NFL Power Rankings: The Denver Broncos are still better than people think

Are the Denver Broncos the best team in the NFL? To put it bluntly, no, not really. The Broncos however do seem to be a completely different team from last year, and you’ll see it reflected in this week’s rankings.

Here’s my consternation with this team: Are the 2018 Broncos really all that much better than the 2017 Broncos? After 1 week, it’s a big “probably”. We saw the potential for this team that simply didn’t exist last year, but I saw way too many of the same mistakes from the last few years that I touch on below. But even with that being said, the single biggest glaring “we are for real” stat is this: The Denver Broncos are THE ONLY TEAM in the entire NFL without a single 3 & Out. If that isn’t polar opposite from last year where we led the NFL in 3 & Outs, I just don’t know what is. That shows that we are likely for real, and that’s a really great indicator that we are a juggernaut waiting to explode onto the scene.

As a whole, our offense looks much improved, and finally has the ability to come back from a deficit. But we also saw the last two years rear it’s ugly head in an early and crappy turnover which put the opponent in 1st & Goal. Then we ask the impossible from our defense early on to stop them. It’s like Groundhog Day all over again in some regards. But again, our offense seems to be able to come from behind, which means that we will be in every game this year, plus Von Miller can finally enjoy some one-on-one match-ups to exploit as we finally have weapons opposite of him to make them pay if they double or triple team him.

Onto the rankings which after one week mean a whole lot of nothing. I mean, Are the Steelers REALLY on the same level as the Browns? Really? Get my drift? I’m ranking teams as they stand TODAY. Not a cumulation of last year or the last decade. If they look like they are world beaters today, they’ll be ranked high regardless of what their record is. Afterall, if we went by record alone, then Power Rankings wouldn’t exist, you could just look in your local newspaper (do they even exist anymore?) to see the standings.

Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

1. Los Angeles Rams
It took them a quarter to really settle down, but once they did, they outscored Oakland 33-6. To me, the Rams are the team to beat. They just needed a little time to dust the cobwebs off and remember who they are.

2. New England Patriots
I hate them so much, but as long as they have Brady and Bilicheat, they are seemingly teflon.

3. Minnesota Vikings
I hate to admit it, but the Vikings picked up where they left off last year. But this does prove me kinda right: Cousins isn’t worth a dime more than Keenum.

4. Baltimore Ravens
Sure, they beat up on the Bills, but you’re suppose to beat up on the Bills. It’s that they did it so dominantly that they get this lofty spot this week.

5. Denver Broncos
As I touched on in the preview, this team can be great if we limit our mistakes on offense. We are built to have a lead and play from behind. That’s a lethal combo when you have a defense that can straight get after the QB. Von Miller is staking his claim to be defensive player of the year, and he’s doing it in crunch time too. 19-0 till we aint!!!

6. Philadelphia Eagles
I have them here simply because they beat a worthy (although allergic to Julio in the redzone) opponent. But boy do they look anything but a contender. They need Wentz back in a bad way, either that or Foles needs more of last year’s magic ASAP.

7. Kansas City Chiefs
I’ll give the chiefs credit here: They beat up on an injury plagued team on the road. Credit where credit is due. But don’t get use to it. You will have to play real teams eventually. You can’t have all 16 against the Chargers and Raiders.

8. Carolina Panthers
This wasn’t a particularly high scoring game, but it looks like they’re letting Cam do his thing again. Once they start jelling, I expect them to be a contender.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
48 points is 48 points. Especially on the road. I expect this to be the 1 and only game this season that Fitzy does this, as he’s only good for one of these per year, but as of today, they did it. The future is TBD.

10. Green Bay Packers
You don’t get very much love for getting your asses handed to you by the Bears at home before you come back and win. Billion dollar QB or not, this team doesn’t look very good right now. They are here simply because of Rodgers.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars
Did they look good? Eh, that’s subjective considering their opponent. Like the Packers, you don’t get many brownie points for beating the Giants.

12. New York Jets
Sam Darnold was the only QB that Elway was willing to take in this draft. Last night we saw why! Holy cow, are the Jets for real? Or is this all a mirage? Why are they not higher? Cause they have a rookie QB and I want to make sure this isn’t beginners luck.

13. New Orleans Saints
Can a brother get a defense? Its as if they took all the progress from 2017 and flushed it down the toilet. Fix this or else this might be as high as you get ranked all year.

14. Washington Redskins
Alex Smith was Alex Smith. And much like he was in KC, he was just good enough. At lease in the month of September.

15. Atlanta Falcons
Seriously guys, that game was yours to have. Here’s a tip: When you’re in the red-zone, THROW IT TO YOUR BEST PLAYER!

16. Pittsburgh Steelers
This team is in disarray! There’s so much drama within their own walls, and it’s apparently spilling out onto the field. Tomlin needs to fix this ASAP before this season starts to seriously slip away. You tied the Browns! Let that sink in real deep!

17. Cincinnati Bengals
I’m not sure what to do with the Bengals, but they did beat a motivated team with their Captain back, so that is worth something. At least until the real meat of the schedule happens.

18. San Francisco 49ers
Much like the Falcons, this game was yours for the taking and you blew it.

19. Seattle Seahawks
I’m struggling to find something good to say about them. The score was SOOOO much closer than the actual game. I suppose a positive is that they saved money by having their punter shop at baby gap for his uniform.

20. Houston Texans
Deshaun Watson needs to find his game again. They almost mounted a comeback, and I know if he wasn’t a bit timid because of his knee, he’d have pulled out the victory. Here’s to greener pastures in the coming weeks as he settles down.

21. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are already better than last year even though they could still technically go “win-less.”

22. Miami Dolphins
I commend them for winning, but I’m just not convinced they are any good. For a minute there, I thought their game was going to be the first of Monday.

23. Chicago Bears
Congrats Bears, you beat up on Kizer and then lost to Rodgers. At least you showed life. The Mack signing looks good from here, even though he was kinda invisible when you needed him the most. Unlike Von freaking Miller!!!

24. Indianapolis Colts
You had this game until you didn’t. Luck was solid in his return, which should give everyone in Indy hope.

25. Los Angeles Chargers
You guys had one job to do! ONE!!! And you dorked that up! How’s your 2018 AFCW Champs looking now 4 letter network hacks?

26. Oakland Raiders
Don’t let the first Quarter of football fool you, the Raiders aren’t any good. They took advantage of the “unknown” before they showed the world exactly who they were.

27. Dallas Cowboys
Hahahahaha sorry sorry sorry. I gotta be serious don’t I? Wait, no I don’t, these are my rankings. HAHAHAHAHA You guys are SOOOOOO BAD!!!!

28. Detroit Lions
I’m not a believer in this team. Straight up! I’m not sure what else to really say except that this could very well be as high as they are for the rest of the season. Wait, that’s a lie, I fully expect the Raiders to sink down which will thus bump the Lions up by one spot.

29. Arizona Cardinals
The temptation to have them in the bottom three was immense, and the season is still young so it will inevitably happen. But the bottom three are just a tad bit more pathetic.

30. Tennessee Titans
Like the Dolphins, I really don’t know what to make of them. Their game was anything but “normal” to put it lightly. I joked that this was gonna be the real Monday Night Football Game 1 because it wouldn’t finish until after midnight. Good news is that you seem to have your QB still. But is that good news? Is it?

31. New York Giants
I’d say if they could get out of their own way, they might not get the #2 overall pick next year, but I’m not even sure that’s their recipe for limited success. They looked about how I expected them to look. Keep spending that money poorly guys, who needs to get to the playoffs anyways?

32. Buffalo Bills
Well, at least Peterman didn’t throw 5 interceptions this time. But 24 yards at halftime is still pretty bad. Now the Josh Allen era has begun (maybe). I’m not sure it will bring less pain or not, but we now get to see why John Elway passed on him.