Power Rankings: Slow starts ... aberrations or a trend?

Updated Sept. 16

It can be heard from San Diego to Jacksonville and several points in between.

"Hey, the Giants started 0-2 last season and won a Super Bowl. We can do it, too."

The San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns were all pegged as playoff teams by most when the NFL season started. Now they're staring 0-3 in the face.

Isn't the NFL great? These kinds of starts are what make the league so special. We really don't know, do we?

For the entire summer, the Chargers were being called the most talented team, led by a hardened defense. The Jaguars were the rising challengers in the AFC, a big, physical team that could run the ball. Cleveland would be a point machine with its pass-happy offense and Seattle would have a vice-like defense.

So what happens? The Chargers defense isn't very good, the Jaguars can't run it, the Browns aren't scoring and the Seahawks gave up 33 points to J.T. O'Sullivan on Sunday. J.T. O'Sullivan?

Those suddenly average teams are plunging faster than some of the big financial institutions. They've all made steep drops in the CBS Sports.com Power Rankings, all the way to Average-ville.

Can they turn it around? Yes, they can. But turnarounds like the Giants had in 2007 don't happen all that much. Going to 0-2 is a doughnut-sized hole compared to going 0-3, which is canyon-sized. So they all better win this week.

Poll Which team with two losses is most likely to make the playoffs?   7%  Browns     11%  Jaguars     73%  Chargers     10%  Seahawks     Total Votes: 53332

The flip side is that we have exciting new teams emerging as potential playoff teams. The Buffalo Bills are 2-0. The Arizona Cardinals are 2-0.

Maybe this is the year I finally get it right in picking the Cardinals to win the division. If you pick something long enough it eventually has to come in, right?

At least one team in the Valley of the Sun is doing something. Arizona State, my alma mater, choked away a good season Saturday night in losing to UNLV as a 24-point favorite.

Fret not, Sun Devils. LSU lost twice and won a national title last season. So all you have to do is beat Georgia and Southern California and Oregon to name a few.

"LSU did it, so can we," they're probably saying in Tempe and other parts today.

That's the college version of what NFL teams are saying about the 2007 Giants. At least it gives them all hope.

And it makes for one heck of an NFL season.

The Power Rankings after Week 2:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	They didn't look great against the 49ers, but they found a way. That's what good teams do. It has to be good having Bob Sanders back again.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	It was a little bit of a struggle against the Falcons, but the schedule is favorable the rest of the way, to say the least. Is an undefeated season possible?
	3	Vikings · Trends	4
	They have a real hold on the division after sweeping the Packers. They really are a balanced team and Brett Favre is coming off a big game. There, I said it. Aside from the Steelers game, he is playing well.
	4	Broncos · Trends	3
	After their first loss, here come the champions. The Pittsburgh Steelers will provide another stiff test for the Broncos. They need to throw it better. Period.
	5	Patriots · Trends	5
	They come off the bye with a chance to take a real hold of the division by beating Miami. You know they'll be ready for the Wildcat.
	6	Bengals · Trends	6
	At 5-2 after their bye, they get a rematch with the Ravens this week. They can throw it better now than when they beat them the first time, which should help.
	7	Steelers · Trends	7
	They can show they are back with a road victory at Denver. The bye week gives them a little edge heading into that one, although Denver will be angry coming off its first loss.
	8	Eagles · Trends	8
	We get Eagles-Cowboys this week for first place in the NFC East. That should be fun. The Eagles are rolling after that Oakland disaster two weeks ago.
	9	Cowboys · Trends	11
	Is it time to stop ripping on Tony Romo? He's playing some of his best football. The defense, which was a problem much of the season, is playing better.
	10	Ravens · Trends	14
	They had to beat Denver to save their season, but now they get a big one against the Bengals on the road. To have a real chance to win the division, they need that one.
	11	Cardinals · Trends	9
	Can anybody figure this team out? They play well on the road and stink it up at home. Good thing they're on the road this week.
	12	Giants · Trends	10
	They are an example of how fast things can go bad in the NFL. If that defense doesn't play better soon, they could be playoff-less.
	13	Texans · Trends	16
	The improvement of the defense to go with that passing game has really helped this team. They do have a lot of premium talent on the defensive side of the ball.
	14	Chargers · Trends	17
	They seemed to right things the past two weeks, but now must head east to play a desperate Giants team. That won't be easy.
	15	Falcons · Trends	12
	They played well at New Orleans, especially in the second half, and the schedule gets easier now. They are a good 4-3 team.
	16	Packers · Trends	13
	Boy that offensive line is bad. If they don't improve there, Aaron Rodgers doesn't stand a chance.
	17	Bears · Trends	19
	Nothing like the Cleveland Browns to provide the perfect potion for all that ails a team. Facing Arizona at home this week won't be as easy.
	18	Dolphins · Trends	22
	That wasn't pretty against the Jets, but they found a way. Now they have to go to New England, with a chance to get back into the race. Playing two consecutive road games is tough.
	19	Jets · Trends	15
	There is no way they should have lost to the Dolphins at home, but at 4-4 they have been way too inconsistent. How about some special-teams work this week?
	20	Jaguars · Trends	18
	They will be a .500 team at best. The defense isn't very good, so they will play a lot of high-scoring games. The good news is they have a winnable game against Kansas City this week.
	21	Panthers · Trends	24
	Was that a job saver for coach John Fox and a season saver last week in Arizona? It was a big win, but those two things are still to be decided.
	22	49ers · Trends	20
	Playing close isn't good enough. They have to start winning those kinds of games. It's hard when they're limited on offense.
	23	Bills · Trends	21
	The run defense is really bad and they don't have the offense to make up for it. Did you ever think they would long to get Trent Edwards back so much?
	24	Seahawks · Trends	23
	They've been a major disappointment in a lot of people's minds. But the injuries have crippled this team. It's a tough first year for Jim Mora Jr.
	25	Raiders · Trends	25
	At least they showed up and competed against the Chargers. It's more than they did the previous week. Wonder how Tom Cable's troubles will affect the team?
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	They come off their bye with the Larry Johnson saga hanging over their heads. Something they need more of: Better play from Matt Cassel.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	Did they fix things during the bye? Is Jim Zorn safe now that he made it through the week off? Can they turn it around? Doubtful.
	28	Rams · Trends	31
	They won. They won. They won. After 17 consecutive losses, they should celebrate. Steven Jackson is having a good year for a bad team.
	29	Titans · Trends	32
	The move to Vince Young paid off. Yeah, as long as Chris Johnson runs for 228, it paid off. They did show more life coming off their bye in winning for the first time.
	30	Lions · Trends	28
	Losing to the Rams drops them down a few spots. They are competing, which is a good sign for this young team.
	31	Browns · Trends	29
	Does this team need a bye or what? Do they really have to play out the season with that offense?
	32	Buccaneers · Trends	30
	The Josh Freeman Era begins, and it's the right thing to do. They have to get him going for the future. Why wait?