2014 Week 2
Nipping at #10's heels:
Ravens (#16), Steelers (#15), Panthers (#14)
Lions (#13), Chargers (#12), Cardinals (#11)
Lions (#13), Chargers (#12), Cardinals (#11)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Last Time: 8thBest Ranking: 8th (Week 1, Post-Draft)
The Eagles won, but there will be legitimate questions about quarterback Nick Foles until he proves this game was an aberration. When you're playing against Chad Henne, it's important to be clearly the best quarterback in the game. Foles, who threw 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions last season, had three turnovers in the first half. His two fumbles turned into Jacksonville touchdowns. His first interception was a combination of a bad decision - intending the pass for a well-covered Brent Celek in the back of the end zone - and an underthrown pass. Foles appeared to have open receivers on many plays, but he held the ball too long and got into trouble. Even during the second-half comeback, Foles missed open receivers on several occasions. Puzzling. - Phil Sheridan
9. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)
Last Time: --
Best Ranking: 9th (Week 2)
With the victory, the Bengals get off to their best regular-season start since 2011. That was the last year they won a season opener, making this latest Week 1 victory only the second the Bengals have had in the last seven season openers. Sunday's win also means the Bengals are now 1-0 and once again atop the AFC North standings. With the entire division playing games against each other this weekend, it was important the Bengals claimed a win against the Ravens to send an opening salvo to begin the year. The message their performance sent: They are anxious to prove they're able to repeat as division champions. - Coley Harvey
8. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Last Time: 7th
Best Ranking: 5th (Post-Draft)
The Colts had eight trips inside Broncos territory Sunday. They scored on only half of those trips because of mistakes or bad decision-making. The Colts squandered several opportunities that would have allowed them to put pressure on the Broncos early in the game and a few more that hurt them while trying to come back. Quarterback Andrew Luck finished 35-of-53 for 370 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn’t mistake-free, either. He put too much air under several throws and he tried to force the ball into tight end Dwyane Allen on his first interception. Those mistakes have to be limited because, like Denver, the Philadelphia Eagles, who the Colts play next Monday, have a quick-strike offense that puts up a lot of points and works quickly to make teams pay for their mistakes. The Eagles came back from 17 points down to score the final 34 points in their victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. - Mike Wells
6/5 Tie: Atlanta Falcons (1-0)
Last Time: 10th
Best Ranking: 5.5 (Week 2)
The Falcons can outscore you. There's no doubt about it as Matt Ryan had the offense playing at an incredible level. The Falcons invested in the offensive line this offseason with the focus on keeping Ryan upright and allowing him to play like the elite quarterback he's capable of being. He guided the Falcons to a shootout win over a Saints team touted as one of the league's best. Surely, Ryan can do the same against teams not as explosive on offense as New Orleans. But in order to win games, the Falcons have to at least hold their own on defense. They did so with a forced fumble in overtime, which was recovered and set up the game-winning field goal. Again, the defense doesn't have to be great - just adequate. They were Sunday, and now the Falcons are out in front of the NFC South to start the season. - Vaughn McClure
6/5 Tie: New Orleans Saints (0-1)
Last Week: 4th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 1)
This week was a stunner. Not just that the Saints lost, but the way they lost, with their defense totally breaking down after taking an early 13-0 lead. Atlanta racked up 568 yards as the Saints gave up deep balls and missed a series of tackles on long gains from dump-off passes and run plays. It was a huge letdown on a day when the Saints' offense looked every bit as explosive as advertised with 472 yards of their own. Obviously there's still reason for hope since the Saints' defense was so good last year and remains loaded with talent. But they have clearly let the Falcons right back into the NFC South race this year. - Mike Triplett
4. New England Patriots (0-1)
Last Time: 2nd
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 1)
It's time to pump the brakes on early-season talk about the Patriots, with the addition of cornerback Darrelle Revis, as one of the best defenses in the NFL. After playing a strong first half, the defense couldn't provide enough resistance in the final two quarters. That was surprising. The Dolphins scored 23 unanswered points in the second half, when they owned both sides of the line of scrimmage. Three sad (but in Week 1 rather meaningless) stats: (1) this snaps the Patriots' 10-year winning streak in season openers, (2) with the Bills and Jets winning Sunday, this marks the first time in Tom Brady's starting career that the Pats have sole position of last place in the division, and (3) since the Dolphins won the last meeting with the Patriots in 2013, the Fins now have what no other team in the NFL has had for a while - a (2-game) win streak against New England. A hopeful stat: the last time the Patriots lost their season opener (2003), they went on to win the Superbowl. - Mike Reiss
2. Denver Broncos (1-0)
Last Time: 3rd
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 2, Post-Draft)
The Broncos tapped the microphone and got everybody’s attention Sunday night. Certainly, the Colts had some injury issues and defensive end Robert Mathis’ suspension, and the Broncos did lose a little steam as the night wore on. However, overall the Broncos reasserted themselves as an AFC powerbroker. Their new defense showed plenty of teeth and held the Colts to a field goal in back-to-back first-and-goal situations in the third quarter. Denver's offense, with a tweak here and a tweak there, showed it can still stack the touchdowns as the Broncos scored at least 27 points for the 14th time in their past 15 home games. - Jeff Legwold
Last Time: 7th
Best Ranking: 5th (Post-Draft)
The Colts had eight trips inside Broncos territory Sunday. They scored on only half of those trips because of mistakes or bad decision-making. The Colts squandered several opportunities that would have allowed them to put pressure on the Broncos early in the game and a few more that hurt them while trying to come back. Quarterback Andrew Luck finished 35-of-53 for 370 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn’t mistake-free, either. He put too much air under several throws and he tried to force the ball into tight end Dwyane Allen on his first interception. Those mistakes have to be limited because, like Denver, the Philadelphia Eagles, who the Colts play next Monday, have a quick-strike offense that puts up a lot of points and works quickly to make teams pay for their mistakes. The Eagles came back from 17 points down to score the final 34 points in their victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. - Mike Wells
7. Green Bay Packers (0-1)
Last Time: 6th
Best Ranking: 6th (Week 1)
The Packers might keep winning the NFC North year after year after year - like they've done in 2011, 2012 and 2013 - and yet still can't be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender until they show they can handle the Seahawks or 49ers. Thursday night's 36-16 loss to the Seahawks was the worst of their six straight losses to those two teams. All the changes on defense made in the offseason still left the Packers vulnerable against the run; the Seahawks had 400 yards total and 210 rushing. It did not go much better on offense, as Eddie Lacy was shut down before leaving with a concussion, joining ACL-injured Bryan Bulaga on the bench. QB Aaron Rodgers totaled only 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Trailing by only a touchdown at halftime, the Packers' first three possessions of the second half ended with an interception, a fourth-down sack and a strip-sack for a safety. - Rob DemovskyLast Time: 10th
Best Ranking: 5.5 (Week 2)
The Falcons can outscore you. There's no doubt about it as Matt Ryan had the offense playing at an incredible level. The Falcons invested in the offensive line this offseason with the focus on keeping Ryan upright and allowing him to play like the elite quarterback he's capable of being. He guided the Falcons to a shootout win over a Saints team touted as one of the league's best. Surely, Ryan can do the same against teams not as explosive on offense as New Orleans. But in order to win games, the Falcons have to at least hold their own on defense. They did so with a forced fumble in overtime, which was recovered and set up the game-winning field goal. Again, the defense doesn't have to be great - just adequate. They were Sunday, and now the Falcons are out in front of the NFC South to start the season. - Vaughn McClure
Last Week: 4th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 1)
This week was a stunner. Not just that the Saints lost, but the way they lost, with their defense totally breaking down after taking an early 13-0 lead. Atlanta racked up 568 yards as the Saints gave up deep balls and missed a series of tackles on long gains from dump-off passes and run plays. It was a huge letdown on a day when the Saints' offense looked every bit as explosive as advertised with 472 yards of their own. Obviously there's still reason for hope since the Saints' defense was so good last year and remains loaded with talent. But they have clearly let the Falcons right back into the NFC South race this year. - Mike Triplett
Last Time: 2nd
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 1)
It's time to pump the brakes on early-season talk about the Patriots, with the addition of cornerback Darrelle Revis, as one of the best defenses in the NFL. After playing a strong first half, the defense couldn't provide enough resistance in the final two quarters. That was surprising. The Dolphins scored 23 unanswered points in the second half, when they owned both sides of the line of scrimmage. Three sad (but in Week 1 rather meaningless) stats: (1) this snaps the Patriots' 10-year winning streak in season openers, (2) with the Bills and Jets winning Sunday, this marks the first time in Tom Brady's starting career that the Pats have sole position of last place in the division, and (3) since the Dolphins won the last meeting with the Patriots in 2013, the Fins now have what no other team in the NFL has had for a while - a (2-game) win streak against New England. A hopeful stat: the last time the Patriots lost their season opener (2003), they went on to win the Superbowl. - Mike Reiss
3. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Last Time: 5th
Best Ranking: 3rd (Week 2, Post-Draft)
Well, the 49ers would tell you the preseason means nothing. Especially after their first-string offense struggled so mightily in exhibition games and then scored at will on the Cowboys early. (See Exhibit A: The three-play, 80-yard drive to go up 14-3.) The 49ers defense, missing three starters, also answered questions in forcing four first-half turnovers. In any event, the result was the same, and the Cowboys offered the perfect elixir for whatever ailed the Niners in the preseason, even if the defense did give up 127 yards rushing. - Paul GutierrezLast Time: 3rd
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 2, Post-Draft)
The Broncos tapped the microphone and got everybody’s attention Sunday night. Certainly, the Colts had some injury issues and defensive end Robert Mathis’ suspension, and the Broncos did lose a little steam as the night wore on. However, overall the Broncos reasserted themselves as an AFC powerbroker. Their new defense showed plenty of teeth and held the Colts to a field goal in back-to-back first-and-goal situations in the third quarter. Denver's offense, with a tweak here and a tweak there, showed it can still stack the touchdowns as the Broncos scored at least 27 points for the 14th time in their past 15 home games. - Jeff Legwold
1. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Last Time: 1st
Best Ranking: 1st (Week 2, 1, Post-Draft)
Throughout the offseason, some Seahawks fans believed the league and the television networks had a conspiracy against their team for not scheduling any nationally televised night games in Seattle after Thursday night's NFL opener. The theory was the Seahawks blew out too many teams at home, which would pull down ratings. The way the Packers were dismantled 36-16 on Thursday, maybe the fans were right. Marshawn Lynch was in full Beast Mode, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while do-everything receiver Percy Harvin took the ball 160 yards on 14 touches (receptions and kick-off returns). QB Russell Wilson - who's now 6-0 against Manning, Brady, Brees, and Rodgers - continues to forge a path towards joining those opponents in the elite QB club. And the defense showed not only how well it can cover, but how well it can tackle. - John Clayton
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