Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Clark Judge of CBSSports.com:
Week 2
CLARK JUDGE (CBSSports.com)
- New England Patriots - Get used to Patriots in this position. Between now and Dec.10, they face one opponent (Baltimore) with a winning record last season.
- San Francisco 49ers - The defense hasn't changed, and Alex Smith should be better. Draw your own conclusions. I've drawn mine, and based on one week nobody in the NFC is better.
- Houston Texans - They made it to the divisional round of the playoffs without Matt Schaub. Now, Schaub is back, is rich and is dissecting opponents. Couple that with Wade Phillips' defense, and, suddenly, Houston doesn't have a problem.
- Atlanta Falcons - That wasn't just a defeat of Kansas City; it was a demolition. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter looks like he's the right guy for Matt Ryan and an explosive passing game.
- Chicago Bears - The more I see these guys the more I think they're going to squeeze Green Bay in the NFC North. I guess we won't have long to find out.
- Baltimore Ravens - There are few things as certain as a Baltimore win at home, so Monday's victory was predictable. But the win was notable for what Joe Flacco did - namely, pulverize a playoff opponent.
- Denver Broncos - Peyton Manning looks like Peyton Manning again, which means Denver's the team to beat in the AFC West. But keep this in mind: Five of its next seven opponents are 2011 playoff teams.
- Green Bay Packers - Sorry, Jarrett Bush, but the Packers did not beat themselves. San Francisco did. That should be a wake-up call to a club that needs more running and defense to be considered Super Bowl worthy.
- Dallas Cowboys - One of the biggest concerns with this year's Cowboys was their defense, and it may have closed enough holes to make Rob Ryan the second-best defensive coordinator in the family.
- Washington Redskins - Get ready for a tsunami of All Things RG3 if the Redskins don't slow down. He was sensational, and so were the Skins. Only remember this: Mike Shanahan won season openers the previous four years, too, and didn't have winning seasons.
- New York Giants - Somebody forgot to tell these guys the season started. They looked listless and disinterested last week. That will change, but their needs at cornerbacks may not. They need more good ones.
- San Diego Chargers - Their offense isn't where it should be, but that was a decent debut for John Pagano's defense. More games like that, and the Bolts start moving forward in the polls.
- Detroit Lions - So the Lions had to go to the mat to beat St. Louis. It doesn't matter. They won. But they better look sharper, otherwise they'll lag behind Green Bay and Chicago in their division.
- Philadelphia Eagles - Nobody was less impressive in a season-opening win. The Eagles must clean up the turnovers that sabotaged them last year and keep Michael Vick from getting hit ... or else.
- New Orleans Saints - These guys should be ... and will be ... better than they showed. They have too much talent. My question: After what happened, how come Drew Brees doesn't demand an explanation?
- Pittsburgh Steelers - I wouldn't read too much into that season-opening loss. The Steelers offensive line was in tatters, and they were missing key people on defense. Plus, it was Peyton Manning.
- New York Jets - Bart Scott is right to lecture the media. We'd be telling him how right we were if the Jets tanked. Give these guys credit: They backed up their words with offense, defense and a quarterback not named Tebow.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I'm not sure what to read into the Bucs' upset of Carolina, but one thing I like: Those mistakes that bedeviled Josh Freeman a year ago were missing ... and look what happened.
- Arizona Cardinals - Will the real Kevin Kolb please stand up? He sputters in preseason, then returns to win the opener off the bench. More games like last Sunday, and these guys will be a tough out for everyone.
- Minnesota Vikings - Christian Ponder showed me something with that frenzied fourth-quarter drive to tie the game. The Vikes have a chance for respectability if he keeps it up.
- Cincinnati Bengals - I didn't think the Bengals would win Monday, but I didn't think they'd get torched, either. Their defense looks overwhelmed, but never fear: Look at their schedule. The next five weeks are ... how shall I put this? ... promising.
- St. Louis Rams - OK, so close doesn't count, but it should for this team. It went to Detroit and nearly pulled the upset. I don't expect St. Louis to win a lot, but they're already competitive ... and that's a start.
- Tennessee Titans - Uh-oh, the Titans lose one game, and there's grumbling about offensive coordinator Chris Palmer. That will happen when Chris Johnson runs for 4 yards.
- Kansas City Chiefs - There wasn't much good about that season opener, but patience, people: The Chiefs were torched for 40 in last year's first game and nearly recovered by the end of the season.
- Seattle Seahawks - These guys can play defense. It's the offense that bothers me. I like Russell Wilson, too, but he's an undersized rookie quarterback, which means the odds are against him.
- Oakland Raiders - So long snappers are nothing special, huh? Tell that to these guys. Bad snaps cost them a game and may be a sign of the long season that seems in store.
- Carolina Panthers - Memo to Cam Newton: Putting up 10 points in a loss to Tampa Bay is not how you become an "icon." Please tell me there's something more there.
- Jacksonville Jaguars - That Blaine Gabbert touchdown pass with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter is the first sign that maybe, just maybe, these guys knew what they were doing when they drafted him.
- Buffalo Bills - Ryan Fitzpatrick stunk. Mario Williams was invisible. Fred Jackson got hurt. David Nelson is out for the season. Is this any way to become relevant? I think you know the answer.
- Indianapolis Colts - Don't worry about Andrew Luck. Peyton Manning was 3-13 in his first year, yet you could see the QB he'd become. The same goes here. The Colts made the right choice.
- Miami Dolphins - "Hard Knocks: The Season" just got started. And this time it could be tough to watch.
- Cleveland Browns - Pat Shurmur says that rookie Brandon Weeden "is our quarterback." I know. That's the problem.
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