 1) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-0)
Last Week Ranking: 8 Last Game: beat New England 31-20 Next Game: vs. Tennessee The Jags talked the talk and walked the walk. And when you beat the Patriots in dominating fashion, you head my list. 2) Los Angeles Rams (2-0) Last Week Ranking: 3 Last Game: beat Arizona 34-0 Next Game: vs. L.A. Chargers They haven't really played anyone of note yet, but the Rams have outscored their opponents 67-13. That's impressive. 3) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) Last Week Ranking: 7 Last Game: beat Pittsburgh 42-37 Next Game: vs. San Francisco Patrick Mahomes II looks like the quarterback that Andy Reid has never had in his head coaching career. And I'm including Donovan McNabb in that list. 4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) Last Week Ranking: 9 Last Game: beat Philadelphia 27-21 Next Game: vs. Pittsburgh (MNF) Easily the story of the season thus far. The Buccaneers rank second in points scored (37.5) and lead the league in total yards (482.5) and passing yards (405). 5) Minnesota Vikings (1-0-1) Last Week Ranking: 1 Last Game: tied Green Bay 29-29 Next Game: vs. Buffalo Vikings may have solved their one glaring weakness with the signing of kicker Dan Bailey. As Minnesota fans are painfully aware, one missed kick can make all the difference. 6) New England Patriots (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 2 Last Game: lost to Jacksonville 31-20 Next Game: at Detroit Tom Brady gets a new toy to play with in Josh Gordon. Will he be more like Randy Moss or Chad Johnson? 7) Green Bay Packers (1-0-1) Last Week Ranking: 6 Last Game: tied Minnesota 29-29 Next Game: at Washington Clay Matthews' hit on Kirk Cousins was not, repeat NOT a penalty. 8) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) Last Week Ranking: 13 Last Game: beat Baltimore 34-23 Next Game: at Carolina Bengals impressive start is tinged with concern due to injuries to Joe Mixon and OL Billy Price. 9) Denver Broncos (2-0) Last Week Ranking: 11 Last Game: beat Oakland 20-19 Next Game: at Baltimore Case Keenum seems to have the confidence of the Broncos offense. Broncos are 2-0 for the sixth straight season. 10) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 5 Last Game: lost to Tampa Bay 27-21 Next Game: vs. Indianapolis I really hope the Eagles aren't rushing Carson Wentz along, but he is scheduled to start on Sunday. 11) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 15 Last Game: beat Carolina 31-24 Next Game: vs. New Orleans Falcons offense comes to life just in time for a big division game. Now, they'll get another shot at another division foe. 12) Miami Dolphins (2-0) Last Week Ranking: 21 Last Game: beat N.Y. Jets 20-12 Next Game: vs. Oakland There's a lot to like in Miami. I can't really name anything special, but that's what I've heard... 13) Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 22 Last Game: beat Buffalo 31-20 Next Game: at L.A. Rams Melvin Gordon is quietly having a great season so far. The Chargers are using him more in the passing game. 14) Carolina Panthers (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 12 Last Game: lost to Atlanta 31-24 Next Game: vs. Cincinnati Ron Rivera called his defense, "terrible" and "lazy" after their performance against the Falcons. Don't see that happening again. 15) New Orleans Saints (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 16 Last Game: beat Cleveland 21-18 Next Game: at Atlanta Their 1-1 start is actually their best since 2011 when they went 5-0, but I can't imagine the Saints are impressed with it. 16) Chicago Bears (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 17 Last Game: beat Seattle 24-17 Next Game: at Arizona Adding Khaili Mack made a good defense into a great one. The Bears could be a team to watch if Mitchell Trubisky can keep learning. 17) Baltimore Ravens (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 4 Last Game: lost to Cincinnati 34-23 Next Game: vs. Denver Their big win over Buffalo in week one masked their woes on defense against the better Bengals team. 18) Tennessee Titans (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 24 Last Game: beat Houston 20-17 Next Game: at Jacksonville From the "uh-oh" files, Marcus Mariota is dealing with weakness in his throwing hand. 19) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 23 Last Game: beat Detroit 30-27 Next Game: at Kansas City A win is always good, but Kyle Shanahan thought his team let Detroit off the hook. Even Richard Sherman called the game "a win that feels like a loss." 20) New York Jets (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 10 Last Game: lost to Miami 20-12 Next Game: at Cleveland (TNF) Remember when I said Jet fans needed to curb their enthusiasm a bit? I guess I can add the New York Daily News to the list of people who don't read my column as well... 21) Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1-1) Last Week Ranking: 14 Last Game: lost to Kansas City 42-37 Next Game: at Tampa Bay (MNF) First it's Le'veon Bell and now it's Antonio Brown yelling at the coaches on the sidelines. On Tuesday, he skipped a team function due to a "personal issue." The drama never seems to end with this team. 22) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 27 Last Game: beat N.Y. Giants 20-13 Next Game: at Seattle The Cowboys have added a seventh wide receiver to their roster, surprisingly none of them were named Josh Gordon or Dez Bryant. 23) Indianapolis Colts (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 28 Last Game: beat Washington 21-9 Next Game: at Philadelphia The Colts defense may have found the playmaker they needed in rookie LB Darious Leonard. He leads the league in tackles with 27. 24) Seattle Seahawks (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 18 Last Game: lost to Chicago 24-17 Next Game: vs. Dallas Since 2012, Russell Wilson has been sacked 261 times and fumbled the ball 60 times. Both numbers are the most in the NFL. 25) Washington Redskins (1-1) Last Week Ranking: 19 Last Game: lost to Indianapolis 21-9 Next Game: vs. Green Bay What used to be a fanbase that rivaled the Packers in loyalty is no longer. The attendance at the home opening loss to the Colts was the lowest in 21 years. 26) Houston Texans (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 20 Last Game: lost to Tennessee 20-17 Next Game: vs. N.Y. Giants Cheers to Deshaun Watson and coach Bill O'Brien for taking the high road after a Houston school superintendent made racist remarks about the player. Since I'm not as classy a person as Watson is, I can tell that idiot superintendent to take a long walk off a short pier. 27) Cleveland Browns (0-1-1) Last Week Ranking: 25 Last Game: lost to New Orleans 21-18 Next Game: vs. N.Y. Jets Cleveland is THIS close to winning. I can feel it. 28) New York Giants (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 26 Last Game: lost to Dallas 20-13 Next Game: at Tennessee NY Daily News reporter Pat Leonard told the Dan Patrick Show that the Giants made a mistake when they didn't take Sam Darnold. But if their o-line woes continue the way they have, does it matter who is throwing the ball? 29) Detroit Lions (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 29 Last Game: Lost to San Francisco 30-27 Next Game: vs. New England The Belichick coaching tree has a combined record of 144-205. Matt Patricia doesn't appear ready to buck that trend. 30) Oakland Raiders (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 30 Last Game: lost to Denver 20-13 Next Game: at Miami Jon Gruden said a skunk sprayed the Oakland Coliseum. "It's a smell I can't get out of my face." Oh man, that's just way too easy a joke to make... 31) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 31 Last Game: lost to L.A. Rams 31-0 Next Game: vs. Chicago Cardinals' OC Mike McCoy game plans have been criticized for not having a philosophy on which to lean. They do, if you consider being last in every major offensive category a philosophy. 32) Buffalo Bills (0-2) Last Week Ranking: 32 Last Game: lost to L.A. Chargers 31-20 Next Game: at Minnesota Josh Allen looked as raw a QB prospect as I've ever seen. I hope that he gets the coaching that he'll need to make an impact in this league.
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