Henry Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Oddly we are below the Jets. Go figure. http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/powerrankings Power Rankings: Stay off the bandwagons ... for now By Pete Prisco SportsLine.com Senior Writer Stop the season. Why bother with the formalities? After what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did Monday night to the Eagles, making a good team with legitimate Super Bowl hopes look like an embarrassing unit on their home field, is there any doubt the Bucs players will have rings on their other hands next spring? Sure there is. One game, one week, does not make a season. That's why whatever happened Sunday, including Miami's upset loss to the Texans that drove the millions in those survivor pools scrambling to buy back in, has to be tempered for what it truly is, which is one game in a season of 16. Any dominating play or abysmal performances from Week 1 (Bears excluded) can't be fully grasped until the end of September. If the Bucs are throwing around good teams like rag dolls, only then we can seriously talk about the repeat. If Miami is 1-3 in September, possible with its schedule, then we can talk about how the December swoon might not even matter this time around. And if the Bills, who looked like a sure-thing AFC champion in knocking off the Patriots, are still blowing away teams come October, then we have to watch them as serious contenders. As it is now, it's just one week. So, even the Bears, and their awful performance in San Francisco, get a pass until the first of October. Well, maybe they don't. That said, how good did Tampa Bay look against the Eagles? All of those who thought they wouldn't repeat, here included, might be re-evaluating those thoughts now. Shutting out the Eagles, no matter how limited they seem to be on offense, is impressive, particularly on the road. The Eagles could play that Tampa Bay defense until Andy Reid slimmed own, and they still might not score. Part of the problem was that message Reid sent to his team in the opening quarter. Faced with a fourth-and-goal at the 1, he tried a fake field goal. Granted, the play was open and rookie tight end L.J. Smith dropped a touchdown pass, but what that said to his team was this: We're not good enough to get a yard with our offense against that defense. Trickery is for the meek. The game was lost by that decision. The Eagles should have either gone for it with their offense or kicked a field goal to get three points on the board. The decision to go for the fake was a soft move against a hardened team. That's not a way to get over that loss last January in the NFC Championship Game. Tampa Bay dominated from that point on, and the score actually could have been a lot worse. The Bucs maintain their top spot in this week's SportsLine.com Power Rankings, and there's no reason to think they won't be near that spot all season. But before calling off the season, let's play out the next month before overreacting to the first week. We all know how things even out in a hurry. It takes more than one week to label teams, to start firing coaches and anointing the next Super Bowl champs. There is no Super Bowl in September, you know. Here are the complete Power Rankings after Week 1: POWER RANKINGS Current Team Previous 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 Still don't think they will repeat, but after Monday night, the lean is more that way than against it. Boy, were they good. 2 Buffalo Bills 4 If that defense continues to play like it did Sunday, they are going to be one heck of a team. The money spent on the defensive side might prove to be well worth it. 3 Denver Broncos 5 It wasn't a pretty start for Jake Plummer against the Bengals, but the Broncos still dominated on the road. Plummer has to be better, though. 4 Indianapolis Colts 7 It wasn't exactly the offensive production they expected against the Browns, but it was a good sign the defense held Cleveland without a touchdown. 5 Tennessee Titans 8 They conquered some demons against the Raiders, with Steve McNair looking good in the process. The defense looked faster. 6 New York Giants 10 They knocked Kurt Warner senseless and showed the defense will be better in 2003. Tiki Barber is way underrated. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers 13 So, Tommy Maddox isn't a one-year wonder. The defense also looked faster than the unit from 2002. 8 Atlanta Falcons 9 So much for the one-man team talk. Doug Johnson should be able to hold things down until Michael Vick returns. 9 San Francisco 49ers 16 The Bears are a bad team, so it's tough to give this team as much credit as their blowout score would indicate. But they were impressive. 10 Minnesota Vikings 20 Going on the road and dominating Brett Favre the way they did is a good sign for the Vikings. We know the offense will be good. 11 Kansas City Chiefs 18 Priest Holmes showed no problems with the hip injury, while the defense showed it isn't close to being the same group that took the field in 2002. 12 Philadelphia Eagles 3 If they could stay away from the Bucs, they would be in great shape. At some point, they have to find a way to beat that team. 13 St. Louis Rams 2 They were knocked around pretty good by the Giants, but that's a tough place to open a season. How they bounce back this week will define their season, especially with Marc Bulger playing this week. 14 Oakland Raiders 11 They had a tough opener against the revenge-minded Titans on the road, but they didn't look sharp with all the penalties. 15 New England Patriots 6 That was awful Sunday in Buffalo, and things don't get easier when they go on the road to play the Eagles this week. Starting 0-2 would be a big hole. 16 Seattle Seahawks 21 They easily handled a New Orleans team that was expected to put up some points. The Seattle defense is faster and better, which showed against the Saints. 17 New Orleans Saints 14 This is a banged-up team that has to find a way to beat an improved Houston team Sunday. If they start 0-2 heading to Tennessee in the third week, their season would be in jeopardy. 18 Green Bay Packers 15 We know they'll score with Brett Favre and his swift receivers, but does outstanding defensive coordinator Ed Donatell have enough to work with on the other side of the ball? 19 New York Jets 17 Vinny Testaverde stunk up Fed-Ex field last week, but the play calling didn't help him. Key second-week game against the Dolphins on Sunday. 20 Miami Dolphins 12 They like their defense, and Jay Fiedler looked good in the preseason, but the offensive line is still a concern and the hangover from their past collapses is a worry. 21 Carolina Panthers 19 See, the Panthers did start the wrong quarterback. Who knew the right one was Jake Delhomme? 22 Washington Redskins 27 That was a nice defensive effort against the Jets, but the passing game has to be better. 23 Houston Texans 30 Winning on the road against a good Miami team will give this team a great deal of confidence. The offense looks much improved. 24 Dallas Cowboys 26 Even Bill Parcells can't make Quincy Carter a good quarterback. Until they get better play from that position, they are going to stay in this range. 25 Baltimore Ravens 22 Kyle Boller looked like a scared rookie against the Steelers, which gave the Ravens no chance to win on the road. He has to be better. 26 Cleveland Browns 25 They played the Colts tough, but scoring no touchdowns isn't a good thing for first-time starter Kelly Holcomb. 27 San Diego Chargers 23 It's going to be a long year for that defense. Now is all that money spent on David Boston worth it? 28 Detroit Lions 31 Don't get too excited Lions fans. That was only the Cardinals you beat up Sunday. 29 Jacksonville Jaguars 29 They were seconds from a big road victory. As it is, they now face a tough Bills team at home to avoid going 0-2. 30 Cincinnati Bengals 24 New-look Bengals? Yeah, right. We fell for that trap, too. Cincinnati is in for a long season again. 31 Chicago Bears 28 What was that in San Francisco? That dolled-up Soldier Field might be empty for much of this season with any more games like that. 32 Arizona Cardinals 32 Here's the good news: Anquan Boldin can play. The bad news: Not many others can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCS:BraveCaringSoul Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 We beat the Jets and they're still ranked 3 spots ahead of us??? To hell with power rankings. Just win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 So does this mean, that next weeks rankings will have us behind both the Jets and Falcons (as we are currently) after the Skins win this weekend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.Smitty Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Prisco just keeps proving himself to be an idiot. There is no way we should be ranked lower then the Jets. But this comment caught my eye as well... 18 Green Bay Packers 15 We know they'll score with Brett Favre and his swift receivers, but does outstanding defensive coordinator Ed Donatell have enough to work with on the other side of the ball? Next week I believe the Packers have three recievers able to play and one of them is their kick returner who I don't think has saw the field at WR in regular season action. Maybe he is 'swift' though... Moron.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbear Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Hmmm, so we rank lower than the team we just beat. I guess I could understand it if if we won on a fluke play or something, but comeon. Atleast we're only the second worste team that won it's only game thus far. Until I saw Houston, I was kind of wondering if winning meant anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross3909 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Pleeeeeeese keep disrespecting us guys. It really seems to work up our players and get them fired up for kicking the a$$es of all your higher ranked teams. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebreaker Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 I sent him an email that I don't think he'll like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 I remember the 1999 season. It took experts forever to rank us high despite us starting out 5-1 or soemthing like that. Now, I'm not saying I'm expecting that kind of start vs. this schedule, but it doesn't shock me that they are slow to react to our win(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orlskinsfan Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 ill post this again.....what the hell are the falcons doing at #8? did i watch a different dallas vs falcons game on sunday? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummagumma Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 It's all my fault. I E-mailed him last Friday asking how he'll spin Thursdays game to keep the Skins below the Jets in his "rankings". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom [Giants fan] Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 I think it is going to take a few wins for people to start believing in the Skins. For two reasons: 1. They don't wan to. 2. They haven't done much to have people believe in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganggreen76 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Originally posted by Tom [Giants fan] I think it is going to take a few wins for people to start believing in the Skins. For two reasons: I think it's going to take a few wins by more than 3 points against opponents playing with their starting qb's before the Redskins start to get some respect.:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyward72 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Agreed, Skins need to string a couple of solid wins together before we start getting more respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselPwr44 Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 Guys...It's Prisco.. ..Since when has he ever written anything positive about the Skins???:2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPare Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 The one that I love is how 2 teams that were SHUT OUT are in the top half in the rankings. As I said in another post, with the injuries, and the seemingly inept offence, the Iggles could be scraping bottom by the end of this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorEastNCFan Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 Just enjoy the games, and everytime we win, remember all the "haters" that didn't believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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