NFL Power Rankings Post Week 2
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 9/15/2026
1. Buffalo Bills /\ 1
Last Week: 36-31 Win at HOU
The Bills defense didn't look great in allowing 274 passing yards to CJ Stroud but the offense was spectacular. Josh Allen is already in MVP talks especially with DJ Moore as his new top receiver and when it came down to the 4th Quarter, this team just knows how to win big games.
2. Baltimore Ravens /\ 3
Last Week: 41-23 Win at IND
A lot of people were eating their words after chatter this offseason somehow had the Ravens taking a huge step back. Lamar Jackson to Zay Flowers was unstoppable along with Derrick Henry in short yardage plays. The Colts offense looked completely one-dimensional but the Ravens defense looked much improved too.
3. Kansas City Chiefs /\ 6
Last Week: 31-10 Win vs DEN
That was a statement. The Chiefs just ran the ball for 38-220-2 against the #2 rushing defense from just last season. We keep wanting to see the Chiefs from 2019 that were throwing the ball all over the place but their identity over the past few season has been running the football and their D-line punching people in the mouth and Monday night was one of the best examples we've seen of it.
4. Los Angeles Rams \/ 3
Last Week: 7-27 Loss vs SF
The Rams still have the best roster in football but they're fall from #1 to #4 has to do with the management of this team's travel to Australia. How can you fly 18 hours and only give your players 24 hours of rest before the game? Add Myles Garrett going out for 4 weeks to that too.
5. Chicago Bears /\ 5
Last Week: 59-37 Win at CAR
Wow Ben Johnson may have had a point this season when he said he wants to have the greatest offense ever. Carolina's defense isn't elite but they should be top half of the league and the Bears put up 59 points, 552 yards and averaged almost 8 yards per play. Caleb Williams also started the year off SUPER strong both through the air and on the ground. WATCH OUT for Da Bears.
6. Philadelphia Eagles --
Last Week: 24-22 Win vs WAS
Philly is a very good team that will do exactly what their opponent doesn't expect. As soon as the Commanders keyed on the run Jalen hurts started throwing the ball over them. Their 4th quarter defense was definitely eye-opening but they played Eagles football for three and a half quarters that showed they may not be as explosive but they're as intelligent as their 2024 championship team.
7. Houston Texans /\ 5
Last Week: 31-36 Loss vs BUF
The Texans climb 5 spots since last week even though they lost. First of all they lost in Buffalo to the #1 team on this list but they're passing offense looked rejuvenated in Stroud's 4th season.
8. Denver Broncos \/ 5
Last Week: 10-31 Loss at KC
This team HAS to be better than that right? I mean they couldn't stop the run at all, they were missing tackles, putting the ball on the ground and couldn't sustain a drive. Starting the year in your rival's back yard in front of THAT LOUD of a crowd had to just throw them off their game. Going back home against Jacksonville next week will be huge for them.
9. Detroit Lions \/ 2
Last Week: 31-30 Win vs NO
The Lions could've very well fallen further on this list after a VERY slow start at home vs the Saints and their defense getting carved up by Tyler Shough in the 2nd half. I kept them Top-10 because I believe in the 3-headed monster of Goff, Gibbs and ARSB but they're defense will keep them on a short leash.
10. San Francisco 49ers /\ 6
Last Week: 27-7 Win vs Rams
Not sure exactly how to judge the 49ers after they route the Rams in Australia. Brock Purdy looks completely in form as does Trent Williams and the rst of their O-line. Even their defense and Secondary looked great but how much of that was them being so much more acclimated to the time zone?
11. Seattle Seahawks \/ 7
Last Week: 13-10 Win vs NE
So the Seahawks fall from #4 to #11 for a few reasons, the biggest being the injury to Sam Darnold that should keep him out for 3-6 weeks. Their pass rush definitely got worse after losing players in the offseason too and I'm not sure they have any playmakers besides JSN.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars /\ 5
Last Week: 34-10 Win vs CLE
Even though it was against the Browns, the Jaguars looked very impressive especially Trevor Lawrence. Parker Washington's hype is real and the amount of playmakers on this team is wild. We'll see if they're actually for real in Denver next week but for now I'm buying stock.
13. New England Patriots \/ 5
Last Week: 10-13 Loss at SEA
Similarly to the Seahawks, the Patriots fall pretty far on this list but I see them getting much better soon. Drake Maye had a dud of a game he should improve on immediately but their O-line has gotten better from last season so that's a plus.
14. Cincinnati Bengals \/ 3
Last Week: 33-27 Win vs TB
For the first time in a long time, the Bengals' defense outshined the offense this Sunday. Joe Burrow still had a very good day even if Ja'Marr Chase was largely unheard from but the improvement we saw from their defense really can't be understated moving forward.
15. New York Giants /\ 4
Last Week: 28-20 Win vs DAL
I think we just saw the Harbaugh-Dart experiment prove it can work because WOW Jaxson Dart looked great. The Cowboys' defense has a long way to go to be a good unit but the Giants new offensive spread showed me a lot and if they can clean up some of those fumbles, could be Top-10 in 2026.
16. Los Angeles Chargers \/ 3
Last Week: 14-26 Loss vs ARI
For some reason, I'm not racing to sound alarm bells for the Chargers as much as I am for other teams. It's clear that Jesse Minter's departure has altered their pass rush and they'll need to fix that SOON but their O-line has no excuse for playing that bad. I think Herbert will be a lot better and would play his team into a win against the Cardinals 9/10 times.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers /\ 1
Last Week: 27-33 Loss at CIN
The Buccaneers move up 1 spot after losing in Cincinnati because they'll clean up those turnovers quickly. If Mayfield doesn't drop 3 balls on the ground the Bengals don't score 2 defensive TDs and the Buccs comfortably win this one. After his offseason contract dispute I think Mayfield just needed to shake the rust off.
18. Dallas Cowboys \/ 3
Last Week: 20-28 Loss at NYG
I have to tell you, I'm really not worried about the Cowboys after their Week 1 loss because I think it was more about the Giants being a very good football team this year. They'll need to do better rushing the football and rushing the passer but that will come sooner than later. Not much else, the Cowboys were just sorta... there this Sunday.
19. Washington Commanders /\ 4
Last Week: 22-24 Loss at PHI
The 4th quarter of the game between Commanders and Eagles was electric but Washington wasn't really as much in this game as the score would indicate. Jayden Daniels was efficient with the football but still doesn't look like 2024 JD. Their pass rush was pretty good too but their Secondary gave up too many big plays. A lot of good and a lot of bad.
20. Minnesota Vikings /\ 4
Last Week: 39-22 Win vs GB
The Vikings looked amazing this weekend with Carson Wentz, to the point I doubt they rush Kyler Murray back from his concussion. Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson turned the clock back 3 years and Brian Flores' defense completely shut down the Packers aside form a few huge chunk plays they should definitely look to manage going forward.
21. Green Bay Packers \/ 7
Last Week: 22-39 Loss at MIN
The Packers are going to really miss Josh Jacobs. Their offense just did NOT look the same even if Tucker Kraft and Christian Watson did their best to spread the ball vertically. Then there was Carson Wentz who was taking chunk play after chunk play like he was still in 2017. Divisional games are tough but the Packers need to wake up and quick.
22. Carolina Panthers \/ 1
Last Week: 37-59 Loss vs CHI
I'm not going to penalize the Panthers too much for what the Bears just did. Their defense will make adjustments and get better and Bryce Young may have just played his best game in the NFL with connections to Tet McMillan and Jalen Coker looking lethal.
23. New Orleans Saints /\ 2
Last Week: 30-31 Loss at Detroit
Tyler Shough had flashes of greatness in Detroit this week with Chris Olave leading the league in receiving after Week 1, but his offensive line won't do him any favors this season. The Saints had a great showing in Detroit and should be a middling team for all of 2026 but I'm not sure that wasn't the best we see Shough all season.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers \/ 2
Last Week: 20-13 Win vs ATL
For the first game of Mike McCarthy's Steelers, they got the win but couldn't really stop the run and had twice the amount of passing plays as running. Along with Rodgers noticeably falling off I just don't see a ceiling higher than 9 wins for this team and a much less promising floor.
25. Indianapolis Colts \/ 5
Last Week: 23-41 Loss vs BAL
Jonathan Taylor had a great day against Baltimore's defense and that's where the positives kind of stop for the Colts. Their Secondary was absolutely shredded with Sauce Gardner and Moony Ward completely crumbling at home. It's only Week 1 but their needs to be alarms going off in Indy.
26. Arizona Cardinals /\ 3
Last Week: 26-14 Win at LAC
I said it so many times going into the season that people were sleeping on the Cardinals and you just saw why. Brissett won't blow the top off 9/10 times but he's a good QB who will take care of the football and their Secondary on defense is very legit. I wouldn't call them a Playoff team but I can see 7 wins in their future.
27. New York Jets /\ 3
Last Week: 23-10 Win at TEN
The Jets had to do a few things to start the season successfully; don't turn the ball over and play stifling defense. Check and Check. Did they get to play one of the worst teams in the league, yes, but what they did to them was very impressive especially by running the ball almost 40 times.
28. Las Vegas Raiders \/ 1
Last Week: 27-13 Win vs MIA
Ashton Jeanty went from possibly being out for weeks to having a heck of a debut this season. A lot of that had to do with playing the Dolphins and Kirk Cousins was only good enough to win this game, turnovers being an obvious problem for him. Still, they got the win and maybe a little momentum to start the season.
29. Atlanta Falcons \/ 1
Last Week: 13-20 Loss at PIT
The Falcons will move up this list when they get Michael Penix back but as long as Cooper Rush or Tua gets snaps this team is completely one-dimensional on offense. Their defense did look good against the Steelers though and even their pass rush got to Rodgers 4 times.
30. Cleveland Browns /\ 1
Last Week: 10-34 Loss at JAX
I mean... Deshaun Watson didn't look quite as bad as I thought he would..? The Browns were just completely overwhelmed and only scored a garbage time touchdown to make this game look a little better. Judkins was zeroed in on and their pass rush is completely gone without Garrett.
31. Miami Dolphins /\ 1
Last Week: 13-27 Loss at LV
We knew the Dolphins were going to be bad this season and they didn't really impress or disappoint in their loss in Vegas. Rookie Caleb Douglas looked to be the top receiver and take advantage of it but it's clear that this team just isn't good enough to compete this season.
32. Tennessee Titans \/ 6
Last Week: 10-23 Loss vs NYJ
That was a pitiful start to the Robert Saleh era in Tennessee. Cam Ward looked lost and Saleh, (the supposed defensive genius) couldn't stop the Jets from running the ball down their throat. I still think Tennessee could be good in a year or two so they just need to throw out the tape and move forward.
Comments