Doesn't matter they play a cakewalk shedule and already can't do worse than split with the Chargers and the rest of the division isn't really powerhouse teams

I'll take them at even money to make the playoffs for 50$ on FTP, quote to confirm and let me know who you want to escrow etc

Is pokerfink's "you get bonus points for lucking out with an easy schedule" a standard fixture of power rankings now? If so then the 49ers should still be no worse than 8th. Kinda defeats the purpose of power rankings imo.

I think you've ranked them fairly, right now they belong somewhere around #20 imo. They lead the league in sacks allowed and points allowed, so there's that. I think they're still better than the bucs and seahawks but not enough that I'm gonna kick and scream about it.

They're not v good right now but as a whole, they should get better as the season progresses, and should get much better defensively when they get Bradley back. I'm probably overhyping him to an extent, but Bradley: 2010 Eagles as Bob Sanders: 2006 Colts. The difference between him and omar gaither is night and day.

Good point but he was asking for a bet against KC making the playoffs so I assumed he's trying to estimate how likely they are to make the playoffs and not power rank them

Obviously I'd power rank them lower than I'd rank them in a "likelyhood of making the playoffs" ranking (eventhough I think their defense looks pretty solid and I'm pretty sure they will have one of the biggest home field advantages. They are probably underrated in power rankings)

Have you watched their games?

Edt: Running game vs Titans 65 yds on 7 carries (44/6 if you take out the QB scramble) until Batch came in and the braintrust decided to pound it at 9 guys in the box for the rest of the game.

How are so many people putting the Cowboys in the top 10?

Agreed...he was terrible on Sunday, that game shouldn't have been anywhere near as close as it was. Multiple wide-open TDs to Ocho and TO were missed. Crazy to think that before his injuries we all thought he would be a perennial top 5 if not top 3 QB

You do realize the Steelers are on QB #4 right now, right? They are dealing with 8 and 9 man fronts at times. I won't argue that the defense is keeping them in games, but the running game will be fine.

Because power rankings after two weeks aren't strictly "sort by wins, then by point differential, become a professional sports writer."

1. Colts
2. Packers
3. Steelers
4. Texans
5. Saints
6. Ravens
7. Jets
8. Patriots
9. Bengals
10a. Falcons
10b. Dolphins

LOL NFC East

But you are acting like the running game is some how elite or good this year when at times they have been quite mediocre. They weren't really that great vs Atlanta this year and yes the QB problems are a big part of it....but why do the QBs keep getting hurt....is it the stellar OL play?

I didn't say the running game won't be fine, but BBB was acting like the running game has been stellar this year when it has been actually worse than last year so far. As a Mendenhall owner, I hope for the best for the Steelers running game...but I'm a little cautious......and I hope Ben can still take a beating.

I was at lunch so I didn't get to watch all of the first half, but the 2nd half as you pointed out the running game was really bad and at times running into a brick wall. Titans do have a solid run D...but the same team against Atlanta also had a lot of trouble running and Atlanta isn't known for being that great against the ground...again it could be the QB issues.

I didn't read every post but I saw a grand total of 1 list that had the Cowboys in the top 10.

I don't think they're elite. I just think the run blocking is much better than previous years, and that this means once Big Ben is back in the lineup they will be much better at closing out games with a power running attack than last year.

Is that the Steelers with or w/o Benjamin?

There defense looks really really good - 15-2 with TP at safety. His play of leaping over the line on the goal line needs more love.

32. Darius Butler

After watching the sportscience thing on it last night it's clear there's no way he reacted that quickly to the snap. He had to gamble thinking that an offsides call only would cost them a foot... I don't think he could try it if this was a 4th and 1 play at their own 37 or something where an offsides gives up a first down.

Still he got a perfect read on the snap count and had a reaction time faster than the offensive players who also knew the count (though he doesn't have to worry about false starting only entering the neutral zone too soon).

Edit: Also he was able to clear the lineman from a standing jump with enough forward momentum to pull Collins back despite Collins being the low and grounded with his feet, which is not something most safeties could do.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much Colts love ITT imo. Meaning, I don't get everyone who says they're clearly #1. I mean, they're still in a group of like 10 teams that seem to have a pretty dang legit shot at winning it all. But I don't see how they're clearly above most of those teams.

I wouldn't say they're clearly number 1, but with the absence of a truly dominant team after two weeks, it's not a stretch to place them in that position.

game thread highlights posts were gold

Pittsburgh, QB situation considered, is the team to beat imo

Yes, would love to see the Sunday/Monday night games as well.

It's hard to completely get over what happened against the dregs of the league last year with essentially the same team. There was no Polamalu but they did get lit up by Bruce Gradkowski.

Also compared to younger teams like GB or New Orleans there is a much bigger chance of injuries ruining our season. They also have have an old defense, Hampton is already out with a hamstring which could nag all year, his backup is good but also on the wrong side of 30. Smith & Polamalu now have an injury history and Hines hasn't finished a year healthy since the middle of the decade.

As a fan I'm optimistic but I wouldn't be ready to crown ourselves.

Green Bay IMO

Obviously. And they weren't saying his reaction time was .1 seconds or whatever, they were saying that had he started jumping .1 seconds earlier, he would've been offsides.

one more win should do it