Week 2 NFL Power Rankings: NFC West Surges! Packers, Titans Plummet

 Week 1 is in the books. It was a widely eventful first slate of games and had more upsets and close games than any week 1 I can remember in recent memory. With all of the games comes a lot of change in the league's hierarchy. How much change will there be from last weeks rankings heading into the season? Here we go. We will also in each team's spot talk about a specific player who stood out. We will also show the movement each team made from last week. 

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Previously #1

The Buccaneers remain the top team in the NFL after a crazy opening game which resulted in them hitting a walk-off field goal. They look so complete as a team just like they did during their Super Bowl run last season. Tom Brady does not age. Seriously. He looked even better than he did last season. 4 TDs, 300+ yards passing. He was locked in. Rob Gronkowski might just be back, he had 2 TDs and 90 receiving yards en route to the victory. What a huge boon it would be for Tampa if Gronk really is BACK.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Previously #2 

The Chiefs also remain in the #2 spot just like last week. For a good while, it looked like the Chiefs were going to be starting out 0-1. They were down as much as 12 points to Cleveland in the second half but that was before Patrick Mahomes did his thing. The comeback kid delivered yet again sending the fully packed Arrowhead stadium into a frenzy. Chris Jones deserves his respect. He was a force on the defensive line all game and forced Baker Mayfield to make some bad decisions. He had 2 sacks in the game, a really good way to open up the season. 

3. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Previously #7 +

After an off-season of drama, the Seahawks put it all behind them with one of the most impressive wins of the Pete Carroll era. They left no doubt. The Seahawks controlled the game from their first offensive drive of the game to the last. Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett were amazing (100 yards, 2 TDs). New OC Shane Waldron was as close to perfect as he could be during his first game on the job. The different thing about these Seahawks is that it isn't just the offense that is good, but the D might have been as good if not better. They shutdown Carson Wentz and held the Colts to 10 points all game before a garbage time TD. Second year rusher Darrell Taylor made his Seahawk debut and was impressive. He had a big sack on a 4th down and looks like he will be a huge piece for this Seahawk team in 2021. A massive win for the Seahawks who look like full on Super Bowl contenders right now.

4. Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
Previously #3 -

Matthew Stafford officially lived up to the hype. His first drive in a Ram ended with an 80 yard TD pass to Van Jefferson. The Rams did not look back after that as both units were in sync and dominating the game. Stafford looks to really be the missing piece to this Rams puzzle. The story of the game was RB Darrell Henderson Jr. He was really good. The Rams lost Cam Akers to a horrible season ending injury, but early signs show that Henderson might be able to be the guy in his absence. Two out of the top 4 teams in these power rankings are in the NFC West. It's going to be a wild wild west to say the least. 

5. Cleveland Browns (0-1)
Previously #6 +

Pretty unheard of in the NFL to lose a game and move up in the next week's power rankings, but the Browns had a rare "good" loss. This Browns team again pushed the Chiefs to the absolute limit. They were leading for much of the game before a collapse in the 4th quarter. They even had a chance to win the game as they had the football down 4 with a minute to go but had an unlucky interception to lose the game. Although the win would have been amazing, the way they played shows these Browns are legit Super Bowl contenders. Nick Chubb was better than ever and set the tone for this offense from the get-go. That RB duo is gonna be a problem all season. 

6. San Fransisco 49ers (1-0)
Previously #8 +

Third NFC West team in the top 6. Craziness. Just like Seattle and LA, the Niners had a really good win of their own. They dominated Detroit from the very beginning but let them back into the game a little bit at the end, causing some drama in the final minutes. Jimmy Garopollo started off the day rough with a fumble on the opening snap but ended up pulling together a strong performance overall. Deebo Samuel went off. 180+ receiving yards for the third year weapon out of South Carolina. If Samuel is able to have these kind of games this year, this Niner offense is going to be a lot harder to stop than some might think. The team lost CB1 Jason Verrett to a season ending ACL tear which is a cause for some concern but this team always finds the next man up. A great start for the Niners.

7. New Orleans Saints (1-0)
Previously #16 +

The Saints authored the biggest surprise blowout of the week. In their first 'home' game of the season, they absolutely THROTTLED the reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers and his Packers. It wasn't close at all. A 38-3 win against the NFC's top seed from a season ago signifies that these Saints are still contenders after all even after so much turnover this off-season. The defense was absolutely insane as they held Aaron Rodgers to one of his worst games EVER. Davante Adams was also shutdown by Marshon Lattimore for the most part. How about Jameis Winston too! In his Saints starting debut, he tossed a league high 5 TD passes with ease and no picks. This is the Jameis the Bucs thought they were getting when he went no. 1 overall. I can't wait to see more of him on this Saints team. As a result of all of this, the Saints are MASSIVE risers this week in the ranks.

8. Buffalo Bills (0-1)
Previously #4 -

I could have dropped these Bills much further, but 8 felt like a big enough drop after just one bad week. Still, it was real bad. The Bills looked nothing like the team we saw make the AFC title game last season. Josh Allen who was an MVP vote getter last season looked like the QB we saw in his first two seasons. Not poised and shaky. The Bills couldn't find anything on offense all day. On the bright side, their defense was really good and held the opposing offense to little scoring themselves. The Bills offense gets a bit of a pass because it was the top notch Steelers D that they faced, but they were downright awful. How the Bills bounce back next week should be very telling of the quality of this football team. 

9. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
Previously #15 +

And that marks all 4 NFC West teams inside of the top 9. Incredible. The Cardinals might have had the most impressive performance of any of the West team's this week. Slight underdogs on the road against the Titans, they came out firing and never looked back. They absolute romped the Titans and took away everything they were used to doing on offense. Derrick Henry was bottled up to a pedestrian statline and Ryan Tannehill was not able to pass with Chandler Jones and his 5 sacks coming off the edge at him. The Cardinals offense dropped 38 points on the back of Kyler Murray who looks elite and speedy entering his third season. If this defense continues to play as well as it just did, the Cardinals are Super Bowl contenders. Period. 

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
Previously #20 +

What a shocking win for the Steelers in week 1. They didn't play great by any means, but they got the job done. Against most seemingly elite teams, their performance would not have warranted a victory, but it did this time. Their defense was spectacular. They absolutely stifled this high flying Bills offense. The question marks remain on their offense. It was bad. Big Ben is on fuel reserve right now. He can barely throw the ball 30 yards. Najee Harris didn't have the massive game right out of the gate that we all expected. The Steelers will need to figure it out of offense if they want to be seen as true contenders. It was a great win against the Bills, but a lot of it was pretty lucky. They will need an offense if they want to keep winning. 

11. Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
Previously #9 -

Even though they beat a really good Washington team this week, the Chargers fall 2 spots in the rankings. It was probably week 1 jitters, but the Chargers did not have a super convincing win. It came down to the end and Justin Herbert was good, but did have 2 picks. Not his best performance ever to say the least. The story of the game for the Chargers was rookie first round OT Rashawn Slater. He is going to be so good. He started the entire game at tackle and absolutely took former DROY Chase Young out of the game. Young didn't record a single pressure, sack, hit, or hurry. The Chargers D was also better than we expected. I like the Chargers a lot, but we will need a bigger game out of Justin Herbert next week to confirm the team is going to be able to win in shootouts. 

12. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)
Previously #12

The Ravens were a team I was lower on than most going into the season, and so the upset loss keeps them right where I thought they deserved to be. Having to pivot after a brutal week of injury news where the team lost starting RB Gus Edwards and star CB Marcus Peters to ACL tears, the Ravens had to do a quick 180 and name some new starters. In an absolutely amazing game to watch vs the Raiders, the Ravens just barely lost in OT. They have places to improve in, including pass protection and the overall passing game. I saw a lot I liked, but the team will have to clean up some mistakes if they want to get into the win column and back into the playoff race. New starting RB Ty'Son Williams did really impress me with his speed and burst in his first career start, it will be interesting to see how they use him in the coming weeks.

13. Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Previously #17 +

Just like the Browns, the Cowboys had probably the best loss they could have had. In a game in which they were heavy underdogs, they were ultra-impressive. They pushed the defending champ Buccaneers to their limit. Dak Prescott was incredible in his return from injury, he showed amazing chemistry with WRs Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb. This offense is going to be so hard to stop this season. The most impressive part of the game for Dallas was their defense. It had multiple really nice stops throughout the game and even picked off Tom Brady twice. With a competent defense to compliment this high-octane offense, the Cowboys could return to the playoffs this season. 

14. Green Bay Packers (0-1)
Previously #5 -

What happened? I know there was a lot of drama in the off-season for the Packers regarding Aaron Rodgers and the team, but they settled it for the current season. That is what is the most puzzling part about the worst loss in Aaron Rodgers' Green Bay career. From the very start of this game, the Saints outplayed the Packers. In every aspect of the game, the Packers were terrible. They couldn't pass. They couldn't run. They couldn't play defense. They couldn't score. Rodgers looked like a shell of his former self who is coming fresh off of an MVP season. I don't know where this team stands after that loss, but if they can't pull it together vs a sorry Detroit team on MNF this week, things are going to go bad quickly in Wisconsin. 

15. Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Previously #26 +

Following their win over the Ravens in a thriller last night, the Raiders make a massive leap in the rankings to the top 15. While there is a lot of cleaning up for this team to do, there were a ton of positives from that upset win. Derek Carr looked so good. He is an above average QB that can win this team games. Darren Waller was his same old self. The offensive line (minus some penalties) was great. The defense was also surprisingly good. Maxx Crosby was the player of this game. Lamar Jackson could not avoid him. He had multiple sacks on the speedy QB. The Raiders sent their fans into a frenzy with the walkoff TD in their Vegas debut (with fans in attendance) and now have some serious momentum to work with heading into week 2. 

16. Denver Broncos (1-0)
Previously #25 +

I might have to admit to being wrong on these Broncos. I was a hater of them going into the season, and while it's been just one week and they played a bad Giants team, they looked really good. Teddy Bridgewater is the answer for right now at QB. His level of poise and comfort in the pocket is huge for this offense. It feels so much smoother and well prepared. I saw some shades of their Super Bowl 50 defense in the game as well. Von Miller is still alive. He had 2 sacks and could be in for a revenge tour this year. I love this start for the Broncos and can't wait to see what they have going for them in the coming weeks. It was sad to see potential breakout WR Jerry Jeudy go down with an injury that will sideline him at least a month.

17. Miami Dolphins (1-0)
Previously #14 -

They did win in a 1pt game with the Patriots, but I just didn't love what I saw. I had them ranked at 14 going into the season because I saw major upside with the team that I'm starting to lose sight of. Sure, this defense is elite. But it can only do so much when the offense is as bad as it is. The team has the playmakers on O but can't escape the shadow of Tua Tagovailoa who is just not looking good. He looked very similar to how he did as a rookie which is not good at all. The Dolphins could still go on to have a great season and make the playoffs, but that was not a very convincing game in our opinion. 

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Previously #30 +

I know it was against Atlanta, but what a win for Philly. They came out hot on offense and didn't take their foot off the gas the whole game. The player of the game for the Eagles was second year QB Jalen Hurts. Oh man did he look good. It's too early to say for sure, but as of now, the Eagles made the right choice to pick him over Carson Wentz as their QB of the future. The mobile QB posted 300+ passing yards, 3 TDs, no picks, and another 60 yards on the ground. First round pick WR Devonta Smith was also stellar in his first game as he had over 50 receiving yards and one of Hurts' TD passes. Their week 2 game against the 49ers just got a whole lot more interesting, these Eagles might just have a chance in the NFC (L)east.

19. New England Patriots (0-1)
Previously #18 -

In his first career NFL game, first round QB Mac Jones was really good. He went 29/39 for 280 yards and a TD with 0 picks. That is about as good as you can ask for of a rookie QB in his first game. There is serious promise there with him, he showed Brady like poise and calmness in the middle of the pocket all game against a ferocious Miami defense. The Patriots barely lost the game, but it was an encouraging performance overall. The 2 fumbles by their RBs killed them. They have a lot of things to be excited about heading into week 2 and beyond. They drop just 1 spot this week. 

20. Washington Football Team (0-1)
Previously #10 -

Despite losing a close battle against a good Chargers team, Washington takes a hard fall in the rankings. This is largely due to the fact that they lost new starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to a leg injury that should have him out at least a month. On the bright side, backup QB Taylor Heinicke has shown some real promise in 2 career games with the team. The defense this team boasts keeps them in any game, it will be up to Heinicke to make sure this offense can score at least a bit when in close games that their amazing defense helps them get into. 

21. Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Previously #11 -

A similarly large fall to Washington, the Titans did the absolute worst they could have on Sunday hosting Arizona. They were out of this game from the start. Their offensive line was beyond awful and their defense couldn't stop a grandma out there. Even Derrick Henry was neutralized. I'm not sure if it was a fluke or if this team without Arthur Smith at OC is just not the same, but it was a disheartening loss for the Titans who don't have much time to dwell on it as a tough match-up on the road in Seattle looms this coming weekend. 

22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)
Previously #24 +

There were so many who doubted the Bengals coming into this season, and the team did an amazing job to silence those doubts with a resilient OT win against a good Vikings team this weekend. Joe Burrow returned from his ACL tear and looked really sharp. He was slinging the ball with ease all day long. Joe Mixon silenced so many doubters with his 120+ yard rushing day. Much maligned rookie WR Ja'Marr Chase did the same with 100 yards and a TD in his NFL debut. This offense looks like it has serious potential to develop into a top 10 unit. The defense had a really strong showing as well and looks it could be well improved. The Bengals are going to be a fun team to monitor this year and should be close to a return to the playoffs. 

23. Carolina Panthers (1-0)
Previously #21 -

The Panthers did win, but it wasn't a crazy good win. The Jets were in the game until late. I did like a lot of what I saw from Carolina though. Christian McCaffrey is officially back! He had over 180 scrimmage yards in the game and was the focal point of this offense once again. Sam Darnold enjoyed a nice debut for the team as well. The defense was shaky at times but did hold the Jets under 20 points which is solid. I'm not quite sure just yet what to make of this team, but we will find out a lot about them in week 2 when they face the red hot Saints.

24. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Previously #13 -

The early returns to not look good for the Colts regarding the Carson Wentz trade. In his first game as a Colt, he looked like the Carson Wentz of last season...which was a disaster. The Seahawks led virtually the entire game and it wasn't particularly close. For the Colts sake, they hopefully had a flukey loss against one of the best teams in the league and can get back on track this coming week against the Rams. It will be another tough match. It's not looking good right now for Indy. 

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)
Previously #19 -

Not a great first week for Minnesota. While the game vs the Bengals was obviously close as it went to OT, the Vikings were believed to be the much better team and they lost. The trio of Jefferson, Thielen, and Cook is elite on offense, but that is about all they have. Their O-line is poor. Kirk Cousins is average/below. Their D is so shaky. I liked what DT Michael Pierce did in the game but aside from that there weren't many positives to go around. Kicker Greg Joseph hit a deep field goal to send them to OT which was nice to see. It's a wait and see with this team but I just generally don't like where they are trending already after week 1. 

26. Chicago Bears (0-1)
Previously #23 -

As predicted, after just one week, it should be Justin Fields time. We are yet to hear on that matter yet, but if not, the Bears are going to keep losing. Aside from a good start to the game, the Bears got handled by the Rams. Andy Dalton was so uninspiring. I don't like this mentorship idea because Fields is already better than Dalton which isn't the case in many rookie QB mentorship situations. The Bears defense was considered to be somewhat strong going into the year but they were torched by Stafford and the Rams. If Fields doesn’t start soon, the Bears season will be over real quick. However, the potential of Fields playing gives this team an edge over the remaining bad teams left in the rankings to be named.

27. New York Jets (0-1)
Previously #28 +

Zach Wilson had a rough start to his first career game, but he picked it up throughout the game and had this one come down to the end for the Jets. They did end up losing, but not in terrible fashion. A 5-point loss for a team who won just 1 game last season was not bad at all. Wilson showed the mobility and arm talent on some nice throws to Corey Davis. The Jets defense also was pretty good as it held Carolina under 20 points despite the amount of talent on that offense. It was a big blow losing LT Mekhi Becton to an injury that should have him out awhile in this game. The Jets weren't awful in this one and have some potential heading into the rest of the season. 

28. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Previously #27 -

From the Bears on, all of these teams really have no life. The Falcons who were expected to be awful on defense, were also awful on offense which was a surprise to many. They have a lot of talent on that side of the ball in former MVP QB Matt Ryan, WR Calvin Ridley, rookie sensation TE Kyle Pitts, and RB Mike Davis. No one did well on Sunday as they were slapped by the Eagles who were considered to be in the same kind of tier as the Falcons. It appears not. The Falcons are nothing if not even their offense can show some sparks.

29. Houston Texans (1-0)
Previously #32 +

Well, my bold take was already proven wrong. I had the Texans going 0-17 this season. They started out 1-0. In a battle of two bottom feeding teams, the Texans were easily the better team out there on Sunday. Tyrod Taylor impressed despite working with little talent on offense and the Texans D was strong against Trevor Lawrence and the Jags. I don't expect much more success from this team, but for them, it's nice to start out 1-0. 

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
Previously #22 -

The worst team in the league last year, I thought maybe this team could be a dark horse playoff contender. Boy does it look like I'm wrong. The Jags were awful on Sunday. The Urban Meyer experiment might be over soon already. His questionable ways of doing things really seemed to cost this team. Trevor Lawrence started out rough with a few picks but then finished strong with 3 TD passes to go with his 3 picks. DJ Chark caught a deep bomb for a TD but that was about it for highlights for this team. They need to involve stud RB James Robinson more. They have to control some clock with a defense this bad. 

31. Detroit Lions (0-1)
Previously #31

I was tempted to move them up a little as they almost came back against the 49ers, but it was mostly luck. This team was outplayed the whole game and got back into it with some garbage time scoring and a few lucky bounces of the football. The one bright spot for this team was TE TJ Hockenson who looks like he might develop into an elite TE this season. 

32. New York Giants (0-1)
Previously #29 -

Daniel Jones is a bust. He was bad on Sunday. The Giants scored 7 points the entire game before a TD with 1 second to go. The defense which was supposed to be good was awful against a mid tier QB in Teddy Bridgewater. They need to retool heavy this off-season, their current group is not working. Saquon Barkley was an afterthought in his return and is in danger of becoming the next Todd Gurley. They will have a quick turnaround as they played WFT on Thursday night where they can pray to steal a win against the team's backup QB.