NFL 2015 Power Rankings – Week 1

I couldn’t wait for football season and I couldn’t wait to get into these rankings. This year is going to be a little different from last year in that there won’t be two columns. Don’t worry, though. I’m sure Rob has plenty to say about how wrong I’ll be over the next few months.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) – Good lord, this team is garbage. My buddy and friend of the show, Black, is a huge Bucs fan and I told him that his team made a terrible choice taking Jameis Winston. Its not so much that the FSU product isn’t talented, because he is. Its that he makes poor choices AND he’s got a terrible offensive line (including two rookies) to keep him upright. And that defense is atrocious. Next game: @ New Orleans Saints

31. Cleveland Browns (0-1) – When Josh McCown left the game and Johnny Manziel came in and started making plays, there was a split second where it felt like the Browns fortunes were starting to change. Then they came back down to earth in a hurry. Granted, the Jets defense is one of the best in the league and the Browns don’t have the best offense either. Next game: vs Tennessee Titans

30. Washington Redskins (0-1) – Kirk Cousins played like hot garbage against the Dolphins and they lost DeSean Jackson to injury. Sounds like the Skins are right in midseason form. Next game: vs St Louis Rams

29. Oakland Raiders (0-1) – I don’t think that it would have made much difference if Derek Carr hadn’t left the game with an injury but Matt McGloin did throw some garbage time touchdowns to Marcel Reese. Next game: vs Baltimore Ravens 

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) – How? How do you lose to a team with no receivers? I know! By having Blake Bortles out there throwing interceptions and having wide receivers drop passes left and right. I like Gus Bradley a lot. I hope this team isn’t his downfall. Next game: vs Miami Dolphins

27. Tennessee Titans (1-0) – Alright Titans fans…I’m going to need you guys to relax and have a seat. Enjoy your win but keep in mind that you were playing against a really bad Bucs team. Marcus Mariota might turn out to be a good quarterback someday but you might want to temper that enthusiasm a little bit. Next game: @ Cleveland Browns

26. Chicago Bears (0-1) – The Bears never really beat the Packers. Jay Cutler has 14 touchdowns and 23 interceptions all time against Green Bay and this game was no different. Really what killed the Bears was their lack of a defense. They let James Jones, who just came back to the team, score twice on them. Next game: vs Arizona Cardinals

25. San Francisco 49ers (1-0) – What can you really expect from a team thats lost so much over the past couple of years? Clearly a lot. I wrote the Niners off this year and I stand by my preview. I’ll give them credit for having such a valiant effort and playing so hard. Carlos Hyde carried the load and I hope he sends a message around the league that its alright to have a three down back. Next game: @ Pittsburgh Steelers

24. Atlanta Falcons (1-0) – Julio Jones is probably going to lead the league in receptions the way Matt Ryan is slinging the pill around. I’m actually really impressed by the way the defense played. Give credit to Dan Quin for what he’s doing with this group of guys. There’s still a long way to go though. Next game: @ New York Giants

23. New York Giants (0-1) – I hope this ranking proves I’m not a homer. Its not even that they didn’t play well but how they let this game get away from them is a mystery to me. They should have gone up 10 but because of a miscommunication, they swung the door wide open for Dallas to come back and win the game. Eli gets a new contract and all of a sudden he wants to change plays on the fly. Not cool. Next game: vs Atlanta Falcons

22. New York Jets (1-0) – The Jets aren’t going to score 31 points every week, but it has to feel good that they did it against a decent defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick did his job, Chris Ivory ran the ball well and Brandon Marshall gave them something they’ve been missing for a long time. Good job by Todd Bowles. Next game: @ Indianapolis Colts

21. St Louis Rams (1-0) – Man I love this Rams defense. They’re really coming together and the offense looked competent. How about Tavon Austin, huh? Next game: @ Washington Redskins

20. Houston Texans (0-1) – Don’t let Hard Knocks fool you. This team isn’t very good. Remember that scene where Bill O’Brien told Brian Hoyer that he’d pull him in favor of Ryan Mallett if he didn’t play well? That was a quick hook, wasn’t it? Next game: @ Carolina Panthers

19. Carolina Panthers (1-0) – Ed…I need you to read this and understand what I’m saying to you. Your hate for Cam Newton only fuels him and makes him stronger. He’ll do whatever needs to be done to win games and you’re only going to look sillier and sillier for carrying all that hate for Cam. Let it go, bruh. Next game: vs Houston Texans

18. New Orleans Saints (0-1) – We knew that the Saints defense wasn’t that good. Losing Jairus Byrd, Anthony Spencer and Keenan Lewis didn’t make things any better. Add that to the fact that they played a Cardinals team thats much better with Carson Palmer under center and the result we got is the result we’ll usually get. Next game: vs Tampa Bay Bucanneers

17. Minnesota Vikings (0-1) – What a terrible effort by this defense. I expected a lot more from a Mike Zimmer coached defense. Offensively, it looked like Teddy Bridgewater had never met Adrian Peterson. They looked out of sync sometimes and I thought the playcall was terrible. Next game: vs Detroit Lions

16. Buffalo Bills (1-0) – The Bills are going to be fun to watch, one way or the other. The defense harassed Andrew Luck and held him scoreless in the first half and how about this offense? Tyron Taylor looked pretty good and they didn’t even get a reception out of Sammy Watkins. Rex Ryan has to feel a little vindication after this win. Next game: vs New England Patriots

15. Miami Dolphins (1-0) – In the first half, it looked like Ryan Tannehill couldn’t lead the offense anywhere. He was finally able to muster a touchdown against a relatively mediocre defense and a Jarvis Landry punt return for a touchdown gave the Fins the win over the Redskins. I have to imagine they’ll play better than this going forward because if they don’t, they’ll have a tough time getting out of the AFC East. Next game: @ Jacksonville Jaguars

14. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) – You get a guy a wide receiver like Jeremy Maclin and whaddaya know? He throws to them. To be fair, Travis Kelce led the team in yards and had two scores but the point is still made. Next game: vs Denver Broncos

13. Detroit Lions (0-1) – When are the Lions going to catch a break? They played really well and couldn’t hold off the Chargers. I can’t say that losing Ndamukong Suh was a huge factor because the defense came after Rivers and forced him into two interceptions, including a pick six. I guess they just wanted it more. Next game: @ Minnesota Vikings

12. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) – This is the most balanced I’ve seen the Bengals in a long time. Andy Dalton threw the ball well, Tyler Eifert looked like a stud and Jeremy Hill lived up to some of the starting running back hype. The defense didn’t have the toughest test ever but they showed up, holding the Raiders to 13 points. Next game: vs San Diego Chargers

11. San Diego Chargers (1-0) – How long before we start talking about Mike McCoy in the same conversation as some of the best coaches in the NFL? Better yet, how long until we started talking about Philip Rivers as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league? He had a shaky start but rallied the team to an impressive victory. Next game: @ Cincinnati Bengals

10. Baltimore Ravens (0-1) – I’ve been saying it for a while now. Joe Flacco is totally overrated. He’s not a bad quarterback but he got a lot of undeserved credit for that Super Bowl run and the Ravens bet on him. Losing Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels hurt him and Flacco couldn’t get anything done. The entire offense couldn’t do much. Next game: @ Oakland Raiders

9. Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) – How can anyone ever count out this Eagles offense? Sam Bradford really settled down in the second half, but was really let down by the defense. I could understand if the Falcons were doing some exotic offensive looks but all they did was move Julio Jones (one of the best receivers in the game) into different spots. Here’s an idea? Cover him. Next game: vs Dallas Cowboys

8. Arizona Cardinals (1-0) – The Cardinals defense didn’t look much different under a new DC. What did look different? The offense with a healthy Carson Palmer slinging that pill. This Cardinals team making a run shouldn’t surprise anyone. Next game: @ Chicago Bears

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) – This isn’t your dad’s Steeler defense…at all. Next game: vs San Francisco 49ers

6. Indianapolis Colts (0-1) – Thankfully, the Colts won’t be seeing the Bills anymore this season so Andrew Luck can go back to being one of the best quarterbacks in the league. That means more production from Andre Johnson, TY Hilton and Frank Gore…which makes my fantasy team happy. Next game: vs New York Jets

5. Dallas Cowboys (1-0) – Yeah they won but with Dez being out with a foot injury, whats the future going to be like? And this is the same injury that cost Kevin Durant his season. They still have the talent to win the division, which says a lot about the NFC Least. Next game: @ Philadelphia Eagles

4. Denver Broncos (1-0) – Who played quarterback for this Broncos team? Was it High Pitched Voice Peyton Manning? It didn’t seem like the Peyton Manning we know. He threw for less than 200 yards and no touchdowns. The running game never got going and luckily the defense buoyed the team. I wonder if Gary Kubiak was a good hire. Next game: @ Kansas City Chiefs

3. Green Bay Packers (1-0) – Losing Jordy Nelson sucks but when you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, a running back like Eddie Lacy and a solid offensive line, things could be much worse. Next game: vs Seattle Seahawks

2. Seattle Seahawks (0-1) – Could they be lower? Sure. But I don’t think that an OT loss to a good Rams team is an indictment. I will say this- they better get Kam Chancellor signed real quick because Dion Bailey looked terrible as his replacement. Next game: @ Green Bay Packers

1. New England Patriots (1-0) – You thought people were joking when they said the Patriots would be in full on F-U Mode? This isn’t a game, guys. This is just Gronk being Gronk, Bill being Bill and Brady being Brady. Football is back and I couldn’t be happier. Next game: @ Buffalo Bills