Bring Me The Sports' Week 3 NFL power rankings: Vikings' rise coming?
Is it the mid-1990s all over again? The Cowboys and 49ers look like the class of the NFL, Deion Sanders is making headlines and the Atlanta Braves are awesome. Let's get to it with our Week 3 NFL power rankings.
1. Dallas Cowboys (1) (2-0)
The Boys look unbeatable. Yeah, it's only two weeks in but outscoring opponents by 60 points in two games is a pretty solid way to let the NFL know you're serious this time.
2. San Francisco 49ers (2) (2-0)
The way the Steelers beat the Browns on Monday night is a good example of how excellent the 49ers are. It kind of feels like we're on a collision course for a Cowboys-49ers NFC title game.
3. Miami Dolphins (3) (2-0)
They're getting elite QB play from Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill with Jaylen Waddle is as good as it gets. Guess here is that they smash the Broncos to get to 3-0 and set up an Oct. 1 showdown in Buffalo against the Bills.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (6) (2-0)
They barely beat New England and despite rushing for 259 yards they weren't all that impressive in their win over the Vikings. Blame that on short rest and being down three injured defensive starters? Yeah, probably.
5. Baltimore Ravens (8) (2-0)
Holding a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter at Cincinnati despite the Bengals getting a punt return touchdown speaks volumes.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (7) (1-1)
Only scoring 17 points with Travis Kelce back in the lineup (and scoring a touchdown) either says the Jags are for real on defense or the Chiefs wide receiver depth is a bigger issue than any thought it would be with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball.
7. Buffalo Bills (14) (1-1)
At Washington this week followed by home games against the Dolphins and Jaguars. That's not an easy stretch after that 38-10 whooping they put on the Raiders.
8. Detroit Lions (4) (1-1)
What the heck was that? The Lions go into Arrowhead and beat the Chiefs only to return home and blow a lead -- and throw a terrible pick six in the fourth quarter -- to the Seahawks? Growing pains for the Motor City Kitties.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (10) (1-1)
Losing at home and only scoring 9 points despite the Chiefs racking up 12 penalties and three turnovers is an impressively painful way to lose. Guess that's what you get when you're 0 of 3 in the red zone.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16) (2-0)
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are off to a great start. Now they get to host the Eagles on Monday Night Football to prove it on a national stage.
11. New Orleans Saints (17) (2-0)
Chris Olave and Michael Thomas both made great catches in the Monday night win over Carolina. Now do it against a solid Green Bay team at Lambeau this weekend.
12. Atlanta Falcons (20) (2-0)
Bijan Robinson looks awesome when he touches the ball so the Falcons might wise to ... oh I don't know ... give it to him more often. We have a feeling the Falcons are going to get thumped in Detroit on Sunday.
13. Green Bay Packers (12) (1-1)
Jordan Love's numbers are outstanding across the board with the exception of his 55% completion rate. But it's hard to say anything really positive because they beat an awful Bears team and then lost in Atlanta.
14. Cleveland Browns (9) (1-1)
Losing Nick Chubb for the season is a killer but the bigger issue might be the offensive line's ability to pass protect Deshaun Watson, who looks like a shell of the guy who was great in Houston.
15. Washington Commanders (22) (2-0)
Can't be too optimistic after wins over the Cardinals and Broncos, but 2-0 is 2-0 and now they get a chance to prove their talent at home against the Bills on Sunday.
16. Los Angeles Rams (18) (1-1)
Puka Mania has taken over the league but the Rams are kind of quietly looking like a good team. They crushed Seattle and then were able to hang with the 49ers. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford magic?
17. New York Jets (5) (1-1)
Zach Wilson is probably going to be pretty bad but like we said last week, if he can manage the Jets the way Purdy manages the game for the 49ers, the Jets have enough offensive weapons and a great defense to hang in there.
18. Seattle Seahawks (27) (1-1)
It was either a mega dud in the opener against the Rams or the Rams are actually good. That's the only way to explain a blowout loss at home followed by a win at Detroit.
19. New York Giants (23) (1-1)
You can't expect to be taken seriously when you get shutout 40-0 in the opener and then find yourself trailing 20-0 to the hapless Cardinals at halftime in Week 2. But they put up 31 points in the second half and are somehow 1-1. We don't trust this club at all, but here we are.
20. Tennessee Titans (24) (1-1)
Beating the Chargers is not an easy task (we think) but they got the job done after barely losing to what looks like a decent Saints team in Week 1. Mike Vrabel is getting the most out of the Titans.
21. Minnesota Vikings (13) (0-2)
The Vikings feel like a top-10 team that is 0-2 thanks to seven turnovers in two games. Good teams don't turn the ball over, so until they lock it up they're going to be stuck way down here. But a rapid rise could come if they show out against the Chargers on Sunday. They better, or they can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (11) (0-2)
What in the heck is wrong with the Bengals? Losing two divisional games to start is a nightmare and now they have to face McVay's Rams on Monday night. They're lucky the game is in Cincy.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (15) (0-2)
Loss to the Dolphins and Titans by a combined five points is not the way Justin Herbert and company saw this thing playing out, but now they're off to Minnesota in a game that could bury them for good.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (25) (1-1)
There's no shame in getting bludgeoned by the 49ers like the Steelers did in the opener. It's a bit embarrassing but they bounced back with a win over Cleveland thanks to two defensive touchdowns. That, however, is not a recipe for consistent success.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (19) (1-1)
Looking forward to the battle of mediocrity when the Raiders and Steelers meet in the Steel City on Sunday night.
26. Denver Broncos (26) (0-2)
There's just no way the Broncos are going to avoid falling to 0-3 with a game at Miami this Sunday, right? They've lost two games by a total of three points but both were at home. Russell Wilson got sacked seven times by the Commanders. The start of the Sean Payton era in Denver is not very encouraging.
27. New England Patriots (21) (0-2)
Bill Belichick better get win No. 1 against the Jets on Sunday because the Patriots sure as heck aren't going to leave Dallas with a win in Week 4.
28. Indianapolis Colts (28) (1-1)
Anthony Richardson is a baller. There's already zero doubt that he's the best QB from the 2023 NFL Draft.
29. Carolina Panthers (30) (0-2)
Bryce Young is not the best QB from the 2023 NFL Draft and the Panthers -- we'll guarantee it right now -- are going to be 0-6 entering their bye because up next are the Seahawks, Vikings, Lions and Dolphins.
30. Houston Texans (29) (0-2)
C.J. Stroud is putting up big numbers and he's got a couple of solid young receivers in Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Still, the Texans can't stop anybody and they can't run the ball. Good luck.
31. Chicago Bears (31) (0-2)
The Bears are legitimately bad at everything. Justin Fields can't pass even though he has some talent around him in DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet. It's going to be a long season in the Windy City.
32. Arizona Cardinals (32) (0-2)
Has tank mode ever been more apparent than the Cardinals blowing a 20-0 halftime lead to a Giants team that got outscored 60-0 in the first six quarters of the season? Nope.
