Craig: Week 3 NFL Picks & Power Rankings

What would you rather do on a Sunday morning than wake up early and read weekly picks and power rankings involving 32 teams that basically are of equal strength and ability to beat, lose to or tie anyone on any given Sunday, Monday, Saturday, Thursday (and some day, when the revenue ceiling needs to be extended to a gazillion bazillion dollars, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday as well)?

CRAIG'S NFL POWER RANKINGS
BEST OF THE BUNCH
1. Broncos (2-0)
Why: Like we said last week, Seattle was so clearly the best team in the league, it was bound to lose at San Diego. That's how this league rolls. And that's what happened. We'd take any one of our top seven teams as the best team in the league, at least for this week. Right now, it's Denver, but that could and probably will change after the Broncos' trip to Seattle today.

THE REST

2. Eagles (2-0); 3. Cardinals (2-0); 4. Chargers (1-1); 5. Seahawks (1-1); 6. Bengals (2-0); 7. Falcons (2-1); 8. Packers (1-1); 9. Bills (2-0); 10. Dolphins (1-1); 11. Patriots (1-1); 12. Panthers (2-0); 13. Bears (1-1); 14. 49ers (1-1); 15. Texans (2-0); 16. Jets (1-1); 17. Ravens (1-1); 18. Cowboys (1-1); 19. Titans (1-1); 20. Steelers (1-1); 21. Browns (1-1); 22. Saints (0-2).

THE VIKINGS
23. Vikings 1-1 (Last week: 15): Last week's 30-7 loss didn't prove that the Vikings can't win without Adrian Peterson. But it did prove that they can't win without him while they're turning the ball over four times and giving up blocked field goals that are returned for touchdowns. The defense played fairly well, but didn't make any plays on short fields, which added to the blowout.

THE REST OF THE REST
24. Lions (1-1); 25. Redskins (1-1); 26. Colts (0-2); 27. Rams (1-1); 28. Jaguars (0-2); 29. Chiefs (0-2); 30. Raiders (0-2); 31. Giants (0-2).

WORST OF THE BUNCH
32: Buccaneers (0-3): Well, we had the Rams down as the worst team in the league a week ago. But the Bucs made one heck of a case to change that by A, losing at home to the Rams in Austin Davis' NFL starting debut; and B, Getting humiliated 56-14 at Atlanta on Thursday.

1, The Saints' running game will be without Mark Ingram. A week ago, the Vikings couldn't shake the Patriots out of a game plan designed to run the ball and throw quick passes from short drops on manageable downs and distances.

2, The return of special teams coordinator Mike Priefer should guarantee that there won't be a special teams snap that comes with only nine Vikings players.

3, Quarterback Matt Cassel is an up-and-down quarterback. He was as down as down can be a week ago. He should be more likely to protect the ball better this week.

THREE REASONS FOR VIKINGS FANS TO BE NERVOUS

1, A 2.8-yard average per carry without Peterson a week ago wasn't a good sign for the future.

3, Last week's inability to stop the run made it so much more difficult for coach Mike Zimmer's creative defense to be effective with pressure and takeaways on third downs.

THE PICKS

VIKINGS
Vikings plus-10 at Saints. The pick: Saints 28, Vikings 21.

Every sign there is points to a lopsided Saints victory. After initially picking 35-17, we'll dial it back to a close contest in which the Saints fail to cover. In the NFL, it's always dangerous to pick a team when EVERY sign points to them having a fairly easy day.

Last week: Patriots minus-3 at Vikings. The pick: Patriots 21, Vikings 17. The final: Patriots 30, Vikings 7. Record: 1-1.

Ravens minus-1 ½ at Browns. The pick: Browns 24, Ravens 21

Why: If the Browns were able to pressure Drew Brees in a big upset at home last week, they should be able to put some heat on Joe Flacco in what wouldn't be nearly as big of an upset at home today. Last week: Jaguars plus-6 at Redskins: The pick: Jaguars 24, Redskins 23. The final: Redskins 41, Jaguars 10. Record: 0-2.
THE REST
Chargers plus-2 at Bills: Chargers by 3

Cowboys minus-1 at Rams: Cowboys by 7

Redskins plus-6 ½ at Eagles: Eagles by 3

Texans minus-2 ½ at Giants: Giants by 3

Packers plus-2 ½ at Lions: Lions by 3

Colts minus-7 at Jaguars: Colts by 3

Raiders plus-14 at Patriots: Patriots by 7

Steelers plus-3 ½ at Panthers: Steelers by 3

49ers minus-3 at Cardinals: Cardinals by 7

Chiefs plus-4 at Dolphins: Dolphins by 7

Bears plus-2 ½ at Jets: Jets by 3