Brad Biggs’ NFL power rankings for Week 3 of the 2020 season. Last week’s ranking in parentheses.
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1. Chiefs 2-0 (1)
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub proclaimed Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has a stronger leg this season, and Butker proved it when he drilled a 58-yard field goal to topple the Chargers in overtime.
2. Ravens 2-0 (2)
It’s rare that marquee games are placed on Monday night anymore, but Chiefs at Ravens promises to be a doozy.
3. Seahawks 2-0 (4)
The Seahawks pass rush is a little iffy, and after losing Bruce Irvin for the remainder of the season, that’s problematic.
4. Packers 2-0 (5)
The Packers have racked up 1,010 yards of offense through two games. Maybe Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur are meshing in Year 2.
5. Cardinals 2-0 (6)
With the Lions, Panthers and Jets next, the Cardinals could build some real early momentum behind second-year quarterback Kyler Murray. Not to get carried away, but the last time the Cardinals started 5-0 was 1974.
6. Bills 2-0 (8)
If you can have a breakout game against the Dolphins, Josh Allen sure did. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns in a comeback victory. That’s pretty special stuff for a team that should be led by its defense.
7. Patriots 1-1 (9)
Cam Newton threw for 397 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 47 yards and two scores in a 35-30 loss in Seattle, prompting fans of every team with a so-so quarterback to ask why their favorite team didn’t sign him.
8. Rams 2-0 (10)
There is an edge to the Rams this season and if you need proof, look at what coach Sean McVay did Sunday with his team leading the Eagles 21-16 in the third quarter. Facing fourth-and-1 on its own 29-yard line, McVay went for it and quarterback Jared Goff ran to move the chains. The Rams went on to a blowout win.
9. Steelers 2-0 (12)
Seven sacks in a win over the Broncos pushed the Steelers to the top of the league with 10. T.J. Watt leads the way with 2 1/2, and Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson should be concerned. He has been sacked eight times, tied for the most in the league.
10. Raiders 2-0 (15)
In the opening of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Raiders took control in the second quarter after trailing by 10 and took it to the Saints as Derek Carr passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-24 win.
11. Saints 1-1 (3)
The absence of wide receiver Michael Thomas (high ankle sprain) really put a damper on the passing game as the Saints struggled to sustain drives and fell flat in a loss in Las Vegas.
12. 49ers 1-1 (7)
Instead of traveling back across the country, the 49ers went to West Virginia for the week between consecutive games against the Jets and Giants at MetLife Stadium. They should have gone to the nearest hospital with as many injuries as they piled up in Sunday’s win over the Jets.
13. Titans 2-0 (11)
There are defensive concerns after allowing the Jaguars to roll up 480 yards of offense Sunday. Similar to the Bears, the Titans have been living on the edge with wins by a field goal over the Jaguars and Broncos.
14. Cowboys 1-1 (13)
Jason Garrett’s teams didn’t rally after falling behind big early. Mike McCarthy’s first win in Dallas came after being down 20 to the Falcons in the first quarter and trailing by 15 with less than seven minutes to play.
15. Buccaneers 1-1 (16)
The only team Tom Brady has a losing record against is the Broncos (8-9, postseason included). He figures to even that up Sunday in Denver.
16. Bears 2-0 (18)
The Bears withstood a pass from the 10-yard line on the final play against the Giants, a week after the Lions had a shot to beat them from the 16 as time expired. They have to put away suspect opponents before the final minute.
17. Chargers 1-1 (19)
Coach Anthony Lynn says Tyrod Taylor is the starting quarterback when he returns from chest pains that sidelined him over the weekend, but let’s be real here. The Chargers won’t sit rookie Justin Herbert too long, and he looked solid in an overtime loss to the Chiefs, all things considered.
18. Colts 1-1 (20)
Rookie Jonathan Taylor ran for 101 yards in a win over the Vikings, and he ought to keep rolling this week against the Jets.
19. Jaguars 1-1 (23)
Imagine, just for a minute, that Gardner Minshew pans out as a legitimate quarterback to build around. With the bounty of draft picks the Jaguars have in 2021, that would be something.
20. Vikings 0-2 (14)
Mike Zimmer’s defense has been shredded for 71 points through the first two weeks, and now linebacker Anthony Barr will miss the remainder of the season. The Vikings allowed 73 points through their first five games last season.
21. Texans 0-2 (17)
In 39 career starts, Deshaun Watson has lost by 10 points or more only three times. It happened in his last two meetings with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, most recently last week’s 33-16 defeat.
22. Falcons 0-2 (21)
Dan Quinn arrived from Seattle in 2015 with a background as a wonderful defensive tactician. It seems the longer he’s in Atlanta, the worse the defense gets.
23. Browns 1-1 (30)
Kevin Stefanski wants to run the ball, and with the start Nick Chubb is off to, he could put up big numbers even with Kareem Hunt getting some of the load.
24. Dolphins 0-2 (26)
Credit the Dolphins for playing a good Bills team close, but eventually they need to close out some close games to start developing confidence. The Jaguars loom Thursday.
25. Washington 1-1 (24)
With Kyler Murray, Gardner Minshew, Joe Burrow and even Justin Herbert playing well Sunday, it’s troubling for Washington, which hitched its wagon to Dwayne Haskins.
26. Eagles 0-2 (22)
Carson Wentz has four picks through two weeks, tying Kirk Cousins for the most in the NFL. The Eagles are on the verge of being in complete disarray.
27. Lions 0-2 (27)
For the ninth time since Barry Sanders retired after the 1998 season, the Lions are 0-2. Their best finish after digging that early hole was 7-9 in 2015. Five times they’ve won three games or fewer.
28. Bengals 0-2 (31)
Joe Burrow looked poised at the end of his Ohio showdown with the Browns. He might have a bright future, but, boy, do they need to overhaul the roster around him.
29. Broncos 0-2 (25)
Quarterback Drew Lock is out three to five weeks with a shoulder injury, and his top wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, was lost for the season with a knee injury. With Von Miller already done for the year, it has been a brutal couple of weeks for Vic Fangio.
30. Panthers 0-2 (29)
Christian McCaffrey is sidelined with a high ankle sprain that could keep him out more than a month. Check back on the status of the McCaffrey-less Panthers in another month or so. Prognosis? Not good.
31. Giants 0-2 (28)
With Saquon Barkley sidelined for the remainder of the season because of a torn ACL, the Giants can evaluate Daniel Jones the rest of the season and then make a decision on … Trevor Lawrence?
32. Jets 0-2 (32)
GM Joe Douglas wasn’t in New York when the Jets drafted Sam Darnold, so he can set his sights on Trevor Lawrence.
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