RZ70 Week 2 Power Rankings
by adelfish | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
Red Zone Season 70 - Week 2 Power Rankings
After 1 week of games....I have questions and concerns. I am going to take a look at all 32 teams, and let you know where I think they stand now and going forward. Enjoy!
#32 - Detroit Lions (0-1)
Less than 24 hours after the 34-14 loss to the 49ers, the Lions declared a fire sale. Not a great sign for a team that already had low expectations. Coach Beech knows that this roster is going to see plenty of turnover, and they are already stacked with draft capital heading into next season. The Lions are headed for a top five pick in the draft, and will need to look to replace Jared Goff at quarterback.
#31 - New York Jets (0-0)
A lot of question marks surround this Jets roster, and the coaching staff. Zach Wilson steps in to lead the offense as the 2nd overall pick, and Robomonkey will look to build off a short Red Zone resume. What better way to start your cycle than a matchup with Coach Ramesu and the young Carolina Panthers. I foresee a long season ahead of the Jets.
#30 - Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
We all know it's going to be a process in Jacksonville, but a 12 point loss on opening day to Houston is a tough pill to swallow. This roster is worse than most thought, and a generational quarterback is not enough to elevate them quite yet. Let's look at some positives; Travis Eitienne is a legitimate threat in the backfield, Myles Jack is an elite playmaker on defense, and D.J. Chark is the deep threat of the future. Outside of that....grasping at straws.
#29 - Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)
I was on the Pittsburgh + Theo hype train to start the cycle. Why does it feel like it just came to a screeching halt? Hello?? Is there anyone left on the hope train? Just me?
Things looked bad. The quarterback situation is dire between Big Ben and Cam Newton, and despite a solid performance from the front seven, the Steelers were unable to slow the Bills offense. They need to find a quarterback to commit to, and find a way to stop turning the ball over. The defense is talented, but if they are on the field too much, they won't be able to withstand the possessions.
#28 - Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
In what could be the worst quarterback performance of the week, Carson Wentz was downright dreadful against Seattle. 3 interceptions, 82 yards, and 7 of 18 completions. Yikes. Okay, burn the film, were there any positives to take away from this contest? Not really. The Colts have a really tough couple games ahead, with a showdown with the pissed off Rams this week. They cannot afford to have two stinkers in a row.
#27 - Miami Dolphins (0-1)
Unfortunately we wait for the hurricane to subside so the Dolphins can resume play, but until then they are in the loss column. In Week 2 if they return, it is a really tough matchup against the 1-0 Bills.
#26 - Tennessee Titans (0-1)
I was not on the Andy bandwagon heading into this cycle, like many were. Yes, the AFC South is weak (and looks pitiful currently), but this is Andy we are talking about here. On the other side of that, I expected a Week 1 win over Spencer. The offense looked dreadful for 4 quarters, as Ryan Tannehill threw 3 interceptions, and the ground game couldn't get going. The weakness of Tennessee's team is their secondary, and they need their offense to sustain drives. A very tough test against Seattle in Week 2 feels like an early must-win game.
#25 - Green Bay Packers (0-1)
A better than expected start for Glenn and the Packers, as they go down swinging in a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints. Despite 3 touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers, and two 100 yard receiving games from Randall Cobb and Robert Tonyan, the turnovers from Rodgers (2 INT) did them in. This has been the story with Glenn for years now, can he limit turnovers? A big divisional game against a lesser Lions squad could be a nice turning point.
#24 - Cleveland Browns (1-0)
Who saw this coming?? Everyone had the Chiefs rolling over Cleveland in Week 1, and sure enough, Longville and the Browns dominate the Chiefs. With 200 rushing yards between Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and an efficient game from Baker Mayfield, the Browns do enough to pull of an improbable Week 1 win. Can the defense keep this up? The talent is sure here, but the jury is still out on Longville's abilities. Let's see if he can move to 2-0 over a Texans team he should handle.
#23 - Houston Texans (1-0)
Biggs!!! How about the debut for Coach Biggs and the Houston Texans, taking advantage against a porous Jacksonville defense. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills finished with 249 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the ragtag defense forced 3 turnovers. Here's the thing, this Texans team has some veteran talent on the roster. They could certainly be in more games than not, I just don't see how this can last. A big early game in the season next week, as the Texans travel to face the surprising 1-0 Cleveland Browns.
#22 - Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Yikes. What an embarassment for the Patrick Allen regime in Dallas, as they get blown out in Tampa to kick off the cycle. If not for a 61 yard Michael Gallup touchdown, it could have looked a lot worse for the Cowboys. Dak Prescott needs to take better care of the football, and the offense needs to utilize it's playmakers more. 5 receptions between Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb is not acceptable.
#21 - Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
What's with Atlanta and blowing big leads regardless of coaching staff? Despite a 19-0 lead, the Falcons fall to the Eagles in Week 1, after 3 interceptions from Matt Ryan. The good news is that the Falcons have a weapon nobody was talking about in running back Cordarrelle Patterson, but the bad news was their inability to get Calvin Ridley involved. Ian Johns is a prideful coach, I don't think he is embracing a full rebuild just yet.
#20 - Chicago Bears (1-0)
Yes the Bears are 1-0, but it wasn't pretty. Justin Fields finished his first start with 67 passing yards and 3 interceptions, and his backup Andy Dalton didn't do much better. Thankfully the Rams were more pitiful on offense, giving the Bears just enough to pull out a victory. Chicago's front seven is elite, and will keep them in games, but it is on the offense to hold up their end of the bargain. A tough test against Cincinnati lies ahead.
#19 - Denver Broncos (0-1)
Give Coach Caiello some credit - the Broncos were ready to go in Week 1. There is no doubt that this team is loaded with young offensive weapons, and a defense with some stout veterans, but is Nick the right coach to guide this club? In a week that saw the annointed and supposed juggernaut Chiefs lose to Cleveland, this division could belong to anyone. A close lose to the Giants showed signs of hope.
#18 - New England Patriots (1-0)
Meh. The Patriots will benefit from the hurricane in Miami and were awarded a free win. I will save a breakdown for them next week, as rookie Mac Jones makes his first real start against Robomonkey and the Jets.
#17 - Las Vegas Raiders (0-1)
The Raiders trailed Baltimore 10-7 at halftime, before losing the game 38-13. This defense has a ton of talent, and the Raiders offense is going to ride on the shoulders of Josh Jacobs. If the Raiders can continue to develop their passing game, this team is going to be a real problem. Against Baltimore, it seemed they were playing more to not make mistakes, rather than push the ball downfield. They simply weren't able to keep up with Baltimore's offense once it started rolling.
#16 - New Orleans Saints (1-0)
With the return of Mayne Event to the Red Zone ranks, we were unsure of how he would deal with the adjustment period. Granted, he faced Glenn, but a big opening week victory is a nice statement for this coaching staff. Alvin Kamara accounted for 4 touchdowns and 160 yards, and the Saints showed a true commitment to their gameplan. This team wants to run the ball, and keep Jameis Winston from making mistakes. Can they continue their success this week against a tough Panthers team?
#15 - Washington Football Team (0-1)
This team just has a stink to it. They lose a really bad home game to Los Angeles to start the cycle, allowing 500+ yards and 49 points in the process, then panic trade their 1st round pick for a cornerback, and then the general manager openly admits they wish they could redo the trade. Yikes. If this was #OverreactionMonday , I'd put Washington in the bottom 5. I believe in Ricky Chapstick and this team over the course of a season, but something feels wrong. They are NOT the clear cut favorite in the NFC East by any means, and just traded their 1st like they think they are. A loss to the Giants this week could doom their season.
#14 - Los Angeles Rams (0-1)
Maybe we all need to pump the brakes a bit. Leauge podcasts and pundits were calling this team a NFC favorite and a potential powerhouse. A terrible Matthew Stafford game later, and here we are. Let's not forget this is Tiko we are talking about, who is looking for any excuse to yank his quarterback at the first sign of adversity. This team is simply too talented to continue losing, but this was a really, really, troubling start.
#13 - New York Giants (1-0)
Insert bootleg rollout joke here. The Giants laugh now, as they sit tied atop the NFC East with the Eagles, for one week at least. Daniel Jones accounted for 4 touchhdowns and 400+ total yards, and the emergence of John Ross in the offesne was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. A great test lies ahead as the Giants face Washington, they will need more from their defense week in and week out to keep stacking victories.
#12 - Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
Listen, nobody has them going 17-0. Coach Mojica will figure it out, but a matchup with Astin Week 1 is never easy, especially when you have major holes on your roster. Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon will have to continue to do the heavy lifting week in and week out for the Bengals to remain competitive. Can the offensive line and the defense hold up? A favorable matchup against Chicago should help the Bengals get back on track.
#11 - Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)
I haven't pressed the panic button yet, but my finger certainly is over it. That's a bad opening loss for King John and the Chiefs, as Longville certainly made him pay for all the trash talk we heard this offseason. Patrick Mahomes needs to take care of the ball, and Kansas City needs more from their pass rush. After King John took the league by storm in Pittsburgh last cycle, did we all just assume the same would happen right away?
#10 - Carolina Panthers (0-0)
Are the Panthers ready to compete with the Buccaneers? On paper, no, but they have a fantastic head coach who will put this group in the best position to succeed and utilize their talent properly. I'm not sure how long Sam Darnold is for Carolina, but for now at least he is the guy. If the Panthers can play to Christian McCaffrey's strengths, and utilize the impressive receiving weapons they have, this offense could be dangerous. The defense is loaded with young talent, and have a coach who just turned Isaiah Simmons into a Red Zone legend. Watch out for Carolina.
#9 - Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Give Coach Tauph and the Eagles credit for not throwing in the towel down 19-0 to Atlanta, as they managed to win the game by scoring 25 unanswered points. Tons of upside on this offense with DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor at receiver, both of whom contributed mightily in the comeback. Now at 1-0, will the Eagles rethink their 'rebuild' strategy for the season? If Jalen Hurts continues to ascend, they may not have a choice.
#8 - Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
This is why Red Zone is great, what a win by KFox! In 2021, BOTH of the Fox brothers have cracked the Week 2 Power Rankings top ten. The Chargers offense exploded in Washington, going for over 500 total yards, as Justin Herbert threw 5 scores. This group of wide receivers is going to be very difficult to contain, especially if Herbert takes better care of the football. Now can the defense start to improve? This unit is loaded with talent, but giving up 47 points to Washington is concerning.
#7 - Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
Yes, this is Spencer at 7th overall. No, I'm not intoxicated. What a big win for Spencer and his Cardinals, who took his lumps all offseason as 'the clear 4th place team' in the NFC West. Sure, it can and likely will still happen, but for one week the Cardinals looked fantastic. Did we all sleep on the potential of this defense? The Cardinals absolutely dominated the Titans for 4 quarters, holding Derrick Henry to just 49 yards rushing. It is time to see how far Spencer has come, as we have a huge matchup between his Cardinals and the Vikings.
#6 - Buffalo Bills (1-0)
Nice start for Coach Fox and the Bills, taking care of business against a tough-on-paper Steelers squad. The Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs connection is alive and well, as the pair connected for 150 yards, while newly-acquired Darius Slayton caught his first touchdown as a Bill. Even better? The defense held the Steelers in check all day, forcing 3 turnovers. RFox is a sexy pick in the AFC to improve, and he is off to a fantastic start.
#5 - Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Hell of a start for Coach Blueprint in his return home to Seattle, blowing the doors off Coach Greg and the Colts in Week 1. The Seahawks seem to be forgotten in a NFC West featuring Kelly and Tiko, but I think they are the biggest threat to the 49ers. If Russell Wilson can play mistake-free football, and Chris Carson can continue to rip off big runs, this team is going to be a tough out against anyone.
#4 - Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Well, the MVP odds are certainly in Dalvin Cook's favor early on, accounting for 200+ total yards and 3 touchdowns in the Vikings' big win over Cincinnati. Kellen Mond managed the game well, doing enough to allow the defense to force Joe Burrow into mistakes. As I've mentioned before, this Minnesota team is loaded with superstar talent, and they have the right coach to guide them. This is a true threat to the 49ers and Buccaneers in the NFC if Mond can develop.
#3 - San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
The 49ers did exactly as expected to open Season 70, and that was to crush the Detroit Lions. Under Kelly's eye, Trey Lance guided the offense pretty well for a first start, throwing 2 touchdown passes (but also 2 interceptions). The run game was great as expected, with Raheem Mostert finishing with 79 yards and a score. If the 49ers stay healthy, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. The only question mark is the development of the quarterback.
#2 - Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Baltimore scored 28 points in the second half against Las Vegas, as Lamar Jackson accounted for 3 touchdowns and 250+ total yards, while J.K. Dobbins chipped in 100 rushing yards of his own. This offense is explosive, and has the ultimate headache to defend in Lamar Jackson leading the way. If the fit between Coach Adel and Jackson continues to trend upward, they are one of the favorites to represent the AFC in RZ Bowl 70. A big game against the 0-1 Chiefs this week is a good test for Baltimore.
#1 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Ho hum, the Buccaneers cruise to a 1-0 start thanks to a dominating victory over the hapless Cowboys. Pretty simple, one team was very prepared for the matchup, and the other wasn't. Tom Brady threw 4 touchdown passes, the Bucs had two 100 yard rushers, and the defense forced 3 turnovers. This will not happen week in and week out, but this coach and team fit is the highest upside in the league.