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NFL Power Rankings: Ravens eclipse the Top 10

After pummeling the Dolphins, Baltimore joins the upper echelon

By Kyle P Barber

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Ravens weren’t the only big winners Sunday as bettor takes home $600,000 John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

After gobsmacking the NFL with a 59-point affair on Sunday, analysts had no choice but lift the Ravens to the top of the AFC North and join most Top 10 rankings.

NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus puts Baltimore up two spots (9)

“We knew the Ravens drew a favorable matchup in Week 1, but it wasn’t supposed to be that easy. Baltimore’s drive results by possession in the first half: TD, TD, TD, TD, punt (muffed by Dolphins), TD, TD. That last score came after John Harbaugh called for a fake punt -- successfully executed -- with the Ravens leading 35-3. Cold-blooded! The biggest storyline, of course, was Lamar Jackson, who become the first QB with five or more touchdown passes in a season opener since Peyton Manning (2013).”

ESPN eats their words as they lift the Ravens up nine(!) spots (8)

“Brown became the much-needed deep threat for quarterback Lamar Jackson, gaining 30-plus yards after the catch on each of his two touchdowns. Last season, Ravens receivers had three catches on which they gained at least 30 YAC. -- Jamison Hensley”

Yahoo! Sports’ Frank Schwab is a bit stingy (11)

“Presumably, Lamar Jackson won’t have a perfect passer rating all season. But he probably won’t have just 6 rushing yards too often either. Jackson doesn’t need to be a great passer. If Sunday is a sign he can be a good passer? He can be in the MVP conversation and the Ravens can win a Super Bowl. He can be the most dangerous weapon in the NFL, just like he was at Louisville.”

USA Today’s Nate Davis gives the Ravens a 12-spot leap in their rankings (5)

“QB Lamar Jackson looked like an MVP. New-look defense appeared up to Baltimore’s perennial standards. But was it all a Miami mirage?”

Bleacher Report is another site which underrated the Ravens (10)

“The Ravens are the class of the AFC North until a division rival proves it’s on the same level,” Sobleski said. “The Browns stunk. The Steelers looked inept. The Bengals played better than expected yet still lost. Lamar Jackson and Co. came out flying high and obliterated the rebuilding Dolphins, as they should have.”

AFC North Rival Rankings

Browns

  • B/R: 19
  • USA Today: 22
  • Yahoo! Sports: 17
  • ESPN: 17
  • NFL.com: 21

Steelers

  • B/R: 14
  • USA Today: 15
  • Yahoo! Sports: 14
  • ESPN: 16
  • NFL.com: 14

Bengals

  • B/R: 27
  • USA Today: 25
  • Yahoo! Sports: 25
  • ESPN: 27
  • NFL.com: 24

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