BOD NFL Power Rankings Week 2

Welcome to the official Blog of Doom NFL Power Rankings! There was a lot of movement after the first week of action. How much of that is overreaction and how much is on point? We’ll have to see this week when the teams take the field again, but for now, let’s get to ranking the teams! You’ll find each teams rank from the previous week in paranthesis.

01: New England Patriots (1)

Still undisputed, and undefeated World Champions, the Patriots showed up in week 1 and took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game where it seemed like Tom Brady was looking to make a point. Even though the Green Bay Packers top a lot of power rankings that you’ll see, I like to keep the champions on top unless someone knocks them off. Being a wrestling fan, and of Ric Flair in particular, I go with the proverb “to be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man”…and so far in this young season, the Patriots are still “the man”.

02: Green Bay Packers (2)

The Packers still look like a tippy top top team even with the loss of top wide receiver Jordy Nelson. James Jones returned to the team and he and Aaron Rogers hooked up multiple times to great success on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The Packers have a tough few games coming up against Seattle, Kansas City, and San Francisco, so we’ll have a chance to see just how good they are after that stretch. For now though, they look near unbeatable.

03: Arizona Cardinals (6)

The Cardinals opened the season with an impressive win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, even slamming the door on the Saints late comeback by picking off Drew Brees. They have lost starting RB Andre Ellington for the next 2-3 weeks, by maybe Chris Johnson can shake off the dust and look a little like the CJ of old for them. The Cardinal defense is stout, and should be able to carry them during Ellington’s absence as they face the offenses of Chicago and San Francisco coming up. And one interesting note. The Cardinals have not lost a game that Carson Palmer has started AND Finished since 2013. It’s important to keep that man healthy!

04: Dallas Cowboys (3)

America’s Team (the Cowboys, not Dusty & Magnum) drop a spot in the rankings this week because of their sluggish start to the season against the NY Giants on Sunday Night. It will be interesting to see if the RB combo of Randle and McFadden can fill the void left by DeMarco Murray, as on Sunday night the two combined for just 81 rushing yards. And it gets worse, as Murray welcomes his old teammates to the City of Brotherly Love this week where odds are he’ll be looking to make a statement to them about why they should have paid him the money. Top WR Dez Bryant is out with a foot injury, but Jason Witten is still playing at TE, so Tony Romo still has a sure target. We’ll see how long the Cowboys can ride this high in the power rankings as they travel to Philly, host Atlanta, go to New Orleans, and then host the defending World Champion Patriots.

05: Denver Broncos (8)

The Broncos have moved up 3 spots in the BOD Power Rankings this week, while dropping in other, “more prestigious” rankings due to their “lackluster” performance against the Ravens in week 1. The way I see it is, the Broncos played a tough opponent (who seems to always give them trouble), had their back against the door, but dug down deep and pulled out a win. It may not have been pretty, but they found a way to get the win, and that’s what a good football team, and good coaches do. It may not have been as flashy as a 42-10 blowout, but they won the game. Some are even saying that Peyton Manning is finally washed up. The man had a rough game for sure, but he’s getting to that point in his career where he can beat you with his experience and superior mind for the game more than with his athletic ability. Like the old wrestling veteran who bides his time and waits on his younger opponent to make a mistake and then capitalizes for the win….that’s the point we’re getting to with Manning. And I expect to see the Broncos to stay high in these rankings as their schedule has KC that they have to get by, but then games against Detroit, Minnesota, Oakland, and Cleveland should leave the Broncos looking like real contenders again this year.

06: Seattle Seahawks (9)

I had last years runners-up slotted at #9 last week, and have moved them up three places even with a loss in week 1. They looked great in that loss to the St. Louis Rams who I think are going to be a surprise team this year competing for the division crown. Watching the game, it looked like their demise was caused by interference from their manager…wait, I mean some questionable coaching calls by Pete Carroll. The surprise onside kick to start overtime? Running Lynch on 4th and 1 FROM THE SHOTGUN FORMATION? Anyway, the former champions still look really tough, and I think even tougher when you look at how well the Rams played. The game was a slobber knocker between two tough teams, and like happens a lot of times in wrestling, the loser put forth such an effort and incredible performance, they looked good even in losing. It’s a long season, and I’m sure the Seahawks will win more than they lose, so we’ll probably be seeing them hang around the top of the power rankings on a consistent basis.

07: Cincinnati Bengals (10)

The Bengals went to Oakland, kicked down their door, and pissed on their rug Sunday with their 33-13 win, and looked good in every phase of the game. The Bengals are a younger team with plenty of talent at the skill positions, so they should be contenders for the next few years. The return of TE Tyler Eifert from injury last season looks to be a tremendous addition to the offense. I know from watching so many Notre Dame games, that Eifert is someone Andy Dalton can count on to make tough catches when the stakes are high late in games. He’s a beast, and if I was a fantasy football column writer, I’d tell you he’ll be right there in points with Gronk and Graham this season. The Bengals have a tough road ahead the next few weeks though, so they may dip in the rankings some before rising back again later. They host San Diego this week, then off to Baltimore, followed by home games hosting Kansas City and Seattle. That’s a tough stretch right there, so we’ll get a good look at how good all this young talent is.

08: Miami Dolphins (15)

A big jump in the rankings for the Dolphins this week, coming up from 15th. They played an impressive game against the Washington Redskins Wahoo McDaniels’, not seeming to really break a sweat at any point. While watching the game, I picked up on just how smooth everything looked for them. The Wahoo McDaniels’ did not prove to be stiff competition though so we’ll have to wait and see how they do against better competition in the coming weeks as they will be seeing the Bills soon.

09: Pittsburgh Steelers (4)

The mighty Steelers dropped 5 places this week, but only because some other teams looked so good in their victories. The Steelers lost to the defending Champion Patriots on Thursday night, but didn’t look like a team that was too over matched. With their best running back and best WR both out of action at the moment, they looked remarkably well. Once those players return, and the O-line has a chance to gel a little more, the Steelers are going to be tough to handle.

10: Indianapolis Colts (5)

Wow. The Colts were manhandled Sunday by Tyrod Taylor (who?) and the Buffalo Bills. Despite having a lot of talent, the Colts couldn’t get much of anything going on Sunday. I had them raked 5th to start the year, but in just one week they have me scratching my head wondering just how far they could drop this year. New RB Frank Gore is hurt. Star WR TY Hilton is now hurt. The defense looked super soft on Sunday. The usually unshakable Andrew Luck looked kinda lost out there. All of this adds up to a line of thinking that the Colts could have a down year. But, that could also be over reaction to week 1 in the NFL that happens every year. With games against Jets, Titans, and Jaguars coming up, they’ll have a chance to figure things out as they go and get their act together before the tough schedule comes.

11: San Diego Chargers (16)

The Chargers put on a great performance on Sunday. More than any other game from week 1, this is the game where you really learned something…and that is the Chargers are a tough team. The Lions showed up early and jumped out to a big lead and had momentum fully on their side. Then Phil Rivers throws and INT. Same old Chargers as we’ve seen the last several years. But then, they didn’t get rattled. Rivers didn’t start panicking and flinging the ball into triple coverage. No, they simply played their game plan, played to their strengths, and came back and won the game. The team showed a lot of grit, which they will need plenty of competing with the Broncos and Chiefs for a division crown.

12: Baltimore Ravens (7)

The Ravens punched Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the mouth, and the Broncos retaliated with a gut punch. They played a tough game Sunday but just came up short. I’ve not seen it as a huge deal when a team loses to the Broncos in the last couple of years, and this week is no different. Losing Terrell Suggs for the rest of the season is a serious blow however, and competing for a division crown against the Steelers and Bengals is really going to be an uphill battle at this point.

13: Kansas City Chiefs (18)

Before the season began, the Houston Texans looked like a glamour pick by a lot of guys in the media. That was until the Chiefs beat them up on Sunday. Relying on a stout defense and a decent running game, the Cheifs controlled the ball well, and had a few surprising offensive outbursts on Sunday. The mobility of QB Alex Smith should help offset the 3-4 pass rush of Denver this week, but it’s going to be a tough test regardless. KC has a very difficult schedule for the next month that will determine if they stay high in the rankings, or sink to lower levels.

14: St. Louis Rams (19)

The Rams started the season high with a win over the Seahawks, and looked good doing it. Jeff Fisher is a good coach, and has plenty of talent to work with, but I think QB Nick Foles is the big question mark. Can he continue to play at a high level? I think the Ram’s season hinges on this question. If he struggles, so do the Rams.

15: Carolina Panthers (11)

A win is a win, but the Panthers struggled against the weaker Jaguars on Sunday. It was clear to see why too…they just don’t have a lot of talent. And now star linebacker Luke Kuechly is out with a concussion, adding to the lack of talent. Losing WR Kelvin Benjamin before the season really showed on Sunday as the Panthers didn’t really have a passing threat all day. Even with the victory, it was ugly enough to drop the Panthers 4 spots in this weeks rankings.

16: Buffalo Bills (24)

An impressive debut for Tyrod Taylor, Rex Ryan, and the Buffalo Bills as they took down Colts on Sunday. Tyrod looked comfortable, and his mobility threat kept the Colts from really opening up their defensive scheme, allowing the Bills to be much more creative on the offensive side. Great poise in the pocket, some good accuracy on the deep ball, and the rushing yards he racked up made Tyrod look almost like a veteran and not a guy starting his first NFL game. The defense played it’s part too forcing turnovers and giving the ball back to the offense. The Bills look like a solid team that could make some noise this season, but World Champion New England comes to town this week, and we all know how Bill Belichck loves to gameplan against young QBs, so the Bills will have a tough one.

17: Atlanta Falcons (27)

The Falcons make the biggest jump of the week, up 10 spots from last week. They looked good Monday evening against the highly touted Eagles, and did all the little things they needed to do to win that game. And that’s what a good football team does. Julio Jones looked dominant again, and as long as he can stay at that level of play, the Falcons should keep moving up the rankings.

18: New York Giants (12)

The Giants almost started the season with a victory in Jerryland, but the Cowboys came back from nowhere to win it. I never put a lot of faith in Eli Manning, even WITH his two rings and those incredible throws that helped win them, but with upcoming games against the Falcons and Redskins, expect the Giants to stay around the middle of these rankings.

19: Philadelphia Eagles (13)

The Eagles suffered a tough loss on Monday evening, and Sam Bradford didn’t look like his pre-season self. But I expect Bradford to get it together and Demarco Murray to have even more of an impact going forward, so they should be fine over the long haul. And this week, Murray gets to welcome in his old Cowboy friends, so he’ll likely have a little more motivation than usual. I expect to see the Eagles rise back up in the rankings in the next several weeks.

20: Detroit Lions (17)

The Lions made a good showing in San Diego Sunday, but couldn’t finish it out. They did however show a lot of talent, and new RB Ameer Abdullah (no relation to Abdullah the Butcher) showed that he is going to get a lot of touches this season, and that looks to be a smart idea. The Lions still look tough on offensive as usual, and with Abdullah’s additions, they ware going to be tough to handle.

21: Chicago Bears (21)

Up one spot from last week because of their great showing against the Packers. Even though Cutler looked a lot like usual, the Bears managed to make a game of it on Sunday. It’s a little too early to get a good read on them, but their upcoming schedule of Arizona, Seattle, and Kansas City should clear up the picture.

22: Tennessee Titans (25)

Up three spots this week due to the impressive debut of rookie QB Marcus Mariota. You have to go back to 1967 and Fran Tarkenton to find as a good of a debut by a rookie QB. He seemed natural in his first start, and it should be interesting to see how the rest of his season progresses. Still though, overall, the teams needs some work, so it may be a struggle for them to continue to rise in the rankings.

23: San Francisco 49ers (26)

The 49ers weren’t predicted for big things this season, but they looked really good in their Monday night win over the Vikings. The defense looked especially tough holding Adrian Peterson to a low rushing total, while on the flip side 49er RB Carlos Hyde busted out in a big way in the absence of Frank Gore. Again, it’s too early to learn much about the 49ers, but they warrant keeping an eye on.

24: New York Jets (28)

The Jets D was impressive this week, and will be tested again this week on Monday night by the Indianapolis Colts who will be looking to bounce back from their week 1 loss.

25: Minnesota Vikings (14)

A big drop this week after their uninspired start to the season Monday night against the 49ers. The defense has to get better against the run, and Adrian Peterson needs to get back to form for the Vikings to start rising up the rankings.

26: New Orleans Saints (21)

Drew Brees and the Saints showed up to play on Sunday, but the late pick thrown by Brees late in the game during a comeback attempt sealed the deal on the their loss. The loss of TE Jimmy Graham in the off season is going to haunt them all year, and I think we are rapidly approaching the end of the Drew Brees- Sean Peyton era in New Orleans, as it’s becoming more and more clear each year that they are on the verge of a rebuilding period.

27: Houston Texans (20)

I didn’t start the Texans out as high in these rankings as a lot of people did, and for what I thought was a good reason…the QB position and the injury to Arian Foster. They got pushed around all day on Sunday by KC even though the score made it look closer than it really way. JJ Watt continued to play at a high level though, so there is some bright spots in Houston.

28: Jacksonville Jaguars (23)

Dropping a close game to the weak Panthers set the Jags back a little, but I continue to like what I see from this young team, and they should continue to improve on both sides of the ball through the season.

29: Washington Redskins Wahoo McDaniels’

The team from Washington continues to go backwards, and I really wonder what the end result of the RG3 – Management fiasco will be, AND when it will be over. Kirk Cousins didn’t look bad so to speak, but the team needs a new identity, as right now it’s “that team who hates their QB”.

30: Tampa Bay Bucs (31)

Up one spot this week despite a loss. QB Jamis Winston looked like a rookie and not the top notch QB he was in college. But that isn’t a knock, it’s to be expected. Tampa has a young team with some guys who could continue to develop and get better as time goes on, but for this year, they have a rookie QB so they’ll be week to week in determining just how good or bad they really are.

31: Oakland Raiders (29)

The Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio seemed embarrased by his team’s performance on Sunday against the Bengals, and I can’t blame him. The worse news is that their young starting QB Derek Carr is going to miss some time with a hand injury, and that isn’t good news for a team that was struggling to begin with. Expect the Raiders to stay near the bottom of the rankings for a while.

32: Cleveland Browns (30)

And we close out this week’s rankings with the Browns. They looked decent on their opening drives until starting QB Josh McCown wend down to injury. Then things kinda looked good with Johnny Manziel’s first couple of possessions as he looked sharp, but quickly faded away with his turnovers. Cleveland has a lot of work ahead of them if they expect to start climbing the rankings.

That wraps up the BOD Power Rankings for this week. I’ll be back later this week with a look at the Week 3 Odds and some picks for those of you that like a little more interest in a game other than fandom or fantasy. And if you’re looking for a change of pace from wrestling and football, stop by my site, How I Spent My Childhood to take a walk down memory lane as we revisit movies, tv shows, games, food, fashion, and cartoons from the 80’s and 90’s.