2008 Week 3 NFL Power Rankings
An Archived Record of Our Sports Handicapping Columnists' Week Three NFL Power Ratings After the Second Week of the 2008 NFL Season. |
2008 Week 3 NFL Power Ratings
(Dated September 16-21, 2008)
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- Dallas Cowboys (2-0) - Remaining at #1. What a
Monday Night Football game at home! The Cowboys and the Eagles participated in
an instant classic that led to another Cowboy win. In the win, Tony Romo threw
for 312 yards and three touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was a 42 yard bomb
to star Terrell Owens. Owens finished the night with 110 yards on 7 catches.
Running back Marion Barber was held down, gaining just 63 yards on 18 carries.
The Cowboys will take on the Green Bay Packers on Saturday in Green Bay.
- New England Patriots (2-0) - Holding down the #2
position for the second straight week. Quarterback Matt Cassell was effective
passing 16 of 25 for 165, but was not able to throw for a passing touchdown.
His running back LaMont Jordan carried the ball 11 times for 62 yards. The key
to the 19-10 over the Jets was the Patriots defense which just allowed 256
total yards, including just 106 on the ground. The Patriots will play host to
the Miami Dolphins on Sunday
- New York Giants (2-0) - Staying pat at #3. The
Giants used a 21 point fourth quarter to bury the Rams on Sunday. In the 41-13
win, Eli Manning threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns, while his top
running back Brandon Jacobs carried the ball 15 times for 93 yards. The Giants
have outscored their opponents 57-20 in their two wins. The Giants will host
the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - The Steelers remain at
#4. The Steelers management insist quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is healthy,
we will see. A huge test for Pittsburgh on Sunday as they battle inter state
rival, Philadelphia Eagles. Fast Willie Parker has ran for 243 yards on 53
carries, getting in the end zone three times. Receiver Hines Ward has caught
11 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns early in the year. Pittsburgh has
scored 48 points, while allowing just 23.
- Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - The Eagles move up 2
slots, from 6 to 4, despite the MNF loss. Despite the loss, the Eagles matched
the NFC favorite Cowboys toe for toe. Donovan McNabb is healthy for the first
time since 2004, and it has shown. He has completed 46 of 70 passes for 642
yards and four touchdowns in his first two games. Running back Brian Westbrook
has carried the ball 37 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie
receiver DeSean Jackson has stepped up well for the Eagles catching 12 passes
for 216 yards. Despite his heroics early in the season, he will probably be
known for his blunder at the one yard line on Monday Night Football. The
Eagles will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
- Carolina Panthers (2-0) - Climbing one spot from 7
after their second win in as many games to start the year. The Panthers will
get their top receiver, Steve Smith back on Sunday in their game at Minnesota.
In the first two games quarterback Jake Delhomme has felt healthy, and has
thrown the ball effectively completing 35 of 62 passes for a touchdown and 375
yards. The Panthers have scored 46 points and allowed 41, the smallest margin
of any undefeated team. The Panthers flawless mark will be put to the test
Sunday as they travel to the Metrodome to battle with the 0-2 Minnesota
Vikings.
- Green Bay Packers (2-0) - Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
has left his mark in the 2008 season. Rodgers has completed 42 of 60 passes
for 506 yards and four touchdowns in two wins. Running back Ryan Grant has yet
to reach the endzone but has been a workforce carrying the ball a team high 27
times. The Packers climb one spot from #8 last week. Green Bay will put their
perfect mark on the line in Sunday Night Football, as they take on the 2-0
Dallas Cowboys.
- Tennessee Titans (2-0) - The Titans, with another
win were able to move up 2 spots from #10 last week. Vince Young will not
start again on Sunday for the Titans with his injury. Coach Jeff Fisher has
elected to stick with back-up Kerry Collins. Collins led the Titans to a 24-7
win in Cincinnati, as the winds in Ohio were steady anywhere from 20-25mph,
and gusts were as high as 60mph. Collins completed 12 of 21 passes for 128
total yards in the air. The Titans will host Houston on Sunday in a key AFC
South match up.
- Indianapolis Colts (1-1) - The Colts narrowly escaped
starting the 2008 season in an 0-2 hole. Indianapolis hopes to get Peyton
Manning healthy and back to his gun slinging ways soon. Manning has completed
56 of 91 passes for 568 yards and two touchdowns, but would be the first to
admit his early season rating would be average. Joseph Addai has had trouble
getting started on the ground, carrying the ball 27 times for just 64 yards
and a touchdown. Indianapolis moved into the top ten from their #11 spot after
week one. The Colts will take on Jacksonville at home on Sunday, attempting to
move the Jaguars to 0-3 on the year.
- Buffalo Bills (2-0) - The Buffalo Bills round out our top ten after
getting off to a 2-0 start. They move up from #13 last week. Buffalo has been
led by running back Marshawn Lynch, who has ran for a touchdown in each of the
first two games. The Bills have beaten Seattle and Jacksonville, both in
impressive fashion. Buffalo has scored 54 points, while just allowing 26. The
Bills will battle Oakland at home on Sunday.
- Denver Broncos (2-0) - If Sunday's result would have been reversed by
just two points, Broncos fans would be lynching head coach Mike Shanahan.
Shanahan called for a two point conversion with less than a minute to play,
trailing the game to rival San Diego by a point. Jay Cutler connected with Eddie
Royal for the second straight play, and the Broncos won 39-38. With the win, the
Broncos climb 4 spots from 15 to 11. Denver looks to improve to 3-0 on Sunday,
as they host New Orleans. The Saints come in 1-1.
- Arizona Cardinals (2-0) - The Cardinals are 2-0, and for that a jump of
4 spots from 16 to 12. The Cardinals have defeated San Francisco and Miami, by
no means powerhouses, but for a team looking to climb into the playoff picture,
the Cardinals must be pleased with their start. In the two wins, Arizona has
scored 54 points, while allowing just 23. Quarterback Kurt Warner has been
impressive completing 38 of 54 passes for 558 yards and four touchdowns. Arizona
will look to move to 3-0 on Sunday as they travel to Washington to face the
Redskins.
- New Orleans Saints (1-1) - The New Orleans Saints had a chance to
improve to 2-0 on Sunday, but a fourth quarter collapse at Washington prevented
that from happening. Drew Brees has completed 45 of 65 passes to start the year
for 559 yards and four touchdowns. Reggie Bush has carried the ball 24 times,
while catching 15 passes for the Saints. New Orleans hopes to improve its
defense that has allowed an average of 404 yards in their first two games. The
loss dropped New Orleans 8 spots in the poll from 5 to 13. New Orleans will have
a tough battle on Sunday traveling to Denver to face off with the Broncos.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) - Tampa Bay moves up 9 spots after the 24-9
win over Atlanta on Sunday. After their week one loss at New Orleans, a game
they could have won, the Buccaneers were sure to wrap Atlanta up early. Tampa
Bay has only allowed 33 points in two games, to start the season. Running back
Earnest Graham has been impressive in the early going running for 207 yards on
25 carries and a touchdown. His running mate Warrick Dunn has carried the ball
21 times for 103 yards, and a score. Tampa Bay will play in the battle of 1-1
teams on Sunday when they travel to Chicago to battle the Bears.
- Washington Redskins (1-1) - Redskins, with their impressive win move up
9 spots from 24. The win on Sunday gave head coach Jim Zorn his first win as a
NFL head coach. In the win, 29-24 over New Orleans, quarterback Jason Campbell
threw for 454 yards completing 39 of 63 passes for two touchdowns. Clinton
Portis has been a workhorse carrying the ball 44 times for 180 yards and two
touchdowns. In the passing game, Santana Moss has already caught 12 balls for
over 200 yards, and two touchdowns. When Moss is covered the Redskins have the
option of Antwaan Randle El, who has also caught 11 passes. Washington will look
to place the first loss of the season on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
- Baltimore Ravens (1-0) - The Ravens, by not playing move up 3 positions
from 19 to 16. The Ravens got their bye week a little earlier than expected when
Hurricane Ike forced the NFL to postpone the Ravens trip to Houston to battle
the Texans. The Ravens and Texans will now play November 9th, a
stretch of three straight road games for Baltimore. Baltimore will battle AFC
North rival Cleveland Sunday at home.
- San Diego Chargers (0-2) - The Chargers probably should be 1-1, but are
0-2, and drop 8 spots from 9 to 17. In the loss, the Chargers feel they were
cheated of the victory, as a disputed call gave the Broncos the ball back, and
ultimately the game winning touchdown, and two-point conversion. Phillip Rivers
has thrown six touchdown passes in two games for San Diego. The Chargers will
look to pick up their first win on Monday night, but it will not be easy, as the
'Bolts' will host Brett Favre and the New York Jets.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) - Jacksonville falls 6 spots from 12 to
18. The Jaguars have gotten off to a slow start, and things will not get easier
on Sunday, as they make the trip to Indianapolis, to face off with the Colts.
The Jaguars have only scored 26 points, while yielding 37. The offense has
sputtered behind quarterback David Garrard, but not all the blame can be placed
on him. The running game has only accumulated 65.5 yards per game in their first
two games. Fred Taylor has carried the ball 23 times for 67 total yards.
- Chicago Bears (1-1) - The Bears had plenty of opportunities to get
off to a 2-0 start, and win on the road at Carolina on Sunday. But failed
opportunities forced the Bears to a 1-1 start. Rookie running back Matt Forte
has sparkled thus far for Chicago, running 46 times for 215 yards and a
touchdown. His quarterback Kyle Orton has yet to throw a touchdown pass, despite
completing 32 of 53 passes. Due to the loss, Chicago drops from #14 to #19. The
Bears look to snap their short losing streak at home on Sunday against Tampa
Bay.
- New York Jets (1-1) - The Jets drop 4 spots from 24 to 20. The Jets had
a prime opportunity to gain control of the AFC East Division early in 2008. With
the New England Patriots coming to town, without the 2007 MVP Tom Brady, Brett
Favre and his Jets were not able to capitalize. Farve has been solid thus far
for the Jets, completing 33 of 48 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns. His
running back Thomas Jones has been a workhorse early, carrying the ball 39 times
for 171 yards and a score. The loss drops the Jets to 1-1, and will now have to
find a way to come up with a huge road victory Monday Night at San Diego. The
Chargers are 0-2 and hungry for a victory.
- Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - After the week one win over Detroit, the
Falcons were not able to repeat that performance in week two falling to Tampa
Bay 24-9. Rookie quarterback, whose very first pass of his career was a
touchdown found life in the NFL a little more difficult. In the loss, Ryan
completed just 13 of 33 passes, throwing two interceptions. The loss drops the
Falcons from 17 to 21. Atlanta will host Kansas City on Sunday.
- Cleveland Browns (0-2) - The Browns have not found their offense thus
far in the 2008 season. A team that many picked to be a AFC playoff team is 0-2,
and searching for answers. 28-10 loss to Dallas, and a 10-6 slop fest loss to
Pittsburgh has seen the Browns score just one touchdown. Quarterback Derek
Anderson has had difficulty finding open receivers, and when he does, a lot of
times they are unable to make the play. Braylon Edwards has five dropped passes
in his first two games. The loss for Cleveland drops them from 20 to 22 this
week. The Browns hope to get in the win column on Sunday when they travel to
Baltimore.
- San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - The 49ers raise 4 places in the rankings
from 27 to 23 after their 33-30 win over Seattle. San Francisco is excited about
their offensive possibilities behind quarterback J.T. O' Sullivan. Frank Gore,
Issac Bruce and Bryant Johnson have all had a hand in the 49ers offense
averaging 23.0 points a game in their first two games. San Francisco will host
Detroit on Sunday.
- Oakland Raiders (1-1) - Oakland had some head coaching controversy
going on before last Sunday's game with Kansas City. Despite that, the Raiders
were able to bounce back from an awful week one performance to beat the Chiefs,
and move to second place in the AFC West. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell has been
extremely ineffective, but the two headed monster of Darren McFadden and Justin
Fargas, with an addition Michael Bush, the Raiders have had success running the
football. The win moves Oakland up from #30 last week, to 24 this week. Oakland
will take their 1-1 record on the road to Buffalo to take on the Bills Sunday.
- Seattle Seahawks (0-2) - Seattle, after another loss, this time in
overtime to San Francisco continue to fall; this week 4 positions from 21 to 25.
Seattle, who many thought would contend in the NFC is searching for answers. The
Seahawks defense has been a cause for concern, giving up an average of 33.5
points per game. The offense has also stumbled a bit scoring just 20 points a
game. Losing top receiver Nate Burleson along with the rest of their starting wide receivers, will not help out quarterback Matt
Hasslebeck and his offense. Seattle will hope to get healthy, and back on track
when St. Louis comes to town on Sunday.
- Houston Texans (0-1) - Houston drops 1 spot, while not even playing
during week two. Hurricane Ike rumbled through Houston, including damage to
their stadium- Reliant Stadium. The week two game was moved to week 10 on
November 9th, against Baltimore. Matt Schaub hopes to have better
results behind center on Sunday against Tennessee then he did in week one, a
week in which Pittsburgh blasted the Texans 38-17, throwing two interceptions
and losing a fumble. A bright spot for the Texans was receiver Andre Johnson,
who caught 10 passes for 112 yards on the day.
- Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Minnesota drops 5 more spots, after
another loss, this time to Indianapolis, 18-15. In week three the Vikings will
start a new quarterback. 37-year-old Gus Frerotte will get the nod over
youngster Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson has been ineffective in the early going for
Minnesota completing just 30 of his first 59 passes on the year for just a
single touchdown. Minnesota looks to get their first win this Sunday when they
host Carolina.
- Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) - The Bengals can't seem to get on track, and
drop from 26 to 28. Carson Palmer has had a horrible time finding his talented
receivers. Chad Ocho Cinco has caught just five passes for 59 yards, while Chad
Houshmanzadeh has caught 6 passes for 70 yards. Neither team has caught a
touchdown pass in the first two games. Running back Chris Perry has been a
workhorse in the backfield, running 40 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. Life
will not get easier for the Bengals, who in week three get a date with last
years super bowl champion- New York Giants.
- Miami Dolphins (0-2) - Miami slides back one position after their loss.
While things appear to be improved for the Dolphins in 2008, the 0-2 record does
not lie. Miami hopes to get running back Ricki Williams going, as he has just
compiled 52 yards on 21 carries. The run game in general has been a weakness for
the Dolphins. They have averaged just 60.5 yards a game on the ground. The
Dolphins 24 points must improve if they want to compete in the vaunted AFC East.
Miami will look to win their first of the year on Sunday when they head to New
England.
- Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) - Fall one spot after their 23-8 loss at home
to the Raiders. The Chiefs have had quarterback problems from the beginning, and
look to have settled with Tyler Thigpen, a 24 year old from Coastal Carolina for
week three. The Chiefs are averaging just 9 points a game on offense, while
allowing just 20. But the old adage says, you can't win if you don't score. The
Chiefs will look to get their first win of the season on Sunday, as they travel
to Atlanta to take on the 1-1 Falcons.
- Detroit Lions (0-2) - The Lions fans are frustrated. Head Coach Rod
Marinelli is under fire after a 0-2 start. Two straight weeks, Detroit have dug
a three touchdown hole. In week one to Atlanta, and in week two to Green Bay.
The Lions actually came back and took the lead on Sunday, but Jon Kitna threw
three interceptions, and the Packers ended up beating the Lions 48-25. Detroit
will travel to San Francisco on Sunday to take on the 49ers. The Lions remain at
#31.
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