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Things improve for Tyrod Taylor, Carlos Hyde and the Browns. (Ron Schwane / Associated Press)
Each week, NFL National Writer Mark Maske ranks the 32 teams in the league. This week, the Eagles defending champions remain at the top of the pre-season standings with a spectacular victory over the Falcons, the Patriots staying on their heels with Sunday's victory over the Texans at Foxborough, Mass and Cleveland. The Browns are celebrating their first loss since 2016 by climbing the power rating ladder until the 1920s.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) | Last Week's Rank: 1
From "Philly Philly Special" at the Super Bowl to "Philly Philly" in Thursday's first game of the season, coach Doug Pederson continues to press the right buttons. The defending champions did the right thing to beat the Falcons, and the Eagles could take quarterback Carson Wentz back in the lineup in a few weeks.
[‘Philly Philly’ play shows the Eagles are up to their old tricks]
2. New England Patriots (1-0) | Last week's rank: 2
Until now, the 41-year-old version of Tom Brady looks a lot like the 40-year-old version, which means that it remains a QB of MVP caliber. He made an interception in the 27-20 victory against the Texans, if you want to be epilated. But for the most part, it was a strong opening performance for Brady and the Patriots.
3. Los Angeles Rams (1-0) | Last week's rank: 3
The Rams have been slow to move Monday night in Oakland. That's understandable, given the lack of pre-season preparation with coach Sean McVay's injury-free approach. But they still managed to get into the winning streak, and their attack stats are now improving as the rust is being destroyed.
4. Minnesota Vikings (1-0) | Last Week's Rank: 4
It's so good for quarterback Kirk Cousins with his new team. Cousins was quick and efficient in his Vikings debut, a 24-16 win over the 49ers. But things get very complicated with the divisional confrontation next weekend with the Packers at Lambeau Field.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) | Last week's rank: 5
Quarterback Blake Bortles was not very strong against the Giants, but he did a few things here and there. The defense, as usual, did most of the work. RB Leonard Fournette's thigh injury is a concern because the Jaguars need him to be effective.
6. Green Bay Packers (1-0) | Last week's rank: 8
What was the QB Aaron Rodgers? Absolutely awesome. His return in the second half and his return to the fourth quarter allowed him to beat the Bears for the best drama of the weekend. But his knee injury is a concern. He swore Sunday night to play this weekend against the Vikings. But coach Mike McCarthy has to decide if it's wise, with almost a whole season playing and Rodgers as indispensable as any other league player.
[Aaron Rodgers showed again Sunday night just how ridiculously good he is]
7. Carolina Panthers (1-0) | Last week's rank: 11
The Panthers beat the Cowboys with a strong defensive performance while doing just enough to attack to win. They ran the ball reasonably well. But one wonders if progress has been evident in the passing game, as was expected with the arrival of Norv Turner as offensive coordinator. The foot injury suffered by TE Greg Olsen is not particularly favorable.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) | Last week's rank: 13
The first victory in Indianapolis was to deal properly with his opponent. An appointment is quickly scheduled for a meeting Thursday night with the Ravens, which could be a little more revealing of the quality of the Bengals.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) | Last week's rank: 14
Patrick Mahomes was great replacing Alex Smith at QB. Tyreek Hill was at his best as catcher and catcher. And the Chiefs sent a message to the Chargers and to everyone else that they remain the team to beat in the West AFC.
10. Ravens Baltimore (1-0) | Last week's rank: 15
Are the Ravens good or the Bills so bad? It's probably a little bit of everyone. But it was a promising start to the season, with coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco coming under closer scrutiny than ever before.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0-1) | Last week's rank: 7
The absence of RB Le'Veon Bell has become even more intriguing with the draw in Cleveland and the solid performance of James Conner instead of Bell. The Steelers can say, with some justification, that Conner's presence means they do not want Bell to end his contract. But the final result against the Browns also highlights the fact that the Steelers need Bell, in part to prevent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from feeling the need to force passes on the field.
[These aren’t the same old Browns. And the Steelers need Le’Veon Bell back on the field.]
12. Chargers Los Angeles (0-1) | Last week's rank: 9
The Chiefs' home defeat was a disappointing start for a team chosen by many to win the Western Accord. Chargers must regroup quickly and make sure they do not repeat the 0-4 start of last season.
13. Atlanta Falcons (0-1) | Last week's rank: 12
These near-defeats in Philadelphia must be a little boring, with one end of last season and another this season. This defeat will not and will not break the Falcons season. But they must show that they can win matches as tight against good teams.
14. Washington Redskins (1-0) | Last week's rank: 21
The Redskins made their debut with quarterback Alex Smith and RB Adrian Peterson in the triumph of Arizona. But the problem with Peterson is not whether he can make a big game here and there. The question will be whether it can remain constantly productive. The next Redskins games are home games against Colts and Packers before the start of the week.
[The Redskins just proved they can play a tough, physical game. Now the key is repetition.]
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) | Last week's rank: 25
Will Jameis Winston be Fitzpatrick-ed? Ryan Fitzpatrick was great in the surprising 48-40 win over the Saints, and he is far from certain that Winston will return to QB on his return from his three-game suspension.
16. Miami Dolphins (1-0) | Last week rank: 26
Dolphins may have to play more than seven hours. They are apparently prospering there.
17. Denver Broncos (1-0) | Last week's rank: 28
The defense was good against the Seahawks, dismissing Russell Wilson six times and intercepting him twice. The new Broncos quarterback, Case Keenum, was good enough to launch three interceptions, but three TD passes. He has to reduce mistakes but he is able to do his part.
18. Saints of New Orleans (0-1) | Last week's rank: 6
The Saints started 0-2 last season before regrouping to become one of the best teams in the NFC. They are quite capable of gathering things quickly again this season. But they need to return to last season's balanced approach by using defensive play and defense reinforcement after returning to their hobby and relying so heavily on quarterback Drew Brees in Sunday's loss. against Buccaneers.
19. New York Jets (1-0) | Last week's rank: 29
Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold rebounded after intercepting TD in his first NFL game to play Monday night in Detroit. The Jets used a third quarter of 31 points to embarrass the Lions. No one should be swept away after a match. But the beginnings of Darnold could not have gone much better.
[Sam Darnold’s first NFL play was terrible. Then he turned on the Jets.]
20. New York Giants (0-1) | Last week's rank: 16
Rookie RB Saquon Barkley and WR Odell Beckham Jr. were productive against the Jaguars. The defense was pretty good. But the offensive line and Eli Manning's quarterback must be better. The Giants have to put things together quickly. A bad start, after a season 3-13, would have the impression of a major crisis.
21. Chicago Bears (0-1) | Last week's rank: 17
Khalil Mack was as dominant as a defender can be, at least for half an hour, in his debut at the Bears. And the Bears certainly looked like a team with opportunities for most of the night Sunday at Lambeau Field. But the mistakes made at the end of the day, including CB Kyle Fuller's abandoned interception that could have sealed the result, were flagrant. These things can not happen if Chicago is going to take a big step forward and become a competitor.
22. Dallas Cowboys (0-1) | Last week's rank: 19
The attack was just not enough in defeat at Carolina. The Cowboys did not have the running game with Ezekiel Elliott and much was left to QB Dak Prescott, who was not well protected and suffered from a lack of playmakers among his receivers. There is no time to sulk. The Cowboys have to find something before hosting the Giants this Sunday night. The loser of this NFC East game will be 0-2 and will face big questions early in the season.
[The NFL teams that have serious reasons to worry, versus the ones that don’t]
23. Cleveland Browns (0-0-1) | Last week rank: 32
Not the same, old Browns? Not quite, at least. They did not win. But they have not lost either, and this follows a winless season. The draw against the Steelers showed that the Browns will be much more competitive this season. But they have to go to the next step and get a win or two.
24. San Francisco 49ers (0-1) | Last week's rank: 20
The last magic of last season did not take place for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Niners. Garoppolo threw three interceptions Sunday in Minnesota and lost for the first time as a starter from San Francisco after losing 5-0 last season. Expectations have increased and the Niners have not been up to it.
25. Tennessee Titans (0-1) | Last week's rank: 10
Losing to the dolphins was bad enough. Injuries sustained by quarterback Marcus Mariota, left-winger Taylor Lewan and TE Delanie Walker added to the situation. It seems that Mariota's elbow injury is not serious. But Lewan is in the concussion protocol and Walker is made for the season after suffering an injury to the ankle and broken ligaments.
[From Brady and Rodgers to Watson and Mahomes, NFL is entering a golden age of QB play]
26. Houston Texans (0-1) | Last week's rank: 22
Second quarter Deshaun Watson in the second year did not return well as a rookie. But he and the Texans stayed in the game. There was no reason to believe that they would be able to win anyway in New England, so there was nothing too alarming about it.
27. Seattle Seahawks (0-1) | Last week's rank: 27
The Seahawks simply need to find a way to better protect quarterback Russell Wilson. He was sacked six times in the defeat against the Broncos. The revised defense no longer has the power to be in the lead.
28. Oakland Raiders (0-1) | Last week's rank: 30
The Raiders, in the highly anticipated return of Jon Gruden on the sideline, were competitive in the first half against the Rams in the second game of Monday night's double. But they were just facing a better team and the Rams were doing what was necessary to win. The Raiders were not very lucky. What could they have done in the world?
[The Raiders lost Jon Gruden’s first game back. And man, could they have used Khalil Mack.]
29. Detroit Lions (0-1) | Last week's rank: 18
Remember, the Lions fired Jim Caldwell after a 9-7 season before hiring Matt Patricia as coach. Things could not have gone much worse in the beginning of Patricia's head coach Monday night, the Lions being overwhelmed by the Jets.
30. Cardinals of Arizona (0-1) | Last week's rank: 24
The performance against the Redskins was bad all around. It is already possible to wonder how long the cardinals should stay with Sam Bradford before a youth movement with Josh Rosen at QB is in order.
31. Colts of Indianapolis (0-1) | Last week's rank: 31
Quarterback Andrew Luck played well in his return. The problem is that the team around it is just not very good.
32. Buffalo Bills (0-1) | Last week's rank: 23
If not doing five interceptions in the first period is an improvement, quarterback Nathan Peterman improves. This season already looks like a lost cause, and the management of the franchise by the franchise remains disconcerting. It's time to turn to rookie Josh Allen at some point. But nothing guarantees that he is ready to answer.
Learn more about the NFL:
Bill QB Nathan Peterman has put on a really terrible historical territory
Michael Strahan says that he would probably kneel during the anthem if he was still playing
Six big points to remember from a thrilling opening Sunday in the NFL
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