NFL Power Report, Week 1 edition

(Sept. 15)

Looking at the final boxscores, it looked like each game went the way it was supposed to, but that was thanks to a lot of great comeback drives in the two-minute drill by the great quarterbacks in the league. In summary, the good teams find a way to win and the bad teams find a way to lose.

Most Impressive Individual Performance: Mark Sanchez
Best Moment: Brandon Stokley’s game winning catch
Worst Individual Performance: Jake Delhomme
Most Impressive Team Performance: New York Jets
Most Disappointing Team Performance: Houston Texans
Injury of the Week: Brian Urlacher

After just one week it’s hard to accurately differentiate teams #1-5, but since the Steelers are the champs they will start at the top.

Elite Tier
1. Steelers: They may be the reigning champions and 1-0 on the season, but this offense led by Big Ben will have to do better than run, run, sack, punt. Roethlisberger may end the season in a wheelchair.
2. Patriots: Brady’s typical Pats: 54 pass plays, 23 rushing. Not a pretty game (0-2 on 4th down, missed FG, two failed 2-pt conversions, two terrible roughing the passer calls), but they showed on the last two drives that when they are focused, you can’t stop this offense. The defense played pretty well, too.
3. Giants: No Plax, no problem. Manning to Manningham has a nice ring to it. Welcome back Osi, and welcome to the endzone.
4. Vikings: Adrian Peterson began his march to the MVP. Favre looks like a kid again hitting Percy Harvin for a touchdown.
5. Ravens: 85 plays, 500 yards of offense, 2:1 time of possession. The Ravens picked up where they left of last year by controlling the ball for the whole game, and that way wins most games.
6. Falcons: Tony Gonzalez fits very nicely with this offense. +4 in the turnover battle means you win.
7. Eagles: 31 points at halftime thanks to a 5-series stretch with an interception, fumble recovery for a touchdown, punt return for a touchdown, interception, three-and-out punt. The offense never had far to go. However, an injured McNabb in Week 1 is something to be concerned about.
8. Chargers: They got outplayed most of the game, but like the other great quarterbacks this week, Rivers made the plays in the spotlight when it mattered most.
9. Colts: Reggie Wayne had a field day; Peyton looks fine without Harrison. Good start for Jim Caldwell.
10. Titans: Defense shows that without Haynesworth they are still one of the best units in the league. The offense was non-existent in the second half when it mattered. In a tight, low-scoring game, Bironas has got to make those kicks.

Middle o' the Pack
11. Cowboys: No T.O., no problem. Romo has career day, completing long passes to three different receivers. The defense was rather generous.
12. Seahawks: It’s nice to have all the pieces back together.
13. Saints: Matthew Stafford got a free clinic in throwing the ball in the NFL from Drew Brees on Sunday. Touchdowns all around!
14. Packers: Like the Steelers, Aaron Rodgers did nothing for almost the entire game but made the big play when it mattered most and that’s what he’ll be remembered for today.
15. Jets: Sanchez played like a veteran in his debut. If he continues to play like this, the Jets are a playoff team.
16. Broncos: Stokley’s miracle play will be one of the best of the season.
17. Bears: Cutler had a debut to forget: 47% passing, four interceptions and two sacks. The defense kept the Bears in the game despite it all. It doesn’t get any easier next week against Pittsburgh. This team is in trouble with no Urlacher.
18. Texans: What happened to the offense?
19. Buccaneers: It’s nice to see Cadillac Williams back on the field and playing well. Impressive loss for the offense; Byron Leftwich and Williams lead the team to 450 yards of offense. But it felt like I was watching a video game when the Cowboys were on the field.
20. Redskins: Good news: Rams come to town next week.
21. 49ers: Singletary’s Niners stop the Cardinals on 4th down to get a nice rivalry win on the road in the desert despite only 21 yards on the ground.
22. Cardinals: Fitzgerald beat the Madden Curse in Week 1, and the defense stuffed the Niners for most of the game, but Tim Hightower should not be the leading receiver if they expect to win.
23. Bills: Trent Edwards and Fred Jackson looked good and the defense did its job for 57 minutes, but you didn’t actually think that the Bills would win Week 1 in New England, did you?
24. Bengals: That will be one of the most heart-breaking losses of the season. But until that last play, the defense got a great start to the season.
25. Panthers: Jake Delhomme picked up right where he left off, a miserable performance at home. And then losing backup Josh McCown spells bigger trouble for the Panthers this season. They should still be around .500 with their power running game.

Bottom Feeders
26. Raiders: Played hard and should have come away with a win, which makes their 11th straight loss on prime time TV all the more painful.
27. Jaguars: They hung tough in Indy, but the Jags just aren’t a playoff team.
28. Dolphins: The team looked more like the 1-15 team from 2007 than the team that protected the ball so well last year.
29. Browns: Brady Quinn had the biggest blooper of the week. Cribb’s return was a real nice play.
30a. Chiefs: If they want to win a game this year the defense better show up. The Ravens marched up and down the field at will.
30b. Lions: Now that the Lions D got torched in the air, they get a visit from Adrian Peterson next week.
32c. Rams: Steve Spagnuolo is gonna regret leaving the Giants.

Exciting Things Coming Up Next Week:
Giants @ Dallas
Ravens @ San Diego
Saints @ Philadelphia
Seahawks @ San Francisco
Patriots @ New York Jets