Rich’s Reveals His Brand-New NFL Power Rankings Heading into Week 3

A week ago at this hour, Rich was under general anesthesia while Suzy did a live shot from St. John's Health. So this edition of his NFL power rankings came with a disclaimer.

"This is my first power rankings I've ever done without an appendix."

The crew immediately projected a faster 40 time. Rich committed to a 4.7. Then he got to work: three new teams on the list, three that stayed the same, and everything else up in the air. Giants, Bears and Jaguars are out. Bengals, Vikings and Broncos are in.

10. Baltimore Ravens

The Saints won and are 1-1, same record as Baltimore, but Rich can't quit the Ravens after how impressive they looked in week one. "I can't quit them yet," he said, and he is keeping them in his top 10 even as the crew noted a key player did not practice and wondered about the turf in Brazil. Lamar Jackson's line about the Cowboys, "That's America's team. This is Brazil," got plenty of mileage over the course of the segment.

9. Denver Broncos

"That's more like it, Denver." Rich pointed to Jaylen Waddle, and to Jonah Coleman stepping up in a week two where R.J. Harvey wasn't dressed and J.K. Dobbins went out. The Broncos defense came up big in the second half against Jacksonville, which knocked the Jaguars off the list entirely.

8. Minnesota Vikings

The defense ruled the day, and Minnesota is 2-0 heading to 0-2 Tampa. "What a dire straits game for Tampa," Rich said, with Brian Flores coming to make things worse for Baker. Aaron Jones is really sore after becoming the bell cow back with Jordan Mason on IR, and it is going to be Kyler's gig again. "They're just a fascinating team."

7. Los Angeles Rams

Up one spot. "Never quit on them," Rich said. He just didn't like their Australia plans. He loved everything about Davante Adams' performance, and as for the uniforms, they were honoring the '51 team. "I get it." Next up is a trip to Denver.

6. Philadelphia Eagles

Rich knows how people feel about how he feels about Jalen Hurts. He moved the Eagles up one anyway. Philadelphia faces a Bears team that could start Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent, which sent the crew into a bit about Caleb Williams making an Undertaker entrance, or coming out on crutches for the coin toss, tossing them away and holding a Money in the Bank briefcase. Seth Rollins, reportedly part of the Good Morning Football road show on Monday, would know all about that.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

New to the list. Rich learned from Zac Taylor that the quarterback room played Jeopardy and predicted the play that would score the first touchdown, the one Ja'Marr Chase toe-tapped. "Unreal." And the defense is winning them football games.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Up five spots. "Chiefs are a top five team," Rich said. They are 2-0, and Mahomes, Kelce and Kenneth Walker all look as great as ever. The defense gave up 30 to the Colts. "I don't care."

3. San Francisco 49ers

2. Seattle Seahawks

1. Buffalo Bills

The top three stayed the same. "What am I going to move the 9ers over the Seahawks? Or the Seahawks over the Bills?" Rich asked. He had the Bills at No. 1 last Friday, and he is not knocking them out based on what other teams did. "I don't do that sort of thing." Cue the Godfather Part II drop, which Rich believes no other show uses.

Predictably, a debate followed. Someone wanted the Raiders on the list, and Rich admitted he toyed with it. "Not yet." Someone else called the list "a little fugazi" without the Cowboys, which brought Lamar's Brazil line back around, and someone made the case for Jacksonville over the Ravens at 10. Rich's response was the same for everyone: it's so early.

One member of the crew said it feels like there are only eight good teams. Rich disagreed. He went out on a limb and said Penix shows up and that offense starts cooking, and Carolina could start stopping people, and off they go.

"I just want fans to just go to the comment section and hold me accountable," he said. "That's why I do these power rankings." Or, as the crew reminded him, because they peer pressured him into it. The cool kids do power rankings.