Post-Week 2 Power Rankings

Note: I apologize for not putting out yesterdays’ Week in Review, it has just been a busy few days for me and I unfortunately didn’t find the time to finish it. However, I did get the idea to change up the format of it slightly. Rather than give a complete rundown of everything that happened in every game, from now on, I’ll just give my thoughts and biggest takeaways from each game. It will make the article an easier read, and it’s much better content than simply giving a play-by-play of the game. If you have any thoughts or comments, I’d love to hear them.

Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season was just as exciting as its predecessor, with several more fantastic games with heart-stopping finishes and a plethora of incredible performances by some of the league’s best players. Again, it has only been 2 weeks, so I’m trying to keep overreactions to a minimum, but we are definitely starting to get a good idea about what so many teams are capable of. Let’s stack up the teams 1-32 for the second time this season:

1 – Buccaneers (2-0)

Yes, the Bucs are still the best team in football, but they are certainly not without some concerns through two weeks. I have now seen two offenses, albeit good ones, move the ball at will against this defense that is supposed to be impenetrable. Moreover, those two offenses didn’t have nearly as good of games against their other opponents so far this season. Atlanta scored just 6 on the Eagles, but they were giving Tampa fits for a large part of Sundays game. And the stacked Cowboys offense that almost beat the Buccaneers put up just 20 on the Chargers this week. I have zero doubts whatsoever that this problem will solve itself, but even if it doesn’t, the Bucs are playing so well offensively that it doesn’t even matter. Tom Brady is playing like an MVP right now, tossing 5 touchdowns on Sunday to bring his total to 9 touchdowns in his first 2 games. Even if you can move the ball on this team, good luck stopping them when #12 has the ball.

2 – Rams (2-0) 1

Don’t let Sunday’s final score fool you. The Rams really were the better team for the majority of the game against the Colts. One of the weirdest special teams gaffes I have ever seen put Indy right back in it, but it only took 2 minutes for the Rams to regain the lead. One late FG later and an unfortunate injury to Colts QB Carson Wentz and LA was 2-0. Now, I know it wasn’t the prettiest win, but the Rams won this game due to their explosive-when-necessary offense and their lockdown defense. Their special teams is usually good enough to complete that trifecta, but not this week. That being said, it’s still a very good formula that has this team in a great position early in the season. This Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers will tell us just how good of a position that is.

3 – Chiefs (1-1) 1

I understand that the Chiefs lost on Sunday, but quite frankly, I just don’t care too much. However, I still have a massive problem with this team. Their offense looked absolutely sensational despite a lacking running game, but their defense was just dreadful. It doesn’t matter how good Patrick Mahomes is, he can’t win every shootout (especially if he throws bad interceptions like the one he had in the 3rd quarter, the first in September of his career) if his defense gives up 481 yards. The Ravens running game simply gashed this team all night long, and Lamar Jackson had whatever he wanted on every zone read he ran. I’d honestly say the Chiefs beat themselves more than the Ravens did. Between a bad pick, an incompetent defensive performance, a blown 11 point 4th quarter lead, and an inopportune fumble by RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC couldn’t get out of their own way. And still, if not for that fumble, they would have won the game. This team will be just fine. Spare me your overreactions.

4 – Browns (1-1)

It took a short while, but once this team got going on Sunday, there was no slowing them down. The only moment of concern for me was when QB Baker Mayfield hurt himself trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception. Luckily, he was able to shake it off and come back in to help lead his team to victory. It was another special showing from this ground attack, racking up 156 yards rushing, highlighted by 95 yards and a score on just 11 carries from Nick Chubb. It was also a breakout game of sorts for rookie Demetric Felton, who was the team’s leading receiver with 2 catches for 51 yards and a very nifty TD. Felton will need to continue to show out as Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham are dealing with injury problems. In my eyes, this team could beat you with no WRs at all. As long as that offensive line is doing their thing, not many teams can stop them.

5 – Cardinals (2-0) 1

While I expected a lot more out of Arizona’s defense on Sunday, their offense was jaw-dropping levels of electric, and that’s all I needed to see. Kyler Murray is still playing like an MVP candidate with 400 yards and 3 touchdowns on 81% completion, and everyone is getting involved on that side of the ball. This week’s breakout star was rookie WR Rondale Moore, who had a whopping 114 yards and a long TD on 7 catches. Murray was virtually flawless outside of 2 bad looking INTs, one of which being returned for a touchdown. It wasn’t the best day for the defense which feasted in Week 1, but I’ll give credit where it’s due to the Vikings for putting up a great fight. The Cards would have a 1 in the loss column if Minnesota kickers weren’t cursed, but as it stands, they are one of the unbeatens. This team has an insane amount of potential. We’ll see if it’s realized.

6 – 49ers (2-0) 2

Sunday’s game was anything but pretty, but the Niners still did their job and got a convincing win. There was nothing really of note, other than the continuing trend of injuries. This week, it was the RBs that got decimated, as Elijah Mitchell banged up his shoulder and Trey Sermon suffered a concussion on a whopping hit on his first professional carry. Other than that, it was a solid day at the office. San Francisco went on long drives thanks to an efficient offense, and dominated time of possession. The defense also had a much better outing than Week 1. It might take a short while, but this team will figure out its moving parts and be a real contender in the long run.

7 – Raiders (2-0) 2

I’d say the Raiders have been the most impressive team in the NFL through 2 weeks. And I don’t think they’re getting the respect they deserve. Derek Carr had another spectacular game against a very good Steelers defense, throwing for 382 yards and 2 TDs on 76% completion. The defense also did its thing once again, clutching up when necessary to help seal the win. I just really like what this team has going on all across the board. I don’t know if this success will have any longevity, especially in a very tough division, but there is nothing to not like about Vegas. Once RB Josh Jacobs gets healthy, this will be one of the most dynamic offenses in football. It’s already the best passing offense through Week 2. How long will it last? Only time will tell.

8 – Bills (1-1) 2

Buffalo bounced back in a huge way on Sunday, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt, considering the Dolphins were playing a backup QB for almost the entire game. Moreover, it wasn’t exactly the prettiest offensive showing. Josh Allen had just 179 yards and 2 TDs as well as a pick on just 52% completion. I know I said the Dolphins defense was good, but those aren’t very good numbers. I think I’ll have a better idea about this team after seeing how they perform against an apparently porous Washington defense this weekend. Until then, this is the highest I can put the Bills.

9 – Ravens (1-1) 4

I acknowledge that Baltimore had one of the best wins of the young season on Sunday night, but as I keep saying, I refuse to overreact to things. The Ravens did not deserve to win that game, but they definitely did what they had to do to come out on top. They exploited the Chiefs run defense all game long, and the gutsiest call of the year thus far, Lamar Jackson’s 4th down run, put the game on ice. It was Lamar’s night, as he had 346 total yards and 3 total touchdowns, including 107 and 2 scores on the ground. He more than atoned for two very ugly first quarter INTs. Even still, I saw Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense tear this defense into pieces for the whole game, and if it wasn’t for a late fumble, the Ravens would have lost this game. I also don’t think that the entire offense can be on Lamar for the whole year, considering the thin RB room .I can be impressed with what I saw and also acknowledge the truth. This was a good win for a team that needed it, but they have to show me more down the road for them to be bumped up.

10 – Seahawks (1-1) 5

I have no idea what happened to this team last week. They had everything, and I mean everything go their way from start to finish. They were spoon-fed a win, but took the spoon and threw it in the trash. Russell Wilson continued to do incredible things throwing the football, leading Seattle to a 14 point 4th quarter lead, just for it to evaporate in their hands. They could have lost the game in regulation if it wasn’t for a very poor overturned touchdown. And in overtime, they got away with what should have been the game-losing safety, and still lost. It just boggles my mind. This defense, which looked promising in Week 1, was torn apart by Derrick Henry and the Titans offense, which did approximately nothing last week. It didn’t matter how good their own offense was because the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed. This is the Seattle I expected to see in November, not Week 2. It could be a long season.

11 – Broncos (2-0) 1

Has there been a team more generally solid than the Broncos so far this season? I know they have played two very bad teams, but this team hasn’t pulled their punches, and has just played very good football. Denver currently leads the NFL in yardage differential, and they absolutely deserve to be 2-0. Teddy Bridgewater has been very efficient at QB, making no mistakes and doing his thing. Teddy had a whopping 328 yards and 2 TDs on 76% completion. It helped that WR Courtland Sutton had a career day, catching 9 passes for 159 yards. The defense has also been very good, especially in the secondary. The injury to DE Bradley Chubb is a concern, but this roster is deep enough to make up for it. I want to see this team play a real contender before jumping to any conclusions, but I have really liked what I have seen from Denver so far in 2021.

12 – Packers (1-1) 5

After a “convincing” MNF win, the media would have you believe that the Pack are back. Yes, it was a nice win, but was it really? I saw the Lions move the ball up and down on this defense with ease in the first half. I saw Jared Goff dotting up this supposedly good secondary to the tune of a 17-14 halftime lead. If the weather held up, maybe the Lions would have been more secure with the ball in the second half and it would have been a closer game. I recognize that the Packers offense was nothing short of awesome, as Aaron Rodgers returned to form with 4 touchdowns with RB Aaron Jones accounting for 4 scores of his own. But that shouldn’t come as a shock considering how bad this Lions defense is. So, what I saw from Green Bay was just as much, if not less of what I expected. They have to continue to prove to me that they are as good as they say.

13 – Cowboys (1-1) 5

Did the Cowboys win on Sunday, or did the Chargers beat themselves? You can be the judge, but I know where I stand. Dallas definitely played a nice enough game, but they did not deserve to win. I will admit that I was impressed with their defensive performance. They had 2 nice INTs, and their pass rush was good enough to make Justin Herbert visibly uncomfortable. Offensively, I wasn’t sure what to make of them though. Dak Prescott was fairly average by his standards, but he got a huge boost from backup RB Tony Pollard, who might have honestly won himself the starting gig. Pollard ran for 109 yards and a score on 13 carries as the Chargers had no intention of stopping him. Extremely poor clock management almost took this game to OT, but K Greg Zuerlein nailed a 56-yarder at the horn to walk it off. The game should not have even gotten to that point, but I’ll get into that below with the Bolts.

14 – Chargers (1-1) 7

The Chargers are this week’s biggest losers, and for good reason. This team just cannot get out of their own way. It has been the story for their entire existence, and it is the story today. The offense was fine; Justin Herbert threw for 338 yards and a touchdown, and despite two INTs, they still had every opportunity to win it. So, why didn’t they? Penalties. A disgusting amount of them. LA was penalized 12 times on Sunday for 99 yards, and 2 of those penalties negated touchdowns. They were also both questionable calls, but even still, you can’t get called for 12 flags and win a game. This team is the most penalized one in all of football through 2 weeks. Penalties are the sign of poor coaching, so first-year man Brandon Staley better get his guys together. This team is too talented to lose games like that.

15 – Saints (1-1) 4

No team had a bigger dropoff in terms of their performance from Week 1 to Week 2 than the Saints, and I honestly don’t know who or what to blame. But New Orleans’ performance on Sunday was arguably the worst offensive showing of the year thus far. This team amassed a pitiful 128 total yards with only 48 on the ground despite having Alvin Kamara in the backfield. 2 interceptions from Jameis Winston didn’t help either. The worst part of the game might have been the 11 penalties committed for 115 yards. As I said above, you just cannot do that, especially if you have as much talent as the Saints do. The defense was equally bad, giving up 383 total yards and allowing the Panthers to have the ball for 38:32. It was simply an inexplicable performance on both sides of the football, and one that makes no sense after last week’s thrashing of the Packers in which they were so dominant. Up next is a tough New England team, and trying to predict how they’ll fare is essentially a coinflip.

16 – Patriots (1-1) 1

I like this team, but they have just been so boring to start the season. Yes, they should be 2-0, but they haven’t exactly played the best teams. They should have beat Miami, and the Jets are the definition of abysmal. So, what to make of the Patriots? As of right now, I’m not too sure. They’re a solid team all around with a very good defense, but against truly elite teams, I’m not sure if they’ll be up to the task. Only time will tell in that regard, but for now, this is the only place I can put the Pats: the middle of the pack.

17 – Titans (1-1) 5

As I mentioned above, the Titans had no business winning this game. Everything was going against them. Their secondary was being torn apart all game long. WR Julio Jones had an incredible TD grab called back despite getting both feet down in bounds. Seattle had every answer for a comeback attempt. But this team did not give up, and all thanks have to go to Derrick Henry. The star RB was truly a King on Sunday, and I believe his 60 yard touchdown in the 4th quarter is the reason this team won. It was the perfect answer to a long Seattle touchdown, and got the Titans right back in the game with plenty of time left to tie it up. With 29 seconds left, that’s just what he did, and the offense did what it had to do to win the game in OT. It was a monster day on the statsheet, as Ryan Tannehill threw for 347 yards, 128 of which going to Julio Jones. But the star was King Henry, who had an incredible 182 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 35 carries. Henry also added 55 yards on 6 catches. It was not a perfect performance by any means, but this is what the Titans identity is. They have the ability to win shootouts if their opposing defense isn’t good enough to stop them. I’m not the biggest fan of that formula, but when it’s on full display like this, it’s pretty awesome to watch.

18 – Steelers (1-1) 2

This team is the definition of meh. All of the problems that have been abundantly apparent dating back to last year are still crystal clear, and while the defense has been able to bail the offense out in the past, that might not be the case anymore. The Steelers had a measly 39 yards on the ground, and the defense was torn apart by the Raiders prolific passing attack. Moreover, injuries to star DE T.J. Watt and CB Joe Haden are major causes for concern. This defense is the only thing that makes this team capable of winning games, and if it’s banged up, then it could be rough sledding. I just don’t have any faith in this team to do anything substantial.

19 – Panthers (2-0) 3

Carolina had one of the more dominant wins of Week 2, but again, I’m trying not to overreact too much. I recognize that this team still has a lot of moving parts, but they’re slowly being figured out, and the end result has looked really good thus far. The offense has been great with Sam Darnold at QB, and that young defense has been making play after play. I want to give this team a little more respect, but I need to see them put together more elite performances against the better teams on their schedule before I do so. That being said, I am continuing to love what I see from the Panthers.

20 – Dolphins (1-1) 6

I’m just gonna be frank here: the Dolphins should have already moved on from Tua Tagovailoa. 2020’s #5 overall pick has done nothing of note in his young career, and now, he’s injured again. This one looked serious, as he had to be carted off after taking a monster hit early in the game. The diagnosis is fractured ribs, so now the team will be led by Jacoby Brissett for a bit. Yikes. It’s a QB-driven league, and the Dolphins are too talented to be held back by a lack of talent at that position. Just admit you made a mistake and remedy it. That is, if it’s not too late.

21 – Washington (1-1) 1

Washington had one of the wilder wins of Week 2, but it wasn’t a very sharp or convincing one. Once again, the “vaunted” defense was exposed and gashed all game long. Daniel Jones was tearing it up, both throwing the ball and running it, which is a statement that should never be said in any context. Still, the offense looked good enough to win the game entirely thanks to the play of Taylor Heinicke. The backup QB looked really good in just his 3rd career start, throwing for 336 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a majestic throw the back of the endzone to take the lead late in the 4th quarter. After a late defensive stop, he did throw a bad interception that should have lost the game, but I blame that more on the coaching than him. You need to run the ball in that scenario. What is this, Pop Warner? Heinicke also tended to miss his targets a little high, but his WRs were able to make plays all game long to make up for that. Terry McLaurin had another special showing, catching 11 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. It was nice to see this offense with some juice, but I still have 2 major problems with this team. Firstly, the defense has not been playing even close to the level that is expected of them. Secondly, the kicking game is a problem. Dustin Hopkins missed the game winner, but was bailed out by an offsides call, and while he made the retry, he barely made it. These are very, very important aspects to the game that need to be sured up if this team wants to go where they think they can.

22 – Colts (0-2) 3

I almost feel bad for this team. I feel like they should be so, so much better than they actually are. I’m not even sure what’s holding them back. Is it poor offensive play? Maybe. They didn’t have the best Week 1, but on Sunday, they did move the ball nicely against a very good Rams defense. Is it a bad defense? Perhaps. It’s a usually solid group that hasn’t played up to their potential this season. Now, QB Carson Wentz has sprains in both of his ankles (don’t ask me how that happens), and even if he ends up playing in the coming weeks, he won’t be nearly as effective. The Colts have the benefit of playing in a dreadful division, which is their only saving grace at this point. I think they can figure it out, but I’m starting to have my doubts.

23 – Eagles (1-1) 2

That was not great, Philly. But, in your defense, it could have been a lot worse. I honestly think the Eagles put up a good fight on Sunday, at least offensively. They outgained the 49ers by 22 yards, didn’t turn the ball over once, and Jalen Hurts had himself a very nice game. But, this defense was gashed on very long drives, and it ended up being the team’s downfall. Trust me, my expectations for this team are not high by any stretch, but based on last week’s defensive performance, I thought they’d at least be slightly better than they were. In any case, what I saw from the Eagles this week was just what I expected. They’re a talented young squad, but they simply aren’t ready to beat good teams.

24 – Vikings (0-2) 1

This is another team I feel really bad for. The Vikings really have no business being 0-2. This team should be 2-0 if it wasn’t for their own mistakes. It was Dalvin Cook’s OT fumble (which could have easily been ruled down) and Greg Joseph’s missed FG on Sunday that have dug this team’s winless hole. Still, I like what I’ve seen from this team. It was another prolific offensive showing, as Kirk Cousins threw for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns and Dalvin Cook ran for a massive 131 yards on 22 carries. But the tale as old as time stood true once again, as the defense couldn’t stop the Cardinals in any capacity. Even though they put up 419 yards of their own, Minnesota gave up 474 yards of offense and lost the time of possession battle. Even forcing 2 turnovers wasn’t enough to help them win. I just feel like this is going to be the story of the season for the Vikings, and it’s just unfortunate to watch.

25 – Bears (1-1) 1

This team is still not very good, but there’s officially promise in Chicago: Justin Fields will be the starting QB for this Sunday’s game against the Browns. Fields was thrusted into action this week after Andy Dalton got hurt, and didn’t look great, but did what he had to do to lead his team to victory. Now, he’ll get a full week of practice with the starters and a playbook that is hopefully tailored to him. The Bears have stated that Dalton will be the starter once he’s healthy again, but Justin has a golden opportunity to shut that down if he performs well in these next few weeks. I’m really hoping he does just that.

26 – Bengals (1-1) 2

That was uglier than a Skyline chili bowl. I haven’t the slightest idea what happened to this team from last week to this one, but what I saw on Sunday was exactly what I expected out of them heading into the season. They struggled to move the ball thanks to a poor performance from their offensive line, and their subpar defense forgot to show up, even against a backup QB. The worst part of the game was QB Joe Burrow, who threw 3 interceptions on 3 consecutive passes in the 4th quarter, one of which being returned for a touchdown. It was just a 7-point game when he threw the first pick, but when it was all said and done, it was a 17-point deficit. Cincy did have a late comeback attempt, but it was all for not. It was a vintage Bengals performance, and I’m expecting to see plenty more during the rest of the season.

27 – Giants (0-2)

Man. This team is really something else. Don’t get me wrong, their offense looked plenty good on Thursday night, even with a dreadful offensive line. But their defense was torn apart once again, this time by a backup QB in his 3rd ever professional start. Moreover, this team beat themselves on Thursday. They were gifted a victory and were delighted to find a gift receipt in the box. DT Dexter Lawrence’s offsides on the missed game-winning FG attempt gave Washington another shot, and they didn’t miss it the second time. Even when the Giants are in a perfect position to do something good, they find a way to screw it up. I better get used to saying that for the next 16 weeks.

28 – Lions (0-2)

Detroit is a very bad football team, but I think there have been some bright spots early in the season. For one, they have certainly been competitive. They’ve given the 49ers and Packers fits thanks to a feisty attitude and an unwillingness to go down easy. Their offense has been a pleasant surprise, as Jared Goff hasn’t played bad in his first two games with the team. RB D’Andre Swift has been their best player, and it’s largely thanks to rather good offensive line play. So, unlike many other really bad teams, there are things to build around in Detroit. The only question is whether or not that building will take place.

29 – Texans (1-1)

Things are simply getting worse in Houston. QB Tyrod Taylor, who looked very servicable in starting action, suffered a hamstring injury on a TD run on Sunday, and is now on IR. Now, the Texans turn to the 3rd QB on the roster, rookie Davis Mills out of Stanford. Mills didn’t exactly look promising in game action on Sunday, and on a short week, his first start this Thursday might not be pretty. The QB situation was already bad enough. Maybe this is the football gods’ way of punishing the Texans for the Deshaun Watson situation.

30 – Falcons (0-2) 1

The Falcons still did not look great on Sunday, but at the very least, they delivered on the one thing I knew they’d be good for. Their talented offense finally decided to show up, and they were able to make the game interesting for a while. The defense still couldn’t stop a nosebleed, but they had every answer for Tampa on the other side of the ball. That ran out very quickly in the 4th quarter, though, as Matt Ryan threw two pick 6s in less than 4 minutes to seal the loss. But, maybe against some poor defenses, this team can do enough to win a few games, just as I expected.

31 – Jets (0-2) 1

Bad. Horrible. Awful. Atrocious. Abysmal. Abhorrent. Other synonyms. What else can be said about this team. The decision to draft Zach Wilson is continuing to look like the mistake of all mistakes, as the rookie threw 4 interceptions on Sunday, 3 of which came in his first 5 passing attempts. Their defense was a non-factor as well. I simply don’t understand how you can allow yourself to be so bad. This team genuinely might not win a game this season.

32 – Jaguars (0-2)

It’s still extremely rough sledding in Jacksonville with approximately no upsides. Trevor Lawrence looked poor in his second career start, throwing for just 118 yards and a touchdown to go along with 2 INTs on just 42% completion. He now has just as many picks as Zach Wilson through two games. The rest of the offense accounted for absolutely nothing, and their defense was torn apart by the Broncos from start to finish. I’m honestly not sure if we’ll see any performances as bad as this one from the Jags this season, but it wouldn’t surprise me. This is just pitiful.

All stats taken from ESPN.