Chiefs take over top spot in poll; Falcons 2nd
NEW YORK (AP) — Of the eight teams off to 2-0 starts this season, perhaps the most impressive has been the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs went into Foxborough and handled the New England Patriots in the NFL’s regular-season opener and followed that up with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in their home opener.
Because of that start, Kansas City grabbed the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll , which was released on Tuesday, receiving eight of 12 firstplace votes for 378 points in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
“Alex Smith has never looked better, Justin Houston is healthy again and creating havoc with the pass rush, and the Chiefs have made a clear statement with wins over the Patriots and Eagles that they are to be taken very seriously,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said.
The AFC West, which has three of the 2-0 teams, also has three teams in the top six of the AP Pro32.
The Atlanta Falcons moved up three spots to No. 2, and received one first-place vote, after routing the Green Bay Packers in their NFC championship game rematch on Sunday night.
The Oakland Raiders also received a firstplace vote and jumped three places to No. 3. The Raiders are just ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who received the remaining two firstplace votes for 343 points.
“Pittsburgh’s defence has improved markedly after a few pedestrian seasons — as the Bears are about to discover,” said Ira Kaufman of SB Nation Radio.
New England, which earned its first win with a 36-20 rout of the New Orleans Saints, slipped a spot to No. 5, but is only a point out of fourth.
“Still not at championship level, but quickly working their way back after Week 1 blowout,” The Sporting News’ Alex Marvez said of the defending champs.
The Denver Broncos jumped up eight spots to No. 6 after pounding the Dallas Cowboys 42-17.
The Packers, who led the poll last week, dropped to No. 7 after their 34-23 loss to Atlanta. But they will get a chance to rebound when winless Cincinnati comes to Lambeau Field on Sunday.
The Baltimore Ravens, 2-0 in the AFC North along with the Steelers, moved four spots to No. 8. The Ravens open Sunday’s schedule when they take their dominating defence to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Detroit Lions, one of three NFC teams at 2-0 after topping the New York Giants on Monday night, jumped four spots to No. 9. The Lions host the Falcons in one of the marquee matchups on Sunday.
The Cowboys plummeted seven spots to round out the top 10.
Moss says Griffin gloated about Shanahans being fired
Santana Moss says Robert Griffin III took credit for coach Mike Shanahan and offensive co-ordinator Kyle Shanahan being fired by the Washington Redskins.
During his weekly radio appearance Monday in Washington, Moss says it bothered him that Griffin acted like the Shanahans’ treatment of him was what got them fired after the 2013 season. Griffin responded on Twitter, saying, “To openly lie about me is a betrayal.”
Griffin tweets that he was the “good soldier” in an “impossible situation” with the Redskins after Shanahan said he never wanted him as his quarterback. He added: “Some so desperately want me to fit this negative narrative that has been pushed about me. But I don’t fit it. Never have. Never will.”
Moss says Griffin taking joy in the Shanahans being fired was “the dumbest mistake you can ever make in this league” and adds that when Jay Gruden was hired as the coach, he ripped Griffin in meetings because he wasn’t doing the things needed to win football games.
Panthers TE Olsen heads to IR; will miss at least 8 games
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Greg Olsen will miss a minimum of eight games after the Panthers placed the three-time Pro Bowl tight end on injured reserve with a broken right foot Tuesday.
The earliest he is eligible to return Nov. 26 when Panthers visit the New York Jets.
Olsen has a ‘Jones fracture,’ meaning he broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. Olsen was injured in the second quarter of Carolina’s 9-3 win over Buffalo and has surgery Monday.
The injury ends Olsen’s streak of 160 consecutive games played. It’s the second longest active streak among tight ends behind Dallas’ Jason Witten (221).
Carolina replaced Olsen on the 53-man roster with rookie fullback Alex Armah from the practice squad.