Back by popular demand -- thanks, Mom -- our weekly power poll returns.
As Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell noted Sunday after his team fell to 0-3, no one gives trophies after three games. No, Jim, they certainly do not.
That said, the numbers are dreary for Caldwell's Lions and the three other teams that have started this season bagel-and-3.
Only three teams have started 0-3 and made the postseason since 1990, when the NFL moved to its current playoff system. The last to do it was the 1998 Buffalo Bills, and the last 82 teams to start 0-3 have failed to make the playoffs.
Ouch-standing.
And to make matters even more critical this week, only one team - the 1992 San Diego Chargers - has made the postseason after an 0-4 start.
So, no, they don't give trophies after three games, but we get a really good idea of who will compete for the trophies after three games.
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers celibates a touchdown reception to Ty Montgomery during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis.Top 5
1. New England Patriots (3-0). Tom Brady's numbers are off the charts - 72 percent completion rate, more than 1,100 yards, 9-0 TDs-to-interceptions - and he may not even be the most valuable player on his own team. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is on the short list of the league's biggest matchup nightmares.
2. Green Bay Packers (3-0). Say whatever you want about your grading metrics of quarterbacks, but Aaron Rodgers looks the part of as good a quarterback I've seen since a young Dan Marino. Rodgers is another Super Bowl title or three away from being on the short list of greatest quarterbacks ever.
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-0). Yes, the offense is averaging 42 points a game. Still, forget Seattle for a second, the best defense in the NFL may belong to another NFC West team. The Cardinals are salty and rank in the top five in points allowed, yards allowed and interceptions.
4. Denver Broncos (3-0). Denver may have something to say about which defense is the best. Yes, Peyton Manning has started slowly, but the Broncos defense has been changing games with 11 sacks and 10 turnovers forced.
5. Atlanta Falcons. (3-0). Say this for Atlanta and new coach Dan Quinn, they are resilient. Atlanta is the first team to start 3-0 after trailing in the second half of each of those wins.
Bottom 5
28. Miami Dolphins (1-2). A sleeper pick to challenge the Patriots in the AFC East, the Dolphins have been awful on the offensive line, and the nine-figure addition of Ndamukong Suh has helped the team to all of one sack through three games.
29. Baltimore Ravens (0-3). This one is puzzling, and if you had to pick a team to challenge that 0-for-82 streak of 0-3 teams, it would be the Ravens. Still, with a trip to Pittsburgh on Thursday, the season could be over on the first day of October.
30. New Orleans Saints (0-3). Injuries and age have the Saints staring at a rebuilding job. When you lose to the Bucs - at home, mind you - it's time to do some rethinking.
31. Detroit Lions (0-3). Everyone expected the defense to slide a little after losing Suh and former first-round pick Nick Fairley, but the high-powered offense is lagging, too.
32. Chicago Bears (0-3). Gross. Simply gross. The Bears had 10 possessions against Seattle. They had 10 punts.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343. Follow him on Twitter @jgreesontfp.