In the greater scheme of things, Power Rankings are little more than a midweek diversion, with no real meaning for next week's games. But one thing these rankings are good for is to provide a look at what the consensus opinion seems to be regarding last week's performances. As such, the NFL power rankings for week 2 are about what you would expect.
Nobody is jumping on the Cowboys bandwagon just yet, but despite the loss to the Jets, the Cowboys remain fairly stable and continue to be ranked 13th in the league on average. The Eagles move up a spot and just squeeze in to the top five. The Redskins move up almost nine spots on the strength of their win against the Giants, who in turn tumble close to five spots and today find themselves in last place in the NFC East, as they were overtaken by the Redskins in the rankings. The 49ers, our next opponent, are ranked a lowly 21st.
After the break, a detailed breakdown of the NFC East power rankings heading into week two of the 2011 NFL season.
1. Major Media Networks & Affiliates
Pro Football Weekly: 13th (- -). "Will never know what Tony Romo was thinking on that interception."
Fox Sports: 14th (- -). Brian Billick offers this assessment: "This team, like every team in this division, will go as far as their quarterback takes them. Tony Romo doesn't deserve all the blame for the Week 1 loss, but there is no denying that he needs to perform better in critical situations."
CBSSports.com: 12th (-5). "Just when you think they can do something, they choke away a game like they did against the Jets. The injuries are starting to add up."
SportingNews.com: 16th (-2). "The Cowboys would take a lot of pressure off Tony Romo to carry their offense if they can get back to a strong running game. A healthy Kosier is key to that gameplan."
ESPN: 13th (+1). "Until Tony Romo can prove he is a clutch QB, questions about his ability to close games will continue. (Fox)"
[updated] NFL.com's Brain Trust of Experts: 14th (+1). Bucky Brooks has the Cowboys ranked 11th, Albert Breer 21st. Elliot Harrison ranks the Cowboys 12th and provides the following observations:
"Dallas controlled Sunday night's game in New York -- a tough road opener considering what this weekend represented -- in every way but the win column. As long as this group falters in the clutch, they won't hit the top 10 no matter who they outplay. Defensively, Terence Newman was out. His replacement, nickel Orlando Scandrick, left in the first half. The other starter, Mike Jenkins, got hurt in the third quarter. After watching Mark Sanchez play Nerf football with the Cowboys' fourth, fifth, and sixth corners, the coaching staff could be seen talking to Jenkins on the sideline. "Can you breathe? If you can, please go replace Alan Ball."
2. Blogs & Other Media
WEEI.com: 13th (n.c.). "How many times is Tony Romo going to find a way to choke away the game in the final moments? The Cowboys offense was pathetic Sunday night in the fourth quarter. An array of turnovers, lack of communication and penalties when it mattered most, proved the Cowboys have a long way to go."
Walter Football: 12th (-2). No comments this week, as the site only provide comments for the top ten and bottom ten teams
SB Nation: 13th (-3). "I ranked the 'Boys 10th last week and heard from more than a few Cowboys haters. If QB Tony Romo doesn't inexplicably fumble, they probably win that game and remain in the top 10."
Jason Brewer from BGN ranks the Cowboys 16th on SB Nation Philly and provides an interesting take: "They were probably a half quarter away from being a top 7 team this week, but Tony Romo decided to Tony Romo the game away and here they are in the middle of the pack. Still, as much as the ending must sting, it has to be somewhat encouraging for Dallas to know that they outplayed the Jets, who have made two straight AFC title games, at home for the majority of that game. Those won't be the last stupid Tony Romo turnovers this season, but he isn't going to do that every week."
ProFootballTalk.com: 10th (- -). "Cowboys fans likely are hoping that Tony Romo will start his pro golf career sooner rather than later."
3. Statistics, Computer & Vegas rankings
[updated] Covers.com: 12th (+2): "On the bright side, Dallas should have won on the road against one of the best teams in the league."
Jeff Sagarin's NFL rankings: 13th (+1). These are rankings based on W/L record, points differential and schedule strength.
WhatIFsports: 13th (+8). These guys simulate every possible match-up in the NFL 100 times, and use the winning percentages from those nearly 50,000 games to evaluate every team, with updated rosters and depth charts.
[updated] Drafttek.com: 14th (+1). The Draft Gurus don't provide any comments but have the Cowboys up one spot.
Below is how the NFC East fared in this week's power rankings so far, with the 49ers added for good measure. We'll keep updating the rankings as they come in.
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Week2 | Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 1 | Week 2 |
Week 1 | Week 2 |
Week 1 | Week 2 |
|
Walter Football | 12 |
10 | 7 |
6 | 15 |
16 | 14 |
24 |
26 |
CBS Sports |
12 |
7 | 4 |
8 | 15 |
11 | 14 |
24 | 20 |
Covers.com | 12 |
14 | 4 |
3 | 26 |
13 | 14 |
28 |
20 |
Whatifsports.com |
13 |
21 | 8 |
10 | 15 |
11 | 23 |
26 | 20 |
Sagarin Ratings |
13 |
14 | 6 |
6 | 15 |
15 | 20 |
24 |
22 |
SBNation | 13 | 10 | 4 |
5 | 18 |
12 | 22 |
30 |
19 |
ProFootballWeekly |
13 |
- - | 4 |
- - | 16 |
- - | 14 |
- - |
20 |
WEEI.com |
13 |
13 | 3 |
5 | 24 |
12 | 23 |
28 |
26 |
ESPN | 13 |
14 | 3 |
4 | 17 |
15 | 19 |
28 |
22 |
PFT |
14 |
10 | 8 |
9 | 23 |
15 | 20 |
31 | 19 |
Foxsports | 14 |
14 | 6 |
7 | 19 |
16 | 15 |
25 |
18 |
NFL.com | 14 |
15 | 4 |
6 | 19 |
13 | 13 |
23 |
23 |
Drafttek | 14 |
15 | 4 |
4 | 20 |
16 | 21 |
31 | 23 |
Sporting News |
16 |
14 | 4 |
6 | 19 |
15 | 15 |
24 |
18 |
PFF | - - |
12 | - - |
7 | - - |
21 | - - |
25 |
- - |
Average | 13.3 | 13.1 |
4.9 |
6.2 | 18.6 | 14.1 | 17.6 | 26.4 | 21.1 |