If the college thread is 25 pages deep I know there's gotta be a few NFL fans in here. So the first two weeks are already in the books... The Packers, 49'ers, and Cowboys are all 2-0 and O.J. Simpson has been arrested. We're back in the mid 90's .
Here's how I'd rank them through two weeks:
1. New England, (2-0)
Cheaters or not, Brady and his new toys will be hard to stop all year. Belichick's defense is stout as always, and Wes Welker may prove to be the most underrated free-agent pickup of the year.
2. Indianapolis, (2-0)
Just barely got past Tennessee; an underrated team in their own right. Expect the Colts in the top 3 all season long.
3. Pittsburgh, (2-0)
Roethlisberger loves flingin' it around in this new offense. Santonio Holmes has emerged as a viable option opposite Hines Ward. Coach Mike Tomlin inherited one of the league's fastest, most aggressive defenses and has done well to avoid taking over the reigns from Dick LeBeau.
4. Dallas, (2-0)
I really hate to say it, but the Cowboys look good right now. Their defense has struggled at times but Romo has picked up right where he left off last year. Except the Dallas slide to begin about mid-season or a bit after.
5. Chicago, (1-1)
Any special teams coach that decides to punt to Devin Hester should be fired... immediately. I mean literally kicked off the field. This guy is from another world. How the hell Rex Grossman is still their QB is beyond me. If they can find someone to plug-in, just manage the game and stay out of the way, they'll be in better shape.
6. Cincinnati, (1-1)
What happened to Marvin Lewis being a defense guru? 554 yards to Cleveland? That may not look as horrible if Derek Anderson turns out to be the real deal.
7. Washington, (2-0)
The Washington defense is back after a one-off last season. LaRon Landry and Sean Taylor are a tandem in the secondary no team wants any part of. Just ask Kevin Curtis on that fourth down Monday night. Jason Campbell has a terrific arm to compliment the team's 1-2 punch in the backfield, but the team may have lost its entire right side of the offensive line for the season already.
8. San Diego, (1-1)
They looked awful Sunday night in Foxboro. The squad is loaded with talent at every position except wide receiver, but any team that hires Norv Turner to be its head coach must've been sleeping under a rock for the past decade. That's a decision that's prompted a "wtf" out of me every time I think about it. Same offense as Cam Cameron's or not, Turner isn't head coach material.
9. Houston, (2-0)
Picked them to upset Carolina this past weekend. The Texans have the hapless Falcons to thank for being dumb enough to give up Matt Schaub. Looks like David Carr was more of the problem in Houston than many thought.
10. Baltimore, (1-1)
Not overly impressive in any facet so far. A .500 team at best this year with nothing on offense. Except a steady slide down the rankings all season.
11. San Francisco, (2-0)
In desperate need of help at wide receiver, but a stout, reliable defense, a stud RB, and an up-and-coming QB will be enough to have them competing for the NFC West title through the final few weeks.
12. Detroit, (2-0)
One of the better hires of the last several years was bringing Mike Martz in as offensive coordinator. For all the flack GM Matt Millen takes, and deservedly so, that was the smartest move he's made yet. If the defense can at least stay average, Detroit will be in the wild card hunt this year. How 'bout that Calvin Johnson?
13. Green Bay, (2-0)
This young, not-so-touted defense will be the Packers' backbone this year. If Favre continues to just make plays when they're there and not try to force anything they'll have a shot at a wild card spot. They have some nice young weapons to work with in Greg Jennings, Brandon Jackson, James Jones.
14. Seattle, (1-1)
If not for a botched hand-off they'd be 2-0.
15. Denver, (2-0)
By far the worst 2-0 team in the league. Found a way to squeak by Buffalo by one in the dieing seconds, then actually lost at home to Oakland before being handed a second life.
16. Tennessee, (1-1)
Jeff Fisher always has his defense competing and Vince Young finds a way to keep drives alive.
17. Minnesota, (1-1)
Tavaris Jackson isn't an NFL quarterback. It's a good thing the Vikes acquired Brooks Bollinger. A stud offensive and defensive line as well as Adrian Peterson will keep them in the thick of things this year as long as Jackson doesn't repeat his 4 interception performance too often.
18. Carolina, (1-1)
A quickly-aging defense and average quarterback may see them in the bottom 10 by year's end.
19. New Orleans, (0-2)
Wow... who would've guessed they would get blown out in their first two games after last season? This should be the lowest they're ranked all year.
20. Arizona, (1-1)
One of those teams who could easily be 2-0 or 0-2 right now. If Leinhart comes around along with Russ Grimm's offensive line, watch out.
21. Philadelphia, (0-2)
If they could just field a punt they'd be 1-1. The Eagles aren't dead yet, but McNabb needs to pick it up.
22. NY Giants, (0-2)
Midgets might be a more appropriate moniker to this point. They have some talent on both sides of the ball, but with an injured Manning and a coach that seems to have overstayed his welcome, the Giants appear set for a last-place finish in the NFC East.
23. St. Louis, (0-2)
Scott Linehan may be the worst personnel man in the NFL. He isn't officially the team's GM, but he has way too much power. He wasted two first-day draft picks on TE's last year with 0 returns. Then he signs Randy McMichael, let's a young, blazing WR in Kevin Curtis go, and replaces him with a slow, aging Drew Bennett. They'll just survive with Bulger, Holt, and Jackson... how can you not?
24. N.Y. Jets, (0-2)
Kellen Clemens couldn't have done much better in relief of Pennington in Ed Reed and Ray Lewis' house. Still, the Jets won't be doing much winning this year.
25. Cleveland, (0-2)
Is Derek Anderson for real? If so... there's only way the Browns can go in these rankings. The Browns have weapons, the problem has always been getting them the ball.
26. Tampa Bay, (1-1)
Signing Jeff Garcia was a rare good personnel move by Gruden.
27. Jacksonville, (1-1)
No real difference-maker on either side of the ball unless Jones-Drew gets it going.
28. Buffalo, (0-2)
J.P. Loserman. Enough said.
29. Miami, (0-2)
Trent Green is officially old, and that Miami defense isn't too far behind.
30. Oakland, (0-2)
Should be a surprising 1-1 if not for incredibly bad luck after kicking the game-winner in Denver. They still have a lot to prove. Loco Al Davis isn't helping.
31. Kansas City, (0-2)
L.J. can't do it alone.
32. Atlanta, (0-2)
Just signed 97-year old kicker Morten Andersen.
Here's how I'd rank them through two weeks:
1. New England, (2-0)
Cheaters or not, Brady and his new toys will be hard to stop all year. Belichick's defense is stout as always, and Wes Welker may prove to be the most underrated free-agent pickup of the year.
2. Indianapolis, (2-0)
Just barely got past Tennessee; an underrated team in their own right. Expect the Colts in the top 3 all season long.
3. Pittsburgh, (2-0)
Roethlisberger loves flingin' it around in this new offense. Santonio Holmes has emerged as a viable option opposite Hines Ward. Coach Mike Tomlin inherited one of the league's fastest, most aggressive defenses and has done well to avoid taking over the reigns from Dick LeBeau.
4. Dallas, (2-0)
I really hate to say it, but the Cowboys look good right now. Their defense has struggled at times but Romo has picked up right where he left off last year. Except the Dallas slide to begin about mid-season or a bit after.
5. Chicago, (1-1)
Any special teams coach that decides to punt to Devin Hester should be fired... immediately. I mean literally kicked off the field. This guy is from another world. How the hell Rex Grossman is still their QB is beyond me. If they can find someone to plug-in, just manage the game and stay out of the way, they'll be in better shape.
6. Cincinnati, (1-1)
What happened to Marvin Lewis being a defense guru? 554 yards to Cleveland? That may not look as horrible if Derek Anderson turns out to be the real deal.
7. Washington, (2-0)
The Washington defense is back after a one-off last season. LaRon Landry and Sean Taylor are a tandem in the secondary no team wants any part of. Just ask Kevin Curtis on that fourth down Monday night. Jason Campbell has a terrific arm to compliment the team's 1-2 punch in the backfield, but the team may have lost its entire right side of the offensive line for the season already.
8. San Diego, (1-1)
They looked awful Sunday night in Foxboro. The squad is loaded with talent at every position except wide receiver, but any team that hires Norv Turner to be its head coach must've been sleeping under a rock for the past decade. That's a decision that's prompted a "wtf" out of me every time I think about it. Same offense as Cam Cameron's or not, Turner isn't head coach material.
9. Houston, (2-0)
Picked them to upset Carolina this past weekend. The Texans have the hapless Falcons to thank for being dumb enough to give up Matt Schaub. Looks like David Carr was more of the problem in Houston than many thought.
10. Baltimore, (1-1)
Not overly impressive in any facet so far. A .500 team at best this year with nothing on offense. Except a steady slide down the rankings all season.
11. San Francisco, (2-0)
In desperate need of help at wide receiver, but a stout, reliable defense, a stud RB, and an up-and-coming QB will be enough to have them competing for the NFC West title through the final few weeks.
12. Detroit, (2-0)
One of the better hires of the last several years was bringing Mike Martz in as offensive coordinator. For all the flack GM Matt Millen takes, and deservedly so, that was the smartest move he's made yet. If the defense can at least stay average, Detroit will be in the wild card hunt this year. How 'bout that Calvin Johnson?
13. Green Bay, (2-0)
This young, not-so-touted defense will be the Packers' backbone this year. If Favre continues to just make plays when they're there and not try to force anything they'll have a shot at a wild card spot. They have some nice young weapons to work with in Greg Jennings, Brandon Jackson, James Jones.
14. Seattle, (1-1)
If not for a botched hand-off they'd be 2-0.
15. Denver, (2-0)
By far the worst 2-0 team in the league. Found a way to squeak by Buffalo by one in the dieing seconds, then actually lost at home to Oakland before being handed a second life.
16. Tennessee, (1-1)
Jeff Fisher always has his defense competing and Vince Young finds a way to keep drives alive.
17. Minnesota, (1-1)
Tavaris Jackson isn't an NFL quarterback. It's a good thing the Vikes acquired Brooks Bollinger. A stud offensive and defensive line as well as Adrian Peterson will keep them in the thick of things this year as long as Jackson doesn't repeat his 4 interception performance too often.
18. Carolina, (1-1)
A quickly-aging defense and average quarterback may see them in the bottom 10 by year's end.
19. New Orleans, (0-2)
Wow... who would've guessed they would get blown out in their first two games after last season? This should be the lowest they're ranked all year.
20. Arizona, (1-1)
One of those teams who could easily be 2-0 or 0-2 right now. If Leinhart comes around along with Russ Grimm's offensive line, watch out.
21. Philadelphia, (0-2)
If they could just field a punt they'd be 1-1. The Eagles aren't dead yet, but McNabb needs to pick it up.
22. NY Giants, (0-2)
Midgets might be a more appropriate moniker to this point. They have some talent on both sides of the ball, but with an injured Manning and a coach that seems to have overstayed his welcome, the Giants appear set for a last-place finish in the NFC East.
23. St. Louis, (0-2)
Scott Linehan may be the worst personnel man in the NFL. He isn't officially the team's GM, but he has way too much power. He wasted two first-day draft picks on TE's last year with 0 returns. Then he signs Randy McMichael, let's a young, blazing WR in Kevin Curtis go, and replaces him with a slow, aging Drew Bennett. They'll just survive with Bulger, Holt, and Jackson... how can you not?
24. N.Y. Jets, (0-2)
Kellen Clemens couldn't have done much better in relief of Pennington in Ed Reed and Ray Lewis' house. Still, the Jets won't be doing much winning this year.
25. Cleveland, (0-2)
Is Derek Anderson for real? If so... there's only way the Browns can go in these rankings. The Browns have weapons, the problem has always been getting them the ball.
26. Tampa Bay, (1-1)
Signing Jeff Garcia was a rare good personnel move by Gruden.
27. Jacksonville, (1-1)
No real difference-maker on either side of the ball unless Jones-Drew gets it going.
28. Buffalo, (0-2)
J.P. Loserman. Enough said.
29. Miami, (0-2)
Trent Green is officially old, and that Miami defense isn't too far behind.
30. Oakland, (0-2)
Should be a surprising 1-1 if not for incredibly bad luck after kicking the game-winner in Denver. They still have a lot to prove. Loco Al Davis isn't helping.
31. Kansas City, (0-2)
L.J. can't do it alone.
32. Atlanta, (0-2)
Just signed 97-year old kicker Morten Andersen.
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