Thursday, September 21, 2023

Philadelphia Eagles Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Philadelphia Eagles in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 3

Player: OLB Haason Reddick
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2024 season

Reddick has quickly outplayed his three-year, $45 million contract, racking up 19.5 sacks in 2022, including the playoffs. His $15 million average salary per year is 15th among edge rushers, according to Roster Management Systems. "Y'all see it, y'all know what's going on," said Reddick, when asked this offseason if he is underpaid. "I'm worried about being the best version of myself, and then everything will sort itself out, truly." -- Tim McManus

NFL.com -- Rank: 3

Even if the Eagles haven't fully hit their stride offensively, D'Andre Swift's breakout game in the 34-28 win over the Vikings was a pleasant development, posing an interesting backfield challenge once Kenneth Gainwell is fully healthy. It stood out to me that the offensive line seemed out of sync in pass protection vs. Minnesota, almost forcing the run-heavy drive that seemed to light a fire under the offense. That unit should be fine. But the banged-up secondary will need every extra minute of rest before Monday's game against the 2-0 Bucs.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 3

They are 2-0 and really haven't looked great in getting there. That's a good sign. Jalen Hurts needs to pick it up.

USA Today -- Rank: 2

Can't do better than winning your first two games, even if it's been a bit bumpy as they break in their new coordinators — though credit OC Brian Johnson for keeping it on the ground Thursday. But a club that started 8-0 on the way to the NFC crown in 2022 could well match that with the Bucs, Commanders (twice), Rams, Jets and Dolphins ahead of a Week 9 visit from Dallas.

The Athletic -- Rank: 3

Quarterback Jalen Hurts is not throwing the ball as well as he did last season. His expected points added (EPA) per dropback (.17) ranked eighth in the league in 2022. Through two weeks, it's .00, which is 21st in the league. So far, it doesn't matter. Philadelphia ran the ball 64 percent of the time against the Vikings and gained 259 yards on the ground. Both of those numbers are league highs this season.

FOX -- Rank: 3

It's not the Eagles' play on the field that has me nervous, so much as the ongoing injury situation. Injuries are piling up for this team, as Avonte Maddox is the latest starter to go down. If defensive injuries weren't enough, the offense has yet to truly click. And yet, they're 2-0 without playing a great game. I'm not worried about them — yet.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 2

A.J. Brown's sideline disagreement got some attention, and it is strange how he has just 108 yards in two games. That will likely turn around very soon. The Eagles' passing offense, with a new coordinator, isn't off to a great start and Brown's production is the easiest way to spot that. If it continues for another week or two, then we'll have something to worry about.

PFT -- Rank: 4

Something's missing.

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Las Vegas Raiders Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Las Vegas Raiders in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 26

Player: RB Josh Jacobs
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Having sat out the entirety of the Raiders' offseason program and training camp in a contract stalemate -- Jacobs did not sign his $10.091 million franchise tag by the July 17 deadline; rather, he agreed to a reworked one-year deal worth up to $12 million with bonuses -- the All-Pro running back acknowledged he had to knock some of the "rust" off. But after averaging 2.5 yards per carry in rushing for 48 yards in the season opener at Denver, Jacobs had minus-2 yards on nine carries at Buffalo. Per Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since the 1970 merger a reigning league rushing champ finished a game with negative rushing yardage. -- Paul Gutierrez

NFL.com -- Rank: 26

Well, the first drive looked promising. Then the Raiders got smacked in the face repeatedly, being outscored 38-3 over the final 57-plus minutes in their loss to the Bills. Jimmy Garoppolo wasn't under a ton of pressure on Sunday, but when he was, bad things happened. Josh Jacobs somehow ran for -2 yards, as six of his nine rush attempts went for zero yards or fewer. That's not a good look for the offensive line or the offense as a whole. As great as Davante Adams might be, the rest of this Raiders offense didn't produce enough worthy plays while it was a close game (outside of Tre Tucker's 34-yard end around). Plus, losing the turnover battle 3-0 on the road rarely works out well. Back to the drawing board.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 25

They walked into a bad situation at Buffalo after the way the Bills played against the Jets, and it showed. They were bad.

USA Today -- Rank: 27

No more bizarre and disturbing ongoing storyline in the league than whatever's occurring between Las Vegas and estranged DE Chandler Jones.

The Athletic -- Rank: 20

Josh Jacobs had nine carries for minus-2 yards Sunday. He has 46 yards through two games. His yards before contact per rush is minus-.29. A negative number! What exactly is the offensive plan in Las Vegas?

FOX -- Rank:

End zone interceptions are the type of thing that lose you NFL games. Credit to Jimmy Garoppolo: after he threw his, he guided the Raiders on two huge drives to ice a road division win. Maybe an uninspiring win, but a win.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 26

Josh Jacobs has 46 yards on 28 carries. That's an astonishingly slow start for last year's rushing champ. Presumably Jacobs will get going soon, but being gone all of August due to displeasure over his franchise tag isn't helping so far.

PFT -- Rank: 27

The latest visit to Buffalo went better than 51-3, but not by much.

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New Orleans Saints Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the New Orleans Saints in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Player: WR Michael Thomas
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Thomas' contract automatically voids in 2025, but he's essentially playing on a one-year deal with the way his contract is structured. Thomas and the Saints reworked his contract in March due to massive roster bonuses that would have gone into effect this year, and they'll face a similar situation in 2024. This makes it an important season for Thomas, who played in only 10 regular-season games from 2020 to 2022 due to injuries. -- Katherine Terrell

NFL.com -- Rank: 10

The Saints went the first 118-plus minutes of the season without allowing a touchdown -- against the Panthers on Monday, they became the final NFL team to surrender one this season. That's a testament to how good their defense is, but it's been a lot more effort on offense. Depending on the severity of the Jamaal Williams injury, New Orleans could be a little shorthanded in Green Bay on Sunday, with Alvin Kamara still suspended for another game. Tony Jones Jr. gave the Saints a spark in short-yardage situations, but they might need more big pass plays like the ones they got from Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed late in Week 2. You can see Derek Carr's frustration at times, but this passing game is still getting its timing down.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 9

Their defense is going to win a lot of games for them. The offense needs to do more, but that defense has a nasty look about it.

USA Today -- Rank: 8

The defense looks to be in midseason form, having held 10 consecutive opponents to 20 points or fewer. The offense does not, but QB Derek Carr is still acclimating and awaiting Alvin Kamara's return — which could be key given New Orleans' depleted running back room.

The Athletic -- Rank: 11

OK, so the Saints aren't getting it done with offense. New Orleans is averaging 18 points per game, which ranks 26th in the league. But how about Derek Carr? The new Saints quarterback is averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, which ranks fifth in the league so far. Second-year wide receiver Chris Olave already has 198 receiving yards.

FOX -- Rank:

This might be the ugliest 2-0 start in the league, but all wins count the same. Running back injuries are starting to become a problem for the Saints, as they wait for Alvin Kamara to return from suspension. And the offensive line continues to struggle in pass protection. But the wide receivers are really fun, and the New Orleans defense has allowed just one touchdown in two games.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 9

The Saints have some explosive players. They're going to have to figure out why they're not turning yards into more points though. For the second straight week it felt like they should have scored way more. But they'll gladly take the 2-0 start.

PFT -- Rank: 19

September wins are money in the bank, and the Saints are squirreling away victories that could make a huge difference in January.

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Miami Dolphins Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Miami Dolphins in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 4

Player: QB Tua Tagovailoa
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2024 season

There might not be a bigger contract situation to monitor in the NFL -- literally. After Joe Burrow reset the market on Day 1 of the 2023 season, Tagovailoa could do the same next spring. He will play on the fifth year of his rookie contract in 2024, but he's a betting favorite for NFL MVP through the first two weeks of this season, according to Caesars Sportsbook. If he keeps this up, expect the Dolphins to shell out more money than they've ever given a player in team history. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

NFL.com -- Rank: 5

They're 2-0, with nine home games remaining. Each of the first two contests required late gut checks. The fourth-quarter interception against the Patriots was regrettable, and there were a few underthrows, but Tua Tagovailoa played a pretty darned composed game. He knew he'd have to be patient and take his second and third options, and he routinely did that. Add in the Dolphins' terrific yards after first contact -- especially via Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Waddle -- and this offense looks tough to deal with. Mike McDaniel schemed up a really nice game against the Patriots, as did Vic Fangio defensively. The special-teams errors added a few items to the clean-up list, but Miami once more impressed against a conference opponent away from home.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 6

The offense was patient against the Patriots, which is a good sign. But the best thing about that game was the defense. It rebounded in a big way.

USA Today -- Rank: 6

QB Tua Tagovailoa wouldn't mind playing New England every week, improving to 5-0 against Bill Belichick. But consider how much better Miami, with two road wins in the bank, can get when it gets players like LT Terron Armstead, OLB Jaelan Phillips and maybe even CB Jalen Ramsey back.

The Athletic -- Rank: 2

After two games, the Dolphins lead the NFL in yards per game (462.5) and yards per play (7.3, which is a full yard more than second place), and one of those games was against Bill Belichick. Opponents are trying to disrupt quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He has been blitzed on 30.8 percent of his dropbacks, which is the seventh-highest rate among starters, but Tagovailoa has been sacked just once. That's because his average time to throw (2.32 seconds) is the second lowest in the league. We think Mike McDaniel might know what he's doing.

FOX -- Rank:

Beating the Patriots in Foxborough used to be such a daunting task, but the Dolphins handled it fairly easily. Despite the 24-17 scoreline, it never really felt like New England was in this game. It feels meaningful that Miami went on the road in the division, played a so-so game and won without too much drama.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 6

Tua Tagovailoa is the new betting favorite for NFL MVP. That spot means very little after just two weeks, but Tagovailoa deserves it. He has played very well since the start of last season. It seems people are finally coming around to him being an elite player.

PFT -- Rank: 3

The Dolphins screwed around with an inferior team and almost had to work overtime for the win.

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Los Angeles Rams Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Los Angeles Rams in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Player: RB Cam Akers
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Akers was a healthy scratch on Sunday, a move Rams head coach Sean McVay called a "coach's decision." Akers, a 2020 second-round pick, is playing on the final year of his rookie contract and will be a free agent after the season. The question will be whether he finishes this contract with the Rams. This seems unlikely after McVay told reporters Monday that general manager Les Snead has spoken with "a handful of teams" about a trade for Akers and "that's the direction that we're headed." Kyren Williams has now emerged as the team's lead back. Akers, who had three games with at least 100 rushing yards to end the 2022 season, had 29 yards on 22 carries in Week 1. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 24

Some Rams fans nudged me about ranking this team 26th last week, and you know what? I agree with them, even after a loss. I didn't trust what I saw in Week 1's win over the Seahawks, but Sunday's showing in a loss to San Francisco confirmed a few things:
  1. Sean McVay can still coach.
  2. Matthew Stafford still has it (even taking into account the second-half picks).
  3. The Puka Nacua hype is for real.
Nacua's talent was never really in question. He was a four-star recruit who made big plays at Washington and BYU, and in the Senior Bowl. The question was his health. But if that holds up, adding him to the mix with Cooper Kupp (once he returns to the lineup) might be even better than cloning Kupp. The Rams are far from perfect, but I highly underestimated many aspects of this roster.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 23

They competed against the 49ers, which they will do against most teams this year. But they are just too undermanned this season.

USA Today -- Rank: 14

If you had RB Kyren Williams and WRs Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell forming one of the league's most productive offensive trios after two games, then you can buy me Powerball tickets.

The Athletic -- Rank: 9

This spot is a vote for Sean McVay. A Rams team that was left for dead in the preseason is second in yards per game (406) and fifth in offensive EPA per play (.12) and is being paced by fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua at wide receiver. Nacua leads the NFL with 25 catches and is second with 266 yards. He was targeted 20 times Sunday alone.

FOX -- Rank:

I think I feel better about the Rams after a 30-23 loss to San Francisco than I did after a 30-13 win against Seattle. The 49ers are as complete a team and as tough a defense as you'll find, and the Rams didn't blink. Two turnovers proved to be the difference, but this young roster should take some pride in such a strong showing against an NFC heavyweight.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 25

The Sean McVay-Cam Akers on again/off again relationship is wild. This is the second straight season Akers has been buried, with trade rumors flying. Last season, Akers reemerged to become a difference-making back down the stretch. That seems unlikely this season, but who knows.

PFT -- Rank: 23

No, a meaningless field goal to cover the spread does not make a difference for these purposes.

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Minnesota Vikings Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Minnesota Vikings in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 25

Player: QB Kirk Cousins
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Cousins will turn 36 next summer, but barring significant signs of a physical decline, he stands to be a top free agent target next spring if the Vikings don't re-sign him first. And to this point, there are no indications that he is approaching a drop-off. Through two games, Cousins is second in the NFL in passing yards (708), is tied for first with six touchdown passes and ranks No. 6 in QBR (71.6). He has committed four turnovers, including three lost fumbles, but from an overall business perspective, he has started the season well. -- Kevin Seifert

NFL.com -- Rank: 22

In two games, the Vikings have handed off 26 times, netting a total of 69 yards, with a long run of 9 yards. According to Next Gen Stats, only 30.8 percent of those runs were deemed successful. They've only attempted four runs in 30 fourth-quarter plays. One, a 3-yard loss on first-and-goal from the 1. Another, a Kirk Cousins scramble. The other two were 6- and 7-yard gains from Alexander Mattison. Maybe Mattison's early fumble against the Eagles killed off any designs on running the ball. Or perhaps the Eagles' front did that by itself. But two weeks into the season, this Vikings team is flawed offensively: too dependent on throwing to Justin Jefferson, and not good enough on the ground.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 26

At 0-2, they will be playing a survival game of sorts this week against the Chargers, who are also 0-2. The defense has run-game issues.

USA Today -- Rank: 24

QB Kirk Cousins' prime-time record may now be 11-19, but don't blame Thursday's loss on him. The Vikes were 11-0 in one-score games during the regular season last year ... but are already 0-2 in 2023. Cousins to the Jets — he's a free agent in 2024 — really makes sense if Minnesota remains on this track, which already includes a -6 turnover differential.

The Athletic -- Rank: 24

The offense is not the problem. Minnesota is averaging 6.3 yards per play, which ranks second in the league. The universe is the problem. It allows one-score game luck to go on only so long. The Vikings were 11-0 in one-score games last season. This year: 0-2. Vikings fans were very angry with the Power Rankings last week for a joke about moving wide receiver Justin Jefferson. How about a serious suggestion to make a call to New York and see how much the Jets will pay for quarterback Kirk Cousins?

FOX -- Rank:

If the Vikings were even mediocre at taking care of the ball, they might be 2-0. Instead, they've turned it over seven times in two weeks and the record reflects it. There's a lot to like about the offense, and the NFC North is wide open. No need to panic. Just hold onto the football.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 23

Last season the Vikings were an astonishing 11-0 in one-score games, which was an NFL record. This season they're 0-2. Regression is a real thing.

PFT -- Rank: 25

Last year, the coin always landed heads. This year, tails hasn't failed.

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New York Jets Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the New York Jets in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 21

Player: DE Bryce Huff
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Huff is an excellent pass-rushing specialist, but he probably will walk after the season because the Jets already have invested heavily at the position. They used first-round picks on Will McDonald IV (2023) and Jermaine Johnson (2022). Huff recorded the highest pressure percentage (25.6%) in 2022 among edge rushers with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps. Huff has drawn trade interest in the past; the question is whether the Jets would part with him before the trading deadline if they fall out of contention. -- Rich Cimini

NFL.com -- Rank: 11

Sunday's loss to the Cowboys was an indication of the clear limitations of the Jets' Aaron Rodgers-less offense when facing a top-tier defense. The offensive line was manhandled, and the run game erased. Zach Wilson ended up leading the Jets in rushing with 36 yards. Garrett Wilson broke free for their one big play of the game offensively, but the rest was frustrating to watch. Meanwhile, I was really shocked to see the Cowboys' offense milling the Jets' defense into grist for four quarters. If the Jets can't keep tough games close, winning without Rodgers will be a massive chore. The Jets came to Zach Wilson's defense after Week 2, which is nice. But will it matter if the other 52 players on the roster don't do their part on the field?

CBS Sports -- Rank: 20

Aaron Rodgers is done, and it looks like the Jets are, too, if they play like they did in getting blown out by the Cowboys. Do they add a quarterback?

USA Today -- Rank: 19

Sunday's loss at Dallas got away from them in the second half. Maybe it wouldn't have had RBs Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook gotten more than nine combined touches.

The Athletic -- Rank: 21

For the record, Robert Saleh, we do not believe that you're riding with Zach Wilson the rest of the season. He had a passer rating of 38.1 Sunday against Dallas. We also don't believe that Breece Hall had only four carries this week. Hall had 127 yards last week! Wilson was New York's leading rusher Sunday! That's a rough look.

FOX -- Rank:

Running into the wood chipper that is the Dallas defense on a short week is not exactly a fair way for Zach Wilson to begin his second stint as the Jets' starter. Fair's got nothing to do with it, sadly. The Jets have the Patriots and Chiefs up next. As talented as this defense is, things are going to get very frustrating, very quickly if the Jets offense can't manage more than 10-12 points per game.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 22

Last week you could find a lot of "The Jets are going to be good even without Aaron Rodgers!" optimism. Then Sunday happened. It's a repeat of last season, where we spend all season wondering how good the Jets could have been with average quarterback play.

PFT -- Rank: 9

It was closer than the final score suggested, but it gets no easier with a desperate Patriots team up next.

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Washington Commanders Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Washington Commanders in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 12

Player: DE Montez Sweat
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Sweat and fellow end Chase Young will be free agents after the season. But Washington has made it clear the Commanders would like to extend Sweat, playing on his fifth-year option, at some point. Any movement toward an extension, though, was slowed by the ownership change with the group having more urgent matters to focus on. Sweat has been a terrific edge run defender, but his highest sack total is nine. However, through two games this season, Sweat has two sacks and two forced fumbles. He's learning from assistant line coach Ryan Kerrigan, the franchise's all-time sack leader. "RK has been helping him to finish at the top of the rush," said defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina. "He's doing a hell of a job doing it." -- John Keim

NFL.com -- Rank: 19

The Commanders are 2-0 for the first time in a dozen years. Coming back from down 18 on the road and going on a 32-6 scoring run are pretty positive signs; Sunday's win over Denver was far more impressive than the smaller comeback against the lesser Cardinals at home in Week 1. Washington has played better in the second halves of games than in the first. That pattern might work against Arizona and Denver, but will it stand up against the Bills in Week 3? What gives the Commanders a chance is the play of Sam Howell. Kid has some guts, doesn't he? After some empty series early, he was battered around, but Howell was dialed in down the stretch, confidently leading five scoring drives in the final 32 minutes.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 8

They are 2-0 after rallying to beat the Broncos. Sam Howell came up big to bring his team back, which is a good sign.

USA Today -- Rank: 23

Sam Howell is the first Washington quarterback to win his first three career starts in the Super Bowl era. That's included a pair of fourth-quarter comebacks in this season's 2-0 debut. Still, concerns remain about what's going on before the fourth quarter and the level of opposition those struggles are occurring against.

The Athletic -- Rank: 12

Maybe it's smoke. Maybe it's mirrors. Maybe it's playing Arizona and Denver. But it's not offense that has Washington undefeated. Running back Brian Robinson had 87 grueling yards and two touchdowns Sunday, so maybe it's a little bit of him.

FOX -- Rank: 17

This pass rush is going to keep the Commanders in a lot of games. If Sam Howell can step up and be an active part of the offense, as he was in Denver, then the ceiling for this team becomes appreciably higher. There's a huge opportunity to show exactly how legit they are on deck, as the Bills come to town for Week 3.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 17

Sam Howell has a long way to go as a quarterback. For starters, he holds the ball way too long. But he also has an innate playmaking ability. He brought the Commanders back from a 21-3 deficit with 299 yards passing. This 2-0 start hasn't been pretty for the Commanders but there are some positive signs.

PFT -- Rank: 15

Eric Bieniemy's star is rising.

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Seattle Seahawks Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Seattle Seahawks in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 14

Player: ILB Jordyn Brooks
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

The Seahawks declined to pick up Brooks' fifth-year option in May, making this a contract year for the 2020 first-round pick. Exercising the option would have meant a fully guaranteed $12.7 million salary for 2024 and established that as the per-year baseline in negotiations on a long-term deal. The Seahawks didn't want to do that with Brooks coming off a torn ACL in his right knee. He has made a quick recovery from that injury and is back to tackling, ranking seventh in the NFL through two weeks with 23. A big payday awaits -- likely from Seattle -- if he keeps that up. -- Brady Henderson

NFL.com -- Rank: 15

Not only did the Seahawks avoid an 0-2 start, but they also turned in a pretty impressive game on the road against a Lions team coming off its biggest win in forever. This was a giant victory for Seattle. I was prepared to write that critical penalties were the Seahawks' undoing had they lost, but Geno Smith -- outside of that wild sack he took -- and the defense both came up big when they had to. They deserve kudos for defeating that offense without Riq Woolen. Devon Witherspoon had a few big plays (and a few tough moments) in his NFL debut. Tre Brown came out of nowhere to log a career day. Week 1 isn't forgotten, but it's forgiven.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 15

They impressed in winning at Detroit against the Lions in overtime. Geno Smith responded with a good day after a tough opener, which is a good sign.

USA Today -- Rank: 16

Keep an eye on an O-line missing its starting tackles. Seattle did a good job protecting QB Geno Smith in Sunday's overtime win at Detroit but struggled to run the ball (3.3 yards per carry).

The Athletic -- Rank: 16

Welcome back, Tyler Lockett. One week after Lockett had two catches for 10 yards in a loss, the veteran wide receiver had eight catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns (including the game-winner) in a victory. In other news, Seattle had 393 yards of offense a week after opening the season with 180, and that was with both starting tackles out.

FOX -- Rank: 8

Starting right here, I have no idea what to do with the league's middle class. I don't feel great about jumping Seattle so high after their Week 1 loss, but it was awfully impressive to score 37 points without their starting offensive tackles in Detroit. The Week 2 version of this team looked like the group I thought was a contender.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 13

There were real reasons for concern after how bad the Seahawks looked in Week 1. Sunday's win was a great rebound, particularly for Geno Smith. If you told the Seahawks before the season they'd be 1-1, they probably would have figured on a season-opening win against the Rams and a loss at the Lions, but either way it's not a terrible start.

PFT -- Rank: 10

They made an impressive recovery from a horrible Week 1 outing.

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Los Angeles Chargers Week 3 NFL Power Rankings

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Los Angeles Chargers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 17

Player: RB Austin Ekeler
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

In an offseason laden with running back contract drama, Ekeler was briefly at the center of it all. He requested a trade in March after the two sides couldn't agree to a multiyear contract extension. In May, Ekeler eventually agreed to a revised contract that added $1.75 million in incentives. In the Chargers' opening game of 2023, he led the backfield with 117 yards and a touchdown. With Ekeler out in Week 2 with an ankle injury, the running game stalled, as Chargers rushers totaled just 61 yards on the ground. -- Kris Rhim

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

If you've watched either of the Chargers' two losses, you might have noticed they really haven't been a function of poor effort. It's a matter of straight-up execution mistakes. Time and time again. Almost always at the worst possible moments. And while the offense isn't completely off the hook (too many sacks and settling for short field goals), it's really the defense that has been the bigger problem. At least the pass rush woke up (five sacks at Tennessee), but that doesn't make up for the fact that the Bolts have been bombarded by deep passes. It's a maddening storyline that won't evaporate until the defense proves it can stop someone.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 22

This team is 0-2, and the heat is certainly on as they ready to play the Vikings on the road. The defense has been bad.

USA Today -- Rank: 21

HC Brandon Staley claims "the men in that locker room are finishers," yet the Bolts have lost four straight — going back to 2022 — by a total of nine points, including (yes, Coach Staley) last season's wild-card implosion. They are the first team in the Super Bowl era to score at least 50 points while committing zero turnovers yet start 0-2.

The Athletic -- Rank: 25

Another "offense is not the problem" team. Quarterback Justin Herbert is third among quarterbacks in offensive EPA per play (.23) and his yards per attempt are up from last season (7.2 compared with 6.8). Herbert is going to be a selling point when Los Angeles goes out looking for another head coach in the offseason (or sooner?).

FOX -- Rank:

Someone make sense of this silly team for me. Justin Herbert isn't the problem; he's completing 68% of his passes for an average of 267 yards per game. The run game churned out 234 yards last week. The Chargers have yet to turn the ball over. They've had the lead in the fourth quarter two weeks in a row. They just can't finish. It's frustrating to watch as an outsider. I can't imagine how it feels for head coach Brandon Staley, his staff and his locker room.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 21

The defensive issues the Chargers have are troubling. Brandon Staley was supposed to be a defensive guru. That's how he was billed when he came over from the Rams. His defense struggling like it has is not a good look, to say the least.

PFT -- Rank: 22

Coach Brandon Staley got a little salty with reporters after the latest loss. His team and the rest of us need to see that version of him a little more often, if he hopes to make it to 2024.

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Kansas City Chiefs Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Kansas City Chiefs in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 5

Player: DT Chris Jones
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Jones could be in his final season with the Chiefs. After holding out of training camp looking for a raise, Jones received incentives in a new contract that would allow him to earn more than the $19.5 million he was scheduled to make this season under his old contract, sources told ESPN. The sides were never close to an agreement on a long-term extension. Unless Jones is willing to accept less from the Chiefs to remain in Kansas City next year, it's difficult to picture them coming to an agreement. The franchise tag is a possibility but would probably be too pricey for the Chiefs. -- Adam Teicher

NFL.com -- Rank: 2

I heard some chirping about my decision to drop the Chiefs only one spot in these rankings after they lost in Week 1. My defense of that move started and ended with Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. They were back on the field in Week 2, and they each made their imprint on the gutsy win at Jacksonville. Kelce scored on what looked like a blowing-off-steam drive, and Jones had multiple huge plays: a fourth-down sack, another half sack and a batted pass, in addition to multiple pressures against the Jaguars' Anton Harrison. Having those two playing allowed Patrick Mahomes to have a merely mortal game, and the Chiefs secured a big win. They aren't going anywhere for now.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 4

The offense didn't do a lot in beating the Jaguars, but the defense came up big, especially in the red zone. We need not worry about Patrick Mahomes and gang. They will be fine.

USA Today -- Rank: 4

The reigning champs retain top billing amid AFC teams that have generally sputtered out of the gate. But 1-1 looks pretty good with TE Travis Kelce and DT Chris Jones back and performing well and MVP QB Patrick Mahomes financially secured (again). However continue monitoring the new tackle tandem after RT Jawaan Taylor was flagged five times Sunday and briefly benched.

The Athletic -- Rank: 6

Travis Kelce is back, and the Chiefs almost are. Kansas City almost hit 400 yards on Sunday (399) and is ninth in the league in yards per game (357.5) through two weeks. A good, if subtle, sign for Kansas City is Kadarius Toney had five catches, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson had three apiece and Rashee Rice had two Sunday. Patrick Mahomes is bringing them along slowly, but he's bringing them along.

FOX -- Rank:

You can tell the Chiefs are victims of their own expectations, because people don't find a 17-9 win in Jacksonville to be particularly impressive. Travis Kelce and Chris Jones both showed up in their first game back, and Kansas City held the Jaguars without a touchdown. This was an impressive, if not attractive, win.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 4

The Chiefs' defense hasn't gotten a ton of attention yet, but it will if it continues to play well. Kansas City has allowed 23 points, if we remove a pick 6 the Lions got in Week 1, through two games. And it's not like Detroit and Jacksonville are bad offenses. If the Chiefs are good on defense this season, that's a big development. We know the offense will eventually come around.

PFT -- Rank: 5

The offense still needs to get back on track.

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Jacksonville Jaguars Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Jacksonville Jaguars in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 9

Player: LB Josh Allen
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Allen, in the final year of his rookie contract, is not the elite pass-rusher the Jaguars hoped he'd become when they took him No. 7 overall in the 2019 draft. However, he's a solid rusher who averages seven sacks per season and is very good against the run. That might not be good enough for the Jaguars to sign him to an extension or use the franchise tag on him, especially if the team uses the franchise tag on receiver Calvin Ridley, but there's no question he'd be a highly sought-after free agent in March. -- Michael DiRocco

NFL.com -- Rank: 9

It's surprising that a team with Trevor Lawrence, Calvin Ridley, Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Zay Jones can go 3-for-12 on third downs in back-to-back games. It might be reasonably excused against what looks like a pretty good Chiefs defense. But when you plop an 0-for-3 red-zone performance on top of it, well, you just can't have that. It's easy to look at the new play-caller, but I don't think Press Taylor is a fair scapegoat, even if the only memorable conversion was Lawrence ad-libbing on his TD pass to Ridley against the Colts in Week 1. The offensive line needs to pick it up these next two games without the suspended Cam Robinson.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 10

The defense played well against the Chiefs, but the offense wasn't good. The offensive line is a problem right now, which is why the red-zone offense was bad.

USA Today -- Rank: 10

They'll get right against Houston in Week 3, right? Well, the "lowly" Texans have beaten Jacksonville five times in a row and eight of the past nine on the road.

The Athletic -- Rank: 15

The offensive resurgence missed Duval County. The Jags' 4.2 yards per play in Week 2 ranked 31st in the league. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence's EPA per attempt through two weeks is minus-.10. That ranks 26th in the league, worse than Joshua Dobbs, Justin Fields and Anthony Richardson, among others. Since having seven catches in the first half of Week 1, Calvin Ridley has had three catches.

FOX -- Rank:

If the end zone were 11 yards instead of 10, the Jags would've scored at least 24 on the Chiefs. Unfortunately, I re-checked the rule book and ‘almost' still doesn't count. There's no shame at all in losing to Kansas City, but Jacksonville's got to be more efficient in the red zone. The offense in general hasn't looked as explosive as we might've thought.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 11

It was tough to see Trevor Lawrence miss as many throws as he did on Sunday. He has come a long way, but those bad games are still not completely out of his system yet.

PFT -- Rank: 8

Holding the Chiefs to 17 points should be good enough to beat them.

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Houston Texans Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Houston Texans in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 31

Player: CB Steven Nelson
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

The Texans gave Nelson a small raise in August but no long-term extension. Through two games, he has an interception and another pass breakup. If he maintains this level of play for the rest of the season, will the Texans extend him before the end of the season or let him test free agency? Allowing him to test free agency could leave the Texans with a void or questions at cornerback going into 2024. -- DJ Bien-Aime

NFL.com -- Rank: 31

There's only so much silver lining a franchise can inlay after an 0-2 start, which was preceded by 11 victories over the previous three seasons. But it's hard not to give Houston credit for fighting back against the Colts with a group that entered the game missing both starting safeties, both starting tackles and two interior O-linemen (and replacement safety Eric Murray was hurt on Sunday). Probably the brightest part of the 31-20 loss was rookie QB C.J. Stroud, who gutted through a right shoulder injury throughout. He overcame an early fumble to throw for 384 yards and two TDs despite taking six sacks and at least nine hits. But can the Texans protect him? That's what has to keep DeMeco Ryans up at night.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 31

This is going to be a long year for a team that has a lot of young players. It's going to take time.

USA Today -- Rank: 32

How best to support a rookie quarterback? Play him behind an offensive line stocked with backups and give him a running game averaging 2.5 ypc ... which ties back to that blocking.

The Athletic -- Rank: 31

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is averaging 323.5 yards per game, fourth among all quarterbacks. Combined with a good young defense, that's enough to give Texans fans some hope even if it hasn't been enough to give Houston any wins yet.

FOX -- Rank:

Houston opened at home against a team that's also rebuilding, and they looked completely out of their depth. Yes, C.J. Stroud played an impressive game, finishing with 384 yards, but Houston spent most of the day trailing by three scores. The Texans haven't truly felt like they were in either of their two losses so far.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 30

Nico Collins might be having a much-anticipated breakout. He has 226 yards through two games. He has never broken 500 yards in a season before. Collins has good chemistry with C.J. Stroud, and his emergence is a positive for the Texans.

PFT -- Rank: 31

C.J. Stroud has shown promise. But at some point they need to win a game.

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