YoHo's Power Rankings: Week 2

[YoHoChecko]

Under the assumption that one game means very little, I thought it best to reserve power rankings until week 2. Ranking teams off of one win or loss just doesn't make sense. You have 16 1-0 teams and 16 0-1 teams with little to no clue about the quality of the teams defeated, as there is no basis for comparison. With that said, two games still leaves very little basis for comparison, but you have to start somewhere.....

[Soel v25]

Under the assumption that one game means very little, I thought it best to reserve power rankings until week 2. Ranking teams off of one win or loss just doesn't make sense. You have 16 1-0 teams and 16 0-1 teams with little to no clue about the quality of the teams defeated, as there is no basis for comparison. With that said, two games still leaves very little basis for comparison, but you have to start somewhere.....

READ MORE! (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=6)


Of course it is still too early to get a good grasp on the situation, I find very little in your rankings that would even raise an eyebrow. Having seen both the Jets and Bills play, I might be tempted to raise both teams a notch or two. Other than that slight adjustment, it looks pretty dead-on to me.

[Blackmallard]

Looking at your rankings I would have to say that your assertation that least season means "Nada, Zilch, Nothing" is not reflected in the rankings.

Pittsburgh in particular does not look like the number 11 team in the league after beating Miami and then having their offense run into a brick wall vs. Jacksonville. Putting them ahead of the Giants and Eagles for instance has to be based on what you saw them do last year, because I can't see what they did this year to deserve it.

[dirtywaters11]

I agree that its too early for any real predictions for power rankings but thank u for taking the time to make the chart. I do have to point out a couple of things, time to be a homer...they are better then sanfran and arizona. Arizona and the niners played against each other and no had any defense so the offenses looked spectacular. Arizona then played a real team in seattle and got it handed to them with shutting down that potent arizona offense and exposing the weak secondary. San fran did play a better team also in the rams but everyone knows that the defense is also weak exspecailly their secondary. i dont know how u could put them over buffalo. u did mention that u dont know much about buffalo so i will give u a lil insight. they went to the patriots and almost (should of) beat them. then they went to miami where alot of people have the dolphins getting into the playoffs and getting deep into it before the season started and they simply manhandled the miami offense with seven sacks 2 fumbles forced and a pick and only allowing 6 points and that was when they were playing the prevent defense with 2 mins left in the game. buffalo must be ranked ahead of them easily for the niners and cardinals are still not at the level of the 8-8 bills :) lol

[Azazel]

#1 YoHo thank you for the time you have spent on this, I know how much preperation and effort that goes into itand I for one appreciate the number of hours it took away from your usual cat food stockpiling time. That said, here are some comments. And since you have no formula, I will not either...

Are we impressed by the falcons? or just surprised, I am staying on the side of surprise. yes they did beat the panthers and bucs, but that is something in common with the raiders an Vikings, see what I am getting at? too early to tell, I know people will disagree, but Vick is not a complete QB, he has looked good, I will give him that, and the defense DOES impress me, although against the cats that have been declawed (no smith) and the bucs with all of their one weapons (Caddy) forgive me if I am not entirely impressed.

Chargers....they beat Oakland, which I am pretty sure my office staff of pencil necked Interns can defeat, and they beat the Titans.....another team that I would have difficulty giving confidence in defeating one of those electric football board games I had back in the day. we need more proof against ACTUAL NFL teams.

The Ravens have impressed me, only for the fact that everyone counted them out, but again, anyone who plays the Raiders SHOULD beat them, and the initial shock of beating the Bucs has faded already headed into week 3.

The Bears are impressive...I will say very impressive, and yes they played the packers, which is sorta like playing a high school scrimage, and the lions, whisch is more like a JV scrimmage, but the one thing I didnt expect was Grossman coming to play.....AND being able to do so in week 3!

THe Bengals are the team that I don't believe get enough respect, the knock on them? The defense. I don't buy, it...I would take this as a complete team over 98% of the rest of the league.....criminal records withstanding.

The Jags....good team yes, but if it was possible to be an over rated super bowl champion, the steelers are it, they need to Gell with their oft. injured and unlucky QB...and dallas well....to many question marks to call them a contender, the JAX defense does look great though.

Colts, yup look great we will see how the look 18 weeks from now, I am not falling into that trap again.


The eagles.....all the points, yards, goodtimes, and predictions mean NOTHING if you cant close the game out.

The seahawks.....how can you NOT be the class of that division?

The Skins....what is up with Cooley, and how long until we see Campbell out there?

all in all YoHo great job. It is very difficult to lists like this at any point in the season, nonetheless now before week 3.

[peter4vikes]

Very well done. I'm proud of you for putting the Vikes all the way up at #9. The fact that ratings are based on who teams have beat and how they've won says it all. If ratings were based only on who the teams have beaten, Minnesota (beating Washington and Carolina, #25 and #23 respectively) would probably rank directly above the Bears (beating Green Bay and Detroit, #26 and #28 respectively), but because the Bears POUNDED the opposition while Minnesota squeeked out narrow wins, it makes sense that the Bears are ranked higher.

Another thing I look at with Power Rankings is I take my team (The Vikings, obviously) and the team they play next (The Bears) and I look at the teams below and above each and think about the outcome of those hypothetical games. For example, since the Bears and Vikes are at #4 and #9, I think about #3 (Ravens) playing #8 (Patriots) and #5 (Bengals) playing #10 (Seahawks). In all both cases, if we put the underdog at home, I feel like it's a close game but I would put my money on the higher-ranked team. Since the Bears @ Minnesota game feels the same way to me, I think you've ranked the teams well. The top 10, at least.

[ShutDwn]

Jaguars are way to low. I don't see how beating two quality opponents still leaves question marks. Their offense is very good, Leftwich is completeing 67% of his passes, and Williams is back.

The defense is as good as any in the league and with a good offense they are even better.

[Patzphanatiq]

after only 2 weeks it is hard to rank any team so far. Saying that, it is my opinion that what you have listed is probably as accurate as anyone can get at this juncture.

This week wil be another separation week to show who are the contenders, and who are pretending among the 2-0 teams.

[YoHoChecko]

A couple responses. First of all, I have to confess something. I had to leave early this morning, wasn't sure if I was going to have computer access, so I had to do the power rankings prior to the Monday Night game this week, and I just left vacant slots at 6 and 11 for the winner and loser. I wasn't planning on them looking so unimpressive and getting shut out. I figured it'd be a good, hard fought game where the winner would look good with the loser not far behind. So I'd agree that the Steelers might be a bit too high based on their performance.

But a note on the fact that last year means nothing. Last year does mean nothing to me, but my analysis of the talent on the team for this year does have an impact. For instance, if a team hasn't looked good, but I think they're better and are more likely to turn it around, they might get an edge for that. That's not basing it on last year, that's basing it on my immense football knowledge d-: haha

As far as the Falcons, I'm aware that the teams they've beaten have looked flat and unimpressive in both of their games, but I'm like college football rankings: you get bonus points for blowouts. It's just the way I operate. A big win impresses me more.

Just like Pete4Vikes said, The Bears have beaten two weak teams, but they killed them. Same with the Chargers and Ravens. It's easy to say "who have they beaten?" But they didn't just win these games. The Chargers have started quarterback controversies in each game they've played. After week 4, they might even get Baltimore calling for Kyle Boller!

So, to me, it's not that the Falcons have surprised me as much as it is that they've impressed me. Their defense hasn't given up anything and then they can run the ball all over you. Who needs to pass if the other team isn't scoring? Besides, Vick has a QB rating of 89 and has 3 TDs to 1 INT. When the passing game is used so minimally, you don't need much better than that.

Yes, it'd be easy to say that if another team gets out to a big lead, can this offense make a comeback? Well, that depends on the coaching staff. If they decide they have to go pass-happy, then no. But if they decide "ya know, no one can stop us when we run, so why not run until we run out of time?" In that case, I think they're dangerous.

Look, everyone's supposed to beat bad teams. Beat who you're supposed to beat, then you're doing ok. But when you play a bad team and you send them into rebuilding mode, as the Bears, Chargers and Ravens have done, then you're doing very well.

ANyway, those are my defenses, thanks for the comments... keep 'em coming

[Azazel]

i think the raiders will turn it around and at the very LEAST make it to the AFC championship game.

[Blackmallard]

A couple responses. First of all, I have to confess something. I had to leave early this morning, wasn't sure if I was going to have computer access, so I had to do the power rankings prior to the Monday Night game this week, and I just left vacant slots at 6 and 11 for the winner and loser. I wasn't planning on them looking so unimpressive and getting shut out. I figured it'd be a good, hard fought game where the winner would look good with the loser not far behind. So I'd agree that the Steelers might be a bit too high based on their performance.

But a note on the fact that last year means nothing. Last year does mean nothing to me, but my analysis of the talent on the team for this year does have an impact. For instance, if a team hasn't looked good, but I think they're better and are more likely to turn it around, they might get an edge for that. That's not basing it on last year, that's basing it on my immense football knowledge d-: haha

Fair enough, but what does your immense football knowledge tell you the Steelers are going to do this season? In week two it looks like they defeated the worst team in the AFC East in non-spectacular fashion and then ran into a brick wall in Jacksonville. It looks a lot like their offense lost some key pieces. I'd rank them right below Philly on your week two list, or at least below New York who have a better win and a better loss than the Steelers. You can move them up later after they rebound.

[football?]

Thanks for the read, How many of these are you planning on doing though the season?

[Crunked]

The Colts as of yet have done very little to be deserved of top 10 consideration. Yes they are 2-0 and in the end that is all that matters. But the Giants really beat themselves as we looked horrible on defense, and Houston, well they are Houston, our second stringers let us down on defense there, bottom line we have done just enough to win and for me that is not deserving of the upper tier of teams. Now I do believe we have the talent to be top 3 ultimately, however right now we are not playing that way , right now we are playing middle of the pack football and have just been lucky.

That is just this fans take on his team.

Once again a fun read yoho, kudo's....I cant really comment on any other teams in the list because it is a subjective science (note the oxymoron) I love to read power rankings but dont put to much stock in any that I see other than to say they are playing well and/or they are not.... but I think your list is just as accurate on the whole as any I have seen

[YoHoChecko]

Fair enough, but what does your immense football knowledge tell you the Steelers are going to do this season? In week two it looks like they defeated the worst team in the AFC East in non-spectacular fashion and then ran into a brick wall in Jacksonville. It looks a lot like their offense lost some key pieces. I'd rank them right below Philly on your week two list, or at least below New York who have a better win and a better loss than the Steelers. You can move them up later after they rebound.
Like I said, I placed the rankings of the monday night teams prior to the game, and I expected them to play better. I agree they should be moved down. My immense football knowledge has said all along that the Steelers wouldn't win that division again, but I figured their defense was good enough to make them a solid playoff contender, thus in the top 12--top 6 in their conference. But I was wrong on that.


Thanks for the read, How many of these are you planning on doing though the season?One every tuesday (-:


The Colts as of yet have done very little to be deserved of top 10 consideration. Yes they are 2-0 and in the end that is all that matters. But the Giants really beat themselves as we looked horrible on defense, and Houston, well they are Houston, our second stringers let us down on defense there, bottom line we have done just enough to win and for me that is not deserving of the upper tier of teams. Now I do believe we have the talent to be top 3 ultimately, however right now we are not playing that way , right now we are playing middle of the pack football and have just been lucky.

That is just this fans take on his team.
Hey, ESPN put them number one. I know their run game struggled against the Giants, but I think it will be adaquate against most teams. Manning, Harrison and Wayne will again be very difficult to stop. But notice, aside from my rankings, that I wrote in my explaination that I had not seen an elite team.


Overall, I have to admit that I didn't expect the majority of my criticism being for the Colts and Steelers being too high. I've dropped each of them sinificantly lower than I've seen them ranked anywhere else (though my rankings were done previous to any others), and taken each out of the "elite" teams, and each is below another team in their division.

But I do appreciate the comments (-:

[Blackmallard]

Like I said, I placed the rankings of the monday night teams prior to the game, and I expected them to play better. I agree they should be moved down. My immense football knowledge has said all along that the Steelers wouldn't win that division again, but I figured their defense was good enough to make them a solid playoff contender, thus in the top 12--top 6 in their conference. But I was wrong on that.

You actually ranked them fine in the AFC really, especially given where you have Jacksonville at. You have them as the seventh team, so just out of the playoffs and also as the third team in their division. I mostly just thought that the Giants were clearly better based on only the first two weeks, and I thought the Eagles looked better in their win and loss as well.


Overall, I have to admit that I didn't expect the majority of my criticism being for the Colts and Steelers being too high. I've dropped each of them sinificantly lower than I've seen them ranked anywhere else (though my rankings were done previous to any others), and taken each out of the "elite" teams, and each is below another team in their division.

But I do appreciate the comments (-:

If you had not emphasised that last year meant nothing I would not necessarily have objected to the ranking of Pittsburgh. Most rankings still factor in last year's teams pretty heavily. It is too big a step for most people to say the Jags are the frontrunners before they actually take the lead from the Colts based on who has won the last several years, or to say that Pittsburgh looks like it will be out of the playoffs after winning the Superbowl. Its just too easy to anticipate the Colts and Steelers regaining their form.

[Blackmallard]

The Colts as of yet have done very little to be deserved of top 10 consideration. Yes they are 2-0 and in the end that is all that matters. But the Giants really beat themselves as we looked horrible on defense, and Houston, well they are Houston, our second stringers let us down on defense there, bottom line we have done just enough to win and for me that is not deserving of the upper tier of teams.

Come on Crunked, who deserves to knock them out of the seven spot on the list? The road win over the Giants is one of the toughest wins that any of the 2-0 teams have. Who ranked below them has gone on the road and gotten a win better than that? They absolutely dominated the Texans. Yes the second string defense allowed three fourth quarter touchdowns, but the game never got within reach for the Texans. It was over when it was 30-3 in the third quarter. If you go down the list of people below them its not like theres an elite team firing on all cylinders listed below them. Give them a chance to have a good showing against Jacksonville before you knock them down into the middle of the league.

[Tiki Tiger]

The Jags....good team yes, but if it was possible to be an over rated super bowl champion, the steelers are it, they need to Gell with their oft. injured and unlucky QB...and dallas well....to many question marks to call them a contender, the JAX defense does look great though.


Jaguars not a contender? Are you serious?

If anything the Jags are too low

[Azazel]

Jaguars not a contender? Are you serious?

If anything the Jags are too low


no where in no way did i say the jags were not a contender....you feeling ok?

[Who Dey]

If I read Azazel's post correctly he wasn't questioning the Jags being a contender, he was questioning whether or not Dallas is a contender. Right?

Nice job with the rankings YoHo. :)

[Azazel]

If I read Azazel's post correctly he wasn't questioning the Jags being a contender, he was questioning whether or not Dallas is a contender. Right?

Nice job with the rankings YoHo. :)



dallas is not a contender. i was putting it retorically

but yes u got it!

[jjflr]

YoHo did a good job with the rankings, especially since it's so early in the season We are all still observing and deciphering each team, it's players, coaches, and performances to decide where they are at.

Subjectively, I would say the Chargers, Colts, and Bears have looked better to me than the Falcons, but the Falcons have been solid.

I will get my power rankings started at some point later.......I can start them now but there really hasn't been enough football played to get a clear picture, either with a subjective ranking or mathematical formula. At this point in the season, there are such huge swings in the numbers from week to week. It takes a while to level out.

Just subjectively, this is where I would rank all the 2-0 teams in order:

1. Colts
2. Chargers
3. Bears
4. Bengals
5. Falcons
6. Jaguars
7. Vikings
8. Ravens
9. Patriots
10. Seahawks
11. Saints

Hopefully I didn't miss any

[XPetey]

Alright, so you're down one starting WR, a starting left tackle, and have a QB coming off of a serious knee surgery. To top it off, the defense has been a weakness in previous seasons. Yet you're 2-0 after two weeks. The Bengals were able to keep Larry Johnson relatively in check in week one and put up enough offense to sit back late in moderate blowout wins in each game. Just wait until they're at full strength.


1. Last season means nothing. I mean zero, zilch, nada.

Just found that kind of funny....I agree more or less with where you have the Bengals, but I don't think according to your "rules" that that statement means anything, especially not with how the defense has played during the first two games.

[BigBenCan7]

YoHo did a good job with the rankings, especially since it's so early in the season We are all still observing and deciphering each team, it's players, coaches, and performances to decide where they are at.

Subjectively, I would say the Chargers, Colts, and Bears have looked better to me than the Falcons, but the Falcons have been solid.

I will get my power rankings started at some point later.......I can start them now but there really hasn't been enough football played to get a clear picture, either with a subjective ranking or mathematical formula. At this point in the season, there are such huge swings in the numbers from week to week. It takes a while to level out.

Just subjectively, this is where I would rank all the 2-0 teams in order:

1. Colts
2. Chargers
3. Bears
4. Bengals
5. Falcons
6. Jaguars
7. Vikings
8. Ravens
9. Patriots
10. Seahawks
11. Saints

Hopefully I didn't miss any

I look forward to seeing your formula this season. It will be very interesting to see how your forumla and YoHo's opinion rankings match-up against each other.

[chiefzilla]

Yoho, overall those are superb rankings.

The only one I have a huge contention with is Chicago. This team is an enormous paper tiger. Two divisional games in the NFC North is nothing to be impressed with.

Yeah, their offense showed signs of life they didn't have last year. What I do know is this: this awesome Bears' defense everybody keeps raving about, looked below average last year against the two legit offenses they faced last year: the Bengals and the Steelers.

It enfuriates me when teams get a schedule this light, as they are getting by playing the rest of the NFC North twice and the NFC West once. THis week is a good test for the Bears. If they manhandle Minnesota, I'll take my words back. But for now, they only beat two lackluster opponents handily.

[Blackmallard]

Here's something to think about when you consider strength of schedule for next week:

The only team the AFC East has beaten outside of its division is the Tennessee Titans.

[YoHoChecko]

Here's something to think about when you consider strength of schedule for next week:

The only team the AFC East has beaten outside of its division is the Tennessee Titans.
Oooo, thanks for the tip. I like it

[chiefzilla]

I will admit, I was wrong. Chicago did look very impressive. Top 5 impressive? I dont' know. But they've certainly taken a big step up over last year.

I do believe that Minnesota squandered a LOT of opportunities on offense. But the Bears look to be for real last year, whereas last year, they were competely the product of a cake schedule.


Yoho, overall those are superb rankings.

The only one I have a huge contention with is Chicago. This team is an enormous paper tiger. Two divisional games in the NFC North is nothing to be impressed with.

Yeah, their offense showed signs of life they didn't have last year. What I do know is this: this awesome Bears' defense everybody keeps raving about, looked below average last year against the two legit offenses they faced last year: the Bengals and the Steelers.

It enfuriates me when teams get a schedule this light, as they are getting by playing the rest of the NFC North twice and the NFC West once. THis week is a good test for the Bears. If they manhandle Minnesota, I'll take my words back. But for now, they only beat two lackluster opponents handily.