Raul Vazquez | September 24th, 2019
There was a lot movement in my rankings this week but that is a result of it still being early in the season and still finding out the identity of teams. The Giants are the biggest movers this week as they moved up nine spots with the play of Daniel Jones.
1.New England Patriots (+0)
This team is really good. They handled business and destroyed a Jets team that can’t do anything right. They head to Buffalo next week for early control of the division. Injuries to the offensive line and wide receivers are worth monitoring for the rest of the year.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (+0)
In what was the most interesting game of the week, the Chiefs were able to get it done. The Ravens came to town again after a classic last year and the game did not let anyone down. This team will be competing with the Patriots for the AFC title again this year.
3. Los Angeles Rams (+0)
The best game of the week was easily on Sunday night between the Rams and Browns. The Rams needed a fourth-down stop at the four-yard line to get the win, but are still undefeated. The Buccaneers come to town next week which is a team the Rams will not be afraid of.
4. Green Bay Packers (+0)
The Packers keep on winning. They pulled away in the third quarter opening up a two touchdown lead. The defense forced three turnovers and has yet to surrender more than 16 points which is pretty good. Green Bay has a chance to continue to make a statement with Philadephia and Dallas in the next two weeks.
5. Dallas Cowboys (+0)
This was a home game against the historically bad Dolphins but the Cowboys did what they needed to do. This team continues to look stout and will look to separate in the divisional race as the Eagles suffer from injuries. Dallas opened with the Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins but now have the Saints and Eagles coming up which should be indicators of their status as Superbowl contenders.
6. New Orleans Saints (+3)
After losing Drew Brees last Sunday, the Saints proved that they will be just fine with Teddy Bridgewater under center until Brees is good to come back. New Orleans went into Centurylink Field against a 2-0 Seattle team and came away with a win. Another statement can be made with Dallas coming to the Superdome.
7. Baltimore Ravens (-1)
The Ravens move down a spot from last week but they are still well at the top of the league. They challenged the Chiefs and were a stop away from having a chance to win it. With Lamar Jackson taking the step forward, Baltimore is just a step behind the Patriots and Chiefs for the AFC crown.
8. Minnesota Vikings (+3)
A week after being unable to complete a comeback in Green Bay, the Vikings did what they were supposed to do and destroyed the Raiders. We know Minnesota is a good enough team to beat up on the weaker competition, but the question remains over the success in big games. They have a chance to rewrite the narrative with a game in a divisional game in Chicago.
9. Detroit Lions (+11)
After week one, I had Detroit ranked 27th and boy have they proved me wrong. They now jump to nine in my rankings after an impressive win over the Eagles which comes a week after beating the Chargers. If it wasn’t for a meltdown in week one, the Lions would be 3-0.
10. Buffalo Bills (+4)
Through three weeks, Buffalo is 3-0. They are tied with New England for the lead in the division with both teams spotless. They needed two picks from Tre’Davious White to seal the win, but a win is a win. They have a chance to make a statement with New England coming to Buffalo.
11. San Francisco 49ers (-1)
The 49ers have crawled their way to 3-0 but wins are wins. A week after beating up on the Bengals, San Francisco needed a last-minute score from Jimmy Garoppolo to Dante Pettis for the win over the Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger. Jimmy G has been far from great, but they are winning games which is all you can ask for.
12. Indianapolis Colts (+4)
The Colts lone loss to this point was in overtime to a talented Chargers team. The Colts are still in the thick of the playoff hunt with Brissett playing incredibly well. He has completed 70% of his passes and has only thrown one interception on the year. If he can keep this up, Indy will be more than fine.
13. Houston Texans (+5)
Houston bounced back from a heartbreaking last-second loss to the Saints to string two straight wins. The defense got the job done stopping Philip Rivers on the last drive of the game. In a tough division, the Texans look like the best team.
14. Seattle Seahawks (-7)
Seattle started the year 2-0 and had thoughts of starting 4-0 with the Saints coming to town without Brees and a game against the Cardinals to follow but it was not to be. Seattle should get back on track against Arizona this week.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (-7)
The Eagles have caught the injury bug and it is showing. They lost to a Detroit team that looks like they are the real deal, but the slate gets harder with a matchup in Lambeau this week.
16. Cleveland Browns (-2)
Cleveland competed with the defending NFC champs and was four yards away from forcing overtime on the road against a top-five team but they couldn’t punch it in on four straight pass attempts. They could possibly start 1-6 with their next four games being against the Ravens, 49ers, Seahawks, and Patriots.
17. Chicago Bears (-2)
The Bears easily won a game they were supposed to. I feel bad for dropping them for how dominant they were but other teams have looked better. Chicago has a big game coming up with Minnesota coming to Soldier Field.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (+3)
Well, how about that. A week after being a two-point try away from beating a division rival, they are able to do so this week in convincing fashion. This season is far from dead after the Nick Foles injury with Gardner Minshew mania running wild.
19. Carolina Panthers (+5)
How about the performance that Kyle Allen put up? Cam Newton and offense were dreadful a week ago but Allen came to the rescue. He threw for four touchdowns on the way to a bounceback win over the winless Cardinals.
20. Atlanta Falcons (-8)
Atlanta was on the opposite end of a close game this week after coming away with a close one last week. After a disappointing 2018, the Falcons will need to turn it around quickly to get something going.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (-4)
The Chargers are a weird team to gauge and truly know who they are. They came away with a close win over the Colts in week one but have lost their last two games on the last drive. With a couple heroic efforts they could be 3-0, but could very well also be 0-3.
22. New York Giants (+9)
Daniel Dimes! The sixth overall pick delivered in his first start. He led a furious comeback bringing them back from down 18 and has all New York sports fans in good spirits for the first time in a while.
23. Tennessee Titans (-4)
Marcus Mariota and the offense struggled all night this past Thursday. The offense was only able to find the endzone once which was when they were already down 17 and were blanked. After a win in week one, the Titans have fallen off with back to back losses in the division.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (-1)
The Steelers might have found the successor to Big Ben in Mason Rudolph, but Pittsburgh couldn’t take advantage of five 49ers turnovers. The good news is that Minkah Fitzpatrick showed immediate returns with an interception and forced a fumble. They face the Bengals next week and hopefully land their first win of the season.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
They did it. The Buccaneers managed to give the Giants their first win in terrible fashion. They gave up an 18 point lead after dominating in the first half. This team is as bland as it gets, they have 6-10 written all over them.
26. Washington Redskins (+0)
Washington lost to a team that they were expected to lose to so no movement here. The Redskins did not have it easy to start the year drawing the Eagles, Cowboys and then the Bears. They will look to get their first win as they head to MetLife to face the Giants and phenom Jones.
27. Oakland Raiders (-2)
Outside of the surprising win in week one, the Raiders have looked like the four or five win team that many predicted them to be. A week ago they were blown out by the Chiefs, the only thing different in week three was the team that took it to them. This time it was Minnesota. They will look to avoid the same result when they head to Indianapolis.
28. Denver Broncos (-1)
The Broncos are still winless through three games and have looked brutal. A week after losing a tough game to the Bears, Denver had another NFC North foe to tangle with but the Packers got the better of them much more convincingly. Minshew mania comes to Denver next week.
29. Arizona Cardinals (-1)
The Cardinals showed promising signs the first two weeks but were disappointing in week three. They struggled to do anything against a Panthers team without Newton. Instead, they let Allen light them up for four passing touchdowns. Arizona is still winless, and have Seattle up next with a record of 0-3-1 likely coming their way.
30. Cincinnati Bengals (-1)
Cincy kept it interesting for most of the game but Andy Dalton gave the game away on his second pick to White. They will look to get their first win against the Rudolph led Steelers next week.
31. New York Jets (-1)
The Jets are starting their third-string quarterback and are missing seven other starters. Against the Patriots in Foxborough, it was going to get ugly and it did. New York has a much-needed bye coming up but has Philadelphia coming to town week five so it doesn’t get much better.
32. Miami Dolphins (+0)
The Dolphins tried to get something going this week with an onside kick and a flea-flicker but Dallas ultimately pulled away. Miami’s brutal schedule to start the year continues with the Chargers coming to town this week.
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