32. Jacksonville Jaguars ( - )
This is a terrible, terrible football team and I fear for quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s sanity.
31. Houston Texans ( - )
The Texans have shown some signs of life and are definitely better than the Jaguars, but this team just lacks any real talent and there isn’t a solid winning opportunity until they play the Jets later in the season.
30. New York Jets (-1)
Same as the write up above, but slightly less signs of life and slightly more talent on paper. Rookie Kyle Wilson has to start improving quickly, though.
29. Detroit Lions (+1)
Moral victories aren’t enough for fans and media, but the Lions are much more competitive this season than last. This week’s test against the Chicago Bears will be huge.
28. New York Giants (-1)
The Giants are trending downward, quickly, and losing to the Atlanta Falcons is a bad bad look.
27. Atlanta Falcons (+1)
The Falcons aren’t great, but they have more offensive talent than they’ve showed most of the season. That helped them against the Giants, and may end up serving them well with upcoming games against Washington Football Team and the Jets.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (-1)
The Eagles had some moments in Weeks 1 and 2, but injuries to the offensive line are exposing a team that isn’t able to win one-on-one battles many other places on the field.
25. Chicago Bears (-3)
Rookie QB Justin Fields has the talent to succeed, but he is not ready for “the show” quite yet and head coach Matt Nagy isn’t the guy to get him there.
24. Minnesota Vikings (+1)
It feels weird not moving the Vikings up any further after taking the Arizona Cardinals to the wire and beating the Seahawks, but this 1-2 group is so frenetic, there’s just no telling which team shows up this week.
25. Cincinnati Bengals ( - )
The Bengals would be infinitely higher if a loss to the Bears weren’t weighing them down, but this is a good football team on the way up.
22. Indianapolis Colts (-1)
This is a much more talented group than 0-3 would indicate. They went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 and were in striking distance of both the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans. Eventually, the wins have to start.
21. Miami Dolphins (-5)
The team looks infinitely better with Jacoby Brissett under center.
20. New England Patriots (-2)
Very few people expect the Patriots to beat the Buccaneers this weekend, but they should hopefully put up a fight.
19. Washington Football Team (-2)
In the last two weeks, this vaunted defense has given up 29 points to the Giants and 43 to the Buffalo Bills.
18. Denver Broncos (+4)
The Broncos have had one of the most favorable early seasons schedules not only in 2021, but perhaps in recent memory. This week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens will tell us so much about both teams.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (-5)
The Steelers are a good team with a quarterback who gives them absolutely no advantage.
16. Las Vegas Raiders (+3)
Is this one of the best teams in the NFL? I’m not there quite yet, but they’re also clearly not the worst either. Defensively, they’re playing better than anyone expected.
15. Tennessee Titans ( - )
Other than getting shocked by a Cardinals team in Week 1 that was better than experts thought, the Titans have played really well this season and are doing so under the radar. They’ve got the Jets and Jaguars coming up so they should get comfortable with rising up this list.
14. Carolina Panthers (+6)
At 3-0, the Panthers are starting to show some signs of weakening thanks to injuries but they’re also moving quickly to patchwork some of those holes with veterans and a trade for former Jaguars’ CB, C.J. Henderson. If those moves pan out, this is a playoff contending team with QB Sam Darnold under center.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (+1)
Only one point up for beating the Kansas City Chiefs seems harsh, but are the Chargers truly better than the teams above them on this list?
12. Baltimore Ravens (-4)
Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman appears to be wearing his welcome thin, because this team doesn’t have consistent game planning or creativity on that side of the ball.
11. New Orleans Saints ( - )
If this team dedicates itself to its strengths (i.e., the run game), they’re going to be a much better team than if they roll the dice and let QB Jameis Winston throw 40 times a game.
10. Dallas Cowboys (+3)
A top five offensive in the NFL combined with a defense that (finally) gets after opponents? I’ll take it.
9. Cleveland Browns (+1)
The Browns have had it easy the last two weeks following a Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Things are about to get a lot more difficult with Vikings, Chargers, Cardinals and Broncos up next.
8. Arizona Cardinals (+1)
The best offense in the NFL is about to be decided as the Cardinals face the Rams this weekend.
7. San Francisco 49ers ( - )
Injuries have caught up with the defense and mental errors with the offense. This is a good team playing poorly at the moment.
6. Seattle Seahawks (-1)
The Vikings game is inexcusable if you’re the Seahawks which need a gut check like this a few times every season.
5. Green Bay Packers ( - )
After an embarrassing Week 1, almost no team has been better than the Packers who are starting to gel offensively in a way that should scare the rest of the league.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (-2)
I’m not worried about the Chiefs after losing two games by a combined seven points, but talent wise, those other teams shouldn’t have even been in contention.
3. Buffalo Bills (-)
The Bills are improving on both sides of the ball and suddenly look like one of the most dangerous teams in football.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1)
I am starting to worry about the Buccaneers defense. There’s too much talent to be giving up this many points.
1.Los Angeles Rams (+5)
The defense is good but not great and the offense is finally what HC Sean McVay envisioned it could be. It’s hard to see them losing many games unless some self-inflicted wounds start popping up.
