Our Week 1 NFL power rankings were stronger at the top than the bottom, which is to be expected with some teams providing the typical Week 1 surprises. Still, we saw plenty of teams rise and fall.
Let's dive right in to the power rankings for Week 2.
The Chiefs are as advertised. The offense has more firepower, which was on display against the Ravens despite Kansas City not pushing the ball vertically. The scary part about the back-to-back champions will likely improve in the coming weeks.
The 49ers are without Christian McCaffery and are still clearly a team to be reckoned with in the NFC. If Jordan Mason can stack performances like Week 1, San Francisco will be even more dangerous when McCaffery returns. The defense, of course, is the team's biggest strength as one of the best overall units in the NFL.
Detroit's offense got its first real taste of the impact Jameson Williams can have. But as exciting as he was, the defense was the real star of the show against the Rams. First-round pick Terrion Arnold showed up in a big way, leading the way in a vastly improved secondary. The Lions have strengthened their biggest weakness while also bolstering their strengths.
The Ravens have to stop abandoning the run in big games. Other than that, Baltimore was a toenail away from possibly ruining Kansas City's home opener. Lamar Jackson wore on the defense of the Chiefs and remains problematic for the league.
The Eagles appear to have resolved their late-season issues from last season, which puts them right back in the conversation. Saquon Barkley adds a particularly dangerous aspect to an already stacked offense. What he provides in game-breaking ability outmatches what an impressive rushing attack previously lacked.
Houston handled business despite some alien plays from Anthony Richardson. The Texans need to rally in the new offensive attack a bit, namely in regard to Stefon Diggs. Overall, though, there's little concern over the team's standing as Super Bowl hopefuls.
The Bills had some tight moments against the Cardinals. Arizona is sneaky in 2024, so the game served as a good measurement of Buffalo's resolve, especially with a new-look offense. Still, there's a lot of room for growth with Buffalo's offense. They could stumble, but it won't be far for long.
Dallas played as expected against Cleveland, but the Browns' offensive unraveling leaves an unfinished shine on the Cowboys. Dallas had stark inconsistencies early in the past few seasons. They'll have to stack consistent performances to warrant more confidence in their approach.
Miami wasn't as quick out of the gate, but they have some unexpected long speed too. The Dolphins have the offensive firepower to contend with anyone and a defense to keep them around if the offense needs time to click. With a ton of emotion at their back in light of off-field events, Miami will be a curios program to watch in the coming weeks.
The Chargers played cleanly, and while not overly explosive against the Raiders, the consistency on both sides of the ball was refreshing for LA. It's clear they are right where they want to be.
The Bengals have more concerns than Ja'marr Chase's contract. If Joe Burrow's wrist isn't 100%, the offense will be in a tight spot. The loss to the Patriots has to be an immediate wake-up call, especially with Kansas City next on the schedule.
The Rams powered through a decimated offensive line and the loss of Puca Nacu to contend with one of the best teams in the NFL. They stay put on principle, but it won't be easy to stay put with the full injury report this early in the season.
The question for the Buccaneers was whether or not they could pick up from their strong finish to last season. The Commanders were a safe test, but Tampa Bay passed impressively. Detroit is a considerable step up in difficulty and how they perform will tell a great deal about this team.
The Steelers' defense is strong, but the offense is still the question mark. The quarterback situation complicates matters even more. More redzone trips than three-and-outs against Atlanta was refreshing, but no touchdowns is frustrating.
Green Bay only drops this far because of Jordan Love's injury. Malik Willis isn't a promising option in relief, but the roster around the backup is better than his previous employer. The safer the Packers play the next few games, the better.
Seattle looks consistent to 2023 with a mixture of intrigue and limitations. It won't be surprising for Seattle to keep things close against their next four opponents either (Patriots, Dolphins, Lions, Giants).
The Jets were no match for the 49ers, but it's not as though they were exposed. The offense has to gell while the defense upholds its end of the bargain. Aaron Rodgers may take a bit longer to acclimate in his return too. There's reason to have faith in the Jets to persist as an average-to-above-average team until the damn breaks.
Week 1 didn't surprise many when it came to the Chicago Bears. The offense has many new faces but the defense and special teams units are impressive. Caleb Williams gets some grace, but the sooner he plays like a first-overall pick, the sooner the Bears become a real threat in the NFC playoff picture.
As long as the Colts have a healthy Anthony Richardson, they'll be problematic. There are clearly some gaps separating them from where they'd like to be, but they aren't far off either.
Any confidence that once existed with the Cleveland Browns was quickly dashed in an ugly performance against the Cowboys. More off-the-field issues with Deshaun Watson only served to highlight his inability to return to form. Of course, his latest legal trouble could cause further ripple effects that either damage the Browns' chances or significantly improve them. Until then, they remain a giant question mark.
The Jags had a hotter start in Week 1 than I expected but still fell short in a winnable game against a superior roster. It's a constant trend with this team, and it must be frustrating to no end within their fanbase.
The Cardinals play their part as an underdog well. Their struggles aren't unfounded but there is plenty to buy into. With that said, Marvin Harrison Jr. has to be more involved than in Week 1.
Drubbing the Panthers is important for New Orleans, but it doesn't exactly inspire confidence that New Orleans is a threat. A date with Dallas will be more telling of where the Saints stand.
Kirk Cousins didn't look comfortable in his return to NFL action. That could be entirely symptomatic of the Steelers' defense, but it certainly seemed to be a larger issue. The Eagles' defensive front will test the theory further.
The Vikings are a strange case, but their performance against the hapless Giants was a pleasant look. Unfortunately, it will take more than that to inspire confidence in Sam Darnold. Surely San Francisco will provide a humbling experience.
Jayden Daniels flashed a bit against the Buccaneers, but it wasn't quite enough. The Commanders are creating offensive cornerstones early in the season, so growth is the key for Washington. Still, a chance to show out against the Giants should be lost on them.
The Titans found a truly embarrassing way to secure a loss in Week 1. Tennessee was sloppy and it cost them, but they enjoyed space to recover. Will Levis has to be smarter with the ball for Tennessee to provide more than highlights and memes?
Bo Nix flashed at times but his rookie mistakes piled up quickly in his debut loss. Sean Payton probably shouldn't ask Nix to throw 42 passes in Week 2, especially against a daunting Steelers pass rush.
The Raiders play tough, but it's still hard to move them up the rankings until there's a reason to feel confident about the offense. I don't expect we'll get that reason for some time.
It's not surprising that Jarod Mayo had his team ready to play spoiler in Week 1. Still, the Bengals contributed to their loss more than the Patriots influenced it. Still, New England shows some intrigue despite their shortcomings.
The Giants went two-for-two in putting an ugly product on the field to start the season. The centennial uniforms were an eyesore and it was only amplified by the poor offense led by Daniel Jones.
Well, I found a reason to believe in the Panthers and instantly had to abandon it. Bryce Young is finding himself in the bust conversation a bit too much. There are clearly still a heap of problems surrounding this franchise that won't be resolved in 2024.