Making Moves

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2015 Week 2

On the bubble:

16. Dolphins, 15. Rams, 14. Bills,

13. Chargers, 12. Steelers, 11. Eagles

The Top 10:

10. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)
Last Week: --
Best Ranking: 10th (Week 2)

You couldn't have scripted a better start to the season. The Bengals put together a complete game of solid offense, defense and special teams, out-gaining the Raiders 396 yards to 246. On offense, Bengals fans know all too well how up and down QB Andy Dalton can be. "Good Andy" can beat anyone. "Bad Andy" can lose to anyone. Unfortunately, for most of Dalton's career, it has been one or the other and not much in between. On Sunday, we saw Good Andy and he was accurate and making great decisions. The Bengals are surely hoping Good Andy sticks around for the whole season this year. - Scott Bantel

9. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

Last Week: 13th

Best Ranking: 9th (Week 2)

It is no coincidence the Chiefs three longest plays came on play action. According to stats from Pro Football Focus, QB Alex Smith was 8-of-11 on play action for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 13 drop backs. Their play action is dangerous because they have a back in Jamaal Charles who the defense has to respect. The Chiefs line up with multiple tight ends regularly, making you pay extra attention to the rushing attack because Kansas City has no problem choosing to burn you with Jamaal instead of Smith stretching the field. If the Chiefs consistently demonstrate the ability to pass the ball like they did, then we need to begin considering that this team has a very high ceiling. - Joel Thorman

8. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)

Last Week: 7th
Best Ranking: 7th (Week 1,
Preseason, Post-Draft)

A tough loss for the Ravens but an even tougher loss losing Terrell Suggs to injury for the year. The defense did a great job of limiting what the Broncos could do both on the ground and in the air, bringing down one of the best quarterbacks ever in his own house. That's something to be proud of. But the offense needs more time to gel around one another and figure out how to get mismatches. Once again, with the exception of Steve Smith, the wide receivers seem to be outmatched. That being said, expect the Ravens to rebound next week against the Raiders. - Matthew Stevens

7. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

Last Week: 2nd

Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 1)

This is a team built completely around their quarterback; with Andrew Luck as that quarterback, it's usually a good strategy. But when Luck doesn't play well, that doesn't bode well for the Colts. On Sunday, Luck completed just 53% of his passes, averaged just 5 yards per attempt, and posted a 63.6 while turning the ball over twice. The wide receivers didn't help, failing to create separation or fight for contested passes. The defense didn't play great either, failing to compensate for their quarterback's struggles. At one point, Luck left the field trailing 10-0 and minutes later took the field down 24-0. - Josh Wilson

6. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)

Last Week: 8th
Best Ranking: 6th (Week 2)

Carson Palmer threw for more than 300 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. That has only happened four other times in franchise history - all four were Kurt Warner. Palmer completed passes to eight different players and targeted 10. Arizona also held the Saints to 54 yards on 20 carries - only 2.7 yards per carry. That is the defense fans have been accustomed to. The knock on the Cardinals defense has been how they always seem to get hurt by opposing tight ends. However, against the Saints, they gave up only 19 yards on three receptions. Ultimately, Arizona gave up only one touchdown and 19 points. - Jess Root

5. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

Last Week: 6th

Best Ranking: 4th (Free Agency)

The Cowboys won the battle at the line almost all night long, but made devastating mistakes. Tony Romo was protected well on almost every play, and did not even get hit or hurried in the entire first half. But he did not take many shots downfield, working almost exclusively underneath. Still, the Cowboys moved the ball more effectively than the Giants and the defense stood up well most of the game. But turnovers trump everything, and the two inside the two minute warning of the first half were crushing. The 'Boys came back to win, as Dallas put together a masterful drive in the fourth quarter, but the loss of Dez Bryant hurts bad. - Tom Ryle

4. Denver Broncos (1-0)

Last Week: 4th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 2, 1,
Preseason, Post-Draft)

Defensive dominance and offensive inconsistency. Those are the key words that highlight the season opening performance by the Denver Broncos in their close win Sunday. Wade Philips had his defense prepared for every assignment and situation they faced. They played with unmatched ferocity and tenacity that hasn't been seen at Mile High in well over a decade. Had the Broncos defense not played the impeccable game they did, the outcome of the game would have been much different for Denver. The newly installed offense of coach Gary Kubiak was slow to start and finished with zero touchdowns and a paltry 219 yards of total offense. - Christopher Hart

3. New England Patriots (1-0)

Last Week: 5th

Best Ranking: 1st (Free Agency)

Tom Brady never left. There is no difference between his fourth quarter in the Super Bowl and his dissection of the Steelers defense. He's on the #DriveForFive and he's not pulling the bus over. Nineteen straight completions. Four touchdown passes. Are you kidding me? Brady is on a mission to prove himself yet again and that has to be scary for the league. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman picked up from the end of last year, just like Brady. They looked like the savvy veterans they are on every snap, with Gronk winning in the trenches and the red zone, and Edelman gouging the Steelers between the 20s. - Rich Hill

2. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)

Last Week: 1st
Best Ranking: 1st (Week 1, Post-Draft)

The Seattle Seahawks came into Sunday ready to erase the memory of Super Bowl XLIX and finish things the right way this time. They have a new defensive coordinator, a new safety, and a superstar new tight end. A Week 1 victory seemed like a sure thing. But all game long they failed to execute and weren't nearly as good as advertised. Sure, this is probably just a hiccup; Seattle has lost to the Rams in St. Louis in two of the previous three seasons, and still made the playoffs both times. They got off to a poor start in both 2012 and 2014, and they won playoff games in each of those years. But the Seahawks still have a lot they need to work on before they head to Green Bay next week. - Kenneth Arthur

1. Green Bay Packers (1-0)

Last Week: 3rd

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 2, Preseason)

While Rodgers won his second league MVP award last season, a torn calf muscle sapped some of his playmaking ability during December and January. Rodgers still played at a high level during most of that stretch, but his lack of mobility hurt the Packers during the NFC title game. With a full offseason to heal, Rodgers looks totally rejuvenated. Green Bay's offense lost something significant when Jordy Nelson went down with a torn ACL. However, if this version of Rodgers plays 16 games plus the playoffs, the team has a chance to return to the Super Bowl. - Jason B. Hirschhorn

Previous Weeks: 1, Preseason, Post-Draft, Free Agency