FRO's Results Rankings 2009 NFL Season Week 1 By Jon Wagner, Sr. Writer At-Large Football Reporters Online

FRO's Results Rankings
2009 NFL Season
Week 1
By Jon Wagner, Sr. Writer At-Large

While there are many power rankings out there based as much on hype, expectations, and sometimes unrealized projections, we here at FRO, prefer to rank NFL teams on what's actually happened, taking into account only how teams have performed on the field and who they’ve played. At FRO, you won’t find yet another power ranking that means little. Instead, here are FRO's Week 1 Results Rankings. Check back each week for new rankings!

#1 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Not much offensively, but the Eagles' defense ended their game in Carolina by halftime.

#2 NEW YORK JETS
Mark Sanchez had a solid debut, and Rex Ryan's relentless defense suffocated the Texans in Houston for four quarters.

#3 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The Rams provided a weak test, but when you win by 28 and you post a shutout in Week 1, you get a high ranking.

#4 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The running game and red zone offense struggled, but the defense and Big Ben were clutch against a good Titans team.

#5 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Too many points allowed to a team like Detroit, especially at home, but Brees and the Saints' offense were stellar.

#6 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
A slow start in Cleveland, but Adrian Peterson and the Vikes' defense both eventually kicked it into high gear.

#7 ATLANTA FALCONS
The Falcons' defense came to play, forcing Miami into several costly miscues.

#8 DALLAS COWBOYS
Similar to the Vikings' win in Cleveland, a sluggish first half was followed up a much better second half in Tampa.

#9 NEW YORK GIANTS
It should have been easier after leading the Skins 17-0, but the Giants were good enough on both sides of the ball.

#10 BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Ravens let the Chiefs, especially without Cassel, hang around for too long… until Joe Flacco finished a big day.

#11 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The 49ers served early notice that they intend to compete for the AFC West crown by opening with a win in the desert.

#12 GREEN BAY PACKERS
Aaron Rodgers was held in check until he threw a 50-yd game-winner, and the Pack harassed Jay Cutler into 4 picks and 2 sacks.

#13 TENNESSEE TITANS
A failed, but valiant effort by the Titans in a tough place like Steeltown has them ranked higher than others who won.

#14 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Only a Bills' fumble and late heroics by Tom Brady and Ben Watson kept the Pats from being ranked shockingly low.

#15 BUFFALO BILLS
The Bills battled the Pats well for about 55 minutes, before giving away a big AFC East tilt that they should have won.

#16 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
The Chargers were unimpressive in victory, but they did show good resolve late, to avoid an upset in Oakland.

#17 INDIANPOLIS COLTS
As they often have to against the Jags, the Colts had to tough out a win, aided by a stopped two-pt. conversion.

#18 DENVER BRONCOS
Great defense slowed Cincinnati's passing game, but the Broncs still needed a heads-up miracle by Stokley to win.

#19 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
As they often do, a nice job giving the Colts fits, but the offensively challenged Jags could lose a lot of those.

#20 OAKLAND RAIDERS
The Raiders know how the Bills feel this week after nearly getting the upset… until Darrin Sproles scored with :18 left.

#21 CHICAGO BEARS
Staying with the theme, the Bears had a big divisional game won… until Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings spoiled it.

#22 ARIZONA CARDINALS
Another perfect AFC West record was not in the cards. A home loss to Frisco a bad way to open defense of an NFC title.

#23 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Great job to hang in against a tough Baltimore team without Matt Cassel, but still, a two-touchdown loss in the end.

#24 WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The Redskins made it a game late, but a 17-point hole and 4 turnovers too much to overcome at The Meadowlands.

#25 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
In it for a half, the Bucs exposed the Cowboys’ D for 450 yds, but they were torched for 462 yds as Dallas pulled away.

#26 DETROIT LIONS
The Lions’ offense (27 pts) kept them alive in New Orleans for 3 quarters, but allowing 45 points and 515 yards? Ouch.

#27 CINCINNATI BENGALS
Though Cincinnati took a late and lost on a fluke play, Palmer and Ochocinco HAVE to score more than just 7 points.

#28 CLEVELAND BROWNS
Allowing 225 rushing yards (180 of them to the NFL’s best back) and just 268 yards of total offense spelled doom.

#29 MIAMI DOLPHINS
Too many mistakes with the football meant a lot of trouble early and often for the Fish in Atlanta.

#30 HOUSTON TEXANS
The Texans failed to make stops on key plays, and both O and D lines were physically dominated by the Jets all game.

#31 CAROLINA PANTHERS
Against the Eagles, Jake Delhome opened 2009 as mistake-prone as he ended 2008, in that playoff loss to Arizona.

#32 ST.LOUS RAMS
The Rams were outgained by 199 yards, lost by the largest margin, and were the only team that failed to score.