NFL Power Rankings – Packers Top List In Week 3

1. Green Bay Packers (2-0 SU/ATS)
You probably think I’m crazy to put Green Bay as the best team already. But this is a betting ranking, and the fact that the Saints haven’t covered the spread yet hurts their value. As for the Packers, they’re showing no signs of slowing down offensively even after losing Ryan Grant. This is a team in the truest sense of the word (kind of like the 2002 New England Patriots).

Next Game: Green Bay vs. Chicago -1.0

2. New Orleans Saints (2-0 SU, 0-2 ATS)
Maybe Reggie didn’t want to admit that giving back the Heisman was an admission of his guilt. Still, it’s kind of ominous when karma goes and breaks your leg anyways, right? Drew Brees has plenty of work to do without Reggie (supposedly sidelined for six weeks), and the Saints have to do something about their rushing attack, ranked 31st in the league. Don’t worry, Saint fans. It’s not like Brees is on the cover of Madden 11 or anything.

Next Game: Atlanta vs. New Orleans

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 60% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

3. Houston Texans (2-0 SU, 1-0-1 ATS)
In two weeks we’ve seen them come from behind against a Redskins offense that blew up yards wise, and we’ve also watched them protect a lead against Peyton Manning. It may be too early, but they’ve earned this ranking for now.

Next Game: Dallas vs. Houston -3.0
 
4. Indianapolis Colts (1-1 SU/ATS)
Peyton beat up on his little brother again while notching an unearthly 145.5 quarterback rating. Still, until the Colts sack up and give Houston the business in Week 8 I can’t rank them higher unless the Texans drop a game.

Next Game: Indianapolis -5.5 vs. Denver

5. Miami Dolphins (2-0 SU/ATS)
They can run the ball, stop the run and hawk interceptions when teams try to pass. At this point, they don’t even have to throw the ball to win games, but teams have to defend Brandon Marshall anyways. Sounds like the perfect situation for a guy like Chad Henne.

Next Game: New York Jets -1.0 vs. Miami

6. San Diego Chargers (1-1 SU/ATS)
Philip Rivers certainly hasn’t played mistake free this season, but he’s giving everyone a reason to believe in him again after losing to the Chiefs. The loss or Ryan Matthews with a serious ankle injury isn’t that big of a deal since he wasn’t doing much anyways, but I know even less about Mike Tolbert as his replacement.

Next Game: San Diego -6.0 vs. Seattle

7. New England Patriots (1-1 SU/ATS)

8. Baltimore Ravens (1-1 SU/ATS)

9. New York Jets (1-1 SU, 1-0-1 ATS)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1 SU/ATS)
This is how confusing this race is amongst the four teams is: the Patriots throttled the Bengals, who beat the Ravens in Week 2, who drilled the Jets in the first week…who beat the Patriots decisively this past week. So go ahead and mix up the order if you want, but these are your seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth best teams right now.

Next Game: Buffalo vs. New England -13.5, Cleveland vs. Baltimore -8.5, New York Jets -1.0 vs. Miami, Cincinnati -1.5 vs. Carolina,

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0 SU/ATS)
The Steelers needed to win 2-of-4 games in the opening month before Big Ben Roethlisberger returned. Mission accomplished. Can you imagine how good this team can be if Roethlisberger can be 80-percent as good as he’s been throughout his career? By the way, my favorite stat line of the weekend: James Harrison with 10 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble forced and recovered. Monster line for a defensive player.

Next Game: Pittsburgh -3.0 vs. Tampa Bay

12. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0 SU/ATS)
They score on offense, defense and special teams and look like they have swagger. Something weird is going to happen this weekend. Either the NFC West favored Niners are going 0-3 SU, or the Kansas City Chiefs are going 3-0 SU. God, I love this league.

Next Game: San Francisco -1.0 vs. Kansas City

13. Chicago Bears (2-0 SU/ATS)
It’s not the rebirth of the Greatest Show on Turf! Stop calling it that! It’s a quarterback living up to his potential! Gah!

Next Game: Green Bay vs. Chicago -1.0

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0 SU/ATS)
Young team, out to prove itself and doing a damn fine job of it. They’ve played some lackluster teams so far, but if they can survive the Steel Curtain while playing at home I’ll give them way more credit.

Next Game: Pittsburgh -3.0 vs. Tampa Bay

15. Tennessee Titans (1-1 SU/ATS)
Can’t we go one freaking year without having Kerry Collins and Vince Young fight over the starting job? Please?! This is killing me.

16. Atlanta Falcons (1-1 SU/ATS)
I’ll put more stock in the Falcons when they aren’t beating up on one of the worst teams in the league. Oh, look at how they face next week…where’s my litmus paper…

Next Game: Atlanta vs. New Orleans

17. New York Giants (1-1 SU/ATS)
As a little brother myself, I can’t help but feel sorry for Eli Manning. Not only does he get his ass handed to him every time he faces Peyton, he has to tolerate Brandon Jacobs averaging 2.0 yards per carry and throwing his helmet at fans.

18. Minnesota Vikings (0-2 SU, 1-1ATS)
Percy Harvin is the Greg Oden of the NFL.

Next Game: Detroit vs. Minnesota -11.0

19. Washington Redskins (1-1 SU, 1-0-1 ATS)
It’s really hard to knock the Redskins this week, especially with McNabb throwing 426 passing yards with 1 touchdown and no picks. Too bad that he faced one of four quarterbacks that could match that on any given week. Schaub won the duel with 497 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and a pick.

Next Game: Washington -3.5 vs. St. Louis

20. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1 SU/ATS)
Vick looked awesome on the weekend. Either he’s the next quarterback of the Eagles, or he’s paying off his debts with a big contract elsewhere.

Next Game: Philadelphia -3.0 vs. Jacksonville

21. Dallas Cowboys (0-2 SU/ATS)
The Cowboys have the second best passing attack and the fourth least productive rushing game, largely because the three tailbacks in Dallas have run the ball only 40 times. And they’re 0-2 SU. Maybe you should change game plans. In case that was too complicated for you, Wade, that means rush the ball more and stop putting Romo’s career in jeopardy.

Next Game: Dallas vs. Houston -3.0

22. Denver Broncos (1-1 SU/ATS)
The Broncos got ripped by the Jaguars and then put the Seahawks back in their place by kicking them in the junk 31-14. So what do I know about the Denver Broncos? Absolutely nothing.

Next Game: Indianapolis -5.5 vs. Denver

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1 SU/ATS)
The poor Jaguars fans can’t catch a break. David Garrard throws four interceptions, gets replaced by Luke McCown and then McCown suffers a season ending knee injury. So now Garrard is back in the starting role with nobody left on the depth chart to replace him.

Next Game: Dallas vs. Houston -3.0

24. San Francisco 49ers (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS)
Alex Smith and the entire offense looked way better on Monday against the Saints, but two losses is two losses.

Next Game: San Francisco -1.0 vs. Kansas City

25. Seattle Seahawks (1-1 SU/ATS)
Something makes me nervous about the Seahawks, and I think it has to do with their home field advantage. If you haven’t been to Qwest Field in your life, it’s crazy loud, and the Seahawks could be one of those home dog betting upstarts.

Next Game: San Diego -6.0 vs. Seattle

26. Detroit Lions (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS)
It’s almost tragic to think about how good this team would be if Stafford hadn’t been hurt. Almost as tragic as going 0-16 SU.

Next Game: Detroit vs. Minnesota -11.0

27. Arizona Cardinals (1-1 SU/ATS)
That’s why nobody wanted Derek Anderson you idiots!

Next Game: Oakland vs. Arizona -4.0

28.  Oakland Raiders (1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS)
If you haven’t seen what Rolando McClain did this past weekend, then Google the video “Rolando Bottom”. Do it now.

Next Game: Oakland vs. Arizona -4.0

29. St. Louis Rams (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS)
Sam Bradford looks awesome. That’s the only nice thing I have to say about St. Louis.

Next Game: Washington vs. St. Louis

30. Carolina Panthers (0-2 SU/ATS)
What is it with Carolina quarterbacks and interceptions? Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen have already combined for 5 picks in two games. For Christ’s sakes, Clausen has only thrown the ball 15 times in the NFL!

Next Game: Cincinnati -1.5 vs. Carolina

31. Cleveland Browns (0-2 SU/ATS)
Eric Mangini said that the team should’ve used Joshua Cribbs in the Wildcat after the loss to Kansas City. Mike Holmgren was probably saying that the team should’ve fired Eric Mangini when the season started.

Next Game: Cleveland vs. Baltimore -8.5

32. Buffalo Bills (0-2 SU/ATS)
You know things have hit an all-time low when your coach says something like “Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to provide a spark for our offense”.

Next Game: Buffalo vs. New England -13.5