NFL Power Rankings, Week 2: Seahawks leapfrog Broncos and Rams into No. 1 spot; Chiefs hit top 10 NFL.com 2026 NFL Power Rankings: How all 32 teams stack up for Week 2 ESPN NFL Power Rankings Week 2: Cowboys Tumble After...
Week 1 is complete, and as is always the case with the opening weekend of a new season, surprises appeared all over the place.
The Cardinals rolled into SoFi Stadium, punched the Chargers in the mouth , stole their lunch money and ran back to the desert cackling with satisfaction. The Saints nearly pulled off a legendary comeback in Detroit. And for yet another year, we learned it was unwise to trust the hype surrounding the Cowboys.
Who climbed? Who fell? And which of these movers will age poorly in a month's time? Let's rank all 32!
NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect movement from the Week 1 edition of the Power Rankings.
What a tale of two halves for the defending champs. Prominent among my many notes on Wednesday was one line: Lumen Field is dead. That seemed to be the vibe in Seattle after one half -- with Sam Darnold 's injury casting a pall over the home crowd -- but title winners don't go down without a fight. Three fourth-quarter takeaways and one signature Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown were enough to swing the opener in favor of the Seahawks , who officially have Patriots QB Drake Maye 's number (and a tally in the win column).
The Bills exorcised the horned demon that has haunted them in Houston, lighting up the Texans' fearsome defense to the tune of 36 points and 409 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown drive with the game on the line. Josh Allen kicked off his latest MVP push with a signature performance, throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for two more scores, delivering a trademark Buffalo win in Joe Brady's debut as head coach. Good start, Bills Mafia.
Jesse Minter passed his first test as head coach with flying colors, directing a defense that forced two turnovers and weathered a strong showing from Colts RB Jonathan Taylor to run away with a resounding Week 1 win in Indianapolis. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's Ravens debut was arguably even better: Baltimore piled up more than 500 yards, thriving on the ground and through the air. Derrick Henry reminded us he's still a bulldozer who must be respected at all times.
The Bengals' offseason defensive investments paid off in their first assignment against the Buccaneers, as Cincinnati forced four turnovers -- including three Baker Mayfield fumbles -- and cashed in one for a defensive score . Sure, the Bengals didn't force a punt, but the blend of aggressive, difference-making defense and respectable offensive production was refreshing for a fan base accustomed to hoping its team can outscore opponents.
The Jaguars began 2026 as if they had never taken an eight-month break between games that counted. Jacksonville jumped all over the Browns early and didn't relent until it was clear there was nothing left to prove, lighting up Cleveland's defense and suffocating the Browns' low-powered offense. Trevor Lawrence , Parker Washington , Jakobi Meyers and Co. took care of business emphatically and set a standard for the rest of the AFC South to chase.
Denver's vaunted defense came prepared for Patrick Mahomes but didn't have a plan for Kenneth Walker III . Worst of all, the typically sound unit missed tackles all night, allowing the Chiefs to turn small gains into big plays. Bo Nix 's struggles only added to the nightmare, sending the Broncos back to the practice field to work on the basics after a rough showing Monday night.
Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue recap the Chiefs huge win over the Broncos in their Week 1 Monday Night Football matchup.
Is it a bit dramatic of me to drop the Rams six spots after a season-opening loss ? You could make that case. But the offseason darlings certainly haven't done themselves any favors in the last week, appearing unprepared and somewhat fatigued in an important divisional showdown with the 49ers that ended in a lopsided defeat. Myles Garrett 's placement on injured reserve only worsens things for them. Fortunately, there are still 17 weeks left to course correct.
Ben Johnson stated his intent to rewrite the offensive record books with his team in 2026. After one week, the Bears are on pace to do so. They detonated the Panthers in a style that mirrored their 2025 success, running the ball authoritatively and letting Caleb Williams make superstar plays in an incredible offensive explosion. The one drawback: They gave up 37 points, a concern tied to a defense that still might be a persistent weakness.
The 49ers spent a week in Australia and completely outclassed the Rams , playing with more discipline, desire and aggression than Los Angeles. It seemed as if Kyle Shanahan and Co. read the offseason puff pieces about Sean McVay's dream team and decided it was their duty to prove them wrong. They did just that for at least one week -- and proved all of us Niner doubters wrong, too.
For the first time this decade, the Chiefs have a legitimately fearsome rushing attack. Kenneth Walker III won't run for a career-high total every week, but he brings a punch that Kansas City's backfield has lacked for most of the Patrick Mahomes era. That should make folks respect the Chiefs, even as Mahomes shakes off the rust accumulated by a lengthy recovery from knee surgery.
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Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams dominated the gridiron as the Los Angeles Rams cruised to a commanding 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. However, the lopsided affair was severely marred by a potentially devastating MCL sprain suffered by Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
NFL legend Aaron Donald made a triumphant and surprising return to the gridiron, wreaking havoc in the Los Angeles Rams' dominant rout of the New York Giants. The defensive powerhouse admitted the game felt surprisingly slow despite his two-year retirement.
The New York Giants' promising start to the season crashed to a halt on September 21, 2026, after a 28-6 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams was overshadowed by a severe knee injury to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Initial medical evaluations point to an MCL sprain, throwing the franchise's offensive strategy into immediate turmoil.
