National Football League

NFL Power Rankings: Week 3

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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32

Cleveland Browns

0-3

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 32nd

The Browns were unlucky last Sunday. In other news, the sky is still blue. It’s scary to say but Cleveland should be sitting at 2-1 now, instead of the winless 0-3 record they currently hold. They let Baltimore back into the game in week 2, and they somehow couldn’t finish Miami off this time around despite having to only convert a 46-yard field goal. Cody Parker missed three during the day and that was the most costly.
It’s hard to see where a win is going to come from for Cleveland, especially when they don’t seem to want to earn any victories judging by their performances. Maybe in Washington next week?31

Chicago Bears

0-3

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 31st

Dak Prescott becomes the second rookie in successive weeks to claim a victory against the Bears weak secondary. Passing for 248 yards on just 19 completed passes is solid for Prescott but not so much so for Chicago. That’s also a second successive 0-3 start for John Fox as the veteran shot caller struggles to build a winning product for the storied franchise.
If we’re looking for positives, Brian Hoyer had a solid outing, completing 30/49 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. That’s as good as it gets though, with Chicago facing Detroit next at Soldier Field.30

Jacksonville Jaguars

0-3

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 29th

Jacksonville had all the chances to seal the game versus Baltimore but lacked the poise and composure to do so. Blake Bortles was intercepted three times, as the Jags also missed a late FG before Justin Tucker’s kick attempt won the game for the Ravens.
A huge concern for Gus Bradley will be Jacksonville’s weak rushing game. One way to sum up their poor running attack is that Baltimore’s QB Joe Flacco almost had as many yards on the ground as TJ Yeldon. It’s not too late for Jacksonville to kick start their campaign but time is running out. With Indy and Chicago up next, they can’t afford any more slip ups.29

New Orleans Saints

0-3

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 28th

The Saints didn’t look too bad in weeks 1 & 2 when they lost by no more than 3 points to the Raiders and Giants. However, the Monday Night Football match-up with divisional rivals Atlanta showcased New Orleans shortcomings in personnel. Drew Brees had a solid game, throwing for 376 yards and 3 touchdowns with an interception also occurring but there’s little that can be done when the defense gives up 45 points.
Devonta Freeman ran for 152 yards and Matt Ryan went turnover free. For the Saints, a 0-3 record in the NFC South is dangerous. Their next 3 home games they play host to Carolina, Denver and Seattle. It could be about to get worse for Sean Payton & Company.28

San Francisco 49ers

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 26th

You have to feel sorry for the 49ers. After a thrilling start to the season with a huge win over the LA Rams on national TV, the NFL schedule threw up two brutal games which may have ended any momentum San Francisco would have had. Trips to Carolina & Seattle, as expected, ended with two heavy defeats for Chip Kelly’s side.
Christine Michael ran all over their defense on his way to 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham both had over 100 receiving yards. The Niners also struggled to convert on third downs, holding an efficiency of just 26 percent.27

Tennessee Titans

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 25th

Tennessee certainly doesn’t lack any fight in them, despite the 1-2 start to the year. Sloppy play cost them in week 1 against the Vikings but they recovered with an impressive comeback in Detroit the following game. They almost managed to do the same against an improved but still fragile Raiders defense.
The Titans defense kept Oakland scoreless for the second half, as Marcus Mariota and his offense almost managed to overcome a double digit deficit at the half. A penalty on Andre Johnson, however, prevented such a feat and Tennessee must now prepare for a trip to Houston with a losing record.26

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 20th

If your offense puts up 32 points against that LA Rams defense, then you expect to win the game. Forcing Case Keenum to score more than 32 points should be a relaxing position to be in but the Buccaneers like to make life difficult for themselves. Jameis Winston bounced back from his dismal game in Arizona last week as he garnered over 400 passing yards for 3 touchdowns, while Mike Evans had 132 receiving yards.
Where the Bucs went wrong, however, was on the defensive side. The secondary gave up two big passing plays against Keenum as both Brian Quick and Tavon Austin converted 44 yard touchdowns. The campaign started so well for Tampa, as they picked up a huge win in Atlanta but two successive losses and a tough schedule in front of them could push them out of playoff contention sooner rather than later.25

San Diego Chargers

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 24th

Games like the one the Chargers lost on Sunday in Indianapolis are exactly why they’ll struggle to win without Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead. The offense did well to put 22 points on the board without their key players but Philip Rivers, despite passing for 330 yards, had zero touchdowns to his name as the absence of his playmakers were obvious.
San Diego looked like they had the victory secured but allowing TY Hilton on a late 63-yard run to the end zone cost them dearly. Hilton had 174 receiving yards and a that touchdown to his name on Sunday, the sort of numbers the Chargers may just have gotten from Allen if he was out there.24

Detroit Lions

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 19th

Perhaps if Detroit had realised that a football game last 60 minutes, and not 30, then they would have given themselves a much better chance of leaving Lambeau with a victory. A torrid first half placed any realistic chance the Lions had of gaining a positive result out the window. Aaron Rodgers may have just passed for 205 yards but he didn’t need to much else as he also threw 4 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Penalties is a continuous problem for Jim Caldwell’s side. Last week against the Titans, poor discipline cost them 138 yards. This time around they were penalised just 4 times but it set them back 86 yards. After a trip to Chicago next week, Detroit have three successive home games in which they’ll expect to find themselves with a winning record when it’s all said and done.23

Buffalo Bills

1-2

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 30th

Where were these Buffalo Bills for the first two weeks? A suffocating defensive performance in which they made Carson Palmer look like a very average NFL QB with 4 interceptions and harried the Arizona offensive line all game long, the Bills finally returned to what they do best.
Tyrod Taylor didn’t have too much to do as his defense and running back, LeSean McCoy, took care of things. McCoy had one of his best games in a Buffalo uniform, rushing for 110 yards on 17 attempts while finding the end zone twice.22

Los Angeles Rams

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 27th

Jeff Fisher will be over the moon with the way his side have bounced back from the embarrassment in week 1, but there must be a side of him that wonders why they couldn’t perform the same way against San Francisco as they did versus Seattle & Tampa Bay. Two successive wins has them in good shape for the season ahead and if the offense continues to go through Todd Gurley instead of Case Keenum, LA have every chance of snatching victories along the way.
Tampa had over 150 extra offensive yards than the Rams last Sunday but big plays by Brian Quick, Tavon Austin and Benny Cunningham, among others, contributed greatly to a massive win.21

Indianapolis Colts

1-2

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 23rd

Indianapolis may have ran it closer against San Diego last Sunday than they would have liked but the fact they finally got a win will be enough to please them during the week. Frank Gore turned back the clock somewhat with a solid 82 rushing yards performance while TY Hilton caught 8 passes for 174 yards as both players also put six points on the board for the Colts.
Adam Vinatieri continues to be the most reliable kicker in the NFL, but unless the defense and offensive line improves, Indy will struggle for the majority of the year. 20

Miami Dolphins

1-2

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 21st

The Dolphins needed a lot of luck to beat the Cleveland Browns at home last Sunday. That sentence alone is why it’s hard to see Miami doing much this year. Despite a spirited performance in Seattle in week 1 and an impressive turnaround second-half performance at the Patriots last week, the Dolphins had little reason to be proud of their performance.
Cody Kessler threw for 244 yards against Miami as the Dolphins defense forced zero interceptions. It’s never a good sign when the Browns offense gains more yards than yours, and Adam Gase has a lot of work in front of him as Miami prepare for the trip to Cincinnati in week 4.19

Washington Redskins

1-2

Last week: 0-2Last rank: 22nd

It may have been a shootout-style win in New York but the Redskins won a game they just couldn’t afford to lose. Falling 3 games behind the Giants and Philadelphia would have been dangerous, even this early on in the season, but wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder made big plays to ensure that didn’t happen. A risky fake punt was also converted and Washington are finally in the win column.
The defense finally stepped up in week 3 as they made Eli Manning make throws he isn’t comfortable making. 2 interceptions as well as a fumble recovery off of Shane Vereen’s drop made the difference down the stretch for the Redskins and they’ll need more of the same against Cleveland next week.18

Dallas Cowboys

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 18th

The Cowboys don’t move up in the rankings this week despite a victory, as they took care of the Bears on prime time. Don’t let that take away from their solid, almost no-nonsense performance on Sunday. Dak Prescott still struggles to convert in the red zone but with Ezekiel Elliot and that offensive line, there’s not too much concern from Dallas on that front just yet.
Cole Beasley and Terrence Williams combined for over 150 yards on Sunday and with Dez Bryant picking up an injury which puts him in doubt for this week’s action, both receivers may need to bring similar performances for the next couple of weeks should Bryant miss any action.17

Atlanta Falcons

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 17th

The Falcons are another team who won in week 3 and stay in the same spot, but only because those above them still look a bit better than Dan Quinn’s team. That said, Atlanta is quickly garnering the right sort of attention. Winning in Oakland was a challenge, while the road game in New Orleans was the downfall of their campaign last year. To come out of both games with a win is no easy feat, and the Falcons finally have some momentum as they get set to take on Carolina in week 4.
Devonta Freeman proved himself to be Atlanta’s #1 back as he rushed for an astonishing 152 yards and somehow ended up without a touchdown. He also led the Falcons in receiving yards with 45 as Julio Jones was held to just 1 catch for 16 yards. That the Falcons are able to win even when their best player is having a quiet night speaks volumes of the talent on this team.16

New York Giants

2-1

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 13th

The Giants let one get away last Saturday vs Washington. After two lucky but deserving wins in weeks 1 & 2, the luck finally turned the other way on New York as the Redskins sneaked a victory on the road.
Shane Vereen and Orleans Darkwa may have coupled together 100+ rushing yards between them, and Odell Beckham had a solid game opposite Josh Norman with 121 receiving yards but it was Eli Manning’s two interceptions which cost the team dearly. New York now face a tough schedule with the Vikings, Packers, Baltimore and a trip to London to face the Los Angeles Rams next up for them.15

New York Jets

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 10th

There have been a couple ugly games from quarterback’s this season already but Ryan Fitzpatrick’s performance in the hammering by the Chiefs on Sunday night may just top the rest of them. Six interceptions and just 188 yards on 44 attempted passes is a very bad look for a QB who is aiming to prove himself this year.
There’s not much you can put on the defense when the offense is turning the ball over at just about any opportunity. The Jets actually gained more offensive yards than the Chiefs but what good is that when the turnovers are plentiful?14

Houston Texans

2-1

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 11th

The most disappointing performance of the week has to go to the Houston Texans. Spoken about as a possible Super Bowl contender after two impressive victories, the Texans went into New England and got beaten too convincingly. Head coach Bill O’ Brien simply went into the game with a Tom Brady gameplan to stop Jacoby Brissett. Bill Belichick out-coached his former protege and the Texans went home with their tails between their legs.
Brock Osweiler struggled throughout, completing just 24 of 41 passes for an unspectacular 196 yards. I still think when he settles into being a starting QB, Osweiler will come good but it was a painful thing to watch last Thursday. Luckily for the Houston, the rest of the division isn’t looking so strong and they still hold top spot in the AFC South.13

Baltimore Ravens

3-0

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 16th

Baltimore may have been involved in scrappy games thus far but it’s what they do best. Bring out the talent on the defensive side and let Joe Flacco lead them to victory offensively. It’s easier said than done and close calls vs Buffalo, Cleveland and Jacksonville were there. At the end of it, however, Baltimore stands at 3-0 and leads the competitive AFC North.
The Ravens run defense has been solid this year, though giving up 100+ yards to Isiah Crowell isn’t a good look, they were able to stuff Buffalo & Jacksonville at the line of scrimmage. They would like to win games a little bit more comfortably and easier but for now, they’ll take the wins whichever way they come.12

Oakland Raiders

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 15th

Oakland had a lot of work to do heading into the game in Tennessee to face the Titans. Most of that work came on the defensive side of the ball after giving up over 1,000 yards of offense over the first two weeks of the season. They slightly improved on that last Sunday but on that side of the ball, they still look very fragile and uncomfortable.
The Raiders did manage to stuff the Titans third down conversions, limiting them to just 2 from 12 successful attempts. More of that and less of the giving up easy yards and the Raiders will be a tough team to beat.11

Cincinnati Bengals

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 8th

Trevor Siemian may be improving each week as an NFL quarterback but the Bengals giving up 4 touchdown passes and 312 passing yards to such an inexperience play caller signifies questions have to be asked of that secondary. As the game wore on, you could sense Siemian gaining more confidence with each completed pass, realizing his deep arm was bound to catch out Cincy’s defense sooner or later and, on a couple of occasions, it most certainly did.
They did manage to stop CJ Anderson from doing much, while the Bengals own running back in Jeremy Hill had a solid outing but Andy Dalton struggled against the best secondary in the league with just 206 yards on 31 attempted passes.10

Philadelphia Eagles

3-0

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 14th

People claimed it was only the Browns or the Bears when Carson Wentz was lauded for his strong start to what should be a long NFL career, but there’s not much you can pick out regarding his performance against the very sturdy defense of Pittsburgh. The rookie QB threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns while his interception-free season continues. His plays aren’t spectacular but solid and re-assuring.
On the other side of the field, the Eagles defense stuffed any running game attempt from Pittsburgh as well as making Ben Roethlisberger to a second successive average performance. Next up for Philly, after the bye week, is the Detroit Lions.9

Kansas City Chiefs

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 12th

The Chiefs may have gotten the biggest win in week 3 as they dismantled the Jets at home, 24-3. The AFC wild-card race is bound to be competitive this year with both Kansas City and New York expected to be two of a few contenders for a spot in the postseason. They couldn’t afford to drop another conference game, after last week’s defeat to Houston, and the performance showed the players were well aware of that.
The defense intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick 6 times, gave up just over 300 offensive yards and simply refused to allow their opponents to find the end zone with 4 failed attempts in that area on the field.8

Seattle Seahawks

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 7th

Seattle drops down a place in these rankings despite picking up a victory over divisional rival San Francisco last Sunday. Questions still remain over the offensive line, arguably one of the worst in the NFL, as a trip to face the daunting defense of the Jets is a scary match-up for Russell Wilson.
The secondary interrupted Blaine Gabbert the whole game, limiting him to 14 from 25 completions and just 119 yards as well as an interception. Christine Michael also had a solid day for the Seahawks, rushing 106 yards and two touchdowns.7

Arizona Cardinals

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 5th

Carson Palmer will need to put last Sunday’s horror show behind him as quickly as possible, if he’s to lead Arizona to the promised land. Four interceptions and just over 50% completed passes shows what a dismal afternoon the veteran QB endured against a blistering Buffalo defense.
Running back David Johnson tried as much as he could to will his team back into the game with 83 rushing yards and two touchdowns but Palmer’s errors put the Cardinals in too deep a hole to get out of.6

Carolina Panthers

1-2

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 2nd

Poor offensive line play and a sloppy special teams performance cost the Panthers dearly in their home loss to Minnesota. Despite outplaying their opponents for the majority of the first half, a safety and punt return allowed the Vikings back into the ball game. It was a cruel reminder that no team is ever out of it in the NFL.
The defense had an impressive outing, holding Minnesota to just 211 total offensive yards but it was turnovers and key mistakes which led to Carolina’s second defeat of the year. The Panthers have three divisional games next on their schedule, two of which are on the road, so a win is needed next week in Atlanta to boost morale and hopefully offer some momentum.5

Pittsburgh Steelers

2-1

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 3rd

Carson Wentz picked apart Pittsburgh’s defense as Ben Roethlisberger struggled throughout on Sunday. Pittsburgh’s QB had a difficult enough time last week versus the Bengals as well, and with DeAngelo Williams unable to get much going in terms of a running game, the Steelers offense had an off day in Philly.
There are a couple of tricky matches coming up for Mike Tomlin’s side. Home games against the Chiefs and Jets offer some relaxation but the Steelers will want to beat both teams in case they fail to win their division and are left fighting for a wild card spot. After those fixtures, Pittsburgh travels to Miami before hosting New England. It’s their first loss of the year, but the Steelers will realize that a couple more could be added to the L column if they don’t improve.4

Minnesota Vikings

3-0

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 9th

What can be said about that Vikings defense? As if suffocating the Aaron Rodgers led offense last week versus Green Bay wasn’t impressive enough, Minnesota went into Carolina and stole one against the Panthers. The second half performance was very impressive and you got the feeling when Mike Zimmer’s side took the lead, they were never going to lose it due to their talented defense.
Keeping Cam Newton and his offense scoreless for three full quarters, especially after they put 10 points on the board in the first, is not an easy thing to do but three interceptions, eight sacks and a safety will give you as much of a chance as you need to win a game in the NFL. Speaking of Zimmer, he’s surely the leading contender for Coach of the Year at this point in the season.3

Green Bay Packers

2-1

Last week: 1-1Last rank: 4th

The Packers sure had fun in the first half on Sunday against Detroit, as they tacked on 31 points before the break. Aaron Rodgers barely broke a sweat as he threw for four touchdowns and 205 yards on just 15 completed passes while Eddie Lacy ran for 103 yards.
The secondary is still a major problem for Green Bay, however. A week after Stefon Diggs dominated them in the majority of their battles, Marvin Jones had a similar outing. The wide receiver caught just 6 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Watching film of this game was sometimes comical as the amount of times Jones was left wide open was laughable and something which you wouldn’t expect to see in the NFL.2

Denver Broncos

3-0

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 6th

If Trevor Siemian can keep up the level of performance that he produced on Sunday in Cincinnati, the Broncos may be a more dangerous team than last year. And they won the Super Bowl. The rookie QB threw for 312 yards, 4 touchdowns and zero interceptions during his side’s convincing 29-17 win.
Siemian is fortunate to be playing with such a top-level defense, especially a secondary that refuses to allow any quarterback around the NFL enjoy much luck against them. If the Broncos continue to play like the Super Bowl champions they are, it’s hard to see where that first loss comes from with games against Tampa Bay, Atlanta, San Diego and Houston coming next for them. Winnable games if they perform to their best, which is what they’ve done through the first 3 weeks.1

New England Patriots

3-0

Last week: 2-0Last rank: 1st

Is there any other team in the league that could play without their first and second string quarterbacks and still hammer a possible Super Bowl contender in the Houston Texans? Nope, didn’t think so. The New England Patriots continue to amaze everyone during the absence of Tom Brady as they continued rolling along with a shutout of Bill O’ Brien’s side last Thursday.
LaGarrette Blount ran for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns while the Patriots defense refused to allow Houston anywhere near the red zone. It’s Buffalo up next and then Brady returns for week 5.

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