Week 2 delivered blowouts, overtime finishes and several major reversals from opening weekend. These rankings also account for Thursday night’s first game of Week 3, when Atlanta stunned Green Bay 35-14 at Lambeau Field.
1. Seattle Seahawks
Last: 9
Change: 🟢 +8
Seattle answered its sluggish opener with a dominant 31-7 road win over Arizona, improving to 2-0 behind a defense allowing just 8.5 points per game. The Seahawks visit Washington next and should have opportunities against a team that has surrendered 61 points through two games. Seattle rises eight spots after looking much more like the defending champion.
I stated before Week 1 that Seattle would have the top spot until they lost a game, then I broke my word after Darnold’s injury and dropped them 8 spots, but after Darnold’s quick recovery and the Seahawks’ beatdown of the Cardinals, I decided to implement the Seattle is number 1 rule once again. It’s great to be the king!
2. Buffalo Bills
Last: 3
Change: 🟢 +1
Buffalo opened its new stadium by outlasting Detroit 41-31 and scoring at least 36 points for the second consecutive week. The Bills now host a Chargers team that has scored only 14 points in each of its first two games.
Buffalo climbs one spot after its offense again looked like one of the league’s most dependable units. After Josh Allen defeated some of his demons in Houston, he went belt-to-ass on the Detroit Lions in their home opener in Week 2. That performance has Buffalo ranked as the top team in the AFC and the 2nd overall team in the NFL.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Last: 1
Change: 🔴 -2
Kansas City needed overtime to survive Indianapolis 33-30, but a second straight victory was not enough to keep the Chiefs as the top team in the NFL.
Kansas City drops to No. 3 because of the return of Sam Darnold and Buffalo’s excellent play. They visit winless Miami on Sunday with an opportunity to produce a more comfortable result.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Last: 4
Change: Unchanged
San Francisco followed its statement win in Australia with a routine 35-13 victory over Miami. The 49ers host Arizona this week in a divisional matchup that should favor their balanced offense and stingy defense.
San Francisco remains unchanged at No. 4 because the three teams ahead of it have been equally convincing. How long can the 49ers survive the power station putting all their players on IR.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Last: 8
Change: 🟢 +3
Cincinnati’s defense-controlled Houston in a 20-6 victory, giving the Bengals a 2-0 start without requiring a shootout.
Cincinnati moves up three spots because its rebuilt defense is already easing the burden on Joe Burrow. A trip to Pittsburgh presents a physical divisional test against a Steelers team coming off a flat offensive showing.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Last: 7
Change: 🟢 +1
Philadelphia improved to 2-0 with a 24-20 win over Tennessee, although the Titans remained within one score until the end.
Philadelphia rises one place because it continues to win while still leaving room for a cleaner performance. The Eagles visit Chicago on Monday night and should be able to pressure an offense that may be starting its 3rd string QB, as long as they aren’t looking ahead to their Rams matchup next week.
7. Los Angeles Rams
Last: 10
Change: 🟢 +3
The Rams erased the memory of their Australia disaster by suffocating the Giants 28-6 at SoFi Stadium.
Los Angeles climbs three spots after its defense restored order in convincing fashion. They travel to Denver for Sunday Night Football in a matchup between two teams that responded well to ugly Week 1 losses. A matchup vs the Eagles looms next week.
8. Minnesota Vikings
Last: 14
Change: 🟢 +6
Minnesota won a defensive struggle in Chicago 9-3 and moved to 2-0 after holding the Bears without a touchdown. The Vikings visit Tampa Bay next, where another disciplined defensive effort should create opportunities against a turnover-prone offense.
Minnesota jumps six positions because it has now shown it can win both a shootout and a grind. Their defense is legit!
9. New Orleans Saints
Last: 20
Change: 🟢 +11
New Orleans turned its encouraging Week 1 comeback into a major result by upsetting Baltimore 24-17 on the road. The Saints host undefeated Las Vegas this week in one of Sunday’s most unexpectedly compelling games.
New Orleans rockets up 11 spots because it proved its opening-week failed comeback was no fluke. New Orleans may be a feared team come playoff time representing the NFC South.
10. Baltimore Ravens
Last: 2
Change: 🔴 -8
Baltimore’s explosive opener gave way to a 24-17 home loss against New Orleans, raising fresh questions about the team’s week-to-week consistency. The Ravens now face Dallas in Rio de Janeiro, where their running game will try to exploit a Cowboys defense that has already been tested.
Baltimore falls eight spots because losing at home to an underdog erased much of its Week 1 momentum. The winner of this game will be considered a threat, while the loser will get fraud accusations.
11. Denver Broncos
Last: 12
Change: 🟢 +1
Denver steadied itself with a 20-13 win over Jacksonville, leaning on its defense after the opener in Kansas City went sideways. The Broncos host the Rams on Sunday night in a much stronger test of whether their offense has truly settled down.
Denver moves up one spot after earning a needed rebound victory. They were close to being 0-2 until Bo Nix and the offense showed signs of life in the 4th quarter.
12. New England Patriots
Last: 13
Change: 🟢 +1
New England held Pittsburgh to 13 points and earned its first win of the season, with Drake Maye avoiding the costly mistakes that ruined the opener. The Patriots travel to Jacksonville for a matchup between two 1-1 teams still trying to establish their identities. New England rises one place because its defense has now delivered two strong performances.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Last: 18
Change: 🟢 +5
Dallas bounced back from its opening loss by beating Washington 37-20 and finally received the complementary football expected from its rebuilt roster. The Cowboys meet Baltimore in Rio this week, creating a fascinating test for a defense that must contain Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
Dallas climbs five spots after turning an early divisional game into a comfortable win. Will the Cowboys running game wake up vs Baltimore so the Cowboys can be considered a contender or will Dak and Dallas have to fend off fraud accusations for the 3rd year in a row?
14. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last: 6
Change: 🔴 -8
Jacksonville could not reproduce its opening-week rhythm and managed only 13 points in a seven-point loss at Denver. The Jaguars return home to face New England, whose defense has allowed only 26 total points through two games. Jacksonville drops eight places because its offense regressed sharply against stronger competition.
15. Chicago Bears
Last: 5
Change: 🔴 -10
Chicago followed its 59-point explosion with only three points in a 9-3 loss to Minnesota, one of the largest week-to-week scoring declines in league history. The Bears host undefeated Philadelphia on Monday night and need immediate answers against another talented defense.
Chicago tumbles 10 spots because of the Week 2 injuries to Caleb and Tyson combined with only scoring 3 points vs the Vikings.
16. Las Vegas Raiders
Last: 25
Change: 🟢 +9
Las Vegas controlled the Chargers 26-14 and moved to 2-0 behind a defense that has allowed only 27 points. The Raiders visit New Orleans this week in a matchup between two of the season’s most pleasant surprises.
Las Vegas surges nine spots because its rebuilt roster has already produced two complete victories and beat a Chargers team that was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender.
17. Carolina Panthers
Last: 23
Change: 🟢 +6
Carolina responded to allowing 59 points in Week 1 by demolishing Atlanta 34-3, producing the weekend’s most dramatic defensive reversal. The Panthers visit Cleveland next in a matchup of teams coming off unexpected wins.
Carolina climbs six positions because its defense went from historically poor to completely dominant in one week and Bryce has been hella consistent through two weeks.
18. Detroit Lions
Last: 15
Change: 🔴 -3
Detroit scored 31 points in Buffalo but could not keep pace in a 41-31 loss that exposed more defensive issues. The Lions host the Jets on Sunday and should have a chance to regain control against a less explosive offense.
Detroit slips three spots because its scoring power has not been matched by enough stops. They seem destined to miss the playoffs but beating the Jets could move the ship in the right direction.
19. Houston Texans
Last: 16
Change: 🔴 -3
Houston’s offense disappeared in a 20-6 loss to Cincinnati, leaving the Texans winless despite entering the season with playoff expectations. A trip to Indianapolis gives Houston a chance to reset against another 0-2 AFC South team.
The Texans fall three places because six points is unacceptable for an offense built around a maximum-extension seeking, C.J. Stroud. Can they right the ship vs the Colts or are they destined to start 0-3 in back-to-back years.
20. Atlanta Falcons
Last: 29
Change: 🟢 +9
Atlanta hit bottom in a 34-3 loss to Carolina, then delivered the first shock of Week 3 by routing Green Bay 35-14 at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. The Falcons’ ground game controlled the rematch, and their defense kept the Packers from mounting any meaningful response.
Atlanta rises nine spots because its emphatic Thursday victory completely changed the direction of its season. Penix Jr. combined with an aggressive defensive unit just saved the season on Thursday Night Football.
21. Arizona Cardinals
Last: 21
Change: Unchanged
Arizona followed its encouraging opening win with a 31-7 home loss to Seattle in which neither side of the ball offered much resistance. The Cardinals now visit San Francisco, making a quick recovery especially difficult against one of the league’s most complete teams.
Arizona remains unchanged at No. 21 because the teams immediately below it created even larger concerns and losing to Seattle was the expected outcome.
22. Green Bay Packers
Last: 17
Change: 🔴 -5
Green Bay needed overtime to escape the Jets 20-17 in Week 2, then returned home Thursday and was embarrassed 35-14 by previously winless Atlanta. The Packers were overwhelmed on the ground and have now looked unconvincing in three consecutive games despite securing one victory.
Green Bay falls five spots because its Thursday collapse outweighed the narrow win in New York and their season is officially on the brink.
23. New York Jets
Last: 26
Change: 🟢 +3
The Jets pushed Green Bay into overtime before falling 20-17, showing far more fight than the final result reveals. They visit Detroit this week and must find enough offense to keep the Lions from dictating the game.
New York moves up three places because a competitive road loss strengthened the case that this team is no longer an automatic win and the teams below it don’t have an argument to be ranked higher than the J-E-T-S!
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last: 19
Change: 🔴 -5
Pittsburgh’s offense produced only 13 points in a home loss to New England, wasting another respectable defensive performance. The Steelers host undefeated Cincinnati in Week 3 and will need much more aggression from the passing game to keep pace.
Pittsburgh drops five positions because its old offensive limitations returned almost immediately and don’t be surprised when Cincinnati beats the brakes off of Rodgers.
25. Indianapolis Colts
Last: 22
Change: 🔴 -3
Indianapolis pushed Kansas City into overtime but could not finish the upset, falling 33-30 and dropping to 0-2. The Colts host Houston this week in a matchup that guarantees one frustrated AFC South team its first victory.
Indianapolis falls three spots because a promising offensive performance still ended with another defensive failure, and we are closing in on the Shane Steichen era potentially coming to an end this season.
26. Cleveland Browns
Last: 31
Change: 🟢 +5
Cleveland produced a genuine surprise by beating Tampa Bay 23-19 after being routed in the opener. The Browns stay home to face Carolina, which arrives after a 31-point victory of its own.
Cleveland rises five spots because it found enough offense and late-game composure to earn a credible win. Is Cleveland winning the battle but losing the war by winning games this season?
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last: 24
Change: 🔴 -3
Tampa Bay let a favorable matchup slip away in a 23-19 loss to Cleveland and is now 0-2 after two winnable games. The Buccaneers host undefeated Minnesota this week, placing even more pressure on Baker Mayfield to protect the football and finish drives.
Tampa Bay drops three places because close losses are beginning to look like a pattern rather than bad luck, and losing to teams considered a bottom 3 team may. mean that TB is the real bottom 3 team.
28. Los Angeles Chargers
Last: 27
Change: 🔴 -1
The Chargers scored exactly 14 points for the second straight week and lost 26-14 to Las Vegas, falling to 0-2 at home. A trip to Buffalo is about as unforgiving as a rebound opportunity can get against an offense averaging 38.5 points.
Los Angeles slips one spot because its redesigned offense has yet to produce a functional performance. The Mike McDaniel era has picked up in San Diego where the Miami Dolphins offense left off last season – embarrasing!
29. New York Giants
Last: 11
Change: 🔴 -18
The Giants followed their impressive opening win with a 28-6 loss to the Rams, failing to score a touchdown in Los Angeles. They host Tennessee this week in a matchup that should reveal whether Week 1 or Week 2 was the more accurate picture.
New York crashes 18 spots, the week’s largest fall, because its prime-time momentum disappeared completely, Jaxon Dart is out for the season, and this author lost money betting the NYG on Monday Night!
30. Tennessee Titans
Last: 32
Change: 🟢 +2
Tennessee remained competitive against Philadelphia but still lost 24-20 and dropped to 0-2. The Titans visit the Giants this week, giving them a realistic chance to capitalize on New York’s miserable performance in Los Angeles.
Tennessee moves up two places because it showed more resistance against a Super Bowl contender.and the two teams below it are stuck in NFL hell!
31. Washington Commanders
Last: 28
Change: 🔴 -3
Washington allowed 37 points in Dallas and fell to 0-2 after losing both of its opening divisional games. The Commanders finally return home, but their first guest is a Seattle defense that has surrendered only 17 points all season.
Washington drops three positions because its defense is moving in the wrong direction at the worst possible time, and Jayden Daniels will most likely miss the next month. Dan Quinn looks like he’s in his final season in Washington.
32. Miami Dolphins
Last: 30
Change: 🔴 -2
Miami lost 35-13 in San Francisco and has now scored exactly 13 points in each of its first two games. The Dolphins host top-ranked Kansas City this week, leaving little reason to expect an immediate turnaround.
Miami falls two spots and lands last because its rebuilding roster has been noncompetitive on both sides of the ball for two weeks now. I would put them lower on the list but the NFL would need to expand to accomplish that feat.
