Week 3 NFL Political Rankings

Well, that was a week...

San Francisco tries to get handed one seven ways from Sunday, but can't do it.

Kansas City gets burned.

Baltimore probably gets one with the most league help anyone's had this season so far.

New England finally succumbs to the reality of a missing piece in the puzzle.

And don't look now, here comes Dallas!!!

Here is my current view of the NFL bookers:

AFC:

3-0:  Denver and Las Vegas both won, so they're still 3-0.

1) Baltimore

You can't do what they did on that second-to-last play and NOT put Baltimore at the top of the AFC right now.  And with the Chiefs now 1-2 and in last place alone in the AFC West for the first time in forever, are we actually looking at Lamar Jackson heading to a Super Bowl?  It's early.  It's Week 3...

2) Las Vegas

I wasn't comfortable with them last week, but a lot got out of the way this week.  If they beat the Rams next week on Monday Night Football in SoFi, or even give a good enough accounting that people start thinking in terms of a possible Rams/Chargers/Vegas situation for the Super Bowl (which would be in SoFi)....

3) Los Angeles Chargers

See #2, but not quite as pronounced.  Yet.  They and the Raiders, though, have some play to do.

NOT QUITE SOLD ON YET:  Cleveland.  A lot of people have spoken up on the Browns pre-season -- still want to see a bit more, though, to see them through.  Getting Beckham back, though, might well help!

Cincinnati:  No.  One of the more surprising 2-1s in the NFL.

Denver:  Giants, Jaguars, and Jets.  Three teams who, unless one plays another, none of them might win a game this year.

Tennessee:  Someone's gotta win the AFC South, but if they want to get on the list, they may have to show more than that.

0-3:  Jets, Jaguars, Colts.

DUD OF THE WEEK:

Candidates:  Houston...  If there's evidence you've hitched to the wrong horse in this race, here it is.

New England...  Unless they're gonna sneak you in as a 7-seed, I may have to formally withdraw "Brady vs. Belichick".

Kansas City...  Something is BAD WRONG with that defense, AND the O-line.

Pittsburgh...  Talk about "washed".  Captain Fatfuck, Leader of Nobody.  Urinatingtree could probably quarterback the Steelers more effectively at this point!

Jacksonville...  Your last win was Week 1 last season.  You've now dropped 18 in a row.  12 by double digits, including your last seven!!!  You now are tied with the 72-73 Oilers with the 5th longest losing streak in NFL history.  #3 is next week, tying with the 07-09 0-16 Lions at 19.   Then, the modern-era record of the Buccaneers at 26 -- and the Chicago Cardinals at 29 during World War II.  Your next winnable game is probably in mid-November.

But the winner, and by a mile:  THE NEW YORK J-E-T-S JOKE JOKE JOKE.  19-14 to the Panthers, 25-6 to the Patriots, 26-0 to the Broncos.  You can start showing up ANYTIME NOW, Jets!!!  Three straight years 0-3...  You'd think something would give at some point.

NFC:

3-0:  Rams, Cardinals, Panthers

1) Rams

See the Raiders.  Important game, both for 4-0 and to possibly set a narrative, next Monday night in Inglewood.  If that game is even acceptably close (see the Chiefs/Bucs dress rehearsal last year)...

2) Cowboys

Well, well, well...  Good week for the 'Boys.  The Collins suspension cut to two, and an ass-whuppin' of the Eagles on national television.  That's going to help.  The ratings bump the Cowboys usually give will help some more!!

3) Bucs/Saints/Packers

NOT QUITE SOLD ON YET.  Will the Saints make up their mind?  The Packers really did a nice 11-on-18 win Sunday night on the road, which will probably pay dividends later.  And...

0-3: Detroit, Giants

DUD OF THE WEEK

Candidates:  Tampa Bay:  What.  The Hell.  Was THAT???

San Francisco:  And that goes double for you -- it was CLEAR the refs wanted to give it all to you, and you wouldn't accept it, for some odd reason.

Seattle:  In the same place Kansas City is.  1-2, had expectations, but last alone in their division for the first time in quite a while.

Giants:  You're 0-3, but unlike your stadium-mates, you've only lost those three by 18 points...  So you're at least closer...

NFC "WINNER":  Da Bears Still Suck.   Again, your complete lack of offense (40 points in three games) speaks volumes here.