Greetings, football fans! I'd like to introduce something to you that I've been doing over at Bolts from the Blue for the last three years or so. I call it the NFL Power Rankings Consensus, and well, the name kind of speaks for itself.

Simply put: I troll the web for various NFL power rankings, load them up into my computer and crunch the numbers. I then make observations based on what the numbers tell me. Don't worry, it's nothing too complicated, and I'll walk you through the various displays, explaining as we go along.

Methodology

This week there are 18 different sources for the power rankings. But, not all rankings are created equally: some are based on running statistics through computers to generate rankings, and others are based on gut feelings on how well teams are playing, like the one from SB Nation.The latter is probably what you're used to when you think of "Power Rankings." I've broken down the stats-based rankings and the perception-based rankings into two categories -- "Objective" and "Subjective" rankings, respectively. This will become more obvious as we move along.

Division Averages

Before we get to looking at where all the teams rank, let's take look at the bigger picture in the NFL. This table takes the average rankings for each team, then averages the rankings of each team in the division. It's used as a way of showing where the tougher and weaker divisions lie each week.

Division Avg Ranking NFC East 11.9306 NFC West 13.9167 NFC North 14.5000 AFC North 15.9861 NFC South 16.2500 AFC East 17.6944 AFC West 19.9444 AFC South 21.7778

As you can see, the NFC East is the dominant division in the NFL, while the NFC West – the former laughingstock of the NFL — is respectable, and it's not all because of the 49ers. Two weeks into the season, the NFC is becoming the powerhouse conference in the NFL now as the top three divisions are NFC divisions, and the AFC occupies the bottom 3 positions.

Stock Rising

This table is kind of self-explanatory: it shows which teams have moved up the most this week compared to last week.

Team Week 2 Average Week 3 Average Difference Cardinals 22.000 14.643 7.357 Chargers 16.462 11.214 5.248 Seahawks 23.385 18.143 5.242 Eagles 11.308 6.286 5.022 Dolphins 30.923 26.571 4.352





Observations:

It's no surprise that the 2-0 Cardinals, coming off a huge upset of New England, have risen the most.

Should the Chargers knock off the Falcons, it'll be interesting to see how much more they'd climb.

Maybe it was a bit early to completely write off Miami in Week 1, or Philadelphia for that matter.

You'll see shortly, this likely won't be the last time we see Seattle on this list.

Stock Falling

Like the "Stock Rising" chart above, this one shows which teams are slipping.

Team Week 2 Average Week 3 Average Difference Saints 12.846 19.786 -6.940 Chiefs 20.923 27.857 -6.934 Patriots 1.385 5.643 -4.258 Cowboys 9.077 13.286 -4.209 Titans 23.539 27.643 -4.104





Observations:

EVERYONE OFF THE NEW ORLEANS BANDWAGON!

It's no surprise the Chiefs are slipping this quickly. They have looked awful in the first two games. As you'll see in a bit, they quite possibly haven't hit rock-bottom just yet.

in the first two games. As you'll see in a bit, they quite possibly haven't hit rock-bottom just yet. The Patriots are looking vulnerable early in the season it seems.

Much like Philadelphia getting a "correction" upward, the Cowboys are getting a "correction" downward after being trounced by the Seahawks.

Subjective Average

We'll start off with the Subjective Average. These rankings are the ones that has actual people ranking the teams based on their gut feelings. You'll see in a moment that some of these sites may even just throw darts at a board, or have a chicken pecking at numbers. I then take all those rankings and average them together, then sort the table based on the average ranking. This method evens out the peaks and valleys and allows us to get a more reliable "big picture" view of the perception of where teams rank in the league.

Subjective 49ers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 1.000 Texans 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2.286 1.560 Packers 4 6 7 2 3 3 4 5 3 2 3 3 3 4 3.714 1.748 Falcons 3 3 3 5 6 9 3 3 6 5 4 4 4 5 4.500 2.115 Ravens 6 5 6 6 4 6 6 4 5 6 6 5 5 8 5.571 -2.417 Patriots 5 8 10 3 5 5 7 6 4 3 7 6 7 3 5.643 -4.258 Eagles 7 4 4 8 7 4 5 9 7 8 5 8 6 6 6.286 5.022 Giants 8 7 15 7 8 8 9 8 8 7 9 7 8 7 8.286 0.176 Steelers 9 9 8 11 10 7 10 10 10 11 8 9 10 9 9.357 1.951 Broncos 10 12 13 14 9 10 8 7 9 14 11 11 11 10 10.643 -2.258 Chargers 11 15 5 15 12 11 11 11 11 15 10 10 9 11 11.214 5.248 Bears 12 10 14 13 14 18 12 12 12 13 13 12 15 13 13.071 -3.994 Cowboys 15 13 12 9 15 17 15 13 13 9 15 14 14 12 13.286 -4.209 Lions 13 11 17 10 17 14 14 14 15 10 12 13 13 16 13.500 -0.269 Cardinals 14 16 9 17 11 12 13 16 14 17 16 15 12 23 14.643 7.357 Bengals 16 14 16 18 20 21 20 15 20 18 18 16 18 20 17.857 0.143 Panthers 19 20 18 16 21 13 18 17 19 16 22 21 17 15 18.000 3.385 Seahawks 17 22 11 20 13 15 16 20 21 20 23 20 19 17 18.143 5.242 Jets 18 17 19 19 22 19 19 22 17 19 20 18 16 18 18.786 -2.940 Redskins 20 19 21 21 16 16 17 19 18 21 17 19 20 21 18.929 -3.083 Saints 24 24 23 12 23 24 22 18 23 12 14 22 22 14 19.786 -6.940 Buccaneers 21 18 24 22 18 22 21 21 16 22 24 17 21 22 20.643 -0.258 Bills 22 21 20 23 24 20 23 23 22 23 19 23 23 19 21.786 2.599 Rams 23 23 22 24 19 23 24 24 24 24 27 24 24 26 23.643 3.972 Colts 27 25 25 30 25 25 25 27 26 30 21 25 25 27 25.929 3.225 Dolphins 25 29 26 28 27 26 26 25 25 28 26 26 26 29 26.571 4.352 Vikings 29 28 30 26 26 27 27 28 28 26 25 27 27 28 27.286 -1.363 Titans 26 27 29 25 31 29 28 26 29 25 29 30 28 25 27.643 -4.104 Chiefs 28 26 28 27 30 28 29 29 27 27 28 28 31 24 27.857 -6.934 Raiders 30 30 27 29 32 30 31 32 31 29 31 29 30 31 30.143 -3.989 Browns 32 31 32 31 29 32 30 30 32 31 30 31 29 32 30.857 0.143 Jaguars 31 32 31 32 28 31 32 31 30 32 32 32 32 30 31.143 -2.220

Observations:

It didn't take long to get a consensus top team in the NFL. After just two games, the 49ers are your unanimous pick for the best team in the NFL.

Even though the NFC dominates the divisional rankings, the top 12 teams are evenly split between the NFC and AFC.

But AFC teams occupy the bottom five spots this week.

Though the Browns lost again this week, they actually moved up slightly, but only to make room for the Jaguars.

The color backgrounds help to highlight this, but do you notice the gap between where the Cardinals are ranked and where the Bengals land? Over three positions separate the two, and they're ranked immediately next to each other. It seems like there's a sharp delineation between the "haves" and the "have-nots" to start the season. Historically, this will even out as the season goes on.

There are quite a few pundits that are holding out hope for the Saints, while many others have given up hope. This lack of consistency in the rankings leads us nicely into our next chart...

Subjective Standard Deviation

Put simply, Standard Deviation is a tool in statistics to measure how much variance there is in a set of numbers. To put more simply: I use it to look at who's ranked the most- and least-consistently. In Standard Deviation, the lower the number, the more consistent the values in the set. For our purposes, this means the lower the Standard Deviation, the more consistent the rankings. The opposite is true too: the higher the number, the less consistent the rankings.

This table is sorted by most-consistently ranked to least-consistently ranked.

Subjective 49ers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.785 Texans 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 0.700 -0.069 Ravens 6 5 6 6 4 6 6 4 5 6 6 5 5 8 0.979 -0.047 Browns 32 31 32 31 29 32 30 30 32 31 30 31 29 32 1.060 0.275 Steelers 9 9 8 11 10 7 10 10 10 11 8 9 10 9 1.109 -0.573 Jaguars 31 32 31 32 28 31 32 31 30 32 32 32 32 30 1.125 0.128 Vikings 29 28 30 26 26 27 27 28 28 26 25 27 27 28 1.278 0.071 Raiders 30 30 27 29 32 30 31 32 31 29 31 29 30 31 1.302 -1.905 Dolphins 25 29 26 28 27 26 26 25 25 28 26 26 26 29 1.348 0.277 Packers 4 6 7 2 3 3 4 5 3 2 3 3 3 4 1.385 0.107 Bills 22 21 20 23 24 20 23 23 22 23 19 23 23 19 1.612 -0.520 Eagles 7 4 4 8 7 4 5 9 7 8 5 8 6 6 1.623 -0.990 Falcons 3 3 3 5 6 9 3 3 6 5 4 4 4 5 1.637 -0.306 Chiefs 28 26 28 27 30 28 29 29 27 27 28 28 31 24 1.641 -1.033 Jets 18 17 19 19 22 19 19 22 17 19 20 18 16 18 1.655 0.424 Rams 23 23 22 24 19 23 24 24 24 24 27 24 24 26 1.757 -0.146 Bears 12 10 14 13 14 18 12 12 12 13 13 12 15 13 1.791 -0.302 Redskins 20 19 21 21 16 16 17 19 18 21 17 19 20 21 1.791 -0.203 Titans 26 27 29 25 31 29 28 26 29 25 29 30 28 25 1.913 0.007 Giants 8 7 15 7 8 8 9 8 8 7 9 7 8 7 1.980 -0.081 Patriots 5 8 10 3 5 5 7 6 4 3 7 6 7 3 1.986 1.361 Broncos 10 12 13 14 9 10 8 7 9 14 11 11 11 10 2.022 -0.566 Bengals 16 14 16 18 20 21 20 15 20 18 18 16 18 20 2.100 -0.412 Cowboys 15 13 12 9 15 17 15 13 13 9 15 14 14 12 2.185 0.500 Colts 27 25 25 30 25 25 25 27 26 30 21 25 25 27 2.187 -0.996 Lions 13 11 17 10 17 14 14 14 15 10 12 13 13 16 2.196 0.669 Buccaneers 21 18 24 22 18 22 21 21 16 22 24 17 21 22 2.379 0.358 Panthers 19 20 18 16 21 13 18 17 19 16 22 21 17 15 2.450 0.213 Chargers 11 15 5 15 12 11 11 11 11 15 10 10 9 11 2.541 1.041 Cardinals 14 16 9 17 11 12 13 16 14 17 16 15 12 23 3.265 0.409 Seahawks 17 22 11 20 13 15 16 20 21 20 23 20 19 17 3.335 0.602 Saints 24 24 23 12 23 24 22 18 23 12 14 22 22 14 4.554 2.807

Observations:

Since they have a Standard Deviation of exactly 0, that means the 49ers were the unanimous choice.

The Texans pretty close to a consensus 2nd-place team, with just a few dissenters.

The Ravens are slowly settling into the No. 6 spot.

We see a few pundits out there who believe in the Cardinals and Seahawks, and there are plenty of skeptics still out there as well.

To a lesser extent, the same holds true for the Chargers. There are some pundits who see the Chargers as a top 10 team, but others aren't so sure. This week's Falcons game should go a long way to cementing the Chargers' perception one way or the other.

To start the season, there was a lot of excitement and hope that the Panthers would be a contender this year. After starting 1-1, some pundits are losing that enthusiasm while others are still holding out hope.

There are a few die-hards out there holding onto the hope that the Saints aren't that bad. The Saints are ranked anywhere from 12th down to 24th; that's quite a swing!

One thing I'd like to point out about the Standard Deviation method here: it's not perfect. Because teams are bound on each end of the spectrum (they can't be any less than 1 or more than 32), we tend to see more consistent numbers as you get to each end of the spectrum. It's not a steadfast rule as there are plenty of times there's no consensus on the best or worst teams in the NFL, it is kind of the rule of thumb. Just something that's the nature of the numbers.

Objective Average

I call these rankings the "Objective" rankings because unlike the rankings above, these are rankings based on statistical models of some sort. I use the term "Objective" loosely here because there is still some inherent bias in how the various models are constructed. Each ranking site has their own criteria in what they feel is success in the NFL.

All that said, these rankings are more objective as they remove perception and bias and produce rankings based on how well teams actually play, not how they're perceived to play.

Objective 49ers 13 2 4 1 5.000 3.000 Patriots 1 7 1 16 6.250 -4.917 Packers 2 13 3 7 6.250 2.083 Ravens 5 6 2 12 6.250 -2.250 Falcons 3 9 11 3 6.500 2.500 Eagles 11 4 7 4 6.500 1.167 Texans 4 10 6 8 7.000 1.667 Seahawks 21 3 8 5 9.250 10.083 Steelers 10 12 5 14 10.250 2.417 Broncos 8 16 12 6 10.500 0.500 Cardinals 30 1 10 2 10.750 8.250 Cowboys 16 5 16 9 11.500 -5.500 Chargers 15 11 9 11 11.500 0.833 Giants 14 8 14 17 13.250 -2.583 Bears 7 21 13 13 13.500 -3.167 Lions 19 14 17 10 15.000 3.667 Jets 6 20 15 21 15.500 -5.833 Dolphins 23 18 20 15 19.000 6.000 Redskins 22 15 19 23 19.750 -6.083 Bengals 25 17 24 19 21.250 1.750 Saints 12 23 18 32 21.250 -8.250 Panthers 9 22 27 28 21.500 2.500 Bills 17 25 26 24 23.000 2.333 Buccaneers 18 24 28 22 23.000 -1.333 Rams 32 19 29 18 24.500 6.833 Colts 28 29 22 20 24.750 2.917 Titans 24 27 21 27 24.750 -4.417 Vikings 20 31 23 25 24.750 -2.750 Browns 29 26 25 29 27.250 -1.250 Raiders 26 28 30 26 27.500 -1.167 Chiefs 27 30 32 31 30.000 -5.667 Jaguars 31 32 31 30 31.000 -3.333

Observations:

I'll be the first to admit: it's kind of hard to compare these numbers to last week's as the sources have changed each week

Right now, the Football Outsiders ranking uses their DAVE ranking. DAVE relies on 75 percent preseason projections to rank teams and only 25 percent of current play; and their current ratings aren't adjusted for opponent either. That's why the 49ers are still ranked 13th over at Football Outsiders, but 4th-or-better at the other sites.

Most of the Objective rankings take until about Week 4 before there's enough data to objectively portray a team's play accurately

That's interesting, much like in the subjective rankings, there's a sharp delineation in the middle. This time, it's between the Jets and Dolphins.

Outside of that, this table speaks for itself.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Jaguars 31 32 31 30 0.707 -1.787 Raiders 26 28 30 26 1.658 -0.836 Browns 29 26 25 29 1.785 -2.298 Chiefs 27 30 32 31 1.871 -3.864 Chargers 15 11 9 11 2.179 -2.605 Texans 4 10 6 8 2.236 -1.163 Titans 24 27 21 27 2.488 -0.006 Eagles 11 4 7 4 2.872 0.515 Dolphins 23 18 20 15 2.916 -0.643 Redskins 22 15 19 23 3.113 -2.906 Giants 14 8 14 17 3.269 -1.445 Bengals 25 17 24 19 3.345 1.931 Steelers 10 12 5 14 3.345 -1.152 Lions 19 14 17 10 3.391 0.300 Bills 17 25 26 24 3.536 -0.235 Falcons 3 9 11 3 3.571 -2.145 Buccaneers 18 24 28 22 3.606 -1.178 Ravens 5 6 2 12 3.632 2.218 Colts 28 29 22 20 3.832 -0.358 Broncos 8 16 12 6 3.841 1.013 Vikings 20 31 23 25 4.023 1.573 Packers 2 13 3 7 4.323 -0.666 Cowboys 16 5 16 9 4.717 0.171 49ers 13 2 4 1 4.743 -2.328 Bears 7 21 13 13 4.975 -0.818 Jets 6 20 15 21 5.937 3.312 Rams 32 19 29 18 6.103 5.160 Patriots 1 7 1 16 6.139 5.668 Seahawks 21 3 8 5 7.013 2.024 Saints 12 23 18 32 7.327 3.768 Panthers 9 22 27 28 7.566 -0.223 Cardinals 30 1 10 2 11.649 2.233

Observations:

That's crazy that all four of the worst-ranked teams overall also happen to have the lowest Standard Deviation, meaning the consensus is that they're all not good. Sorry Big Cat Country, Silver And Black Pride, Dawgs By Nature and Arrowhead Pride.

Overall, the swings are much wilder in the Objective Rankings for two reasons: smaller sample size and because it takes about four weeks for these stats to settle.

Remember that part about the DAVE ranking? Well it seems to be holding Arizona down as Football Outsiders has them ranked 30th, yet the other sites much higher. Same story for Seattle.

The inverse is true for New Orleans and Carolina as the DAVE ranking is keeping them held a bit higher right now.

Overall Average

Now let's compare the two sets of data. We'll start with the "Overall Average" chart. This takes the Subjective Average and the Objective Average, and then averages those two numbers. This way it gives equal weight to both averages so that even though Subjective Average has a larger sample size, it doesn't drown out the Objective Average.

Subj vs Obj 49ers 1.000 5.000 3.000 2.000 Texans 2.286 7.000 4.643 1.613 Packers 3.714 6.250 4.982 1.915 Falcons 4.500 6.500 5.500 2.308 Ravens 5.571 6.250 5.911 -2.334 Patriots 5.643 6.250 5.946 -4.587 Eagles 6.286 6.500 6.393 3.094 Steelers 9.357 10.250 9.804 2.183 Broncos 10.643 10.500 10.571 -0.879 Giants 8.286 13.250 10.768 -1.204 Chargers 11.214 11.500 11.357 3.040 Cowboys 13.286 11.500 12.393 -4.855 Cardinals 14.643 10.750 12.696 7.804 Bears 13.071 13.500 13.286 -3.581 Seahawks 18.143 9.250 13.696 7.663 Lions 13.500 15.000 14.250 1.699 Jets 18.786 15.500 17.143 -4.387 Redskins 18.929 19.750 19.339 -4.583 Bengals 17.857 21.250 19.554 0.946 Panthers 18.000 21.500 19.750 2.942 Saints 19.786 21.250 20.518 -7.595 Buccaneers 20.643 23.000 21.821 -0.795 Bills 21.786 23.000 22.393 2.466 Dolphins 26.571 19.000 22.786 5.176 Rams 23.643 24.500 24.071 5.403 Colts 25.929 24.750 25.339 3.071 Vikings 27.286 24.750 26.018 -2.056 Titans 27.643 24.750 26.196 -4.260 Raiders 30.143 27.500 28.821 -2.577 Chiefs 27.857 30.000 28.929 -6.301 Browns 30.857 27.250 29.054 -0.554 Jaguars 31.143 31.000 31.071 -2.776

Observations:

The top 12 hasn't changed too much here.

Seattle jumps quite a bit, buoyed by their Objective rankings. Same story in Miami.

The Jets are being dragged back down by their Subjective rankings. Pundits are jumping ship already after just one loss.

Interestingly, based on the overall average, you can see clusters developing: The top seven teams starting with the 49ers down to the Eagles. The next 10 teams from the Steelers to the Lions. The Jets all on their own. Then it's pretty smooth from the Redskins on down to the bottom.



Overall Standard Deviation

The Overall Standard Deviation does not average anything out, it just takes the Standard Deviation across all the rankings. Yes this will even things out slightly, but it goes to show which teams have consensus across the board.

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 31.143 31.000 1.048 0.440 Raiders 30.143 27.500 1.771 1.316 Steelers 9.357 10.250 1.892 0.632 Chiefs 27.857 30.000 1.915 1.793 Ravens 5.571 6.250 1.938 -0.780 Browns 30.857 27.250 1.957 0.770 Eagles 6.286 6.500 1.972 0.962 Redskins 18.929 19.750 2.183 1.095 Bills 21.786 23.000 2.248 0.301 Texans 2.286 7.000 2.309 0.179 Falcons 4.500 6.500 2.368 0.804 Titans 27.643 24.750 2.381 0.003 Vikings 27.286 24.750 2.445 -0.288 Chargers 11.214 11.500 2.468 0.484 Broncos 10.643 10.500 2.542 0.284 Lions 13.500 15.000 2.587 0.274 Packers 3.714 6.250 2.599 0.094 Colts 25.929 24.750 2.687 0.757 49ers 1.000 5.000 2.787 1.132 Bengals 17.857 21.250 2.812 0.239 Bears 13.071 13.500 2.833 0.344 Buccaneers 20.643 23.000 2.872 -0.068 Cowboys 13.286 11.500 3.035 -0.274 Giants 8.286 13.250 3.112 -0.221 Rams 23.643 24.500 3.287 -1.003 Patriots 5.643 6.250 3.392 -2.792 Jets 18.786 15.500 3.440 -0.552 Dolphins 26.571 19.000 3.635 -0.693 Panthers 18.000 21.500 4.417 -0.357 Saints 19.786 21.250 5.332 -3.128 Seahawks 18.143 9.250 5.766 -2.128 Cardinals 14.643 10.750 6.408 -1.446

Observations:

You would be confident in saying the Jaguars, Raiders and Chiefs are not very good teams right now.

You could be just as confident in saying the Steelers, Ravens and Eagles are actually pretty good teams right now.

The Cardinals and Seahawks being at the bottom of this list is no surprise. There are some pundits still holding on to their perception of these teams, but the numbers say otherwise. Also, see: Outsiders, Football.

Difference in Averages

This compares the Subjective average ranking with the Objective average ranking. This tells us just how far off people are from the formulas. A positive number means people think they will be or are better than the stats indicate, a negative number means the math thinks they're better than what people think. The closer to 0 this number is, the more in agreement the Subjective and Objective rankings are.

Generally speaking, the Subjective Rankings tend to react to a team's performance quicker than the mathematical models can. So that's why in the charts it's generally considered a good thing if the Subjective Rankings are higher than the Objective Rankings. The opposite can most certainly hold true in that some teams are actually better or worse than they're perceived. But it's difficult to tell which teams fall into each category.

Subj vs Obj Giants 8.286 13.250 4.964 -2.759 Texans 2.286 7.000 4.714 0.107 49ers 1.000 5.000 4.000 2.000 Panthers 18.000 21.500 3.500 -0.885 Bengals 17.857 21.250 3.393 1.607 Packers 3.714 6.250 2.536 0.336 Buccaneers 20.643 23.000 2.357 -1.075 Chiefs 27.857 30.000 2.143 1.267 Falcons 4.500 6.500 2.000 0.385 Lions 13.500 15.000 1.500 3.936 Saints 19.786 21.250 1.464 -1.310 Bills 21.786 23.000 1.214 -0.265 Steelers 9.357 10.250 0.893 0.466 Rams 23.643 24.500 0.857 2.861 Redskins 18.929 19.750 0.821 -3.001 Ravens 5.571 6.250 0.679 0.167 Patriots 5.643 6.250 0.607 -0.658 Bears 13.071 13.500 0.429 0.827 Chargers 11.214 11.500 0.286 -4.414 Eagles 6.286 6.500 0.214 -3.855 Jaguars 31.143 31.000 -0.143 -1.113 Broncos 10.643 10.500 -0.143 2.758 Colts 25.929 24.750 -1.179 -0.308 Cowboys 13.286 11.500 -1.786 -1.291 Vikings 27.286 24.750 -2.536 -1.387 Raiders 30.143 27.500 -2.643 2.823 Titans 27.643 24.750 -2.893 -0.312 Jets 18.786 15.500 -3.286 -2.894 Browns 30.857 27.250 -3.607 -1.393 Cardinals 14.643 10.750 -3.893 0.893 Dolphins 26.571 19.000 -7.571 1.648 Seahawks 18.143 9.250 -8.893 4.842

Observations:

The Giants bounce back and win their second game and all of a sudden everyone is back on board. Not so fast, maybe? This is a fickle bunch.

Based on past coverage I've seen, it seems like the media has been wanting the Texans to be good for quite a while now. In this instance, it seems like they're hyping them up a little bit too much. Either that or the objective rankings haven't caught up to them yet.

Kansas City, based on the numbers, is playing even worse than perceived. They have a little bit more to fall.

Generally, if a team's difference in average is anywhere between 1 and -1, then their perception matches their actual performance on the field. So basically, from the Steelers to the Broncos, all those teams are playing about as well (or poorly) as everyone thinks.

Yes, the media loves to hate on the Browns, but based on the numbers, they could cut them a little slack.

slack. It seems the media isn't quite ready to buy completely into the Cardinals just yet.

Miami and Seattle, though they're at opposite corners of the country, share one thing in common: they get no respect. Rodney Dangerfield says hello (from the grave).

Matchup Previews

This is something a little new I'm trying out. I take a look at what should be the best match-ups based on the rankings, and also what should be the biggest blow-outs.

Best Match-Ups for Week 3

Opponents (Ranking) Game Time Ranking Difference New England (5.946) at Baltimore (5.911) Sun, Sep 23 8:20PM EDT 0.035 Cincinnati (19.554) at Washington (19.339) Sun, Sep 23 1:00PM EDT 0.215

Biggest Blowout Potential for Week 3

Opponents (Ranking) Game Time Ranking Difference San Francisco (3.000) at Minnesota (26.018) Sun, Sep 23 1:00PM EDT 23.018 Pittsburgh (9.804) at Oakland (28.821) Sun, Sep 23 4:25PM EDT 19.017





Sources