Patriots No. 1 in the NFL Power Rankings

The Patriots kept rolling, even while Tom Brady was suspended, and now that he's returned, their offence is shredding defences, with Brady throwing for 782 yards in two games. Brady's ability to involve so many of his offensive options makes the Patriots very difficult to stop, and it's why they are the team to beat at this stage of the season.

Key Injuries: T Nate Solder (biceps), RB Dion Lewis (knee).

Admittedly, the Vikings' preseason ranking came at a time when they were reeling from injuries to Adrian Peterson and then Teddy Bridgewater, but the acquisition of QB Sam Bradford has paid off big-time and Minnesota's defence has been outstanding. Bradford has completed a league-leading 70.4% of his passes and has yet to throw an interception, and the defence has yet to allow even 17 points in a single game.

Key Injuries: RB Adrian Peterson (knee), QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee).

Atlanta's offence has been sensational, averaging a league-leading 441.5 yards and 33.2 points per game, with QB Matt Ryan leading the league in many categories, including QB Rating (117.9). Their defence isn't so forceful, and could use a playmaker or two, but it's tough to keep pace when Ryan is hooking up with WR Julio Jones or splitting touches between running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.

Key Injuries:

The Seahawks struggled early, but have been better over the past three weeks, with QB Russell Wilson seeming to perform better after getting hurt (go figure). The emergence of TE Jimmy Graham as a premier receiving threat does theoretically raise the bar on Seattle's passing game, but it hasn't been as prolific as it was in the second half of last season. 

Key Injuries: RB Thomas Rawls (ankle).

The Cowboys bucked convention -- drafting a running back high and then starting a quarterback drafted in the fourth round -- and the results have been stellar. RB Ezekiel Elliott is a game-changer running behind the best offensive line in football, and QB Dak Prescott keeps winning, forcing uncomfortable questions about what the Cowboys might do once Tony Romo is healthy.

Key Injuries: QB Tony Romo (back), G La'El Collins (toe).

The Raiders are an exciting young team on the rise, but they also have games that show they are a young team on the rise, as opposed to a fully finished contender. Nevertheless, third-year QB Derek Carr is continuing to improve and that gives the Raiders a legitimate chance to challenge for the AFC West title. 

Key Injuries: None.

While 2015 seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian has performed admirably -- certainly better than expected -- at quarterback, the Broncos are still driven by defence, particularly their secondary, where corners Aqib Talib and Chris Harris are both among the best in coverage. 

Key Injuries: OLB DeMarcus Ware (forearm).

With a limited passing game -- averaging 171.0 passing yards per game, which ranks 31st -- the Bills have turned their season around with RB LeSean McCoy providing an amazing ground game and a pressure defence  There are reports that McCoy may be out this week, and perhaps longer, which would definitely knock the Bills' ranking down. 

Key Injuries: DT Marcel Dareus (hamstring), T Cordy Glenn (ankle), T Seantrel Henderson (back), WR Sammy Watkins (foot)

Washington has won four straight, and while QB Kirk Cousins isn't quite at the level at which he performed last season, he's been okay and RB Matt Jones is taking on a bigger role, especially with game-breaking TE Jordan Reed sidelined with a concussion.

Key Injuries: TE Jordan Reed (concussion), S DeAngelo Hall (knee).

It's been a tough schedule for the Bengals, who have road losses at Pittsburgh, Dallas and New England, along with one home loss to Denver, but now it's time to pull it together and start winning because there is still enough talent here to be a winning team.

Key Injuries: TE Tyler Eifert (back, thumb).

Even with J.J. Watt injured the Texans have used defence and a running game, complements of Lamar Miller, to compile a winning record. Good thing, because QB Brock Osweiler is having problems, completing too many passes to the opposition (8) and not enough to WR DeAndre Hopkins (31). 

Key Injuries:  DE J.J. Watt (back).

The Giants don't have much of a running game, but with WR Odell Beckham Jr. going off last week, there is potential for the passing game -- rookie Sterling Shepard and veteran Victor Cruz are also quality targets -- to keep Big Blue in the playoff hunt.

Key Injuries: S Nat Berhe (concussion), S Darian Thompson (foot).

The Ravens have dropped three straight, after winning three in a row to start the year. They have a long list of questionables this week, from QB Joe Flacco to WR Steve Smith Sr. to linebackers C.J. Mosley, Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, so there are some lineup concerns.

Key Injuries: TE Ben Watson (Achilles)

The Saints have scored 75 points to win their past two games, and needed to, because they allowed 72! This team is destined for mediocrity unless they find a way to slow down the opposition, even a little bit.

Key Injuries: DT Sheldon Rankins (leg), CB Delvin Breaux (fibula).

Bad enough that the Packers are making trades for Knile Davis because their starting running back, after injuries, is WR Ty Montgomery, and QB Aaron Rodgers is going through a lengthy slump, but mix in more injuries in the secondary and these are some tough times for the Pack.

Key Injuries: WR Jordy Nelson (knee), CB Sam Shields (concussion), TE Jared Cook (ankle), RB Eddie Lacy (ankle), RB James Starks (knee), CB Damarious Randall (groin), CB Quinten Rollins (groin).

A couple of losses brought the Eagles, and rookie QB Carson Wentz, back to Earth after their 3-0 start. This week provides a great test, too, facing the unbeaten Vikings and former Eagles QB Sam Bradford.

Key Injuries: DT Bennie Logan (groin)

Came out of the bye week with an impressive win over the Raiders, and that could be the start of good things for the Chiefs, particularly if RB Jamaal Charles is healthy enough to be a major contributor. Spencer Ware has been good, and will likely still have a role, but with Kansas City's modest passing game, they need Charles to add a game-breaking dimension to their attack.

Key Injuries: DE Allen Bailey (pectoral), OLB Justin Houston (knee).

San Diego's four losses have come by a total of 14 points, so they are close, and have emerging rookie talent on both sides of the ball. TE Hunter Henry is becoming a weekly threat and DE Joey Bosa is a major upgrade on the defensive line. 

Key Injuries: S Jahleel Addae (collarbone), WR Keenan Allen (knee), CB Brandon Flowers (concussion).

The Rams have probably overachieved a bit to be .500, particularly with the 31st-ranked offence in terms of yardage, but QB Case Keenum is getting WR Kenny Britt more involved and that helps. Where the Rams really make teams pay, though, is on the defensive line, where DT Aaron Donald is a wrecking ball and ends William Hayes and Robert Quinn can get to the quarterback. 

Key Injuries: None.

The schedule has been a little soft, but the Titans are also performing better than anticipated, with a punishing defence complementing the resurrection of RB DeMarco Murray, who has been in fine form since arriving from Philadelphia. If QB Marcus Mariota continues to improve -- he's been better the past couple of games -- then the Titans may be able to keep this competitive thing going.

Key Injuries: None.

A couple of close call home wins over Philadelphia and Los Angeles elevates the Lions to 3-3, and while they don't have anyone that commands attention like Calvin Johnson did for a decade, the receiving corps of Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin and Golden Tate (who finally showed up last week) provides plenty of options for QB Matthew Stafford.

Key Injuries: DE Ziggy Ansah (ankle), TE Eric Ebron (knee), RB Theo Riddick (ankle), 

The top team coming into the year, the Cardinals have needed wins against the Niners and Jets to get back to .500. They should be better than this, and certainly this week's home game against Seattle will be a good test to see whether those back-to-back wins started the Cardinals on the right path.

Key Injuries: G Evan Mathis (ankle)

The Jaguars entered the season with higher expectations (not unlike Week 7 opponent Oakland) and promptly lost three in a row to start the campaign but, after back-to-back wins, they are threatening to approach mediocrity. 

Key Injuries: None.

There are problems in Indy. They're weak defensively and the offence can't fire on all cylinders because QB Andrew Luck is getting drilled, sacked a league-leading 23 times in six games. He was sacked 15 times in seven games (56 more drop-backs) last season.

Key Injuries: G Jack Mewhort (triceps), DE Henry Anderson (knee), WR Donte Moncrief (scapula).

This might seem harsh, especially for a team that sits comfortably in the Top 10 with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, but the drop-off from Big Ben to Landry Jones could be dramatic and the Steelers defence hasn't been stout enough to expect them to drive the bus.

Key Injuries: OLB Ryan Shazier (knee), QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee), TE Ladarius Green (ankle), DE Cameron Heyward (hamstring).

It was looking easy to see the Dolphins as a hopeless squad, undone by poor quarterback play, but then RB Jay Ajayi rumbled for 204 yards on the ground in a surprising rout of the Steelers and who knows if that was anything more than a starburst, never to be seen again?

Key Injuries: TE Jordan Cameron (concussion), CB Xavien Howard (knee).

Come out of the bye week to visit San Francisco, not a bad chance to get back to .500 for a team that is missing a starting running back and wide receiver. QB Jameis Winston has looked great at times, but it needs to happen more often if the Bucs are going to climb in the standings.

Key Injuries: WR Vincent Jackson (knee), RB Doug Martin (hamstring), G J.R. Sweezy (back).

It's been an ugly fall for the Panthers, going from 15-1 to 1-5, the last two losses by a field goal each (to go with a one-point loss in the opener). Can they turn the season around, or will it be a long season of Cam Newton pouting after losses?

Key Injuries: T Michael Oher (concussion).

The Bears aren't particularly good, but a little bit interesting with second-string QB Brian Hoyer throwing for 300 yards every week and WR Cameron Meredith taking advantage of his opportunity to play.

Key Injuries: QB Jay Cutler (thumb), WR Kevin White (fibula), WR Eddie Royal (toe).

It took forever for the Jets to settle on Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback in the offseason, and then he fell flat, throwing 11 interceptions in six games, and the flailing Jets have turned to Geno Smith. That'll fix everything. Maybe not, but a change had to be made.

Key Injuries: T Breno Giaccomini (back), ILB David Harris (hamstring), WR Eric Decker (hip).

This looks like it's going downhill in a hurry. After starting the season with a 28-0 win, the Niners have dropped five straight, four of them by double-digit margins.

Key Injuries: RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder).

The winless Browns are dealing with a bunch of injuries, which hardly makes it more likely that they will record their first win of the season any time soon.

Key Injuries: WR Terrelle Pryor (hamstring), QB Robert Griffin III (shoulder), QB Josh McCown (collarbone), WR Corey Coleman (hand), G Joel Bitonio (foot), CB Jordan Poyer (kidney).