Aaron Rodgers is no Alex Smith

Quoted from leitskev 9 opening day wins in a row for the Pats. Business as usual.

I'd say they want beyond business as usual.
Having a blowout when Brady only throws for 230 yards
A very healthy running while stuffing the Titans on the ground to boot.
Rookies paying dividends on opening day as well.

Could be a very bumpy ride for the rest of the AFC east.

E.D.

Chandler Jones is already a star. He's going to be a factor all year.

They will have one of the best run defenses in the NFL of healthy.

The secondary is still iffy at best. They'll give up their points to elite QBs.

But they will score with the best, obviously. With the Giants and Green Bay losing, New England is the best team in the NFL at this early point.

At this current moment (and although I don't like the team), I'd say the Falcons may be the best or second in the NFC this season.

I lot of people predicting big year for Atlanta. Matty Ice making the next step, they say. We'll see.

San Fran looked real impressive yesterday. I think I'd put them on top.

I didn't get to watch Chicago, another favorite.

And Detroit barely pulled their game out against a weak team.

So my NFC ranking would be: San Fran, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, NY Giants, New Orleans, Philly, Detroit. It's only one week, but Giants, Saints, and Packers not only lost, but lost at home, so they have to fall in ranking.

Anyone else have a ranking? Am I forgetting a team?

Quoted from leitskev New England is the best team in the NFL at this early point.

a great QB does not make a great team. the NY giants showd us this last year. The 49ers showed us this yesterday....

i strongly beg to differ. New england does not have a very good defense. and dont tell me about yesterday... they were facing a rookie QB.

the 49ers are the best TEAM in the NFL. without a doubt. Defense, special teams, running game, game planning, coaching. talent. Passing game is not the center of their team - and people cant grasp that in this age of Fantasy football.

they just keep whacking these so called "elite" QBs one after the other... Drew Brees. Aaron Rodgers. Matthew Stafford. Michael Vick. Ben roethlisberger. they beat eli manning in the regular season last year as well.

I like San Fran. I think Smith is really growing as a QB, they have a strong running game, and a great defense.

New England has much more than just an elite QB. They have not one, but 2 elite TE's; they have 2 WRs that are either elite or close to it; and they have a solid running game. On paper this is one of the greatest offenses to ever play the game.

And it's being run by the highly experienced McDaniels. They will be scary.

The defense was better than is commonly thought last year. Based on point allowed, I think they were like 15 th. But let me show you why stats are unreliable: look at the Jets game yesterday. They had a 35 - 7 lead at halftime. Dominant defense which set up much of the offensive output with turnovers.

Yet the final score was 45 - 28. 28 pts makes that defense look pretty bad, when the reality is the game was over at halftime, and they cruised in the second half. Big leads often produce inconsequential yardage and points.

Look at the Pats in the playoffs last year: crushed the Denver offense, and then held Baltimore and New York down around 20. Very solid.

And they are MUCH improved this year, adding several draft picks, including 2 first rounders.

Is the defense as good as SF? No, definitely not. The 49rs have a great secondary, the Pats do not.

But the Pats defense is better than you think. And their offense is something the 49rs can only dream about. Would be a great Super Bowl!

Quoted from leitskev I lot of people predicting big year for Atlanta. Matty Ice making the next step, they say. We'll see. San Fran looked real impressive yesterday. I think I'd put them on top. I didn't get to watch Chicago, another favorite. And Detroit barely pulled their game out against a weak team. So my NFC ranking would be: San Fran, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, NY Giants, New Orleans, Philly, Detroit. It's only one week, but Giants, Saints, and Packers not only lost, but lost at home, so they have to fall in ranking. Anyone else have a ranking? Am I forgetting a team?

Using just the teams you listed, I'll give it a whirl, best to worst:

San Francisco - Atlanta - New York - New Orleans - Green Bay - Chicago - Detroit - Dallas - Philadelphia.

Added to this, I would put Washington ahead of Philadelphia, but you didn't list them, so I won't.

Yeah, maybe Washington will make the list soon. Big win yesterday. Griffin was VERY impressive. Nice story, cause he's a good kid. But he is a rookie. We'll see.

Quoted from leitskev Yet the final score was 45 - 28. 28 pts makes that defense look pretty bad, when the reality is the game was over at halftime, and they cruised in the second half. Big leads often produce inconsequential yardage and points. Look at the Pats in the playoffs last year: crushed the Denver offense, and then held Baltimore and New York down around 20. Very solid.

I didn't like this portion of your argument. Yes, that first part (saying their defense had a rough day) is misleading, but your team really shouldn't be packing it in like that. Remember when New England beat Tennessee in that snow game 59-0? That was a much better defense that they put on the field than what was out there yesterday. They are not the team they used to be, because they're buying a bunch of high-priced individuals.

And, yes, the Pats last year did hold teams to around 20. Specifically, 10, 20 and 23. Roughly 18/PPG. You'd hope for a solid defense to give up about 15/game. So, about 9 less, total.

That said, the team that got 10: Tebow's offense-based Broncos. Honestly, nobody should give up more than that to any team designed for a quarterback who is a glorified running back.

Game 2: Ravens v. Pats. Only reason the Pats won? Cundiff shanked a tip-in game-tying field goal. Had he made it and not cracked, you're looking at 23 points, minimum.

Super Bowl: Gave up 23 points. Lost. Giants (mainly Ahmad Bradshaw) gave them a shot by running in the TD instead of stopping and being able to run down the clock with the lead.

Those playoff stats aren't exactly going to blow anyone's hair back and I'm not convinced they've truly upgraded their defense. I'm on the opinion that their problems have changed positions.

Quoted from leitskev Yeah, maybe Washington will make the list soon. Big win yesterday. Griffin was VERY impressive. Nice story, cause he's a good kid. But he is a rookie. We'll see.

I'm not saying because of him. Even if it is Cam Newton syndrome, he kind of died off at the halfway point because teams figured him out. I'm talking about how they upgraded their receiver corps (big fan of Garcon's ability). Perhaps Shanahan will learn to stick with 1 RB from now on (I know, I know. Wishful thinking).

45 - 28 was the Jets game, not the Pats. My point was no one thinks the Jets have a bad defense, but they gave up 28 points. Had the Jets offense been their usual low scoring kind, the defense would have given up much less. You see the point? If you have a high scoring offense, the defense will give up more points and yardage. It happens.
'
The Pats held both the Ravens and the Giants down until late in the game. And remember, the Giants had a safety, and were held scoreless for the second and third quarters. Not too shabby for a crap defense.

The Ravens missed a field goal. San Fran dropped punts in the NFC championship game that allowed the Giants to win. It happens.

The game against Tebow was not Tebow's fault. The Pats defense blew apart the Broncos offensive line for more tackles for a loss than I've ever seen in a playoff game.

What high priced free agents did the pats get? Lloyd came over at a very team friendly contract. Most of the other veterans they signed did not make the team. The Pats have rebuilt mostly through the draft.

2 of the starters on defense now are rookie first rounders. A second rounder plays extensively in the nickel alignment.

Chris Johnson, one of the best running backs in the league, ran 11 times for 4 yards!

The Pats still have problems in the secondary. But their defense will be decent, and no one will run on them.

The Ravens defense was ferocious tonight... when these guys get up for a football game at home - they are virtually unbeatable.

ive noticed that high flying passing attacks agaisnt Brady and Manning they look lost at times... but when a team comes in and tries to play smashmouth.... the Ravens players go absolutely batshit. its like a feeding frenzy....i remember when they did that to the 49ers on Thanksgiving... just overwhelmed them

I have the Cincinnati Bengals making a deep playoff run and the Ravens just eviscerated them. Flacco was just surgical against a top 10 defense.

sick.

based on Week 1
1. 49ers
2. Ravens
3. Patriots
4. Texnas
5. Falcons

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/2
Hot off the press. Espn's ranking.

I agree with most of that list.  I'd probably put the Niners on top because they beat a very high quality team on the road.  And the Ravens are too high at 3.  They beat the Bengals at home, big whoop.  So, my top 10 would look more like:
1. 49ers
2. Pats
3. Falcons
4. Texans
5. Bears
6. Ravens
7. Broncos
8. Packers
9. Cowboys
10. Giants

And they definitely rank Buffalo too high at 24.  They should be sharing a room in the cellar with Miami.