| Rank | Team | Power Index | W-L | This Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (-) | Broncos | 1.2533 (LW × 1.0592) | 3-0 | Won by 16 vs Raiders |
| 2 (↑5) | Dolphins | 1.1689 (LW × 1.0935) | 3-0 | Won by 4 vs Falcons |
| 3 (↑3) | Patriots | 1.1458 (LW × 1.0616) | 3-0 | Won by 20 vs Buccaneers |
| 4 (↓2) | Saints | 1.1122 (LW × 0.9475) | 3-0 | Won by 24 vs Cardinals |
| 5 (↑4) | Jets | 1.0637 (LW × 1.0121) | 2-1 | Won by 7 vs Bills |
| 6 (↑13) | Ravens | 1.0566 (LW × 1.1540) | 2-1 | Won by 21 vs Texans |
| 7 (↓3) | Falcons | 1.0481 (LW × 0.9287) | 1-2 | Lost by 4 @ Dolphins |
| 8 (↑17) | Colts | 1.0365 (LW × 1.1989) | 2-1 | Won by 20 @ 49ers |
| 9 (↑1) | Chiefs | 1.0356 (LW × 1.0164) | 3-0 | Won by 10 @ Eagles |
| 10 (↓7) | Seahawks | 1.0331 (LW × 0.8954) | 3-0 | Won by 28 vs Jaguars |
| 11 (↑9) | Cowboys | 0.9796 (LW × 1.0715) | 2-1 | Won by 24 vs Rams |
| 12 (↑2) | Bills | 0.9557 (LW × 0.9744) | 1-2 | Lost by 7 @ Jets |
| 13 (↑8) | Panthers | 0.9500 (LW × 1.0583) | 1-2 | Won by 38 vs Giants |
| 14 (↑10) | Raiders | 0.9322 (LW × 1.0656) | 1-2 | Lost by 16 @ Broncos |
| 15 (↑1) | Bears | 0.9249 (LW × 0.9627) | 3-0 | Won by 17 @ Steelers |
| 16 (↓1) | Buccaneers | 0.9226 (LW × 0.9529) | 0-3 | Lost by 20 @ Patriots |
| 17 (↑13) | Browns | 0.9209 (LW × 1.2018) | 1-2 | Won by 4 @ Vikings |
| 18 (↓13) | Texans | 0.9153 (LW × 0.8131) | 2-1 | Lost by 21 @ Ravens |
| 19 (↓11) | Titans | 0.8929 (LW × 0.8466) | 2-1 | Won by 3 vs Chargers |
| 20 (↓8) | Lions | 0.8779 (LW × 0.8775) | 2-1 | Won by 7 @ Redskins |
| 21 (↓10) | Rams | 0.8476 (LW × 0.8329) | 1-2 | Lost by 24 @ Cowboys |
| 22 (↓5) | Bengals | 0.8468 (LW × 0.9034) | 2-1 | Won by 4 vs Packers |
| 23 (↓5) | Chargers | 0.8415 (LW × 0.9033) | 1-2 | Lost by 3 @ Titans |
| 24 (↓11) | Cardinals | 0.8377 (LW × 0.8378) | 1-2 | Lost by 24 @ Saints |
| 25 (↑1) | Giants | 0.8146 (LW × 0.9614) | 0-3 | Lost by 38 @ Panthers |
| 26 (↓4) | Packers | 0.8074 (LW × 0.9110) | 1-2 | Lost by 4 @ Bengals |
| 27 (↓4) | Vikings | 0.7925 (LW × 0.8972) | 0-3 | Lost by 4 vs Browns |
| 28 (-) | Eagles | 0.7610 (LW × 0.9300) | 1-2 | Lost by 10 vs Chiefs |
| 29 (↓2) | 49ers | 0.7597 (LW × 0.9136) | 1-2 | Lost by 20 vs Colts |
| 30 (↑1) | Jaguars | 0.7477 (LW × 1.1177) | 0-3 | Lost by 28 @ Seahawks |
| 31 (↓2) | Steelers | 0.6777 (LW × 0.8538) | 0-3 | Lost by 17 vs Bears |
| 32 (-) | Redskins | 0.6307 (LW × 0.9867) | 0-3 | Lost by 7 vs Lions |
Comments:
Congratulations to the Chiefs on being the first team to exceed their Pythagorean win projection. How many wins to the Chiefs need to get to ensure Andy Reid is coach of the year? This team is already obviously much, much better than they were last year.
The Broncos have taken advantage of at least a couple pretty bad opponents in the Giants and Raiders, but looking at the other 3-0 teams, I don't see any that really seem like they deserve to be higher than the Broncos right now.
Let's play "Coach the Green Bay Packers". You're in a critical late-game situation, 4th and inches with a 3-point lead. A conversion will help you drain the clock, and get you, at worst, to a closer field goal attempt. Do you A) use your experienced, veteran, best-in-the-league quarterback to sneak the ball for an almost certain conversion, or B) hand the ball off to your rookie running back, who is getting his first regular season on-the-field experience? So, yeah. I'll have more to say about this game in the pick results, but that playcall was a real head-scratcher.
So, maybe the Packers and 49ers are not so underrated after all? At least the Packer losses have been close.
In related news, it's looking like there could be a lot of churn in the NFC side of the playoff field this season. The Falcons, 49ers, Packers, Redskins, and Vikings are a combined 3-12. If the Seahawks get the top seed, with their home field advantage, I don't think there's a team in the NFC that could beat them in Seattle in the playoffs.
Well, the Patriots (at least for a week) have discovered an offense, thanks in part to LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, and Stevan Ridley combining for 151 rushing yards. Maybe not the most impressive opponent, but a 20-point win is easily more than the Pats could do against the Bills or Jets.
So, yeah, the Giants are pretty bad. Eli Manning is already more than halfway to matching his interception total from last year, and has a season passer rating (70.5) that is (so far) second-lowest of his career. The defense hasn't been any help, either. They have given up at least 36 points in every game so far, something they didn't do once last year. The Giants are 2-80 all time when they allow at least 36 points.
If they lose to the Chiefs on Sunday, which seems very likely, they'll be 0-4 for the first time since the strike season 1987, when an 0-3 strech with the replacement players gave them an 0-5 start. You have to go back 1976 to find the Giants' last start worse than 0-5.
