Franz’s 2013 NFL Power Poll: Week 3

1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7): Averaging 330 yards of offense per game but the NFL has changed so much that they rank only 23rd…playing all four of their AFC South opponents in their next four games.

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1): Little surprised by the low (3.5) yards per carry…most important hamstring in the division, Vernon Davis or Fitz?

3. DENVER BRONCOS (2): Of course Manning deserves the hype but this is the #1 rush defense.

4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3): Brees looks so relaxed with Payton back…huge key will be run defense vs Cards (5.3 yards/carry against).

5. HOUSTON TEXANS (5): +23 in first downs vs. their opponents and +390 yards but only +1 in TDs…Seattle and San Francisco coming up after roadie to Baltimore.

6. GREEN BAY PACKERS (6): Bengals and Pack both bitter over Week 1 road losses meet in Cincy.

7. CHICAGO BEARS (8): Stats say this is a .500 team…two wins by four total points.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS (4): I thought highly of this team to start but the 29th-ranked pass defense is almost as bad as the 42 percent third down conversion rate for the offense.

9. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10): Had more punts than first downs last week.

10. CINCINNATI BENGALS (11): Pittsburgh, Green Bay and the Pats in three of four weeks looked much harder a month ago than it does now.

11. MIAMI DOLPHINS (13): Three of the first four on the road and they’re 2-0.

12. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (17): 2012=27 percent of their red zone possessions ended in TDs (last)…2013=100 percent (5-for-5).

13. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9): Two games and only one three-and-out…offense is killing the defense (3rd-worst pass defense).

14. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (21): An atrocious defense (31st) can’t afford an offensive injury this big.

15. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (12): Bradshaw only 15 carries while Luck threw it 42 times (those numbers have to come closer together if winning is desired)…Luck vs. Harbaugh in the Bay is a good story.

16. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (19): Hate to say must win in Week 3, but they’re 0-2 with two weak opponents coming for a visit (Cleveland and Pittsburgh).

17. DETROIT LIONS (15): I missed this during the game but it looks too un-athletic to be dirty… If you’re a playoff team, you go 2-0 at Cards and at ‘Skins.

18. ST. LOUIS RAMS (16): The venue isn’t tough, but the pressure of the Cowboys makes Dallas a tough place to take a re-shuffled line… Impressive to have fourth-best passing offense but stats are skewed by Falcons’ soft zone during second half.

19. BUFFALO BILLS (24): If running the football and stopping the run are still keys, they’re 1-for-2 (fourth-best on offense but third-worst stopping the run).

20. DALLAS COWBOYS (14): Averaging less than 20 rushing attempts per week…Jerry Jones is still GM.

21. ARIZONA CARDINALS (27): Very special teams…average starting position for the Lions following a Zastudil punt was the 9 .5-yard line and Feely went 4-for-4.

22. TENNESSEE TITANS (20): If they want to surprise, they must go at least 2-1 in this stretch of three straight at home…last in passing offense and first in rushing attempts (guess what position their head coach played?)

23. CAROLINA PANTHERS (25): Still four games remaining vs. Saints and Falcons and already, they’re 0-2…few thought Giants or Carolina would start winless in their first three weeks.

24. NEW YORK GIANTS (18): 10 turnovers through two games…most in the history of the franchise (est. 1925).

25. BALTIMORE RAVENS (23): Every stat says they’re below average so they’re lucky to be 1-1…Ray Rice averages only 12.5 rushes per game.

26. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (26): Bruce Arians was fired to get back to Steelers roots and they’re 31st in rushing attempts… 0-2 for the first time since 2002.

27. OAKLAND RAIDERS (28): Averaging almost six yards per carry and 200 yards per game on the ground…will be taken seriously if they can start winning turnover battle.

28. CLEVELAND BROWNS (29): Drafted Trent Richardson with the third pick overall and traded him to a team that will give you a pick in the 20’s… Am I miss something?

29. NEW YORK JETS (30): Geno Smith has as many fourth-quarter interceptions in 2013 as Sanchez did in 2012.

30. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (31): 0-2 before the uprising against the coaching staff…ownership needs to make a statement or this season is over.

31. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (22): Have allowed 1,023 yards in their first two games…only the ’67 Falcons are worse at 1,025.

32. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (32): Only Kiffin’s Raiders were a worse collection of “coaching” and “talent” in the last 10 years.

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