Week 2 NFL Power Rankings
By Tim Kelly
Sep 7, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (24) tackles St. Louis Rams running back Zac Stacy (30) during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Minnesota Vikings defeat St. Louis Rams 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
32. Oakland Raiders
I think the Raiders will move up this list as the season goes on, and Derek Carr develops, but it’s hard to call a team that is dead last in the league in passing yards, rushing yards, and opposing rushing yards–after playing the Jets, not the Broncos–anything other than the worst team in the league thus far.
31. St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford’s injury really is such a shame. Obviously it sucks that Bradford’s career is likely to be defined by injuries, but it’s more than that. It holds Tavon Austin’s progression back. It puts what is likely an unfair amount of pressure on Zac Stacy. It sucks.
Fortunately, the Rams still have a loaded defense led by Robert Quinn (maybe the second best defensive player in the league) and Chris Long. So I think generally speaking, we won’t see many blowouts like last week. The Rams will be in most of their games, I’m just not sure they’ll have enough offense to end up winning more than six or so games.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Are the Jagaurs going to regularly be able to keep up with teams like the Eagles? No. Does Gus Bradley have something brewing in Jacksonville, though? Hell yeah.
As we learned first hand last weekend, the Jags have one of the better front fours in the league, with the addition of former Seahawk (and Eagle) Chris Clemons having put the defensive line over the top.
Offensively is where they have their limitations. I don’t doubt that Allen Hurns is more talented than his billing as an undrafted free-agent, but he isn’t going to do what he did last week, which will limit them offensively, even if Cecil Shorts returns. For anyone asking, those limitations are why the Jags are smart to keep Blake Bortles on the sidelines.
29. Cleveland Browns
I like Johnny Manziel and I actually want to see him succeed in the NFL because he was one of my favorite college players of all-time. But the ESPN hype machine is driving me so insane that I’m half-rooting for Brian Hoyer to do well enough that the Browns don’t hand Manziel the job before he is ready just because of public pressure.
As for the actual season, Ben Tate is out and Jordan Cameron is questionable, which is a really poor start to the season. Also, first-round pick Justin Gilbert didn’t look too impressive in his first regular season NFL action. But hey, Terrance West did a nice job last week and a technicality may get Josh Gordon back within the next week or two. Everything is running about as smoothly as usual in Cleveland.