NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

Week 3 of the NFL season is in the books and yet again, I begin this post with a feeling of confusion. That's because I still have no clue what is going on with some teams. Teams that are 3-0 that really shouldn't be in my mind. Or teams that are 0-3 that have more talent than half of the NFL. But that's the NFL and that's why I love it.

After three weeks of games, it's interesting to see that the NFC seems to be stronger than the AFC this season for the first time in what seems like an eternity. Again, it is early and I could be reading a lot into what is just the first three weeks but there may be a power shift occurring this season, right before our very eyes. Enough babble though. On to the power rankings, now with pictures!

AFC
1. Denver (3-0) - Remember when Denver was a running team that amassed 200 yards on the ground each week no matter who they were playing. Well, times have changed. It's all about Jay Cutler and the pass, and boy, is it fun to watch. (Next @ KC)

2. Pittsburgh (2-1) - That game against Philadelphia was ugly. But the defense shut down a Philly offense that scored almost at will against Dallas and with the lack of good offenses in the AFC right now, that bodes well for them. (Next Mon vs. BAL)

3. San Diego (1-2) - They don't have the best record but they are darn good and the wins will come as they play OAK and MIA next. If they ever figure out how to play defense, they will be a force. I've already circled their Week 17 showdown with Denver at Qualcomm. (Next @ OAK)

4. Buffalo (3-0) - Seeing them come back against Oakland convinced this team is for real. They have a solid defense, a solid running game and above all, Trent Edwards is turning into a solid NFL quarterback. Plus, their division is really easy. (Next @ STL)

5. Jacksonville (1-2) - Now that they know that running the ball is the key to their success, this team will be dangerous. More than 41 minutes of total possession is just sick. If they weren't playing Peyton, they would've won by a lot more. (Next vs. HOU)

6. Indianapolis (1-2) - Defense was a let-down against JAX, unable to stop the run. But the offense is clicking and that's what makes this team go anyways. Plus, once they get Bob Sanders back, teams like JAX won't be able to complete a 2-minute drill. (Next BYE WEEK)

7. Tennessee (3-0) - Another win but I'm not convinced this team is for real. Kerry Collins just doesn't evoke confidence to me. Their running game is decent and their defense hasn't had a true test yet. It'll come in Week 4 with Adrian coming to town. (Next vs. MIN)

8. New England (2-1) - What in the heck happened? A Patriots D giving up 38 points and 5 touchdowns to Ronnie Brown? I think the defense has found out that those 41-38 showdowns of last year aren't happening this year. Shore up the D with the week off. (Next BYE WEEK)

9. Baltimore (2-0) - Their two wins are against CLE and CIN so hard to gauge how good they really are. But we know one thing: their defense will keep them in a lot of games and as long as the running game takes pressure off of Joe Flacco, they'll be okay. (Next Mon @ PIT)

10. NY Jets (1-2) - Well, Favre can only get you so far. They may want to work on defense now. Oh, and maybe a running game. Oh, and maybe Favre. He hasn't exactly played well yet for them. Maybe he should learn the playbook first. (Next vs. ARZ)

11. Miami (1-2) - So they do know how to score? Who knew? If Ronnie Brown can run (and pass) like that every game, this team could make some noise. Not to mention the defense is pretty good as well. (Next BYE WEEK)

12. Cleveland (0-3) - The talent is there. And for the first time in 3 years, I'm starting to think the coaching is not. Many thought this would be a rough 4-game start for the team. But if they lose to CIN, Quinn may be in and Romeo may be out. (Next @ CIN)

13. Cincinnati (0-3) - Give Marvin Lewis and his team some credit for sticking with the G-Men. They showed some grit and gave their fans some hope for the rest of the season. Too bad hope doesn't equal wins. (Next vs. CLE)

14. Oakland (1-2) - Lane Kiffin still has his job and he should. His team almost moved to 2-1 and his defense looked strong for three and a half quarters. This team is not bad because of Kiffin. This team is bad because of the GM/Owner/King of the team (Next vs. SD)

15. Houston (0-2) - They seem to have taken a step backwards. Matt Schaub has looked sketchy. The defense has not played well at all either. Blame last week on Ike if you want but I'm not. They're just not good. (Next @ JAX)

16. Kansas City (0-3) - I got "lucky" to see them vs ATL this week. Let me tell ya. Herm Edwards may "play to win the game" but when your team is this bad, you just play. They might go 0-16 this season. (Next vs. DEN)

NFC
1. Dallas (3-0) - Is there any question that they are the class of the NFC right now? The offense is nearly unstoppable and the defense is doing a good job of bending but not breaking. Plenty of season left but for now, they are the NFC's best (Next vs. WAS)

2. NY Giants (3-0) - Had their first real test and they passed. As well as Eli played, Brandon Jacobs and the run game did not. He has to rush for more than 35 yds for them to be victorious from here on out. (Next BYE WEEK)

3. Philadelphia (2-1) - It's fun to watch McNabb when he is healthy. The worry for this team right now is Brian Westbrook though. Looking a player like him who is so versatile would really slow down this dynamic offense. (Next @ CHI)

4. Green Bay (2-1) - They didn't really play bad against Dallas. They just are not as good. But for the 3rd game in a row, Aaron Rodgers proved he is capable of leading the Packer offense. The division should be theirs for the taking. (Next @ TB)

5. New Orleans (1-2) - This may sound crazy but this may be a better team without Deuce McAllister. Reggie Bush is just too big of a playmaker to ever have on the bench. Once their defense gets fully healthy, they'll be a tough team to beat. (Next vs. SF)

6. Washington (2-1) - If they weren't in the NFC East, they would be a playoff team. Their defense is tough and Jason Campbell is doing a great job running that offense. Give Jim Zorn credit for keeping this team focused after Joe Gibbs' retirement. (Next @ Dallas)

7. Arizona (2-1) - It was their first loss and on the road. It happens. This is still a good team though. Their defense should be just fine in their hapless division but against the top of this list, it has no chance. (Next @ NYJ)

8. Carolina (2-1) - Watching them struggle against Minnesota was odd after their strong first half start. Once they get a consistent running game, they'll be okay. And having Steve Smith back should make the passing game more potent. (Next vs. ATL)

9. Minnesota (1-2) - Sorry Tarvaris. This team needs a QB that knows the game now and not one that is learning on the fly. Gus Frerotte managed the offense and the defense showed just how good they can really be. Watch out NFC. (Next @ TEN)

10. San Francisco (2-1) - Frank Gore is a stud, hands down. If he does not get the ball at least 25 times, it's a travesty. J.T. O'Sullivan playing another solid game is a good sign too for a team that really hasn't played a great team yet. (Next @ NO)

11. Chicago (1-2) - Kyle Orton and the offense did its job against a tough TB defense, scoring 24 points and racking up 405 total yards. It was the Bears D that lost this game though. Not a good sign when you give up 454 yards of offense to the Bucs. (Next vs. PHI)

12. Tampa Bay (2-1) - They may have beaten CHI who is above them but knowing that Brian Griese threw 67 times and their rushing game only gained 47 yards is not good. They have some kinks to work out before they are considered a serious contender (Next vs. GB)

13. Atlanta (2-1) - Their two wins have come against the NFL's worst teams so their record is deceiving. But they do have an explosive offense. Matt Ryan can throw the deep ball and Michael Turner is a beast on the ground. (Next @ CAR)

14. Seattle (1-2) - The game against STL was supposed to be a coming out party. It was for the running game (245 yds) but not at all for the passing game (162 yds). But then again, a win is a win. (Next BYE WEEK)

15. St. Louis (0-3) - They finally showed some sign of life against SEA. But by signs of life, I don't mean anything substantial. This is a team that is struggling in every aspect and have no reason why. (Next vs. BUF)

16. Detroit (0-3) - Can anyone tell me why Matt Millen still has his job? Not even the owner's son can. This team is in dire need of wholesale changes and soon if they want to see anything positive from this season. They have a week off to figure something out. (Next BYE WEEK)