1. New England Patriots (3-0; Last Week- No. 1)
A step above everyone else in the AFC. And if they get home-field advantage in the AFC, we know how difficult it is to win in Foxboro.
2. Green Bay Packers (3-0; Last Week- No. 2)
Aaron Rodgers just continues to amaze. Looking ahead at the Packers’ schedule, the Week-8 Sunday night game in Denver against the Broncos’ terrific defense will be a fun one.
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-0; Last Week- No. 3)
You could argue they belong higher on this list; they’re playing terrific all-around football. Usually known more for their defense, the Cardinals lead the NFL in points scored right now, with 126 points through three games (a 42.0 average).
4. Denver Broncos (3-0; Last Week- No. 4)
The NFL’s top-ranked defense at the moment, and they have the talent to keep it that way all year.
To be able to beat the top teams, they’ll likely need to be able to do more offensively though. That’s particularly the case in the run game, where the Broncos are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. It would certainly make things easier for a declining Peyton Manning if the Broncos could establish the run.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0; Last Week- No. 5)
Andy Dalton is playing the best football of his career to lead the Bengals to a 3-0 start. Dalton has thrown eight touchdowns, one interception, and has a 121.0 QB Rating (which would lead the NFL if Aaron Rodgers didn’t exist). If Dalton keeps playing anything like this, the Bengals will be very difficult to beat, and could challenge the Patriots and Broncos for the top team in the AFC.
6. Seattle Seahawks (1-2; Last Week- No. 7)
Hey, that Jimmy Graham guy is pretty good, as the Seahawks finally realized in their 26-0 rout of the Bears in Week 3.
Overall, the Seahawks looked much more like the team we expected to see. Yes, it’s hard to take much away from crushing Jimmy Clausen and the Bears, but it’s also not easy to shut out an NFL team regardless of how bad they are.
And Seattle’s best football is still to come (Marshawn Lynch still isn’t healthy, for example).
7. Atlanta Falcons (3-0; Last Week- No. 11)
3-0, with all of the wins vs what are expected to be the top-3 teams in the NFC East.
Julio Jones is pretty much unstoppable. He made Matt Ryan look much better than Ryan truly looked vs the Cowboys in the Falcons’ 39-28 road win.
8. Buffalo Bills (2-1; Last Week- No. 8)
Tyrod Taylor looks legit, rocking a 116.1 QB rating, and 96 yards rushing with a touchdown And at running back, LeSean McCoy has been less than 100% healthy and it’s showed on the field, but rookie fifth-rounder Karlos Williams has more than made up for it on the ground. Williams has 24 carries for 186 yards (7.8 yards per carry) and three touchdowns.
We knew the Bills’ defense would be very good, but the offense looks very good too, and for reasons you couldn’t have predicted coming into the season.
9. Minnesota Vikings (2-1; Last Week- No. 16)
Vintage Adrian Peterson runs in the Vikings’ 31-14 shredding of the Chargers. After an awful performance in Week 1 vs the 49ers, the Vikings have rebounded with two great all-around games resembling the playoff-worthy team we thought they’d be in 2015.
10. Carolina Panthers (3-0; Last Week- No. 12)
An offense with few weapons finally went to their biggest one, in tight end Greg Olsen (8/134/2). They’ll need to keep doing that, but it’s still hard to buy into them as a Super Bowl contender with this offense.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1; Last Week- No. 16)
Losing Ben Roethlisberger is huge, but the offense should still be able to score points with Michael Vick under center. That’s primarily because Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are really freaking good. And Vick has always thrown a very good deep ball, an area Brown is dominating the league.
12. Dallas Cowboys (2-1; Last Week- No. 10)
While it was in a losing effort and the defense allowed 39 points, the Cowboys had lots of positives against the Falcons. The offensive line showed it’s top-notch, and that allowed the running game to average 6.0 yards per carry. They may be able to get by just fine in that department, and it will be huge if they can do so while Tony Romo is out.
13. New York Jets (2-1; Last Week- No. 9)
What on earth was Brandon Marshall thinking on that lateral?
14. Indianapolis Colts (1-2; Last Week- No. 19)
Still full of issues, but finally got a win (and it wasn’t easy). Andrew Luck and this offense will pick it up.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2; Last Week- No. 13)
It’s hard to knock them down too far for losing at Lambeau to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. But the questions still remain about Alex Smith being able to take this team to the next level.
16. San Diego Chargers (1-2; Last Week- No. 14)
They would be 0-3 if not for a late rally at home vs what is still a winless Lions team. This offensive line is a complete mess right now.
17. New York Giants (1-2; Last Week- No. 21)
Got their first win in blowout fashion. Eli Manning is playing very efficient football through three games: Four touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 64.8 completion percentage.
18. Oakland Raiders (2-1; Last Week- No. 26; Biggest Riser)
The Derek Carr-Amari Cooper connection continues to sizzle. They should be able to keep it going against the Bears’ secondary in Week 4, and help give the Raiders a great chance at a 3-1 record.
This team is on the rise and given the plethora of young talent (it’s weird to see Raiders hitting on their draft picks, right?), don’t expect that to stop anytime soon.
19. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2; Last Week- No. 22)
The offense is still a work in progress, but that was a big win on the road against a solid Jets team. Let’s see if that gets them going.
20 St. Louis Rams (1-2; Last Week- No. 17)
All the excitement of beating the Seahawks in Week 1 has likely vanished after two straight bad losses. Scoring points figures to be an issue for the Rams all year.
21. Baltimore Ravens (0-3; Last Week- No. 18)
It’s weird to think of the Ravens facing a must-win game in only Week 4, but that’s basically the position this 0-3 Baltimore squad is in. They really need to find a way to get a victory against the Roethlisberger-less Steelers on Thursday night. If not, it’s hard to see this group overcoming an 0-4 start.
22. Miami Dolphins (1-2; Last Week- No. 15; Biggest Faller)
Probably the most disappointing team in football right now. Their performance vs the Bills in Week 3 was atrocious. They look like a team that’s given up on their coach, and that’s a pretty awful sign through just three games. How much longer can they keep Joe Philbin around? There is far too much talent on the team to be playing this badly.
23. Washington Redskins (1-2; Last Week- No. 23)
Kirk Cousins is most definitely not the answer. Washington will continue to be the worst team in the NFC East until they get the quarterback situation resolved.
24. Detroit Lions (0-3; Last Week- No. 20)
When one of your best offensive players is complaining that opponents know what plays your offense is going to call, that isn’t a good sign.
With their next two games against the Seahawks and Cardinals, it’s likely the Lions will start 0-5. Given how good the Packers are, and how bad the Lions and Bears are, we can already remove two teams from the NFC North race, not even a month into the season.
25. Tennessee Titans (1-2; Last Week- No. 28)
For a bad team, there is a lot to like about the Titans, starting with the quarterback (and that’s where it all starts in this league, of course). Their fourth-quarter collapse against the Colts has to sting though.
26. Houston Texans (1-2; Last Week- No. 29)
Getting Arian Foster back in the next couple of weeks will be big for the offense, but they still need someone that can throw the ball.
27. Cleveland Browns (1-2; Last Week- No. 27)
Sure, keep playing Josh McCown. That’s working wonderfully.
28. San Francisco 49ers (1-2; Last Week- No. 25)
Colin Kaepernick in Week 3: 9-for-19, 67 yards, four interceptions (two of which for pick-sixes). Yikes.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2; Last Week- No. 24)
Just when you think the Jags may be making strides, they give up 51 points.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2: Last Week- No. 30)
This may be the worst team on this list in reality, but they have to be rewarded for at least having a win. With an inconsistent rookie quarterback, you just don’t know what to expect from this team on a weekly basis. But usually it’s going to be bad.
31. New Orleans Saints (0-3; Last Week- No. 31)
The Saints actually had a great chance to win against a good Panthers team on the road in Week 3, with Luke McCown at quarterback. If they play like this with Drew Brees, they will win some games.
32. Chicago Bears (0-3; Last Week- No. 32)
The Bears just have little chance to beat anyone if Jimmy Clausen is at quarterback.
This Clausen statistical nugget is unbelievable (via Scott Kacsmar): In 19 NFL appearances (12 starts), Clausen has never thrown for 200+ yards in a single game.
