NFL Top-10 Rankings Heading Into Week Three

Date: September 24, 2017

By: Dalton Allison

10. Dallas Cowboys - On Sunday, the Broncos proved that when you take the run game away from the Cowboys offense, bad things can happen. With Ezekiel Elliot limited to eight yards, Dak Prescott was forced to make many challenging throws for the first time in his career, and he was tested. The end result for Prescott was two touchdowns and two interceptions. For Dallas to be successful in their next game, and in general over the course of the season, it is essential for them to make sure the run game is a focal point of their offensive game plan.

9. Detroit Lions- Matthew Stafford and the Lions have excitement stirring in the Motor City. After defeating the Cardinals in Week One, they didn't give the Giants a chance of victory on Monday night. They were the better team on both sides of the ball, and stopped the ball in the big moments. They also took Odell Beckham Jr. out of the game, which should be considered a feat for any team. It appears that the Lions have the offense handled with Stafford at the helm, so now it is just a matter of whether the defense can hold its own like it did these past two weeks.

8. Seattle Seahawks- If it was not evident in the preseason, it is certainly evident that the Seahawks are completely reliant on their defense to win games. The offense and Russell Wilson need to start producing at a higher clip, or they won't be able to keep up with other NFC powerhouses. Their run game needs to be able to step up, or else the offense will be reliant on the arm Russell Wilson, which has not been an effective strategy so far this season.

7. Denver Broncos- Trevor Siemian had his best game as an NFL quarterback against the Cowboys, throwing for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Possibly the most impressive part of their victory was their defense, which completely removed Ezekiel Elliot from the game, also forced Dak Prescott out of his comfort zone. It was an all-around impressive win for the Broncos. The ball hawking defense of Denver is highlighted by Aqib Talib, who returned an interception 103 yards for a touchdown.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers- The Vikings were no match for the Steelers, as the Steelers simply rolled over them. The defense played solidly, and Ben Roethlisberger produced another solid start. Le'Veon Bell is still not himself though. It is concerning that it took Bell 27 carries to achieve 87 yards. Maybe it is just offseason rust, but the Steelers will be scary once he hits his stride. Until then, the young defense of the Steelers will carry the torch, proving to be a force to be reckoned with two weeks into the season.

5. Green Bay Packers- Against the Falcons, we did not see the best that the Packers have to offer. We saw rare lapses in an otherwise impressive defense, and also a few slips from the offense line. Rodgers was forced to throw the ball 50 times, due to an unbalanced offense. If the Packers were to have a run game, they could be able to take some pressure off of Rodgers, and have a more balanced attack. Their leading rusher, Ty Montgomery, has a total of 89 yards on the season. Rodgers will attempt to lead the Packers to victory on Sunday against the Bengals, the only team besides the Packers that he has not won against.

4. New England Patriots- After an embarrassing opening night from Tom Brady and his Patriots, what else could we expect than for the offense to accumulate 555 yards? While the defense may not always be able to make crucial stops, this offense is always prepared for a shoot-out. So, to the surprise of many, the Patriots are not in fact dead. Safety Devin McCourty has been a monster in the safety position thus far, and he will look to continue that against the Texans.

3. Kansas City Chiefs- After breaking out on opening night, all eyes were on running back Kareem Hunt. Hunt did not disappoint, going for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Alex Smith also had a great second game, throwing for 251 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs will look to continue lighting up defenses, when they take on a reeling Chargers team on Sunday. There should be no reason for Hunt to slow down against the Chargers, as they are the 26th best rush defense in the NFL.

2. Oakland Raiders- The Raiders took care of business Sunday, holding firm their position as the team to beat in the AFC. Marshawn Lynch has opened up the offense for Derek Carr, who seems to have come back a stronger quarterback after his surgery. Through two games, Lynch has rushed for 121 yards on 30 attempts, and has not showed any signs of loss of strength in his game. Marquette King has also proved that he is the best punter in the NFL, averaging over 55 yards per punt in the game against the Jets.

1. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons may possess more weapons than the arsenal of the US Military. Matt Ryan and his offense were able to handle a Packers team that is extremely talented, especially on defense. Mohamed Sanu and Julio Jones combined for a total of 193 yards receiving, including a touchdown for Jones. Add in a ferocious rushing attack and a competitive defense, and the Falcons seem to be a well-oiled machine.

 

Dalton Allison can be reached at dalton.allison@student.shu.edu.

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