In a season marked by extremely strong starts in second-tier cities like Cincinnati, San Diego and Baltimore, you have to travel to the most obscure spot on the NFL map to find the strongest.
We're talking about Jacksonville, Florida – home of your No. 1 ranked Jaguars.
Jacksonville's
9-0 domination of the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers Monday night was enough to turn heads here at Troll Central.
We might come cheap, but shutouts of defending champions do not (hasn't happened since 1981, when the Raiders were blanked three games in a row). And the score doesn't quite tell the full breadth of the domination. Jacksonville was better by a margin of more than 2-to-1 in yards (362-153), nearly 2-to-1 in first downs (17-9) and over 4-to-1 in rushing yards (110-26).
So, who are these guys? If we were to ask our mythical, sports-hating Aunt Cooter to tell us everything she knows about the Jacksonville football team, her answer would be brief:
"I didn't realize the NFL had a team in Mississippi!"
You can read up on Jaguars history, but here's the short version: 1995 expansion team was very good very fast (AFC title game in their second year), but never got great. Until, maybe, Monday night, when they made the champions look like a bunch of grade-school kids running from the town bully.
It's a nice time for Jacksonville, which has a very short list of notable achievements.
Here are the biggest, as far as we can tell:
- Jacksonville gave us Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and two of our all-time favorite road-trip tunes: "Call Me the Breeze" and "Flirtin' with Disaster."
- Jacksonville is the lower 48's largest city in area (758 square miles), which makes it about half the size of Rhode Island.
- There is a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
- Jimmy Fallon (pictured here) is a Jaguars fan.
Ouch.
It's too early for the Jags to have official
quality wins (both of their opponents are 1-1), but clearly the Steelers and Cowboys were quality opponents – by Week 17, it'd be a big upset if both aren't over .500. And if Jacksonville is still undefeated after road trips to Indy and Washington, there'll be little doubt about the lofty status we've bestowed on the plucky Jags.
At the other end of the spectrum are the terrible teams, which have been absolutely as advertised.
The bottom eight teams in our offseason Power Rankings – Buffalo, Green Bay, Oakland, N.Y. Jets, Detroit, San Francisco, Tennessee and Houston – have combined to go 3-13 so far. The Jets, Bills and Niners have shown some life, but miracles will be required for teams like the Raiders, Titans and Texans.
But when the Jacksonville Jaguars are No. 1, well, anything can happen.
1. JACKSONVILLE (previous rank: 4)
Last week: Held the Steelers to 0 rushing first downs.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Much-maligned RB Fred Taylor has missed just six of his last 59 games and is averaging 4.48 yards per carry over that span.
Next: at Indianapolis. Jags have covered eight straight spreads in September.
2. INDIANAPOLIS (previous rank: same)
Last week: Stop us if you've read this story before: Peyton Manning padded his stats (82 passing yards in fourth quarter with 20-point lead) in blowout of Houston.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Manning got one step closer to Canton when the Texans were added to the league in 2002. In nine career games against Houston, he's 201 for 284 (70.8 percent) with 2,503 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs and a 117.7 passer rating.
Next: vs. Jacksonville. First Ohio State-Texas, now this. And it's just September. The Football Gods are kind.
3. SEATTLE (previous rank: same)
Last week: The Seahawks' defense dominated again in a 21-10 win over Kaptain Kurt and the Kards; they've allowed 16 points in two games.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Seattle's 2-0 start is the first by a defending Super Bowl loser since the 1998 Green Bay Packers – both under Mike Holmgren, of course.
Next: vs. N.Y. Giants.
4. CHICAGO (previous rank: 6)
Last week: The new Monsters of the Midway handed out a second straight whipping, 34-7 over Lions.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Two straight wins by 25+ points is a nice way to start your season; in their great 1985 Super Bowl season, the Bears posted only four such wins (including playoffs).
Next: at Minnesota. The Vikings this week, the Seahawks in Week 4 – the preseason is over.
5. CINCINNATI (previous rank: same)
Last week: Cincy rolled past the Browns with 512 yards of offense in its home opener, 27-13.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Amassing 500 yards in a game is a rarity in the NFL, but the Bengals have done it twice in their last four games with the Browns – they had 502 in a ridiculous 58-48 win in 2004.
Next: at Pittsburgh. Bengals have lost seven of nine to Steelers, but this is Carson "Brass Balls" Palmer's "I hate Pittsburgh" game.
6. SAN DIEGO (previous rank: 9)
Last week: In a 40-7 win, the Chargers held the Titans to 98 yards through three quarters a week after holding Oakland to 57 yards through three quarters.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: The 2002 Chargers jumped out to a 2-0 record in Marty Schottenheimer's first season, outscoring their opponents 58-9. But those first two opponents (Cincy and Houston) combined to finish 6-26, and the Chargers finished 8-8. Does any of this sound familiar? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Next: Bye. As if they haven't rested enough – RB Michael Turner's 175 mop-up yards are more than reigning rushing champ Shaun Alexander's total (140).
7. BALTIMORE (previous rank: 8)
Last week: The Ravens beat "NFL team" from Oakland, 28-6.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Steve McNair's passer rating is 74.6 so far – comparable to Kyle Boller's 71.7 a year ago. But when you're plus-8 in turnovers, there are no worries.
Next: Bye. Then the first test, home vs. San Diego.
8. NEW ENGLAND (previous rank: 7)
Last week: Mr. Miyagi 24, Danny 17.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: New England has won FORTY-NINE STRAIGHT GAMES when allowing 17 points or less. The last such loss came in Week 2 of 2001, the fateful 10-3 loss to the Jets when Drew Bledsoe was injured and Tom Brady pulled a Lou Gehrig.
Next: vs. Denver.
9. ATLANTA (previous rank: 10)
Last week: The Falcons rushed for more than 300 yards against a Tampa defense that was No. 2 in yards per carry allowed last year (3.4 per). Wow.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Michael Vick leads the NFL with 10 rushes of 10 yards or better. No. 2? Teammate Warrick Dunn (nine).
Next: at New Orleans (Monday night). Atlanta has an extra day to find a kicker after Michael Koenen's 2-for-8 start.
10. PITTSBURGH (previous rank: 1)
Last week: The Steelers lost for the first time since December, getting thoroughly handled by the Jaguars.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Steelers became the fourth team in two weeks to lose despite not allowing a touchdown. This happened only twice in all of 2005.
Next: vs. Cincinnati.
11. MINNESOTA (previous rank: 17)
Last week: Ryan "Slash" Longwell threw the game-tying TD and kicked the game-winning FG in the Vikings' home opener.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: In the 11 games Brad Johnson has started since the middle of 2005, the Vikings have allowed 16.4 points a game. In the 11 games previous, they allowed 27.5 points a game.
Next: vs. Chicago
12. N.Y. GIANTS (previous rank: 13)
Last week: Eli "Possible Serial Killer" Manning looked happy for the first time on a football field after the Giants' come-from-behind OT win over Philly.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Manning has thrown at least one interception in eight of his last nine games (including playoffs).
Next: at Seattle. Big Blue defense will be tested again – first Manning, then McNabb and now Hasselbeck/Alexander.
Best of the Rest:
13. DENVER (11) — Running game is still there (6.0 yards per rush)
14. NEW ORLEANS (20) — New balance: 21 passes to WRs, 21 passes to RB/TEs
15. PHILADELPHIA (15) — Who is Trent Cole? Eagles DE is co-NFL leader in sacks with 4
16. DALLAS (19) — P Mat McBriar leads NFL with 50.8 avg despite glaring lack of second "t" in first name
17. BUFFALO (25) — Bills' O anemic (205.5 yards, 31st), but efficient (no turnovers)
18. CAROLINA (12) — Absence of Smith doesn't explain 196 yards a game allowed on ground
19. ST. LOUIS (16) — WR Holt leads NFL in times thrown to (29), but has just 110 yards
20. WASHINGTON (18) — WR Moss has more rushing yards (47) than Portis (39)
22. N.Y. JETS (23) — Averaging 129 more passing yards in 2006
23. SAN FRANCISCO (27) — QB Smith a big early surprise with 93.5 rating
24. MIAMI (14) — Culpepper tied with Minnesota kicker Longwell with 1 TD pass in 2006
25. KANSAS CITY (21) — QB Huard has two more Super Bowl rings than Dan Marino
26. DETROIT (26) — Note to TV producers: Mike Martz (shown 92.4 times Sunday) is not the head coach
27. TAMPA BAY (24) — RB Cadillac Williams could be downgraded to Buick (2.3 avg.)
28. CLEVELAND (28) — McGinest 4 tackles, no big plays in 2 games
29. HOUSTON (29) — Don't blame David: QB Carr has shocking 123.7 rating
30. TENNESSEE (30) — Titans' three headed "monster" at RB: 39 carries, 117 yards, 3.0 avg.
31. GREEN BAY (31) — Favre on pace for 676 pass attempts, 35 more
CHFF.com disses
32. OAKLAND (32) — Raiders on pace to allow 120 sacks, send Al Davis six feet under
