The NFL Blog: 2012 Power Rankings (After Week 3)

Power Rankings After Week 3

1. Houston 3-0 (1^st)

2. Baltimore 2-1 (3^rd)

3. San Francisco 2-1 (2^nd)

4. New York Giants 2-1 (8^th)

5. New England 1-2 (5^th)

6. Green Bay 1-2 (4^th)

7. Atlanta 3-0 (9^th)

8. Philadelphia 2-1 (6^th)

9. Pittsburgh 1-2 (7^th)

10. Arizona 3-0 (15^th)

11. Denver 1-2 (11^th)

12. Chicago 2-1 (13^th)

13. Dallas 2-1 (14^th)

14. Seattle 2-1 (16^th)

15. San Diego 2-1 (10^th)

16. Detroit 1-2 (12^th)

17. Cincinnati 2-1 (23^rd)

18. Tampa Bay 1-2 (21^st)

19. Washington 1-2 (18^th)

20. Carolina 1-2 (17^th)

21. New York Jets 2-1 (20^th)

22. Buffalo 2-1 (22^nd)

23. New Orleans 0-3 (19^th)

24. Minnesota 2-1 (26^th)

25. Miami 1-2 (27^th)

26. Kansas City 1-2 (30^th)

27. Oakland 1-2 (31^st)

28. Jacksonville 1-2 (29^th)

29. Tennessee 1-2 (32^nd)

30. St. Louis 1-2 (25^th)

31. Indianapolis 1-2 (28^th)

32. Cleveland 0-3 (24^th)

Comments: Week 3 was a stunning, chaotic, and extremely entertaining week in the National Football League. It led to more chaos in my power rankings. 

28 of 32 spots experienced change this week, with 15 teams moving up at least 1 spot and 13 teams going down at least 1 spot. Of the 15 teams going up, 11 moved up more than 1 position. Of the 13 teams going the wrong way, 10 fell more than 1 place. 

The Houston Texans were one of the few teams to stay in place, as they held the #1 spot for a second consecutive week. At the other end of the rankings, the Titans escaped the bottom slot after just one week, climbing 3 spots to #29 following their wild victory over the Lions. 

The Cincinnati Bengals defeated Washington on the road this weekend and they made the biggest move up my rankings, rising 6 places from #23 to #17. The Browns took by far the biggest tumble in the rankings following their loss to Buffalo at home by 10. Cleveland fell 8 spots from #24 to take over the #32 position at the bottom of the rankings. 

After only 3 weeks we are down to just 3 undefeated teams. The Texans are obviously my highest rated 3-0 team at #1. Surprising Arizona is my lowest ranked 3-0 team at #10. Few would have predicted Arizona to be undefeated 3 weeks into the year. 

Perhaps even fewer would have predicted the Saints to be one of only two winless teams remaining after 3 weeks. The Browns are obviously my lowest ranked 0-3 team at #32, which makes New Orleans my highest ranked 0-3 team at #23. 

The Patriots are my highest ranked team with a losing record at #5, while the Vikings are my lowest ranked team with a winning record at #24.