http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6645734

New "Chief" on Carucci's totem pole

By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com

(Sept. 16, 2003) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took one straight in the
chops from the Carolina Panthers.

And that's the only way to deal with a big, menacing champion strutting
its stuff in its own backyard -- hit hard and hit fast.

Of course, the Panthers aren't merely fearless. They have a good,
balanced team that is worthy of making its first power-rankings
appearance of the season in third place while knocking the Bucs from
first to fourth.

Maybe the Panthers deserve better, but for now, the Kansas City Chiefs
have the offensive firepower and defensive strength (especially against
the run) to become the new occupant of our top spot.

The Buffalo Bills, who are also highly impressive on both sides of the
ball, are a close second.

Besides the Panthers, other newcomers from the eye-opening cluster of 2-0
clubs are Indianapolis and Washington.

This is how the top 12 looks from here after Week 2:

1. Kansas City (2-0; last week: 2) ... With Priest Holmes taking the
early lead in MVP voting and a dominant run defense, the Chiefs make the
most compelling case to move to the top.

2. Buffalo (2-0; last week: 3) ... Beating Jacksonville so handily
further validates the opening-day pounding of the Pats, but the Bills
will need to show offensive balance sooner rather than later.

3. Carolina (2-0; last week: unranked) ... This team swaggers into its
bye week with all of the ingredients of a serious contender: Great
defense, running game and special teams.

4. Tampa Bay (1-1; last week: 1) ... Despite embarrassing breakdowns on
special teams and showing no signs of much-anticipated offensive
improvement, the Bucs still keep teams out of the end zone.

5. Indianapolis (2-0; last week: unranked) ... Tony Dungy's speedy,
swarming defense is taking hold and Edgerrin James looks like his
pre-2001 self.

6. Denver (2-0; last week: 11) ... Consecutive road wins to start the
season are hard to ignore, but the quarterback situation bears watching
and the Raiders are always a test on Monday night.

7. Seattle (2-0; last week: 9) ... Beating up on Arizona wouldn't
normally draw many second looks, but the Seahawks continue to prove that
last season's strong finish was the real deal.

8. Minnesota (2-0; unchanged) ... Improved defense, to go along with an
offense that can strike at any time, makes this a team worth watching.

9. Washington (2-0; last week: unranked) ... Patrick Ramsey is growing up
fast and quickly developing Chad Pennington-like chemistry with
Laveranues Coles.

10. Tennessee (1-1; last week: 5) ... Unless the Titans can find a
running game and tighten up on defense, the Saints will pick up where the
Colts left off.

11. Pittsburgh (1-1; last week: 4) ... So which was the real Steelers
defense, the one that overwhelmed Baltimore or the one overwhelmed in
K.C.?

12. N.Y. Giants (1-1; last week: 6) ... The Giants defense needed to come
up much bigger at home vs. a quarterback still seeking (and perhaps
finally finding) his confidence.

--
"There's no reason people shouldn't be talking about him in the same
breath as Marshall Faulk. That will come. What he needs is wins and
before you know it Priest will be doing Campbell Soup commercials."
- Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez on RB Priest Holmes

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