Raul Vazquez | September 10th, 2019
With the first complete week of NFL football in the books, the landscape has changed quite a bit and overreaction Monday was fun. What does the pecking order in the NFL look like after one week?
1. New England Patriots
The defending champs came out and looked dominant. Easily looked like the best team in football and a team that people think can go 16-0 and you can’t blame them. Tom Brady is 42 but seems to be a top five quarterback once again and in sync with Josh Gordon and this team welcomes Antonio Brown next week.
2. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees once again proved just how special he is on Monday night. The Saints easily have one of the best rosters in the league and have three of the top five players at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. In an offensive league, its all about the playmakers you have and the Saints have a ton of them.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs fanbase nearly were scared out of their minds when they saw their franchise Pat Mahomes limping, but all was well he played through an injury and finished with close to 400 yards and 3 TDs. The Chiefs will now be without Tyreek Hill for quite some time but have more than enough weapons to make up for it.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were happy to have Desean Jackson this week. After quickly getting down 17 off two big plays, the Eagles went on an intense rally in the third led by a two-touchdown effort from DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery. The Eagles have the best roster in the NFL and will be okay.
5. Minnesota Vikings
In a game where Kirk Cousins only threw 10 passes and had less than 100 yards, the Vikings were still dominant against a respectable Falcons team. The Vikings forced three turnovers and got to Matt Ryan four times. The Vikings got seven out of each turnover and looked like the 2017 Vikings that got to the NFC title game.
6. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys had a hectic offseason with extensions handed out to the foundational pieces, but once they got on the field Dallas went to work. Against the lowly Giants, the Dallas offense could do no wrong and looked like a team that
7. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson said it best, that’s “not bad for a running back”. His performance was spectacular and showed just how special he can be. The Ravens scored a franchise-record 59 points against the tanking Dolphins but the story is all about Jackson’s performance.
8. Los Angeles Rams
The defending NFC champs got a nice road win over the Panthers. In a game where Goff was not his best self and Aaron Donald was not all, that special the Rams showed what they can do. Cory Littleton showed up big with a pick, forced fumble, and recovery. Once they get it going, Los Angeles will be dangerous again this year.
9. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is the happiest man in the NFL right now. His defense looked stout for the first in a long time. The Green Bay defense shut down Chicago to only three points and made Trubisky look bad. If this defense can keep this up, the Packers can be a contender this year.
10. Houston Texans
The Texans suffered a devastating loss on Monday night. Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins were incredible, and kept up with the Saints offense but was outdone by Drew Brees in the late stages of the game. The Texans showed what they can do on Monday night.
11. Los Angeles Chargers
The Melvin Gordon holdout lost all of its steam week one. Austin Ekeler showed he is more than capable of carrying the RB1 load as he went off for 3 total TDs and 154 total yards. The Chargers only won in OT against a Colts that is starting Jacoby Brissett but should get better when Derwin James returns.
12. Chicago Bears
The Bears laid an egg in the opening night of the 2019 season. The Bears defense did its job in stuffing the Packer offense most of the night and holding them to ten points but the offense couldn’t muster any points outside of an early field goal. We all know what this defense can do, this offense will need to show more for the Bears to be better.
13. Tennessee Titans
The Titans shut down all the hype that came along with the Browns and closed it out in the fourth on the road. It was certainly one of the most impressive wins of the week as they picked off Mayfield three times and scoring three touchdowns in the fourth. The offense will continue to ride the legs of Derrick Henry this year.
14. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks just keep on chugging after losing Frank Clark and Doug Baldwin this offseason. The offense led by Chris Carson and Russell Wilson got it done while the defense forced three turnovers. The Seahawks always find a way to be competitive and this year will be no different.
15. Cleveland Browns
The hype train that was Cleveland was brought to a halt quickly as they lost it badly at the end of their first game with the new nucleus. The Browns have a ton of personalities but have too much talent to implode. They will have the entire NFL world watching next week when they play the Jets in primetime.
16. Carolina Panthers
Carolina hung in there with the defending NFC champs and was in the game for most of the affair. The Panthers have the talent to make the playoffs and many people forget that they started last season 6-2. Watch out for the Panthers to bounce back.
17. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts and more importantly Jacoby Brissett showed what they can be without Andrew Luck no longer in Indy. The Colts hung in there with a team that has AFC title aspirations and look like a team that can contend for a wild card spot.
18. Atlanta Falcons
After a down 2018 season, the Falcons were looking to right the ship but boy did they do anything to show promise. Their offensive line as big of an issue as people made it out to be and now they lose Chris Lindstrom for an extended period. This offensive line has the chance to completely hold back this team.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were the first in line to take on a juggernaut Patriot team. In life after AB, the wideouts had a tough time getting anything going and the defense couldn’t stop Brady much either. They will look to bounceback at home against Seattle.
20. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers and Buccaneers played an exciting game for a game that was uninteresting on paper. San Francisco saw quick returns from Nick Bosa and the defense as two pick-sixes were the difference. The 49ers will need a better performance from Jimmy G to be in the playoff hunt.
21. Buffalo Bills
What a comeback it was made by the Bills. After a horrid first half, they hung in there and took advantage of an ugly Jets CB group which allowed John Brown to score the winner. Josh Allen and the offense will have to clean it up as you can’t expect to win consistently turning the ball over four times.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincy looked like the early 2018 team that started the season 5-3 as they hung in there with Seattle and the vaunted 12th man. John Ross was amazing in the absence of AJ Green going for 158 yards and 2 scores. The Bengals go home next week and have a winnable game hosting the 49ers.
23. New York Jets
All the talk during the offseason was of a new culture, improved team, and energy but it was the same old Jets on the field. After getting out to a sixteen point lead, the offense sputtered and the defense lost it with CJ Mosley injured. They get a chance to get the season going against a Browns team that crumbled as well.
24. Oakland Raiders
Easily the biggest surprise of week one was the way the Raiders played. All the focus was on how they would play without Antonio Brown, but they never had Antonio Brown on their team for any consistency so they went out there and played ball. It took the Raiders four weeks to get their first win a year ago and now do so in their first game.
25. Washington Redskins
The Redskins shocked just about everybody when they opened up a 17 point lead on what many think is the most complete team in the NFL. This defense has a ton of interesting pieces like Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Josh Norman. Case Keenum under center doesn’t get you excited but if they can continue to hit on chunk plays they can stay in games.
26. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are not a very interesting team. They have talent on both sides of the ball with Bradley Chubb, Von Miller, and Phillip Lindsay but when you trot out Joe Flacco as your QB and lose five yards on the first play, it’s just not very inspiring stuff. Flacco might have a short leash as Denver checks to see if they have anything in Drew Lock
27. Detroit Lions
The Lions looked well on their way to starting the season 1-0 but instead came out with a disappointing ending as they allowed the rookie led Arizona Cardinals to score 24 straight on the way to OT and a tie. The Lions are about as mediocre as it gets and looks like another six or seven-win team.
28. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are filled with young talent throughout their team but also have one of the oldest guys in the league in Larry Fitzgerald. The tandem of Kyler Murray and Fitzgerald shined on the way to an impressive comeback. The result was encouraging for a team many think won’t win more than four games.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If week one is any indication of what the season will be like for Jameis Winston, the Bucs will be one of the teams in the market for Tua mania come next April. Winston blew it late in the game throwing a pick-six when it was a one-score game. Not ideal.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars were by far the unluckiest team in the league week one. After signing super bowl winning quarterback Nick Foles to a four-year deal, he suffered a broken left clavicle less than a quarter in. With an already shaky offense, Jacksonville will now have to rely on a rookie QB.
31. New York Giants
It took less than one week for the much talked about rookie Daniel Jones to make an appearance. It was not Eli’s fault though, his defense was torched for nearly five hundred yards, and after getting a stop on the first series gave up five consecutive touchdowns. How much longer until Jones is starting.
32. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins and the Patriots were the easiest teams to rank this week. As dominant as the Pats looked, the Dolphins looked as dysfunctional. Miami was completely manhandled all game as Lamar Jackson had a field day. Dolphins fans should start to watch more Alabama football and keep on eye on the QB they have under center.
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