Week 3 NFL power rankings: Bills, Chiefs remain 1-2, but Dolphins among two new teams in top five
previous rank in parentheses):
1. Bills (1): Their newest weapon? Rarely utilized Sam Martin, who turns punts into turnover-creating misadventures for the opposition.
2. Chiefs (2): Does Andy Reid really get adequate appreciation? Last week, he joined George Halas, Don Shula and Bill Belichick as the only coaches with career win-loss records 100 games over .500. Reid now sits at 235-135-1.
3. Eagles (6): QB Jalen Hurts’ dark horse MVP candidacy is already fading … as he’s becoming an increasingly lighter horse.
4. Buccaneers (3): TBD who QB Tom Brady will be throwing to this week against Green Bay in light of WR Mike Evans’ suspension. TB12 should have all his guys back soon, but that’s apparently not dissuading him from recruiting Odell Beckham Jr. for a rainy day.
Tua’s breakout game puts NFL on notice about him and Dolphins’ potent offense
32 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM WEEK 2:Comebacks galore
WEEK 2 WINNERS, LOSERS:Patriots offense shows improvement, Cowboys have hope
6. Chargers (5): The Bolts should be comfortably favored in their next six games … presuming QB Justin Herbert stops absorbing hits that fold him like a lawn chair.
Cooper Rush is the first Dallas quarterback to win his first two starts since … Jason Garrett (1993-94). The Cowboys will likely be grateful if Rush doesn’t approach Garrett’s nine career starts with the team.
17. Cardinals (26): Has LB Isaiah Simmons finally woken up? He forced the decisive fumble against Las Vegas in overtime Sunday, the same day the eighth pick of the 2020 draft was benched and limited to 15 snaps.
That’s jumped to 13 in two 2022 games behind his supposedly improved offensive line.
19. Giants (20): If you thought 2021 was a disaster for big-money free agent WR Kenny Golladay, it’s apparently going much worse in 2022. He has two receptions this season and was in for two plays Sunday.
20. Raiders (16): Josh McDaniels is now riding a personal five-game losing streak as a head coach and has dropped nine of 10 going back to his abbreviated tour in Denver.
21. Commanders (19): Solid start for QB Carson Wentz, who leads the NFC in passing yards (650) and TDs (7).
22. Jaguars (25): Pitching the season’s first shutout notched Jacksonville the AFC South’s only victory to date, hence sole ownership of first place.
23. Jets (32): One vote for Braden Mann as the AFC special teams player of the week. The NYJ punter connected on a 17-yard pass (rather than punt) to extend a drive that resulted in the team’s first TD on Sunday, and his onside kick set up the game-winning score.
24. Browns (21): They’ve surrendered 48 points in the past five quarters and won’t have DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) on Thursday against Pittsburgh. Not a promising trend for a team trying to weather QB Deshaun Watson’s suspension.
25. Falcons (31): They almost overcame a 28-3 third-quarter deficit Sunday. (Sound familiar?) Alas, it always seems to be close but no cigars for Atlanta.
Titans showed they didn’t belong on the same field with the Bills on Monday night. Tennessee might not belong on the same field with Vanderbilt.
31. Texans (30): If you combined their roster with Chicago’s, you might have a seven-win team. They’ll determine who’s better Sunday in Soldier Field in a can-miss affair.
32. Colts (14): Wentz looks pretty good right about now, no?
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.