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: