NFL Power Rankings: Titans stuck in the middle of Week 2 rankings

Week 1 of the NFL season began with the Detroit Lions' upset in Kansas City and ended with the season-ending injury to Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and New York's comeback win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.

Each team has one data point, so let's shake out some Week 1 observations with The Tennessean's NFL power rankings:

NFL power rankings heading into Week 2

1: San Francisco 49ers

Last week: Won 30-7 at Pittsburgh

Upcoming: at LA Rams on Sunday

If Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy in January, no team can match them. And yet the key to this team’s offense is Brock Purdy. He fits so well with this team.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Last week: Won 25-20 at New England

Upcoming: vs. Minnesota on Thursday Night Football

Expect more grind-em-out wins like Sunday’s victory in New England this season, though the offense should look better than that.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Last week: Lost 21-20 vs. Detroit

Upcoming: at Jacksonville on Sunday

A one-point loss without the best tight end in football and one of the best defensive tackles in the league is no cause for concern. But the wide receiver issues might be.

4. Dallas Cowboys

Last week: Won 40-0 at NY Giants

Upcoming: vs. NY Jets on Sunday

The Cowboys were so impressive on Sunday, and the defense looks like the best in the league. Who knew Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore could work as bookend corners? (A lot of people do now, including Daniel Jones.)

5. Miami Dolphins

Last week: Won 36-34 at LA Chargers

Upcoming: at New England on Sunday Night Football

It doesn’t feel like we learned a lot about the Dolphins. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are really good, and Tua Tagovailoa elevates the Dolphins when healthy. But 234 rushing yards allowed to the Chargers?

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Last week: Lost 24-3 at Cleveland

Upcoming: vs. Baltimore on Sunday

The Bengals have the benefit of the doubt when it comes to early season struggles. But if Cincinnati is playing on the road in the postseason, it’ll know why.

7. Detroit Lions

Last week: Won 21-20 at Kansas City

Upcoming: vs. Seattle on Sunday

The Lions win at Arrowhead should do wonders for an increasingly confident franchise. There’s plenty to fix (third down woes, using Jahmyr Gibbs more often) but the belief will be there all season.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week: Won 31-21 at Indianapolis

Upcoming: vs. Kansas City on Sunday

The Jaguars won a division game on the road, and Trevor Lawrence looked pretty good with new receiver Calvin Ridley. For more than one reason, this week’s game against the Chiefs is a huge opportunity.

9. New York Jets

Last week: Won 22-16 vs. Buffalo in OT

Upcoming: at Dallas on Sunday

The Jets probably deserve higher given the effort in Monday’s OT win after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles. The defense is legit. But QB Zach Wilson is still the guy who was benched for Mike White and Chris Streveler at different points last season.

10. Baltimore Ravens

Last week: Won 25-9 vs. Houston

Upcoming: at Cincinnati on Sunday

The Ravens figure to be in the playoff discussion throughout the season. JK Dobbins’ season-ending Achilles injury is rotten for the player, but the Ravens are good at making due with what they have at running back.

11. Buffalo Bills

Last week: Lost 22-16 at NY Jets

Upcoming: vs. Las Vegas on Sunday

QB Josh Allen was messy on Monday, with numerous ill-advised decisions to help the Bills lose. Let’s put it in the nicest terms: Allen was pressing. All four turnovers were very avoidable, as was this loss.

12. Los Angeles Chargers

Last week: Lost 36-34 vs. Miami

Upcoming: at Tennessee on Sunday

What a frustrating loss to the Dolphins for LA, who rushed for 234 yards and forced two turnovers. The Chargers defense is too talented to be giving up 536 total yards to any offense, even one as talented as Miami’s group.

13. Cleveland Browns

Last week: Won 24-3 vs. Cincinnati

Upcoming: at Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football

Deshaun Watson is still not back to his 2020 performance level, but Nick Chubb and the Browns' defense will keep games close. It’s too bad the Browns can’t play Joe Burrow and the Bengals every game.

14. Green Bay Packers

Last week: Won 38-20 at Chicago

Upcoming: at Atlanta on Sunday

Jordan Love had it easy against the Bears defense, but give the new Packers starting QB proper credit. And Aaron Jones looked as dynamic as ever.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week: Lost 30-7 vs. San Francisco

Upcoming: vs. Cleveland on Monday Night Football

The 49ers are bad matchups for a lot of teams. Kenny Pickett will have better days too, but he probably shouldn’t be dropping back 51 times no matter the score.

16. Los Angeles Rams

Last week: Won 30-13 at Seattle

Upcoming: vs. San Francisco on Sunday

Sean McVay is still a good coach, Matthew Stafford is still a good quarterback (when healthy) and Aaron Donald is still a terror on the defensive line. But who expected Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua to do that? Sunday's game against the Niners should tell us more about the Rams.

17. New Orleans Saints

Last week: Won 16-15 vs. Tennessee

Upcoming: at Carolina on Monday Night Football

Derek Carr was harassed for most of Sunday’s game, but led the only touchdown drive in the game. Michael Thomas (5 catches, 61 yards) looked good in his return, but Chris Olave is the Saints’ No. 1 receiver now.

18. Tennessee Titans

Last week: Lost 16-15 at New Orleans

Upcoming: vs. LA Chargers on Sunday

Coach Mike Vrabel’s game management and Ryan Tannehill’s three interceptions doomed the Titans in a winnable game. Derrick Henry had 15 carries in a 16-15 game; what’s up with that?

MORE 22? What Mike Vrabel said about Derrick Henry's low snap count Sunday, and why it might change

NEEDS A CHANGE: A controversial review of a fumble burned the Tennessee Titans. Mike Vrabel may have a solution

19. New England Patriots

Last week: Lost 25-20 vs. Philadelphia

Upcoming: vs. Miami on Sunday Night Football

The Patriots' defense was very good in holding the Eagles to 251 total yards, and Mac Jones was good for the final three quarters. But the Darius Slay pick-6 in the first quarter dug the hole too deep. Jones can’t continue to make those mistakes.

20. Minnesota Vikings

Last week: Lost 20-17 vs. Tampa Bay

Upcoming: at Philadelphia on Thursday Night Football

Kirk Cousins’ empty-calorie game (344 yards as the Vikings score 17 points) aside, the Vikings have to find better balance than this. 44 passes to 17 rushes in a close game is too unbalanced.

21. Seattle Seahawks

Last week: Lost 30-13 vs. LA Rams

Upcoming: at Detroit on Sunday

Time will tell if QB Geno Smith can replicate last season. He was not very good on Sunday in the loss to the Rams, and the Seahawks won’t win games when Smith is not very good.

22. New York Giants

Last week: Lost 40-0 vs. Dallas

Upcoming: at Arizona on Sunday

Week 1 games are overreaction fodder, but you never want to see how bad it can go for a team. Sunday was the Giants at their absolute worst. If Thursday's win at KC means the Lions have the confidence to win against any team anywhere, the Giants might feel the opposite after the SNF blowout.

23. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: Won 17-16 at Denver

Upcoming: at Buffalo on Sunday

The Raiders were underdogs at Denver despite being the more talented team. Say what you want about Jimmy Garoppolo, but his efficiency could help Las Vegas win some of the close games it lost in 2022. Behold, Sunday’s 17-16 win against the Broncos.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week: Won 20-17 at Minnesota

Upcoming: vs. Chicago on Sunday

Baker Mayfield, welcome back. Tampa Bay isn’t going to be winning many shootouts this season, but Mayfield took care of the ball in Sunday’s win over the Vikings, and 16 of his 34 passes targeted either Mike Evans or Chris Godwin. Can Mayfield continue to play clean football? We’ll see.

25. Washington Commanders

Last week: Won 20-16 vs. Arizona

Upcoming: at Denver on Sunday

After Arizona returned a strip-sack fumble for a touchdown late in the first half, the Commanders recovered and won a game they needed to win. It’s not going to always look pretty, but there’s something about QB Sam Howell that I like.

26. Atlanta Falcons

Last week: Won 24-10 vs. Carolina

Upcoming: vs. Green Bay on Sunday

QB Desmond Ridder looked cautious in Sunday’s win over the Panthers. He took care of the football unlike his opponent, but the Falcons have to get Kyle Pitts and Drake London more involved.

27. Denver Broncos

Last week: Lost 17-16 vs. Las Vegas

Upcoming: vs. Washington on Sunday

QB Russell Wilson checks down more than a college student on their phone during a history lecture. He averaged 5.2 yards per attempt in Sunday’s home loss to the Raiders. The Broncos cannot afford to fall to 0-2 this weekend with another winnable home game.

28. Chicago Bears

Last week: Lost 38-20 vs. Green Bay

Upcoming: at Tampa Bay on Sunday

The Bears offense looked about the same despite the additions of DJ Moore and others, and Jordan Love had a comfortable day against the Chicago defense. Back to the drawing board.

29. Carolina Panthers

Last week: Lost 24-10 at Atlanta

Upcoming: vs. New Orleans on Monday Night Football

QB Bryce Young threw two identical interceptions to Jessie Bates on similar plays. Part of being a rookie. But the Panthers can’t succeed by giving away three turnovers with the lack of explosive skill players.

30. Indianapolis Colts

Last week: Lost 31-21 vs. Jacksonville

Upcoming: at Houston on Sunday

QB Trevor Lawrence is right. Anthony Richardson needs to learn to take care of himself, though Josh Allen refuses to do it himself in Year 6. Don’t do that.

31. Arizona Cardinals

Last week: Lost 20-16 at Washington

Upcoming: vs. NY Giants on Sunday

The Cardinals defense sacked Howell six times in Sunday’s loss. But if Joshua Dobbs is the starting QB, those defensive performances won’t matter much in wins and losses.

32. Houston Texans

Last week: Lost 25-9 at Baltimore

Upcoming: vs. Indianapolis on Sunday

QB CJ Stroud looked like a rookie on Sunday, but he had some bright spots. The Texans have to run the ball (3.1 yards per carry) and protect Stroud better (5 sacks, 10 hits).

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL Power Rankings: Week 2 rankings lead with dominant 49ers