– Last Updated on November 20, 2022 10:18 pm
NFL Power Rankings Week 3
Looking for 2016 NFL Power Rankings? Week 2 of the NFL season is in the books – what a fun weekend it was unless your Fantasy team was beleaguered by injuries like mine was! Some teams that disappointed in Week 1 finally showed up in Week 2 while some top tier contenders with questions at quarterback kept rolling.
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Some legit Super Bowl threats looked awful and some new teams have thrown their hats of teams to watch the next few week.
So where does your favorite stand heading into Week 3?
Let’s take a look in Dave B’s Week 3 NFL Power Rankings.
1. New England Patriots (2-0)
Last Week: 2
Talk to me next week after rookie QB Jacoby Brisett completes his first start in place of the suspended Tom Brady and injured Jimmy Garoppolo! But these are the Patriots we are talking about – their system seems to make EVERYONE good!
If Brisett was a dog, there is no way Mr. Belichik would keep him around.
The Pats may get Rob Gronkowski back next week – Martellus Bennett went for 114 yards and a TD in Week 2 as further proof that anyone can and will thrive in New England. Adversity, Schmadeversity – New England is legit again!
2. Denver Broncos (2-0)
Last Week: 3
This team is winning with Trevor Siemian guiding the offense! Incredible. Mind you, without a super-stout defense (one that made Andrew Luck look bad) this team could be average.
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Defense and a good running game is the formula for success in the NFL – Denver has both in spades!
3. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)
Last Week: 4
We’ll give the Cardinals a mulligan after their Week 1 loss – Week 2 was certainly more like we have come to expect from this team. The offense did what it wanted against Tampa and the defense was absolutely dominant.
Arizona has all the makings of the top team in the Rankings – maybe next week?
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0)
Last Week: 6
Some may argue that the Steelers deserve to be higher – perhaps they do! Despite playing without Le’Veon Bell, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant, Heath Miller and Ladarius Green, the Steelers are thriving – thanks to guys like Xavier Grimble (WHO????? Exactly!)
Suddenly this team has a strong defense to go with a sensational offense – scary for the rest of the AFC.
5. Carolina Panthers (1-1)
Last Week: 5
The Panthers avenged a disappointing start to their season with a 46-27 win over San Francisco in a game that wasn’t as close as the score reveals.
Cam Newton was his typical Stud self, Kelvin Benjamin caught 2 TD passes and backup RB Fozzy Whitaker had 100+ rushing yards in Week 2 – all good signs for this club going forward.
Add in the fact that the defense looked a little better and we can expect the Panthers to be a fixture in the top 5 all year long.
6. Houston Texans (2-0)
Last Week: 11
How about them Texans? Could this be the team that sneaks up on everybody this year? Well based on the first two weeks of the season it looks like a real possibility.
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Brock Osweiler has been good, Lamar Miller is legit and rookie Wide Receiver Will Fuller dropped another 100 yards – his second time doing so in his first two career starts.
JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney can take this team a long way all by themselves.
7. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Last Week: 1
I gave the Seahawks the benefit of the doubt last week but after losing 9-3 to the Rams they are lucky to be in the top 10. I mean c’mon! The offense has 1 TD in two games and the running game has been brutal so far.
Most, including myself are wondering if the Hawks are a pretender this year!
8. Green Bay Packers (1-1)
Last Week: 7
Turnovers, turnovers – they cost the Packers their Week 2 game against Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers and the O-line were exposed again Sunday night – something to be wary of.
If Rodgers doesn’t have the time, this team is in big trouble. Add Green Bay to the list of contenders that have a lot of work to do in order to regain their elite status.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
Last Week: 8
The Bengals are yet another team that looked pedestrian in Week 2 – not quite sure what to make of them.
Sure the Steelers are a legitimate contender but turnovers, average defensive play and a date with Denver in Week 3 has them staring at a possible 1-2 record.
10. New York Giants (2-0)
Last Week: 12
Went on the road and beat their nemesis Dallas in Week 1 and beat the Saints in Week 2. They are now 2-0 for the first time in what seems like a generation!
That said they squeaked one out against Dallas and utilized a Hail Mary to Victor Cruz to secure the win this past week. New York has been getting contributions from defense and Special Teams (blocked FG for a TD) and still has a ton of offensive weapons.
For now they are top 10 – let’s see how long it lasts!
11. Minnesota Vikings (2-0)
Last Week: 15
The Viking lost Adrian Peterson, possibly for a while but the play of Sam Bradford has the team on the rise in the Rankings.
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Minnesota’s defense has been off-the-charts so far – Stefon Diggs has been remarkable – Minnesota deservedly has a spot in this week’s dirty dozen.
12. Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
Last Week: 13
The Ravens have been largely unspectacular but as an undefeated team they have to be inside the dirty dozen! They may have gotten lucky, scoring 25 unanswered points to beat the Browns on Sunday.
Mike Wallace is reborn as is Dennis Pitta and the defense has been good so far. I’m not saying that Baltimore is a Super Bowl contender but they are definitely one of the better middle-of-the-pack teams.
- 13. Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) – Last Week: 9
- 14. Oakland Raiders (1-1) – Last Week: 10
- 15. New York Jets (1-1) – Last Week: 14
- 16. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) – Last Week: 20
- 17. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) – Last Week: 21
- 18. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) – Last Week: 25
- 19. Washington Redskins (0-2) – Last Week: 17
- 20. Indianapolis Colts (0-2) – Last Week: 16
- 21. Detroit Lions (1-1) – Last Week: 22
- 22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) – Last Week: 18
- 23. San Diego Chargers (1-1) – Last Week: 29
- 24. Tennessee Titans (1-1) – Last Week: 30
- 25. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) – Last Week: 19
- 26. Miami Dolphins (0-2) – Last Week: 26
- 27. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) – Last Week: 28
- 28. Los Angeles Rams (1-1) – Last Week: 31
- 29. Chicago Bears (0-2) – Last Week: 27
- 30. New Orleans Saints (0-2) – Last Week: 24
- 31. Buffalo Bills (0-2) – Last Week: 23
- 32. Cleveland Browns (0-2) – Last Week: 32
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