NFL Week 1 Power Rankings

Five Quick Hits

* I was not pleased when Cris Collinsworth was announced as the replacement for John Madden, but he was terrific in Week 1. Terrific isn't even strong enough — he was magnificent. Keep up the good work, Cris.

* Dan Marino totally called Minnesota's quarterback "Breast" on the CBS Pregame Show. Does someone have the audio of this? I swear it's true.

* I wish the U.S. Open finals had not been scheduled the same weekend as the opening of the regular season. Wouldn't it have made sense to scoot things up by a week? Anyway, congratulations to Kim Clijsters and Juan Martin del Potro. Also, this is the most level-headed take I have read on the Serena Williams fiasco. It includes brief, mild potty language.

* One more reason for 99% of the country to hate Joe Buck: calling New York "the greatest city in the world." Or maybe he meant East Rutherford? Either way, that's not really cool on a national broadcast.

* Tom Brady and Joe Namath obviously have very different feelings about Suzy Kolber. Brady literally ran away from her on Monday night.

***

What a Monday night to open the regular season. A pair of huge underdogs showed grit and heart and had the favorites on the ropes before losing at the last minute. The Bills played well and had a chance to win, but the Raiders deserved to win, dominating San Diego everywhere except the scoreboard through three quarters. The impact of the Richard Seymour trade was apparent in both of these games. New England's defense appeared to miss him and did not play well up front, while Seymour was probably the Raiders' most valuable player in Week 1. He was a huge disruptive force against San Diego's offensive line, particularly Pro Bowler Kris Dielman.

The first game brought back memories of the 2003 season opener. New England was coming off a good season in which it had missed the playoffs, and had recently parted with a veteran leader on the defense (safety Lawyer Milloy). Buffalo won that game 31-0. The Patriots finished the season 14-2, capped by a 31-0 victory over the Bills in Week 17, and won the Super Bowl.

The nightcap was almost a mirror image of the earlier contest, with the underdog Raiders controlling the first half and taking the lead with about five minutes left in the game. Of course, the Chargers, like New England, came back to win. Both were exciting finishes, but disappointing if you root for the underdog. It's been a great first week of games, and let's wade into the power rankings. Brackets show last week's rank.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers [1] — Opened the season with a big win against a good opponent. But Troy Polamalu will miss at least three games with a sprained MCL, and the Steelers have to be concerned about their running game. Even in last year's Super Bowl campaign, Pittsburgh ranked 23rd in rushing yards and 29th in average per carry. On Thursday night, they had 23 carries for 36 yards, and only one of their 19 first downs came on the ground. This team relies on a ball-control offense, and the rushing attack needs to improve.

2. New York Giants [4] — The defense still looks good, but I wonder if they'll be able to score enough to match points against better offenses than Washington's. The line played well, Eli Manning was okay, the running game was fine, and a couple of the young receivers showed promise. But if this team is serious about contending for the Super Bowl, it needs more than a great defense and an offense that is okay.

3. New England Patriots [3] — The offense came together in the second half, with Tom Brady completing passes and looking comfortable. But the defense did not play well against Buffalo. This team lost a lot of veteran leadership in the offseason, and Seymour's departure on the eve of the regular season seems to have left a void no one is ready to fill just yet. The running game was not impressive, and for now it looks like this team will live and die with Brady and his receivers.

4. Dallas Cowboys [7] — Ran away with things in the third and fourth quarters, securing an easy victory after a tough first half. In his first game without Terrell Owens, Tony Romo threw touchdown passes to three different receivers, set a career-high for passing yards, and led the NFL in passer rating. Dallas has a huge matchup against the Giants next Sunday night to open their new stadium. I give the edge to New York, because the Cowboys' run defense looked vulnerable against Tampa.

5. Atlanta Falcons [9] — Won't be able to lean on Michael Turner the way they did last year. Fortunately, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez look ready to step up and fill the void. But where is Jerious Norwood? Atlanta overworked Turner last season, and splitting carries 22-2 when you have someone with Norwood's talent doesn't make sense. Special teams are a concern after Jason Elam missed two short field goals and an extra point. Punter Michael Koenen also had an unusually poor game.

6. Tennessee Titans [6] — Nothing to be ashamed of after taking the defending champs to overtime in a hostile road environment. The defense looked great, and Chris Johnson appears just as explosive as he was in 2008. But why on earth was Cortland Finnegan returning punts? He's too valuable as a cornerback, and not nearly good enough as a return man, to risk in that kind of role on special teams. Finnegan had four returns for 14 yards (3.5 avg), plus a muff and another that he let bounce to the two-yard-line.

7. Indianapolis Colts [5] — Coaches may change, all-pro receivers may retire, but one thing stays the same: Peyton Manning's insane third-down conversion rate. Last year, Indianapolis led the NFL with a sensational 50% conversion rate on third downs. In Week 1, the Colts were at 57% (8/14). Injuries are already a concern, though, as the run defense looked poor without Bob Sanders, and the team can ill-afford the loss of wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

8. Baltimore Ravens [8] — Repeatedly blew chances to put the Chiefs away. The game was close until the last minute, despite that Baltimore dominated time of possession by a 2:1 ratio and made more first downs than any other team in Week 1. Baltimore's special teams played very poorly — which must have infuriated former special teams coach John Harbaugh — and the team committed too many penalties (8 for 65 yards). Joe Flacco looked good, but I don't think they want him throwing 43 times a game.

9. New Orleans Saints [14] — Is it too early to start the Drew Brees for MVP campaign? I know it was against the Lions, but 358 yards and 6 TDs are impressive if you're playing Duke. I'm starting to think Brees is this decade's Dan Fouts. The Saints look to have an improved defense this year, too. On Sunday, they held Detroit to 231 yards and 21% third-down efficiency, with three interceptions. Big game next week in Philadelphia, and an important test for a team that went 2-6 on the road last season.

10. Philadelphia Eagles [11] — Scored 28 in the second quarter and destroyed Carolina, but Donovan McNabb fractured a rib and is likely to miss at least one game. I know everyone just wants to talk about Michael Vick, but the Jeff Garcia signing is an excellent move for Philadelphia. Garcia led this team to the playoffs when McNabb got hurt in 2006, and I have to believe the team has more confidence in him than in Kevin Kolb or Vick. They should probably be ranked higher than this after such an impressive first game, but I'm waiting to see how the quarterback thing plays out.

11. San Diego Chargers [2] — Don't blame Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson. Blame the lines. San Diego's offensive line, which in 2006 and 2007 was among the best in the NFL, got dominated on Monday night. Dielman, whom I named to my 2008 all-pro team, was awful. Jeromey Clary got schooled repeatedly by Greg Ellis. And starting center Nick Hardwick left the game with what looked like a serious injury. The defensive front was almost as bad, especially in the first half. NT Jamal Williams was okay, but the Raiders just dictated to everyone else in the front seven.

12. Green Bay Packers [13] — Sunday night's game was, against all expectations, a tale of two defenses. Aaron Rodgers was okay, but without better pass protection, he's going to have a disappointing season. The player to watch here is DL Cullen Jenkins. He was a hugely disruptive force against Chicago, and looks like a serious impact player. Dom Capers' new defense bears a decided resemblance to Dick LeBeau's schemes in Pittsburgh. The Packers won't grab four interceptions every week, but I think they're going to cause headaches for opposing offenses.

13. Minnesota Vikings [15] — How is it that after an incredibly blah game, with 110 yards and 5.2 yds/att, the quarterback is getting as much attention as the running back who just demonstrated, pretty authoritatively, that he is the best running back in the league? Does anyone really believe that Minnesota would have lost to the punchless Browns with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels or Gus Frerotte under center? Not a chance. Forget the QB: Adrian Peterson is the only player in NFL history to rush for at least 180 yards and 3 TDs in a season opener.

14. New York Jets [18] — Week 1 statistics aren't particularly meaningful, and drawing significant conclusions from them is like saying that Drew Brees is on pace for 96 TDs. Having made that disclaimer, the Jets currently rank second in yards allowed and fourth in yards gained. If you're looking for a complaint, the Jets committed 10 penalties for 80 yards. They have a very intriguing matchup against New England in Week 2. Will Bill Belichick rattle rookie QB Mark Sanchez, or will his defense look like it did against Buffalo? This could be a statement game in the AFC East.

15. Houston Texans [10] — Probably weren't the worst-looking team in Week 1, but they were close. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that nothing went well against in the opener, and that everyone was disappointing. Mario Williams led the team in tackles, and that speaks well for him, but a defensive end really shouldn't be your leading tackler. The rest of the team needs to step up.

16. Seattle Seahawks [21] — Easy win at home against an overmatched opponent. Now they go on the road to face San Francisco, with first place in the NFC West on the line. A road victory would make Seattle 2-0 in the division and give them the (very) early inside track for a division title. Second-year tight end John Carlson picked up where he left off last season, hauling in 6 catches for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns.

17. Arizona Cardinals [12] — League-high 12 penalties this weekend, and they seem to miss offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the new head coach for Kansas City. Of course, with four wide receivers on the injury report in Week 1, maybe they just need to get healthy. The defense actually did what it set out to against San Francisco: shut down Frank Gore. They held The Inconvenient Truth to 30 yards on 22 carries, an abysmal 1.4 yds/att, and forced the 49ers to beat them with Shaun Hill's arm. Unfortunately for Arizona, their own offense performed below expectations, and that's exactly what Hill did.

18. Chicago Bears [17] — Best line of the week, from Bob Costas, with the Bears doing nothing on offense and the Packers up 10-2 at halftime: "Chicago trails by four safeties." The defense played well, but Brian Urlacher will miss the rest of the season after undergoing wrist surgery yesterday. As for the offense, well, I don't know the answer to this question, but I think it's legitimate to ask: would the Bears have won with Kyle Orton at QB? It certainly seems plausible.

19. Carolina Panthers [16] — Jake Delhomme is the obvious scapegoat, and he certainly had a terrible game. But Matt Moore and Mike Goodson also had turnovers, and the Panthers averaged 2.9 yards per rush, while the Eagles averaged 5.8. Delhomme is prone to games like this — he has a couple every season — but it's worrisome given his performance in the playoffs last year. If he plays anywhere near that poorly against Atlanta in Week 2, the team has to make a change.

20. San Francisco 49ers [23] — I hate having to mention this after a big division winner in the season opener, but it now appears that first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree is going to sit out the season and re-enter the draft in 2009. That's a terrible career move for him, but it also hurts the Niners, who thought they had gotten a great player with the 10th pick in April's draft. San Francisco played well in all phases against Arizona, and Justin Smith was a monster at the end of the game.

21. Miami Dolphins [19] — After eager speculation about Pat White running the wildcat offense, he had one incomplete pass and one rush for no gain. The Dolphins lost this weekend because of turnovers, including two by tight end Anthony Fasano. Losing by 12 is actually pretty respectable when you're -4 in turnovers, and I expect Miami to be much more competitive against the Colts in Week 2. Watch for the upset.

22. Washington Redskins [20] — If I've said it once, I've said it 1,000 times: you're not going to win a game when your most valuable player is the punter. Actually, I've never said that before, and I don't even believe it's true, but Washington got about as much offense out of Hunter Smith as it did from Jason Campbell on Sunday. This looks like the same team as last year: a good defense with an equally bad offense.

23. Buffalo Bills [22] — Impressive in defeat. Fred Jackson played very well and Trent Edwards did a nice job with the no-huddle offense, but the real stars — at least until the last five minutes — were the offensive and defensive lines. If Buffalo can maintain the intensity it showed against New England, and cut down on the offensive penalties, this team could be very competitive in 2009.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars [25] — Maurice-Jones Drew and the run defense played well. No one else did. I think David Garrard can be a good starting quarterback, but until he gets some help, he's not going to be effective. Also, it might be a good idea to cover the other team's best receiver.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [26] — Showed some good things despite a lopsided defeat. Cadillac Williams looked fantastic, though you always worry about his health. Byron Leftwich showed a lot of toughness, and I think he's capable of running this offense. Kellen Winslow, Jr. looks ready contribute for his new team, Michael Clayton made several impressive catches, and Ronde Barber didn't show his age. Nonetheless, there's a long way to go, especially on defense.

26. Oakland Raiders [30] — Great performance in the trenches, especially on the defensive line. Running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush also played well, but JaMarcus Russell, who completed only 12 of his 30 pass attempts, does not look up to the job. I am convinced that punter Shane Lechler is more concerned about his gross average than he is about helping the team. This guy would rather boot a 43-yard touchback than a 33-yarder out of bounds or fair caught. Also, if the Raiders keep their schemes as basic as they were in Week 1, I think future opponents will take advantage of that.

27. Kansas City Chiefs [32] — Even without QB Matt Cassel, they were competitive with Baltimore, getting solid play from Brodie Croyle and several highlights from their special teams, including a 53-yard field goal by this year's Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop. The biggest problem seems to be defense, where a group of young players has yet to come together. The Ravens gained over 500 yards and 30 first downs.

28. Denver Broncos [27] — Brandon Stokley has got to be one of the smartest receivers in the game. He was in the right place at the right time, and some of that is coincidence, but how about the wherewithal to take another six seconds off the clock by running down the goal line before his touchdown? And remember last season, when he ran into the end zone to stop Brandon Marshall from earning a 15-yard celebration penalty? That's a guy you want on your team.

29. Cleveland Browns [24] — Last year, they couldn't score. One game against a good defense may not be a fair test, but right now, it looks they still can't. The bright spot is probably Josh Cribbs, who looks like he's still the best returner in the league.

30. Cincinnati Bengals [29] — They are cursed, for they are the Bengals. Yes, they lost on a fluke play, but there's not much room to complain when you don't score for three quarters. It was a less-than-triumphant return for Carson Palmer, who finished with two interceptions, three sacks, and a 61.0 passer rating. At least the defense seems to be improved.

31. Detroit Lions [28] — Well, their defense is still terrible. The offense might be good if there was a better line and a top-notch possession receiver. Kevin Jones rushed 15 times for only 20 yards, and Calvin Johnson is more of a big-play guy than a chain-mover. He needs a Wes Welker to his Randy Moss.

32. St. Louis Rams [31] — They were historically bad last season, and it's not apparent that anything has changed. The weird thing is that there are some good players here. Steven Jackson managed 67 yards on 16 carries, while O.J. Atogwe had 8 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and an interception. Atogwe, by the way, looks in his NFL.com picture like he just stuck his finger in an electric outlet.