GSM NFL Power Rankings- Week 2
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The first week of the NFL season is officially in the books. It was a wild weekend to kick off football action, full of twists and turns, major injuries and major performances.
While the top spot of the Greenville Sports Media NFL power rankings stayed constant, the same cannot be said for the majority of the remaining 31 slots.
Major rises from the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns shook up the top 15, and the Dallas Cowboys hopped up the leaderboard after an impressive week one win over the Giants.
The NFL is always any given Sunday, and that was once again shown to be true in week one.
1. San Francisco 49ers (Prev. 1)
The 49ers flexed on a very solid Pittsburgh team on Sunday, showing why they deserve the top spot
2. Dallas Cowboys (Prev. 5)
The Cowboys absolutely dominated the New York Giants (a playoff team last year) on the road, with a statement 40-0 win. The Dallas defense is an early candidate for best in the league, with contributions coming from everywhere.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (Prev. 2)
Without star TE Travis Kelce, the Chiefs looked a bit lost on offense, falling to the Lions in a lackluster week one effort. No need to panic just yet- with star DT Chris Jones signed and Kelce on the mend, the Chiefs should be just fine.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev. 4)
Despite a poor performance from the Eagles passing and running game, Philadelphia still beat a solid though not spectacular Patriots squad. The Eagles defense and roster as a whole is legit. The offense will come around.
5. Detroit Lions (Prev. 10)
Not only did the Lions live up to the unbelievable hype, they actually surpassed it, knocking off the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in Arrowhead stadium. The Lions have greatly improved their defense, and their offense remains one of the premier scoring machines in the NFL.
6. Baltimore Ravens (Prev. 7)
It seems to be the same story every year with the Ravens- loaded with talent, crippled by injuries. The Ravens lost starting RB JK Dobbins for the season with a torn Achilles, and lost starting safety Marcus Williams for multiple weeks with a torn pectoral. Even with the injuries, the Ravens looked solid in week one, and should threaten in the AFC.
7. Buffalo Bills (Prev. 3)
Somehow, someway, the Buffalo Bills lost to the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets in Metlife stadium on monday night. While the defense did their part, the offense of the Bills sputtered against a stout Jets front and secondary. But week one doesn’t define a team, historically speaking. The Bills will have every opportunity to turn it around.
8. Miami Dolphins (Prev. 16)
When Tua Tagovailoa is healthy, the Dolphins are one of the best offensive teams in the NFL. While the defense struggled in a shootout with the Chargers, Tua and Tyreek Hill showed why the Dolphins could be very dangerous this season.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (Prev. 8)
While Sunday’s contest against the Colts was hardly inspiring for the Jaguars, Jacksonville shook off the rust to win by 10 points. Trevor Lawerence’s connection with new WR1 Calvin Ridley was apparent from the beginning. The Jaguars will be a force in the AFC South.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (Prev. 5)
Oof. That word/sound just about describes the Bengals first game, as Cincinnati was dominated by Cleveland on both sides of the ball. But, as Joe Burrow said postgame “Week 1 doesn’t define anybody’s season”. In all likelihood, the Bengals will turn the proverbial ship around.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (Prev. 11)
The LA offense looked good, but that wasn’t enough to stave off the Dolphins in week one. The defense will have to do much better if the Chargers want to compete in the AFC West.
12. Cleveland Browns (Prev. 19)
The Browns simply ran over the Bengals to kick off the 2022 campaign. As Deshaun Watson shakes off the rust, the Browns could be a very solid football team. Let’s see if the week one results translate to the rest of the season.
13. New Orleans Saints (Prev. 15)
It wasn’t pretty, but the Saints knocked off the Titans in week one. Dennis Allen and his Saints will take ugly wins every day of the week over the alternative.
14. Tennessee Titans (Prev. 17)
The Titans stellar defensive front and pounding running game will keep them in a lot of games this season- but it won’t always win them. Sunday’s loss showed that to be true.
15. Green Bay Packers (Prev. 22)
As Aaron Rodgers handed the job of starting QB for the Packers over to Jordan Love, he must have included absolute ownership of the Chicago Bears. The Packers swarmed the Bears, blowing out Chicago on the road. There could be something brewing in Titletown.
16. New York Jets (Prev. 11)
Never has a stadium so loud become so quiet in such a short amount of time. The Jets Super Bowl hopes were likely carted off the field along with QB Aaron Rodgers, who will miss the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles. Even with Rodgers down, the Jets remain a top 16 team based purely on a stellar roster.
17. New England Patriots (Prev. 20)
While the Patriots aren’t into moral victories, Sunday’s close call with the Eagles certainly felt like just that. The Patriots defense was as good as expected, and the offense looked somewhat capable. You can never count out a team coached by Bill Belichick.
18. Atlanta Falcons (Prev. 23)
While beating the Panthers at home is hardly a landmark achievement, the Falcons quietly lo good with a budding defense and an exciting run game. If the Falcons can get Desmond Ridder and his weapons going, they could be a player in the NFC South.
19. Seattle Seahawks (Prev. 12)
To say the Rams coming into Lumen Field in Seattle to not only beat the Seahawks but to win by double digits would have been considered a shocking statement prior to week one. But the Rams did just that. The Seahawks should be fine- but everyone in Seattle is now on edge.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (Prev. 13)
The Steelers ran into the buzzsaw that is the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Suffering multiple injuries throughout the contest didn’t help as the Steelers will look to rebound from the absolute whooping they took in the season’s first week.
21. Los Angeles Rams (Prev. 28)
Are the Rams back?? Despite missing star WR Cooper Kupp, the Rams beat the Seahawks on the road in impressive fashion, led by young WR talent. The Rams have thrust themselves into the spotlight moving forward- but can they keep it up?
22. Las Vegas Raiders (Prev. 24)
The Raiders are a solid team, but a win over Denver proves next to nothing. We’ll see how their season unfolds from here.
23. New York Giants (Prev. 14)
The Giants were absolutely blasted at home as Dallas blew the doors off Brian Daboll’s squad. They have the talent to rebound, but a 40-0 loss will always leave a mark.
24. Denver Broncos (Prev. 18)
The Broncos of 2023 looked scarily like the Broncos of 2022 on Sunday. Not good. Russell Wilson looked decent, so that should give Broncos fans a little optimism. Not that much though
25. Indianapolis Colts (Prev. 29)
Anthony Richardson looked halfway decent as the Colts put a scare in the Jaguars on Sunday. This extremely young Colts team has potential.
26. Tampa Bay (Prev. 31)
The Tampa Bay defense is still fantastic, as they showed on Sunday. Even the base level of offensive competence will win them games, especially against teams like Minnesota.
27. Washington Commanders (Prev. 27)
The good news: They won! The bad news: It was the Cardinals… at home.
28. Minnesota Vikings (Prev. 21)
The Vikings kicked off the season with a loss to Baker Mayfield at home. They look just like we thought they would.
29. Carolina Panthers (Prev. 26)
It wasn’t a bad showing for Carolina in Atlanta, but it definitely wasn’t a good one. The young Panthers learning curve will be extensive.
30. Chicago Bears (Prev. 25)
It does not matter how open the WRs are if Justin Fields cannot throw them the football.
31. Houston Texans (Prev. 30)
They didn’t look that great. Shocker.
32. Arizona Cardinals (Prev. 32)
There were some bright spots in a close loss to the Commanders, but not very many, and certainly not enough to convince anyone that the Cardinals are good.
