VanFulpen’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 3

1. Chicago Bears (3-0) – Defensive end Julius Peppers has been a huge addition for the defensive line.


2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) – The Steelers defense has been playing outstanding.


3. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) – One of the surprise teams of the early season so far but can they keep it up.


4. New Orleans Saints (2-1) – The lost in overtime after missing a field goal that could have won it and keep them undefeated.


5. Green Bay Packers (2-1) – Lost to the Bears on Monday Night in a hard fought NFC North game.


6. Houston Texans (2-1) – Against the Cowboys didn’t play like the had played in the first two weeks.


7. Indianapolis Colts (2-1) – The Colts looked they are ready to roll again this season.


8. New York Jets (2-1) – The Jets where able to go down to Miami and beat the Dolphins.


9. New England Patriots (2-1) – The Patriots got their offense rolling against the Bills.


10. Miami Dolphins (2-1) – Lost at home against the Jets but still should be in the mix for the AFC East crown.


11. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) – The Bengals still haven’t put an great offensive game together but our still 2-1.


12. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) – Quarterback Joe Flacco was able to bonus back and throw 3 touchdown passes this week.


13. Atlanta Falcons (2-1) – The Falcons won a hard fought game against the Saints in overtime.


14. Tennessee Titans (2-1) – The Titans offense has gotten things going yet like they had last year with Vince Young.


15. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) – The Eagles are keep Michael Vick as the starter and right now their offense is explosive.


16. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) – The Seahawks where able to make the plays when it counted against the Chargers to win the game last Sunday.


17. Arizona Cardinals (2-1) – The Cardinals are in the NFC West the worst division in football so they have a chance to win it again this year.


18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) – Showed their true colors against the Steelers this week.


19. San Diego Chargers (1-2) – The Chargers always start the season out slow when it is all said and done they will be in the playoffs.


20. Minnesota Vikings (1-2) – The Vikings got their first win, but still didn’t look like the team they where last year.


21. Dallas Cowboys (1-2) – Quarterback Tony Romo played well, which allowed the Cowboys to beat the Texans.


22. New York Giants (1-2) – Quarterback Eli Manning has to play better then what he did last week against the Titans if the Giants want to win the NFC East title.


23. Washington Redskins (1-2) – The Redskins allowed rookie quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams to get their first win of the season.


24. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) – It might time for a house cleaning in Jacksonville.


25. Denver Broncos (1-2) – The Broncos just don’t have the playmakers they used to have in Denver.


26. Oakland Raiders (1-2) – Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski just isn’t the answer in Oakland and they will be looking for another quarterback this off-season.


27. St. Louis Rams (1-2) – The Rams where able to get a big time win against the Washington Redskins this week.


28. San Francisco 49ers (0-3) – The 49ers looked horrible against the Chiefs on Sunday, they fired their offensive coordinator but everyone needs to play better as well.


29. Detroit Lions (0-3) – Lions fans can’t wait to get quarterback Matthew Stafford back.


30. Carolina Panthers (0-3) – Quarterback Jimmy Clausen first start wasn’t great but it wasn’t horrible, they might have something to build on their.


31. Cleveland Browns (0-3) – The Browns need a quarterback and will try to trade for Kevin Kolb this off-season.


32. Buffalo Bills (0-3) – The Bills released quarterback Trent Edwards who started their first two games, but everyone knows they are on the clock for possible Ryan Mallett.

VanFulpen’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 2

1. New Orleans Saints (2-0) – The Saints are the best team in the NFL and proved it on Monday Night Football traveling to San Francisco and being able to win with a field goal on the final play.

2. Green Bay Packers (2-0) – Quarterback Aaron Rogers looks like he is the leader for the NFL MVP award and their defense is great as well.

3. Houston Texans (2-0) – Overtime win against the Redskins and now they are at home against the Cowboys if they can beat their in state rivals will go along for their confidence.

4. Miami Dolphins (2-0) – Great win against the Vikings on the road now they take on the Jets.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) – No Big Ben no problem in the first two weeks.

6. Chicago Bears (2-0) – Jay Cutler has looked like the Pro Bowl player the Bears thought they traded for in the first two weeks.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) – On of the surprise teams of the early season so far but can they keep it up.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) – The other surprise team and they have a good young quarterback leading them.

9. Indianapolis Colts (1-1) – The Colts looked they are ready to roll again this season.

10. San Diego Chargers (1-1) – Maybe the early season lost to the Chiefs was a good thing for them.

11. New York Jets (1-1) – They have to go play Miami this week, who last season they where 0-2 against.

12. New England Patriots (1-1) – Patriots didn’t look like themselves in the second half against the Jets.

13. New York Giants (1-1) – Eli and the Giants got beat by his older brother Peyton but still look like the team to beat in the NFC East.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) – The Bengals need to get their offense going and score touchdowns and not kick field goals.

15. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) – The Ravens can’t wait to get Ed Reed back because then their defense will be even better.

16. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) – The Falcons can’t afford running back Michael Turner to be hurt and miss too much time.

17. Tennessee Titans (1-1) – Vince Young will be back as the starter, but they need to open more holes for running back Chris Johnson then what they did on Sunday against the Steelers.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) – Michael Vick has played well but they are going back to quarterback Kevin Kolb, might not be the right move.

19. Washington Redskins (1-1) – Donovan McNabb should have this team right around a late season wild card push.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) – The Jaguars have to get better play out of their quarterback or will be looking for a new quarterback and new head coach in the off-season.

21. Denver Broncos (1-1) – The beat the Seahawks this past Sunday but don’t look like a playoff type team.

22. Oakland Raiders (1-1) – The Raiders might be looking for another quarterback this off-season as Jason Campbell was benched in the first half Sunday.

23. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) – The great opening day win didn’t look so great after getting beat by the Broncos.

24. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) – Derrick Anderson is not the answer at quarterback and they could be draft one in the first round again.

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-2) – Brett Farve came back for this? Life isn’t looking good, but just what the doctor ordered the Detroit Lions and Shaun Hill this Sunday.

26. Dallas Cowboys (0-2) – The Cowboys have to go on the road and beat the Texans this week.

27. San Francisco 49ers (0-2) – The 49ers play in the worst division in the NFL, the NFC West so an 8-8 record might win the division.

28. Detroit Lions (0-2) – Lions fans can’t wait to get quarterback Matthew Stafford back.

29. Carolina Panthers (0-2) – The Jimmy Clausen era has started in Carolina.

30. Cleveland Browns (0-2) – The Browns are hoping the quarterback Andrew Luck falls to them next April.

31. St. Louis Rams (0-2) – The Rams need offensive weapons and should trade for Vincent Jackson.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-2) – The Bills have benched quarterback Trent Edwards after week two.

Power Ranking Number 17: Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Ben Roethlisberger was suspended by the NFL for the first six games of the season with the possibility to get the suspension reduced to the first four games. Even if that is the case and he misses only four game he still will miss 25% of the regular season. Offensive tackle Willie Colon will miss the whole season because of injury, and the Steelers offensive line last season wasn’t on of their strengths, and that was the reason of drafting Maurkice Pouncey in the 1st round of Aprils draft. Wide receiver Hines Ward is a staple in the Steelers passing game and the Steelers expect a lot out of second year wide receiver Mike Wallace this season. Running back Willie Parker is gone so the Steelers running game is all up to Rashard Mendenhall this season.

On defense the strength of their defense in their starting linebacking core with
LaMarr Woodley, James Harrison, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons, and they brought back Larry Foote to provide some depth. In the secondary they trade to bring back cornerback Bryant McFadden which helps the secondary out a lot since that was one of the weakness on the team last season.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes was traded to the Jets this off-season and Roethlisberger is out at least the first four week of the season, quarterback Byron Leftwich will have to keep the team a float, but don’t be surprised in the Steelers miss the playoff for a second straight year.