Week 3 Power Rankings

09/20/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning

We get one edition in the middle of each week free from football, and what do we do? Talk more football. ’Tis the season. You’re about to see something really rare — A Philadelphia Eagles fan making the Dallas Cowboys No. 1 in his Week 3 Power Rankings. Have to give credit where it’s due. It Hurts (pun intended), but we all make sacrifices. Smash that Pick ‘Em link and let’s have some more fun this weekend.

Letter Rip!

NFL

Week 3 Power Rankings

Early Movement is Evident, But 1 Team Appears Untouchable After 2 Weeks

Ah, back to the mid-week edition, already? Each Wednesday of the NFL season gives us a chance to stop and reflect on the previous week of football. Then, we rank ‘em. After all, with games on Thursdays and Mondays, we only have a short window before adding to the sample size. By scouring the unending resources of the internet, one can quickly find that weekly power rankings are a badge of honor in sports media. We’d be remiss not join the fun.

Cowboys Take September: In Week 3, it’s no surprise who’s at the top. But how long they’ll stay there? Probably at least into October. The Dallas Cowboys have absolutely demoralized the city of New York through the first two weeks, pounding the Giants (40-0) and grounding the Jets (30-10) by a combined total of 70-10. Their next two opponents are the Cardinals (0-2) and Patriots (0-2), so we should expect Dallas to hold No. 1 for awhile, at least into October.

Subjective Parity: What makes the NFL so great is that anyone can beat anyone, but that also makes for some infuriating power rankings. Do we really think the Chargers should be 18th? No, but they’re 0-2. So are the Bengals, Vikings, and Patriots — all respectable teams. And if the Jets with Aaron Rodgers, they’d be higher. The same rings true for injuries to the Ravens (J.K. Dobbins) and Browns (Nick Chubb). The Broncos (27th) are three total points away from being 2-0. These are tough decisions, people.

NFC South Revival: One notable shift in this week’s rankings is the added respect for the NFC South. Three of the four teams — Saints, Bucs, and Falcons — started the season way too low. New Orleans (8th), Atlanta (11th), and Tampa Bay (15th) have made statements with 2-0 starts.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 2)

1. Cowboys (2-0) | ↑1

2. 49ers (2-0) | ↓1

3. Eagles (2-0) | —

4. Dolphins (2-0) | ↑1

5. Chiefs (1-1) | ↓1

6. Ravens (2-0) | ↑1

7. Bills (1-1) | ↑2

8. Saints (2-0) | ↑6

9. Seahawks (1-1) | ↑8

10. Lions (1-1) | ↓4

Teams 11-20

11. Falcons (2-0) | ↑7

12. Rams (1-1) | ↑3

13. Jaguars (1-1) | —

14. Browns (1-1) | ↓4

15. Buccaneers (2-0) | ↑9

16. Jets (1-1) | ↓6

17. Packers (1-1) | ↓1

18. Chargers (0-2) | ↓5

19. Bengals (0-2) | ↓8

20. Titans (1-1) | ↑6

Teams 21-32

21. Steelers (1-1) | ↑7

22. Commanders (2-0) | ↑1

23. Vikings (0-2) | ↓4

24. Patriots (0-2) | ↓3

25. Raiders (1-1) | ↓4

26. Giants (1-1) | ↑1

27. Broncos (0-2) | ↓5

28. Colts (1-1) | ↑2

29. Panthers (0-2) | ↓1

30. Bears (0-2) | ↓5

31. Texans (0-2) | —

32. Cardinals (0-2) | —

PFT: PFT’s Week 3 NFL Power Rankings

NFL: Week 3 Power Rankings: Saints Crack Top-10, Bengals Keep Sliding

B/R: Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Entering Week 3?

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SOCCER

Europe’s Best Are Back

*Photo: Christian Liewig-Corbis / Getty Images*

Barcelona, PSG & Man. City Kick Off the 2023 UEFA Champions League in Top Form

Soccer’s ultimate inter-European clash is officially underway! For those amateur soccer fans who aren’t familiar with the Champions League, it’s a year-long competition among Europe’s best clubs. The 32 squads — determined by placement in last year’s domestic competition — compete in six group-stage matches throughout the fall before a knockout bracket in Spring 2024. Yesterday was first half of Matchday 1, and there was no shortage of star power. The defending champions, Manchester City, opened the new UCL campaign with a 3-1 win on a brace from Julian Alvarez. Kylian Mbappe struck first for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG),. And Barcelona started hot with a 5-0 drumming of Antwerp thanks to Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix (2 goals).

Goal by the Goalie! — By day’s end, a goalkeeper’s equalizer was the goal of the day! Lazio’s Ivan Provedel headed in a desperation goal in the 95th minute to save a point against Atletico Madrid. Incredible.

Champions League (Matchday 1)

Milan draw Newcastle (0-0)

RB Leipzig def. Young Boys (3-1)

PSG def. Dortmund (2-0)

FC Porto def. Shakhtar Donetsk (3-1)

Man. City def. Crvena Zvezda (3-1)

Lazio draw Atletico Madrid (1-1)

Feyenoord def. Celtic (2-0)

Barcelona def. Antwerp (5-0)

The slate features eight more matches this afternoon, then we’ll turn down the highlights (just the notable moments) throughout the rest of the group stage.

Today’s Schedule (Matchday 1)

Real Madrid vs. Union Berlin (12:45 pm ET)

Galatasaray vs. Copenhagen (12:45 pm ET)

Bayern vs. Manchester United (3:00 pm ET)

Arsenal vs. PSV (3:00 pm ET)

Inter vs. Real Sociedad (3:00 pm ET)

Benfica vs. RB Salzburg (3:00 pm ET)

Napoli vs. Braga (3:00 pm ET)

Sevilla vs. Lens (3:00 pm ET)

Champions League Favorites

Man. City (+200), Bayern (+550), Real Madrid (+800), Arsenal (+1000), Barcelona (+1400), Paris Saint-Germain (+1600)

ESPN: Red Star Belgrade Remind Man. City How Tough Defending Champions League Title Will Be

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WNBA

WNBA Semifinals: 3/4

Liberty & Wings Complete 1st-Round Sweeps, Join Aces in WNBA Semifinals

Three of the four semifinals spots are now filled in the WNBA postseason, and the last is up for grabs tonight. The Liberty and Wings both etched first-round sweeps to make it to Round 2. They join the top-seeded Aces, who knocked out the Sky on Sunday. It took an overtime win from the Liberty to get the job done in two games, but we’re one game away from the WNBA’s final four.

Gm 2: #2 Liberty def. #7 Mystics (90-85, OT)

A valiant comeback attempt by the Mystics fell short on Tuesday after the Liberty flexed in overtime. Washington rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but New York’s Starters — Stewart (27), Laney (19), Jones (19), Ionescu (11), and Vandersloot (8) — combined for 84 of the Liberty’s 90 points. It’s the Liberty’s first trip back to the semifinals since 2015. NYL Win Series (2-0)

Gm 2: #4 Wings def. #5 Dream (101-74)

The Dream were hanging by a thread in a tight first quarter of Game 2, but the Wings pulled away with a 29-10 blitz in the second. They opened up a 30-point cushion by the fourth quarter behind Arike Ogunbowale’s 20-point game and seven total players in double figures. Dallas hasn’t won a WNBA title, but the franchise won three championships in six years as the Detroit Shock. DAL Wins Series (2-0)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 3: #3 Sun at #6 Lynx (8:00 pm ET)

*Series Tied (1-1)

AP: Liberty Advance to WNBA Semis for 1st Time Since 2015 With OT Win

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MLB

MLB Quick-Hitters

More Padres Magic: We’ve been saying “too little, too late” in San Diego for a while now, but the Padres are still making magic. San Diego won (2-0 against the Rockies) their sixth straight after a walk-off blast from Xander Bogaertz to cap Blake Snell’s seven-inning scoreless gem (10 Ks). The Padres (74-78) are suddenly 5.5 games back with 10 to play.

Braves Break Skid: Ronald Acuna Jr. (2 HRs) and Spencer Strider (11 Ks) delivered a 9-3 win over the Phillies on Tuesday to break Atlanta out of its four-game slump. Acuna Jr. is now one home run away of the first 40-HR, 60-SB season in MLB history, and the Braves officially own home field advantage in the NL playoffs.

D-Backs Hit Giants: Arizona won its fourth straight on Tuesday night over the Giants (8-4) and delivered a big blow to one of their Wild Card enemies in the process. The D-backs (80-72) are clinging to the No. 2 Wild Card spot, while the Giants (76-75) are now three games out of the Wild Card race.

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STORYLINES

Pro Football HOF Nominees

Three-time All-Pros Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates headline the list of nine first-year eligible players nominated for the 2024 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The list includes familiar names like Jamaal Charles and Brandon Marshall. (FOX Sports)

The Rays New Home

For about 16 years, the Tampa Bay Rays have been fighting for a new ballpark. It almost meant leaving the city in 2027 when the lease with Tropicana Field ends. But now, the saga appears to be over. The team unveiled plans for the new stadium on Tuesday. (CBS Sports)

Mystery Team in Lillard Limbo

We’re approaching three months (seriously) since Damian Lillard’s trade request went public on July 1, and he’s still a Blazer. Miami talks have rekindled, but there’s one mystery Eastern Conference wild card throwing its hat in the ring. (Bleacher Report)

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NEWS