Tag: power rankings

1 – Packers (7-1) 6

Against all odds, the Packers pulled off the impossible last Thursday. Going on the road to take on the only undefeated team in football without their top 3 WRs, their LT, their star CB and pass rusher, or even a defensive coordinator, they out-played the Cardinals from start to finish en route to the biggest win of the season in the NFL thus far. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t electric, but it was incredible team football to pull off a feat that nobody thought they could. It was more than enough to put them at #1. Aaron Rodgers is playing like he’s in his prime, making something out of nothing, and this defense has been extremely physical and continues to make play after play despite being riddled by injuries. They ran the ball all over a good defense and looked like the best team in football. In my opinion, that’s just what they are.

2 – Cardinals (7-1) 1

I’m not going to punish the Cardinals too hard for losing. They were the 32nd team in the league to do so. They played well enough to be within a single play of beating the Packers, and that was with DeAndre Hopkins missing most of the game. I was a bit concerned with Kyler Murray, as he struggled for the majority of the game and seemed to be hurt once it was over. Hopefully he’s alright. I was also concerned with the defensive performance out of Arizona, as they were ran all over and had a hard time stopping the Packers’ practice squad WR core. But, it was a big game against a fantastic team, and in the NFL, these things happen. This team is still great and a very close loss to the best team in football doesn’t discount 7 weeks worth of top tier play.

3 – Rams (7-1) 1

The Rams are playing a lot better than it might seem by putting them at 3, but you have to keep things in perspective. Since their lone loss to the Cardinals, they have played a Seahawks team that lost Russell Wilson mid-game, the Giants, Lions, and Texans. So, yes, they look fantastic. I honestly think they look like the best team in the league. But their opponents have been dreadful, and they still lost a game to a team above them. I don’t always give teams the advantage just because of a head-to-head matchup, but I think this is an exception. Still, I love watching this team play, and they’re only getting better. The acquisition of Von Miller from Denver solidifies their pass rush as one of the best in football to go along with a star-studded secondary, and their offense needs no introduction at this point. As it stands, from a roster perspective, this is probably the best overall team in the league.

4 – Cowboys (6-1) 1

I don’t know what it is with this team, but they have something. That ever-enticing it factor that they talk about is very apparent in Dallas. Going on the road in a primetime game against a good Vikings team was going to be hard enough, but Dak Prescott was ruled out just before the game due to his calf issues. With backup QB Cooper Rush getting the start, I certainly had no faith in the Cowboys to win. So, naturally, he threw for 325 yards and 2 TDs including the game-winner in the final minute. Oh, and their defense shut down a star-studded Minnesota offense all game long to the tune of 278 total yards and a staggering 1-for-13 on 3rd down conversions. No matter what the circumstance or who the opponent, all this Cowboys team does is persevere and win. They have playmakers everywhere on offense to make up for any lack at any position, and their defense is seemingly getting better by the week. In a dreadful division and an already weak schedule, it’s hard to foresee this team losing many more games this season. We’re all doomed.

5 – Buccaneers (6-2) 2

Can we all pump the brakes for a second? Let’s be adults about this. Did the Bucs lose on Sunday? Yes. Was it bad? Kind of. Losing to a backup QB who hasn’t played in this league in several years is never a good thing. But, there are some facts that need to be taken into account. For starters, like I said above with Arizona, a close loss to a good team doesn’t discount half a season’s worth of excellent football. Moreover, Tampa was without two key offensive pieces in Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski in addition to their never-ending defensive injury list. Oh, and the Saints have had the Bucs’ number in a huge way since Brady got there, as he’s now 0-3 against them in the regular season. This is just how the NFL works. I’m trying to be rational here and I’m giving the Bucs a pass because I know they’re still one of the NFL’s best teams and I believe in Tom Brady. But let’s not lose to any more backups, ok?

6 – Bills (5-2) 2

I’m not very fond of good teams playing bad teams close. If I expect it to happen, then sure. But you guys know how I feel about the Miami Dolphins. A team this good should not be struggling with a team that bad for that long. I know I always say division games are close, but the Bills have a history of destroying the Dolphins in recent years. In any case, they pulled away late and got the job done (and covered, thank you very much). Even if I didn’t like this one game for the Bills, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve loved how they’ve looked otherwise. This is still one of the best offenses in football, and is the best statistical defense in the league by a large margin. They’ll be just fine, especially with their cupcake schedule.

7 – Titans (6-2) 1

Tennessee pulling through in overtime and picking up a win to cement their spot atop the AFC South on Sunday was absolutely massive. It would have been huge anyways, but the news that they’ll be without Derrick Henry for 6-10 weeks with a foot injury makes it that much bigger. This team runs through their star RB, and without him, I have no idea how they’re going to look. Luckily, they have a cushion to figure things out, now 3 games up in the division. I like Ryan Tannehill, but this offense doesn’t necessarily have a plethora of weapons. I have a bad feeling that without Henry, this team will fall apart. But, Mike Vrabel is a good head coach, and this team just finds ways to win. It’s just such a shame to lose one of the NFL’s best and most beloved players. I hope that they keep it together.

8 – Bengals (5-3) 2

There is nothing that irks me more than great teams losing to terrible teams. Remember how I treated the Titans for losing to the Jets? So, you might be wondering why I’m not putting the Bengals in timeout this week. Well, it’s fairly simple to be honest. They were absolutely jobbed. Cincy stopped the Jets on a crucial 3rd down deep in their own territory, but the refs called an inexplicable unnecessary roughness call on the Bengals for a helmet-to-helmet collision in which the New York player lowered his head way down and into the collision itself. Thus, the Jets were gifted a first down and ended up driving to cut the lead. After an unlucky tipped INT and another touchdown, it was upset city. It’s not the Bengals’ fault. Granted, you shouldn’t really be in that situation against a team as bad as the Jets in the first place, but Mike White came out and played an incredible game that none of us could have seen coming. For all these reasons, and the fact that they’ve been one of the best teams in the NFL thus far, I’m cutting the Bengals some slack this week.

9 – Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens had a much-needed bye in Week 8 ahead of a tough matchup this week with the Vikings. Hopefully they took the time during the off week to figure out their defensive issues, because we all know that if they don’t tighten up that side of the ball, there will be more losses to come.

10 – Raiders (5-2) 1

One normal week is all I ask for with the Raiders. Just one. Only a franchise like this can lose to their bye week. You guys know the story with Henry Ruggs III by now, so I won’t get into it. Only time will tell how that affects this team moving forward.

11 – Chargers (4-3) 1

I’m not entirely sure what happened to this team. The Chargers defense has taken a complete nosedive, as even after a bye week, they were torn apart by a average to above average Patriots offense. The other side of the ball hasn’t been pretty either, as Justin Herbert and company have struggled mightily in back to back games. All of a sudden, the young star QB has a turnover problem, and the once potent weapons around him have disappeared. I haven’t heard Mike Williams’ name called since the Browns game. You would think that a team this talented and well-coached would look significantly better coming off a bye, but that wasn’t the case. The schedule isn’t terrible moving forward, so hopefully this team buttons itself up in the next few weeks, otherwise they could get lost very quickly in a wild AFC playoff race.

12 – Saints (5-2) 4

I will finally give the Saints the credit that they very much deserve, but I still have some concerns moving forward with this team. The obvious one is that Jameis Winston will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury in what was an unfortunate situation on a high tackle on Sunday. Trevor Siemian was effective in relief and got the win against a great Bucs team, but I don’t know how I feel about him as a full-time starter moving forward. What I do know is that this team just finds ways to win. It has been the case for years now. Whenever Drew Brees went down with injury, the backup was ready to go and this team didn’t lose a beat. Who’s to say that won’t be the case with Siemian under center? This defense is spectacular and the offense gets the job done. With a favorable schedule and a great team from top to bottom, this can easily be a playoff team. We just have to see if Siemian is built for it.

13 – Patriots (4-4) 4

The evil empire is inevitable. The Patriots are back after some huge wins and find themselves right in the thick of the AFC wild card race. Honestly, I think this team is a heck of a lot better than a lot of other teams in the conference that are just treading water right now. This defense is finally playing up to their talent, and the offense has seemingly figured itself out. It wasn’t going to be instantly effective with Mac Jones under center, but the rookie seems to have found his groove, and this offense looks extremely efficient because of that. It’s a perfect formula to win games, and this team has proven that they can play up to some elite competition. Now that they can get over the hump and beat those great teams, I don’t see how this team doesn’t find their way into the playoffs.

14 – Steelers (4-3) 5

Well, well, well. We meet again, Pittsburgh. I dreaded this happening, but alas, I saw it coming from a mile away. After 3 straight good-looking wins, the Steelers appear to be back. Their defense has been spectacular, and their offense is doing just enough to put up more points than the opposing team. The offensive line is playing better, and the passing attack has been surprisingly effective throughout this win streak. But it’s no secret that this team’s forte is their defense. As long as they continue suffocating opponents all game long, especially on the ground, then this team will have what it takes to make the playoffs. What they’ll do once they get there is yet to be seen, but the Steelers are back to playing their brand of football, and they’re looking good doing it.

15 – Colts (3-5) 2

Yikes. That was just… yikes. I’ll give the Colts credit for a couple of things. For starters, they jumped out to a double digit lead early on Sunday and looked unstoppable. That is, until they started getting stopped. That all culminated in perhaps the worst play I’ve ever seen from a QB at any level of football, as Carson Wentz “threw” a beyond inexplicable pick six while being tackled in his own endzone to almost lose the game with less than 2 minutes left in the game. But, Wentz and Indy bounced back and went down to tie the game and force OT, which is another thing I want to give them credit for. A team can easily be derailed by such a poor sequence of events, but they overcame that adversity. Overtime, however, brought more unfortunate happenings. Another poor Wentz pick set up the game-winning FG for the Titans to bury this team 3 games behind Tennessee in the standings. This was so winnable for the Colts, but they got the Carson Wentz of old, and that’s what ruined them. I still think Wentz has been very good this season, as has the rest of the team, but it’s a huge uphill battle from here. Do they have what it takes to climb that hill?

16 – Chiefs (4-4) 1

What do you want me to say about the Chiefs? You are all seeing the same product I am. This team didn’t look great in recent weeks, that’s no secret. But it’s time to call them what they are right now: bad. Their offense is invisible. When they do get things going, they become a turnover factory. They can’t run the football, and their pass protection has been dreadful. Travis Kelce has become a non-factor. And the defensive woes need no introduction. Not even Patrick Mahomes can right a ship sinking this fast. It’s ugly, it’s unfortunate, and it hurts to see. But, this is what the Chiefs are right now. I don’t know what it will take to save them.

17 – Browns (4-4) 3

Alright Cleveland, what’s your excuse? Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it. The Browns are finally healthy on offense, so it’s only right that they put together their worst offensive performance in their biggest game of the season thus far. Even with Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Jarvis Landry back, this team refused to move the ball on Sunday against an albeit excellent Steelers defense. Odell Beckham Jr. is as invisible as ever and probably won’t even be on this team by this time next week. The defense hasn’t been bad, but their offense hasn’t been able to do enough to show for anything, which is not something I was expecting to type out this season. Baker is still a problem, but not having a run game to make up for that will set this team back. I don’t expect them to have that problem against most teams, but when it happens, the Browns are hopeless.

18 – 49ers (3-4)

The Niners’ win in Chicago on Sunday was pretty nice. There’s not much I can say about it. It’s what I expected out of this team, and I’m glad they proved me wrong. I will say that I was impressed with their offensive performance, as Jimmy Garoppolo looked very good and the run game was dominant led by Elijah Mitchell. The defense didn’t play as well as I thought they would, but when you win by double digits, you can’t complain too much. If the 49ers can channel this into more good performances against good teams, then they can definitely turn this season around. Unfortunately, I just don’t see that being the case.

19 – Vikings (3-4) 7

I am being extremely harsh to the Vikings this week, but it’s what they deserve. I’ve had such high hopes for them, and time and time again, they fail to deliver on that promise. They couldn’t even beat a backup QB at home on Sunday. The Cowboys are a great team, but come on now. With the offense at full strength, you have to put together more than just 16 points, even against a good defense. This team was inexplicably 1/13 on 3rd down. Their defense played well enough to win the game, but the offense refused to do anything all game long. I don’t know who to blame, and I don’t to waste any time or energy thinking of an answer. I will simply take this team off the pedestal that I’ve had them on for so many weeks.

20 – Panthers (4-4) 3

Good on this team for avoiding the embarrassment of losing to the Falcons. I didn’t think they had it in them, but apparently they do. It doesn’t mean very much to me, however. It was still an extremely poor offensive showing, and that was to be expected. Once again, Sam Darnold left the game, this time after getting popped by a defender. Even when he was in the game, this offense was invisible. At least Christian McCaffrey is coming back soon. Or so they hope.

21 – Seahawks (3-5) 1

Unlike what I predicted, the Seahawks saved themselves from the embarrassment of losing to the Jaguars. Good for them. Behind a strong performance by Geno Smith and both star WRs, alongside a cosmically-rare good defensive performance, the outcome on Sunday was never in doubt. I still don’t have much faith in this team with Geno under center, but the good news is that Russell Wilson seems to be progressing fast in his recovery and should be back in the coming weeks. Once he’s back, things could get back on track, but I still think this defense holds the Seahawks back too much for them to be in the playoff picture.

22 – Broncos (4-4) 2

On Sunday, the Broncos won perhaps the worst professional football game I’ve ever watched. They weren’t impressive in doing so. In fact, they almost fumbled the game away at the end (literally). But, they proved to be the lesser of two terribles and came away with the flimsiest win you’ll ever see. There’s nothing more I can say about that. On the topic of Von Miller, however, I think the trade benefits Denver greatly. Yes, Miller is a franchise legend, but he was set to be a free agent this offseason and he surely wasn’t coming back. Now, they get a 2nd and a 3rd, as well as some money off the books. Great value.

23 – Eagles (3-5) 1

The Eagles put together perhaps the most confusing blowout I have ever seen on Sunday in Detroit. I knew they’d beat the Lions, but I didn’t think it would be that bad. Moreover, I still can’t explain how they put up the numbers they did. Jalen Hurts barely did anything all game, nor did their pass-catching threats. The entire offense ran through 2 backup RBs in Boston Scott and Jordan Howard, who is somehow still in the league. In any case, it was a good win for a team that needed it and is now sitting alone in 2nd place in the NFC East. Unfortunately, blowing out the Lions means next to nothing.

24 – Falcons (3-4) 3

There’s nothing I can say about this team. The most notable thing that happened to a Falcons player this week was Matt Ryan’s hand getting stepped on. The offense laid a complete dud and while the defense wasn’t bad, it wasn’t enough. It’s not very often that we can say that about the Falcons. It’s ok Atlanta. At least the Braves just won the World Series.

25 – Giants (2-6)

Credit to the Giants for sticking around all game long on Monday night. Nobody gave them a chance, but they were in it till the very end. They went out with a whimper, but we are all about moral victories here in the NFC East. The loss was like so many others for the Giants this season. The defense did its thing, but the offense couldn’t find a pulse and it ended up being their downfall. There are plenty of problems on that side of the ball, so I don’t know who to blame, but I’m not trying to point fingers anyways.

26 – Bears (3-5)

I was honestly impressed with the Bears on Sunday. At least, from an offensive perspective. Justin Fields looked solid, making some good looking throws and having one of the best runs of the season for a touchdown. But, the defense was a complete mess from start to finish, and their offense couldn’t do enough to overcome that. But, if their offense continues to get better, than perhaps this team will find themselves winning games again this season.

27 – Washington (2-6)

No, I won’t talk about this team. I refuse to. It is a waste of time, and I am sick of it. You couldn’t pay me to care about these sorry losers right now. They have broken me.

28 – Jets (2-5) 3

Honestly, good for the Jets. They didn’t deserve to win on Sunday, but they did more than enough to do so anyways. Mike White looked absolutely awesome and he 100% deserves to be this team’s starting QB moving forward. I saw more from him in one game than I have ever seen from Zach Wilson. He’ll get another chance to prove himself on national TV on Thursday night in Indy, and while I don’t think he’ll have another 400-yard day, I’m not ruling out the possibility of him putting together a nice game. In any case, he needs to be the starter, even when Wilson returns from injury.

29 – Jaguars (1-6) 1

Remind me to never put my faith in the Jaguars again. Thank you very much.

30 – Dolphins (1-7)

Credit to the Dolphins for somehow hanging around with the Bills for most of the game on Sunday. That might be the highlight of their season for all of 2021.

31 – Lions (0-8) 2

Uh… yeah. The story of this team used to be scrappy losses. Now it’s getting 40-pieced by the Eagles. It’s just bad. They’ll surely win a game eventually, but it’s getting harder and harder to envision that happening.

32 – Texans (1-7)

The Houston Texans are a football team. Honestly, they’re barely that anymore. That is literally all that can be said about this team.

All stats taken from ESPN.

1 – Cardinals (7-0)

No surprises here. I was considering shuffling around the top a bit, but it just didn’t feel right moving the Cardinals down for covering a 20-point spread. It wasn’t the flashiest of victories on Sunday, but it didn’t need to be. Both sides of the ball still did their thing, and they won extremely convincingly. This week will be arguably their toughest test yet, getting a hobbling Packers team on Thursday night, but I have no doubt they’ll do their thing yet again.

2 – Rams (6-1)

I don’t really care that the Rams were in a dogfight with the Lions on Sunday because it’s exactly what I predicted would happen. Detroit pulled out all the stops and still lost by multiple possessions, and it’s because this team is just that good. Matt Stafford continues to spread the ball around all over the place, and the passing game was the highlight of the game for the Rams. Stafford had 334 yards and 3 touchdowns, Cooper Kupp continued his sensational play with 156 yards and 2 TDs on 10 catches, and the defense slammed the door on the Lions to secure the win. It may not have been what people wanted to see, but it was a vintage Rams win, and it was precisely what I expected out of them.

3 – Buccaneers (6-1)

Tampa absolutely bullied the Bears for 60 minutes on Sunday. It was a thrashing on both sides of the ball. I thought Chicago’s defense would at least slow down this potent offense, but that simply wasn’t the case. Touchdown drive after touchdown drive combined with a dominant defensive performance had this game over before it even started. Tom Brady was sensational once again, throwing for 211 yards and 4 more touchdowns, including his 600th career regular season TD pass, to increase his league lead in both categories. Leonard Fournette is continuing to dominate out of the backfield, and you simply can’t guard every pass-catching weapon that the Bucs have. The defense made Justin Fields’ life a living hell, forcing 5 turnovers. If it wasn’t for a few redzone miscues, the score would have looked even uglier. Regardless, it was an awesome performance from Tampa, and I’m not sure if any team in the NFL is currently capable of stopping them.

4 – Bills (4-2)

The Bills had the week off, but luckily get to stay in place for now. I’m sure the bye was helpful for them to figure out their defensive woes, but I don’t think it’ll matter. Their upcoming schedule is remarkably easy, and I don’t see them struggling much until playoff time.

5 – Cowboys (5-1)

Dallas was on a much-needed bye last week as Dak Prescott gets healthier for a huge primetime clash with the Vikings on Sunday night. All signs are pointing towards him being good to go, and they’ll need him. I’m excited to see how they perform in primetime.

6 – Bengals (5-2) 3

The surprise team of 2021 just keeps on surprising. I picked the Bengals to beat the Ravens, but blowing them out is something I never could have foreseen. That was a close game for a while, but they simply blew it open in incredible fashion in the second half, and it’s thanks to more amazing play from Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase. Their spectacular 82-yard touchdown connection in the 3rd quarter is what opened the floodgates, and they did not look back. Burrow finished with a whopping 416 yards and 3 touchdowns, with Chase catching 8 passes for an incredible 201 yards and the aforementioned score. Moreover, their defense is continuing to do big things, as they barely let the Ravens move the ball on them while the game was still close. It was simply a dominant, seemingly demon-exorcising game on both sides of the ball, and now, this team is the #1 seed in the AFC. I know it’s early, but I have no doubts that this is a playoff team. They are just so much fun to watch, and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us this season.

7 – Packers (6-2)

The Packers weren’t very impressive on Sunday, but they didn’t need to be. Washington shot themselves in the foot all game long, and Green Bay did what they needed to do early to put the game to bed. They were outgained and honestly outplayed offensively, but their defense made the necessary plays to make sure Washington never got back in it. There was nothing flashy about the win, but again, flash wasn’t necessary. This week will be a tough one, as they head to Arizona on a short week to take on the 7-0 Cardinals. To make matters worse, they’ll be without Davante Adams after a positive COVID test. I didn’t think they’d win that game anyways, but without him, it might not be close.

8 – Titans (5-2) 7

Ok, fine. I’ll put some respect on the Titans. I recognize that beating the Chiefs doesn’t mean what it once did, but to beat any team the way they did on Sunday would be impressive. It was absolute domination from start to finish. Their offense had a field day against KC’s terrible defense, and their own defense, which you know I don’t like, absolutely shut down what is one of the best statistical offenses in football. Patrick Mahomes was in hell, and it never felt like the Chiefs had a chance. A 27-0 halftime lead will demoralize any team. The Titans have proven me wrong in recent weeks since losing to the Jets, and if their defense can keep up this level of play, then they could be a real contender in the AFC. I just need to see it more consistently before buying more stock. But, I’ve bought just enough to finally put them in the top 10.

9 – Ravens (5-2) 3

So uh, what the hell happened? For the most part, this team was absolutely stifled on Sunday. They were outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed by a team that they have dominated for so many years. It almost didn’t feel real. The Ravens didn’t have the worst statistical day, but those stats are empty when you lose by 24 points at home. The biggest issue with this team continues to be the defense, which was torn apart to the tune of 520 yards allowed. The secondary is a mess that can’t cover a traffic cone, and they aren’t generating enough pressure to influence the pass game. As long as that’s the case, I don’t see this team contending in the AFC. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a move for a DB at the deadline. They need it badly.

10 – Chargers (4-2) 2

LA had a bye this week, so there’s nothing to report on here. The upcoming schedule has some challenging games, so I’m excited to see how the Chargers perform in the next few weeks. I hope they don’t let me down.

11 – Raiders (5-2) 1

The Raiders did exactly what I thought they’d do on Sunday. They easily dispatched of a scrappy Eagles team, and Derek Carr was brilliant once again. The Vegas QB had 323 yards and 2 touchdowns on a wild 91% completion (31/34). The defense continues to look improved in the absence of Jon Gruden, outside of some garbage time statpadding from Philly. This team now sits atop the AFC West, and I honestly think they can keep that going. I do think the Chargers are better than them, and they showed that by beating them, but I like the football I’m seeing in Vegas right now. The only thing that can slow them down is themselves, but they seem to overcome adversity pretty well.

12 – Vikings (3-3) 1

Minnesota had a bye this week, and now get their toughest test in a primetime showdown with the Cowboys this Sunday night. I’m excited to see how they perform in that game, and I think it will be a solid benchmark for how real this team is. I’ve been buying their stock all year long, and I hope they don’t let me down.

13 – Colts (3-4) 8

The Colts are officially here. I loved what I had seen from this team in recent weeks, and now it’s all coming to fruition. They are winning games and looking awesome doing it. The defense is back to form, and the offense is seemingly unstoppable. Carson Wentz is looking like his former self, Jonathan Taylor is still unstoppable out of the backfield, and Michael Pittman Jr. is looking like one of the more lethal young WR threats in the NFL. They head into a bye as a team a lot better than their record suggests, and I think they have what it takes to make a real playoff push. They were very unlucky to start this season, but now that they’re starting to win games, I have a lot of faith in the Colts.

14 – Browns (4-3)

I was honestly impressed with the Browns on Thursday night. I really didn’t think they’d win without Baker Mayfield, but Case Keenum stepped in and did his thing. The real star of the show was D’Ernest Johnson, a 3rd string RB filling in for the injured Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Johnson had an impressive 146 yards and a touchdown on just 22 carries. The offensive line is getting back healthy and proving that they are still one of the best in the league. I think I could run for 100 behind those guys. The defense also did its thing against a lethargic Broncos offense. I still don’t know how I feel about this team, especially as their injuries linger. The next few weeks will dictate how Cleveland’s season is going to go.

15 – Chiefs (3-4) 5

Oh brother. Where do you even begin with the Chiefs? This team is falling apart. This is genuinely a bad football team right now. The offense is still putting up stats, but the stats are extremely empty. Just look at them only scoring 3 points and turning the ball over 3 times against a bad defense. Patrick Mahomes continues to be a turnover machine, and the previously explosive offensive weapons are now nowhere to be seen. The biggest problem continues to be the defense, which might as well not take the field at all. There’s just nothing going right in Kansas City, and while I previously trusted Mahomes to make sense of all this madness, he’s proved that he’s incapable of doing so. The Chiefs better hope they find some answers, or this season could be over in a blink.

16 – Saints (4-2)

Is this the worst 4-2 team ever? Probably not. But they’re not a great team by any stretch. The truth about the Saints is there are only 2 things that are good about them. The first is Alvin Kamara, who is still one of the most unstoppable players in football. On Monday night, he had 179 total yards, including 128 receiving yards on 10 catches. The second bright spot in New Orleans is the defense, which has been great for the most part all year long. They shut down an albeit nonexistent Seahawks offense all game long outside of a single long TD pass, and it was very impressive to watch. I just don’t think it’s a formula that will translate into enough wins to put this team in the playoffs, especially with a tough schedule.

17 – Patriots (3-4)

The Patriots had some kind of hostility they were clearly letting out on the Jets on Sunday. 551 yards of offense and 54 points, with 20 coming in the 4th quarter, is a sign of a team that was trying to prove a point. I’m not going to go crazy over a blowout of the Jets, but I was still impressed with the Pats. Mac Jones continues to be efficient and sharp, the run game is back to putting up good numbers, and the defense is back to showing up. I think this team has the ingredients to make the playoffs, but they’re clearly still figuring out a lot of moving parts.

18 – 49ers (2-4) 7

I’m done making excuses for this team. They looked good for a while on Sunday night, but after that, they turtled and played scared football. They 100% deserved to lose. And they deserve the slander. This roster is way too talented to play such conservative football, and I trace it back to Kyle Shanahan. His playcalling and coaching style just aren’t going to work in today’s NFL, yet he refuses to adapt or change anything. The Niners were dominating with the run and, subsequently, the play action, but they refused to use it to their advantage. Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t exactly a QB that can beat you with his arm. The secondary is also very bad, and it hurts the defense tremendously. I just don’t like what I’m seeing out of this team, and I don’t know what it’ll take for them to get back track.

19 – Steelers (3-3) 1

The Steelers had a bye ahead of a huge matchup with the Browns this week. If they can pull a win out, then their season can turn around in a massive way, and based on how they played going into the bye week, it might not be too far-fetched. More on that tomorrow.

20 – Broncos (3-4) 1

This team is just bad. That’s what they have devolved into. The offense is nonexistent, and the once-strong defense can’t even slow down 3rd string RBs. Now, Von Miller is hurt once again, and the defense will get even worse because of it. There’s just nothing to like in Denver. It’s turning into a big, big shame. Hopefully they figure out the QB position this offseason.

21 – Falcons (3-3) 5

Somehow, the Falcons are sitting at .500 through 6 games. Actually, I’ll tell you how. The schedule has been dreadful. Granted, I don’t want to keep them too low, because they are playing better football than the teams currently below them. But I’m not buying any of this team’s stock. Once the schedule actually gets real, there won’t be many positives left to talk about. But, as it stands, this is a decent team with a fun offense, and Kyle Pitts is turning into a legitimate threat. Good for him.

22 – Seahawks (2-5)

Talking about this team is a colossal waste of time. As long as Russell Wilson is out, they won’t be worth a damn. Geno Smith has been dreadful as the starter, and the defense is just as bad as ever. Yawn. Next!

23 – Panthers (3-4) 3

Remember when everyone was crowning this team after starting 3-0? Remember when you all said Sam Darnold was back because he beat the Jets and the Texans? Yeah, those were the days. There’s a reason I never believed in this team. They don’t have what it takes, and it starts with Darnold. The only thing keeping this team together was Christian McCaffrey, and they are now 0-4 without him. Darnold can’t do a thing on his own, and he deserved to be benched long before he actually was on Sunday. Getting crushed by the Giants in 2021 is an absolute disgrace. Deshaun Watson is the only thing that can save this team, and the chances of him coming here is next to none. So, this is a hopeless football team.

24 – Eagles (2-5)

I’ll give the Eagles credit for one thing. They are the premier statpadders in the NFL. Nobody does it better than the Birds. They go down 30 and turn it on in every single 4th quarter. It’s honestly impressive. Unfortunately for Philly, the first 3 quarters also matter, and they aren’t very good in those. It’s just more of the same every week with this team. I am confident in their pieces moving forward, but this is all they’re going to be in 2021.

25 – Giants (2-5) 4

The Giants decide to show up about once a month, and last week’s thrashing of the Panthers filled that quota for October. This still isn’t a very good team, and they still lack a general direction, but good on them for picking up a nice win. Now, they get to be the team that the Chiefs inevitably bounce back against on national television. A very nice prize indeed.

26 – Bears (3-4) 3

This team is a disgrace. There are a lot of other words that can be used to describe the Bears, but I think that’s the most fitting one. They refuse to do anything to improve in areas that are lacking more than any other team in football. Throwing out your first round rookie QB against an elite defensive front with that abysmal offensive line is obviously never going to work. Fields had 5 ugly turnovers as the defensive line got to him time after time and he refused to pick up blitzes or feel the pressure in the pocket. It was everyone’s fault. On the other side of the ball, the defense got absolutely terrorized. How do you explain giving up 35 points in the first half? You don’t. The coaching, decision making, and play of this team is just an absolute joke. That’s that.

27 – Washington (2-5) 2

What do you want me to say about this team? Sunday’s loss was just more of the same garbage we’ve seen all season long. I will give the team credit for putting up a good offensive performance and a relatively good defensive game, in the sense that they looked like an actual NFL defense at times. That doesn’t change the fact that they got carved up whenever the Packers decided to do so. It was a strange game for the offense, as they outgained Green Bay by 127 yards and never punted the ball, yet only put up 10 points. It was a day of questionable decisions and redzone woes. Taylor Heinicke is quickly playing his way out of the starting QB job, and he can’t leave soon enough. I’m not saying he’s the root of all the problems with this team, but I’m ready to never see him play for my team again.

28 – Jaguars (1-5) 1

Thankfully for my eyes, the Jags had a bye last week. They are trending in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean I want to watch them play. Does anyone?

29 – Lions (0-7) 1

The Lions pulled out all the stops, and I mean all the stops on Sunday in LA, and honestly executed them pretty well, but it just wasn’t enough. I guess you can’t win a game in the NFL with fake punts and onside kicks. This is still a good team with plenty of nice pieces that does not deserve to be 0-7. Jared Goff is still terrible, but this team will be in prime position to draft a top QB this year, and I think that will do wonders for them.

30 – Dolphins (1-6) 2

I’ve thought this is arguably the NFL’s worst team for a few weeks now, and they continue to provide merit to that argument. Yes, they had a late comeback and could have won on Sunday, but why are you even down by multiple scores to the Falcons in the first place? Oh right, it’s because Tua Tagovailoa isn’t an NFL QB. Just trade for Deshaun Watson and get it over with.

31 – Jets (1-5)

How do you come off a bye and give up 54 points while only scoring 13? By being the Jets, of course! Oh, and now Zach Wilson has a knee injury that will keep him on the sideline for a bit. Only this team. They will never get it right.

32 – Texans (1-6)

Nothing to see here. Just another blowout loss in which the Texans didn’t even look like an NFL team. Just another Sunday in this league.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Note: Sorry for not getting out yesterday’s Week in Review. I fell really sick after going on a trip and had no energy or will to finish it. Again, I’m sorry, and I’ll try and stay healthy enough in the future to keep pumping these out. I’ll get a bit more in depth today to try and compensate for that.

The 2021 season is now just over a quarter of the way done, and if we’ve learned anything so far, it’s that nothing is set in stone. So many teams are still doing all sorts of things, good and bad, that make this job just as difficult as ever. There has been plenty of shuffling through five weeks, and I assure you, we are nowhere close to that being over. Let’s stack up the teams 1-32 after another riveting weekend of football:

1 – Bills (4-1) 1

There is no team that even comes close to the hellishly hot streak the Bills are currently on. I’ll recognize that beating the Chiefs doesn’t mean what it once did, but the way they did it is still remarkably impressive. That was seemingly never even a game. They had whatever they wanted, especially through the air, with Josh Allen throwing for 315 yards and 3 TDs on just 15 completions. Allen is now the odds-on MVP favorite, and the Bills have the 2nd best odds to win it all behind the Bucs. Again, as I said before the season, this schedule is disgustingly easy, and the hardest part of it is now behind Buffalo. I really don’t see them wavering from this top spot at all this season.

2 – Cardinals (5-0) 1

This one spot drop isn’t Arizona’s fault. They are still the NFL’s lone undefeated team, and are still playing very good football. The Bills just happen to be even hotter right now. Also, I wasn’t expecting the Cardinals’ offense to be so stifled against the Niners on Sunday, but that is a very solid defensive unit, so they get a pass. Kyler and co. still did what they had to do to come out with a win, and I still don’t have many doubts about this team. They have one of their toughest tests this week against Cleveland, and I’m very excited to see how they handle that. It will continue to clear up any and all questions that may exist with this team.

3 – Rams (4-1)

LA was essentially gift-wrapped a victory on Thursday night thanks to the injury sustained by Russell Wilson, but still, the Rams played a very solid game from start to finish. It was essentially exactly what I expected to see out of them. Matthew Stafford was very solid, they were able to run the ball effectively, and their defense slammed the door shut on the hobbling Seahawks. Everyone seems to have forgotten how good this team is, or lost their infatuation with them, but it’s important to keep things into perspective. It’s a long season, and this is still one of football’s best teams. Let’s keep overreactions to a minimum, please.

4 – Buccaneers (4-1)

Sunday’s blowout was exactly what the Buccaneers imagined themselves being this season. It just took them a while to realize it. Tom Brady continues to be magnificent as he threw for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns without even breaking a sweat. The GOAT now leads the NFL in passing yards and is 2nd in TDs, and every passing week, he makes it look more and more effortless. The defense is also continuing to show signs of improvement, despite being very beat up, but they’re also playing some pretty poor offenses, so I’m taking that with a grain of salt. In any case, this offense is simply too talented, and that will be enough to carry them to plenty of wins while the other side of the ball gets back healthy.

5 – Chargers (4-1)

What else do the Chargers have left to prove this season? They can win close games. They can win barnburners. They can win defensive battles. They can come back and win. They can beat you through the air. They can beat you on the ground. They can beat you with their defense. They’re as aggressive as anyone and it almost always pays off. They have everything going perfectly. The one problem they have is kicking, but this is the Chargers. That will always be an issue. Justin Herbert is playing like a true MVP, Austin Ekeler is the definition of a bowling ball out of the backfield, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are establishing themselves as perhaps the best WR duo in football, and while their defense got gashed last week, it’s still a very talented unit that likely won’t play that poor again. This team is just so damn stacked, and if the season was ending today, I’d probably pick them to win the AFC. I’m praying they can keep it up.

6 – Cowboys (4-1) 1

Dallas continues to dazzle on a weekly basis. Everything that has made this team so great through about a quarter of the season continues to be on full display every single week. The offense is just so talented and balanced, as both the passing and rushing attacks are as lethal as any in football. The defense is also showing up and showing out, especially in the secondary, as CB Trevon Diggs nabbed his 6th INT in 5 games on Sunday. Yes, this all happened against a bad Giants team that was without Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley within 2 quarters, but I feel like this would have happened anyways. I’d love to see this type of performance against a proper team, and I think it’s only a matter of time before that happens.

7 – Browns (3-2) 1

Offensively, the Browns looked as good as you possibly could in a loss. I mean that as literally as possible. Before Sunday, teams that scored over 40 points with no turnovers in a game were 443-0 in NFL history. Imagine being so good that you end a streak like that. I was honestly shocked with how bad Cleveland’s defense was, but I felt the same way about the Chargers defense. This was just an all-time shootout, and it doesn’t always go your way. The Browns probably should have left LA with a W, but some limitations are clearly still there that held them back from doing so. They just got too conservative in the end, and I think it’s a reflection of a lack of trust in Baker Mayfield. On the other side, the Chargers were going for every 4th down and Herbert was making every throw. I just don’t know if this team can go to the next level if they don’t trust their franchise QB to take them there, but at this point, I don’t even know if he has what it takes to do so.

8 – Packers (4-1) 2

Sunday’s game in Cincinnati was one of the funniest I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, and the Packers just happened to win the coin toss orchestrated by the football gods to come out on top. After a sequence of 5 missed kicks in the last 3 minutes + OT, Mason Crosby finally split the uprights to win it for the Packers. You can say they deserved to lose, but the Bengals fumbled away just as many chances as Green Bay did. Even though they won, I’m not sure I liked what I saw out of the Packers. All of the problems I have with them are still apparent. They are still way, way too dependent on Davante Adams, who had a monster game with 206 yards and a TD on 11 catches, but he can’t be the only WR capable of making plays. Their defense also clearly felt the absence of Jaire Alexander, as they were ripped apart through the air. The schedule isn’t the easiest in the world, so the Packers better hope they become a more complete team before it’s time to take on the NFL’s elites.

9 – Ravens (4-1) 2

Special. Game-changing. Electric. We’re running out of words to describe Lamar Jackson. The star QB led a 19-point comeback on Monday night, and did so in incredible fashion, throwing for 442 yards and 3 touchdowns as well as two 2-point conversions on a record-breaking 86% completion, the highest EVER for a 400-yard game. Oh, and he also added 62 on the ground. #8 accounted for 504 of the team’s 523 yards of offense. That’s a stat that just doesn’t make sense. He now has more total yards than EIGHTEEN (18) TEAMS. It’s just historic and incredible to watch. What isn’t incredible to watch, however, is this defense. They’re the ones who dug the hole to begin with, and they laid a complete dud. They gave up 513 yards of offense, including 402 passing, and let the Colts march all the way down the field for what should have been the game-winning drive if they hadn’t missed a FG at the buzzer. Lamar is awesome, but he cannot carry the entire team on his back every game, especially to this extent. Baltimore is a few breaks away from being 1-4. They better hope they improve, especially defensively, and start winning games a lot more convincingly before I bump them up.

10 – Bengals (3-2) 5

I’m sure you have a lot of questions here. The Bengals in the top 10? Jumping up 5 spots for losing? Especially when they should have won? What’s going on here? Allow me to explain. This team is pretty dang good. And more than that, they’re as resilient as any team I’ve seen this season. Falling behind does not faze this team whatsoever, no matter what the deficit is. You can always count on them to be in it when time is winding down. It’s honestly a testament to Joe Burrow and his own resilience. He has vastly exceeded my expectations and has been very good this season. It helps that Jamarr Chase continues to be one of the standout receivers in football in just 5 games. Just ask yourself this: how would we be perceiving this team had Evan McPherson made one of the several kicks he missed late in this game? Cincy would be 4-1 with stars all across the offense and a defense that did enough to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Yes, your special teams has to be good enough to secure victories, but this is a rookie who already had 2 game-winners this season. Let’s cut the kid some slack. I think this is still a very solid team that can definitely make a playoff push, and they’re certainly playing a lot better than many other “contenders” so far this season.

11 – 49ers (2-3) 1

Yes, this team has lost 3 straight games, but I really liked what I saw out of them on Sunday. Going on the road and relatively shutting down one of the best offenses in football is no small feat. If it wasn’t Trey Lance’s first start, there’s a good chance San Francisco could have won that game. And they still almost pulled it out. This team will be just fine no matter who is under center as long as their defense continues performing like that. If it has to be Lance for an extended period of time, he’ll just continue getting better with more and reps. If they have to go back to Jimmy G, they get a QB who knows the system better than anyone with a history of winning. This was also a very difficult stretch of the schedule, and while it’s still a tough one, it gets easier. I think this week’s bye will help them a lot moving forward.

12 – Chiefs (2-3) 3

This is just bad. Really, really bad. Not only was Kansas City’s defense embarrassed once again, but their offense put up possibly its worst performance in the Mahomes era. They continue to be extremely careless with the ball, and they could not get anything going whatsoever downfield. Defensively, this is the worst team in football. They are now last in points allowed and second to last in yards allowed, and they couldn’t stop a nosebleed if it was just one drop of blood. They are sorely missing Chris Jones up front, as they can’t generate even a semblance of a pass rush. Their offense isn’t doing them any favors either, as they’ve seemingly been figured out by opposing defenses. They cannot run the football at all, and losing Clyde Edwards-Helaire to injury doesn’t help that at all. Against competent defenses, they just aren’t nearly as lethal as they have been in recent memory. I don’t know what this team can do to get better, because I don’t know if they have what it takes. I still trust Patrick Mahomes more than almost anyone in football, but this defense is just unsalvageable.

13 – Vikings (2-3) 3

This jump is the result of several teams falling apart, but I still think the Vikings are pretty good. They should have lost on Sunday, somehow, but they pulled off the late victory and are still going to be competitive. Their schedule is absolutely brutal, so it’s good that they’re picking up wins where they can. In my opinion, the stories of this team have been the emergence of two unlikely contributors: the defense and Alexander Mattison. This is clearly a vastly improved defensive unit after last year’s disgracefully bad one, and it has been the key to them being in every game they’ve played so far. And Mattison has been the most productive RB on this team through 5 weeks, as he put up another great game in lieu of Dalvin Cook being injured on Sunday. This team is going to need all the help they can get moving forward, so getting that out of unlikely sources is going to be very important.

14 – Saints (3-2) 4

I told you I’d take things as they came with this team. Last week’s performance was a pretty damn good one, so they’re right back to where they were 2 weeks ago. Granted, it was against a rather embarrassing team, but they did what they had to do, and then some. New Orleans predictably sliced through a porous Washington defense, as Jameis Winston put on a very good performance through the air, and Alvin Kamara was back to his old ways of being one of the most lethal threats out of the backfield in football. I don’t know if this team will sustain this; in fact I doubt they will as they won’t face a defense this bad again this season. But, they’ve deserved this spot for this week.

15 – Broncos (3-2) 1

The Broncos were barely competitive on Sunday before a late comeback attempt, and the fault lies on both sides of the ball. Even with Teddy Bridgewater playing, this offense laid another dud. And for some reason, this defense has forgotten how to play football in the last 2 weeks. They made the Steelers look like a real offense, which is honestly impressive. I’m just not too sure what to make of this team after their last 2 losses. As the schedule gets tougher, things might get uglier in Denver.

16 – Raiders (3-2) 6

Ohhhhhhhhhh boy. Where do I begin? I was already going to punish this team for laying a complete stinker against a bad Bears team at home on Sunday, but I could never have envisioned what followed. HC Jon Gruden resigned on Monday night following the surfacing of old emails sent across the NFL containing an inexplicable amount of bigotry. Gruden was in his 4th year of a 10 year, $100 million deal, and luckily, the Raiders don’t have to worry about paying him that anymore. Now, Rich Bisaccia takes over as the interim head coach, and I have no idea what the trajectory of this team will be anymore. The next few weeks in Vegas are going to be bizarre, and I just can’t help but feel bad for them.

17 – Patriots (2-3) 2

I really don’t know how the Patriots struggled as much as they did on Sunday. Having to come back from 13 down against perhaps the worst team in football isn’t a great look. Moreover, the Texans were starting rookie QB Davis Mills, and Bill Belichick is notoriously dominant against rookie QBs. In any case, New England avoided the big-time embarrassment and are back on the right track. They aren’t without their concerns, especially after this week’s performance, but they also have plenty of positives to take away at the moment, mostly concerning Mac Jones and his performance as the starting QB thus far. But I just don’t think this team has what it takes to be great just yet.

18 – Panthers (3-2) 1

Before this season, I didn’t believe in this team at all. At 3-0, I didn’t believe in this team at all. And still, I don’t believe in this team at all. I hope everyone is off of one of the shortest-lived bandwagons in recent memory, as the Panthers are seemingly falling apart. I don’t care that Christian McCaffrey is out, there is no excuse to lose to the Eagles. None. Especially if you’re up by double digits on them. I mean come on. The offense isn’t nearly as productive, Sam Darnold is back to being the Sam Darnold of old, and this once-“elite” defense can’t even stop Jalen Hurts. Be honest with yourselves about Carolina. They’re not good.

19 – Seahawks (2-3) 6

This could quickly become the ugliest situation in the NFC. Without Russell Wilson, this team is nothing. Genuinely nothing. I’d be shocked if they win a single game while he’s out, outside of their gimme against Jacksonville. Russ jammed his finger in an unlucky manner on Thursday night, and will now be out 6-8 weeks. In his stead, Geno Smith will be quarterbacking the Seahawks, which doesn’t inspire confidence in anyone. This defense is also still terrible, and it’s not getting any better. Russ was the only thing keeping this mess together, and without him, it is going to fall apart fast. What a mess.

20 – Titans (3-2) 1

I’m not giving this team any flowers for beating up on the Jaguars. I still haven’t forgotten that loss to the Jets. Still, I’ll give the Titans credit for putting on a good show on Sunday. Derrick Henry continues to be an incredible force and must-see TV. I still don’t believe in this defense very much, as they were honestly struggling for a bit. But, I don’t believe in much of this team. No flowers for you.

21 – Bears (3-2) 3

Chicago is now 2-0 in Justin Fields’ starts. The numbers don’t lie! The real star of the show on Sunday was the defense, which locked up a potent Raiders passing offense. Fields still did his thing, and the run game also surprisingly contributed, even without David Montgomery. It’s a good formula that can clearly work against good teams, but I’d really like to see more out of this passing game before I put more faith in the Bears. Still, I’m loving what I’m seeing out of Fields and still very confident in his ability to lead this team to more victories.

22 – Steelers (2-3)

Against all odds, the Steelers looked like a real offense on Sunday. They were getting it done all across the board, and for the first time in seemingly forever, they finally got the run game going. Najee Harris won for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 yards, and the team amassed almost 400 total yards of offense. This was against a Broncos D that has been pretty solid so far this season, so I was honestly impressed. That being said, I need to see this more consistently before bumping Pittsburgh up. We’ll see whether or not they’re capable of doing so.

23 – Colts (1-4)

Man. That was one of the more rough blown leads and losses I’ve seen in a long time in this league. The Colts were nothing short of fantastic on both sides of the ball through 3+ quarters on Monday night, as they were dominating on offense and suffocating the Ravens defensively. Even after blowing the lead and finding themselves in a tie game, they missed a FG at the buzzer to send the game to OT, where they didn’t even possess the ball en route to the loss. It’s just a shame. After putting up over 500 yards of offense with Carson Wentz throwing for over 400 and getting another fantastic performance from Jonathan Taylor, Indy has nothing to show for it. Now, they sit at 1-4 with seemingly no upward trajectory. I just feel really sorry for them.

24 – Washington (2-3) 4

What can I say about this team at this point? Everything I’ve said that is wrong with this team is still as prevalent as ever. They refuse to show up against any teams worth a damn, and the defense is still abhorrent at best. This is the second worst scoring defense in the league, giving up 31 PPG, and they aren’t showing any signs of getting better. They can’t generate any pressure, and they couldn’t cover a receiving core of people in wheelchairs. The Taylor Heinicke experience is also continuing to be a rollercoaster, as every other week he looks like the XFL QB he once was. I’m just sick of this team being inconsistent at best and one of the worst teams in football at worst. If they don’t want to care, then why should I?

25 – Eagles (2-3) 2

I’ll give Philly credit: they’ve shown plenty of promise in spurts this season. Sunday’s comeback victory was a realization of that potential that I know they have, especially offensively. I truly believe that the Eagles have some of the best young talent in football, and I honestly enjoy seeing performances like this that help back that claim up. This defense still isn’t without its issues, but they stepped up when they needed to on Sunday to secure the win. Good for the Birds.

26 – Falcons (2-3) 2

Congrats on beating the Jets, I guess? It was a bit closer than it needed to be at the end in London, but the Falcons looked good enough throughout the game, especially on offense. It was the coming out party for Kyle Pitts, who had 119 yards and a touchdown on 9 catches. I’ve been waiting for him to emerge as a real threat in this offense, and while I recognize that he was playing the Jets, I’m hoping he can keep this up. It will help make this team more watchable.

27 – Giants (1-4) 2

How can you not feel bad for this team? After a beautiful performance in NOLA led by Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, both pivotal members of the offense suffered seemingly serious injuries on Sunday in Dallas. Jones got dinged up on a run on the goal line which knocked him out of the game, although he could return as soon as this week if he clears concussion protocol. Barkley, however, rolled his ankle on a freak incident after a play and had to be carted off. He could be out long term, which is just awful to see, especially seeing how he was finally returning to form after last year’s ACL injury. There was already not much going for New York, and now it’s only getting worse. The only bright spot is the emergence of rookie WR Kadarius Toney, who had a monster game with 189 yards receiving, but it’s still just a sad time for this team. I just feel horrible for the Giants.

28 – Dolphins (1-4) 2

Yeesh. This team is all sorts of disgusting. Jacoby Brissett has seemingly lost the ability to look like an NFL QB, and this defense is somehow getting worse. What was supposed to be the saving grace of this team is now its weakest spot. I don’t understand how this is happening, but it’s just an ugly sight. There is no saving the Dolphins in 2021.

29 – Lions (0-5)

Man. This is sad. Once again, the Lions had a hard-earned victory snatched right from them in unfortunate fashion, as another long-distance FG at the buzzer sent them to their 5th straight loss. That came after a big-time turnover to get the ball back, score a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to take the lead with barely any time left. The defense just still couldn’t get the job done, giving up enough yardage to set up a game-winning kick. I’m not even surprised that HC Dan Campbell was in tears after the game. I would be too.

30 – Texans (1-4) 1

Look at the Texans being competitive again. How scrappy of them. Houston almost pulled off the upset of the week, but they remembered that they were tanking, so they blew a double digit lead to ensure they didn’t commit the heinous act of winning a game. Sunday was honestly best case scenario for this team. They looked solid and still lost the game. They should see that as an absolute win.

31 – Jets (1-4) 1

You know, at least the Jets were somewhat competitive on Sunday in London. I still think it’s disrespectful that we subjected our friends across the pond to watching this joke of a team, but it could have been worse. Zach Wilson was still an errant turnover waiting to happen, but they made things interesting at the end, and that’s all we could have asked for.

32 – Jaguars (0-5)

Bad bad bad. Still oh so bad. Not getting any better. There’s nothing I can say about this team. They’re just as much of a mess as they were a week ago, if not more of one. At least Urban Meyer didn’t get caught getting twerked on this week! I call that a big-time improvement.

All stats taken from ESPN.

This week in the NFL proved to be just as confusing as any other week thus far. There is an insane amount of shuffling all across the board between the elite and poor teams alike. Just when you think things are starting to take shape, the Jenga blocks get knocked right down the ground. After a wild first month of the season, let’s stack up the teams 1-32:

1 – Cardinals (4-0) 3

For the third consecutive week, we have a new #1. I’ve seen other people saying that Arizona doesn’t deserve to leapfrog all the way to the top just because they beat the Rams, and that’s fair, but in my opinion, they are currently the best team in football. They’ve been trending in that direction all year long. Kyler Murray is playing like the MVP favorite he is, the rest of the offense is stacked and everyone is eating, and the defense is returning to form, especially in the secondary. I thought the formula to beating this team was to play elite defense, but even LA couldn’t slow these guys down. If not them, then who will? I’m not sure many teams have what it takes. This top spot is now theirs to lose.

2 – Bills (3-1) 4

If Week 1 didn’t exist, this team would easily be atop the list. They’re on top of a lot of lists I’ve seen. I, like most people, still don’t understand how they lost to the Steelers. But, that was then, and this is now. And in the last 3 weeks, this team is playing lights out football. Granted, they haven’t exactly played the best teams, but they are pulling no punches and looking as good as they ever have under Josh Allen. The QB is back to his old ways, diming and spreading the ball all over the place, and this secondary is starting to reach elite status. This week’s primetime showdown with the Chiefs will be their toughest test, but I truly think they’ll be up to it. Let’s see how I get proven wrong this time.

3 – Rams (3-1) 2

Yes, the Rams laid an absolute dud on Sunday. But, as I said yesterday, we should have seen it coming. They were obviously still riding the high of their victory over Tampa, and I doubt they’ll look that flat again anytime soon. This roster is still stacked, Matt Stafford is still putting up huge numbers, and the defense is far too talented to be that porous. From personnel to coaching, there are very few teams I feel better about than LA, and I’m sticking with them. But they better get back on track quick ahead of a Thursday night showdown with Seattle. I think they’ll do just that.

4 – Buccaneers (3-1) 1

You don’t always need to be flashy and exciting to win football games. Sometimes, you just need to be solid on both sides of the ball and make plays when necessary. That’s all the Bucs needed to do on Sunday. I still think they deserved to lose, but I also recognize that they did what they had to do to get the win and move to 3-1. All the problems I had with this team are still there, and they’re honestly amplified with how thin they are in the secondary, but the defensive line seems deep enough to make up for some of that lack in the defensive backfield. The offense has seen better days, but again, they’re simply too good to not put up their numbers. Even while they’re not healthy, this is still a more than formidable squad.

5 – Chargers (3-1) 3

I’ve been waiting for this for so long. The Chargers are finally starting to realize their potential, and I honestly think they haven’t even reached it yet. They’re only getting better and better, and it has been awesome to watch unfold. Justin Herbert is playing smart, sharp football, delivering the football perfectly all over the field, the ground game is gashing defensive fronts, and this D is suffocating even the best of offenses. Once their deep passing game gets going, this team will have every way to beat you, and you’ll have no way to beat them. I really think the sky is the limit for this team, but this is still the Chargers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if something derails that. I’m keeping my hopes up.

6 – Packers (3-1) 1

The Packers were exactly what I expected them to be this week. The only thing that I’m not liking with this team right now is that the passing offense isn’t as explosive as it has been in the past, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem at all. This defense is playing really well, and it means their offense can take their time with a lot of running and short quick throws to go on long touchdown drives. It’s a good formula for success, and Green Bay is executing it better than almost anyone else in football right now.

7 – Cowboys (3-1) 6

I have seen enough to decree the Dallas Cowboys as legit. The offense is extremely balanced; in fact, it’s a run-first offense at this point. This team continues to run more than pass, and it’s not because Dak is hurt or still in recovery. He’s clearly just fine, launching the ball with pinpoint accuracy and dissecting defenses week after week. This run game is simply back and being as productive as ever. Both the resurgence of Ezekiel Elliott and the emergence of Tony Pollard gives the Cowboys one of the best 1-2 punches out of the backfield in football. And this defense is simply awesome. The star of the show is obviously Trevon Diggs with his 5 picks in 4 games, but everyone else is doing their part too. The only thing that concerns me with this team is HC Mike McCarthy and his very questionable in-game decisions, but perhaps this team is talented enough to overcome that. I certainly think that’s the case.

8 – Browns (3-1) 6

Don’t overreact to this massive drop. This was simply a reality check for the Browns. I know they won by more than I even predicted them to, but Sunday’s game left a sour taste in my mouth. Baker Mayfield was flat out bad, completing less than 50% of his passes, missing wide open receivers, and not doing enough to help his team win. The playcalling was also questionable, as the Browns often refused to run the ball when it was clearly working, especially in goal-line opportunities. Thankfully for them, the unit on other side of the ball showed up to play, and they dominated from start to finish to the tune of only 7 points allowed. The defensive line is continuing to dominate, and the secondary is only getting better. If that trend continues, then I suppose it doesn’t matter how lethargic the passing offense is.

9 – Chiefs (2-2)

Sunday’s performance was a vintage Chiefs offensive explosion, and while it was awesome to watch, I still can’t get over what this team is doing on defense. KC’s secondary has never been this bad, and they’re allowing even the weakest of offenses to rip them apart. They simply aren’t as sharp on that side of the ball. It doesn’t help that their front 7 personnel is lacking. With the red hot Bills coming into town on Sunday night, anyone who isn’t aware of these issues will see them on full display. I think it could be the ugliest game of the Mahomes era, and I can’t help but feel bad for him. His career cannot be reduced to shootouts and catch-up football.

10 – Raiders (3-1) 3

Vegas’ biggest hole was gaping on Monday night, as I expected. Against offenses that know what they’re doing, this team is probably screwed. They had the benefit of playing some not-so good offenses, and when they played the Ravens, they were in their first game after all of those injuries, so don’t give me that as an example. Moreover, this offense was completely suffocated by the best such unit they’ve faced this season. I think the Raiders are going to show you that they are a middle-of-the-road team this year. They can certainly feast on teams that are less talented than they are, but against the elite squads of the NFL? Not so much. But, they’ve earned their spot in the top 10 for the moment, so here they stay. We’ll see how long it lasts.

11 – Ravens (3-1) 1

I hope the “Lamar can’t throw” crowd never speaks up again. Jackson and the Baltimore offense ripped apart a very good Broncos secondary from start to finish on Sunday, and it was glorious to watch. They didn’t put up as many points as maybe they should have, but that’s more of a testament to the aforementioned Denver D. Still, I really liked what I saw from the Ravens. They still have to do some work to breach the top 10, but I know for a fact that they’re trending in the right direction, and with their lackluster schedule, they’ll be just fine.

12 – 49ers (2-2) 2

It could be the start of an exciting time in San Francisco, but I think it’s too soon. Rookie QB Trey Lance got his first real snaps under center on Sunday thanks to a calf injury sustained by Jimmy Garoppolo, and he definitely held his own, despite the loss. Now, Lance might see some starts as Jimmy recovers. A lot of people have been waiting for us, but Lance was the most raw prospect in the draft, and I still think he needs more time to develop. This team is still talented enough to be just fine no matter who’s at QB, but we’ll see how different they look with the rook. They could either be elevated to a new level, or it could be a ticket on the struggle bus.

13 – Seahawks (2-2) 4

I’m still not really feeling it with this team. They just happen to be the beneficiary of a couple of other teams falling off. Their offense didn’t look as good as the scoreboard would indicate on Sunday, and the defense is still a big, big problem. All of the problems I have with the Seahawks are still very apparent, and it will catch up to them. I wouldn’t look too much into a win against a team that had to turn to an extremely raw rookie QB for half the game. Don’t get your hopes up with this team.

14 – Broncos (3-1) 3

I’d put this team higher, but I still don’t know about Teddy Bridgewater’s health. Drew Lock makes this team significantly worse, and as it stands, he’s the QB. I don’t think they really stand much of a chance with him under center. He is too erratic and too careless with the ball to put the Broncos in a position to win, even with their great defense. I’m really worried that if Teddy misses significant time, it could derail this season as the schedule starts to get harder. I’m hoping he comes back soon, because this team needs him badly.

15 – Bengals (3-1) 4

Well, well, well. The surprise team of 2021 just keeps on surprising. No one is surprised that they beat the Jaguars, but everything is going right with the Bengals. Sitting at 3-1 with the best QB play in a long, long time with a plethora of playmakers on offense and a defense that can suddenly defend, Cincy is sitting pretty atop the division. Joe Burrow has been simply incredible to watch, and his offensive line is actually protecting him, allowing for this offense to thrive. I’m really hoping this team can stay healthy, because not only have they been a ton of fun to watch, but they deserve to finally have some success. Let’s see how long they can keep this up.

16 – Vikings (1-3) 1

I still truly believe the Vikings are a lot better than their record would suggest, but Sunday’s performance was an ugly one. For the first time this season, Minnesota’s offense was stifled, and it clearly rattled them. Kirk Cousins threw his first INT of the season and simply wasn’t on the same page as his receivers all game long. The run game also never got going, as Dalvin Cook was a nonfactor in his return from injury. The defense did its job, and did it much better than I expected, but it simply wasn’t enough. Cleveland was undoubtedly going to be a tough test, but if this is the Vikings offense we get against any elite teams, then perhaps their record will never reflect how good they are.

17 – Panthers (3-1) 1

So, this team having the #1 defense in football through 3 weeks was clearly a product of the opponents they played. That unit got absolutely shredded by the Cowboys on Sunday, both on the ground and through the air. The talent of this defense is nothing to scoff at, but they cannot afford to play like that at all in the future. I still have my doubts. Offensively, it wasn’t the worst game in the world, but I still think this team misses Christian McCaffrey a ton. The level of dynamic playmaking and simply the threat he provides is being sorely missed, and although Sam Darnold and DJ Moore have been putting up good numbers, it’s just not enough. Maybe the additions of C.J. Henderson and Stefon Gilmore will help out the defense, but there is nothing and no one this team needs more than CMC.

18 – Saints (2-2) 4

I guess I’ll just never understand this team. I’m giving up even trying to. It’s simply too difficult. The Saints played a pretty good game through 50 or so minutes on Sunday, but that makes the blown lead even more confusing. Isn’t this defense supposed to be the pride and soul of the team? How you give up nearly 500 yards of offense and blow a double digit 4th quarter lead to the Giants is beyond me. I’m just done trying to make sense of what’s going on in New Orleans and taking things as they come. Right now, losing that game in the manner that they did, they deserve this drop.

19 – Patriots (1-3) 1

As I’ve said repeatedly, the Patriots were the better team on Sunday night and they deserved to win that game. Mac Jones played his best game of his young career, the passing offense looked very solid, and the defense was stifling Tom Brady all night long. But, the complete lack of a run game, some untimely turnovers, and a questionable FG decision sealed this team’s fate. I still think this is a solid football team, but I do think they don’t have what it takes to make up for their shortcomings. You can’t run for negative yardage in a game and expect to win. That’s just now how it works. There isn’t enough talent in this offense to compensate for that. And I think that’s what will hold this team back this season. They’ve got their QB, but they need to work even harder on making his life easier.

20 – Washington (2-2) 3

To call this team a rollercoaster would be undermining how crazy this team is. Every other week is a 60-minute heart attack. This can’t be good for my health. Washington’s defense is still dreadful, as they refuse to get off the field on 3rd down, no matter what the distance is. This secondary is getting torched by RBs and WRs alike, and they still refuse to get pressure on the QB. Oh, and they haven’t forced a turnover since Week 1. The offense is making up for these shortcomings, as Antonio Gibson is finally getting more involved out of the backfield and Terry McLaurin continues to be one of the most unguardable WRs in football. Taylor Heinicke has also been a pleasant surprise on offense and gives the unit an extra gear that hasn’t been there before. But, they won’t be playing the Falcons every week. As long as this defense refuses to improve, this team is screwed. Unless that side of the ball tightens up in a huge way, many of Washington’s games won’t even be competitive.

21 – Titans (2-2) 5

What? I mean seriously, what? You lost to the Jets? The New York Jets? In the year of our lord 2021? Why should I even waste my time talking about this team? They don’t deserve it. Tennessee, you’re going on timeout for a week. Think long and hard about what you’ve done.

22 – Steelers (1-3)

The same old Steelers came to play in Lambeau on Sunday, and what I saw on the field was exactly what I expected. This offense is still as one-dimensional as ever, and that single dimension is remarkably ineffective. This team’s undying dedication to short throws over the middle is pretty hilarious, but also just sad to watch. The fact that Ben Roethlisberger connected on a deep shot early in this game is genuinely one of the most shocking things I’ve seen this season. The defense looked better, but is clearly still not at full strength. T.J. Watt’s groin injury is definitely holding him back, as Pittsburgh only got pressure on 18% of snaps on Sunday. There just isn’t a lot, if anything, going right with this team. It’s all downhill from here.

23 – Colts (1-3) 1

It was about time for Indy to get in the win column in 2021, although it wasn’t the most impressive win against a not-so-impressive opponent. But, a win is a win, and they deserve some love this week. Jonathan Taylor was the star of the show on Sunday, and his emergence has been long overdue this season. Carson Wentz also did his part, taking care of the football and helping his team cash in on turnovers. Winning the TO battle and converting those free possessions into points is a tried and true formula in this league, and maybe it’s just what the Colts need to do to try and get this season back on track.

24 – Bears (2-2) 3

It wasn’t the prettiest win we’ve ever seen, but the Bears did their job on Sunday and Justin Fields got his first W as an NFL QB. Good for him, and good for them. Granted, playing the Lions can make any team get back on track. Now, Fields will be the full-time starter moving forward, and while I have confidence in him, he’s still not in the greatest situation. This offense is severely lacking in talent, and it’s only getting worse now that RB David Montgomery is dealing with a knee injury. Oh, and this offensive line is still horrible. I’m sure Chicago is feeling good about themselves right now, but this won’t be a lasting feeling. I just hope they can keep Fields upright and get him valuable experience heading into what should be a bright future.

25 – Giants (1-3) 4

Somehow the Giants won themselves a game, and did so in… explosive fashion? Almost 500 yards of offense including over 400 passing yards from Daniel Jones fueled a comeback OT victory in the Superdome on Sunday. These are a lot of words that feel like they don’t belong in the same sentence. Still, good for New York to get the W that was seemingly evading them for weeks. I doubt we’ll see them put up these types of offensive numbers again, but it’s good that they finally put them up. It could create some good momentum moving forward, which they’ll certainly need, as the schedule is just brutal.

26 – Dolphins (1-3) 5

Yikes. In one of the more surprising developments through 4 weeks, the Dolphins are just… bad. I don’t even think the QB situation matters in Miami. Both guys are not serviceable starters in this league, and neither one of them can elevate this weak offense into something better. But the biggest surprise to me is the struggles of this defense. This was supposed to be an elite unit, but they’ve been anything but so far in 2021. I have no idea how this team can turn things around. It’s just a sad sight.

27 – Eagles (1-3) 2

Once again, the Philly defense got shredded and put in a blender. Perhaps this is a product of playing some of the NFL’s best offenses, but these guys aren’t even remotely competitive on D. The offense did their thing yet again, but I still think it’s the product of playing catch-up in the midst of blowouts. But, perhaps the Eagles feel good about their empty stats. It’s about the only thing they can feel good about right now.

28 – Falcons (1-3)

This team is absurd. The offense was moving all game long, they got all the calls in the world, everything was going right for them, and they still found a way to blow it in the 4th quarter. It truly is just in their DNA. This defense is as abysmal as ever, so it doesn’t even matter if their offense plays as well as they did on Sunday. Unless Cordarralle Patterson continues playing like the greatest Swiss army knife we’ve ever seen, there is just nothing to like here. At least they get the Jets this week.

29 – Lions (0-4) 3

Alright, I’ll never put my faith in this team again. The Lions didn’t play their worst game in Chicago on Sunday, but they simply could not get out of their own way, and that ended up being their demise. I’m not sure why I expected anything different. I still like this team’s offensive pieces, but man, that defense is just dreadful. Jared Goff isn’t exactly the guy to overcome that. At least the offensive line is still decent!

30 – Jets (1-3) 2

I really have to praise the Jets this week. What a cruel world. Well, congrats on your first and perhaps only win of the season. Zach Wilson looked like a real QB for once, and the utter incompetence of the Titans allowed you to notch that ever-evasive W. I hope you feel good about it, because you won’t see many more this season. This team is still a complete trainwreck, and I don’t see it getting any better. But, if Wilson continues to improve, then it inspires the slightest bit of confidence. I just don’t have much faith in that.

31 – Texans (1-3) 1

Oh brother. Once again, the Texans we got on Sunday were the Texans we expected in 2021. How the heck did this team beat Jacksonville in Week 1? Well, I guess they’re as much of a mess. Houston gets the slightest of passes due to having to start the 3rd QB on their depth chart, but it doesn’t even matter. This is just a horrible roster and their play on the field is starting to reflect that more and more each week. At least they’re not the Jaguars.

32 – Jaguars (0-4) 1

That didn’t take long. Welcome back to the bottom, Jags. This is not just an indictment on the on-the-field product, but what’s happening externally as well. I mean what the hell is Urban Meyer doing? Losing a game in which you had a 2 touchdown lead, then going to get danced on in your own bar?! And getting caught in 4K doing so? Just unreal. I told you guys this experiment might fail before it even gets started, and we are on the fast track to that being the case. What an unmitigated disaster.

All stats taken from ESPN.

This week in the NFL brought about a lot of shuffling amongst the league’s haves and have-nots alike. Between some upsets, duds, and surprising performances, things have only gotten more unpredictable. Pitting these teams against each other is already hard enough, but the 2021 season has made things much more difficult. After three wild weeks of football, let’s stack up the teams 1-32:

1 – Rams (3-0) 1

By beating the Buccaneers, the Rams established themselves as the team to beat in the NFL. They knocked Tampa clean off the mantle and took it for themselves. It’s not just the fact that they won, but it was their dominance in doing so that is so impressive. Matt Stafford is playing like an MVP, Cooper Kupp is putting up some of the best stats in the league at WR, and they’ve even rejuvenated Desean Jackson as a deep threat. The run game couldn’t really get going, but without their top 2 backs against an outstanding defensive front, I’ll give them a pass. With an outstanding defense of their own, the sky is the limit for this team. Everything is right there for them, they just have to reach out and grab it.

2 – Browns (2-1) 2

I know this looks and sounds crazy. But just give it some thought for me. The Browns could very easily be 3-0. They were the better team against Kansas City and had some very unlucky breaks. In the two weeks since, they have looked incredible. Granted, they’ve played two very bad teams, but the tape speaks for itself. It was the run game on full display in Week 2, and last week it was the incredible defensive front. Myles Garrett accounted for 4.5 out of the team’s 9 sacks against the Bears, and if that side of the ball gets going, it is certainly a scary sight for the rest of the AFC. I had very high hopes for this team, and I think they’re starting to realize their potential. I’d love to see them beat some better teams, but I’m buying their stock right now and hoping they don’t let me down.

3 – Buccaneers (2-1) 2

Anyone who has been paying attention to this team so far this season saw Sunday’s loss coming from a mile away, and the reasons for that are the same reasons they lost. The defense remains a very big question, as for the third week in a row, they were torn apart. The offense was fine in terms of stats, as Tom Brady threw for over 400 yards, but they could not run the ball whatsoever and simply didn’t translate that offensive production into enough points. I still think this team will be fine considering they just played their toughest game, but they better hope they figure out their defensive issues, especially in the secondary. If they don’t get back to how they were playing late in 2020, this will not be a championship team.

4 – Cardinals (3-0) 1

Sunday’s game was a bit closer than I would have liked, but this team is just fine. Their explosive offense made enough plays to put points on the board, and their defense did a fine job of slamming the door on the Jags offense. A pick six from Byron Murphy was the icing on the cake against a team that is still lost and confused. This week’s contest against the Rams will tell us a lot about who this team truly is. Their identity is an explosive team that can shut you down when necessary on defense, but they did struggle with the best offense they played this year (Minnesota). How they perform against the hottest offense in football will be very telling.

5 – Packers (2-1) 7

The Packers are officially back. I originally had them so low because I wanted them to prove to me that they could climb back up. In just two weeks, they’ve done just that. Aaron Rodgers is more than back, carrying his team to victory thanks to incredible throws and ice in his veins. Davante Adams is still the only real receiving threat, but there’s nobody I’d rather have lining up on the outside. And Aaron Jones is still as productive as any RB in football. Their secondary looked vastly improved with DB Eric Stokes Jr. out there instead of Kevin King, and if they stick with the rookie, I see this defense doing big things once again. And if that’s the case, then Green Bay can easily reassert themselves as the team to beat in the NFC.

6 – Bills (2-1) 2

As I said yesterday, what we saw from the Bills on Sunday is just what we’ve expecting out of them. Destroying a Washington team that barely got off the plane isn’t the most impressive thing in the world, but it still felt good to see this team realize its offensive potential. There are only a few, if any teams that can stop them when they’re clicking like that. Moreover, their defense was putting in work, especially in the secondary. That’s what held them back last year, so if they get going on that side of the football, there might not be many teams in the AFC that can slow them down, especially in their division of anemic offenses.

7 – Raiders (3-0)

I really like what this team is doing, but I would love it if they could win their games a bit more convincingly. This has been the most prolific passing attack in football, statistically speaking, through 3 weeks, and Derek Carr is playing at an MVP level. But, for some reason, their defense is incapable of shutting the door and closing out games. That’s a quality that any championship-level team needs to have, and if the Raiders don’t find it, it will definitely hold them back. It is an offensive league, and their offense has won them every game thus far, but the lack of a clutch factor on defense concerns me moving forward.

8 – Chargers (2-1) 6

Sorry for being so back and forth on this team week after week. That’s just the nature of the Chargers. Justin Herbert and company picked up one of the best wins of the young season on Sunday at Arrowhead, and it proved quite a lot to me. It proved that this team can go anywhere and go toe to toe with any team in football. It also showed that Herbert is 100% built for the moment and can potentially be a championship-level QB, but I knew that already. Mike Williams has emerged as a potential star at WR beside Keenan Allen. The offensive line has been sensational thanks to the stellar play of rookie LT Rashawn Slater. This defense has stepped up in a big way week after week, and the emergence of the secondary has me feeling really good about this team’s potential. We’ll see how they perform against the best statistical passing offense in football on Monday night.

9 – Chiefs (1-2) 6

Well, this is uncharted territory for the Chiefs. This is the first time in the history of my Power Rankings that Kansas City isn’t in the top 3. And they have nobody to blame but themselves. I know I gave them a pass for losing in Baltimore a couple of week ago, but there are no excuses being handed out anymore. They absolutely punted their game against the Chargers on Sunday, and they did not deserve to win. I have never seen this offense be so careless with the football, and it starts with Patrick Mahomes. I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but this is the worst he has ever played in his young career. He better get back to his old playmaking ways, or start actually taking care of the football. This defense isn’t nearly good enough to make up for his uncharacteristic mistakes. This team will be as great as he is, so as long as he plays like this, it will be shaky in KC.

10 – 49ers (2-1) 4

Yes, the 49ers easily could have and probably should have won on Sunday night. But that was a very shaky first half, and if they had played even slightly better, they probably could have won that game easily. I think they’ll learn from it, but it was a rough showing. Jimmy Garoppolo looked great leading that final drive to take the lead, but let’s not forget his subpar play for the previous 58 minutes. It was his inability to get the ball downfield that led to their early 17-0 hole, and if he never inexplicably fumbled the ball late in the 4th, then their go-ahead score would be to go up 4 instead of 1, and they likely would have won. I’m not saying it’s Trey Lance, because obviously playing your rookie QBs is a mistake this season, but Jimmy’s shortcomings will hold this team back. They better hope that the run game gets going or he returns to form, because the defenses in this division will not make things much easier for him.

11 – Broncos (3-0)

As much as I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from the Broncos so far this season, I can’t get the fact that their opponents are a combined 0-9 out of my head. Yes, they’ve looked great, but opponents and matchups matter. That being said, this team’s offensive efficiency and suffocating defensive ability is enough to make any football purist happy. All they do is move the ball, both through the air and on the ground. Teddy Bridgewater is being his best self, and Melvin Gordon has been very solid out of the backfield. Now, they’re starting to get rookie RB Javonte Williams going, which could lead to Denver having one of the best RB duos in football. And the defense is continuing to speak for itself. Despite some injuries, they still refuse to give up points, and it’s largely thanks to some stellar play in the secondary. This team has the talent and the formula to be very successful in 2021, but still, I need to see them play a real team before making any judgements.

12 – Ravens (2-1) 3

You might not have realized this, but the Ravens are a couple of breaks away from being 0-3. If CEH never fumbled in Week 2 and if the refs call an easy delay of game last Sunday in Detroit, Baltimore would be winless. But, as I always say, this isn’t a “what if” league. You take whatever you get. As it stands, this team is in a decent spot, but I don’t know if this luck will last. This has to catch up to them eventually. They simply didn’t put up enough points against a pretty bad Lions defense, although I will cut them some slack considering the brick hands of WR Hollywood Brown. However, if these struggles continue, then the Ravens won’t keep getting away with everything. I trust Lamar Jackson and I trust this team, but they need to prove to me that they can win a game in solid fashion before I put them ahead of certain teams above them.

13 – Cowboys (2-1)

Even I can recognize that this is probably a bit too low. I just won’t read too far into a blowout win of a terrible Eagles team. As I said yesterday, what this offense has done is what we’ve expected of them, but the best part of the Cowboys thus far has been their vastly improved defense. Trevon Diggs has been a revelation in the secondary, and Micah Parsons and his athleticism have brought a new level of dynamic playmaking ability to the defensive front. If they can lock up elite offenses while their own offense does its thing, then this team has potential. They’re already winning the division with their eyes closes, obviously, but they have to prove that they’re more than NFC East merchants. I think this team has the talent to do so.

14 – Saints (2-1) 1

This team is nothing short of an enigma. I still have no idea how to get a read on them. And I never know what version of them I’m going to get on any given Sunday. Will it be the team with the explosive offense with Jameis Winston slinging the ball all over the place and Alvin Kamara running circles around defenses? Will it be the team with a suffocating defense that slams the door on opposing offenses? Or will it be the team that does nothing of note or worth? Come up and spin the wheel of the Saints!

15 – Vikings (1-2) 9

This is a good team. They could very, very easily be 3-0. Throw away the record and look at how this team is playing and tell me they’re not at least a top 15 team in this league. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Kirk Cousins is playing at an MVP level (no, I’m not joking) with 918 yards, 8 touchdowns, and not a single turnover so far this season. He’s also doing this on 74% completion. This is Kirk at his ceiling. When he plays like this with the talent around him, the passing game will be unstoppable. It helps when your RB room goes crazy, as Dalvin Cook has been very good to start the season, and Alexander Mattison did a splendid job as the starting RB on Sunday. My biggest question with this team was the defense, but they’ve honestly done a decent job so far this season. They’ve at least done well enough to put the Vikings in a position to win, and that’s more than you can ask for. The problem with the Vikings is that the schedule is absolutely brutal. But, if they can play up to their potential, they might just win enough games to make some noise in the NFC.

16 – Titans (2-1) 1

I’m still not entirely too sure to make of this team, but in the past two weeks, they’ve given me plenty to like. In Week 2, it was the offense, and this past week, it was the defense. Granted, the offense carved up a terrible defense and the defense shut down a terrible offense. But, as I keep saying, you take what you get in this league. I still don’t feel too confident about this team, but they have the benefit of playing in the most dreadful division I’ve ever seen, so they’ll be just fine in that regard. They better be thanking their lucky stars for that, because their schedule is absolutely brutal.

17 – Seahawks (1-2) 7

This team is a mess. It quite frankly hurts to watch. At least before, their offense was good enough to cover up for their other shortcomings. But that no longer seems to be the case. Seattle’s defense is still getting ripped to shreds every Sunday, and now the offense simply isn’t putting up enough points to make up for that. It’s not that Russell Wilson isn’t doing his usual wizadry, because he is, but it’s still not enough. Things are just rough for the Seahawks. I’m not sure how I feel about their chances in an insanely stacked division.

18 – Panthers (3-0) 1

Yes, this team is 3-0. Yes, they’ve looked really good. But, let’s be honest. Almost every team in this league is going to look good against the Jets and Texans. Moreover, this team’s injuries are worrying me as the schedule gets harder. Christian McCaffrey is now out for a few weeks with a hamstring problem, and rookie CB Jaycee Horn will be out even longer with a broken foot. I like the fact that they traded for Jaguars CB C.J. Henderson, but I’ll have to see how he performs before judging that move. Losing CMC will set this offense back, but I think the next few weeks will be fine for them considering their opponents. It only gets harder from there though. Don’t let this early record fool you too much.

19 – Bengals (2-1) 7

Sunday’s win in Pittsburgh was the single best game of the Joe Burrow era for the Bengals. I loved what I saw from this team, and I’m looking forward to seeing if they can keep it going. Their in the midst of the easiest stretch in their schedule, and while I don’t expect anything massive from them, I think the Bengals will look very nice in the coming weeks. It could give them some good momentum, and that’s all this team can really ask for. There is talent here, there’s no denying that. I’m not sure what the missing piece is in Cincinnati, but if they ever fill it, then this could quickly turn into one of the best young teams in football, if they aren’t already.

20 – Patriots (1-2) 4

What exactly is this team’s identity? I don’t know. Do you know? Probably not. Are they a run-first, efficient offense with an elite defense that wins them low scoring affairs? Apparently not. But that’s what they are supposed to be. If they can’t do that, then this team quite frankly can’t do anything. And that’s what I’m afraid the Patriots are quickly becoming in 2021. It’s not that I don’t trust Mac Jones, but he just had the worst game of his young career, and now he’ll be without RB James White for the rest of the season. The defense will likely be fine, but I just don’t see New England doing enough on the other side of the football to be a very competitive team. We’ll see if they prove me wrong.

21 – Dolphins (1-2) 1

Is this team better with Jacoby Brissett at QB than Tua Tagovailoa? It certainly seems like it. Yes, they got steamrolled in Week 2, but they just went all the way out west and took a very good Raiders team to the brink. Brissett played a pretty solid game and put his team in a position to win it. He never gave up, and that’s something I love to see. I really think Tua would have shrunk in the moments that Brissett stepped up in. Regardless of the QB situation, the rest of this team isn’t giving me much to like. The rest of the offense hasn’t looked very good in any of their games, and the supposedly elite defense has only looked that way against a bad Patriots offense. They have the benefit of several poor offenses on their schedule, but I’m not sure if their offense can do enough to win a lot of games, especially considering the subpar QB play, no matter who is under center. It’s a shame, because I thought this team would be a lot better. Maybe once they get their guy at QB, they’ll finally realize their potential.

22 – Steelers (1-2) 4

In a league with some pretty unwatchable teams, the Steelers are one of the most unwatchable teams out there. This offense is simply dreadful, and it starts with Ben Roethlisberger. The 39-year old’s age is rearing its ugly head, and it is holding this team back in a massive way. There simply is no passing offense, but his stats after 50 passing attempts in a game won’t show that. The offensive line isn’t doing him any favors either, allowing for no running game whatsoever and minimal pass blocking. Every Steelers drive is just a checkdown simulator, and at this rate, Najee Harris is going to be worn out by Thanksgiving. The injuries have also gotten to this defense, as they seemingly can’t stop a nosebleed without T.J. Watt on the edge to generate any semblance of a pass rush. There’s just nothing going right in Pittsburgh at the moment, and I don’t see it turning around any time soon.

23 – Washington (1-2) 2

This team is a joke. And a really bad joke at that. While I’d love to give the offense a pass for playing like garbage thanks to having a backup QB, I refuse to do so. This was Taylor Heinicke’s 2nd start coming off a long week and he still played like garbage. The team refuses to move the ball, and I think one of the biggest issues is playcalling. For some reason, Ron Rivera and Scott Turner refuse to give the football to Antonio Gibson, one of the most dynamic players in all of football, and it is holding this offense back in a huge way. Any time he touches the ball, good things happen, and yet they simply refuse to go back to him when he does something good. It’s such a shame. And don’t even get me started on the defense. This has quickly become the most overrated unit and football, and I don’t even want to waste my breath on them. It’s only a matter of time before massive changes will need to be made in DC. I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later.

24 – Colts (0-3) 2

This team is in a brutal spot. This is the worst possible start they could have had, and the rest of the schedule doesn’t make things much easier. The offense simply isn’t doing enough, because they’re quite frankly doing nothing. Carson Wentz has not been the answer at QB, and whether it’s due to talent or injury, he is holding the offense back. Their offensive line problems have restricted their ability to run the football, and their defense isn’t doing them any favors whatsoever. It’s just a whole lotta nothing going on in Indy. It might be time to stick a fork in the Colts.

25 – Eagles (1-2) 2

Any and all promise that might have stemmed from Philly’s Week 1 victory is now dead and gone. This team is back to being horrible. In back to back weeks now, their offense has been pathetic thanks to Jalen Hurts playing like anything but a starting QB. Miles Sanders has become a nonfactor out of the backfield, and their young WR talent simply isn’t getting enough traction to put up the numbers that I know they can. The defense is getting mauled, especially in the secondary, and it means their offense has to play catch-up for several quarters of football. It’s just not going to work. There are a lot of problems here. I don’t even know where to begin working on a solution.

26 – Lions (0-3) 2

This has to be the grittiest 0-3 team I’ve ever seen. I’ll give Dan Campbell some credit. His team never gives up, and you can always count on them to be in the game. As I said yesterday, some higher power does not want the Lions to succeed, and at some point, you have to just throw your hands up and surrender. Everything that I’ve liked about this team is still doing good things, especially the offensive line and weapons. This defense is still a huge problem that will hold them back, especially at the second level, but it’s not like we were expecting the Lions to do anything this season anyways. Them being a tough out is likely more than they can ask for.

27 – Bears (1-2) 2

I haven’t been this disgusted with a team that isn’t the WFT in a very, very long time. Be ashamed of yourselves, Chicago. I don’t want to waste too much time talking about their nonexistent gameplan or negligent coaching. You already know what’s up by now. I don’t even know who the starting QB will be on Sunday. No matter who it is, I have no faith in this team to do anything productive. Matt Nagy should have already been fired by now. As long as he’s the head coach of this team, I don’t even want to think about them.

28 – Falcons (1-2) 2

The only thing separating the Falcons and Giants is the 3 points that were scored on the final play of Sunday’s game. This team is still very, very bad, and beating an even worse team doesn’t prove anything to me. The only thing I liked about Atlanta was their offense, but putting up a whopping 17 points against the mighty Giants defense means nothing. Any and all problems with this team were covered up by playing someone just as bad as they are, so while they get to get slightly bumped up this week, don’t read too far into it.

29 – Giants (0-3) 2

This team is just sad. They could be so much more, but they just refuse to be anything but awful. Whether it’s their offense being incapable of moving the football, even against a dreadful defense, or their own defense doing absolutely nothing, this team is just an uninspired and lifeless group of guys. That’s the worst part. I don’t think the Giants are bad in terms of their talent. I just think they lack a pulse. And that might be worse.

30 – Texans (1-2) 1

Thursday night’s showing wasn’t exactly a promising one, but I’ll cut Houston some slack. Starting a 3rd string rookie QB in his first game on a short week against a very good defense is obviously never going to work. Still, this team is just as dreadful as ever and there is no fixing them. The schedule isn’t going to treat them much kinder moving forward, and this team is going to be pounded into the dirt in most weeks. But, when you expect that, it makes it a bit less painful.

31 – Jaguars (0-3) 1

Thanks to the incompetence and putridness of the Jets as well as a not-so-terrible performance against the Cardinals on Sunday, the Jaguars are no longer the #32 team in football for me anymore. But they’re still not far off. Trevor Lawrence has been very up and down, delivering dimes one moment and making terrible throws the next. I wouldn’t expect someone like him, with his talent and skillset, to be so erratic, but I feel like it’s a product of the terrible situation he’s in. Even if he figures it out, it doesn’t change the fact that the rest of the team has nothing going for them. I’m finding it hard to find a win on this schedule. I know they’ll get one eventually, but this looks nothing like a winning team as of right now.

32 – Jets (0-3) 1

Congratulations, Jets! You have now reclaimed the throne for the worst team in football. This seat surely missed you! I’m sure you’re very happy to be back. How does scoring 6.6 points per game with 0 touchdowns in 2 weeks feel? Not good, I imagine. What about your rookie QB that now leads the league in INTs who couldn’t find an open receiver if he was playing 11-on-0? Do you still feel good about taking him 2nd overall? Yeah. I didn’t think so. I know I said it’s extremely hard to go winless in this league. But if there’s any team that I have ever see that is capable of doing so, it has to be this team.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Note: I apologize for not putting out yesterdays’ Week in Review, it has just been a busy few days for me and I unfortunately didn’t find the time to finish it. However, I did get the idea to change up the format of it slightly. Rather than give a complete rundown of everything that happened in every game, from now on, I’ll just give my thoughts and biggest takeaways from each game. It will make the article an easier read, and it’s much better content than simply giving a play-by-play of the game. If you have any thoughts or comments, I’d love to hear them.

Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season was just as exciting as its predecessor, with several more fantastic games with heart-stopping finishes and a plethora of incredible performances by some of the league’s best players. Again, it has only been 2 weeks, so I’m trying to keep overreactions to a minimum, but we are definitely starting to get a good idea about what so many teams are capable of. Let’s stack up the teams 1-32 for the second time this season:

1 – Buccaneers (2-0)

Yes, the Bucs are still the best team in football, but they are certainly not without some concerns through two weeks. I have now seen two offenses, albeit good ones, move the ball at will against this defense that is supposed to be impenetrable. Moreover, those two offenses didn’t have nearly as good of games against their other opponents so far this season. Atlanta scored just 6 on the Eagles, but they were giving Tampa fits for a large part of Sundays game. And the stacked Cowboys offense that almost beat the Buccaneers put up just 20 on the Chargers this week. I have zero doubts whatsoever that this problem will solve itself, but even if it doesn’t, the Bucs are playing so well offensively that it doesn’t even matter. Tom Brady is playing like an MVP right now, tossing 5 touchdowns on Sunday to bring his total to 9 touchdowns in his first 2 games. Even if you can move the ball on this team, good luck stopping them when #12 has the ball.

2 – Rams (2-0) 1

Don’t let Sunday’s final score fool you. The Rams really were the better team for the majority of the game against the Colts. One of the weirdest special teams gaffes I have ever seen put Indy right back in it, but it only took 2 minutes for the Rams to regain the lead. One late FG later and an unfortunate injury to Colts QB Carson Wentz and LA was 2-0. Now, I know it wasn’t the prettiest win, but the Rams won this game due to their explosive-when-necessary offense and their lockdown defense. Their special teams is usually good enough to complete that trifecta, but not this week. That being said, it’s still a very good formula that has this team in a great position early in the season. This Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers will tell us just how good of a position that is.

3 – Chiefs (1-1) 1

I understand that the Chiefs lost on Sunday, but quite frankly, I just don’t care too much. However, I still have a massive problem with this team. Their offense looked absolutely sensational despite a lacking running game, but their defense was just dreadful. It doesn’t matter how good Patrick Mahomes is, he can’t win every shootout (especially if he throws bad interceptions like the one he had in the 3rd quarter, the first in September of his career) if his defense gives up 481 yards. The Ravens running game simply gashed this team all night long, and Lamar Jackson had whatever he wanted on every zone read he ran. I’d honestly say the Chiefs beat themselves more than the Ravens did. Between a bad pick, an incompetent defensive performance, a blown 11 point 4th quarter lead, and an inopportune fumble by RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC couldn’t get out of their own way. And still, if not for that fumble, they would have won the game. This team will be just fine. Spare me your overreactions.

4 – Browns (1-1)

It took a short while, but once this team got going on Sunday, there was no slowing them down. The only moment of concern for me was when QB Baker Mayfield hurt himself trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception. Luckily, he was able to shake it off and come back in to help lead his team to victory. It was another special showing from this ground attack, racking up 156 yards rushing, highlighted by 95 yards and a score on just 11 carries from Nick Chubb. It was also a breakout game of sorts for rookie Demetric Felton, who was the team’s leading receiver with 2 catches for 51 yards and a very nifty TD. Felton will need to continue to show out as Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham are dealing with injury problems. In my eyes, this team could beat you with no WRs at all. As long as that offensive line is doing their thing, not many teams can stop them.

5 – Cardinals (2-0) 1

While I expected a lot more out of Arizona’s defense on Sunday, their offense was jaw-dropping levels of electric, and that’s all I needed to see. Kyler Murray is still playing like an MVP candidate with 400 yards and 3 touchdowns on 81% completion, and everyone is getting involved on that side of the ball. This week’s breakout star was rookie WR Rondale Moore, who had a whopping 114 yards and a long TD on 7 catches. Murray was virtually flawless outside of 2 bad looking INTs, one of which being returned for a touchdown. It wasn’t the best day for the defense which feasted in Week 1, but I’ll give credit where it’s due to the Vikings for putting up a great fight. The Cards would have a 1 in the loss column if Minnesota kickers weren’t cursed, but as it stands, they are one of the unbeatens. This team has an insane amount of potential. We’ll see if it’s realized.

6 – 49ers (2-0) 2

Sunday’s game was anything but pretty, but the Niners still did their job and got a convincing win. There was nothing really of note, other than the continuing trend of injuries. This week, it was the RBs that got decimated, as Elijah Mitchell banged up his shoulder and Trey Sermon suffered a concussion on a whopping hit on his first professional carry. Other than that, it was a solid day at the office. San Francisco went on long drives thanks to an efficient offense, and dominated time of possession. The defense also had a much better outing than Week 1. It might take a short while, but this team will figure out its moving parts and be a real contender in the long run.

7 – Raiders (2-0) 2

I’d say the Raiders have been the most impressive team in the NFL through 2 weeks. And I don’t think they’re getting the respect they deserve. Derek Carr had another spectacular game against a very good Steelers defense, throwing for 382 yards and 2 TDs on 76% completion. The defense also did its thing once again, clutching up when necessary to help seal the win. I just really like what this team has going on all across the board. I don’t know if this success will have any longevity, especially in a very tough division, but there is nothing to not like about Vegas. Once RB Josh Jacobs gets healthy, this will be one of the most dynamic offenses in football. It’s already the best passing offense through Week 2. How long will it last? Only time will tell.

8 – Bills (1-1) 2

Buffalo bounced back in a huge way on Sunday, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt, considering the Dolphins were playing a backup QB for almost the entire game. Moreover, it wasn’t exactly the prettiest offensive showing. Josh Allen had just 179 yards and 2 TDs as well as a pick on just 52% completion. I know I said the Dolphins defense was good, but those aren’t very good numbers. I think I’ll have a better idea about this team after seeing how they perform against an apparently porous Washington defense this weekend. Until then, this is the highest I can put the Bills.

9 – Ravens (1-1) 4

I acknowledge that Baltimore had one of the best wins of the young season on Sunday night, but as I keep saying, I refuse to overreact to things. The Ravens did not deserve to win that game, but they definitely did what they had to do to come out on top. They exploited the Chiefs run defense all game long, and the gutsiest call of the year thus far, Lamar Jackson’s 4th down run, put the game on ice. It was Lamar’s night, as he had 346 total yards and 3 total touchdowns, including 107 and 2 scores on the ground. He more than atoned for two very ugly first quarter INTs. Even still, I saw Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense tear this defense into pieces for the whole game, and if it wasn’t for a late fumble, the Ravens would have lost this game. I also don’t think that the entire offense can be on Lamar for the whole year, considering the thin RB room .I can be impressed with what I saw and also acknowledge the truth. This was a good win for a team that needed it, but they have to show me more down the road for them to be bumped up.

10 – Seahawks (1-1) 5

I have no idea what happened to this team last week. They had everything, and I mean everything go their way from start to finish. They were spoon-fed a win, but took the spoon and threw it in the trash. Russell Wilson continued to do incredible things throwing the football, leading Seattle to a 14 point 4th quarter lead, just for it to evaporate in their hands. They could have lost the game in regulation if it wasn’t for a very poor overturned touchdown. And in overtime, they got away with what should have been the game-losing safety, and still lost. It just boggles my mind. This defense, which looked promising in Week 1, was torn apart by Derrick Henry and the Titans offense, which did approximately nothing last week. It didn’t matter how good their own offense was because the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed. This is the Seattle I expected to see in November, not Week 2. It could be a long season.

11 – Broncos (2-0) 1

Has there been a team more generally solid than the Broncos so far this season? I know they have played two very bad teams, but this team hasn’t pulled their punches, and has just played very good football. Denver currently leads the NFL in yardage differential, and they absolutely deserve to be 2-0. Teddy Bridgewater has been very efficient at QB, making no mistakes and doing his thing. Teddy had a whopping 328 yards and 2 TDs on 76% completion. It helped that WR Courtland Sutton had a career day, catching 9 passes for 159 yards. The defense has also been very good, especially in the secondary. The injury to DE Bradley Chubb is a concern, but this roster is deep enough to make up for it. I want to see this team play a real contender before jumping to any conclusions, but I have really liked what I have seen from Denver so far in 2021.

12 – Packers (1-1) 5

After a “convincing” MNF win, the media would have you believe that the Pack are back. Yes, it was a nice win, but was it really? I saw the Lions move the ball up and down on this defense with ease in the first half. I saw Jared Goff dotting up this supposedly good secondary to the tune of a 17-14 halftime lead. If the weather held up, maybe the Lions would have been more secure with the ball in the second half and it would have been a closer game. I recognize that the Packers offense was nothing short of awesome, as Aaron Rodgers returned to form with 4 touchdowns with RB Aaron Jones accounting for 4 scores of his own. But that shouldn’t come as a shock considering how bad this Lions defense is. So, what I saw from Green Bay was just as much, if not less of what I expected. They have to continue to prove to me that they are as good as they say.

13 – Cowboys (1-1) 5

Did the Cowboys win on Sunday, or did the Chargers beat themselves? You can be the judge, but I know where I stand. Dallas definitely played a nice enough game, but they did not deserve to win. I will admit that I was impressed with their defensive performance. They had 2 nice INTs, and their pass rush was good enough to make Justin Herbert visibly uncomfortable. Offensively, I wasn’t sure what to make of them though. Dak Prescott was fairly average by his standards, but he got a huge boost from backup RB Tony Pollard, who might have honestly won himself the starting gig. Pollard ran for 109 yards and a score on 13 carries as the Chargers had no intention of stopping him. Extremely poor clock management almost took this game to OT, but K Greg Zuerlein nailed a 56-yarder at the horn to walk it off. The game should not have even gotten to that point, but I’ll get into that below with the Bolts.

14 – Chargers (1-1) 7

The Chargers are this week’s biggest losers, and for good reason. This team just cannot get out of their own way. It has been the story for their entire existence, and it is the story today. The offense was fine; Justin Herbert threw for 338 yards and a touchdown, and despite two INTs, they still had every opportunity to win it. So, why didn’t they? Penalties. A disgusting amount of them. LA was penalized 12 times on Sunday for 99 yards, and 2 of those penalties negated touchdowns. They were also both questionable calls, but even still, you can’t get called for 12 flags and win a game. This team is the most penalized one in all of football through 2 weeks. Penalties are the sign of poor coaching, so first-year man Brandon Staley better get his guys together. This team is too talented to lose games like that.

15 – Saints (1-1) 4

No team had a bigger dropoff in terms of their performance from Week 1 to Week 2 than the Saints, and I honestly don’t know who or what to blame. But New Orleans’ performance on Sunday was arguably the worst offensive showing of the year thus far. This team amassed a pitiful 128 total yards with only 48 on the ground despite having Alvin Kamara in the backfield. 2 interceptions from Jameis Winston didn’t help either. The worst part of the game might have been the 11 penalties committed for 115 yards. As I said above, you just cannot do that, especially if you have as much talent as the Saints do. The defense was equally bad, giving up 383 total yards and allowing the Panthers to have the ball for 38:32. It was simply an inexplicable performance on both sides of the football, and one that makes no sense after last week’s thrashing of the Packers in which they were so dominant. Up next is a tough New England team, and trying to predict how they’ll fare is essentially a coinflip.

16 – Patriots (1-1) 1

I like this team, but they have just been so boring to start the season. Yes, they should be 2-0, but they haven’t exactly played the best teams. They should have beat Miami, and the Jets are the definition of abysmal. So, what to make of the Patriots? As of right now, I’m not too sure. They’re a solid team all around with a very good defense, but against truly elite teams, I’m not sure if they’ll be up to the task. Only time will tell in that regard, but for now, this is the only place I can put the Pats: the middle of the pack.

17 – Titans (1-1) 5

As I mentioned above, the Titans had no business winning this game. Everything was going against them. Their secondary was being torn apart all game long. WR Julio Jones had an incredible TD grab called back despite getting both feet down in bounds. Seattle had every answer for a comeback attempt. But this team did not give up, and all thanks have to go to Derrick Henry. The star RB was truly a King on Sunday, and I believe his 60 yard touchdown in the 4th quarter is the reason this team won. It was the perfect answer to a long Seattle touchdown, and got the Titans right back in the game with plenty of time left to tie it up. With 29 seconds left, that’s just what he did, and the offense did what it had to do to win the game in OT. It was a monster day on the statsheet, as Ryan Tannehill threw for 347 yards, 128 of which going to Julio Jones. But the star was King Henry, who had an incredible 182 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 35 carries. Henry also added 55 yards on 6 catches. It was not a perfect performance by any means, but this is what the Titans identity is. They have the ability to win shootouts if their opposing defense isn’t good enough to stop them. I’m not the biggest fan of that formula, but when it’s on full display like this, it’s pretty awesome to watch.

18 – Steelers (1-1) 2

This team is the definition of meh. All of the problems that have been abundantly apparent dating back to last year are still crystal clear, and while the defense has been able to bail the offense out in the past, that might not be the case anymore. The Steelers had a measly 39 yards on the ground, and the defense was torn apart by the Raiders prolific passing attack. Moreover, injuries to star DE T.J. Watt and CB Joe Haden are major causes for concern. This defense is the only thing that makes this team capable of winning games, and if it’s banged up, then it could be rough sledding. I just don’t have any faith in this team to do anything substantial.

19 – Panthers (2-0) 3

Carolina had one of the more dominant wins of Week 2, but again, I’m trying not to overreact too much. I recognize that this team still has a lot of moving parts, but they’re slowly being figured out, and the end result has looked really good thus far. The offense has been great with Sam Darnold at QB, and that young defense has been making play after play. I want to give this team a little more respect, but I need to see them put together more elite performances against the better teams on their schedule before I do so. That being said, I am continuing to love what I see from the Panthers.

20 – Dolphins (1-1) 6

I’m just gonna be frank here: the Dolphins should have already moved on from Tua Tagovailoa. 2020’s #5 overall pick has done nothing of note in his young career, and now, he’s injured again. This one looked serious, as he had to be carted off after taking a monster hit early in the game. The diagnosis is fractured ribs, so now the team will be led by Jacoby Brissett for a bit. Yikes. It’s a QB-driven league, and the Dolphins are too talented to be held back by a lack of talent at that position. Just admit you made a mistake and remedy it. That is, if it’s not too late.

21 – Washington (1-1) 1

Washington had one of the wilder wins of Week 2, but it wasn’t a very sharp or convincing one. Once again, the “vaunted” defense was exposed and gashed all game long. Daniel Jones was tearing it up, both throwing the ball and running it, which is a statement that should never be said in any context. Still, the offense looked good enough to win the game entirely thanks to the play of Taylor Heinicke. The backup QB looked really good in just his 3rd career start, throwing for 336 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a majestic throw the back of the endzone to take the lead late in the 4th quarter. After a late defensive stop, he did throw a bad interception that should have lost the game, but I blame that more on the coaching than him. You need to run the ball in that scenario. What is this, Pop Warner? Heinicke also tended to miss his targets a little high, but his WRs were able to make plays all game long to make up for that. Terry McLaurin had another special showing, catching 11 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. It was nice to see this offense with some juice, but I still have 2 major problems with this team. Firstly, the defense has not been playing even close to the level that is expected of them. Secondly, the kicking game is a problem. Dustin Hopkins missed the game winner, but was bailed out by an offsides call, and while he made the retry, he barely made it. These are very, very important aspects to the game that need to be sured up if this team wants to go where they think they can.

22 – Colts (0-2) 3

I almost feel bad for this team. I feel like they should be so, so much better than they actually are. I’m not even sure what’s holding them back. Is it poor offensive play? Maybe. They didn’t have the best Week 1, but on Sunday, they did move the ball nicely against a very good Rams defense. Is it a bad defense? Perhaps. It’s a usually solid group that hasn’t played up to their potential this season. Now, QB Carson Wentz has sprains in both of his ankles (don’t ask me how that happens), and even if he ends up playing in the coming weeks, he won’t be nearly as effective. The Colts have the benefit of playing in a dreadful division, which is their only saving grace at this point. I think they can figure it out, but I’m starting to have my doubts.

23 – Eagles (1-1) 2

That was not great, Philly. But, in your defense, it could have been a lot worse. I honestly think the Eagles put up a good fight on Sunday, at least offensively. They outgained the 49ers by 22 yards, didn’t turn the ball over once, and Jalen Hurts had himself a very nice game. But, this defense was gashed on very long drives, and it ended up being the team’s downfall. Trust me, my expectations for this team are not high by any stretch, but based on last week’s defensive performance, I thought they’d at least be slightly better than they were. In any case, what I saw from the Eagles this week was just what I expected. They’re a talented young squad, but they simply aren’t ready to beat good teams.

24 – Vikings (0-2) 1

This is another team I feel really bad for. The Vikings really have no business being 0-2. This team should be 2-0 if it wasn’t for their own mistakes. It was Dalvin Cook’s OT fumble (which could have easily been ruled down) and Greg Joseph’s missed FG on Sunday that have dug this team’s winless hole. Still, I like what I’ve seen from this team. It was another prolific offensive showing, as Kirk Cousins threw for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns and Dalvin Cook ran for a massive 131 yards on 22 carries. But the tale as old as time stood true once again, as the defense couldn’t stop the Cardinals in any capacity. Even though they put up 419 yards of their own, Minnesota gave up 474 yards of offense and lost the time of possession battle. Even forcing 2 turnovers wasn’t enough to help them win. I just feel like this is going to be the story of the season for the Vikings, and it’s just unfortunate to watch.

25 – Bears (1-1) 1

This team is still not very good, but there’s officially promise in Chicago: Justin Fields will be the starting QB for this Sunday’s game against the Browns. Fields was thrusted into action this week after Andy Dalton got hurt, and didn’t look great, but did what he had to do to lead his team to victory. Now, he’ll get a full week of practice with the starters and a playbook that is hopefully tailored to him. The Bears have stated that Dalton will be the starter once he’s healthy again, but Justin has a golden opportunity to shut that down if he performs well in these next few weeks. I’m really hoping he does just that.

26 – Bengals (1-1) 2

That was uglier than a Skyline chili bowl. I haven’t the slightest idea what happened to this team from last week to this one, but what I saw on Sunday was exactly what I expected out of them heading into the season. They struggled to move the ball thanks to a poor performance from their offensive line, and their subpar defense forgot to show up, even against a backup QB. The worst part of the game was QB Joe Burrow, who threw 3 interceptions on 3 consecutive passes in the 4th quarter, one of which being returned for a touchdown. It was just a 7-point game when he threw the first pick, but when it was all said and done, it was a 17-point deficit. Cincy did have a late comeback attempt, but it was all for not. It was a vintage Bengals performance, and I’m expecting to see plenty more during the rest of the season.

27 – Giants (0-2)

Man. This team is really something else. Don’t get me wrong, their offense looked plenty good on Thursday night, even with a dreadful offensive line. But their defense was torn apart once again, this time by a backup QB in his 3rd ever professional start. Moreover, this team beat themselves on Thursday. They were gifted a victory and were delighted to find a gift receipt in the box. DT Dexter Lawrence’s offsides on the missed game-winning FG attempt gave Washington another shot, and they didn’t miss it the second time. Even when the Giants are in a perfect position to do something good, they find a way to screw it up. I better get used to saying that for the next 16 weeks.

28 – Lions (0-2)

Detroit is a very bad football team, but I think there have been some bright spots early in the season. For one, they have certainly been competitive. They’ve given the 49ers and Packers fits thanks to a feisty attitude and an unwillingness to go down easy. Their offense has been a pleasant surprise, as Jared Goff hasn’t played bad in his first two games with the team. RB D’Andre Swift has been their best player, and it’s largely thanks to rather good offensive line play. So, unlike many other really bad teams, there are things to build around in Detroit. The only question is whether or not that building will take place.

29 – Texans (1-1)

Things are simply getting worse in Houston. QB Tyrod Taylor, who looked very servicable in starting action, suffered a hamstring injury on a TD run on Sunday, and is now on IR. Now, the Texans turn to the 3rd QB on the roster, rookie Davis Mills out of Stanford. Mills didn’t exactly look promising in game action on Sunday, and on a short week, his first start this Thursday might not be pretty. The QB situation was already bad enough. Maybe this is the football gods’ way of punishing the Texans for the Deshaun Watson situation.

30 – Falcons (0-2) 1

The Falcons still did not look great on Sunday, but at the very least, they delivered on the one thing I knew they’d be good for. Their talented offense finally decided to show up, and they were able to make the game interesting for a while. The defense still couldn’t stop a nosebleed, but they had every answer for Tampa on the other side of the ball. That ran out very quickly in the 4th quarter, though, as Matt Ryan threw two pick 6s in less than 4 minutes to seal the loss. But, maybe against some poor defenses, this team can do enough to win a few games, just as I expected.

31 – Jets (0-2) 1

Bad. Horrible. Awful. Atrocious. Abysmal. Abhorrent. Other synonyms. What else can be said about this team. The decision to draft Zach Wilson is continuing to look like the mistake of all mistakes, as the rookie threw 4 interceptions on Sunday, 3 of which came in his first 5 passing attempts. Their defense was a non-factor as well. I simply don’t understand how you can allow yourself to be so bad. This team genuinely might not win a game this season.

32 – Jaguars (0-2)

It’s still extremely rough sledding in Jacksonville with approximately no upsides. Trevor Lawrence looked poor in his second career start, throwing for just 118 yards and a touchdown to go along with 2 INTs on just 42% completion. He now has just as many picks as Zach Wilson through two games. The rest of the offense accounted for absolutely nothing, and their defense was torn apart by the Broncos from start to finish. I’m honestly not sure if we’ll see any performances as bad as this one from the Jags this season, but it wouldn’t surprise me. This is just pitiful.

All stats taken from ESPN.

After only one week of football, we’ve learned quite a lot about so many teams in the league. It’s hard to gauge how a team will do or how good or bad they truly are after just one game, but the show must go on. Ranking the league after Week 1 is a volatile task, so don’t expect many of these teams to remain where they are at on this week’s list, and don’t get too mad at me if you vehemently disagree with something. It’s only Week 1. It’s bound to change eventually. With that being said, let’s stack up the teams 1-32 for the first time this season:

1 – Buccaneers (1-0)

Just get used to this. While the Buccaneers didn’t play their best game on opening night against Dallas, they were pretty damn close. A few drops, sloppy turnovers, and mistakes kept the Cowboys in the game much longer than necessary, but Brady and co. did exactly what they needed to do to emerge victorious. It was honestly one of the best performances I’ve seen from Brady in a long time, and if he can play like that all year, he could put together an MVP campaign. All of Tampa’s issues from last Thursday will work themselves out over the course of the season, and they will be fine. This is still very much the best team in football, and they either have to fall apart or someone has to knock them off the pedestal for them to have a different spot on this list.

2 – Chiefs (1-0)

It took a patented Patrick Mahomes comeback to get the W on Sunday, but the Chiefs still looked pretty good. I’ll give them a pass for struggling, as they were playing one of the NFL’s best teams that matches up better than almost anybody else against them. And still, they did what they had to do late to get to 1-0. This remains the most unstoppable offense in football, and while I think their defense could use some help, they will win most of their games as long as they have Mahomes under center. It also helped having the electric Arrowhead crowd behind them once again.

3 – Rams (1-0)

As I said before, the Matthew Stafford era in LA could not have gotten off to a better start. The shiny new QB threw for a career-best 156.1 passer rating on Sunday night, and this team looked like it had a new energy that I’ve never seen them have before. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, and their defense looks just as sharp as ever. I always thought this was the team in the NFC best suited to knock off the Buccaneers, and Week 1 definitely reinforced that. Playing in the NFC West is extremely tough, but I really do think this will be a top 2 team in the conference for this entire season.

4 – Browns (0-1)

Despite the loss on Sunday, Cleveland impressed me more than almost any other team this week. They ran circles around Kansas City all game long, Baker Mayfield looked very sharp throwing the football (with the exception of an errant INT to lose the game), and if it wasn’t for a dropped snap on a punt, they probably would have won. It’s impossible to stop those inevitable Mahomes-Hill linkups, but other than that, I thought this defense looked very sharp. This was the most difficult opening test they could have had, and they won’t face an offense that good for the rest of the season, so I have no doubts about that side of the ball in Cleveland. I still really, really like this roster, and in an apparently weak division, the Browns’ dreams may not be too far out of reach.

5 – Seahawks (1-0)

September Russell Wilson is back in a huge way, and it was quite a treat to watch. The 10th-year QB was diming all game long in Indy against a very good defense, making every throw look easy. The rest of his offense showed up in a huge way too, especially WR Tyler Lockett, who made 2 great touchdown catches. The defense, which was a rather big question mark, shut down a solid Colts offense, which is a very good sign in an extremely talented division. I don’t want to be fooled once again by how dominant this team is early in the season, but I have to give credit where credit is due at the moment. I’ll just try not to drink too much of the Kool-Aid.

6 – Cardinals (1-0)

Simply put, the Cardinals had one of the most impressive wins of Week 1. Going all the way out east to take on a Titans team who was favored in the game and has plenty of playoff hopes and expectations of their own, Arizona absolutely steamrolled their way to a 38-13 victory. QB Kyler Murray put on one of the performances of the week with 5 total touchdowns (4 passing and 1 rushing), including some incredible throws all over the field. The revamped defense shut down one of last year’s most potent offenses, including the reigning OPOY, RB Derrick Henry. You need to be elite on both sides of the ball to contend not only in this division, but in this conference. If the Cards’ opener was any indication, they might have what it takes to do just that.

7 – Chargers (1-0)

I spent all of last season waiting for this team to realize their potential. After a fantastic offseason, I think they’re finally ready to do so. Not only was Justin Herbert sensational throwing the football, but his revamped offensive line did a perfect job protecting him from arguably the best defensive line in football. First-round pick LT Rashawn Slater didn’t allow Washington DE Chase Young, a DPOY hopeful, to do a single thing in Sunday’s game. And while it was hard for the offense to move the ball consistently on that great defense, they always stepped up and made the plays to secure a victory, to the tune of 14/18 3rd down conversions. That’s the mark of any good team. This is a playoff team as long as they stay out of their own way. Sadly, I don’t put anything past the Chargers in that regard.

8 – 49ers (1-0)

The 49ers would probably be higher on this list if they actually closed things out on Sunday in Detroit, but even still, this team looked very good in Week 1. Yes, they were playing one of the worst teams in the NFL, but they didn’t pull any punches and bulldozed the Lions all game long in every facet. The passing game was on fire, in large part thanks to a great game from WR Deebo Samuel. Despite a season-ending injury for RB Raheem Mostert, the running game was moving along seamlessly thanks to an impressive debut from RB Elijah Mitchell. And of course this outstanding defensive unit was back on full display after last year’s injury fiasco. It’s no secret that this is one of the NFL’s best rosters. If they can stay healthy, and not blow massive leads late in games, they will be one of the biggest contenders in the NFC.

9 – Raiders (1-0)

I was thoroughly impressed with the Raiders on Monday night. It took them a while to get going, but once they did, they seemingly couldn’t be stopped. QB Derek Carr had himself quite the night against a Ravens defense that is no joke, throwing for 435 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the winner in OT. He was succinct and clutch, and I loved seeing that out of him. He was forcing the ball to TE Darren Waller quite a lot, but it ended up working out in the long run, so who am I to judge? The question with this team is seemingly always the defense, but they stepped up when it mattered most, forcing a fumble in OT to set up their offense to win it. I seriously doubt that Vegas can keep this up long-term, but if they can, then this is a serious playoff contender. They have to prove it to me first.

10 – Bills (0-1)

Buffalo got a boatload of bad breaks on Sunday. They were better than the Steelers in every single statistical category, but a single punt block touchdown ruined their afternoon. That’s not saying that they didn’t struggle, though. Last year’s offense made everything look so easy, but against a stout Pittsburgh defense, they had a rough time. However, I know that they won’t be facing many front 7s that good this season as the schedule is very easy, and I know that this team will be just fine. It was a very difficult first game, but the Bills will rebound. At least, they better hope so, because they invested quite a lot of money in Josh Allen. They cannot afford to let that go to waste.

11 – Saints (1-0)

New Orleans likely had the statement win of Week 1, and it still makes no sense to me. After being displaced and the game being relocated, not to mention all of the offseason questions and concerns, this team showed up and showed out against one of last year’s premier teams. Jameis Winston looked like a new man in his first start at QB for the Saints, and this defense looked just as sharp as ever. It helped that the Packers looked like they didn’t even want to be there, and that Aaron Rodgers played one of the worst games I have ever seen from him. But I don’t want to take anything away from the Saints. They played a hell of a football game, and vastly exceeded my expectations. Perhaps I underestimated them a bit too much.

12 – Broncos (1-0)

Before you say anything, I will acknowledge that I have this team a bit high. But I am never without my reasons. I always said that the Broncos have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but were severely lacking at QB. They reminded me a lot of my own team. But, starting Teddy Bridgewater under center is already proving to be a great move. Teddy looked great on Sunday simply by being who he is: a solid QB who doesn’t make mistakes and always puts his team in position to win. The rest of the offense did their job, and the defense made light work of the admittedly lethargic Giants offense. The injury to WR Jerry Juedy, an ankle sprain that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks, does concern me a bit, but this team has plenty of other talented pass catchers that will help lighten the load for Teddy. This is definitely a dark horse in the AFC Wild Card race. And yes, that pun was intended.

13 – Ravens (0-1)

I’d like to think I’m being a bit harsh to the Ravens, but everything is going wrong for this team right now. All of the injuries in the last few weeks seemed to really affect this team. Yes, RB Ty’Son Williams looked pretty good, and Latavius Murray even scored a touchdown, but much of this running game still relies on Lamar Jackson adlibbing and making plays by himself. The weight is still entirely on his shoulders, and if he has to carry both the passing and running attack, he will fall apart fast. It seemingly already got to him, as his fumble in OT lost Baltimore the game. Not to mention, their defense, which is supposed to be perhaps their strongest suit, did not look very sharp. This team just has some problems I can’t get over, and they’re going to have to show me a lot more to work their way back up.

14 – Dolphins (1-0)

The only thing separating the Dolphins and the Patriots is the single point that separated them on Sunday afternoon. I liked what I saw from the Dolphins, but I honestly don’t know if they were the better team in that game. A late fumble handed them the win, but I won’t discount the rest of the game entirely. The defense looked very solid, as always, and the offense looked nice as well. It was always going to be rough sledding against a great Pats defense, but the offense did their thing. QB Tua Tagovailoa didn’t look bad at all, and you can already feel the presence of rookie WR Jaylen Waddle. This is definitely a winning formula in Miami: let your defense do its job and simply score more points than the other team. I’m just not sure how sustainable it is in such a good division and conference.

15 – Patriots (0-1)

Like I said above, I do think the Patriots were the better team in Foxboro on Sunday. The main reason for that was the play of QB Mac Jones in his NFL debut. He did everything he had to do, made no mistakes, and looked very comfortable for a kid making his first professional start against a very good defense. New England would have won this game if Damien Harris didn’t fumble the ball deep in Dolphins territory, and despite the end result being an L, I really liked what I saw from this team. They’re essentially just the cold weather Dolphins, but I certainly like Mac more than Tua right now. The Patriots will be very interesting to monitor in the playoff race, and I think they’ll be right in the thick of things all year long.

16 – Steelers (1-0)

I really don’t care that this team won on Sunday. Outside of their great defense, they barely showed me anything of note for me to care about. Offensively, this looked like the exact same boring, uninspired unit from 2020. They could not move the ball because they could not run the ball. Najee Harris looked like a nonfactor in his debut at RB, even against a fairly average Bills front. When they did move the ball, they were able to cash in and score, which is all that mattered because their defense is that good. I will admit, that touchdown catch by Diontae Johnson was quite nice. A lucky break on a punt block won this team the game, and that’s all there is to it. That will probably be the luckiest break they get all season. Yes, their defense is good enough to win them a lot of games, but the offense cannot be this lethargic. At least Miami and New England have competent offenses. Competent is the last word I would use to describe this Steelers offense.

17 – Packers (0-1)

This will likely be the lowest the Packers are all season, and it hurts me to put them this low, but they deserve it after that absolutely shamelessly bad performance on Sunday. I really just have no words to describe what I saw. The defense, which isn’t bad by any means, got absolutely carved up by a team starting only one WR who was drafted with a QB known for being a turnover machine. 5 touchdowns and 0 turnovers was the story of the game in that regard. Most importantly, it was the most pathetic showing I have ever seen from Aaron Rodgers, who looked like he literally did not want to be there. We know he doesn’t really want to be there, but I thought at the very least that things had settled down in that regard, and he was going to give Green Bay his all in 2021. I suppose that might not be the case. He made horrible throw after horrible throw, and finished with the worst passer rating of any QB in Week 1, even with all of the talent on that offense. I fully expect this team to be ok, and it helps that they’re playing the Lions this week, but I can see this whole thing falling off a cliff very, very soon. I, for one, love the conspiracy theory that Rodgers only came back to sabotage this team. That would genuinely be the funniest thing in sports history.

18 – Cowboys (0-1)

I will admit, I was very impressed with the Cowboys on opening night, despite losing the game. But, I’m also aware that they were handed so many chances thanks to several key mistakes by the Buccaneers. Those mistakes are what kept them in the game, and if Tampa had played even a little bit tighter, it would have been a double digit victory. I still think this defense is very suspect, as they got absolutely worked by Tom Brady all night long, although they made some nice plays here and there. But my biggest problem lies in the lack of balance on offense. Coming off several leg surgeries and a nagging shoulder problem, this team cannot ask Dak Prescott to throw the ball 60 times a game while giving Ezekiel Elliott 11 carries. It simply won’t work. Granted, they won’t face many, if any, defenses as good as Tampa Bay’s this season, but they need to figure that side of the ball out. The aerial attack is great, but it cannot be the only great thing about this team if they want to go very far.

19 – Colts (0-1)

2021 has started with a bit of a whimper for the Colts, but I want to give them a bit of a pass. For one, QB Carson Wentz came back from his foot injury extremely quickly, and still might not be 100%. His offensive line is still dealing with a plethora of issues, which is also affecting the run game. And this team just happened to be going up against a stellar early-season Seahawks team. I think Indy will be alright, but their brightest spots were rather dim, and that might be a cause for concern. As I said before, the run game never got going, and their defense got sliced up all game long. Those two things are their bread and butter, and if they stumble as much as they did in Week 1, this team won’t go far.

20 – Washington (0-1)

Do I have to talk about this team? Ok, fine. I’ll start with the elephant in the room: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is now out for 6-8 weeks with a hip subluxation. Now, the keys are being handed to Taylor Heinicke, who is certainly a solid backup and played well in relief of Fitz on Sunday. But we all know he isn’t exactly the guy to lead a team to success. And success is all this team had in mind for this season. That seems to have already fizzled out, because I have no more hope for this team in 2021, even after just one game. Heinicke better prove me wrong, and I’m really hoping he does. On the topic of the defense, I think that one average to below average game doesn’t define this unit. Many of the 3rd down struggles were less on them and more due to the excellence of Justin Herbert, and the lack of a pass rush was a testament to the Chargers’ great offensive line. This Thursday’s game against the Giants better prove that, as that offense is dreadful, and their offensive line is a complete joke. If this defense doesn’t bounce back in a big way, then I will officially have no idea what to make of them. Why, why, why do I ever put faith in this team?

21 – Eagles (1-0)

Philly was one of the pleasant surprises of Week 1. Their offensive performance really blew me away, but I will also recognize that they were playing one of the worst teams and defenses in football. In any case, QB Jalen Hurts was delivering some dimes left and right, and that really impressed me. A lot of people, myself included, have doubted his ability to be an effective passer in this league. If he continues to play like he did on Sunday, those doubts will be put to sleep with swiftness. The Eagles defense also looked very sharp, holding the Falcons to just 6 points. But again, the Falcons are just a dreadful team. I think the next few weeks will tell us a lot more about this team, but if they keep this up, they can certainly make things interesting in the NFC East.

22 – Titans (0-1)

Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans for putting on one of the most pathetic performances of Week 1. A team of this caliber with this amount of talent and all the expectations of the world simply cannot lay such a dud. There were 0 positives to take away from this team’s 25-point loss. Their offense, which is supposed to be one of the league’s best, did absolutely nothing. Even Derrick Henry, last year’s OPOY, couldn’t get anything going. And the Titans defense, which I have always acknowledged as a joke of a unit, got absolutely embarrassed by an elite Cardinals offense. I can already see what Tennessee is going to be this season: an average to above average team who will beat down lesser teams and get destroyed by better ones. It’s not just their defense’s fault. If their offense shows any sign of struggling, it’s all over. And that is not a winning formula.

23 – Panthers (1-0)

I feel like the Panthers should have disposed of the Jets much easier than they actually did on Sunday, but they still put together a generally solid performance. QB Sam Darnold looked sharp in his debut, and the return of RB Christian McCaffrey gave this offense the instant spark that it was missing for so much of last season. I think that the Panthers defense was also very solid, and I think it’s a very underrated unit. There isn’t a lot to talk about with this team, but they won’t be playing the Jets every week. Their next few games will tell us a lot about who they really are, so I’ll wait for those before jumping to any conclusions.

24 – Bengals (1-0)

The Bengals got the biggest “feel-good” win of Week 1, and it isn’t really close. Everyone was ecstatic to see QB Joe Burrow back on the field, and against all odds, he looked great. Despite the gruesome nature of last year’s injury and this team’s unwillingness to give him any protection, Burrow still showed out on Sunday, lighting up the scoreboard. The debut of WR Jamarr Chase, the team’s first-round pick, was a very exciting one, and that connection will be just as fun as it was at LSU just 2 years ago. Cincinnati’s defense also did a nice job of containing a rather potent Vikings offense, especially on the ground. It was a very solid win for a team that needed it, and while the Bengals won’t be all that this season, I’m happy to see them with a lot of promise.

25 – Vikings (0-1)

I never got the hype around this team, and I was proven right in a big way on Sunday. There were virtually no bright spots for the Vikings in Cincy. I’d say the only good thing was Kirk Cousins (that’s how you know it’s bad). Kirk looked solid throwing the football, especially to Adam Thielen, and led a nice 2 minute drill drive to tie the game and send it to overtime. Other than that… I got nothing. Dalvin Cook was stuffed all game long, and their defense let the Bengals have their way all game long. The window could not be closing faster on this team. It might be time to make some phone calls.

26 – Bears (0-1)

There are only three words that come to mind with the Bears: start Justin Fields. It is the only option. I talked about it yesterday, so I won’t get too into it, but it’s just the right move. Andy Dalton is not the guy for this team. They desperately need the spark that Fields provides. We saw a glimmer of it on Sunday night and it was honestly great. Why Matt Nagy refuses to have that spark for all 60 minutes is just beyond me. And until they make the right decision, I refuse to care about this team whatsoever.

27 – Giants (0-1)

I knew the Giants were bad, but I held out hope that their talented roster would at least make this team slightly below average. But… no. This team is still rather depressing to watch. Usually the fault lies with QB Daniel Jones, but it wasn’t entirely his fault at all. This defense was shockingly bad, allowing the Broncos to have whatever they wanted all game long. On the other side, the offense was lethargic, and outside of a single big pass play, they did nothing of note. Saquon Barkley was a complete non-factor in his first game back, and it’s honestly just sad to see. If Week 1 is an accurate reflection of how teams will perform this season, the Giants might actually be the worst team in the NFC East.

28 – Lions (0-1)

This team is definitely nothing short of atrocious, but I did love the fight they showed late on Sunday. Why it took them 58 minutes and a 24-point deficit to find that fight is a question best left unanswered, but it’s enough to keep them relatively high this week. But, don’t get it twisted. The Lions are a very, very bad team who got a couple of lucky breaks and made things somewhat interesting in a blowout. I’m expecting them to just get blown out normally from here on out.

29 – Texans (1-0)

By all accounts, this team has no business being in any spot other than 32nd. But, they absolutely embarrassed the Jaguars on Sunday. So, although this is likely the worst team in football, I’m bumping them up a few spots for this week. QB Tyrod Taylor looked pretty good in his Texans debut, and their defense was making life hell for Trevor Lawrence, forcing 3 INTs. I think a large part of all this is the incompetence of the Jaguars, but I’ll be nice. Congrats on the win, Houston. You won’t see many more this year.

30 – Jets (0-1)

I guess there are two semi-positive takeaways from Week 1 with the Jets: Zach Wilson and the defense weren’t terrible. It took a while for the rookie QB to get going, but late in the game, he made some nice plays to make the score look respectable. Defensively, it wasn’t a great game, but only giving up 19 points to an offense as talented as Carolina’s has to mean something right? Maybe. Who knows. All I do know is that this team is still extremely bad, but at least they’ll be competitive.

31 – Falcons (0-1)

What a joke. The Falcons deserve everything bad that is going to happen to them this season. This was a painfully bad team last year and they somehow got worse. It showed in a very, very big way on Sunday. All I can do is sit back and laugh. Poor Matt Ryan.

32 – Jaguars (0-1)

I have no words. I’m trying so hard to find them and I just can’t. I understand this is a very volatile experiment with even more volatile variables, but that was the worst possible start they could have asked for. I don’t even think we overestimated this team’s abilities. I think they were just yet to show us how pathetic they truly can be. I don’t even know if Urban Meyer will make it to the end of the season at this point. Perhaps he’s already looking at homes in southern California. At least Trevor Lawrence is accumulating his stats. What a nightmare.

All stats taken from ESPN.