NFL Power Rankings: Post-Week 2

Another weekend of NFL action provided plenty of surprises, and thus there's plenty of movement in this week's power rankings. Each game we see is another chance to see what team is made of, though of course we won't really know the value of each team until well into the season (remember how the Cardinals started 4-0 last year?) Plenty of teams near the bottom are at the dreaded 0-2 mark, which means they only have about a 12% chance to make the playoffs now. Those eight teams better hope for a strong showing week three, because the chances for a team making the playoffs starting 0-3? .4% Two of the eight teams in the 0-2 hole face each other this week, so at least two teams will see their season probably ruined before they even play a fourth of their games. Per usual, the teams are listed in ranked order 1-32, with their record to the side and last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Seattle Seahawks: 2-0 (2)
The 12th man stands triumphant this week, as a record noise level at Century Link field helped the Seahawks and their suffocating defense dominate the division rival 49ers. Oh, and Seattle is still missing key pieces to both their pass rush and receiving corps. Just saying.

2. Denver Broncos: 2-0 (3)
Through two games, the Broncos have already scored a total of 90 points. At this point, it may not even be a factor that they lose Von Miller for six weeks, as there doesn't seem to be any team around the NFL right now who can keep pace with Peyton Manning. The fact that Knowshon Moreno managed to provide balance on offense should only make this team scarier for opponents.

3. San Francisco 49ers: 1-1 (1)
Despite getting embarrassed on the road against their division rivals, this is still the team that looked like the class of the NFL when beating the Packers just over a week ago. The defense played well against Seattle, the offense just needs to find a way to get the running game going to help out the defense and Colin Kaepernick.

4. Green Bay Packers: 1-1 (4)
Somehow, it's almost surprising that it took until Sunday for Aaron Rodgers to throw for as many yards as he did Sunday against the Redskins (480). He's just that good. James Starks could also provide a huge boost for this team in the running game if he is able to consistently perform like he did Sunday. I wrote last week that the offense was almost unstoppable with Eddie Lacy was playing well, and with Lacy out with a concussion it's up to Starks to show he can have a similar effect on the offense.

5. Houston Texans: 2-0 (5)
Two close wins in a row for the Texans, but the resiliency this team showed will come in handy if they can keep it up when their schedule gets harder. The big story of the day was rookie Deandre Hopkins, who totaled over 100 yards and grabbed the game winning score in overtime. It did look like Hopkins was not on the same page as quarterback Matt Schaub on a pick-six by the Titans defense, but if they can work out their communication issues Houston may have a formidable one-two punch in both the receiving and running game.

6. New Orleans Saints: 2-0 (7)
Drew Brees had just pure ice in his veins when he dashed any hopes of a Tampa Bay victory with an easy looking game winning drive. Brees pulling out games for this team is not news to anyone though, but the Saints defense holding down an opponent for the second straight week should be. Rob Ryan has his unit doing much better in game situations than they look on paper, and if he can keep this up this team has a chance to go far.
7. Chicago Bears: 2-0 (8)
The Bears' offense made some big mistakes Sunday, giving the ball away four times to the Vikings, but Jay Cutler was still able to lead a last second touchdown drive to give the Bears the win. That's not something you would have seen under previous head coach Lovie Smith, and the hiring of Marc Trestman is looking better and better each week. Trestman is in the lead in the early Coach of the Year balloting.

8. New England Patriots: 2-0 (6)
The Patriots win a second straight divisional game and have an unblemished record, but they drop in the rankings because they have not looked good while doing so. Balls were dropped all over the field against the Jets and the frustration was clear on Tom Brady's face, and pretty much every other part of his body. The Patriots are still the favorites to win the AFC East, because won't face their main competition, the Miami Dolphins, until hopefully several of Brady's top targets are healthy again, but New England has played bad enough that it will have to earn its way back up the rankings.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: 1-1 (9)
The Bengals new rookie additions of offense were on full display Monday night, and it's hard not to be impressed by the way offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is using all of the talent at his disposal. What's easy to not be impressed by is how effective quarterback Andy Dalton is using all this talent around him. Dalton didn't show great accuracy and had trouble hitting the deep ball, and it's fair to wonder at this point whether his deficiencies are going to cost this team a shot at going deep into the playoffs this year.

10. Atlanta Falcons: 1-1 (10)
Matt Ryan throws, Julio Jones catches. That's about all the Falcons needed for a winning formula at home Sunday, and it's hard to argue it wasn't exciting to watch! The Falcons problem now is that they lack a running game to help them close out games once they get a lead, as they only gained 36 yards on 16 carries. That's what helped the Rams come back from a 24-3 deficit to make the game interesting, and with Steven Jackson injured closing may get that much harder for the Dirty Birds.

11. Baltimore Ravens: 1-1 (12)
A week after being crushed by Peyton Manning's attack, the Ravens got a much needed palate cleanser in the form of their division rival, the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens defense looked a lot more like how it was expected to coming into the season, though they will be tested once again hosting Houston this week. The offense failed to get the ground game started again, and an injury to Ray Rice's hip isn't going to help matters. The Ravens like putting the ball in Joe Flacco's hands more, but can they trust the talent around him enough to feature them on offense?

12. Miami Dolphins: 2-0 (17)
Miami took a big step in the right direction by beating another young, strong AFC team in the Colts, but their mettle will really be tested this week when they host the Falcons. Ryan Tannehill seems to have stepped up his game another notch in the offseason, but he is facing pressure entirely too often. The defense on this team has looked great for two week, holding down Andrew Luck late Sunday, and if they can slow down the Falcons Sunday they're really going to open up some eyes around the NFL.

13. Kansas City Chiefs: 2-0 (16)
We are two weeks into the season, and the Chiefs have already equaled their win total from last year. That's simply the Alex Smith and Andy Reid effect, and the two looked sharp directing an efficient offense in their second outing together. The defense on this team has been outstanding through two weeks, and it's currently ranked #2 in the NFL right now. Many people predicted how Reid would turn around KC's offense, but the added efficiency he brings and the hiring of defensive coordinator Will Sutton have also made this defense a tough unit to score on.

14. St. Louis Rams: 1-1 (11)
The Rams drop a few spots after losing to the Atlanta Falcons at home, but this team showed plenty of guts battling back from a 24-3 hole to only lose by a touchdown. The defense did not play as well as expected, and Sam Bradford's targets failed to step up and keep the Rams in the game. Rookie Tavon Austin looks good, but he doesn't look like the same electric player he was in college yet and after having a monster game the week before tight end Jared Cook practically disappeared, only catching one pass for ten yards. The Rams need their weapons to step it up if they want the rest of the NFC to take them seriously.

15. Indianapolis Colts: 1-1 (13)
It was a tough loss for the Colts at home, and for one of the first times in the Andrew Luck era the offense failed to get things going late at the end of the game. The Colts missed Dwayne Allen and Vick Ballard, but without giving too much away they may have found a way to more than make up for those two (if you haven't already heard, check here: http://blogs.colts.com/). This defense is still nothing to write home about, though they were at least able to get the ball back to the offense at the end of the game.

16. San Diego Chargers: 1-1 (26)
Is the old Philip Rivers back? Rivers had a solid outing (at least, for him these last few years) in his season opener against Houston, but that was mainly overlooked because the offense failed down the stretch. Well, Rivers kept it up for a full four quarters against Philadelphia, sustaining drives to keep the Eagles' offense off the field and making sure to put up points of his own. If Rivers can keep up his early season momentum it might just put the Chargers back on the map in the AFC.

17. Philadelphia Eagles: 1-1 (15)
A week after dazzling NFL viewers with their new up-tempo offense, the Eagles sort of came back down to earth last Sunday, reminding everyone that their defense may not be good enough to keep up with the fast rate of their offense. Michael Vick also got hurt and had to be taken out for a few plays, and that does not bode well for the viability of Chip Kelly's system in the NFL.

18. Dallas Cowboys: 1-1 (14)
A week after riding high on their first win against the Giants in Jerry World, the Cowboys had to come back and remind us that there's still plenty of dysfunction in Big D. The defense failed to generate a turnover against the Chiefs' offense, and the offensive line was never able to get the running game started. That meant it was all on Tony Romo's shoulders late in the game, and he was about as effective as Tony Romo usually is in those situations. Dez Bryant's late game drop wasn't a huge boost to his cause.

19. Arizona Cardinals: 1-1 (25)
Things are looking up in the desert as a week after losing a close match-up to a divisional opponent the Cardinals were able to grad their first win of the Bruce Arians era. This game had just about everything you would expect: Carson Palmer spreading the ball around, Patrick Peterson throwing and catching a pass on offense, and a player named the Honey Badger sealing the game with a tackle. Yup, just another typical day in Arizona.

20. New York Giants: 0-2 (18)
The Giants need some form of help in the running game, and they need it BAD. 19 carries for 23 yards is just absolutely atrocious. A lot can be made of Eli Manning and his seven interceptions on the year already, but Eli knows he needs to push the ball downfield because he is getting exactly 0 help from his backs. Defenders are taking no notice of play-action fakes because there's no running threat, and that's part of the reason why there have always been defenders around Manning's deep throws.

21. Detroit Lions: 1-1 (20)
The Lions just seem to never learn. They shot themselves in the foot again on Sunday, with over 100 penalty yards, including a huge 31 yard pass interference call in the end zone late in the game, that set up the Cardinals' go-ahead touchdown. Calvin Johnson was balling early in this game, but once Reggie Bush left the game with a knee injury, Detroit's entire offense went quiet. In an offense that has Megatron at its disposal, there shouldn't be any quiet periods.

22. Tennessee Titans: 1-1 (22)
The Titans hung tough with the Texans on the road but ultimately came up just short. Still, it's hard not to be impressed by the toughness this defense has showed in the early going, as teams have not been able to pick up easy yards. The offense is a huge work in progress, as Jake Locker seems incapable of throwing the ball downfield accurately, and it appears pretty likely the Titans will have to go quarterback shopping this spring.

23. Washington Redskins: 0-2 (19)
Forget just RGIII, this team in general has a lot of work to do. The defense allowed this team to get down early to the best quarterback in the game, Aaron Rodgers, and that's never a recipe for success. RGIII and the offense failed to get anything going in the first half for the second game in a row, and RGIII admits he needs to make more plays for this team to be successful. While RGIII should be back to normal in a few weeks, the style of offense Washington's running is not exactly setting him up to be successful. He doesn't have the weapons on the perimeter to be a constant threat in the pocket, which is why his mobility was such a threat last year, and the Redskins need to unleash that more if they want to get back to scoring points in the first 30 minutes.

24. Buffalo Bills: 1-1 (27)
EJ Manuel had an emotional first victory, leading a comeback drive in the game's waning seconds, and it validated for plenty of people the decision to draft him in the first round. It looks like the Bills may have their franchise guy for the future, he just needs to continue to develop and lead the talent around him. He's already received plenty of help from a much improved defense, as Mario Williams is starting to earn all that money he got in his big contract with the Bills.

25. Minnesota Vikings: 0-2 (24)
Losing in the final seconds on the road was a tough break for the Vikings, and they need to act fast if they want to keep this season alive. It's already been reported that both Cordarrelle Patterson and Desmond Bishop will play more this upcoming Sunday, which will hopefully help give this team a much needed boost in some problem areas. Christian Ponder was very effective in the second half of play against Chicago, but he needs to start leading this team into the end zone (or at least get the chance to) if he wants to stay the team's starter.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers: 0-2 (23)
The Pittsburgh offense looked completely out of sorts Monday night against the Bengals, as Todd Haley's play calling was just bizarre and clearly did not do much to help the Steelers move the chains. The defense is still holding up fine, but the Steelers have little talent in the backfield or out wide to help them gain yardage. Oh, and tight end Heath Miller is still out for now, though he and rookie running back Leveon Bell and resuming workouts. This team needs them both back, and fast.

27. Carolina Panthers: 0-2 (21)
Even though some may not knock the Panthers for losing two close games to open the season, the fact that they found a way to lose both games speaks more to their incompetence than their proximity to success. The Panthers simply do not find a way to win close games under coach Ron Rivera. The defensive coach had an inexcusable defensive breakdown on his watch as Stevie Johnson got wide open for the game winning touchdown. Rivera's job security is wearing extremely thin, and it looks like Cam Newton may be wearing plenty of towels on his head before the season is over.

28. New York Jets: 1-1 (28)
Some promising signs in Geno Smith's debut were washed away from memory when he threw three interceptions in the final quarter Thursday night against the Patriots, one of them with the Jets already in position for a game-tying field goal. It was another sign that Smith may not be ready for the NFL spotlight just yet, especially not with the mediocre offensive talent surrounding him. The Jets defense hung tough all night though, and was able to keep feeding the offense in the hopes that the rookie would finally be able to pull one out for a win against their hated divisional foe.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-2 (29)
The news coming out of Tampa Bay isn't especially rosy right now, after mistakes cost the Buccaneers their first two games of the season and players are already starting to have a problem with the head coach. A missed field goal at the end of the game prevented the Bucs from taking a tighter grip on their lead, and a penalty erased a long touchdown pass by Vincent Jackson. Coach Greg Schiano has apparently rubbed both his quarterback and star cornerback the wrong way as well, and it appears Schiano's style of coaching may not be translating well to the NFL level.

30. Oakland Raiders: 1-1 (31)
Despite the lack of talent on the team the Raiders are keeping it together, and by beating the Jaguars they may have ensured that they at least will not be the first team drafting next year (yay?) Terrelle Pyror continues to provide a spark for this offense, as his legs are a big reason why Darren McFadden was able to spring loose for a huge day against the Jaguars. If McFadden can stay healthy and productive this year the Raiders will at least be able to keep many of their games interesting if they don't fall behind early.

31. Cleveland Browns: 0-2 (30)
It's only week two, but already the Cleveland Browns seem to be imploding and ready to punt on the entire rest of the 2013 season. Brandon Weeden is not starting due to injury but may not start again the rest of the year as it seems the organization is ready to roll with Brian Hoyer throughout the rest of the year. With the major trade the Browns pulled off today (there's just too much to discuss with that to get into it here), they are now having their third string quarterback start for the rest of the season with the most minimal help behind him. It's tough being a Browns fan.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars: 0-2 (32)
Chad Henne barely proved more capable of leading this offense than Blaine Gabbert did in week one, and now protests are being held in Jacksonville demanding the team sign and start Tim Tebow. It might be even tougher being a Jaguars fan.