Cold, Hard Football Facts.com: Power Rankings: Week 3 2007

By Jonathan Comey

Cold, Hard Football Facts electrical engineer

It’s an unwritten rule in the rankings game: you don’t lose your No. 1 spot without actually losing on the field.

But there are exceptions to the rule, and this week is one of them. Consider New England's move up to No. 1 a hostile takeover, courtesy of one of the most remarkable starts in recent memory.

The Patriots have twin 38-14 wins over playoff teams from 2006 – playoff teams they beat, no less, and that were hell bent on reversing the result. They've dominated each game with surgical precision on offense along with big plays on defense and special teams, all despite a massive distraction from the league office.

For a team that's done some pretty impressive things over the past half-decade, they can still leave you shaking your head in amazement.

But Indianapolis is still a deserving No. 1, as defendiing Super Bowl champs that are getting off to yet another brilliant September start (15-1 in their last 16 September games)

Although the Colts won by just two points in Tennessee, the game didn’t play that close – a blown official's call and troubles in the kicking game turned it from a 14-point win to a nail-biter.

It’s a two-man race for supremacy right now, and the Patriots are ahead by a neck. Of course, we doubt either team is too concerned about their mid-September standing in the power polls. Both teams have regular season records of 52-14 since the beginning of the 2003 season, so being on top of the pile is nothing new.

If you’re looking ahead (something these teams would surely never do), the Colts-Patriots rematch is in Week 9 (Nov. 4), and there’s at least a decent chance that both teams will enter the game undefeated. Indianapolis doesn’t play a 2006 playoff team between now and then, while the Patriots play at Dallas in Week 6 but otherwise play teams that weren’t factors in 2006 and don’t appear to be factors in 2007.

Until then ...

On to the rankings.

THE DOMINANT DOZEN

1. NEW ENGLAND (2-0, previous rank: 2)

Last week: Patriots proved they love their coach with a 38-14 win over rival San Diego.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Team’s mildly controversial decision to save salary-cap space in punting game a wise one so far – Patriots have only punted twice in 2007.
Next: Buffalo. If they played this game 100 times in 100 parallel universes, how many would the Bills win?

2. INDIANAPOLIS (2-0, previous rank: 1)

Last week: Colts won their seventh straight (including 2006 playoffs), holding off Tennessee 22-20.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Indy's three leading tacklers are all in the secondary – CB Kelvin Hayden (15), CB Marlin Jackson (13) and S Bob Sanders (12). Sanders also leads the team with two sacks.
Next: at Houston. Ron Dayne torched the Colts for 153 yards rushing last time these teams met in Houston; Colts haven’t lost since.

3. PITTSBURGH (2-0, previous rank: 12)

Last week: Steelers crushed Buffalo 26-3 without the benefit of a turnover or a play over 30 yards.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Pittsburgh is winning the sack battle, with 10 on defense while allowing just two on offense. In 2006, they recorded 39 sacks and surrendered 49.
Next: San Francisco. Two unbeaten teams with 10 Lombardi Trophies between them.

4. DALLAS (2-0, previous rank: 7)

Last week: The Cowboys put another whipping on an outmatched foe, beating Miami on the road 37-20.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Since the Cowboys acquired Terrell Owens before the 2006 season, they’ve scored 30-or-more points eight time in 19 games. They hit that mark only eight times in three full seasons before T.O.'s arrival.
Next: at Chicago. Dallas’ No. 1 scoring offense against Chicago’s No. 6 scoring defense.

5. GREEN BAY (2-0, previous rank: 18)

Last week: Packers held fifth straight opponent to 13 points or fewer, beating the Giants 35-13 in New Jersey.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Over first 12 games of coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure, Pack allowed a whopping 27 PPG. In his last six games, they’ve allowed just 11.3 PPG.
Next: San Diego. This didn’t look like a big one in preseason, but all of a sudden it looms large for both teams.

6. SAN DIEGO (1-1, previous rank: 3)

Last week: Failed to avenge playoff loss to New England, falling 38-14. Afterward, set unofficial NFL record for most pensive cross-country flight home.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: At least LaDainian Tomlinson leads the league in something; thanks to his Week 1 touchdown toss he has a passer rating of 158.3.
Next: at Green Bay. LT, meet the suddenly surging Packer D.

7. HOUSTON (2-0, previous rank: 22)

Last week: Texans controlled the clock for the second week in a row (34:48 time of possession) in an impressive 34-21 win at Carolina.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Texans have one of the lesser-known tandems at running back – Ron Dayne and Ahman Green each have 31 carries on the season. Green averages 4.6 YPA and Dayne 2.5 YPA.
Next: Indianapolis. Without injured WR Andre Johnson (39.6 percent of the Texans’ net yards in 2007), 3-0 is a longshot.

8. DENVER (2-0, previous rank: 11)

Last week: Allowed 200 yards rushing, but came away with a 23-20 OT win at home over Oakland.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Broncos lead the NFL in Defensive Passer Rating with a 38.2 mark that basically equates to throwing incompletions on every down. They’re also first on third-down defense (21.1 percent success)
Next: Jacksonville.

9. CHICAGO (1-1, previous rank: 5)

Last week: Held Larry Johnson to 55 yards rushing in a 20-10 home win over KC.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Devin Hester added another return score to his portfolio, but his much-hyped switch to wide receiver has been a non-entity: no catches or reverse tries in two games.
Next: Dallas, Sunday night. With the Sunday night focus on him, is this Rex Grossman’s last chance to perform?

10. BALTIMORE (1-1, previous rank: 6)

Last week: Ravens played turnover-free football, beat Jets 20-13.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Ravens have been the most penalized team in the league so far this season (21 accepted penalties for 186 yards). Their two opponents have been been whistled for seven penalties and 51 yards.
Next: at Cleveland. Derek Anderson, meet Ray Lewis.

11. WASHINGTON (2-0, previous rank: 19)

Last week: Redskins joined surprise 2-0 club with 20-12 road win at Philly.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Six more wins to go – Redskins Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs has never had back-to-back losing seasons (5-11 last year).
Next: N.Y. Giants. Gibbs is just 2-4 vs. the hated G-Men since returning to the sidelines in 2004.

12. SEATTLE (1-1, previous rank: 4)

Last week: Seattle squandered a fourth-quarter lead and lost in Arizona, 23-20
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Seattle’s offensive line is doing its job nicely – QB Matt Hasselbeck averaged 4.1 negative pass plays per game in 2006, but he’s tossed 0 picks and has taken just hree sacks in two games this season.
Next: Cincinnati. These teams have met just once since Y2K failed to leave us all in the Stone Age (Seattle 27-24 in 2004).

THE TEPID TWENTY

13. DETROIT (2-0, previous rank: 23) – All of those No. 1 picks, yet it’s Shaun McDonald (13 catches, 161 yards) leading the Lions in receiving.

14. SAN FRANCISCO (2-0, previous rank: 15) – Why are Niners not in the Dominant Dozen? They’ve been outgained 653-380 in their two wins.

15. TENNESSEE (1-1, previous rank: 16) – Sunday’s game was Jeff Fisher’s 200th in the regular season for Tennessee franchise. When he got the job, they were the Houston Oilers and Billy Joe Tolliver was the quarterback.

16. JACKSONVILLE (1-1, previous rank: 14) – Jags are last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (364); AFC teams hold the bottom seven spots in that dubious category.

17. CINCINNATI (1-1, previous rank: 9) – Chad Johnson on pace for 2,432 yards and 24 TDs; Bengals on pace for yet another 8-8 season.

18. CAROLINA (1-1, previous rank: 13) – Panthers’ offense is back: 48 points scored through two games is more than they scored in any consecutive games in 2006.

19. ARIZONA (1-1, previous rank: 28) – RB Edgerrin James has four 100-yard rushing efforts and five touchdowns in his last seven games.

20. TAMPA BAY (1-1, previous rank: 29) – Joey Galloway is closing in on 10,000 receiving yards for his career (9,765).

21. MINNESOTA (1-1, previous rank: 25) – The Vikings have completed just 33 passes over two games, but to 13 different receivers.

22. ST. LOUIS (0-2, previous rank: 19) – Two home losses for Rams are devastating; next two are at Tampa and at Dallas. St. Louis is 4-9 over its last 13 games.

23. PHILADELPHIA (0-2, previous rank: 8) – Eagles fans plan to spend week practicing their booing in hopes to give away home-field advantage vs. Lions.

24. N.Y. JETS (0-2, previous rank: 17) – Is Gastineau still in playing shape? Jets need to go back to the store and make a New York Sack Exchange; they have none in two games.

25. NEW ORLEANS (0-2, previous rank: 10) – The Saints have also generated 0 sacks in two games, and have allowed opposing QBs to average 11.1 yards PER ATTEMPT! Get those paper bag hats ready, Aints fans. Oh, and New Orleans, we're still waiting for that apology after criticizing your defense last season.

26. MIAMI (0-2, previous rank: 24) – QB Trent Green has thrown 13 INTs in his last eight games including playoffs; he threw only 10 in a full season for the Chiefs in 2005.

27. CLEVELAND (1-1, previous rank: 31) – Jamal Lewis ripped off three runs of 31 yards or longer vs. Cincinnati; in 2005 with Baltimore he didn’t have a single run longer than 25 yards.

28. KANSAS CITY (0-2, previous rank: 20) – Chiefs pass-catchers are 30th in yards per catch (8.8), first in fumbles (3).

29. OAKLAND (0-2, previous rank: 30) - QB Josh McCown has a 68.0 passer rating despite his receivers leading the league in YAC (179 yards through two games). Does Daunte Culpepper have B.O. or something?

30. N.Y. GIANTS (0-2, previous rank: 26) – Tom Coughlin, maybe it’s time to start looking for a good realtor.

31. BUFFALO (0-2, previous rank: 27) – You know you’re bad when the punter is your MVP; Moorman third in NFL with 41.4 net average.

32. ATLANTA (0-2 previous rank: 32) – Joey Harrington was sacked on just 3.7 percent of his dropbacks with Miami in 2006; he's been taken down once every five dropbacks (20 percent) this year with Atlanta.

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