After what happened in week 2 of the 2021 Season, we have new NFL Power Rankings, now for week 3. Let’s see how much things changed against what was presented the previous week:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 1 (=)
The result of the Atlanta game was exactly what we expected from the Atlanta game. The Buccaneers are a round team at the top of our NFL Power Rankings, and what’s coming next week against the Rams sounds extremely good for Tampa Bay.
2. Los Angeles Rams
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 3 (+1)
To be honest, they were expected to be much more dominant against the Colts. Of course, they are still an extremely solid team and their litmus test will come with the Buccaneers, who have a defense more than proven.
3. Buffalo Bills
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 5 (+2)
For years the Bills were tormented by the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady Patriots. Now they are in a similar situation with the Dolphins, only on the side of the perpetrator. This obviously should have them very happy on the podium of our NFL Power Rankings.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 2 (-2)
OK, the loss to the Ravens was not predicted, but it was not disastrous either. In fact, they came very close to coming out with victory, so they are not in panic mode either.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 11 (+6)
The victory over the Chiefs has Ravens fans in high spirits, but there are still areas to improve. The defense, to begin with, has not been at the expected level, and is letting them score a lot.
6. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 10 (+4)
Their rivals do not have much poster, but the Niners have taken the victories even though they have been in very close games. Injuries remain a question mark, but it appears that most of the key pieces are healthy.
7. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 12 (+5)
One of the biggest advances in the NFL Power Rankings so far this season. The Cardinals have looked pretty good on offense, which is expected. The defense continues to generate doubts, another expected aspect. Now it’s their turn to face Jacksonville and it looks like they’re heading to 3-0.
8. Cleveland Browns
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 6 (-2)
The win against the Texans was within the Browns’ budget, no question about that; what was not expected was that they would have so much trouble overcoming them. This week they have another match where they are supposed to win, so we’ll see if they can better meet expectations.
Top teams in the NFL Power Rankings from 9th to 16th place:
9. Los Angeles Chargers
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 7 (-2)
All the good cheer that was in the aftermath of the win over Washington faded when they lost to the Cowboys, and now there must be some concern about facing a rival as powerful as the Chiefs. The 1-2 looks quite likely, and the proof they give will matter a lot here.
10. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 4 (-6)
In the previous list I said that the game against the Titans would help to better understand their place on the list. Leaving a 24-9 lead at halftime looks very bad, so they lose a few spots for now.
11. Las Vegas Raiders
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 20 (+9)
Let’s be honest: no one, not even the most optimistic, saw a 2-0 for the Raiders after facing the Ravens and Steelers. That good step can be maintained against the Dolphins, in a meeting where Las Vegas could improve its case to enter the Top 10 of our NFL Power Rankings.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 8 (-4)
Another great case of a team that arrived with great enthusiasm for week 2 and came out with a lot of doubts. This seesaw should start to take shape with the game against the Bengals, a team that, in theory, should be beaten, but the absences of Big Ben and TJ Watt could change the landscape.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 15 (+2)
Regardless, the Cowboys are moving forward, and more importantly, the defense continues to show improvement. Let’s see how they present themselves against the Eagles, especially since it is a crucial game in their aspirations within the NFC East.
14. Green Bay Packers
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 14 (=)
The victory over the Lions will calm things down in Green Bay, but their drama is far from resolved. The game against the 49ers will once again put Aaron Rodgers and company to the test, and another outing like the one they had against the Saints will put them back in the eye of the hurricane.
15. Denver Broncos
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 16 (+1)
This team won again, but the level of competition remains in doubt. Of course, we cannot deny that, last year, they probably would not have carried out this type of meeting.
16. Tennessee Titans
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 18 (+2)
The win against the Seahawks was tough because they wanted to do it that way. Once they remembered that its essence is to run with the ball, things were simpler. This week they can check it again against the Colts.
Our NFL Power Rankings with teams 17-24:
17. Washington Football Team
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 17 (=)
While Taylor Heinicke generates optimism on offense, defense is causing expectations to fall apart. The game against the Bills will say a lot about this team.
18. New England Patriots
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 19 (+1)
Beating the Jets qualifies as “protocol” for the Patriots, so technically there is nothing spectacular about this week’s win. A convincing win over the Saints would help their cause a lot more on this list.
19. Carolina Panthers
Record: 2-0
Previous position: 24 (+5)
The Panthers’ two victories are good reason to be happy with this team. Is it enough to place them at the top of our NFL Power Rankings? Not yet. But it could happen soon.
20. Miami Dolphins
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 9 (-11)
Tua’s injury affected the offense, there is no doubt about that. But there is no way to justify what the defense stopped doing in the face of the Bills attack. Considering the points received at the close of the 2020 NFL Season, it seems a given that Buffalo has taken their measure.
21. New Orleans Saints
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 13 (-8)
It looks like a season of ups and downs is coming for the Saints. And yes, the highs will be very high and the lows will be very low… Which is, in essence, Jameis Winston’s career.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 23 (+1)
This is a team that has proven to be playing at a much higher level than expected. It will be interesting to see how they look against a divisional rival like the Cowboys.
23. Chicago Bears
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 26 (+3)
Are we going to get overly excited about Justin Fields’ appearance as a starter? No, because the reality is that the game against the Bengals was the work of the defense, and that way they could have won with Andy Dalton.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 22 (-2)
The sequence where Joe Burrow threw three interceptions, coupled with the final part of the game where he threw two TD passes on consecutive plays, are the best proof that this team is a roller coaster.
The worst teams in our NFL Power Rankings:
25. Indianapolis Colts
2020 record: 0-2
Previous position: 21 (-4)
Carson Wentz played a good game but it wasn’t enough. The problem is that injuries continue to accumulate and the schedule does not decrease in intensity, since now they have to face the Titans.
26. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 0-2
Previous position: 25 (-1)
The game against the Cardinals could have been a very different story if that last field goal attempt had come in. The problem is that, to get there, there were a lot more mistakes that led to that situation.
27. New York Giants
Record: 0-2
Previous position: 27 (=)
Overall, Daniel Jones played well, but there were a lot of mistakes in the game by this team. The biggest of all was Darius Slayton’s drop, which would have given him a 10-point lead with six minutes to play.
28. Houston Texans
Record: 1-1
Previous position: 31 (+3)
One thing is for sure: this team is not the disaster we all predicted. In fact, they have been a competitive team in their two games, so you have to acknowledge the work of David Culley.
29. Detroit Lions
Record: 0-2
Previous position: 29 (=)
We must admit that they have fought a lot and that they started well against the Packers. The problem is that this team seems headed for a lot of results like this: some early promise and an unfavorable final score.
30. New York Jets
Record: 0-2
Previous position: 28 (-2)
The loss to the Patriots puts the Jets in a well-known scenario: with a very unfavorable result and with more doubts than before the game started.
31. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 0-2
Previous position: 30 (-1)
They looked bad against the Eagles and then they looked worse against the Buccaneers. The theme seems to be clear in Atlanta: it will be a difficult year.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 0-2
Previous position: 32 (=)
Trevor Lawrence was unaware of a regular season loss during his high school and college life. In the NFL he is 0-2. And from the way things are going in Jacksonville it seems that the real surprise will come when the Jaguars manage to win a game.
These are our NFL Power Rankings for Week 3 of the 2021 NFL Season. What changes would you make? We await your comments under this article and on our social networks, in addition to that we will see you at 6:00 pm to talk about this list in our twitch channel.