It’s still early in the NFL season so make sure your eyes don’t deceive you. Arizona being 2-0 is still questionable.
The Giants at 0-2 can’t possibly be that inept again. We have to see how it all shakes out, but here are our Top 5 NFL teams through the first two games of a 17-game NFL season.
- Tampa Bay Bucs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the best team in the NFL, until evidence proves otherwise. The Bucs didn’t need to be world beaters to defeat the inconsistent Falcons. But 44-year-old Tom Brady still put on a show, tossing five touchdown passes in a 48-25 beatdown at the “Big Sombrero.”
A Sept. 26 road game against the Los Angeles Rams will go a long way toward establishing just how dominant this Bucs team can be.
2. L.A. Rams
The offseason addition of Matthew Stafford seems to be paying early dividends. The Colts kept it competetive, but decided not to pay attention to Rams wideout Cooper Kupp as he went for over 160 receiving yards and a touchdown. This team is good, but it’s early, so we’ll see how they play going forward.
Paging all Cooper Kupp managers pic.twitter.com/jc57G4mQRz
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 19, 2021
3. Kansas City Chiefs
If Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid puts the football in the hands of his superstar MVP quarterback on “Sunday Night Football” instead of unproven running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, we’re having a different conversation.
The NFL isn’t the “what if” game, so we can’t overlook the porous defensive effort that the Chiefs are becoming accustomed to. The K.C. defense is worse than the 2019-2020 unit that successfully rode a strategy of “bend but don’t break” all the way to the Lombardi Trophy.
They are still a tough ticket and have the best QB on the planet, but Andy Reid and Spags have to get the D straightened out.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray looks like the NFL MVP through two weeks of the 17-game season. Mr. Electricity looks to be making that leap to stardom right before our eyes.
KYLER MURRAY IS ELECTRIC. #AZCardinals
📺: #MINvsAZ on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/MQ2THg6Qau— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
After showing flashes in his first season of becoming an elite QB, the throws he’s making on the move and off schedule are getting more ridiculous weekly.
He’s delivering dimes with Aaron Rodgers’ accuracy and eluding defenders like Russell Wilson. The Cardinals can compete with anyone as long as Murray remains healthy.
5. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have a very talented roster on paper, but after blowing a big lead and losing in Kansas City opening week, they came out flat at home against the Houston Texans and even trailed 14-7 when Baker Mayfield hurt himself making a tackle on an interception he threw. The Browns recovered to win and stay in the Top 5.
How long do we have to wait for a team with Top 3 talent on its roster to reach its potential?
“Good teams after a win: Identify, Correct, and then we move on.” – Kevin Stefanski pic.twitter.com/V2H1oPUGrn
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 20, 2021
Honorable Mention:
Seattle Seahawks — Same story … need a defense to support Russell Wilson. A consistent offensive identity would be nice too.
Buffalo Bills — Offense is still out of sync, but the defense battered and bruised Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday.
San Francisco 49ers — Niners are 2-0. Look for them to rise higher in the rankings once they recover from injuries and clean up inconsistent play.
Las Vegas Raiders — The biggest difference in the “Rayduhs” thus far this season is a much more aggressive and cohesive defense. The unit has each other’s backs out there. You can credit first-year defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for that.
On the offensive end, tight end extraordinaire Darren Waller is beginning to get double- and triple-covered. Quarterback David Carr has to continue to find other options.
Green Bay Packers
The demise of Aaron Rodgers was greatly exaggerated. Rodgers and running back Aaron Jones carried them to victory over the hapless Detroit Lions. No, we haven’t forgotten about that 38-3 drubbing last week to the Saints, but that same team was manhandled (26-7) in Carolina on Sunday. So the verdict is still out on the Cheeseheads.
