Power Rankings: Packers surprisingly join league's elite

Updated Sept. 25

We're three weeks into the season, and already the elite have emerged.

So much for all that parity talk.

That's for the middle class of the league, those wannabes. The elite don't have anything to do with that kind of talk; they're looking down on the rest, noses in the air.

Second-year linebacker A.J. Hawk leads the defense in Green Bay. (Getty Images)

The top three teams in that elite bracket shouldn't be too much of a surprise. We expected the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys to be there -- and I thought the Pittsburgh Steelers would be good.

So who's the party crasher, trying to get behind the velvet ropes to join the VIP set? It's the Green Bay Packers, led by an old-man quarterback who plays the game with youthful enthusiasm and a defense keyed by a pair of corners who play in-your-face coverage.

Packers quarterback Brett Favre and his quest for Dan Marino's touchdown record, which he should get this week, might be the highlighted story when it comes to this team, but it shouldn't be the only one.

The offensive line, which started three rookies a year ago, has come together and become a top-notch unit. They kept Favre pretty clean against the San Diego Chargers in their upset victory.

The defensive line, keyed by defensive ends Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins, is a good group and the linebackers, with rising star A.J. Hawk, are active.

In the secondary, Charles Woodson and Al Harris play a fun brand of corner, their ability to match up the reason the Packers can load up to stop the run. Safety Atari Bigby is a rising star.

The Packers are fifth in the latest CBSSports.com Power Rankings. That victory over the Chargers validates them.

It also gives me ammunition to fire back at all my co-workers -- you know who you are -- who laughed at me on our conference call last Friday for picking the Packers to win that game.

Any and all apologies would be accepted.

Poll Which of the five remaining unbeaten teams will be the first to lose?   6%  Colts     16%  Cowboys     54%  Packers     6%  Patriots     19%  Steelers     Total Votes: 55147

While the Packers are surging, the Saints are the great mystery of the first three weeks. How many pundits picked them to go to the Super Bowl from the NFC? After getting beat down by the Tennessee Titans on Monday night, the Saints are 0-3. There has never been a team that started 0-3 and made it to the Super Bowl.

A year ago, the Saints led the NFL in offense. Now they can't do a damn thing. Drew Brees looks lost; there is no separation by receivers; Deuce McAllister is hurt; Reggie Bush dances too much; the defense can't stop anybody ... on and on it goes.

The Saints and Packers are two reminders of how quickly things change in the NFL. Brees was the toast of the league in 2006, an MVP candidate, while many were saying Favre was done, that it was time for him to head to the farm in Mississippi for good.

Now Brees looks frustrated and Favre looks rejuvenated.

Who could have thought that?

The Power Rankings after Week 3:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	They make it interesting, but they still find a way. The amazing thing is that they are winning yet not healthy. That's what a good quarterback does for a team.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	Can anybody stop that offense? If they get to play their playoff games inside the Superdome, it's hard not imagining them in the Super Bowl.
	3	Vikings · Trends	3
	If the playoffs go through their dome, they will be tough to beat. They seem to be getting better -- if that's possible.
	4	Cowboys · Trends	5
	The offense woke up against the Raiders, which is a good sign moving forward. But it will be December the next time they play and we know how they fade in that month.
	5	Bengals · Trends	6
	It wasn't pretty against the Browns, but they went to 8-3. The one concern I have is they aren't passing it that well right now. That has to get better down the stretch.
	6	Chargers · Trends	7
	Momentum seems to be building for this team. As the defense improves, so will their Super chances. We know they can score.
	7	Patriots · Trends	4
	They got ambushed in New Orleans. That defense has not played well when facing good passing teams. Where's the pass rush?
	8	Eagles · Trends	9
	They struggled some against the Redskins and now must go on the road at Atlanta. That won't be easy.
	9	Broncos · Trends	12
	That was a season-saving victory against the Giants. But be careful this week against the Chiefs. They've owned the Broncos in December at Arrowhead.
	10	Packers · Trends	14
	They are starting to have a playoff look about them. The key will be how that offensive line holds up.
	11	Cardinals · Trends	8
	The division race tightened up with that loss to the Titans, and now they have a huge game with the Vikings. They have to be careful of San Francisco creeping back into it.
	12	Steelers · Trends	10
	The questioning of Ben Roethlisberger sitting out by teammates is not a good sign. They shouldn't do that. It could cause problems.
	13	Giants · Trends	11
	This is a team in big trouble. If Eli Manning can't play at close to 100 percent the rest of the way, they can forget the playoffs. Even with them, they could miss out.
	14	Falcons · Trends	15
	Matt Ryan won't play this week, which means Chris Redman will have their playoff hopes on his right arm against the Eagles. Can he play as well as he did last week, now that they know he's coming?
	15	Ravens · Trends	17
	They had a huge victory last week over the Steelers, but now have to go to Green Bay to face the Packers. That will be tough.
	16	Jaguars · Trends	13
	As long as they don't go to the West Coast again, they will be fine. They scored three points in two games there. Ouch.
	17	Titans · Trends	19
	Watch out. They're coming fast. If they can beat the Colts this week, the schedule the rest of the way is favorable.
	18	Dolphins · Trends	16
	Did they blow their playoff chances at Buffalo? If they did, that halfback pass on their opening drive of the game could be the reason why.
	19	Texans · Trends	18
	When they learn to beat the Colts, then we'll take their playoff chances seriously. If they lose at Jacksonville this week, it could be the end of the Gary Kubiak era.
	20	Jets · Trends	20
	They're still alive, but barely. They still don't look close to being the team that jumped to a 3-0 start.
	21	49ers · Trends	23
	Alex Smith has five games to show he is their guy for the future. He looked comfortable against the Jaguars.
	22	Bills · Trends	24
	The team is playing better under Perry Fewell. But he probably has no chance to keep the job.
	23	Seahawks · Trends	25
	It's too bad they don't play the Rams every week. If they did, they might make the playoffs. Justin Forsett looks like the real deal.
	24	Panthers · Trends	21
	It's time to make a change at quarterback. Find out what Matt Moore can do. What do they have to lose?
	25	Bears · Trends	22
	Paging Bill Cowher. Paging Bill Cowher. Is there any doubt they will make a coaching change now?
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	That San Diego game was a reminder of how far this team needs to go. They are a long way away from competing.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	They're still playing hard, but it doesn't matter. Jim Zorn is still gone after the season.
	28	Raiders · Trends	28
	At some point they have to get a quarterback. There is talent going to waste on this roster.
	29	Lions · Trends	29
	They have some offensive talent. Now they have to fix that defense. Teams do what they want. Green Bay wasn't even challenged.
	30	Rams · Trends	30
	Will they win again? It doesn't look good. Now comes the big decision: Which quarterback do they take in next spring's draft?
	31	Buccaneers · Trends	31
	Who will Raheem Morris fire this week? Is it another loss, another firing? It's time the blame goes to the man at the top.
	32	Browns · Trends	32
	It has to be hard to watch this team, especially for Browns fans. The question now is whether Eric Mangini makes it for a second season.