By Bill Seals - Fred Altieri
Sports Reporters - PFWA Members 

2023 NFL Power Rankings – Week 03

 

September 21, 2023

Brevin Townsell - LA Rams

Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua caught 15 of 20 targeted passes for 147 yards vs Niners on Sunday at SoFi Stadium

1. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0): Running back DeAndre Swift had 28 carries for 175 yards and a touchdown to lead the Eagles past the Vikings. The Eagles secondary has given up big plays in the first two weeks but has found ways to win and this week Swift was the star. Next: -5.5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mon, Sep. 25 – O/U: 46 (ATS: 1-0-1 – O/U: 2-0)

2. San Francisco 49ers (2-0): The 49ers defeated the Rams on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in a game that looked like a 49ers home game. There was a sea of red in the stadium, similar to a Chiefs-Chargers game at SoFi Stadium. Next: -10 vs New York Giants – Thu, Sep. 21 – O/U: 44 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

3. Dallas Cowboys (2-0): The Cowboys have outscored their two opponents 70-10 this season. Stress-free victories for Cowboys fans. They are beginning to look like a dominant team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Next: -12.5 at Arizona Cardinals - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 43 (ATS: 2-0– O/U: 1-1)

4. Baltimore Ravens (2-0): Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is in his 16th season as the Ravens head coach and has had just two losing seasons in that period of time. The Ravens have done a good job of drafting and developing talent over the years. Just a well-run organization. Next: -7.5 vs Indianapolis Colts – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U 44.5 (ATS: 2-0 – O/U: 1-1)

5. Miami Dolphins (2-0): The Dolphins are 2-0 and 2-0 on the road after beating the Patriots on the road Sunday Night. This is a team with a lot of speed on offense and a favorable early home schedule. They are a likely playoff team. Next: -6.5 vs Denver Broncos - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 48.5 (ATS: 2-0 – O/U: 1-1)

6. Kansas City Chiefs (1-1): Tight end Travis Kelce is back, defensive tackle Chris Jones is back, and so are the Chiefs, beating the Jags on the road. Wide receiver Skyy Moore caught three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Next: -12.5 vs Chicago Bears - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 47.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 0-2)

7. Buffalo Bills (1-1): Quarterback Josh Allen completed 21 of 27 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns as the Bills easily defeated the Raiders in Buffalo. The Bills rushed for 183 yards led by running back James Cook with 123 yards rushing. Next: -6.5 at Washington Commanders - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

8. New Orleans Saints (2-0): Quarterback Derek Carr is off to a good start with the Saints, after the Saints beat the Panthers on the road. The Saints have a top five defense and Carr does not need to be spectacular. He can "game manage" his way to the playoffs with this team. Next: +2.5 at Green Bay Packers - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 0-1-1 – O/U: 0-2)

9. Atlanta Falcons (2-0): The Falcons are 2-0 and tied with the Saints and the Bucs for first place in the suddenly tough NFC South division. Rookie running back Bijan Robinson had 172 yards in total offense and will be a significant part of the offense going forward for the Falcons. Next: +3 at Detroit Lions – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

10. Detroit Lions (1-1): Former Ram quarterback Jared Goff had his third-longest interception-less streak of all-time end at 383, when he threw a pick-six interception against the Seahawks. Goff has the third longest streak in history behind Aaron Rodgers with 402 and Tom Brady with 399. Next: -3 vs Atlanta Falcons – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0): Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 317 yards and a touchdown to lead the Bucs past the Bears, 27-17. The Bucs had 437 yards in total offense in the victory. Wide receiver Mike Evans had six receptions for 171 yards. Next: +5.5 vs Philadelphia Eagles - Mon, Sep. 25 – O/U: 46 (ATS: 2-0 – O/U: 1-1)

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was 0 for 7 passing in the red zone and that led to three field goals and a 17-9 loss to the Chiefs. The Jaguars look like they are not quite ready to challenge for an AFC Title. Next: -9.5 vs Houston Texans - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

13. Seattle Seahawks (1-1): The Seahawks had 180 yards of total offense in their disappointing opening day loss at home to the Rams. They rebounded with 393 yards in total offense in an overtime win over the Lions in Detroit. Next: -5.5 vs Carolina Panthers - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 42 (ATS: 1-1– O/U: 1-1)

14. Washington Commanders (2-0): The Commanders trailed 21-3 late in the second quarter to the Broncos in Denver, but somehow rallied to take a 35-24 lead in the 4th quarter and held on for a 35-33 win. Next: +6.5 vs Buffalo Bills – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

15. Green Bay Packers (1-1): The Packers lost in the final minute of the game to the Falcons in Atlanta, 25-24. The Packers were without running back Aaron Jones, wide receiver Christian Watson, and left tackle David Bakhtiari. All three offensive starters missed the game with injuries. Next: -2.5 vs New Orleans Saints - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 2-0 – O/U: 2-0)

16. Los Angeles Rams (1-1): Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua has 25 receptions for 266 yards through two games. Nacua is giving the Rams hope that they may have a playoff team once they get wide receiver Cooper Kupp off the injured reserve and back on the field. Next: +2.5 at Cincinnati Bengals – Mon, Sep. 25 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 2-0– O/U: 1-1)

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1): The Steelers used two defensive touchdowns to beat the Browns on Monday Night. Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith scored a touchdown on an interception return and linebacker T.J. Watt scored a touchdown on a fumble return. Next: +2.5 at Las Vegas Raiders – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 43 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

18. Cleveland Browns (1-1): The Browns lost running back for the season with a brutal left knee injury in the loss to the Steelers. Backup running back Jerome Ford will step in as the starter for the rest of the season. Next: -3.5 vs Tennessee Titans – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 39.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

19. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1): The Raiders got blown-out in Buffalo, 38-10. Buffalo has a good team, and they were coming off a tough road loss. They were going to take it out on the Raiders at home. The Raiders are 1-1, with both games on the road. They return home on Sunday to greet an old friend.Next: -2.5 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 43 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

20. Indianapolis Colts (1-1): Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a concussion after scoring two touchdowns, but veteran backup Gardner Minshew came in to complete 19 of 23 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown to complete the victory over the Texans in Houston. Next: +7.5 at Baltimore Ravens – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 2-0)

21. Tennessee Titans (1-1): For at least one weekend, Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill looked like a star, completing 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards, with a one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown in a 27-24 win over the Chargers. Next: +3.5 at Cleveland Browns – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 39.5 (ATS: 2-0 – O/U: 1-1)

22. Los Angeles Chargers (0-2): The Chargers continue to find ways to lose close games. Defensively, the Chargers are ranked last in the NFL in yardage allowed per game and last in passing yardage allowed per game. The Chargers have a four-game losing streak dating back to last season. It will easily be five in a row if the secondary does not improve. Next: +1.5 at Minnesota Vikings - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 53.5 (ATS: 0-2 – O/U: 2-0)

23. Minnesota Vikings (0-2): The Vikings are 0-2 after another close loss, this time to the Eagles. They do have the No. 2 ranked passing offense in the NFL and are a matchup nightmare for a good pass defense. Their next opponent has the worst pass defense in the NFL. Next: -1.5 vs Los Angeles Chargers – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 53.5 (ATS: 0-1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

24. New York Jets (1-1): Explosive running back Breece Hall got four touches in a 30-10 loss to the Cowboys on the road. With quarterback Aaron Rodgers out for the season, the Jets need to look to Hall for offense and four touches is not going to get it done. Next: -2.5 vs New England Patriots - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 37 (ATS: 1-1 – O/U: 1-1)

25. New York Giants (1-1): The Giants were trailing 20-0 at halftime to the hapless Cardinals, which meant that through six quarters of football they had been outscored 60-0. Trailing 28-7 late in the third quarter, the Giants suddenly realized they were playing the Cardinals and reeled off 24 unanswered points to pull out an amazing comeback victory over the Cardinals, 31-28. Next: +10 at San Francisco 49ers – Thu, Sep. 21 – O/U: 44 (ATS: 0-2 – O/U: 1-1)

26. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2): Quarterback Joe Burrow has reinjured his calf and the Bengals will need to turn to backup Jake Browning, who has taken four NFL snaps in regular season games. Browning played his college ball with the Washington Huskies and played at Folsom high school in Folsom, California, where he threw for a national record of 91 touchdown passes. Next: -2.5 vs Los Angeles Rams – Mon, Sep. 25 – O/U 43.5 (ATS: 0-2 – O/U: 1-1)

27. New England Patriots (0-2): Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez played well in the Patriots loss to the Dolphins. Gonzalez gave up three receptions on five targets for 32 yards, adding six solo tackles and an interception. The first-round draft pick from Oregon had an impressive 90.9 PFF grade for the game. Next: +2.5 at New York Jets – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 37 (ATS: 0-2 – O/U: 1-1)

28. Arizona Cardinals (0-2): How bad are the Cardinals? They blew a 21-point lead in the second half to the floundering Giants, losing at home 31-28. The Cardinals have two first round draft picks next season, so this is likely a rebuilding season for them and some players currently on the roster may be traded for additional picks before the trade deadline. Next: +12.5 vs Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 43 (ATS: 2-0 – O/U: 1-1)

29. Denver Broncos (0-2): The Broncos are 0-2 after blowing a 21-3 lead over the Commanders at home. They are headed for another loss on the road against an offense that will give them more problems than the Commanders offense did. Next: +6.5 at Miami Dolphins - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 48.5 (ATS: 0-2 – O/U: 1-1)

30. Carolina Panthers (0-2): The Panthers are in for a long season, but this will be a short week. After their Monday Night loss to the Saints, they are headed across the country to play the Seahawks in Seattle. The Panthers need to find an offensive rhythm, or they will have a tough road trip back from Seattle. Next: +5.5 at Seattle Seahawks - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 42 (ATS: 0-1-1 – O/U: 0-2)

Ty Nowell - LA Chargers

Chargers 11-year veteran receiver Keenan Allen caught 8 of 10 targeted passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns at Tennessee Titans on Sunday

31. Houston Texans (0-2): Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is off to a good start in the NFL after two weeks. He has thrown for 626 yards and two touchdowns in two games, completing 63.7% of his passes with no interceptions, Unfortunately, he has been sacked 11 times in two games. Next: +9.5 at Jacksonville Jaguars – Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U 43.5 (ATS: 0-1 – O/U: 1-1)

32. Chicago Bears (0-2): After losing Sunday at Tampa Bay, the Bears are on a 12-game losing streak dating back to the 2022 season. Quarterback Justin Fields was held to three yards rushing on just four carries, which meant he was throwing the ball frequently, which is not usually a good thing for the Bears. Fields struggled on Sunday, throwing two interceptions in the loss on the road. Next: +12.5 at Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Sep. 24 – O/U: 47.5 (ATS: 0-2 – O/U: 2-0)

 

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