| My Power Rankings are based somewhat on | | | | is one hell of a coach and will be around a long, long |
| performance thus far, but still factors in overall potential | | | | time. |
| and how I think they'll do this season. I want to avoid | | | | 6) Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) - Don't think for a second |
| wild swings in where I have teams ranked, but it may | | | | that playing without Trotter didn't make a difference on |
| be inevitable. Here is one man's view of Week 2:New | | | | Monday. Regardless, I've said it before and I'll say it |
| England (-3) at Carolina, 1 p.m. on Sunday | | | | again, this team is wobbling. |
| This will be a tight fight - and is the marquee game of | | | | 7) Dallas Cowboys (1-0) - Let's not get too excited |
| the weekend. I wonder how Sports Illustrated feels | | | | about Drew Bledsoe just yet. He's still got plenty of |
| about its Super Bowl pick starting 0-2? But after last | | | | turnovers left in that arm. |
| season's 1-7 start by the Panthers I don't think they'll be | | | | 8) Buffalo Bills (1-0) - Buffalo is now 10-3 in it's last 13 |
| too worried about an 0-fer in their first two | | | | games. |
| contests.This is a rematch of Super Bowl 38 (the | | | | 9) Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) - Just when you think that |
| Roman numerals are just too cumbersome) and many | | | | Larry Johnson has turned the corner in his career, he |
| of the principles are still in place for both organizations. | | | | gets arrested for beating up his ex-girlfriend. Scumbag. |
| You have to love the home dogs in the NFL, and I do | | | | 10) New Orleans Saints (1-0) - It's tragic that it may |
| think that the odds of a team with as much promise | | | | have taken something like a natural disaster to get this |
| as the Panthers dropping two straight in front of their | | | | collection of talent to play focused, purposeful football. |
| own fans, but the Pats are really tough to go against. I | | | | But so be it. |
| would feel a lot better about this game if I were a | | | | 11) Carolina Panthers (0-1) - Loss of Kris Jenkins will |
| Carolina fan if A) Kris Jenkins had waited until next | | | | hurt. Hopefully it won't be a harbinger of things to |
| week to have a season-ending injury, B) Bill Belichick | | | | come. Stephen Davis' line last Sunday (13 carries, 81 |
| didn't have those three extra days to game plan, C) | | | | yards, TD) was very promising. |
| Corey Dillon was still on the Bengals, and D) Hurricane | | | | 12) Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) - Took care of business |
| Ophelia hit at about 1 p.m. on Sunday.Buffalo at Tampa | | | | against weak Browns team in Cleveland. If they're |
| Bay (-3), 1 p.m. on Sunday | | | | going to make the playoffs they need to win games |
| If this game were in Buffalo in December, everyone | | | | like this week's against Minnesota. They are also 5-2 |
| would be talking about warm weather teams traveling | | | | ATS in their last seven games. |
| to cold climates. Why doesn't anyone make a similar | | | | 13) Baltimore Ravens (0-1) - What ever happened to |
| distinction between cold weather teams traveling | | | | Brian Billick, offensive genius? |
| down to muggy, sweltering Florida in September (see: | | | | 14) San Diego Chargers (0-1) - The Million Dollar |
| Denver vs. Miami last weekend)? I want to see the | | | | Question: do you trade Philip Rivers before the trading |
| stat on Green Bay or Buffalo's record when the | | | | deadline, or do you wait until next April? |
| temperature at the opening kickoff is above 85 | | | | 15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) - How would you |
| degrees. Quick, somebody get on that. And for the | | | | feel about Cadillac Williams if he had only run for 77 |
| record, it's supposed to be 94 on Sunday with isolated | | | | yards on 26 carries (3.0 avg.)? Because those were |
| thunderstorms.Hey, I'll admit that I was really shocked | | | | his numbers before his game-clinching 71-yard run. |
| by the Bucs win over Minnesota last Sunday. I'm not | | | | 16) Detroit Lions (1-0) - Not too early in the year to |
| ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet, but no one | | | | have a big game. If they can beat the Bears, and if the |
| ever said that there wasn't talent on that club. Also, this | | | | Vikings lose at Cincinnati, the Lions will have built an |
| is J.P. Losman's first road test. He looked great against | | | | early two-game cushion over their only real |
| Houston at home, but if Buffalo is down 4 with five | | | | competition. Kicker Jason Hanson's leg injury has him |
| minutes to play this weekend we'll see what the kid is | | | | questionable for this weekend, and could play a huge |
| made of.Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-9.5), 1 p.m. on | | | | factor. |
| Sunday | | | | 17) Oakland Raiders (0-1) - Love this home dog this |
| This is definitely the "Wow" line of the week. Yeah, I | | | | weekend against banged-up Kansas City. However, I |
| know that it will be Indy's home opener, that on any | | | | will stick by my declaration that this team is |
| given Sunday they can put up 70, and that they | | | | untrustworthy when it comes to me laying money on |
| handled a very talented Baltimore squad in Week 1. | | | | them. |
| But I still wasn't expecting nearly a double-digit line. In | | | | 18) Minnesota Vikings (0-1) - Minnesota is now 2-4 |
| their two games against the Colts last season, the | | | | without Randy Moss over the last 12 months. Dante |
| Jags lost 24-17 in Week 3 but then rolled into the RCA | | | | Culpepper is averaging 232 yards passing in those |
| Dome and beat Indy 27-24 in Week 6.Manning and Co. | | | | games with 9 TD's to 7 INT's (and that includes a |
| had little trouble with the Ravens defense last week, | | | | 340-yard, 4 TD game vs. Green Bay). |
| but I think Jacksonville will be able to generate more | | | | 19) Washington Redskins (1-0) - Skins have lost 12 in a |
| pressure with its front four. The trade-off is that the | | | | row to the Cowboys. Jon Jansen will play this week |
| Jags secondary isn't nearly as talented as the Ravens, | | | | with two broken thumbs. Insert "Meet the Parents" |
| which Manning will most likely exploit. It's almost a | | | | joke here. |
| shame that a game this big for these teams is | | | | 20) Seattle Seahawks (0-1) - I think it's fair to |
| happening this early when neither club is at its | | | | speculate that Matt Hasselbeck's 2003 season may |
| best.Kansas City at Oakland (-1), 8 p.m. on Sunday | | | | have just been a fluke. |
| The Chiefs just absolutely dominated the Jets last | | | | 21) New York Giants (1-0) - Eli Manning's numbers last |
| weekend. But it was a win at a price. Willie Roaf | | | | week (62.2 QB rating) are still unimpressive, and his |
| (hamstring), Ryan Sims (foot), Tony Richardson (knee | | | | presence is uninspiring. Shockey's ankle is fine. |
| ankle), and Patrick Surtain (mild concussion) are each | | | | 22) St. Louis Rams (0-1) - They controlled the ball for |
| questionable this weekend for the Chiefs, who have | | | | 40 minutes, and put up over 400 yards of offense last |
| beaten the Raiders four consecutive times.The | | | | week. And still lost to the friggin' 49ers. Unbelievable. |
| Raiders offense is so hit-or-miss (could be | | | | 23) New York Jets (0-1) - Lots of pressure this |
| three-and-out, could be a touchdown in 80 seconds) | | | | weekend against the Fins. In that division, and in that |
| that the defense won't have much time to rest this | | | | conference, if they lose this game they're in trouble. |
| season. Just about the time that Warren Sapp and Ed | | | | 24) Miami Dolphins (1-0) - Defended the home turf |
| Jasper have let their weight settle on the bench, Kerry | | | | with a win over Denver. Now they have a shot |
| Collins has fumbled again and it's back out on the field. | | | | against a limping Jets team. Interesting. |
| Oakland wore down in the fourth quarter against New | | | | 25) Denver Broncos (0-1) - Jake Plummer has thrown |
| England. If the same thing happens against KC, the | | | | 133 touchdowns in his career. He has also thrown 143 |
| Raiders are in trouble.FREE PICK: I like Baltimore (-3.5) | | | | interceptions. Oh, and don't think someone in the front |
| on the road against Tennessee. This line is low | | | | office doesn't have Maurice Clarett's cell phone |
| because of the Kyle Boller injury, but it doesn't | | | | number. |
| accurately reflect the talent deficit here. People are | | | | 26) Chicago Bears (0-1) - Except for those two |
| assuming Boller actually meant something to the team. | | | | pesky second-half turnovers (not like those matter in a |
| The Titans aren't a terrible team, but they did get | | | | two-point game or anything) Kyle Orton looked good. It |
| manhandled by Pittsburgh (161 rushing yards) last | | | | was the rest of the offense that sucked. |
| weekend. Baltimore is nearly as physical as the | | | | 27) Houston Texans (0-1) - "I'm embarrassed," Andre |
| Steelers and should be able to pound the Titans on the | | | | Johnson said after their 22-7 beating in Buffalo. "I don't |
| ground with Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor. I'm going | | | | know what to say. We didn't do anything. We got our |
| to ignore the fact that the Ravens are 1-6 ATS in their | | | | butts kicked." |
| last seven games, or that Anthony Wright is just 6-7 | | | | 28) Green Bay Packers (0-1) - Javon Walker blew |
| as a starter (with his last loss coming against | | | | out his knee and is done for the year. I wonder what |
| Tennessee in the 2003 playoffs), or that there's a | | | | Brett Favre has to say about Walker's contract |
| possibility of a Kordell Stewart sighting. The numbers | | | | situation now? This team is a wreck. |
| may be hazy on this pick, but just ask yourself one | | | | 29) San Francisco 49ers (1-0) - Moron of the Week: |
| simple question - which one of these teams is more | | | | Derek Smith. Linebacker is feeling so superior after |
| likely to start off 0-2?NFL Week 2 Power Rankings1) | | | | their "big win" over the Rams, that he decides to start |
| New England Patriots (1-0) - The Patriots are quickly | | | | talking smack about Terrell Owens before they role |
| becoming the Duke Blue Devils of the NFL. They're | | | | into Philly. Yeah, smart. Poke the wounded animal with |
| constantly praised for their selflessness and always | | | | a stick. |
| described as underrated. Yet, I can't think of any other | | | | 30) Tennessee Titans (0-1) - Might not be a bad idea |
| team whose slot receiver and right guard I've seen in | | | | to pick up Billy Volek on your fantasy team. |
| commercials in the last 12 months. | | | | 31) Arizona Cardinals (0-1) - I understand that people |
| 2) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) - They remain ahead of | | | | are entitled to their opinions, but anyone who actually |
| the Colts because they are more physical. They don't | | | | picked Arizona to win the NFC West is an idiot. |
| miss Plexico on offense. Yet. | | | | 32) Cleveland Browns (0-1) - "Matt Leinhart, this is Big |
| 3) Indianapolis Colts (1-0) - If the usually reliable Matt | | | | Dawg, ruler of the Dawg Pound. Big Dawg, this is Matt |
| Stover hadn't shanked three field goals, and the final | | | | Leinhart, former Heisman winner and our |
| score was 24-16, would everyone still be enamored | | | | future."Questions or comments for Robert? Email him |
| with Indy's defense? | | | | at Doc's Sports Recent Articles:Instant replay in |
| 4) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) - It will be tough to go into | | | | sportsOffshore betting information2006 Super Bowl |
| the RCA Dome and keep up with the Colts. However, | | | | PredictionsDoc's Sports Handicapping Service |
| that's exactly what they did last year when they beat | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| them 27-24. | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted |
| 5) Atlanta Falcons (1-0) - They need to be careful of | | | | names in sports handicapping information. |
| a letdown against Seattle this week. Also, Jim Mora Jr. | | | | |