Every week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Solar will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will take into consideration not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how properly every group measures up as Tremendous Bowl contenders.
Listed below are the rankings heading into Week 3:
Tremendous Bowl favorites
1. Buffalo Payments (2-0, No. 1 final week)
2. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2-0, No. 2)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0, No. 3)
The Payments aren’t dropping their high spot this week. Buffalo throttled the Titans, 41-7, on Monday evening behind 4 landing passes from Josh Allen — together with three to Stefon Diggs — and one other dominant efficiency from the protection. The 2019 Ravens completed with the very best level differential in NFL historical past (+249), however Buffalo is on tempo to interrupt that report.
For all of the speak about how a lot the AFC West improved this offseason, it’s nonetheless the Chiefs’ division to lose. Kansas Metropolis made an early assertion with a 27-24 win over the Chargers on Thursday evening by getting manufacturing from an unheralded group of gamers. Rookie seventh-round draft decide Jaylen Watson returned an interception 99 yards for a landing, whereas veteran operating again Jerick McKinnon and fourth-round large receiver Justin Watson caught landing passes from Patrick Mahomes. This Chiefs group seems to be deep and able to compete for the highest seed within the AFC.
Within the NFC, the Bucs nonetheless appear to be the category of the convention regardless of lacking some key gamers. Even with receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones and high left tackles Donovan Smith and Josh Wells sidelined by accidents, Tampa Bay made sufficient performs down the stretch to safe a 20-10 win over the Saints. Whereas quarterback Tom Brady struggled for many of the recreation till hitting former Ravens first-round decide Breshad Perriman for a go-ahead 28-yard landing within the fourth quarter, the Bucs compelled 5 turnovers, together with a 68-yard pick-six by Mike Edwards to ice the sport. Brady doesn’t must be good to maintain profitable behind this dominant protection.
The highest contenders
4. Miami Dolphins (2-0, No. 8)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0, No. 7)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1, No. 4)
7. Inexperienced Bay Packers (1-1, No. 10)
8. Los Angeles Rams (1-1, No. 9)
9. Baltimore Ravens (1-1, No. 5)
It’s time to contemplate the Dolphins a real AFC contender. In an unbelievable 42-38 comeback win towards the Ravens, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 469 yards and a franchise-record tying six touchdowns, utterly altering the notion of what’s potential for the third-year quarterback beneath new coach Mike McDaniel. Miami may need the league’s finest receiving duo in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who turned the primary pair of teammates in NFL historical past to report a minimum of 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and two landing catches in the identical recreation. It stays to be seen whether or not Tagovailoa and his receivers can sustain this degree of manufacturing, however there’s little question the Dolphins are a drive to be reckoned with.
Whereas Miami has a transparent blueprint for fulfillment, the group it erased a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat has loads of inquiries to reply about its personal id. Via three quarters, the Ravens regarded unstoppable as Lamar Jackson tore via a Dolphins protection that gave him suits with its Cowl 0 blitzes final season. Jackson turned the primary participant in NFL historical past to report a landing move and run of a minimum of 75 yards in the identical recreation and practically completed with an ideal passer ranking, however even that MVP-level efficiency wasn’t sufficient to bail out the Ravens’ atrocious protection. The blown coverages within the secondary elevate uncomfortable questions for brand spanking new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who might want to shore up his gamers’ communication earlier than Baltimore may even take into consideration competing with the Chiefs and Payments for the AFC title.
The wild playing cards
10. San Francisco 49ers (1-1, No. 18)
11. Minnesota Vikings (1-1, No. 6)
12. New Orleans Saints (1-1, No. 12)
13. Denver Broncos (1-1, No. 13)
14. Arizona Cardinals (1-1, No. 19)
The 49ers’ resolution to maintain Jimmy Garoppolo seems to be fairly good now, doesn’t it? After second-year quarterback Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle damage, the veteran stepped in to steer San Francisco to a 27-7 win over the Seahawks, finishing 13 of 21 passes for 154 yards and a landing and sneaking in for a rating. In six seasons beneath coach Kyle Shanahan, Garoppolo is 31-14 because the starter, whereas all different 49ers quarterbacks are 9-29 in that span. This group is constructed to win now, and whereas Garoppolo was benched in favor of the 2021 No. 3 general decide to begin the season, he’s confirmed he’s adequate to steer San Francisco to the Tremendous Bowl. Dropping a participant with Lance’s potential is hard to swallow, nevertheless it would possibly find yourself serving to the 49ers within the quick time period.
Issues haven’t gone as deliberate for the group Garoppolo and the 49ers face on Sunday evening, both. Russell Wilson misplaced his return to Seattle partly due to new coach Nathaniel Hackett’s head-scratching resolution to aim a 64-yard discipline objective as an alternative of letting Wilson — the person Denver traded three gamers and 5 draft picks for and gave $165 million assured — attempt to convert a fourth-and-5 with 20 seconds left. In Sunday’s sloppy 16-9 win over the Texans, the Broncos struggled a lot getting the snap off in time that the Denver crowd began counting down the play clock. It’s solely been two video games, however Hackett already seems to be overwhelmed, and his offense isn’t delivering on its promise. To make issues worse, cornerback Patrick Surtain and receiver Jerry Jeudy are coping with accidents. Denver must get its act collectively, and shortly.
The Cardinals lastly appear to have their act collectively, nevertheless it took seven quarters to get there. Trailing 23-7 coming into the fourth quarter Sunday, Arizona scored 16 straight factors — together with two wild 2-point conversions by quarterback Kyler Murray — to drive extra time, the place cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. returned a fumble by Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow 59 yards for the game-winning landing. The win doesn’t let coach Kliff Kingsbury and a disappointing protection off the hook, nevertheless it a minimum of offers some hope that Murray can put the group on his again. We received’t get a good evaluation of the Cardinals till receiver DeAndre Hopkins returns from his six-game suspension, nevertheless it’s clear Murray wants extra assist.
Proficient sufficient to compete
15. Detroit Lions (1-1, No. 25)
16. Cleveland Browns (1-1, No. 17)
17. Dallas Cowboys (1-1, No. 28)
18. New England Patriots (1-1, No. 27)
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1, No. 16)
20. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2, No. 11)
21. Las Vegas Raiders (0-2, No. 15)
A 36-27 victory over the Commanders is proof of idea for Lions coach Dan Campbell that his group is able to take the following step. Amon-Ra St. Brown has established himself as one of many league’s finest receivers, recording 9 receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns Sunday to grow to be simply the eighth participant in league historical past with a minimum of eight receptions in eight consecutive video games. No. 2 general decide Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks, all within the first half, and Jared Goff threw 4 landing passes. This might be the beginning of a particular season for Detroit.
Two groups that regarded hopeless in Week 1 proved that season openers can usually be deceptive. After dropping quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb damage, the Cowboys circled and beat the defending AFC champion Bengals, 20-17, on a last-second 50-yard discipline objective. Cooper Rush led a game-winning drive within the second begin of his profession and linebacker Micah Parsons continued to construct his case as the very best defensive participant within the league, giving Dallas hope that it will probably survive Prescott’s absence and nonetheless compete for a playoff spot.
The Patriots’ 17-14 win over the Steelers received’t strike worry in the remainder of the AFC, nevertheless it does present that New England is sturdy sufficient to stay within the thick of the playoff race. Quarterback Mac Jones nonetheless seems to be shaky, throwing an interception into double protection within the first quarter and practically tossing one other within the third, however the protection restricted Pittsburgh to 4.2 yards per play and the offense ran the ball properly on a 13-play drive to shut the sport. It’s removed from coach Invoice Belichick’s finest group, nevertheless it has the potential to get again to the postseason.
Displaying indicators of life
22. New York Giants (2-0, No. 24)
23. Washington Commanders (1-1, No. 22)
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1, No. 31)
25. New York Jets (1-1, No. 32)
The Giants’ finest begin since 2016 is actually thrilling, however this group goes to want to vastly outperform its potential to make the playoffs. (Bear in mind, the Panthers began 3-0 final season earlier than ending 5-12.) What’s encouraging is the play of the protection led by former Ravens coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. Even with out high edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari, Martindale has generated sufficient stress to rattle opposing quarterbacks, with Baker Mayfield the most recent sufferer in Sunday’s 19-16 victory. Quarterback Daniel Jones isn’t displaying any indicators of a Josh Allen-type leap, however he’s prevented making huge errors. The Giants are going to want extra from their receivers to have any hope of preserving this profitable streak going.
The post-City Meyer bump is actual for the Jaguars, who beat the Colts at dwelling for the eighth straight time, 24-0. The addition of receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones has clearly helped second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who seems to be far more comfy beneath the path of coach Doug Pederson. A younger protection additionally seems to be a lot improved, recording 5 sacks and three interceptions Sunday. The Jags have compelled six turnovers via two video games after creating 9 all of final season.
We’d be remiss to not speak in regards to the Jets’ gorgeous 31-30 win over the Browns, which ended up being solely the third-most spectacular comeback of the weekend. Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw two landing passes within the remaining two minutes, giving the Jets a much-needed shot within the arm after a dreary home-opening loss towards Baltimore. It’s not truthful to evaluate second-year coach Robert Saleh till quarterback Zach Wilson returns, however a minimum of his group isn’t giving up.
Trying to find a spark
26. Seattle Seahawks (1-1, No. 21)
27. Tennessee Titans (0-2, No. 20)
28. Chicago Bears (1-1, No. 23)
29. Atlanta Falcons (0-2, No. 29)
30. Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1, No. 14)
31. Carolina Panthers (0-2, No. 30)
32. Houston Texans (0-1-1, No. 26)
The Falcons’ 0-2 begin isn’t stunning, however their play on the sphere is. After blowing a 16-point fourth-quarter lead towards the Saints in Week 1, Atlanta practically pulled off an unbelievable comeback of its personal towards the Rams. Trailing 28-3 within the third quarter, the Falcons bought two landing passes from Marcus Mariota and a 26-yard landing return on a blocked punt to chop the deficit to 31-25 with lower than 5 minutes left. They couldn’t make sufficient performs down the stretch to knock off the defending Tremendous Bowl champs, however the combat alone is encouraging for a group that has some promising younger gamers. They’re removed from the worst group within the league.
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