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

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Saints, Uncategorized

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)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Lions, Uncategorized

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)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Bears, Uncategorized

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)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Ravens, Uncategorized

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)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Falcons, Uncategorized

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)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Texans, Uncategorized

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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Kansas City Chiefs: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#14)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Chiefs, Uncategorized

Sure, it was just the Jaguars, but the Chiefs’ defense looked really impressive. As bad as the Jaguars were last season, they were never shut out offensively. Shutting out any NFL team is impressive. The Chiefs already had a bunch of talented players on that unit, but if Dontari Poe can play like he did week 1 going forward and make good on his 1st round talent, it’ll make them even more dangerous, with guys like Brandon Flowers, Eric Berry, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, and Justin Houston.

Week 1 Studs

LT Branden Albert

C Rodney Hudson

DT Dontari Poe

LOLB Justin Houston

MLB Derrick Johnson

SS Eric Berry

Week 1 Duds

None

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New York Giants: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#15)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Giants, Uncategorized

Obviously, turning the ball over 6 times is not what you want to do, but the Giants very impressively kept it within 5 despite that. Since 1989, teams are 6-142 and lose by an average of 17.6 points per game when losing the turnover battle by 5. The Giants had a chance to win late and still kept it within a touchdown. The good news for the Giants: since 1989, teams that lose the turnover battle by 5, on average, have a turnover margin of +0.0 in the following game. The bad news is that Eli is going to have a much harder time throwing 450 yards and 4 touchdowns against the Broncos this week.

Week 1 Studs

QB Eli Manning

WR Reuben Randle

DT Linval Joseph

FS Ryan Mundy

Week 1 Duds

RB David Wilson

TE Brandon Myers

LT William Beatty

RG Chris Snee

LE Justin Tuck

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Pittsburgh Steelers: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#16)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Steelers, Uncategorized

I had the Steelers making the playoffs in the strength of their defense, which would be helped by the return of Troy Polamalu and, to a lesser extent, Ike Taylor from injury. They had a solid start, holding the Titans to 16 points. However, they can’t make the playoffs if their offense continues this way. I’m not giving up on their offense. It’s very tough to lose your starting center mid-game, but the Steelers did a great job snatching up Fernando Velasco to replace Maurkice Pouncey. With a week to get him worked in, they should have a much better offensive line. It’s also very possible that the Titans, who were 8th in the NFL in opponent’s scoring in 2011, will be a much improved defense this season. It’s also possible that Roethlisberger isn’t the same quarterback at age 31 and that Todd Haley’s system is really holding him back. Time will tell. Either way, Le’Veon Bell returning strong from injury will be a huge boost.

Week 1 Studs

QB Ben Roethlisberger

DT Steve McClendon

CB William Gay

Week 2 Duds

RT Marcus Gilbert

C Kelvin Beachum

RB La’Rod Stephens-Howling

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Cincinnati Bengals: 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings (#17)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, Bengals, Uncategorized

Andy Dalton was 1-11 against future playoff teams in his career, completing 250 of 445 (56.2%) for 2934 yards (6.6 YPA), 12 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The Bengals lost week 1 in Chicago to the Bears, a team that could be a playoff team. Andy Dalton played better in a near win, completing 26 of 33 for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he also threw 2 back-breaking interceptions. This should continue to be something that works against the Bengals going forward. I don’t buy they’re the favorites in the AFC North. This week, they host Pittsburgh in a real benchmark game for both teams.

Week 1 Studs

QB Andy Dalton

RT Andre Smith

LE Carlos Dunlap

RE Michael Johnson

DT Geno Atkins

Week 1 Duds

None

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