USA Today Power Rankings – Page 2

Washington falls in USA TODAY power rankings despite the week off

Washington drops two more spots in the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings despite not playing in Week 9.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

You know you’re having a tough season when you lose on your week off. That’s precisely the case for the Washington Football Team, who fell two spots in the latest USA TODAY Sports NFL power rankings despite a bye week in Week 9.

Washington, which lost to the Denver Broncos in Week 8 to drop to 2-6 on the season, was ranked No. 26 last week. In this week’s power rankings, Washington drops two spots to No. 28.

Here’s what Nate Davis had to say about Washington:

28. Washington (26): A loss to the Bucs on Sunday will drop the WFT to 2-7 – exactly where they were a year ago before sprinting to the NFC East crown. Just sayin’ … history.

This season doesn’t feel anything like last season. However, last season no one expected Washington to go on a run. For as much as the offense has struggled in the red zone in 2021, it is much better than the 2020 version. And, Washington’s offense should improve, even slightly, with the returns of several key starters in the coming weeks.

Is it enough to go on a run? Perhaps, but this season’s team isn’t winning the NFC East.

Washington moves up one spot in latest USA TODAY power rankings despite loss

Washington moved up one spot in the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings despite a three-game losing streak.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The Washington Football Team dropped its third consecutive game on Sunday with a 24-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Washington was competitive in the first half, as the game was tied until the final seconds of the first half when Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard four a touchdown to give the Packers a 14-7 lead.

Washington had several opportunities in the third quarter, failing in multiple trips to the red zone, and Rodgers didn’t have to do too much in the second half because of the numerous offensive miscues by the WFT.

The loss dropped Washington to 2-5 on the season with a trip to Denver in Week 8.

So, how did another loss impact Washington in the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings?

Washington actually moved up one spot, to No. 24, despite Sunday’s loss.

Here’s what Nate Davis said about the WFT:

24. Washington (25): Since the start of the 2020 season, they have five wins against NFC East teams and four against everybody else. Bummer WFT won’t play another divisional game until Week 14.

Washington has a chance to break its losing streak in Week 8 against the Broncos, losers of four in a row. Washington has a bye in Week 9 before hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10.

Dolphins fall again in USA TODAY’s power rankings after Week 7

Miami falls one spot after the last-second loss to Atlanta.

Six straight losses will put Miami down with some of the worst teams in the NFL, and it’s not as if they’ve played top talent each and every week.

In their past two games, the Dolphins have lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons on last-second field goals. Both of those were considered winnable contests.

Now, in USA TODAY’s Week 8 power rankings written by Nick Wojton, Brian Flores’ team has fallen to 28th in the league. Last week, they were ranked 27th. This puts them above only the Detroit Lions (0-7), Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5), New York Jets (1-5), and Houston Texans (1-6).

Here’s what Wojton wrote about Miami:

“Inconsistent play has continued for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa… but his team simply cannot find a win, with or without him. The Falcons drove late to win vs. Miami in the final seconds with a field goal.”

Things don’t appear to be getting any better for the Dolphins, as they’ll be heading to Buffalo to take on the Bills who beat them 35-0 in their Week 2 matchup.

[vertical-gallery id=440830]

Washington rises in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings

The Washington Football Team moves up three spots in the latest USA TODAY Sports NFL power rankings.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster season for the Washington Football Team. At 2-2, Washington’s record is what many expected through four games. How Washington has arrived at its record through four games is the surprising part.

Washington’s offense is averaging over 25 points per game, while its defense is one of the worst in the NFL. Yes, you read that correctly.

Washington picked up its second win of the season on Sunday by defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 34-30, due to more late-game heroics by quarterback Taylor Heinicke.

So, it’s no surprise that Washington moves up in the latest installment of the USA TODAY NFL power rankings. Washington, which was No. 23 last week, moves up three spots to No. 20 this week.

Here’s what Nate Davis said about Washington:

20. Washington (23): DE Chase Young has zero sacks and his vaunted D-line mates have a total of six. An offensively challenged team needs far more support.

Davis is right about the defense. Washington’s offense needs far more support from the defense. We are still waiting for that first breakthrough performance from the defense.

However, we’ll disagree about the offense being “offensively challenged.” No, Washington isn’t Dallas on offense, but this group has some standout players such as Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, Antonio Gibson and Curtis Samuel. Heinicke under center is getting the most out of this group, and Washington was the only team who remotely challenged Buffalo’s defense.

And Washington’s offensive line is legit good.

The Washington Football Team returns home this week to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 5 action. USA TODAY has the Saints at No. 13 in this week’s power rankings.

Eagles NFL power rankings roundup: Week 3

Eagles NFL power rankings roundup: Philadelphia drops slightly in Week 3

The Eagles are 1-1 after suffering a 17-11 setback to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the NFL regular season.

After dropping the home opener, the Birds will travel to Dallas to face the hated Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

With Week 2 in the books, here’s a roundup of power rankings for Week 3.

USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings: Jets gain ground despite blowout loss

The New York Jets are ranked 31st in USA Today’s latest NFL Power Rankings.

Despite getting blown out on the road in another uncompetitive game, the Jets gained a spot on the Giants.

USA TODAY released its NFL Power Rankings following the third week of games and the results for New York aren’t anything to write home about. It has the Jets ranked 31st — only the Giants are worse — after dropping a 36-7 contest to the Colts in Week 3.

The Jets had a better offensive gameplan, but the unit couldn’t overcome the play of Sam Darnold, who had another nightmarish outing. Darnold threw three backbreaking interceptions, including two pick-sixes and another in the end zone. On the other side of the ball, the Jets defense couldn’t pressure Philip Rivers, nor could they get off the field on third down. It was more of the same for both units in a horrific loss.

The Jets have now been outscored 94-37 through three games in the 2020 season. They’ve been largely uncompetitive and are the only team in the league to not hold a lead this season. New York now ranks 32nd in total yards, scoring, passing, first downs and red zone offense. That’s an indictment on the head coach, who is already on thin ice, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Now the Jets are vying for a win against the Broncos on a short week. The good news is they’ll likely get some reinforcements back, but all signs point to Adam Gase’s job being on the line Thursday.

USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings: Jets in dead last following Week 2 blowout

The New York Jets are ranked 32nd in USA Today’s latest NFL Power Rankings.

The Jets are in a league of their own at the bottom of the NFL’s totem pole.

USA TODAY released its NFL Power Rankings following the second week of games and the results for New York aren’t pretty. It has the Jets ranked 32nd — dead last — after dropping a 31-13 laugher to the 49ers in Week 2. Only the Giants were ranked worse after Week 1, but Gang Green’s no-show against a shorthanded San Francisco team helped Big Blue move up a spot despite also being 0-2.

Here’s USA TODAY’s explanation for the Jets’ ranking:

Despite facing San Francisco’s JV squad much of Sunday, New York showed scant fight in performance that should leave NYJ fans disheartened.

Excluding the play of OT Mekhi Becton, DL Quinenn Williams and New York’s special team’s unit, there weren’t many positives to take out of Sunday’s loss. Between a conservative gameplan and a defense that couldn’t stop the run or get off the field on third down, the game was over before halftime.

In the first two games of the season, the Jets have not looked up to par. Being outscored 58-30 across two weeks speaks to that. New York ranks 32nd in total offense, 31st in the running game, 30th in the passing game and 31st in scoring.

Adam Gase mentioned his struggling team needs to go into “hyperdrive” to improve, but the Jets will need a lot more than that if they want to dig themselves out of the bottom of the power rankings.

Latest USA TODAY Power Rankings gives an ominous look at Jameis Winston’s future

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found themselves as home underdogs heading into last week’s game against the Houston Texans, who were desperate for a win to secure the AFC South title and clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Bucs, meanwhile, were without …

The Bucs, meanwhile, were without their top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, both of whom were sidelined with hamstring injuries. Quarterback Jameis Winston was also battling a fractured thumb, which might explain (in part) why he threw four interceptions in the team’s 23-20 loss to Houston.

The loss ended the Bucs’ four game winning-streak, but given the injuries on the offensive side of the ball, it looks like Tampa Bay got a pass in this week’s USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings. The Bucs fell just one spot this week, dropping from 13 to 14.

Here’s the blurb writer Nate Davis had for the Bucs this week.

“Bruce Arians has said pending free agent Shaq Barrett ‘ain’t going anywhere,’ yet Jameis Winston’s contract is also expiring. Hmmm.”

Davis brings up a great point here, one that should not be overlooked. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that the Bucs were planning on bringing Winston back in 2020, but after their loss to the Texans, in which Winston threw four interceptions, head coach Bruce Arians refuted the report, saying no decision has been made on any player, and that those decisions dont get made until the end of the season. Yet Arians had no problem saying Barrett wasn’t going anywhere.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Eagles rise in latest USA Today NFL Power Rankings

The Philadelphia Eagles are surging at the right time and have a home date with destiny on Sunday as they attempt to dislodge Dallas from their stranglehold on the NFC East.

After the team’s thrilling 37-27 win over the Redskins last Sunday, the Eagles have risen one spot in the latest USA Today NFL power rankings, coming in at No. 16.

16. Eagles (17): If you’re assuming hosting Dallas at Linc will boost Iggles’ chances to take over NFC East, think again. Dallas has won six of seven in Philly.

Back to back clutch performances by quarterback Carson Wentz has the Eagles just two more wins away from clinching the NFC East and the Birds franchise quarterback getting his first taste of postseason football.

Vikings move up 3 spots in power rankings

After their 20-7 win over the Lions in Week 14, the Vikings improved to 9-4 on the season.

They also moved from 10 to seven in USA TODAY’s Week 15 power rankings.

Here’s what Nate Davis wrote about the Vikings:

Adam Thielen, who’s played 16 snaps in last seven games, is probably the key if Minnesota is to make late charge to NFC North crown.

Davis is right. It would be absolutely huge for this offense to get Thielen back before the end of the season. We’ll see whether that will be in Week 15 when the Vikings travel to play the 5-8 Chargers in Los Angeles. The Chargers rank 23rd in the rankings.

To round out the NFC North, the Packers rank fourth, the Bears rank 14th and the Lions rank 29th.

The Vikings are currently the sixth seed in the NFC playoff picture, but they are also still in the mix for the NFC North championship.