While most power rankings will fluctuate wildly, these should stay reasonably similar on a week-to-week basis.
Number 32: Miami Dolphins (ELO: 1302, -3)
Welcome to your new home, Miami. Your stay will be long.
Number 31: New York Giants (ELO: 1308, +1)
It is time for Daniel Jones to prove that he was worth the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft.
Number 30: Arizona Cardinals (ELO: 1333, +1)
The Cardinals have managed to move up two spots in two weeks despite a tie and a loss. The Cardinals should keep moving up throughout the season.
Number 29: Cincinnati Bengals (ELO: 1338, -1)
Yikes. After pushing the Seahawks to the brink of a loss, the Bengals capitulated in a major way at home.
Number 28: Denver Broncos (ELO: 1348, +2)
The Broncos were a questionable roughing the passer penalty away from beating the Bears at home. It is quite unfortunate, but the Broncos get the consolation prize of the Bengals and Dolphins being putrid.
Number 27: Oakland Raiders (ELO: 1381, +0)
The Raiders held the Chiefs scoreless in three of four quarters. However, the other quarter saw the Chiefs blitzkrieg the Raiders for 28 points.
Number 26: Washington Redskins (ELO: 1385, -1)
Sadly for the Redskins, the Cowboys are great at the concept of playing football. The Redskins could escape the bottom quarter with a victory over the Bears on Monday.
Number 25: New York Jets (ELO: 1395, -3)
The Jets lost two of their four most important players over the week, and they had a pitiful performance against the Browns on Monday night. Luke Falk is now the starter for the green side of East Rutherford.
Number 24: Jacksonville Jaguars (ELO: 1405, +0)
If the Splash-ELO ratings were based on swagger, the Jaguars would jump to No. 1 due to Gardner Minshew. Sadly, the Jaguars could not use their infinite swagger to convert a two-point conversion in the dying moments.
Number 23: Carolina Panthers (ELO: 1414, -3)
What was that? The Panthers were pathetic for nearly sixty minutes. Cam Newton looked pedestrian at best, and even Christian McCaffrey was stifled.
Number 22: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ELO: 1422, +4)
For the first time in years, the Buccaneers played decent on the defensive side of the ball. It was a sloppy win, but it was a win nonetheless, and the Buccaneers are now on top of the NFC South by having the best record within the division.
Number 21: Pittsburgh Steelers (ELO: 1433, -5)
Ben Roethlisberger is done for the season. The penalty for losing your starting quarterback is steep (a certain Louisiana-based team will see that penalty later). The Steelers will need Mason Rudolph to step up in the absence of No. 7.
Number 20: San Francisco (ELO: 1461, +3)
While the 49ers played the Buccaneers and Bengals, they have played extraordinarily well on the defensive side of the ball, and their offense finally hit a groove in Cincinnati. The 49ers have the potential to rise quickly.
Number 19: Buffalo Bills (ELO: 1461, +2)
In the same vein as the 49ers, the Bills have beaten two substandard opponents. However, the defense has been fabulous, and the offense seems to be picking up steam. Watch out, AFC Wild Card.
Number 18: Indianapolis Colts (ELO: 1464, +0)
The Colts secured a win in Nashville. They have a tough matchup at home against the Falcons, but a win would likely propel them into the top half of the power rankings.
Number 17: Detroit Lions (ELO: 1473, +2)
The Lions managed to beat the Chargers. The defense was stout enough to keep the Chargers out of the end zone on a pair of drives, forcing field goals. In a callback to San Diego’s kicking past, the Special Teamer of the Week in Week 1 missed the kicks for the Los Angeles Chargers and a late Darius Slay interception sealed a win for the Lions.
Number 16: Atlanta Falcons (ELO: 1486, +1)
It was ugly. However, it goes in the win column. The Falcons have a clear path to the NFC South crown, but are they good enough? We will see.
Number 15: Green Bay Packers (ELO: 1511, +0)
I am not sold on the Packers being a legitimate contender yet, but holding the Vikings to 16 points is another drop in the bucket for the defense.
Number 14: Tennessee Titans (ELO: 1536, -1)
The Titans thought that Andrew Luck was the reason that they could not beat the Colts. It turns out that the Colts just own the Titans. Tennessee has a short week as they travel to Jacksonville.
Number 13: Minnesota Vikings (ELO: 1561, -2)
For losing by one possession, the Vikings were thoroughly crunched for most of the game against the Packers. Moving forward, the Vikings should give Dalvin Cook a hundred carries per game.
Number 12: Los Angeles Chargers (ELO: 1572, -3)
The Chargers have not looked convincing by any stretch of the imagination. The defense choked away a lead against the Colts and the offense choked away an opportunity to defeat the Lions. Derwin James is a colossal absence in the secondary.
Number 11: Cleveland Browns (ELO: 1576, +3)
The Browns benefit from the tight packing of teams as they narrowly beat out the Chargers and Vikings on Splash-ELO points. The Rams await.
Number 10: Houston Texans (ELO: 1578, +2)
Welcome to the top 10, Houston. If Doug Marrone put the ball in the hands of Gardner Minshew, the Texans likely take a nosedive, but the Texans were able to stuff Leonard Fournette on a last-ditch two-point conversion attempt.
Number 9: New Orleans Saints (ELO: 1587, -7)
The Saints thought the referees would be their archrival during the 2019 season. That moniker is now shared with Aaron Donald’s hands. I wish a speedy recovery for Drew Brees, but in the meantime, the Saints have a gauntlet of difficult games before the Super Bowl XLIV MVP returns.
Number 8: Chicago Bears (ELO: 1600, +2)
The Bears rising in the power rankings has more to do with the Saints and Chargers losing than the Bears winning, but at least the Bears have a kicker now. The next step is to get good quarterback play.
Number 7: Philadelphia Eagles (ELO: 1621, -1)
At this rate, I will need to suit up for the Eagles. Despite a slew of injuries, the Eagles had a chance to snatch a victory from the Falcons. They failed.
Number 6: Seattle Seahawks (ELO: 1623, +2)
The Seahawks are in an awkward position due to the lack of confidence they have inspired in their wins. The Seahawks should be able to defeat the Brees-less Saints next week, however.
Number 5: Baltimore Ravens (ELO: 1643, +2)
It was closer than many predicted, but the Ravens walked away with another victory behind the arm and legs of Lamar Jackson. The offense looks phenomenal. The defense looks fairly good, but Jimmy Smith and Tavon Young will be missed against the Chiefs.
Number 4: Los Angeles Rams (ELO: 1653, +0)
The Rams posted a dominant victory over the Saints. It was a hobbled Saints unit, but the Rams clobbered them. The Rams look to be well on their way to a third consecutive playoff appearance.
Number 3: Kansas City Chiefs (ELO: 1655, +2)
The Chiefs only needed to score in one quarter to beat the Raiders. They will need to score more points to beat the Ravens.
Number 2: Dallas Cowboys (ELO: 1670, +1)
Dallas has taken a stranglehold on the NFC East with a pair of division wins. They play the lowly Dolphins next week.
Number 1: New England Patriots (ELO: 1805, +0)
It may be too soon, but the Patriots have cracked the 1800 Splash-ELO mark. The Patriots have been dominant in every sense. They could make a play at a 15-1 or 16-0 season.
