NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs Keep Top Spot, Cardinals Impress in Season Opener – Sports Illustrated

Welcome to The MMQB’s Week 2 strength rankings! We’re doing things a shrimp bit in any other case this yr. For years we’ve had the MMQB Power Rankings Ballot, whereby a panel of our writers and editors cross every team 1 thru 32 and we tally up the aspects. (Seek our preseason poll right here.) This yr we’ll be taking turns with the capacity rankings most weeks and breaking the poll aid out at a pair of key aspects within the season. My quantity got right here up first, so right here I’m with Week 2.

For sure, what develop you care? I know no person is studying the intro to a strength rankings submit. I may per chance per chance per chance repeat you that I spent my Sunday aboard an alien spaceship or that I truly occupy the latitude and longitude coordinates for a take care of chest corpulent of gold and jewels buried within the Montana desolate tract and you may per chance per chance per chance scroll precise on past to glimpse the keep I’ve ranked your current team.

So let’s receive precise to it. Be a part of me as I endeavor to guage which Week 1 video games I must gentle overreact to and which ones I must gentle push aside because it became a peculiar offseason and groups are gentle finding their footing. Affirmation bias is a gorgeous thing.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Houston 34-20

Subsequent week: at Los Angeles Chargers

In actual fact, I may per chance per chance per chance wish kept the Chiefs within the No. 1 tell even within the occasion that they’d misplaced to Houston. They are that like minded. For sure, they didn’t put me in a space to must develop that—reminding everybody precisely how like minded they are with a resolve on the season’s opening night time.

2. Fresh Orleans Saints (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Tampa Bay 34-23

Subsequent week: at Las Vegas (Monday)

This became one in every of my toughest choices to make, picking between Fresh Orleans and Baltimore for the No. 2 tell. Within the tip, I went with the Saints. Partly because I had them 2d going into the season, they generally didn’t develop the rest to deserve being bumped. Additionally they beat a better opponent in Tampa Bay than Baltimore did in Cleveland.

3. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Cleveland 38-6

Subsequent week: at Houston

The Ravens went 14-2 closing season, but spent this offseason answering questions about their 2d straight disappointing playoff loss. They are within the unenviable space of having to fight thru the entire traditional season with out being ready to expose their doubters defective except the playoffs initiate, but it absolutely became encouraging to glimpse them take up the keep they left off closing traditional season when they had been thrashing groups.

4. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Atlanta 38-25

Subsequent week: vs. Fresh England

I became very excessive on Seattle coming into the yr, picking Russell Wilson to settle MVP and giving them the honor of losing to the unstoppable Chiefs within the Neatly-organized Bowl. Then I became mildly dissatisfied to glimpse how standard they had been in the legit MMQB group predictions. Looks some of my [smart] coworkers agree with me, and we must gentle all feel like minded after Wilson’s enormous Week 1.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Fresh York Giants 26-16

Subsequent week: vs. Denver

Here is this form of fun defense to glimpse. They gave up a pair long drives in opposition to the Giants, but every few snaps there would be a handful of defenders within the backfield genuine now or three guys ready within the distance of an supposed pass. Ben Roethlisberger’s return a good deal raises the team’s floor, but the defense is what affords them a excessive ceiling.

6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Minnesota 43-34

Subsequent week: vs. Detroit

All of us know the story surrounding Inexperienced Bay coming into this season. They had been now not given the honor a 13-3 team with a Hall of Reputation quarterback would in most cases produce, but they clearly gave the impact of a team of that caliber when they went into Minnesota this weekend. A couple of of the opposite groups within the NFC’s 2d tier struggled in their openers and I truly occupy Inexperienced Bay as one in every of the week’s enormous winners.

7. Fresh England Patriots (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Miami 21-11

Subsequent week: at Seattle

That became a truly encouraging debut for Cam Newton in Fresh England. We’ve wondered eternally what it would seem like when they turned the catch page on the Tom Brady period, and it’s no shock that coaching group is able to constructing a scheme around their recent star’s queer capacity keep. I will be able to’t receive over the indisputable fact that the Patriots are fun and I’m having fun with this. How did this happen?

8. Buffalo Funds (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Fresh York Jets 27-17

Subsequent week: at Miami

The weekly horse saunter between the Funds and Patriots within the AFC East has the most likely to be a highlight of the season. The Funds took care of business in opposition to a expressionless Jets team, with the corpulent Josh Allen experience on show. I’ll give the Patriots the edge for this week, but they are tied at the hip for now.

9. Los Angeles Rams (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Dallas 20-17

Subsequent week: at Philadelphia

I liked what I saw from the Rams’ offense Sunday night time, even within the occasion that they handiest got right here away with 20 aspects. I will also admit that I will be able to also impartial occupy underrated them this offseason. The incredible thing about our nameless poll became that you just didn’t know the keep I rated anyone. But I wanted to be like minded with you, reader. While all of us rightfully focal level on division video games, the NFC has a deep pool of groups preventing for those seven playoff spots, and the Rams’ settle over Dallas may per chance per chance per chance show to be important reach the tip of the season.

10. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)

Closing week: Take at San Francisco 24-20

Subsequent week: vs. Washington

The Cardinals had been this form of traditional sleeper team closing spring and over the summer that I mediate they had been practically submit-hype when everybody made their precise predictions impartial earlier than the season. Each person is going to hop aid on the bandwagon now, as they must gentle after one in every of the more impressive wins of Week 1. That you can also’t overreact too much to Week 1, but take a look at the NFC: The 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Vikings and Bucs all misplaced. With broad vibes in Arizona this week, I’m sliding them into the tip 10! 

11. Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Los Angeles Rams 20-17

Subsequent week: vs. Atlanta

Each person got right here out of Sunday night time’s game speaking about Michael Gallup’s OPI, but even earlier than that play I conception it became famous how continuously Dak Prescott looked to Amari Cooper, for the duration of the game and on their important force that fell short. He got more than double the sequence of targets of anyone else on the team, after I may per chance per chance per chance well occupy anticipated a shrimp bit more steadiness. All of us know this team has a range of capacity, but the injuries in Week 1 are an actual discipline.

12. Tennessee Titans (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Denver 16-14

Subsequent week: vs. Jacksonville

It’s laborious to perceive what precisely to make of a game that obviously would’ve had more breathing room if Stephen Gostkowski hadn’t missed four kicks. But now and again you impartial plot cease the W and transfer on. The Titans may per chance per chance also be happier Tuesday morning than the seven groups precise beneath them on this listing, which all began their seasons off within the loss column.

13. San Francisco 49ers (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Arizona 24-20

Subsequent week: at Fresh York Jets

Shedding a dwelling division game is by no formula a like minded formula to initiate the season, but namely in a truly competitive NFC West that any of the four groups may per chance per chance per chance settle. To tell the glaring, the George Kittle effort is potentially very alarming. The receiver team is already banged up, and he’s a broad blocker within the escape game, which is what the Niners would reasonably develop anyway.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Washington 27-17

Subsequent week: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Eagles suffered one in every of Week 1’s most disappointing losses, given the combination of their preseason expectations (namely at this very online page), their opponent and the scale of the lead they blew. With four of their subsequent five video games in opposition to the Rams, 49ers, Steelers and Ravens, they’ll deserve to receive wholesome and/or figure things out with a patchwork offensive line or else they can also impartial safe themselves searching to dig out of a gap like they did down the stretch closing season.

15. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Inexperienced Bay 43-34

Subsequent week: at Indianapolis

That loss became much worse than the closing ranking presentations. Aaron Rodgers has torched a range of groups over the years, but I had better hopes for the Vikings’ defense. But Minnesota did make history Sunday, as Dalvin Cook dinner and Adam Thielen turned the first teammates to each and every occupy an octopus within the identical game. (Hear, when you happen to put me accountable for the capacity rankings, right here is the evaluation you’re going to receive.)

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Fresh Orleans 34-23

Subsequent week: vs. Carolina

The Bucs went all-in to settle this season with Tom Brady, and precise now I’ve got them completely heart of the pack. But obviously you may per chance per chance per chance downplay the loss because they accomplished the Saints. And you’d mediate Brady’s offense must gentle enhance as he and his teammates receive more mindful of every other.

17. Houston Texans (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Kansas City 34-20

Subsequent week: vs. Baltimore

I gentle mediate the Texans are able to having a truly like minded season. It is miles going to also impartial now not occupy felt like it on Thursday night time, but I deserve to guage them in opposition to groups that aren’t the Chiefs. Kansas City is going to make quite lots of groups look overmatched this yr. Silent, I moved Houston down a pair of spots accordingly.

18. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Seattle 38-25

Subsequent week: at Dallas

I feel about Atlanta lots like I feel about Houston. I mediate they ran into a Russell Wilson buzzsaw, they generally must gentle look better in opposition to most other groups. Subsequent week will obviously be one other take a look at for a team that kept preventing after a brutal initiate closing yr.

19. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Jacksonville 27-20

Subsequent week: vs. Minnesota

I became now not as optimistic as some of my coworkers referring to the Philip Rivers experiment in Indy, but I became appealing to take care of an begin mind. A disappointing loss to Jacksonville is now not a promising initiate for a team I already had outdoor the playoff describe.

20. Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Cincinnati 16-13

Subsequent week: vs. Kansas City

Wait, wait, wait, you’re telling me the Chargers won a game on a blown discipline purpose at the tip of the game? The Chargers escaped Cincinnati with a settle, and now we’ll glimpse within the occasion that they spent the entire summer cooking up the rest special for Kansas City.

21. Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Carolina 34-30

Subsequent week: vs. Fresh Orleans (Monday)

The Raiders hung on for a settle in Carolina, but this week feels like this can also very effectively be the legit initiate of the Las Vegas period—christening the recent stadium in opposition to the Saints on Monday night time. Of the entire video games that can per chance per chance be enhanced by the NFL’s frequent sellout crowds, this one would be excessive on the listing. (That said, we pour one out for the fans in Oakland whose team moved away.)

22. Denver Broncos (0-1)

Las week: Loss vs. Tennessee 16-14

Subsequent week: at Pittsburgh

I truly occupy the Chargers, Raiders and Broncos as full toss-usato reach in 2d plan within the AFC West. But for one week, at least, I’ll put the two groups that squeaked out wins in opposition to bottom-tier groups forward of the team that (thanks to three missed discipline desires) took a playoff contender down to the wire.

23. Chicago Bears (1-0)

Closing week: Take at Detroit 27-23

Subsequent week: vs. Fresh York Giants

The story of Gash Foles taking a look over Mitchell Trubisky’s shoulder is now not even week-to-week, but half-to-half. But when Trubisky strings together a pair of more like the 2d half in opposition to Detroit, he can calm the skeptics for at least a shrimp bit whereas.

24. Detroit Lions (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Chicago 27-23

Subsequent week: at Inexperienced Bay

D’Andre Swift, man. That can per chance per chance’t be how anyone photos their first NFL game going. But for some of his teammates who’ve been around the block, and those unhappy fans, it must occupy felt sadly acquainted and predictable to lose in that vogue. Some contributors are bullish on a Matthew Stafford–led turnaround below Matt Patricia, but they aren’t like minded sufficient to present away video games.

25. Fresh York Giants (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Pittsburgh 26-16

Subsequent week: at Chicago

The Giants had been overwhelmed by the Steelers for quite lots of Monday night time (Saquon Barkley speeding 15 events for six yards affords you some conception) but I conception Daniel Jones confirmed some promising indicators. There’s truly quite lots of capacity within the league precise now. I take a look at a range of groups within the young contributors and twenties and mediate they’ll be better except I truly take a seat down and cross them. The identical goes for individual players, truly:

26. Miami Dolphins (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Fresh England 21-11

Subsequent week: vs. Buffalo

There’s some discipline that the Dolphins successful five video games closing yr can also impartial occupy recalibrated expectations for 2020 unrealistically. Let’s bear in mind they are gentle present process a serious rebuilding project. Tua Tagovailoa is merely the first of quite lots of prizes they hope to land within the draft, they generally shouldn’t must saunter him onto the discipline simply because some contributors mediate they can command for a 7-seed.

27. Washington (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Philadelphia 27-17

Subsequent week: at Arizona

The NFL’s most dysfunctional franchise stumbled thru a memorably embarrassing offseason, but a Week 1 settle became a gorgeous twist. Potentially the most attention-grabbing thing for the team this season is checking out what they’ve in Dwayne Haskins, and it feels like that pass saunter will give him an opportunity to settle some video games.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)

Closing week: Take vs. Indianapolis 27-20

Subsequent week: at Tennessee

Imagine now not rooting for the 2020 Jaguars. Couldn’t be me.

29. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Baltimore 38-6

Subsequent week: vs. Cincinnati (Thursday)

That became this form of wretchedness in opposition to Baltimore, that now you need to wonder if it’s a like minded thing or a injurious thing that the Browns receive precise aid on the discipline Thursday night time. Now they’ll face a rookie quarterback in his first road game (does that matter this yr?) and first short-week game (that feels like it would). They’ll deserve to ranking more than six aspects although.

30. Fresh York Jets (0-1)

Closing week: Loss at Buffalo 27-17

Subsequent week: vs. San Francisco

Adam Gase is on the freshest seat of any coach within the league, and this seems to be unraveling sooner by the day. When a season begins out with this much negativity, how continuously does it ever flip around?

31. Carolina Panthers (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Las Vegas 34-30

Subsequent week: at Tampa Bay

The Teddy Bridgewater Period is off and running, with 30 aspects in Week 1. But develop him a favor and give the ball to Christian McCaffrey on fourth-and-1 with the game on the line.

32. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

Closing week: Loss vs. Los Angeles Chargers 16-13

Subsequent week: at Cleveland (Thursday)

Joe Burrow became dropped in a much tell, starting Week 1 having now not gotten a snap in a preseason game (irrespective of how much his team tried to put together him). But Bengals fans had to feel like minded about what they saw from him main the team down the discipline on what became cease to a game-successful (and may per chance per chance per chance had been a game-tying) force. This yr is merely about displaying promise. I felt injurious placing them closing, but with Washington and Jacksonville earning wins, anyone had to tumble.