NFL Power Rankings: Week 2 Edition

Now that Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season is over, it’s time for everyone’s favorite meaningful exercise: NFL Power Rankings! Let’s take a look at how all 32 teams stack up.

BLG’S WEEK 2 NFL POWER RANKINGS

1 - Kansas City Chiefs (Last Week: 1) - It sure feels like the reigning Super Bowl champions have the potential to be the NFL’s version of the Golden State Warriors dynasty. As if Patrick Mahomes wasn’t dangerous enough, now he has a modern-day Brian Westbrook to work with in Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

2 - Baltimore Ravens (LW: 2) - I wrote this last week: “I do wonder to what extent we’ll see Lamar Jackson regress. Maybe not much?” Maybe not much, indeed. Jackson only threw five incompletions and finished with a 152.1 passer rating in a 32-point win over Cleveland.

3 - New Orleans Saints (LW: 3) - Surprise: the Saints are still capable of putting up a lot of points. Though it wasn’t with the offense being a juggernaut as much as them capitalizing on takeaways. Still the rightful favorite in the NFC South.

4 - Seattle Seahawks (LW: 4) - It’s finally happening?! The Seahawks let Russell Wilson cook and it resulted in a blowout win. 31/35 for 322 yards (9.2 average), four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 143.1 passer rating. Man, he’s so good. It might not be long before Seattle becomes the highest ranked NFC team in these rankings.

5 - Green Bay Packers (LW: 8) - There were questions about Aaron Rodgers’ outlook heading into this season after he looked kinda cooked late last year. He certainly quelled doubts with a four touchdown performance in Minnesota. Having Davante Adams sure helps.

6 - Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 12) - The rumors of Ben Roethlisberger’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The 38-year-old’s still got it. Three touchdowns, 7.2 yards per reception, and a 117.8 passer rating. He’s got a nice offensive supporting cast to work with and the defense is still good. Formidable team.

7 - Tennessee Titans (LW: 7) - The Titans could’ve won a little more comfortably if their kicker situation wasn’t so tenuous. Stephen Gostkowski ultimately made the 25-yard game-winner but he missed field goal attempts from 47, 44 (tipped), and 42 ... in addition to blowing an extra point.

8 - Arizona Cardinals (LW: 13) - I was bullish on the Cards (and skeptical of San Fran) heading into Week 1 and they made me look smart for once in my life. Kyler Murray didn’t have a perfect day as a passer but you can’t ignore his impact as a runner. Also, turns out adding DeAndre Hopkins to your team is a smart thing to do (14 receptions, 151 yards). Who would’ve thought?

9 - San Francisco 49ers (LW: 5) - The 49ers aren’t bad but it’s not really impossible to think they could finish last in the NFC West. While Jimmy Garoppolo is solid-to-good, he’s not scaring nobody.

10 - Minnesota Vikings (LW: 9) - Kirk Cousins failing to beat a good team? Inconceivable! At least it’s not like the Vikings unnecessarily signed him to a contract extension earlier this offseas— oh, wait.

11 - Buffalo Bills (LW: 15) - Josh Allen is perpetual chaos. In the same day he lost two fumbles, he also became the first Bills quarterback to pass for over 300 yards in a single game during regulation since ... Kyle Orton in 2014.

12 - Los Angeles Rams (LW: 21) - Jared Goff is as milquetoast as ever as Aaron Donald is as scary as ever.

13 - Dallas Cowboys (LW: 6) - How could the Cowboys possibly lose when Jason Garrett was to blame for literally all of their struggles and replacing him with Mike McCarthy was going to fix everything?

14 - New England Patriots (LW: 17) - Cam Newton only had 155 yards passing but he showed he’s still a ground threat with 15 carries for 75 yards and one score. Still curious to see how they fare against a team that doesn’t rank towards the bottom of the league.

15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 14) - Giving the Bucs some benefit of the doubt here since beating New Orleans typically isn’t easy. But Tom Brady throwing two picks in his debut does nothing to quiet the idea that he’s cooked. Or at least cooked relative to Brady standards.

16 - Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 20) - Josh Jacobs logged 139 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in the Las Vegas Raiders’ first game. Jon Gruden then compared him to Walter Payton.

17 - Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 22) - The Bolts have some nice offensive pieces but they’re certainly not going to be maximized by Tyrod Taylor.

18 - Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 11) - The Eagles’ Week 1 loss was very troubling. Carson Wentz looked downright terrible as the team blew a 17 to 0 lead. He simply made too many inaccurate throws, regardless of offensive line struggles. Doug Pederson and his coaching staff didn’t do their best to maximize Wentz as they kept him stationary. Howie Roseman’s Day 2 draft picks (from the last two years, really) weren’t able to make any impact as the team missed seven starters due to injury. This team deserves the benefit of the doubt to some extent because we’ve seen them climb out of hole before. But it’s quite possible that the Eagles just aren’t good.

19 - Houston Texans (LW: 10) - I think it’s safe to say the Texans won the trade that landed them David Johnson in exchange for Nuk. He scored their only touchdown of the game in a blowout loss!

20 - Indianapolis Colts (LW: 16) - Concerns about Philip Rivers, who turns 39 this season, were not assuaged by his two interception performance. The Colts blew a very winnable division game.

21 - Detroit Lions (LW: 19) - Tough for Lions fans to see D’Andre Swift drop the game-winning touchdown. Also tough for Lions fans to see Mitchell Trubisky continually owning them:

22 - Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 32) - The Jags were one of the biggest Week 1 surprises. Jacksonville’s coaching staff did a great job facilitating Gardner Minshew’s three touchdown, one incompletion (!) performance.

23 - Chicago Bears (LW: 29) - Trubisky’s job is safe for at least one more week. Still just a matter of time before he gets benched for Nick Foles, though. Unless he’s allowed to face Patricia every week.

24 - Denver Broncos (LW: 24) - Drew Lock seems fine but the Broncos are mostly going to have to rely on their run game and defense to win games. Not the most ideal formula.

25 - Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 26) - It wasn’t the prettiest debut for Joe Burrow but the No. 1 overall pick did have his team in position to send the game into overtime. That is, before Randy Bullock blew a 31-yard chip shot field goal attempt.

26 - Washington Football Team (LW: 31) - The Football Team being first in the NFC East after Week 1 is so perfectly fitting for the crazy, stupid, and hellacious year that 2020 has been. Still keeping them low because Dwayne Haskins isn’t any good. The defensive line very much is, though. That unit could prevent them from being a pushover.

27 - Atlanta Falcons (LW: 18) - It’s almost like the Falcons hanging on to Dan Quinn and Dirk Koetter was a bad idea. Who could’ve guessed?

28 - Miami Dolphins (LW: 25) - This is what you get when you start Ryan Fitzpatrick. There are going to be zero touchdown, three interception games. There will also be three touchdown, zero interception games. Live and die by the beard. Eventually it’ll be time to turn to Tua, though.

29 - New York Jets (LW: 27) - Sam Darnold just might not be the answer for the Jets. But New York should obviously get rid of Adam Gase before they give up on him.

30 - Carolina Panthers (LW: 30) - Matt Rhule had the Panthers fighting hard in his NFL debut, which should be encouraging. Still don’t think this squad is going very far with Teddy Bridgewater, who is just OK.

31 - New York Giants (LW: 28) - Stealing this phrasing from Big Blue View: The new Giants sure look a lot like the old Giants. I can see some level of intrigue with Daniel Jones but the dumb turnovers are an issue.

32 - Cleveland Browns (LW: 23) - I’m beginning to think this might not be the year the Browns are finally for real this time?