The Kansas City Chiefs will be the team to beat in the NFL again in 2024. They turned back the Ravens in Week 1 and will now go to work on the reeling Bengals in Week 2. They can stay in the top spot for a while, at least until the post-bye Super Bowl rematch with the 49ers in Week 6.
The race behind them will continue to be interesting. A lot of teams are trying to change their fortunes and build momentum to challenge the Chiefs for the midseason top spot at some point soon.
From Thursday night through Sunday night’s results, here’s the latest look at the league’s hierarchy following an opening weekend of a few surprises.
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NFL Power Rankings Week 2
1. Kansas City Chiefs (previous ranking: 1)
The Chiefs came out finding more weapons for Patrick Mahomes and made the key defensive plays to remind the Ravens and the rest of the league how big of favorites they are to win a third consecutive Super Bowl.
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2. San Francisco 49ers (2)
The 49ers took care of Brock Purdy’s key supporting cast and now can focus on Christian McCaffrey’s health being their biggest offensive concern. The defense will look to make its own statement vs. the Jets on Monday night.
MORE: Is Christian McCaffrey playing Monday night?
3. Detroit Lions (3)
The Lions almost had a carbon copy tough test against the Rams at home like they did in the playoffs, but they once again dug deep and showed they can be resilient offensively and defensively — and work overtime if needed — under Dan Campbell.
MORE: How Detroit bullied its way to OT win over Rams
4. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
The Eagles came out with some sloppy offense but overall looked more explosive and decisive with their identity with Kellen Moore and Saquon Barkley. Their defense will keep getting a bigger boost from Vic Fangio in key spots, too.
MORE: Saquon Barkley dominates in first game with Eagles
5. Houston Texans (6)
The Texans’ offense was boosted by Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs in the offseason. They wasted no time in helping C.J. Stroud become more effective against the high-powered Colts, buying time for their promising defense to keep coming together.
MORE: Top fantasy waiver wire pickups Week 2
6. Baltimore Ravens (5)
The Ravens had some of the same clutch moment issues vs. the Chefs, as Lamar Jackson and the defense had breakdowns at the wrong times. The one lingering concern will be the offensive line coming through as much as needed for Jackson and Derrick Henry.
MORE: Why Ravens offensive line was repeatedly flagged for illegal formation vs. Chiefs
7. Buffalo Bills (8)
The Bills’ defense battled through some key holes on the second level and in coverage, but it did enough for Josh Allen to take over vs. a much worse Cardinals defense.
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8. Dallas Cowboys (14)
The Cowboys were ironing out some offensive issues, but Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb earned their money with enough clutch plays. Brandon Aubrey also continued to be a vital kicking asset in Cleveland. The defense had a hopeful debut transitioning from Dan Quinn to Mike Zimmer.
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9. Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
The Steelers didn’t score a touchdown and started Justin Fields over a hurting Russell Wilson (calf), but the defense with T.J. Watt and the special teams with Chris Boswell were strong-enough support to take care of the rest in Atlanta. Fields vs. Wilson now is a bigger storyline going forward.
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10. Los Angeles Chargers (12)
The Chargers had a slow start before bolting pats the Raiders for Jim Harbaugh’s debut victory. Not surprisingly, they looked physically and mentally tougher in using the defense and running game to pull away vs. the Raiders.
MORE: Jim Harbaugh stamps imprint all over L.A. as he stays perfect in NFL openers
11. Miami Dolphins (13)
The Dolphins didn’t look pretty offensively with Tua Tagovailoa for much of the game, but Tyreek Hill didn’t slow down when needed most and the defense tightened in the second half to cool the competitive Jaguars.
MORE: Tyreek Hill was ‘f—ing teed up’ after pregame arrest
12. Green Bay Packers (9)
The Packers got some big plays to keep up with the Eagles, but they also had some little mistakes and huge lapses that cost them. Jordan Love’s loss for the short term will be difficult to overcome with the Colts, Titans, and Vikings in the next three games.
MORE: Packers best options to replace Jordan Love
13. New York Jets (10)
The Jets are hoping Aaron Rodgers stays healthy in Week 1 Monday night game and guides the offense to the necessary level of balanced, complementary football to put them right back to AFC wild-card contention sooner rather than later.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (7)
What was that? The Bengals once again looked bad early in an opener against the big underdog Patriots with issues up front on both sides. Joe Burrow can’t afford to put his team in too big of a hole, and it gets much tougher with the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 2.
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15. Chicago Bears (17)
The Bears got away with a shaky debut for Caleb Williams. The running game sputtered, and the downfield passing game didn’t get the expected immediate spark. But they went old school with defense and special teams TDs, and Williams should get on the improving trajectory in a prime-time duel with Stroud in Week 2.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)
Baker Mayfield had an important big game in the new offense, revving up all his weapons vs. a bad Washington secondary. Todd Bowles had to be pleased about the defense standing up to a tough challenge for the hopeful repeat NFC South champions.
17. Seattle Seahawks (24)
The Seahawks’ offense was more uptempo, balanced, and explosive with Ryan Grubb, getting more out of Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker III. Mike MacDonald tightened the pass defense screws, too, evident vs. the Broncos.
18. Los Angeles Rams (15)
The Rams fought the Lions hard in their playoff rematch, but the Puka Nacua injury hurt, they couldn’t run the ball and the defense just couldn’t hold up against the run, either.
19. Minnesota Vikings (25)
The Vikings got Sam Darnold to come through in New York, spreading the ball well around to Justin Jefferson and others. But the story was Andrew Van Ginkel and the new-look, big-play defense of Brian Flores getting aggressive at the Giants.
20. New Orleans Saints (27)
The Saints marched all over an overwhelmed Panthers’ defense, perhaps with Derek Carr playing with a bit of a welcomed chip on his shoulder to prove he’s still by far their best passing option in 2024.
21. Atlanta Falcons (16)
The Falcons’ offense did show flashier signs with Kirk Cousins at QB, but facing the Steelers’ defense right away was a rough draw. They will try to fare much better against the Keystone State’s Eagles in Week 2 while trying to keep up with their own improved defense.
22. New England Patriots (32)
The Patriots started the Jerod Mayo era with a run-heavy, defensive-leaning upset of the Bengals in Cincinnati. Turns out their situational offensive coaching is still pretty good — on top of great defensive awareness with strengths up front.
23. Cleveland Browns (19)
The Browns had too much pressure on Myles Garrett and the defense to come through vs. Dallas. The offense sputtered until it didn’t matter very late. Deshaun Watson is worthy of even less confidence at QB after not looking like his Texans self again to open at home.
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24. Jacksonville Jaguars (20)
The Jaguars had to love a more explosive offense with Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. getting Trevor Lawrence in better field-stretching mode. They need their young defense to come together to be complementary enough to consistently finish the job.
25. Indianapolis Colts (23)
The Colts should be happy to see Anthony Richardson healthy and delivering as a dynamic dual threat, making big runs and deep balls look much easier than they are. They should be really concerned about having more holes than expected defensively.
26. Arizona Cardinals (29)
The Cardinals came out firing, running and passing well with a healthy Kyler Murray out of the gate. But their defense will inevitably break down in every game against a potent offense, as they couldn’t hold down the superior Bills.
27. Tennessee Titans (22)
The Titans’ new-look defense came through well and the offense was looking good for a while in the first second-year game for Will Levis. One special teams miscue and one errant pass by Levis allowed them to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
28. Washington Commanders (21)
Jayden Daniels is a dual-threat highlight reel, already a dynamic runner in Kliff Kingsbury offense. He’ll soon unleash his downfield passing, too. He has to chuck often to stretch the field again to take pressure off a defense still trying to jell after big changes, especially in the diminished secondary.
MORE: Jayden Daniels stats and highlights vs. Buccaneers
29. Denver Broncos (26)
The Broncos saw rookie Bo Nix go into a conservative shell of not throwing downfield, and he struggled to get the ball to the best weapons against the Seahawks, Sean Payton has to suck it up and accept the compression, which doesn’t help with a bad defense.
MORE: Bo Nix stats and highlights vs. Seahawks
30. Las Vegas Raiders (28)
The Raiders showed some swag with Gardner Minshew early before wilting against the run and also breaking down up front offensively vs. the relentless, new-look Chargers. The Ravens will not let up on the run against them in Week 2.
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31. New York Giants (30)
The Giants should have lost even more confidence in Daniel Jones, as it was a challenge to get the ball in the hands of anyone other than rookie Malik Nabers with the offensive line crumbling. The defensive woes somehow became more alarming vs. the Vikings.
32. Carolina Panthers (31)
The Panthers’ atrocious defense proved early that it will be a difficult liability for the offense to overcome the way they would like under Dave Canales. A one-dimensional trailing attack will keep failing like it did in New Orleans.