Week 2 power ranking thread

[Jase]

Feel free to share your favorites.

 

NFL.com 18 (+5)

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000843960/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-2-packers-chiefs-take-top-two-slots

Asked a slew of questions in the Panthers' blurb last week. Got a few answers this week. Now there's a new query: Is Carolina that dominant,or are the 49ers that bad? The secondary competed its tails off against Brian Hoyer(because panthers have tails, you see). But was Hoyer and the San Francisco passing attack simply anemic, or did the Panthers' defense make them look silly? Think the answer is a little of both. Admittedly, I had Carolina a little low in the rankings last week. (After all, there is only one No. 17 spot to go around, and about nine teams that could be slotted there.) On Sunday, the football commentators commentated that Cam Newton didn't play wonderfully. OK, but he improved as the game went along. Bet you he shifts into another gear against a tougher defense in Week 2's faceoff with the Bills. Newton needs Kelvin Benjamin to emerge as a WR1 at some point.

[Jase]

ESPN 11 (+5)

The Panthers opened the season with a 20-point victory, a positive beginning considering they went 1-5 to start last season. Possible overreaction: They beat the 49ers in Week 2 last season, so let's not read too much into this victory. Cam Newton failed to complete at least 60 percent of his passes for the eighth straight game, and his accuracy will matter more going forward.

[Jase]

SI MMQB 16 (unchanged)

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/12/nfl-power-rankings-week-2-green-bay-packers-kansas-city-chiefs-jacksonville-jaguars-baltimore-ravens

 

[Hogmolliesmaht]

The explanations sound just like 2015 when they kept saying the Panthers haven't played anybody yet.

[Cary Kollins]

Just now, Hogmolliesmaht said:

The explanations sound just like 2015 when they kept saying the Panthers haven't played anybody yet.

 

oh you better get ready for a poo load of "they haven't played anybody" this year

 

six weeks from now, "SURE they beat the Patriots in Foxbrough, but besides that they haven't beaten anybody"

[Jase]

CBS 15 (+4)

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-patriots-loss-sets-up-sunday-night-duel-between-top-two-teams/

It's hard to gauge their blowout of the 49ers because the 49ers aren't very good. But they did dominate on defense.

[Hogmolliesmaht]

Just now, Cary Kollins said:

 

oh you better get ready for a poo load of "they haven't played anybody" this year

 

six weeks from now, "SURE they beat the Patriots in Foxbrough, but besides that they haven't beaten anybody"

After the way they looked on Thursday, they might include the Patriots in the nobody category. That defense looked worse than the 49ers defense looked.

[therealmjl]

We can only play who is on our schedule.

Bills, prepare thy anus.

[RumHam]

I dont care what they think but then again reiterating that kb doesnt do anything

[Snake]

49ers were better than last year. So are we though. The Falcons barely beating the bears should be more of a concern. 

[Jase]

Bleacher Garbage Report 17 (+7)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2731079-nfl-power-rankings-where-does-every-team-stand-heading-into-week-2

I didn't think Cam Newton would be Superman after throwing just two passes in the preseason, but he looked pretty damn super to me. Whenever the Panthers have a healthy No. 1 on the field, they're going to have a chance to win.

With Christian McCaffrey and a healthy Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, this Panthers offense can do things it couldn't a year ago. Not only can Carolina pound the ball up the middle, but it can get the ball to running backs in space and attack downfield with receivers like Russell Shepard and Kelvin Benjamin.

Defensively, the Panthers have some versatility too. Carolina can attack off the edge with guys like Charles Johnson and Julius Peppers, and it can push up the middle with powerful tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short. With a linebacking corps consisting of Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis and Shaq Thompson, there is a lot the Panthers can do up front.

The secondary is still a bit of a question, but against a team that couldn't take advantage, it isn't much of an issue. If the secondary can come together by midseason, the Panthers could again be a playoff team.

 

 

[Jase]

SB Nation 14 (no week one ranking)

https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/12/16291746/2017-nfl-power-rankings-week-2

[Jangler]

meh, my power rankings

Rams

Jags

Ravens

Panthers

 

[UpstatePanther]

28 minutes ago, Snake said:

The Falcons barely beating the bears should be more of a concern. 

Ive been thinking the same thing. The Falcons should have been running up the score on the Bears. instead, if any one of the three receivers Glennon threw to those last 4 plays near the endzone had caught the damn ball, the Falcons would be 0-1 right now with an embarrassing loss to the lowly Bears. in fact, i'd go so far as to say that its just as embarrassing. the Falcons did literally nothing to keep themselves from losing. The Bears just decided to go full Bear at the wrong time.