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The NFL season is fast approaching. Preseason is underway, training camps are as heated as ever and New England Patriots fans are eager for Week 1 to arrive. To help fill the dog days of summer, I have put together an NFL power rankings before Week 3 of the preseason.
The criteria used include how teams fared last season, offseason additions and subtractions, notable preseason performances and last but not least, injuries. A serious injury to an important player(s) will have a negative effect on a team in these NFL power rankings.
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Of course, it’s still early and we shouldn’t overreact too much. After all, most teams have played only one preseason game. But NFL power rankings are too fun to wait until September.
Be sure to check back on Musket Fire early next week after the third slate of preseason games have been played for an updated NFL power rankings as we continue to bide our time until Week 1.
Let’s start with in the cellar and work our way upstairs.
Next: 32. Washington Redskins
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 30. New York Jets
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 29. Tennessee Titans
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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29
Tennessee Titans
AFC South, Last week: 29
Both of the Titans’ top quarterbacks looked good against the Rams. Zach Mettenberger was very sharp, completing seven of nine passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Mariota displayed the traits that made him so good at Oregon: vision and mobility.
One of Mariota’s best plays was rendered useless when Dexter McCluster dropped a beautiful pass in the end zone. It seems like Chiefs receivers can’t even catch touchdowns with other teams.
Next: 28. Chicago Bears
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 27. Jacksonville Jaguars
Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 26. Oakland Raiders
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 25. New York Giants
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 24. Atlanta Falcons
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
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24
Atlanta Falcons
NFC South, Last week: 24
Devin Hester refuses to slow down. At age 32, he’s still one of the most dangerous players in open space in the entire league. Don’t be surprised if the veteran returner runs a few back this season.
One guys who’s really stood out this month for the Falcons has been Leonard Hankerson. After a tough start to his NFL career in Washington, Hankerson looks at home in Atlanta, as indicated by his touchdown catch against the Jets
Next: 23. Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 22. San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 21. New Orleans Saints
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 20. Cleveland Browns
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 19. St. Louis Rams
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
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19
St. Louis Rams
NFC West, Last week: 18
Mark Barron, you have to make that interception. If the Rams are going to make any noise in the NFC West this season, they will have to post a positive turn over margin, no questions asked.
It may have been frustrating to see Barron drop that easy pick, but the Rams’ backfield is coming together. Right before news broke of first-round pick Todd Gurley getting cleared to practice, fellow rookie Malcolm Brown out of Texas (not Malcom Brown, as confusing as that may be) ripped off a 53-yard touchdown.
Next: 18. Miami Dolphins
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 17. Kansas City Chiefs
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 16. Buffalo Bills
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 15. Carolina Panthers
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 14. Philadelphia Eagles
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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14
Philadelphia Eagles
NFC East, Last week: 15
If I’m an Eagles fan, I’m liking what I’m seeing out of the DeMarco Murray-Ryan Mathews one-two punch. Both running backs scored a touchdown against the Ravens in the second week of preseason. Sam Bradford may have badly overthrown Riley Cooper, but at least the ground game looks promising in Philly.
In addition, the the two most notable additions to the secondary each recorded interceptions this weekend. Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell looked like they were back in Seattle, each notching nice picks.
Next: 13. San Diego Chargers
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 12. Cincinnati Bengals
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 11. Houston Texans
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 10. Arizona Cardinals
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 9. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
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9
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC North, Last week: 7
The Steelers drop a few spots because of the devastating injury of center Maurkice Pouncey. The Steelers weathered the storm by placing Pouncey on the short-term IR, which means he will miss at least half of the regular season. Each team gets one short-term IR designation per season, so this decision wasn’t made lightly.
At least James Harrison is still playing like it’s 2008. Harrison is one of the few holdovers from the old guard of Steelers’ defenders from earlier in the decade, as the team managed to undergo a youth movement on defense in a very short period of time.
Next: 8. Detroit Lions
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 7. Denver Broncos
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 6. Baltimore Ravens
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 5. Indianapolis Colts
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 4. Green Bay Packers
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
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4
Green Bay Packers
NFC North, Last week: 3
The season-ending ACL injury to Jordy Nelson bumps the Packers down a spot in these NFL power rankings. Fantasy football owner, start thinking very seriously about Davante Adams now that Nelson is a non-factor in drafts.
Another beneficiary of Nelson’s injury is running back Eddie Lacy, who ought to see increased carries in Nelson’s absence. The Packers won’t necessarily ditch their passing game (they won’t) but the ground attack will be more valuable than it was this time last week.
Next: 3. Dallas Cowboys
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 2. Seattle Seahawks
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 1. New England Patriots
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports