NFL WEEK 2 POWER RANKINGS
TIER I: SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS
#1. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Kansas City picked up right where they left off last season on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. After the Ravens scored on their opening drive and started out with a 7-0 lead, Kansas City tied the game up on their ensuing drive and never looked back. Rashee Rice was virtually unguardable over the middle of the field, and rookie WR Xavier Worthy looked electric, showcasing his elite speed on two 20-plus yard touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes and the offense were in complete control from start to finish, against one of the NFL’s best defenses from last season. The Ravens were able to move the ball on offense, and made the game very close in the end, but if the Kansas City offense continues to look like it did Thursday night, the rest of the AFC may be in some serious trouble (yet again).
NEXT WEEK: @ CINCINNATI BENGALS
#2. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
No Christian McCaffery, no problem for the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night. The 49ers dominated the Aaron Rodgers led Jets on Monday Night Football, spearheaded by a career best performance from backup running back Jordan Mason, who carried the ball 28 times for 147 yards and touchdown. The 49ers offense had their way with the NFL’s #1 ranked defense from last season, running the ball effectively all night long, with QB Brock Purdy looking in complete control. Aside from one long drive the Jets had in the first half, the 49ers defense also looked impressive. They forced 2 turnovers and limited the Jets star RB Breece Hall to 3.4 yards per carry. Keep in mind, this was all without their best player, and last year's Offensive Player of the Year Chirstain McCaffery. Now that Purdy has more experience as a starter in Shannahan’s system, who knows what the ceiling of this team is, especially when their All-Pro RB running back returns from injury.
NEXT WEEK: @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS
#3. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
The Eagles edged the Packers in what was a high scoring affair on Friday Night as the NFL hosted its first game in Brazil. What stood out about this game was the Eagles Offense. AJ Brown, Devonte Smith, and Saquon Barkely make up what is arguably the best trio of offensive skill players in the entire league. Not to mention they are backed up by one of the NFL’s best and most consistent offensive lines, who again had their way for the vast majority of the game on Friday Night. Jalen Hurts made some poor decisions with two head scratching interceptions, an issue which plagued him a lot last year. For this team to reach its full potential, Hurts will need to cut down on the critical mistakes. On the defensive side of the ball, there were some really promising signs. The revamped secondary looked improved, holding Jordan Love to a 50% percent completion percentage and a 20.4 total QBR. Given that this was the biggest weakness for the Eagles last year, if these new additions can improve the Eagles secondary they should be right in the thick of the NFC Championship picture by the end of the season.
NEXT WEEK: VS ATLANTA FALCONS (MNF)
#4. Houston Texans (1-0)
The Texans went into Indianapolis and took care of business against the Colts on Sunday. Both of the Texans key offensive additions had themselves great games. Stefon Diggs had 2 touchdown catches from quarterback C.J. Stroud, and running back Joe Mixon ran for 159 yards and a touchdown. What stood out from the box score was how Houston controlled the possession in this game, they had 12 more first downs than Indianapolis, ran 33 more plays, and had double the time of possession (40 mins). If they can continue that for extended stretches this season they are going to be a tough team to beat. The defense was solid for the most part, but did give up some explosive plays which can be expected when playing such an athletic QB like Anthony Richardson. The Texans look like a contender in the AFC, led by one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
NEXT WEEK: VS CHICAGO BEARS (SNF)
#5. Detroit Lions (1-0)
The Detroit Lions squeaked by the Los Angeles Rams in overtime on Sunday Night Football. Second year wide receiver Jameson Williams had a career night, catching 5 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff threw a key interception early in the 4th quarter, which the Rams capitalized on, going on an 80 yard touchdown drive to take a 3 point lead. The Lions then tied the game with a field goal to send the game to OT, which was followed by a physical 8 play, 70 yard drive to win the game in OT. Despite the victory, the Rams had more first downs, yards, and total plays than the Lions. While they came away with the victory the Lions still have plenty of room to improve, and I expect this team to get better as the season progresses, especially with the emergence of Jameson Williams.
NEXT WEEK: VS TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
#6. Buffalo Bills (1-0)
The Buffalo Bills took down the Arizona Cardinals in an entertaining shootout on Sunday. As long as Josh Allen is the QB for the Bills, this team will be winning games. Allen was in total control on Sunday, throwing for 232 yards, rushing for 39 and adding in 4 total touchdowns. Under Joe Brady the Bills have shifted to a run-heavy approach led by RB James Cook, which fits this offense's personnel well considering what they lack at the outside skill positions. Overall the Bills defense looked solid against a dangerous Cardinals offense, limiting them to 4.5 yards per play. While the Cardinals scored 28 points, 7 of those came from a 96-yard kickoff return from Deejay Dallas, so overall it was a solid effort by the Bills defensive unit.
NEXT WEEK: VS BUFFALO BILLS
#7. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)
The Baltimore Ravens lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, as Isaiah Likely’s game winning touchdown reception overturned as time expired. While the Ravens made this game close in the end, the game didn’t feel as close as the final score suggested. The Chiefs were able to move the ball on this defense at will, averaging north of 7 yards per play. Even though it was a disappointing performance on that side of the ball, playing Patrick Mahomes in Arrowhead Stadium during the first week of the year is certainly not the easiest way to start off the season. Not to mention this was Zach Orr’s first NFL game since being promoted to defensive coordinator, so the Ravens have plenty of room to improve on that side of the ball. However, on offense the Ravens were also able to move the ball effectively, as Lamar Jackson accounted for 395 total yards. It will be interesting to see if Mark Andrews' role on this team changes at all, given the emergence of budding superstar Isaiah Likely. Given all the talent on offense, and championship culture, the Ravens will be just fine. Look for the Ravens to bounce back against the Raiders next week.
NEXT WEEK: VS BALTIMORE RAVENS
TIER II: PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
#8. Miami Dolphins (1-0)
Miami defeated Jacksonville on Sunday by a field goal as time expired. They found themselves down 14-0 late into the 2nd quarter, but eventually clawed their way back into the game with explosive plays from their trio of speedy playmakers, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Davon Achane. Miami did not play their best game by any means, but with so much speed and offensive versatility it remains extremely difficult to contain this team for four quarters. One major area of concern was the offensive line. Miami allowed 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss and their running backs combined for 21 carries totaling 59 yards, which is less than 3 yards per carry. Miami started out sluggish on defense but closed the game strong, allowing 0 points in the second half. If Miami wants to contend this year, they are going to need to tighten up the offensive line and find a way to generate a more effective running game, but for now they remain in the top 10 due to their explosive offense.
NEXT WEEK: VS BUFFALO BILLS (TNF)
#9. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)
The Cowboys absolutely dismantled the Browns on Sunday with a final score of 33-17. At one point the Cowboys went up 27-3 early in the 3rd quarter, after a punt return touchdown by KaVontae Turpin. The game was completely lopsided from start to finish, however it's tough to decipher whether this was more of the Cowboys being good or the Browns being a subpar team. The Cowboys defense had their way with Deshaun Watson, sacking him 6 times and picking him off twice more. The Cowboys held the Browns to 230 total yards and 3.3 yards per play. Even if the Browns have regressed, if the Cowboys can continue to have defensive performances like this, they will likely find themselves back in the playoffs.
NEXT WEEK: VS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
#10. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
The Steelers opened their 2024 campaign with a gutsy win over the Falcons in what was week one’s lowest scoring game. Justin Fields got the nod at QB as Russell Wilson was sidelined with a lingering calf injury. Fields played well enough for the Steelers to win, as the Steelers executed a run-heavy game plan and controlled the clock. They ran the ball 41 times for 137 yards and controlled the ball for 10 minutes longer than the Falcons. The Steelers defense made life miserable on the Falcons offense all game long, forcing 3 turnovers and holding the Falcons to 226 total yards. When T.J. Watt is healthy, this defense is elite. The Steelers will need their defense to put up more performances like they had on Sunday if they want to make the playoffs, but it looks as though they are up to the challenge.
NEXT WEEK: @ BRONCOS
#11. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
After an extremely sluggish start in the first half, the Seahawks ended up cruising by the Broncos thanks to an impressive defensive performance. Mike Mcdonald’s defense held the Broncos to 3.3 yards per play and forced 3 turnovers. This score could have looked much different for Seattle if it weren't for two safeties and an early Geno Smith Interception on the first drive. However while they did look good, especially in the second half, they were up against a lackluster Broncos team with a rookie QB starting his first ever NFL game. Ultimately, things are looking up in Seattle with the arrival of Mike McDonald and what should be an improved defense, but it will be hard to move them any further up in the rankings until they play some better competition.
NEXT WEEK: @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
#12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Baker Mayfield lit up the Commanders secondary on Sunday with a 289 yard and 4 touchdown performance through the air. The Commanders had no answer for Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, or Rashaad White in the receiving game. Mayfield had a career year last season, and it looks like he has zero intentions of slowing down. Defensively Tampa Bay was solid, but just like the Seahawks they were facing a rookie QB in his first NFL start, so it’s tough to read too much into it. With more offensive performances like they had on Sunday, this Tampa Bay team might wind up back in the playoffs.
NEXT WEEK: @ DETROIT LIONS
#13. New Orleans Saints (1-0)
The Saints crushed the Carolina Panthers 47-10 in their season opener on Sunday. The Saints had double the first downs and nearly double the yards that the Panthers had. This game was simply never close, and the Saints dominated in every facet. However, the Panthers were the worst team in the league last season, and it doesn’t seem like that will be changing any time soon, so let’s pump the breaks on the Saints hype, at least for now.
NEXT WEEK: @ DALLAS COWBOYS
#14. Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
The new look Chargers took down the Raiders on Sunday in what was a physical 22-10 victory. As expected under Greg Roman, the Chargers deployed a run-heavy approach which resulted in a breakout game from former 2nd round draft pick J.K.Dobbins, who ran for 135 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers managed to average 5.9 yards per play despite only gaining 140 yards through the air, which might be the normal for Justin Herbert in this revamped offense. The Defense looked much improved, forcing 3 turnovers and sacking Gardner Minshew 4 times. The Chargers definitely looked good in their debut under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, but just how far can his leadership take this team in such a crowded AFC conference remains to be seen. While it may be part of their approach, the Chargers will likely have a hard time winning many games in the modern NFL with Justin Herbert throwing for only 140 yards.
NEXT WEEK: @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
#15. Los Angeles Rams (0-1)
Despite their overtime loss to the Lions on Sunday night, the Rams looked impressive. Cooper Kupp looks back to his old self, as he had 14 catches on 21(!!) targets for 110 yards and touchdown. The Rams are going to need more of the same from their star wideout going forward with Puka Nucua on injured reserve for the next four weeks. On the other side of the ball, the defense played well enough to limit this explosive Lions offense to 20 points in regulation. The Rams look like a more complete team than people expected going into this year, and if they can continue to get this type of play from Cooper Kupp, they may be in for another deep playoff run.
NEXT WEEK: @ ARIZONA CARDINALS
#16. New York Jets (0-1)
The Jets defense was one of the biggest letdowns of week 1. The 49ers had 401 yards of total offense and ran the ball 38 times for 180 yards, without the league's best running back, which is a major cause for concern. If the Jets can fix their run defense, this is still a team that can compete in the AFC. While Aaron Rodgers didn’t have a spectacular performance by any means, he still made some gorgeous throws and led the team on some long, efficient drives. As the season goes on and Rodgers gets back into his rhythm this offense should continue to improve. Overall the Jets left a lot to be desired on Monday night, but it's hard to overreact when they were playing one of the NFL’s best teams on the road in Aaron Rodgers first game back since tearing his achilles.
NEXT WEEK: @ TENNESSEE TITANS
#17. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
The Jaguars let one slip away against the Jaguars on Sunday, blowing a 14-0 first half lead and losing on a field goal as time expired. However they were still outgained by 133 yards in what was a surprisingly low scoring affair. The defense played well enough to win, and did an overall solid job of limiting arguably the league's most explosive offense. Much of this teams ceiling rides on the performance of former #1 overall pick, Trevor Lawrence, who managed to throw for only 162 yards in week 1. If the Jaguars are going to compete in the NFC South, they are going to need more from their quarterback.
NEXT WEEK: VS CLEVELAND BROWNS
#18. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
The Bengals lost to the Patriots in what was the biggest upset of opening week. The Bengals had a hard time moving the ball, and stopping the run which is what led to the Patriots week one upset. The Bengals had 224 yards of total offense and gave up 170 yards on the ground to the Patriots. While it was a frustrating loss for Bengals fans, early season struggles have become the new normal with Joe Burrow under center. Since taking over as the starting quarterback, Joe Burrow is 1-8 straight up in the first two weeks of the season. Given all the injuries and offseason turmoil, give this Bengals team some time to come together before giving up on them completely.
NEXT WEEK: @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
#19. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
The Vikings had one of the most impressive victories in week 1, with a 28-6 win over the Giants. Sam Darnold looked comfortable, delivering a slew of impressive throws and throwing two touchdown passes. Offseason addition Aaron Jones also had a great debut, adding 109 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The defense was dominant, forcing two turnovers and limiting the Giants to 240 total yards. The Vikings have no shortage of talent on this offense, so if they can get competent quarterback play from Sam Darnold and more performances like they had on Sunday from the defense, they still have a chance in the crowded NFC North.
NEXT WEEK: VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
#20. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
The Indianapolis Colts lost a close one to their AFC South rival, the Houston Texans in their season opener. The Texans dominated time of possession in this one, controlling the ball for 40 minutes, twice as much as the Colts who really struggled to keep C.J. Stroud and company off the field. On offense, Anthony Richardon looked as explosive as he did before his injury, as he recorded 3 total touchdowns, one of which was a 70 yard bomb to Alec Pierce. Overall, it was a tough loss but there are some encouraging signs on this team, however there are some serious concerns the defensive side of the ball.
NEXT WEEK: @ GREEN BAY PACKERS
TIER III: OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
#21. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Arizona came out of the gates hot on Sunday, but slowly cooled down as the Bills found their footing, en route to a 34-28 win over the Cardinals. The Cardinals ultimately just weren’t able to keep up with the Bills over four quarters. Kyler Murray looked good, and this offense has potential, but with their lackluster defense this team will likely need a top-5 offense to compete for the playoffs. Look for this team to be in a lot of high-scoring shootouts this season.
NEXT WEEK: VS LOS ANGELES RAMS
#22. Green Bay Packers (0-1)
The story of the week for Green Bay was Jordan’s Love knee injury in the final minutes. While Green Bay went toe-to-toe with the Eagles for all 60 minutes on Friday Night, the sad reality is that this team's future rides on the health of Jordan Love. The dropoff from Love to backup Malik Willis is huge, and if this team wants to compete in the NFC North they need Love back as soon as possible.
NEXT WEEK: VS TENNESSEE TITANS
#23. Chicago Bears (1-0)
Despite their 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Bears had a very underwhelming performance on Sunday. Caleb Williams managed to throw for only 93 yards and the Bears accounted for only 148 yards of offense at 2.8 yards per play. Those are pretty abysmal numbers against a team in Tennessee that is not expected to win many games in 2024. Despite the poor play from the offense, the Bears still managed to win the game thanks to a blocked punt touchdown and a Will Levis pick-6. Safe to say that the Bears are going to need more from their offense going forward.
NEXT WEEK: AT HOUSTON TEXANS (SNF)
#24. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
The new-look Atlanta Falcons had an extremely disappointing debut under head coach Raheem Morris. Kirk Cousins and the offense turned the ball over 3 times, and put up a mere 10 points and 226 yards of total offense. That just simply isn’t good enough. The defense wasn’t spectacular, but did enough for the Falcons to win this game. The offense, and particularly their $180 million dollar quarterback, Kirk Cousins, need to be better if they have any serious aspirations this year.
NEXT WEEK: @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
#25. New England Patriots (1-0)
This is one of the hardest teams to rank after week one. The Patriots really took it to the Bengals on Sunday by running the ball at will and frustrating Joe Burrow on defense. While it worked against the Bengals last week, a team known for their early-season woes, it's still hard to see this Patriots team winning many games given their lack of talent on offense. It will be interesting to see how this team performs against Seattle next week.
NEXT WEEK: VS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
#26. Las Vegas Raiders (0-1)
The Raiders looked like a mess in week one. They turned the ball over 3 times, Anthony Peirce made a slew of questionable coaching decisions, and the Chargers gashed them through the ground, running for 176 yards and 6.5 yards per carry. This won't cut it in the NFL, and the Raiders are going to have to fix these issues quickly if they plan on winning games.
NEXT WEEK: @ BALTIMORE RAVENS
#27. Denver Broncos (0-1)
In what was Sunday’s wildest game, the Broncos fell to the Seahawks. Rookie Bo Nix threw for 138 yards and 2 interceptions on 42 attempts in his rookie debut, and had only two completions that went over 20 yards. It is evident that Sean Payton plans on sticking to his dink and dunk, short-pass oriented offense that suited Nix well in college. However, if week one is any tell, Payton might want to start coming up with other ideas, because the Broncos offense did not look very dynamic on Sunday. Some serious improvements need to be made if this team wants to compete.
NEXT WEEK: VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS
#28. Cleveland Browns (0-1)
The Cleveland Browns get the award for Sunday’s worst performance. Deshaun Watson registered a 9.3 total QBR on Sunday, by far the worst of any quarterback in week one. It looks as though Watson’s best days are behind him at this point, and any hope that was still left for him to return to his form when he was in Houston is all but gone.
NEXT WEEK: @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
#29. Tennessee Titans (0-1)
After leading 17-3 at halftime, the Titans proceeded to surrender both a special teams and defensive touchdown to the Bears, resulting in 21 unanswered points and 24-17 loss. This simply is not something that winning football teams do. The Titans showed signs of promise, especially on defense for large chunks of this game, but they are going to have to cut back on the head-scratching mistakes going forward.
NEXT WEEK: VS NEW YORK JETS
TIER IV: MAYBE NEXT YEAR
#30. Washington Commanders (0-1)
If there was one bright spot for the Washington Commanders on Sunday it was the performance of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who threw for 184 yards and added 88 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. However, that did not outweigh the poor performance by the Commanders secondary, which got shredded by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay passing attack all game long. The Commanders secondary is likely in for a long season.
NEXT WEEK: VS NEW YORK GIANTS
#31. Carolina Panthers (0-1)
The Panthers were a team that many expected to be much better in 2024 than they were in 2023 under their new Head Coach Dave Canales. However if Sunday was any indication, this team might not even win 2 games this year. The Panthers were obliterated by the Saints in what was a 37 point loss. Bryce Young threw 2 interceptions, completed less than 50 percent of his passes, and had an total QBR of 10.5. It’s almost never a good idea to overreact to week one, but if you were expecting a bounce back-back sophomore season.
NEXT WEEK: VS LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
#32. New York Giants (0-1)
The Giants struggled against the Vikings in week 1. Daniel Jones looked rusty, throwing for 186 yards and 2 interceptions, and the defense played poorly, surrendering over 6 yards per play to a Vikings team with Sam Darnold under center. Head Coach Brian Daboll has his work cut out for him as the Giants are going to have to come with answers on both sides of the ball quickly.
NEXT WEEK: @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
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