Which team’s stock is rising/falling the most heading into Week 3?
Written by: Greg Lehr
Power Rankings by: The Blitz Team
Last week was full of loud overreactions from opening weekend in the NFL. The second week of the season usually further solidifies (or exaggerates) those initial reactions, or helps calibrate them back to what most people originally thought coming into the year. For instance, the rebuilding NY Giants were expected to struggle on both sides of the ball, making it only a matter of time before Daniel Jones gets a shot to start over Eli. Week 3 is certainly sooner than most expected - but still falls into the first category - solidifying the idea that the Giants a rebuilding franchise desperately ready to move forward with a young quarterback. The Browns, on the other hand, were embarrassed last week by the Titans, but Baker and OBJ found their explosive connection on Monday Night Football to help calm some of the panics in Cleveland. Speaking of panic, not a good week at all for the Saints and Steelers, who each saw their franchise QB suffer significant injuries that will sideline them for several weeks and the rest of the season, respectively. How did these injuries impact those teams in our Week 3 Power Rankings?
Week 3 Risers
Buffalo Bills (+10)
Current Ranking: 20
Last Week: 10
Bills fans are walking with their heads high this week after a second consecutive win at the Meadowlands, beating both other New York teams to start the 2019 campaign. Led by a stingy defense and rising talent in Josh Allen, the Bills should prove to be a consistently tough opponent as the year goes on.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+10)
Current Ranking: 20
Last Week: 30
What a difference a week makes. After the opening week dud by the Bucs offense against the 49ers, there were widespread complaints and concerns that not even Bruce Arians could help Jameis Winston. A hard-fought win against a division rival on the road sure changes the tune fast. Credit where credit is due, Jameis played much better despite wet field conditions. Oh, and he also appears to potentially have a new favorite target (at least through two weeks) in Chris Godwin (11 rec, 174 yds, 2 TD).
Seattle Seahawks (+5)
Current Ranking: 5
Last Week: 10
Although Ben Roethlisberger did not play the second half for the hometown Steelers, Seattle still had to overcome a halftime deficit on the road in a tough environment at Heinz Field. Russell Wilson was outstanding (29/35, 300 yds, 3 TD), while both Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny combined for a solid day on the ground too. The Seahawks always seem to find ways to finish out games, and this past week was no different. The Blitz team has taken notice, moving them into the top five in this week’s rankings.
Week 3 Fallers
New Orleans Saints (-14)
Current Ranking: 18
Last Week: 4
A huge disappointment for Saints fans on Sunday as they looked to avenge their NFC Championship loss from a season ago. Early in the first half, Drew Brees suffered a torn ligament in his throwing hand (thumb) that will likely keep him out for about six weeks. However, the season is far from lost for New Orleans. Although their next two games are quite the challenge (at Seattle, home vs Dallas), they also play winnable games vs Tampa Bay, at Jacksonville, at Chicago, and vs Arizona. Teddy Bridgewater has a chance to prove to New Orleans, and the rest of the NFL, that he can still carry a franchise in this league.
New York Jets
Current Ranking: 30
Last Week: 23
The news of Sam Darnold coming down with mononucleosis is a back-breaker for Jets fans. Although Darnold is hoping to return as early as week five against the Eagles, it can be a complicated issue which is why there is no true timetable for his return just yet. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Trevor Siemian suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Monday Night Football after a Myles Garrett hit, leaving Luke Falk at the helm. If there is one glimpse of hope this year, it’s that Le’Veon Bell looks like the same player as two years ago as a dual-threat option out of the backfield (129 total yards Monday night).
Pittsburgh Steelers
Current Ranking: 24
Last Week: 18
You guessed it, another team falling hard due to the absence of their starting quarterback. The Steelers land on the wrong list for the second consecutive week, only this time with much less optimism due to Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow injury. Mason Rudolph, who threw for 112 yards, 2 TD, and 1 INT after taking over for Big Ben, will take over an offense led by James Connor and JuJu Smith-Schuster, both of whom have been relatively quiet to start the year. However, Pittsburgh is clearly not throwing in the towel after they traded their 2020 first-round draft pick to Miami for versatile defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Full NFL Power Rankings: Week 3
Rankings by: The Blitz Team
1. New England Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. Green Bay Packers
7. Baltimore Ravens
8. Philadelphia Eagles
9. Minnesota Vikings
10. Buffalo Bills
11. Los Angeles Chargers
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. Chicago Bears
14. Houston Texans
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Cleveland Browns
18. New Orleans Saints
19. Tennessee Titans
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21. Oakland Raiders
22. Detroit Lions
23. Carolina Panthers
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Arizona Cardinals
26. Washington Redskins
27. Denver Broncos
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
29. Cincinnati Bengals
30. New York Jets
31. New York Giants
32. Miami Dolphins