Bob Leverone / Associated Press
Like so many other 3-0 teams, it's hard to gauge just how good they are considering they've beaten the Jaguars, Texans, and Saints. We won't find out Sunday when Carolina visits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers either, but these wins are banked, so bully for the Panthers.
Rob Carr / Getty Images
The Bengals tried to Bengal away Sunday's game in Baltimore, but as close as it was, they probably should have won comfortably. Save for some issues running the football, the Bengals can pretty much do everything. But a lot can change between September and January.
Tom Gannam / Associated Press
Much like the Dallas Cowboys stayed static last week despite losing their quarterback, this isn't the best situation in Pittsburgh with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out. There's certainly more to work with outside of him than in years past, but he seems to tie it all together. I'd expect them to fall before long.
John Lok / TNS
The Bears are the worst team in football, so it's no surprise an angry Seahawks team shut them out at home. On pedigree alone, this Seattle team has to be considered among the league's best, even if they didn't prove much in their win Sunday.
Brandon Wade / Associated Press
Dallas is one week into their eight-week stretch without quarterback Tony Romo, and it's not off to the best start. This division isn't one that will be terribly competitive, it seems, so they could tread water for half the season, but that offense isn't scaring anyone.
Charles Krupa / Associated Press
So it seems like we're doing this again. With a +49 point differential — second-best in the league — a better pass rush than they've had in years, and a healthy offense, the Patriots might cruise for a while.
Jack Dempsey / Associated Press
Denver's defense is one of the best in football, yet there aren't going to be very many easy victories coming their way this year. Coach Gary Kubiak and quarterback Peyton Manning seem to have found a happy medium for their offense, but it's still badly limited without much of a running game or downfield threats. They don't need to score a ton to win, though.
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Atlanta's defensive improvements might be overstated — Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden had just four incompletions Sunday. The otherworldly production of wide receiver Julio Jones, who has 34 catches for 440 yards and four touchdowns, cannot be overstated. He's unbelievable.
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' last home interception came in December 2012, and en route to extending that streak on Monday night, he threw for five more touchdowns in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Imagine how good they would be with receiver Jordy Nelson.
Christian Petersen / Getty Images
The Cardinals have thumped a trio of absolute dogs — the Saints, Bears, and 49ers — but couldn't possibly look better doing it. Between the revitalized trio of quarterback Carson Palmer, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and running back Chris Johnson on offense, and a defense that ball-hawks as much as ever, this team is a talented one with a creampuff schedule that could see it 8-0 at the bye.
Like so many other 3-0 teams, it's hard to gauge just how good they are considering they've beaten the Jaguars, Texans, and Saints. We won't find out Sunday when Carolina visits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers either, but these wins are banked, so bully for the Panthers.
ExpandBetween underachievers like the Ravens and quarterback injuries to MVP candidates in Pittsburgh and Dallas, these Sports Blitz power rankings don’t look much like anyone expected them to — or the way they’ll look in a few weeks, if I had to guess.
This is where we stand after three weeks, though. As always, these rankings are completely subjective, yet objectively correct.
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