NFL Power Rankings entering Week 2
Hot starts and cold debuts
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins sizzled in SoFi. The Super Bowl champs fizzled in their opener. Week 1 of the NFL season provided the usual drama and theatrics of America’s most beloved sport. As we head toward Week 2, here’s how all 32 teams stack up…
32. New York Giants (0-1, lost to Dallas Cowboys)
The Giants likely aren’t the worst team in the league. However, for one week they will reside in this spot. You get humiliated at home in a divisional game on national TV, where else would you land?
31. Chicago Bears (0-1, lost to Green Bay Packers)
These Bears were supposed to be different. They had every chance to prove it against the Green Bay Packers, who no longer have Aaron Rodgers. Chicago was home and was hammered by Jordan Love & Co.
30. Arizona Cardinals (0-1, lost to Washington Commanders)
Arizona’s defense held its own against Washington. In fact, the Cardinals were in the game. However, Joshua Dobbs completing 21 passes for all of 132 yards means this offense won’t be moving until Kyler Murray returns.
29. Seattle Seahawks (0-1, lost to Los Angeles Rams)
The Seahawks fit into the same category as the Giants and Bears. Chance to start fast with a divisional win at home. And they were miserable and made it look like the Rams had all their stars. (They didn’t.)
28. Houston Texans (0-1, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
There is no shame in getting beaten on the road against a team like the Ravens. The lesson learned here is the Texans are young. C.J. Stroud is a work in progress. The ranking is not an insult—more of a reality.
27. Carolina Panthers (0-1, lost to Atlanta Falcons)
The Panthers are in the same situation as the Texans. Bryce Young is learning on the job. Their defense is solid but it won’t be enough to deliver many wins.
26. Indianapolis Colts (0-1, lost to Jacksonville Jaguars)
You could see the Texans and Panthers and lump the Colts there, too. Anthony Richardson is also learning while taking snaps. Indy was in the game with Jacksonville for a long time before being outscored 14-0 in the final 15 minutes. No harm.
25. Denver Broncos (0-1, lost to Las Vegas Raiders)
The Broncos an accurate Russell Wilson, but he didn’t come close to 200 passing yards. That isn’t good on 27 completions. The home loss against a divisional foe was not a good way for Sean Payton to start his tenure in Denver.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1, lost to Cleveland Browns)
The Bengals are not this bad. They were just this bad in their season opener against Cleveland.
23. Tennessee Titans (0-1, lost to New Orleans Saints)
Mike Vrabel has a quarterback problem. The offense has Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins. It also has Ryan Tannehill running it … into the ground. The Titans finished last year losing a slew of games and picked up where they left off in 2022.
22. Minnesota Vikings (0-1, lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
A team that was 11-0 in one-score games in 2022 lost that kind of game to open 2023 against a Tampa Bay—a team that didn’t have Tom Brady but did have Baker Mayfield.
21. Washington Commanders (1-0, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
Having to fight the Arizona Cardinals to the end of the game for a victory at home doesn’t bode well for the Commanders. Sam Howell had his moments and he also had issues. Another team whose hopes are riding with a young QB.
20. Atlanta Falcons (1-0, defeated Carolina Panthers)
Atlanta is over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2017 season at 10-6. That shouldn’t be considered an omen because they beat the Panthers and no one is confusing Carolina with a playoff team.
19. New Orleans Saints (1-0, defeated Tennessee Titans)
The Saints opened the Derek Carr era by hanging on against a meek Titans team. This isn’t the kind of offense people were hoping for when the QB came over from LV. Carr did throw for 305 yards and a TD but the offensive line let him take a pounding.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1, lost to San Francisco 49ers)
T.J. Watt had a hat trick with three sacks and he was about the only Steeler who showed. This was a perfect chance to prove the finish last season was for real, and Pittsburgh came up completely empty at home against the Niners.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0, defeated Minnesota Vikings)
Who needs Tom Brady when you can have Baker Mayfield?
16. Green Bay Packers (1-0, defeated Chicago Bears)
Aaron Rodgers won his first start as Green Bay QB in 2008, topping the Vikings while going 18-of-22 for 178 yards and a TD. Jordan Love made his first start against a divisional foe, the Bears, and went for 245 yards and threw 3 TD passes. At least, they have that in common.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (1-0, defeated Denver Broncos)
The Raiders got off to a winning start with Jimmy Garopplo, edging the Broncos. No great shakes there but a win is better than the alternative.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (0-1, lost to Miami Dolphins)
The offense was powerful. The defense was invisible. Kellen Moore made a strong debut. Brandon Staley still has major issues with a team that simply can’t find a way to close and win. He can’t afford many more losses early.
13. Los Angeles Rams (1-0, defeated Seattle Seahawks)
Everything seemed set up for a disappointing season for the Rams. No Cooper Kupp and a bunch of other pains. Then, Sean McVay sends out a team that has a pair named Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua for 238 receiving yards. Cooper who?
12. Cleveland Browns (1-0, defeated Cincinnati Bengals)
The Browns always have had a staunch defense. However, the offense usually didn’t hold up its end. Against the powerful Bengals, Cleveland shut down Joe Burrow and the other side delivered a solid effort. Will be fascinating to see if Kevin Stefanski’s group can be consistent or if this will be a roller coaster.
11. New England Patriots (0-1, lost to Philadelphia Eagles)
New England looked like it was going to get blown out of Gillette by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots kept their cool and battled back to make a game of it against a tough team. The biggest problem Bill Belichick has is this AFC East is one tough division.
10. Buffalo Bills (0-1, lost to New York Jets)
Josh Allen was a bakery with turnover after turnover. Tyler Bass got fortunate to send the game to OT. The bottom line is the Buffalo Bills lost to a New York Jets team that saw Aaron Rodgers go out in the first drive of his Gang Green career. Inexcusable.
9. New York Jets (1-0, defeated Buffalo Bills)
If Aaron Rodgers is lost for a long period, Monday night could be the highlight of 2023. However, the Jets have a ferocious defense, sturdy receivers and a good running game. They didn’t cave after Rodgers was injured and wound up with a thrilling win over an AFC East nemesis.
8. Miami Dolphins (1-0, defeated Los Angeles Chargers)
Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill were incredible in the win over the Chargers on the West Coast. Miami is a fun team to watch and one has to wonder if the defense will be able to shut down opponents. It had little luck against Justin Herbert.
7. Detroit Lions (1-0, defeated Kansas City Chiefs)
It is too early to say the Lions are for real. However, they showed heart and determination against the Super Bowl champions in Arrowhead Stadium. The Lions are in a great position to deliver for their fans … finally.
6. Baltimore Ravens (1-0, defeated Houston Texans)
Even when the Ravens win, they lose players. J.K. Dobbins is done for the year with an Achilles. He’s had no luck staying healthy. Done for the year. That means more running out of Lamar Jackson. The added pass receivers didn’t equate into better yardage through the air for the QB.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0, defeated Indianapolis Colts)
The Jaguars had some awkward moments against the Colts. They were trailing heading into the final quarter but did what good teams do: Scored 14 points and shut out Indy. This team will keep improving.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1, lost to Detroit Lions)
In many other years, losing at home to the Lions would be a catastrophe. However, these are not the Detroit Lions we have come to love and loathe. The Chiefs were without Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. Had they lost with both those stars there would have been cause for concern. However, the light is flashing yellow as KC heads to Jacksonville for a Week 2 clash of heavyweghts.
3. Dallas Cowboys (1-0, defeated New York Giants)
Remember, this is for one week of results. The Cowboys devastated the Giants at MetLife. Dallas fans couldn’t have dreamed of such a performance in the season opener. Yet, they got it. Putting up a 40-spot at MetLife against a team that made the playoffs in 2022 was impressive.
2. San Francisco 49ers (1-0, defeated Pittsburgh Steelers)
There were no sophomore problems for Brock Purdy. Christian McCaffrey was his usual dazzling self and the 49ers pasted the Steelers in Pittsburgh. This was one impressive performance, a total demolition.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0, defeated New England Patriots)
The Eagles took the Gillette Stadium crowd out of the game with a superb start and managed to hang on for victory to disappoint a crowd that came out to celebrate Tom Brady and the Patriots. This will turn out to be a much better win than it looks on the surface.
