Scott Burke | September 21st, 2018
Two weeks down in the NFL season and we have some big movers and shakers in the Power 16. Plenty of new teams have entered and some familiar faces have moved out. Let’s take a look at who is in and who is out!
The Scorecrow NFL Power 16
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: 4
Week 3: vs Tennessee Titans
The Jaguars take over the top spot after an extremely impressive victory over the New England Patriots. Blake Bortles had the game of his career throwing for over 350 yards and four touchdowns. T.J. Yeldon and Corey Grant will handle the running back duties if Leonard Fournette remains out.
2. Los Angeles Rams (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: 2
Week 3: vs Los Angeles Chargers
Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and the rest of the Rams made short work of the Arizona Cardinals 34-0 in week two. The offense is clicking on all cylinders and the defense is all over the field. After two weeks, the Rams are the NFL’s most complete team.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: 8
Week 3: vs San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Mahomes is making playing quarterback in the NFL look very easy. He followed up his four-touchdown performance in week one with a six-bagger against a putrid Pittsburgh Steelers defense. If the Chiefs defense can limit teams to 24 points or less this could be a big year in KC.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: N/A
Week 3: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
“Fitzmagic” is a thing folks. Ryan Fitzpatrick has back to back four-touchdown games to start the season. He is making all Buccaneers fans forget about Jameis Winston. DeSean Jackson looks revitalized, Chris Godwin is becoming a reliable target in the passing game as well.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: 15
Week 3: @ Carolina Panthers
A.J. Green went off for three first-half touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night. Andy Dalton is making smart throws and the defense is getting pressure on the quarterback. Giovani Bernard will take over the lead running back duties in the absence of Joe Mixon.
6. New England Patriots (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: 3
Week 3: @ Detroit Lions
It’s been a while since we saw the Patriots get beat in all aspects of the game. The team was out-coached, out-played, and out-hustled in the loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. Things should get back to normal when “the hoodie” takes on one of his former students, Matt Patricia on Sunday night. Josh Gordon is the newest reclamation project for the Pats after being acquired in a trade with the Browns on Monday.
7. Miami Dolphins (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: N/A
Week 3: vs Oakland Raiders
One of the early surprises has to be the Miami Dolphins. After winning week one as a home underdog against the Tennessee Titans, the Dolphins beat the New York Jets last week on the road. With the loss by the Patriots, the Dolphins stand alone atop the AFC East at 2-0.
8. Minnesota Vikings (1-0-1)
Last Week Ranking: 4
Week 3: vs Buffalo Bills
Kirk Cousins looks like the perfect addition to the Vikings offense. He is getting all his wide receivers involved in the passing game and once the running game gets clicking this will be a very exciting offense to watch. A sketchy roughing the quarterback call against Clay Mathews and the Packers allowed the Vikings a chance at the comeback win on Sunday, however, now former Viking Daniel Carlson missed the game-winning field goal in overtime.
9. Green Bay Packers (1-0-1)
Last Week Ranking: 6
Week 3: @ Washington Redskins
The Green Bay Packers are one Aaron Rodgers non-comeback and a Daniel Carlson made FG away from being 0-2. Fortunately, they have Mr. Rodgers and sit at 1-0-1 after two weeks. The offense is going to be perfectly fine as long as Rodgers is healthy, the defense, however, will need to pick it up in big spots.
10. Denver Broncos (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: 14
Week 3: @ Baltimore Ravens
The Case Keenum era is off to a good start in Denver. After beating the Seattle Seahawks week one, the Broncos came back from ten points down to stun the Oakland Raiders last week 20-19. Philip Lindsay has been a revelation through two weeks and is fighting Royce Freeman for the most carries on the team.
11. Chicago Bears (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: N/A
Week 3: @ Arizona Cardinals
Khalil Mack has been everything the Bears could’ve hoped for. Mack and the Bears defense had Russell Wilson running for his life on Monday night. This could be a fun team to watch and a team that can contend as long as Mitch Trubisky doesn’t make the same mistakes he made during his rookie season.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: 1
Week 3: vs Indianapolis Colts
The defending champs are 1-1 but the offense has been somewhat underwhelming. With Carson Wentz set to return on Sunday the hope is the Eagles will get things going again. The defense was picked apart by Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs last week and things do not get any easier with Andrew Luck coming to town.
13. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: N/A
Week 3: vs New Orleans Saints
Big home division win for the Falcons last week. The offense finally capitalized when it got in the red-zone and Tevin Coleman proved why he is such a valuable piece of the offense. Another big division game on tap against a Saints team that barely survived the Cleveland Browns last week.
14. Carolina Panthers (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: 11
Week 3: vs Cincinnati Bengals
Panthers offense showed some good signs in the loss to the Falcons. Cam Newton took a vicious hit but stayed in the game and Christian McCaffrey continues to be a dual threat. With Greg Olsen hurt, it is time for Devin Funchess to step up and lead the receiver corps.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: 12
Week 3: @ Los Angeles Rams
Philip Rivers and the Chargers handled the Buffalo Bills with ease. Despite the cross-country trip to Buffalo, the offense produced 30 points and Melvin Gordon made up for his putrid yard per carry average buy catching a few passes and scoring three touchdowns. Next week the Chargers visit the Rams in what is a preview of my predicted Super Bowl matchup.
16. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Last Week Ranking: 7
Week 3: vs Denver Broncos
After blitzing the Bills in week one, the Ravens were smacked in the face by the Bengals last Thursday night. There is a bit of a running back controversy brewing between Alex Collins and Javorius Allen. John Brown and Michael Crabtree should get plenty of targets this season as well.
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