Crowe - NFL Week #3 Power Rankings 2022
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe - NFL Week #3 Power Rankings 2022
Now, why would we be doing this, you may ask yourself. Well, after two weeks, the teams at the bottom may surprise you because they usually are part of our top 10 rankings.
Who would’ve thought that we’d be seeing the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals at 0-2 after losses to the Steelers and Cowboys. If the Bengals can’t protect quarterback Joe Burrow, who’s already been sacked 13 times, they may see their season get away from them very quickly.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHow about the Tennessee Titans? Last season’s number one seed in the AFC is winless, too, after a surprising week one loss to the Giants and then an embarrassing defeat Monday night in Buffalo. Derrick Henry hasn’t gotten on track yet, gaining just 107 yards on 34 carries through two games, so there’s still time for the Titans.
The Raiders, a team who the media deemed to be possible Super Bowl contenders before the season, join the Bengals and Titans at 0-2 after a demoralizing overtime loss to the Cardinals. Las Vegas held a 20-0 lead at halftime and then surrendered 16 points in the final 8 minutes of regulation before losing in the extra session. This Sunday, they’ll travel to Tennessee, so hopefully, someone will pick up their first win of the season.
The most disappointing team, though, might be the Indianapolis Colts. They’re 0-1-1 after an opening week tie in which they had to rally from a 20-3 deficit in Houston. Then, in week 2, the Colts were shut out by the Jaguars 24-0 as the Jags beat Indy for the eighth straight time as the home team (7 in Jacksonville, 1 in London). This is definitely not how quarterback Matt Ryan, nor head coach Frank Reich, envisioned his start as he was brought in to be the missing offensive piece to bring the Colts back to the playoffs.
With any luck, these four teams are hoping to break on through to the other side and return back to our top 10 at some point this season.
10. Minnesota Vikings (1-1, Last week ranked 5th)
As good as the Vikings looked in week one’s 23-7 win over the Packers was equally as bad as Minnesota looked Monday night in its 24-7 loss at Philadelphia. Kirk Cousins’ two touchdown, zero interception day in the opener turned into a three-pick mistake night in week two. Needless to say, they’ll have to rebound in week three at home against the Lions in order to get that NFC North mojo back in Minneapolis.
9. Los Angeles Rams (1-1, Last week not ranked)
It’s a good news, bad news type of deal for the Rams. It’s good that they got their first win of the season, holding off the Falcons 31-27 Sunday. The bad comes in the form of having to hold on for that victory after almost blowing a 28-3 edge in the second half. The 28-3 mantra will simply never go away for Atlanta.
8. Green Bay Packers (1-1, Last week not ranked)
All is better in Green Bay after a methodical 27-10 win over the Bears Sunday night. But then again, it was a victory over Chicago, a team that Aaron Rodgers owns after his 23rd win in just 28 games against them. Rodgers threw for a pair of scores while the Packers defense held Bears QB Justin Fields to just 7-11 passing for 70 yards and an interception. The test will come this Sunday in Tampa against Tom Brady and the 2-0 Bucs.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1, Last week ranked 4th)
Things were looking all too well for the Chargers last Thursday night in Kansas City as they led the Chiefs 17-7 and appeared to have picked off quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice. Neither interception stood up and one 99-yard interception by the Chiefs Jaylen Watson and a fractured rib cartilage injury to QB Justin Herbert later, Los Angeles had lost 27-24. These are the types of games the Chargers will have to win this season in order to get to the next level and the playoffs. They’ve got the Jaguars this Sunday in LA with the hopes that Herbert will be healthy enough to play. It doesn’t look good as Herbert missed practice on Friday and is questionable to play Sunday.
6. San Francisco 49ers (2-0, Last week not ranked)
Welcome back Jimmy G! After an off-season in which they were firmly ready to hand the keys over to second-year quarterback Trey Lance and trade or release Garoppolo, the 49ers now have Garoppolo back as their starter with Lance’s broken ankle leaving him out for the season. All Garoppolo did was lead his team to a relatively easy 27-7 victory over Seattle with an economical 13-21, 154-yard day complete with a passing and running touchdown. All he does is win. The question now is can he lead them to a Super Bowl win?
5. Miami Dolphins (2-0, Last week ranked 9th)
The Dolphins are all the rage after exploding for 28 fourth-quarter points in Baltimore Sunday to rally past the Ravens, 42-38 behind Tua Tagovailoa’s career-high 6 touchdown passes. Tyreek Hill (2 TD) and Jaylen Waddle (3 TD) are speed-burners on the outside and now rank first and third in the league in receiving at 284 and 240 yards a piece. With that showing Sunday, Miami’s shown themselves to be a team that’s here to battle for a championship and a team that will never be out of a game in 2022. Beware NFL, speed kills.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0, Last week ranked 3rd)
The scary thing about Tampa Bay is that the Bucs are 2-0 with road wins over Dallas and New Orleans and its offense behind Tom Brady hasn’t even broken a sweat yet. With injuries to Chris Godwin and Julio Jones and now a one-game suspension to Mike Evans for sticking up for his quarterback in New Orleans Sunday, Brady will look to amass more than the one touchdown a game average he now has through two games. But fear not, the Bucs defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown at all this season, leading the league with a 6.5 point per game average.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0, Last week ranked 7th)
If you had the Philadelphia Eagles on your bingo card as the number one offense in football through two weeks, mark your card my friends. With quarterback Jalen Hurts (576 yards passing, 147 yards rushing, 4 combined touchdowns) leading the way, the Eagles are averaging 470 yards a game to go with a fourth-best 31 points per game average. With 379 yards rushing, Philly is something special, ranked second behind the Browns on the ground. Hurts has a top weapon now with A.J. Brown to go with tight end Dallas Goedert, who’s averaging 17 yards a catch.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0, Last week ranked 2nd)
The early reports of the Chiefs’ demise are obviously premature. Through two victories over the Cardinals and Chargers, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has 7 touchdowns as the Chiefs sit atop the AFC West. An early trap game comes this Sunday as KC visits the winless Colts before traveling to Tampa next week for a Sunday night primetime matchup with Brady and the Bucs.
1. Buffalo Bills (2-0, Last week ranked 1st)
How good have the Bills been over the first two weeks? Well, try these on for size. They’ve outscored the Rams and Titans 72-17, including 26-0 in the second half. The latest victim came in the form of the Titans, 41-7 Monday night. QB Josh Allen is fourth in passing yards with 614 to go with his league-high tying 7 touchdowns. His top target, wide receiver Stefon Diggs is second in the league with 270 yards and a league-high 4 touchdowns. Defensively, they’re second-ranked, giving up just 215 yards and 8.5 points per game. Up next for Buffalo is a showdown with the Dolphins in Miami Sunday.
Games to watch – Week 3
Ravens at Patriots (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – Home opener for New England
Bills at Dolphins (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – The winner takes over 1st place in the AFC East
Chiefs at Colts (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – Best of the AFC vs. one of the worst
Raiders at Titans (Sunday 1 pm FOX) – Loser goes to 0-3
Packers at Buccaneers (Sunday 4:25 pm FOX) – Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady, does it get any better?
Cowboys at Giants (Monday 8:15 pm ABC/ESPN) – We could be saying 3-0 G-Men after this one
Last week:
10. Saints
9. Dolphins
8. Steelers
7. Eagles
6. Ravens
5. Vikings
4. Chargers
3. Buccaneers
2. Chiefs
1. Bills