Square Up Sports-NFL Rankings for 9/13/18

After the opening week in the NFL season, we've seen blowouts in Detroit, surprises in New Orleans, the first opening day tie in 47 years in Cleveland, and a seven hour, eight minute football game in Miami, the longest in history.

I'll be posting my NFL rankings every Thursday throughout the season. My rankings are based on what I've seen in the team's performance and not necessarily based on record.

1) Minnesota Vikings (1-0) 
Last Game: beat San Francisco 24-16
Next Game: at Green Bay
Vikings defensive line was dominant, proving why they're the best in football.

2) New England Patriots (1-0)
Last Game: beat Houston 27-20
Next Game: at Jacksonville
Brady to Gronk are like your old, comfortable pair of shoes that you never throw out. Offensive line kept talented Texans D-line in check.

3) Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
Last Game: beat Oakland 33-13
Next Game: vs. Arizona
Rams didn't look good most of the game, but were great when it mattered the most. I still think Jared Goff is the weak link on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

4) Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Last Game: beat Buffalo 47-3
Next Game: at Cincinnati (TNF)
Ravens looked dominant in every aspect against hapless Bills. Could be the dark horse team that I didn't give enough attention.

5) Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Last Game: beat Atlanta 18-12
Next Game: at Tampa Bay
Eagles defense was outstanding, but I'm sure there are Philly fans counting down the days on when Carson Wentz returns.

6) Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Last Game: beat Chicago 24-23
Next Game: vs. Minnesota
Aaron Rodgers had his Willis Reed moment, but I get a feeling that knee is going to be a problem all season. 

7) Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Last Game: beat LA Chargers 38-28
Next Game: at Pittsburgh
The first two times Tyreek Hill touched the ball in Los Angeles, he had 149 yards and two TDs. 

8) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)
Last Game: beat NY Giants 20-15
Next Game: vs. New England
Jags formula is simple: play great defense, run the ball, don't let Blake Bortles mess up.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Last Game: beat New Orleans 48-40
Next Game: vs. Philadelphia
Easily the biggest surprise of the week. Probably no QB controversy here, but Bucs should wonder if Jameis Winston is worth the trouble.  

10) New York Jets (1-0)
Last Game: beat Detroit 48-17
Next Game: vs. Miami
Ross Tucker told the Dan Patrick Show that he thought Sam Darnold was better than Eli Manning right now. Another example of Overreaction Monday as its very best...

11) Denver Broncos (1-0)
Last Game: beat Seattle 27-24
Next Game: vs. Oakland
The Broncos put up 470 yards of offense in week one against the Seahawks. I know. I didn't believe it either.

12) Carolina Panthers (1-0)
Last Game: beat Dallas 16-8
Next Game: at Falcons
Greg Olson broke his foot and might call it a career. He's already done some studio work. 

13) Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)
Last Game: beat Indianapolis 34-23
Next Game: vs. Baltimore (TNF)
The game wasn't pretty for WR A.J. Green (two fumbles, dropped pass) but his long TD bomb from Andy Dalton was a thing of beauty.
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14) Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0-1)
Last Game: tied Cleveland 21-21
Next Game: vs. Kansas City
Yes it was a wet game in Cleveland, but the Steelers did blow a 14 point lead to the Browns. James Connor isn't the pass catcher Le'veon Bell is, but will fit right in as they move forward.

15) Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Philadelphia 18-12
Next Game: vs. Carolina
Usually, there wouldn't be any shame in losing on the last play against the defending Super Bowl champs on the road, but the Falcons' red zone woes have continued to plague them.

16) New Orleans Saints (0-1) 
Last Game: lost to Tampa Bay 48-40
Next Game: vs. Cleveland
Last year's revamped secondary got torched by Ryan Fitzpatrick all day long. Drew Brees had to revert to the pass happy days without Mark Ingram in the backfield.

17) Chicago Bears (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Green Bay 24-23
Next Game: vs. Seattle (MNF)
Matt Nagy's conservative game plan in the second half against the Packers cost them the game. Will they give Mitchell Trubisky a longer leach on Monday Night?

18) Seattle Seahawks (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Denver 27-24
Next Game: at Chicago (MNF)
I wonder if Pete Carroll's criticism of Russell Wilson during his Tuesday press conference was in response to this article from Sports Illustrated.

19) Washington Redskins (1-0)
Last Game: beat Arizona 24-6
Next Game: vs. Colts
Alex Smith's passes averaged 3.5 yards downfield and completed 81% of his attempts. The one long pass was negated by penalty. It pretty much sums up Smith's career: methodical, unspectacular, but solid.  

20) Houston Texans (0-1)
Last Game: lost to New England 27-20
Next Game: at Tennessee
All of the key Texans players coming off injuries (JJ Watt, Deshaun Watson) looked rusty. A game against a division rival will go a long way in showing what this team can or can't do.

21) Miami Dolphins (1-0) 
Last Game: beat Tennessee 27-20
Next Game: at NY Jets
If an NFL game is played and TV cameras aren't there to show it because of lightning storms, does it make a sound?

22) Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Kansas City 38-28
Next Game: at Buffalo
Chargers have lost last nine games against Chiefs. Worse yet, DE Joey Bosa's injury has been slow to heal. 

23) San Francisco 49ers (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Minnesota 24-16
Next Game: vs. Detroit
49ers players thought that Kyle Shanahan called all a great game against a formidable Vikings defense, but they failed to make the plays. I like that the players took accountabilty. They'll get another chance at a wounded Detroit team next.

24) Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Miami 27-20
Next Game: vs. Houston 
Delanie Walker's gruesome injury might mean the end of his career. What a shame. He's been one of the least publicized players in the league, but seeing all the well-wishers from both sides as he was carted off show how well-respected he is.

25) Cleveland Browns (0-0-1)
Last Game: tied Pittsburgh 21-21
Next Game: at New Orleans
Officials say that the penalty on Myles Garrett that lead to a Pittsburgh TD shouldn't have been called. Cleveland, meet banana peel...

26) New York Giants (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Jacksonville 20-15
Next Game: at Dallas
Much maligned Giants RT Ereck Flowers said he didn't have any idea of what kind of player Calais Campbell was. You mean three-time Pro Bowler and last year's Defensive Player of the Year? That Calais Campbell? The guy you're tasked with blocking all day? You have no idea? <insert facepalm emoji here>

27) Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Carolina 16-8
Next Game: vs. NY Giants
There doesn't seem to be any room for error for the Dallas offense. If Dak Prescott of Ezekiel Elliott have sub-par games, Cowboys lose.

28) Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Cincinnati 34-23
Next Game: at Washington
Colts defense came unglued in the fourth quarter of what was a closer-than-I-thought game. Still not a whole lot with this team outside of Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton.

29) Detroit Lions (0-1)
Last Game: Lost to NY Jets 48-17
Next Game: at San Francisco 
Jets LB Darron Lee said their defense they knew exactly what plays the Lions were going to run. If that's the case, this is all on Matt Patricia. He just left a team known for its ability to make in game adjustments and in his first chance as the head man, he doesn't think to do so?

30) Oakland Raiders (0-1)
Last Game: lost to LA Rams 33-13
Next Game: at Denver
If Jon Gruden's plan is to build the Raiders so they are ready for Las Vegas, the Silver and Black faithful better get used to a lot of losing and a slow exodus of the current roster. 

31) Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Washington 24-6
Next Game: at LA Rams
At one point of the game, Washington had thirty first downs to the Cardinals three. I'm giving it another week before Josh Rosen gets the start for Arizona.

32) Buffalo Bills (0-1)
Last Game: lost to Baltimore 47-3
Next Game: vs. LA Chargers
To paraphrase John McKay, the Bills didn't block anyone, but they made up for it by not tackling.