Ah, the warming fold of the NFL season has brought back the early week prognostication that follows Overreaction Monday known as power rankings. Feels so good. Let's just get at it.
Obviously, the big issue in terms of rankings isn't the loss. The Eagles were a highly touted team at the end of the preseason, and one that many expected to win last week. The question is the medical mayhem that the Rams endured.
How close to 100% will Sam Bradford be? And how effective can his offense be without his most consistent target, Danny Amendola? How long will Steven Jackson be out? And with Bartell's neck injury and BFB's toe, what does the Rams' CB depth chart look like moving forward? Those are pretty unanswerable questions.
What we do know is what's up next: a Monday Night Football showdown with the New York Giants, no stranger to painful player losses to injury themselves. In the meantime, we'll have the TST power rankings up tomorrow. And if you'd like me to include another source for these, just let me know in the comments.
| Average ranking (# of rankings) | 21.5 (8) |
| Average change from last week | -3.50 |
| Highest ranking (source) | 15th (SB Nation) |
| Lowest ranking (source) | 26th (Fox Sports) |
| Biggest positive change (source) | 0 (two sources) |
| Biggest negative change (source) | -8 (CBS Sports) |
SB Nation: 15th (15th last week) - Holding strong just around the halfway mark. It's a sign that the Eagles command some serious respect league-wide.
It looks like QB Sam Bradford will be OK so they'll get better. The loss of Danny Amedola [sic] hurts, though.
The rest of the major power rankings after the jump.
ESPN: 20th (17th)
Injury situation will test the Rams' depth and mettle heading into MNF game.
NFL.com: 21st (17th)
CBS Sports: 23rd (15th) - Still hate Prisco's rankings. Consistently ranks 49ers over us.
This team was hammered by injuries in the first week. If Sam Bradford misses time, that will be the biggest of them all.
Pro Football Talk: 21st (21st)
When the Rams and Giants square off on Monday Night Football, they should replace the coin flip with a comparison of injury reports.
National Football Post: 20th (N/A)
Are the injuries already a concern for the Rams after one week? They need Steven Jackson on the field.
Sporting News: 25th (19th)
Oldie but goodie: DE James Hall
Hall, who had 10.5 sacks last season, can support a good pass rush when not facing Michael Vick, but it all depends on first-round pick Robert Quinn.
Pro Football Weekly: 23rd (18th) - Masters of the condensed understatement...
Injuries are huge concern for the former NFC West favorites.
Fox Sports: 26th (24th)
The Rams ran the ball well, even after the loss of Steven Jackson, but the questions about their receiving corps are now even more evident after all the critical drops. Their Week 2 matchup against the Giants will be won in the training room as both teams are banged up pretty badly.
Sports Illustrated: 16th (13th)
The Rams didn't look ready for their close-up against the Eagles, and that makes next Monday night's game at the Giants all the more important. After losing to one of the head coaches he used to work for in Philly's Andy Reid, the Rams' Steve Spagnuolo can't afford to drop to 0-2 at the hands of another, New York's Tom Coughlin.