| My Power Rankings are based somewhat on | | | | 7) Dallas Cowboys (1-0) - Let's not get too |
| performance thus far, but still factors in | | | | excited about Drew Bledsoe just yet. He's |
| overall potential and how I think they'll do | | | | still got plenty of turnovers left in that |
| this season. I want to avoid wild swings in | | | | arm. |
| where I have teams ranked, but it may be | | | | |
| inevitable. Here is one man's view of Week | | | | 8) Buffalo Bills (1-0) - Buffalo is now 10-3 |
| 2:New England (-3) at Carolina, 1 p.m. on | | | | in it's last 13 games. |
| Sunday | | | | |
| | | | 9) Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) - Just when you |
| This will be a tight fight - and is the | | | | think that Larry Johnson has turned the |
| marquee game of the weekend. I wonder how | | | | corner in his career, he gets arrested for |
| Sports Illustrated feels about its Super Bowl | | | | beating up his ex-girlfriend. Scumbag. |
| pick starting 0-2? But after last season's | | | | |
| 1-7 start by the Panthers I don't think | | | | 10) New Orleans Saints (1-0) - It's tragic |
| they'll be too worried about an 0-fer in | | | | that it may have taken something like a |
| their first two contests.This is a rematch of | | | | natural disaster to get this collection of |
| Super Bowl 38 (the Roman numerals are just | | | | talent to play focused, purposeful football. |
| too cumbersome) and many of the principles | | | | But so be it. |
| are still in place for both organizations. | | | | |
| You have to love the home dogs in the NFL, | | | | 11) Carolina Panthers (0-1) - Loss of Kris |
| and I do think that the odds of a team with | | | | Jenkins will hurt. Hopefully it won't be a |
| as much promise as the Panthers dropping two | | | | harbinger of things to come. Stephen Davis' |
| straight in front of their own fans, but the | | | | line last Sunday (13 carries, 81 yards, TD) |
| Pats are really tough to go against. I would | | | | was very promising. |
| feel a lot better about this game if I were a | | | | |
| Carolina fan if A) Kris Jenkins had waited | | | | 12) Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) - Took care of |
| until next week to have a season-ending | | | | business against weak Browns team in |
| injury, B) Bill Belichick didn't have those | | | | Cleveland. If they're going to make the |
| three extra days to game plan, C) Corey | | | | playoffs they need to win games like this |
| Dillon was still on the Bengals, and D) | | | | week's against Minnesota. They are also 5-2 |
| Hurricane Ophelia hit at about 1 p.m. on | | | | ATS in their last seven games. |
| Sunday.Buffalo at Tampa Bay (-3), 1 p.m. on | | | | |
| Sunday | | | | 13) Baltimore Ravens (0-1) - What ever |
| | | | happened to Brian Billick, offensive genius? |
| If this game were in Buffalo in December, | | | | |
| everyone would be talking about warm weather | | | | 14) San Diego Chargers (0-1) - The Million |
| teams traveling to cold climates. Why doesn't | | | | Dollar Question: do you trade Philip Rivers |
| anyone make a similar distinction between | | | | before the trading deadline, or do you wait |
| cold weather teams traveling down to muggy, | | | | until next April? |
| sweltering Florida in September (see: Denver | | | | |
| vs. Miami last weekend)? I want to see the | | | | 15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) - How would |
| stat on Green Bay or Buffalo's record when | | | | you feel about Cadillac Williams if he had |
| the temperature at the opening kickoff is | | | | only run for 77 yards on 26 carries (3.0 |
| above 85 degrees. Quick, somebody get on | | | | avg.)? Because those were his numbers before |
| that. And for the record, it's supposed to be | | | | his game-clinching 71-yard run. |
| 94 on Sunday with isolated thunderstorms.Hey, | | | | |
| I'll admit that I was really shocked by the | | | | 16) Detroit Lions (1-0) - Not too early in |
| Bucs win over Minnesota last Sunday. I'm not | | | | the year to have a big game. If they can beat |
| ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet, but | | | | the Bears, and if the Vikings lose at |
| no one ever said that there wasn't talent on | | | | Cincinnati, the Lions will have built an |
| that club. Also, this is J.P. Losman's first | | | | early two-game cushion over their only real |
| road test. He looked great against Houston at | | | | competition. Kicker Jason Hanson's leg injury |
| home, but if Buffalo is down 4 with five | | | | has him questionable for this weekend, and |
| minutes to play this weekend we'll see what | | | | could play a huge factor. |
| the kid is made of.Jacksonville at | | | | |
| Indianapolis (-9.5), 1 p.m. on Sunday | | | | 17) Oakland Raiders (0-1) - Love this home |
| | | | dog this weekend against banged-up Kansas |
| This is definitely the "Wow" line of the | | | | City. However, I will stick by my declaration |
| week. Yeah, I know that it will be Indy's | | | | that this team is untrustworthy when it comes |
| home opener, that on any given Sunday they | | | | to me laying money on them. |
| can put up 70, and that they handled a very | | | | |
| talented Baltimore squad in Week 1. But I | | | | 18) Minnesota Vikings (0-1) - Minnesota is |
| still wasn't expecting nearly a double-digit | | | | now 2-4 without Randy Moss over the last 12 |
| line. In their two games against the Colts | | | | months. Dante Culpepper is averaging 232 |
| last season, the Jags lost 24-17 in Week 3 | | | | yards passing in those games with 9 TD's to 7 |
| but then rolled into the RCA Dome and beat | | | | INT's (and that includes a 340-yard, 4 TD |
| Indy 27-24 in Week 6.Manning and Co. had | | | | game vs. Green Bay). |
| little trouble with the Ravens defense last | | | | |
| week, but I think Jacksonville will be able | | | | 19) Washington Redskins (1-0) - Skins have |
| to generate more pressure with its front | | | | lost 12 in a row to the Cowboys. Jon Jansen |
| four. The trade-off is that the Jags | | | | will play this week with two broken thumbs. |
| secondary isn't nearly as talented as the | | | | Insert "Meet the Parents" joke here. |
| Ravens, which Manning will most likely | | | | |
| exploit. It's almost a shame that a game this | | | | 20) Seattle Seahawks (0-1) - I think it's |
| big for these teams is happening this early | | | | fair to speculate that Matt Hasselbeck's 2003 |
| when neither club is at its best.Kansas City | | | | season may have just been a fluke. |
| at Oakland (-1), 8 p.m. on Sunday | | | | |
| | | | 21) New York Giants (1-0) - Eli Manning's |
| The Chiefs just absolutely dominated the | | | | numbers last week (62.2 QB rating) are still |
| Jets last weekend. But it was a win at a | | | | unimpressive, and his presence is |
| price. Willie Roaf (hamstring), Ryan Sims | | | | uninspiring. Shockey's ankle is fine. |
| (foot), Tony Richardson (knee/ankle), and | | | | |
| Patrick Surtain (mild concussion) are each | | | | 22) St. Louis Rams (0-1) - They controlled |
| questionable this weekend for the Chiefs, who | | | | the ball for 40 minutes, and put up over 400 |
| have beaten the Raiders four consecutive | | | | yards of offense last week. And still lost to |
| times.The Raiders offense is so hit-or-miss | | | | the friggin' 49ers. Unbelievable. |
| (could be three-and-out, could be a touchdown | | | | |
| in 80 seconds) that the defense won't have | | | | 23) New York Jets (0-1) - Lots of pressure |
| much time to rest this season. Just about the | | | | this weekend against the Fins. In that |
| time that Warren Sapp and Ed Jasper have let | | | | division, and in that conference, if they |
| their weight settle on the bench, Kerry | | | | lose this game they're in trouble. |
| Collins has fumbled again and it's back out | | | | |
| on the field. Oakland wore down in the fourth | | | | 24) Miami Dolphins (1-0) - Defended the home |
| quarter against New England. If the same | | | | turf with a win over Denver. Now they have a |
| thing happens against KC, the Raiders are in | | | | shot against a limping Jets team. |
| trouble.FREE PICK: I like Baltimore (-3.5) on | | | | Interesting. |
| the road against Tennessee. This line is low | | | | |
| because of the Kyle Boller injury, but it | | | | 25) Denver Broncos (0-1) - Jake Plummer has |
| doesn't accurately reflect the talent deficit | | | | thrown 133 touchdowns in his career. He has |
| here. People are assuming Boller actually | | | | also thrown 143 interceptions. Oh, and don't |
| meant something to the team. The Titans | | | | think someone in the front office doesn't |
| aren't a terrible team, but they did get | | | | have Maurice Clarett's cell phone number. |
| manhandled by Pittsburgh (161 rushing yards) | | | | |
| last weekend. Baltimore is nearly as physical | | | | 26) Chicago Bears (0-1) - Except for those |
| as the Steelers and should be able to pound | | | | two pesky second-half turnovers (not like |
| the Titans on the ground with Jamal Lewis and | | | | those matter in a two-point game or anything) |
| Chester Taylor. I'm going to ignore the fact | | | | Kyle Orton looked good. It was the rest of |
| that the Ravens are 1-6 ATS in their last | | | | the offense that sucked. |
| seven games, or that Anthony Wright is just | | | | |
| 6-7 as a starter (with his last loss coming | | | | 27) Houston Texans (0-1) - "I'm |
| against Tennessee in the 2003 playoffs), or | | | | embarrassed," Andre Johnson said after their |
| that there's a possibility of a Kordell | | | | 22-7 beating in Buffalo. "I don't know what |
| Stewart sighting. The numbers may be hazy on | | | | to say. We didn't do anything. We got our |
| this pick, but just ask yourself one simple | | | | butts kicked." |
| question - which one of these teams is more | | | | |
| likely to start off 0-2?NFL Week 2 Power | | | | 28) Green Bay Packers (0-1) - Javon Walker |
| Rankings1) New England Patriots (1-0) - The | | | | blew out his knee and is done for the year. I |
| Patriots are quickly becoming the Duke Blue | | | | wonder what Brett Favre has to say about |
| Devils of the NFL. They're constantly praised | | | | Walker's contract situation now? This team is |
| for their selflessness and always described | | | | a wreck. |
| as underrated. Yet, I can't think of any | | | | |
| other team whose slot receiver and right | | | | 29) San Francisco 49ers (1-0) - Moron of the |
| guard I've seen in commercials in the last 12 | | | | Week: Derek Smith. Linebacker is feeling so |
| months. | | | | superior after their "big win" over the Rams, |
| | | | that he decides to start talking smack about |
| 2) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) - They remain | | | | Terrell Owens before they role into Philly. |
| ahead of the Colts because they are more | | | | Yeah, smart. Poke the wounded animal with a |
| physical. They don't miss Plexico on offense. | | | | stick. |
| Yet. | | | | |
| | | | 30) Tennessee Titans (0-1) - Might not be a |
| 3) Indianapolis Colts (1-0) - If the usually | | | | bad idea to pick up Billy Volek on your |
| reliable Matt Stover hadn't shanked three | | | | fantasy team. |
| field goals, and the final score was 24-16, | | | | |
| would everyone still be enamored with Indy's | | | | 31) Arizona Cardinals (0-1) - I understand |
| defense? | | | | that people are entitled to their opinions, |
| | | | but anyone who actually picked Arizona to win |
| 4) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) - It will be | | | | the NFC West is an idiot. |
| tough to go into the RCA Dome and keep up | | | | |
| with the Colts. However, that's exactly what | | | | 32) Cleveland Browns (0-1) - "Matt Leinhart, |
| they did last year when they beat them 27-24. | | | | this is Big Dawg, ruler of the Dawg Pound. |
| | | | Big Dawg, this is Matt Leinhart, former |
| 5) Atlanta Falcons (1-0) - They need to be | | | | Heisman winner and our future."Questions or |
| careful of a letdown against Seattle this | | | | comments for Robert? Email him at Doc's |
| week. Also, Jim Mora Jr. is one hell of a | | | | Sports Recent Articles:Instant replay in |
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| 6) Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) - Don't think | | | | Service |
| for a second that playing without Trotter | | | | |
| didn't make a difference on Monday. | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has |
| Regardless, I've said it before and I'll say | | | | been recognized as one of the leaders and |
| it again, this team is wobbling. | | | | most trusted names in sports handicapping |
| | | | information. |