Hello, and welcome to the first edition of the 2014 Rankings. The 2014 NFL season started this past weekend, and now that all the games in Week 1 are concluded, it is time for me to ramble about them a bit.
I realize that "Power Rankings" are a bit hackneyed in 2014 (just like they were in 2013, and 2012, etc.); this is really just an excuse for me to talk about something I really love, even if this week really tested my patience and love for the game. As always, my rankings vary week to week based on one simple thing: wins. Those who win stay put (or move up), those who don't move down (or out).
I'll be honest, the first week is a total crapshoot. None of us had any idea what would happen going in, really. So the results of Week 1 are both surprising and unhelpful. Because let's face it, we don't know what's going to happen the rest of the season yet. Maybe in a few weeks we'll have a better idea, but at the moment it's all looking confusing and mysterious.
Indeed, there were some mysterious results throughout the league. How do both teams from Pennsylvania end up in such weird games? How does Chicago lose in OT to a team that looked like absolute crap in the preseason?
How are the Cowboys an NFL team? Oh, my goodness.
I've been a Cowboys fan since 1989 (in case you're new and/or don't remember which team I follow most avidly), and that has to be the worst opener I've ever seen. Then again, I don't really remember the 1989 team, and I believe that one finished 1-15. Rookies, huh?
Unfortunately, the 2014 version has no such excuses. What it does have is a QB coming off of back surgery. Apparently, back surgery isn't conducive to playing QB at the professional level. Who knew? Not me.
Without further ado, here are the Rankings for Week 1:
1.) Seattle (1-0)
Despite my complaints that Russell Wilson doesn't throw it down the field and that they run the ball too much in 2014...they scored 36 points. And won by 20. They're doing something right, even if it's not exactly how I'd script it. I put some stock in "defending" champs. And these guys look ready to win another one right now. But let's see how things unfold, of course.
Next opponent: at San Diego (9/14)
2.) Denver (1-0)
Sometimes, all it takes is a really good first half to get a game in hand. I'm sure Peyton Manning (not to mention the Broncos coaching staff) would be even more pleased if the team played all 60 minutes, though. True, they scored a TD in the second half, and it was that TD that saved their bacon once Andrew Luck started up his usual comeback. Denver has looked really solid since the preseason started and continued that in the first game. I dunno how they'll do in the playoffs, but they look like the strongest team in a fairly weak AFC.
Next opponent: vs. Kansas City (9/14)
3.) Pittsburgh (1-0)
After storming out to a 27-3 halftime lead, the Steelers did their best to give it up in the second half. Unfortunately for that design, the Browns weren't really up to completing the comeback, despite tying it up. Ben Roethlisberger and co. should be putting points on people with fervor unseen in a little while, but if that defense doesn't straighten out a bit, it'll be more shootouts and escaping by the seat of their pants as the season rolls on. Nobody wants that, really.
Next opponent: at Baltimore (9/11)
4.) Philadelphia (1-0)
That said, it's better to go into halftime leading than not, usually. The Eagles said screw that and went into the half down 17. That turned out to be no problem whatsoever as they reeled off 34 points in the second half and made the Jaguars look utterly foolish on a couple of occasions. Sproles broke free for a TD, Jeremy Maclin was uncovered, and of course, there's the fumble that Fletcher Cox recovered for a TD. Speaking of defenses that could stand to improve, Philly's needs some work. Although, given the shitty division they're in, it probably won't be too much of an issue until the playoffs.
Next opponent: at Indianapolis (9/15)
5.) Atlanta (1-0)
Rounding out a mostly surprising Top 5 is Atlanta. The Falcons played it close with the Saints for most of the second half. I'm not sure how they did it, other than Matt Ryan going berserk/insane/what have you. I was led to believe that the loss of LT Sam Baker in the preseason would be a problem. Especially with the Saints and their supposed "Top 5" defense coming to town. Um, nope, not this week. I don't know how Atlanta sustains this kind of performance, but it's probably better not to doubt them and just let it ride...until it falls flat.
Next opponent: at Cincinnati (9/14)
6.) Detroit (1-0)
I wasn't sure what to expect from Detroit. Then the game started and it quickly became obvious: scoring. It helps when you put a couple weapons around your decent, but not quite great QB. And now that Jim Caldwell is coaching the team, they look calm, collected, maybe even expressionless...but ready to roll over suckers. Or at least, roll over a shitty NFC East team.
Next opponent: at Carolina (9/14)
7.) Arizona (1-0)
Winning by a point is not really impressive. Especially when you take into account two failed two-point conversions. That said, Arizona did one thing right: they kept pace with the other two teams in their division. The only thing that hurt them was that they had better competition. And of course, there was that truly horrible call wherein San Diego was awarded the ball after a "fumble" occurred at least three Mississippis after a guy had hit the ground. No biggie, getting the calls right doesn't matter. Ugh. At least Carson Palmer threw a couple of TD's, or this thing might have stayed as ugly as it was in the first half. Now they better hope they don't do what the last team to embarrass the Chargers in Week 1 did: go 1-14 the rest of the way. Just kidding.
Next opponent: at NY Giants (9/14)
8.) Miami (1-0)
When you've got ten spots to fill and it barely looks like ten teams are worth a damn, you tend to fill a couple of those spots with teams that knocked off previously good-to-excellent teams. The Patriots were great last year, at least record-wise. Miami wasn't, and bombed their way out of the playoffs with much fervor. This season, they open up by looking halfway competent and beating the Patriots. It's merely a small part of the confusion of Week 1. How they hounded Tom Brady into one of the worst 4th Q's of his career, I'll never know...but I'm interested to see if Miami can continue this sudden burst of competency. After all, they're tied for the division lead.
Next opponent: at Buffalo (9/14)
9.) Cincinnati (1-0)
As usual, I loathe having to include Cincinnati, a team I have little belief in, in these Rankings. They did beat a team that most of us expected would be good, though, so I guess there's that. And, well, it's only been one week. As usual, Andy Dalton wasn't any great shakes, despite a nice TD toss to A.J. Green, wherein the WR did all the work and should get all the credit. Both teams looked ready to self-destruct; the Bengals just kept themselves from actually finishing the job long enough to win.
Next opponent: vs. Atlanta (9/14)
10.) San Francisco (1-0)
Finally, we have the 49ers. They're the first and thus most obvious beneficiary of Dallas' monumental failure of opening the 2014 season. Hell, it was 21-0 before Kaepernick was warmed up, and he'd already tossed two TD's to Vernon Davis by then! Ugh. They get what might be another gift as they open their new stadium on Sunday Night Football. Isn't that special? Just when you think the teams with regressive offenses weren't getting coddled enough...yeah. Actually, I'll give Kaepernick credit for that first TD pass to Davis; it was a really good throw on the run. And he didn't screw it up after that, either.
Next opponent: vs. Chicago (9/14)
That's all for this week, see you next week.
If you're wondering what games you should watch, let me save you some trouble: just get NFL Red Zone, if you don't have it already. You're welcome.
