NFL Power Rankings - September 25, 2014

A premier wide receiver, a pair of productive backs and a sturdy defence means the Bengals don't need anything spectacular out of QB Andy Dalton. In fact, Cincinnati can apparently send him out on pass routes, as he caught an 18-yard touchdown to really start the rout against Tennessee.

Key Injuries: WR Marvin Jones (foot), OLB Vontaze Burfict (concussion), TE Tyler Eifert (elbow).

Started strong against the Broncos, before letting Denver storm back in the fourth quarter, but the Seahawks prevailed in overtime, winning a game that was infinitely better than when those two teams met in the Super Bowl.

Key Injuries: None.

For the most part, strangely ineffective getting the ball to WR Demaryius Thomas thus far, but emergence of Emmanuel Sanders and Wes Welker's return from suspension gives the Denver passing game a lot of weapons.

Key Injuries: OLB Danny Trevathan (knee).

It's getting kind of ridiculous, as the Eagles have become the first team in NFL history to overcome double-digit deficits to win each of their first three games in a season, but the explosiveness of this offence is a big reason why they remain unbeaten. Teams that get the lead can't pull away and leave the Eagles behind.

Key Injuries: RG Evan Mathis (knee).

It's early, but the Lions' defence could be a real difference-maker. Since the offence is already a potent enough beast, with weapons throughout, the Lions can be good with an average defence, let alone one allowing 24 yards per game fewer than any other team through the first three weeks.

Key Injuries: OLB Kyle Van Noy (core), MLB Stephen Tulloch (knee).

Questions are creeping up about whether QB Tom Brady is simply declining, especially after the Patriots struggled to move the ball at home against Oakland. The good news for the Pats is that they have a formidable defence, which is giving them some time to figure out what they need to do in order to be better offensively.

Key Injuries: CB Brandon Browner (suspension).

Couldn't move the ball after scoring on their first possession of the second half at Buffalo, but going on the road and pulling out a 12-point win after a win against Seattle the week before is a strong showing from the Chargers.

Key Injuries: RT Jeromey Clary (hip/ankle), C Nick Hardwick (neck), RB Ryan Mathews (knee).

Didn't crush the Vikings, but started and finished strong, which was more than enough to handle a Vikings team that they limited to field goals.

Key Injuries: RB Mark Ingram (hand).

It was on the road, but losing to Arizona, and backup QB Drew Stanton, was a bad result for the Niners. The trouble was getting anything going in the ground game, as Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde combined for 23 yards on nine carries, making it difficult to make a 14-6 halftime lead stand up.

Key Injuries: DT Glenn Dorsey (bicep), RT Anthony Davis (hamstring).

Key Injuries: WR Lance Moore (groin) OLB Jarvin Jones (wrist), OLB Ryan Shazier (knee).

RB Eddie Lacy is off to a slow start, not unlike last season, but QB Aaron Rodgers has had trouble too and Rodgers' greatness has covered for a lot of Packers flaws in recent years.

Key Injuries: C J.C. Tretter (knee), DT B.J. Raji (biceps), RT Bryan Bulaga (knee), OLB Brad Jones (quadriceps).

QB Drew Stanton was terrific against San Francisco, which adds some credibility, but the other story of the day for the Cardinals was how their defence locked down on the 49ers after a couple of early scoring drives, allowing a total of 133 yards on the Niners' last six possessions, after giving up 160 on the first two. 

Key Injuries: OLB Daryl Washington (suspension), DT Darnell Dockett (knee), OLB John Abraham (concussion), QB Carson Palmer (shoulder).

After some early success against Pittsburgh defensively, the Panthers forced a punt on just one of the Steelers' last eight possessions; an atypical performance from a usually formidable defence.

Key Injuries: DE Greg Hardy (Commissioner's List).

Only gained 257 yards in the win over the Jets, but took advantage of turnovers, most notably FS Ryan Mundy taking an interception for a touchdown and CB Kyle Fuller picking off another ill-fated Geno Smith pass in the Bears' end zone.

Key Injuries: CB Charles Tillman (triceps), DT Jay Ratliff (concussion).

A ridiculous beat down of the Bucs last Thursday, during which Tampa Bay didn't score until the fourth quarter, when they were already trailing 56-0. These Falcons can move the ball, the question is whether they can put up stops defensively.

Key Injuries: LT Sam Baker (knee), ILB Sean Weatherspoon (Achilles).

Trouble begins when the Texans need to lean on QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and, with Arian Foster out, they had to against the Giants. It didn't go well.

Key Injuries: RB Arian Foster (hamstring).

If not for those untimely turnovers, the Jets moved the ball effectively against the Bears, and did so with WR Eric Decker limited to one catch (and one target) because of a hamstring injury. Up stepped Jeremy Kerley, with seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.

Key Injuries: None.

Fell behind the Rams 21-0, turning the ball over twice on the first three possessions, before rallying behind the ground game of league-leading runner DeMarco Murray.

Key Injuries: ILB Sean Lee (knee), DE Anthony Spencer (knee), ILB Rolando McClain (groin).

The perfect season is no more, and it's due to an expected reason: QB E.J. Manuel couldn't move the ball consistently against the Chargers. Really feels like they are limited offensively as they wait for Manuel to elevate his game.

Key Injuries: MLB Kiko Alonso (knee).

Escaped with a win in Cleveland, kicking a field goal at the gun to win, after the Browns missed a couple of fourth-quarter field goals. RB Lorenzo Taliafero broke out with a big game, rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Key Injuries: TE Dennis Pitta (hip), RB Bernard Pierce (thigh).

Overwhelmed by the Bengals, not scoring until late in the fourth quarter, but the Titans did get to see more of rookie RB Bishop Sankey, who has a good opportunity to emerge as the No. 1 back, ahead of veteran Shonn Greene.

Key Injuries: ILB Zach Brown (pectoral).

A couple of late touchdowns made the margin wider than it really was for most of the game, but the Chiefs have to be most pleased with a road win while dealing with injuries. One of the fill-ins, RB Joe McKnight, scored a pair of touchdowns, with six catches for 64 yards coming out of the backfield.

Key Injuries: ILB Joe Mays (wrist), FS Eric Berry (ankle), RB Jamaal Charles (ankle).

Playing Jacksonville is a good way for any team to look better, but the Colts accumulated 529 yards on the road. Even against poor opposition, that's a good day.

Key Injuries: RG Donald Thomas (quadriceps), DE Fili Moala (knee), OLB Robert Mathis (suspension/Achilles), S Delano Howell (neck), DE Arthur Jones (ankle), ILB Jerrell Freeman (hamstring).

Even without their starting running back and suspended No. 1 receiver, the Browns have been able to move the ball. It's the other side, where they keep giving up yardage, that needs more work. Kind of unexpected on both fronts, really.

Key Injuries: WR Josh Gordon (suspension), DE Desmond Bryant (wrist), RB Ben Tate (knee).

Getting drilled at home by Kansas City was understandably disappointing, and QB Ryan Tannehill (21-for-43, 205 YDS, 1 TD) had his troubles, but it hardly justified teasing the idea of going with backup Matt Moore.

Key Injuries: C Mike Pouncey (hip), SS Reshad Jones (suspension), ILB Koa Misi (ankle), OLB Philip Wheeler (thumb), ILB Dannell Ellerbe (hip), RG Shelley Smith (knee), RB Knowshon Moreno (elbow).

A much better showing against the Texans, with RB Rashard Jennings running for 176 yards and QB Eli Manning completing 75% of his passes. Just as importantly, Eli didn't thrown any interceptions.

Key Injuries: G Geoff Schwartz (toe), MBL Jon Beason (foot).

Ultimately came up short at Philadelphia, but QB Kirk Cousins had little trouble spreading the ball around on his way to 427 passing yards. That's the kind of game that draws notice, and raises expectations for next week. 

Key Injuries: SS Brandon Meriweather (suspension), TE Jordan Reed (hamstring), QB Robert Griffin III (ankle), CB DeAngelo Hall (Achilles).

A 28-point home loss, their starting quarterback and defensive end injured -- not exactly the ideal start to the season. 

Key Injuries: QB Sam Bradford (knee), CB Trumaine Johnson (knee), DE Chris Long (ankle), QB Shaun Hill (thigh).

With an injury to QB Matt Cassel, so begins the Teddy Bridgewater era in Minnesota. Could be some tough times, but getting a look at the future is probably an encouraging sign and might as well allow Bridgewater and WR Coradarrelle Patterson to get used to each other in game action.

Key Injuries: RB Adrian Peterson (Commissioner's List), QB Matt Cassel (foot), RG Brandon Fusco (pectoral), TE Kyle Rudolph (sports hernia). 

Before last week's game, it was still reasonable to think that the Bucs could turn around their slow start. After that ugly display against Atlanta, it looks like a real long shot.

Key Injuries: RG Logan Mankins (knee), QB Josh McCown (thumb), MLB Mason Foster (shoulder).

A competitive road showing at New England, but with no touchdowns scored, that counts in favour of the D and maybe an indictment of the Patriots more than credit to the Raiders.

Key Injuries: CB D.J. Hayden (foot), OLB Sio Moore (ankle).

Rookie QB Blake Bortles made his debut against Indianapolis, and had some success moving the ball, though it was after the game was out of reach. Not to worry, that won't be the last time Bortles is throwing the ball with a game out of reach this season.

Key Injuries: WR Justin Blackmon (suspension), WR Ace Sanders (suspension), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), SS Johnathan Cyprien (concussion).