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The Ultimate Source for your Ph.D. in Pigskin |
| 2008
Week One Power Rankings It's always difficult to sort out the wreckage from the first week of games. Young teams come out firing on all cylinders, still thinking they have to win 'em all to get into the BCS. On the other hand, veteran teams realize the season is a marathon and that it may take time to work out the kinks. Seriously, does anyone think that the Falcons are going to be as explosive as they showed against Detroit? Or, the Colts' offense will be that discombobulated? For that reason, don't be surprised when you see the rankings below not totally reflecting the manner in which teams won or lost this past weekend. Unlike some, I refrain from bandwagon jumping based on the opening day performances. So, without further adieu, here are this weeks rankings: |
| 1 |
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Dallas | Sunday's performance against the Browns did nothing to persuade me from believing they're the best in the NFL. | |
| 2 |
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Pittsburgh | The way they physically dominated Houston was reminiscent of the 70's Steelers. | |
| 3 |
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San Diego | Well, 2008 didn't get off to a great start - lose to Carolina and lose Shawne Merriman - but they're still one of the most talented teams in the league. | |
| 4 |
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Philadelphia | Anyone who says that a healthy Donovan McNabb isn't one of the top-5 quarterbacks in this league doesn't know this game very well. | |
| 5 |
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Indianapolis | Don't fret, Colts. Peyton will be back and ready this week. Just in time for a bad Vikings' secondary. | |
| 6 |
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New England | Even without Tom Brady, the Pats are a top-10 team.......... I think. | |
| 7 |
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New York | They looked good on Thursday, but I just can't imagine them being the same team without Strahan and Umenyiura. | |
| 8 |
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Jacksonville | Wow, that was pretty ugly. I thought the Jags were supposed to be a great running team. 17 rushes for 33 yards won't get it done against anyone. | |
| 9 |
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Carolina | Jake Delhomme is one of the more underrated players in the NFL and the Panthers are an entirely different team with him in the lineup. | |
| 10 |
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New Orleans | Just when they're about to get Deuce McAllister back, they lose Marques Colston for four to six weeks to a thumb injury. | |
| 11 |
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Tennessee | I know a lot of people disagree with this statement, but the Titans are a better team with Kerry Collins at the helm. | |
| 12 |
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Green Bay | Mike McCarthy did a great job of keeping the game plan simple for Aaron Rodgers. You could see his confidence growing as the game went on. | |
| 13 |
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Denver | Within five years, Jay Cutler will be the best quarterback in the National Football League. | |
| 14 |
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Cleveland | Just when I thought Braylon Edwards was about to join the group of elite receivers, he plays one of the sloppier games I've seen from a premier receiver | |
| 15 |
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Chicago | Even with a great defense and special teams unit, the lack of a legitimate quarterback makes it impossible to believe in this team. | |
| 16 |
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Arizona | I'm just glad I only had to watch the "Cliffs Notes" version of their game against San Francisco. | |
| 17 |
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Minnesota | Tavaris Jackson must improve if this team is going to become a top-ten team. | |
| 18 |
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Houston | That was quite an egg you laid there, Texans. For a team on the rise, they got pushed around pretty easily. | |
| 19 |
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Buffalo | We'll know a lot more about the quality of this team after this weekend's tilt against the Jaguars. | |
| 20 |
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Tampa Bay | Jon Gruden has 14 quarterbacks on his roster and he can't find one that he likes. | |
| 21 |
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Seattle | Is it just me, or did this team get really old, really quick? It's too bad, Mike Holmgren deserves a better send-off. | |
| 22 |
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New York Jets | That jump-ball touchdown pass was vintage Brett Favre. If he tries that against the Patriots, it will be a long day for the Jets. | |
| 23 |
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Washington | Every time I see Jason Campbell, I feel sorry for him. If the Redskins would simply keep one offensive system for more than a year, he'd be a top-15 quarterback. | |
| 24 |
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Detroit | You know things are bad when you're down 21 points to a really bad team with a rookie quarterback......... in the first quarter!!!! | |
| 25 |
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Baltimore | If Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens' defense can continue to play like they did against Cincinnati, they might just be able to make up for rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco. | |
| 26 |
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Kansas City | Actually, this works out rather nicely. Damon Huard should have been the starter in the first place. | |
| 27 |
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San Francisco | Without a doubt, this is the worst offensive team in the league. Outside of Frank Gore, there's not another player that would start for another team. | |
| 28 |
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Atlanta | That was one impressive debut, Matt Ryan. | |
| 29 |
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Cincinnati | I kept checking my television to see if it was broken during Joe Flacco's 38-yard touchdown run, because there's no way that any NFL defense is that slow. | |
| 30 |
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Miami | Bill Parcells and Ricky Williams. Whoda thunk it? | |
| 31 |
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Oakland | This may sound facetious, but the Raiders do have talent. It just needs a little seasoning. | |
| 32 |
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St. Louis | I'll be amazed if Scott Linehan survives the season. |
