DT Antonio Johnson

MLB Moise Fukou

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Pittsburgh Steelers: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#18)

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Last week: 16

I tweeted before Pittsburgh/Cincinnati that I could see the loser of the game still making the playoffs after starting 0-2 and I still feel Pittsburgh could sneak in, even after losing. It was a pretty competitive game either way. If David Paulson doesn’t fumble in field goal range in the 1st quarter and a tipped ball doesn’t turn into an interception in the 4th quarter, that could have been a completely different game. The Steelers really need Le’Veon Bell to come back healthy and play well. He’s expected back this week. Right now, their offense doesn’t make any sense, as they have no running game, a deep throw quarterback, speed receivers, an overmatched offensive coordinator who loves short throws, and an offensive line that can’t block. Fortunately, the defense looks like one of the better units in the NFL thanks to the return of Troy Polamalu healthy.

Week 2 Studs

SS Troy Polamalu

Week 2 Duds

LT Mike Adams

MLB Lawrence Timmons

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Miami Dolphins: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#19)

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Last week: 21

The Dolphins are 2-0 and could definitely be 3-0 in a week if they beat the banged up Falcons in Miami, but they’re more likely to be this year’s Arizona (4-0 in 2012) or Buffalo (3-0 in 2011) than a legitimate playoff contender. I don’t think they’re going to be as bad as either of those two teams ended up, but they’ve played a very easily schedule through two games, facing Cleveland and then an overrated Indianapolis team that can’t stop anyone and almost lost to Oakland the week before.

Week 2 Studs

LG Richie Incognito

RT Randy Starks

CB Brent Grimes

Week 2 Duds

LE Cameron Wake

RE Olivier Vernon

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Philadelphia Eagles: 2013 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (#20)

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Last week: 18

The Eagles had another strong offensive performance this week, but the fact that they have forced just 4 punts to 58 first downs allowed has to be incredibly concerning. They have 5 takeaways (and a forced turnover on downs), but they can’t continue relying on that to stop the opposition from scoring. They have to be able to force punts. Their offensive style of play doesn’t help matters as any time they can’t score offensively, it’s usually a very quick drive and not enough time for the defense to rest. Luckily, their offense has played well so far (48 first downs to 9 punts), but if they start struggling, this could really snowball on them if their defense can’t turn it around and I don’t know if they have the talent to.

Week 2 Studs

RB LeSean McCoy

WR DeSean Jackson

LT Jason Peters

C Jason Kelce

LG Evan Mathis

ROLB Trent Cole

Week 2 Duds

RT Lane Johnson

MLB Mychal Kendricks

CB Cary Williams

SS Nate Allen

FS Patrick Chung

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