AP Pro32: Patriots are No. 1 in AP's power rankings
NEW YORK (AP) Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are back to a familiar spot after the first week of the regular season.
The top of the NFL.
The Patriots jumped two spots on Tuesday and are the No. 1 team in the AP Pro32 power rankings.
In balloting by 12 media members who regularly cover the NFL, the Patriots finished ahead of the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos.
The Super Bowl champion Patriots earned seven first-place votes and 379 points.
Green Bay received five first-place votes and 376 points.
Brady threw four touchdown passes in the Patriots' 28-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season opener on Thursday night.
''Picking up right where they left off, as if the offseason controversy didn't even happen,'' The Monday Morning Quarterback's Jenny Vrentas said of the Patriots.
''In Week 2, here's betting Rex Ryan's Bills pass defense will be more of a challenge to Rob Gronkowski than the Steelers' overmatched secondary.''
The Broncos were third, followed by the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, who dropped three spots after an overtime loss to St. Louis.
''They ran into a ferocious St. Louis D, but it's far too early to count them out,'' ESPN's Herm Edwards said.
Dallas moved up two spots after rallying for a 27-26 win over the Giants on Sunday night.
''It's time to stop focusing on what Tony Romo hasn't accomplished ... give the man his due,'' said Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.
The Seahawks have another road test on Sunday night when the travel to Lambeau Field to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in a rematch of last season's NFC championship game.
''No team has three-peated as a conference champion since the 1990s Bills,'' said Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News.
''Now the 0-1 Seahawks are discovering the difficulty of the challenge.''
The Packers opened with a 31-23 win over the Bears.
''Aaron Rodgers renews connection with James Jones,'' Fox Sports' John Czarnecki said of the receiver who caught two touchdown passes in his return to Green Bay.
Arizona, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Kansas City and San Diego rounded out the top 10.
''Looking for an early comeback player of the year candidate? How about Carson Palmer, who put up three touchdown passes in his first game back from a knee injury.'' Newsday's Bob Glauber said.
Palmer led the Cardinals to a 31-19 victory over New Orleans on Sunday.
Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 32nd after their 42-14 loss to the Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans in a matchup of the top two picks in the draft.
''Marcus Mariota became the first rookie with a perfect passer rating (158.3) on kickoff weekend,'' said Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
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