I have heard what you have said. Having completed two full weeks, I realized that my preseason thinking needed to be adjusted, and I have done so.
Not only did the Bengals fall six spots as a result of a one-point loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead, but they also fell because I had them ranked too high in the first place.
Even while New Orleans’ victory in Dallas did not propel them up 16 spots, it was still a tremendous feat. My biggest mistake was dropping the Saints to 28th on my preseason ballot, and I detest overanalyzing Week 1.
It is a different story in Week 2. This could potentially break the one-week record for movement on the Power Rankings beat in my more than a year. Teams were up and down everywhere; to be honest, I am still attempting to filter through the chaos.
But like snakeskin, we are all peeling off our preseason prejudices with every week that goes by, such as believing the AFC North to be the best division. The Dolphins and Rams’ devastating injury news determined their dramatic declines from higher positions. The Falcons surprised the Eagles on Monday night, throwing us a late curveball.
It is been an odd, yet insightful, couple of weeks. Staying flexible is our goal.
1 Chiefs of Kansas City
Chiefs of Kansas City 2-0
The Chiefs have established a reputation for winning games and winning them well. The Bengals played a major role in how the game went, but Sunday was the latest magic show. The Chiefs’ 2-0 record is fortunate, but they simply have too strong of a resume to seriously undermine such a flawless record. They are known for sometimes winning games they should not have won. However, I am curious as to Travis Kelce’s current location. Even though he had a 41-yard pass called back on a hold in Week 2, he had a quiet first and second week.Early on, the Chiefs’ game plan seemed a little off, and the defense failed to close out on several crucial downs. I brought up this topic almost every week in this very space for a whole year, and you know where it got us. But Kelce’s return to the stage needs to happen quickly, given the recent news that Isiah Pacheco shattered his fibula.
2 49ers from San Francisco
49ers of San Francisco 1-1
The 49ers appeared drowsy in the early going on Sunday; they gave up a 97-yard touchdown throw, had a punt blocked, and twice turned the ball over on downs before somewhat regaining control of the game. Although Brock Purdy had two turnovers and was sacked six times, the defense worries me far more. At the end of the game, Nick Bosa got two sacks and Fred Warner was his normal Superman self, but the rest of the team played a lackluster game against a Minnesota offense that was missing numerous important players.Third-down conversions by the Vikings continued to be devastating, and if they had scored touchdowns on two more trips into the red zone, the game could have been even more ugly. Too much of the 49ers’ formula relies on Purdy being robotically effective when their defense is tested, and it simply did not happen on Sunday.
3-3 Texans from Houston
2-0 Houston Texans
The Texans used a number of disruptive defensive plays to blitz Caleb Williams and win the game. They decided to turn it around as soon as they noticed him becoming comfortable early. The coaching and execution were excellent. But in addition to committing 12 penalties, the careless Texans had to settle for four long field goals and fumbled away a chance to win the game within the Bears’ 5-yard line. While it was encouraging to watch Houston’s defense seize control of a game, It was sad that after a certain point in the game, the Texans continued to keep the Bears in it. Nico Collins is a real star, and C.J. Stroud’s show is going strong, but the Texans still need to improve if they want to be considered among the genuinely great teams.
2-0 Buffalo Bills 4-3 Buffalo Bills
The offensive line has undoubtedly been the team’s unsung hero during their 2-0 start. I believe the defense was underappreciated for its performance starting in the fourth series of Week 1 and continuing through Thursday’s decisive win in Miami. However, the offensive line also merits roses since it created some openings for the run game and kept Josh Allen—who has a broken left hand—clean. It was fascinating to watch Miami’s Jaelan Phillips get stonewalled by recently paid Spencer Brown in space as Allen completed a 33-yard pass to the 1-yard line.Almost all teams have displayed some weakness in the first two weeks. Until something drastically changes, the Bills are still as dangerous as they have always been.Almost all teams have displayed some weakness in the first two weeks. Until something drastically changes, the Bills are still as dangerous as they have always been.
5 2 Lions of Detroit Lions 1-1
In terms of offense, things are not going as well as you would think for this squad. Yardage is one thing, but execution is quite another. Jared Goff’s season has started slowly; he is missing too many throws and not making enough big plays. The Buccaneers’ first-throw interception (INT) kind of set the tone for the game. Although the Lions had good ball movement throughout the field, their red-zone performance (1 for 7) was awful. With a chance to take the game in the fourth quarter, Detroit is defense performed admirably. Since the Lions did not really get going until later in the 2023 season, it is too soon to declare that everything does not seem quite right, yet
6 2 Eagles of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles: 1-1
With A.J. Brown (hamstring), who stated he will be sidelined for several weeks, out, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and DeVonta Smith looking good enough to win it all on Monday night. After then, Barkley failed to complete a third-down pass that would have sealed the victory. Was tossing the ball there the best-odds call? I could have kept the clock going by running it twice with Hurts. Barkley, though, needs to make that grab. Hurts’ valiant evening is considered a failure. He displayed feeling. There were times when his legs took control. For the majority of the evening, there were clutch, on-time throws. However, Hurts’ last desperate pass was intercepted in the closing moments, and Lincoln Financial Field was as silent as a chapel. In general, Philadelphia’s defense needs to tighten up—tackling, running fits, and calling penalties to eliminate bad plays. Although the late fourth-down stop was encouraging, Atlanta’s last possession, in which the Falcons marched 70 yards in less than a minute for the game-winning score, was crazy due to a lack of pressure or coverage.
The Los Angeles Chargers, 7-5
Chargers of Los Angeles, 2-0
The fact that the team has run the ball three times for every two passes attempted and has allowed 13 points in two games are just two indications that things are different under Jim Harbaugh. Playing the Raiders and Panthers has undoubtedly had some influence on the first point, but the defense is undoubtedly playing a different kind of ball than it has in a while. Regarding the second issue, the Chargers’ offense in recent iterations has been at an inverse pass-run ratio, frequently loading Justin Herbert’s plate excessively and failing to capitalize on the team’s strength on the offensive line. In many aspects, this team may not be exceptional. However, it is unquestionably maximizing its advantages and reducing any potential disadvantages. It is had a significant role in the 2-0 start. Now that the Chiefs and Steelers are unblemished, we will find out just how good this Chargers squad is.
8-16 Saints of New Orleans
Saints of New Orleans, 2-0
Taming Carolina in the house was one thing. Well done on it. However, it was an entirely different story when the Saints went to Dallas and dominated the Cowboys for almost four quarters. I can not image too many people outside the building were expecting this, but I swear I am not making excuses for starting the season on the 28th. With just a late pick on Sunday in a game his team was dominating by 22 points, Derek Carr is now 30-for-39 (76.9%) passing for 443 yards this season—a startling 11.4 yards per completion—and five touchdowns.Right now, I wish I were Klint Kubiak’s agent. Since taking over, the offensive coordinator for the Saints has significantly increased the organization’s efficiency. In four months, at this rate, he will have his pick of head coaching positions. New Orleans is scoring at a historic rate through two games of the season—91 points, tied for the second-most in a team’s first two games of a season since the 1970 merger—in a season where passing efficiency is nearly at a 20-year low.
Place 9 4
Ravens of Baltimore, a 0-2 team
The Ravens have a 0-2 record. Under John Harbaugh, they have only been in this position once, in 2015, when the team fell to a 5-11 record. But the top passer on that Ravens team was a beat-up Joe Flacco, the top rusher was Justin Forsett, and the top receiver was Kamar Aiken. In addition to Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry, and Lamar Jackson, this team also includes players that may have led the club in statistics in 2015. With less than ten minutes remaining, the Ravens led 23-13 and were unable to overcome the Raiders. This is the fourth time since 2022 that Baltimore has blown a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. They had to concede a point on defense, but the Ravens
The Green Bay Packers, 10-1
Packers of Green Bay 1-1
What an unlikely scene it will be in Week 3, with Jordan Love still recovering from an injury and Malik Willis returning to Nissan Stadium as the Packers’ expected starter. Less than a week before he was moved to Green Bay, on August 17, Willis was starting for the Titans in their second preseason game. Narratives such as this are my favorites. However, if Willis can play the kind of calm, sophisticated game — albeit with limitations — the Packers will adore it even more. He performed it against the Colts, but with restraints. Give Matt LaFleur credit for creating a fantastic game plan that included loading up early with the run game and allowing Willis to get comfortable with passes that were higher percentage. He also gave the Colts a few stings of his own. Willis may be feeling nervous and the Titans may have some inside information about him, but on Sunday, he took the necessary action.
11-3 Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 1-1
One giant step backward, one giant step forward. In light of what the Packers did to Dallas at AT&T Stadium during the playoffs, the Cowboys’ 16-game home winning streak during the regular season felt a little anticlimactic to me. Nevertheless, it is amazing that a team that has been excellent in its own stadium for the past two years was throttled right away. Cowboys fans do not need to be reminded that despite a terrible start to the previous season, the team finished 12-5. However, the defense appeared to be in worse shape than it was over a year ago. This Saints offensive is based on the kind of system that the 49ers used to destroy them last season. Nevertheless, the fact that Dallas’ defense has been struggling so badly with this kind of strategy should raise some red flags. It concerns me.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12–4)
The Tampa Bay Bucs are 2-0.
Baker Mayfield has matured in ways that I do not think I could have predicted before last season, and possibly even well into it. He is not the quarterback he was in Cleveland years ago. He was put through a lot on Sunday (five sacks), but he also produced several audacious throws and managed to get away from many more pressures. The Bucs may benefit from a bit more drive-to-drive consistency, as the offensive unit as a whole slowed down, but Todd Bowles has showed this club some true grit. Even though he was playing with an injured secondary, Despite the Lions surpassing them in total yards gained, the Bucs prevailed in a grueling altercation in Detroit. That is very important in my opinion.
13 New York Jets 1-1 New York Jets
Although Aaron Rodgers has not produced any spectacular plays in the first two weeks, there have been enough encouraging signs that I am quite confident in the state of the Jets’ offense. I was awakened on that first week’s third drive. They were kept open by Aaron Rodgers’ 5-for-5 performance on the game-winning drive in Week 2. He hit Breece Hall with a gorgeous touchdown pass, and the arrival of Braelon Allen has given the backfield more depth. He appears deserving of weekly attention. The Jets’ defense has not magically been exonerated of its Week 1 transgressions, and the remainder of the setup still requires fine-tuning. It is going to hurt to lose Jermaine Johnson, However, receiving three sacks from Will McDonald IV was a positive step. If only they could try to access one more pass-rushing source now…
Pittsburgh Steelers, 14-3
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0)
Despite using their backup quarterback, they have two away wins and are the only NFL club with a perfect record. While not spectacular, Justin Fields has managed to lead nine scoring drives against 11 punts and commit just one turnover (which occurred on downs). Should I mention they’ve scored only one touchdown? I ought to. On Sunday, penalties were a major issue on both sides of the ball, but particularly on offense where they resulted in seven flags for 63 yards, wiping out 83 yards of offense and a touchdown. For what length of time can the defense hold out? There were indications throughout the second half against Denver that the team might be operating at maximum capacity. Week 3 will be a huge test as the Chargers make a comeback. Russell Wilson or Fields will it be? So far, Mike Tomlin seems to be making the right moves, but only he can tell.
