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The NFL made its triumphant return last week, ushering in a new season of football and fantastic fun.
However, with the return of football comes the return of injuries. In just one week, major injuries have shaken the league, from 49ers RB Christian McCaffery to Rams WR Puka Nacua.
The NFL is an opportunity league. Any team can win on any given Sunday. But who do we think will win on this particular Sunday? Read below to find out.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Previously 2)
Chiefs look like they haven’t missed a beat. #1 for sure.
2. San Francisco 49ers (Previously 1)
Christian McCaffery has been placed on Injured Reserve, but the 49ers did just fine without him. Backup RB Jordan Mason was more than capable when called to action.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (Previously 4)
The Eagles did what they had to do against the Packers. Saquon Barkley is still Saquon Barkley (Now in green!).
4. Houston Texans (Previously 5)
The Texans new talent showed up in a big way in week one. Theoretically, the chemistry should only continue to build.
5. Dallas Cowboys (Previously 8)
Could it be that the Cowboy’s patented regular season blowout smokescreen is disguising the true nature of their team? Well, yes. But the Cowboys looked good, and they deserve to move up in the rankings.
6. Detroit Lions (Previously 6)
A solid week one showing from the Lions should have Detroit faithful feeling good about the Lions quest to return to the NFC Championship.
7. Baltimore Ravens (Previously 3)
Football is a game of inches, and nobody knows that more than the Baltimore Ravens after week one. The Ravens were an inch away from sending a game against the defending champs to overtime. Respectable performance.
8. Buffalo Bills (Previously 11)
The Bills have a good defense, and the offense still has Josh Allen. Don’t sleep on Upstate New York’s team.
9. Green Bay Packers (Previously 7)
Love is hurt, and the Packers are 0-1, but considering everything that went wrong for Green Bay in week one, it was a fairly impressive performance against the Eagles.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previously 15)
Let Baker bake.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (Previously 9)
Losing to the Patriots is just simply not a good look. The Bengals have all the talent in the world, but they are far from the same team that went to the Super Bowl a few years ago.
12. Miami Dolphins (Previously 10)
Is Tua ok?
13. Los Angeles Rams (Previously 12)
The Rams lost a respectable game against a very good team. They also lost Puka Nacua, although the presence of Cooper Kupp should help the Rams in his absence.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previously 16)
The Steelers once again possess a controlling defense and a questionable at best offense. Should be a very interesting 9-8 year in Pittsburgh.
15. New York Jets (Previously 13)
Aaron Rodgers looked decent in his return, but it wasn’t enough to conquer the mighty 49ers. Still, the Jets should be encouraged by their offense.
16. Atlanta Falcons (Previously 14)
TJ Watt and the Steelers spoiled the debut of Kirk Cousins, but the Falcons should be all right. It’s hard to expect a QB to be completely ready to play for a new team as he rehabs from an Achilles tear.
17. New Orleans Saints (Previously 24)
The Saints looked really good in week one, albeit against the lowly Panthers. The Cowboys will be a much larger test in week two.
18. Indianapolis Colts (Previously 18)
Anthony Richardson can drop a ball in perfectly off his back foot from 60 yards away, but he can’t help but overthrow a wide open receiver in the flat. If Richardson can put it together, he can be one of the more talented QB’s in the game.
19. Chicago Bears (Previously 19)
The Bears did win, but not because of anything the offense contributed. That won’t work against most NFL teams.
20. Minnesota Vikings (Previously 23)
Darnold is dropping dimes in Minnesota. The opponent being the lowly New York Giants certainly helped, but the Vikings are 1-0 nonetheless.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (Previously 21)
Jim Harbaugh is 1-0 as a Charger, but a controlling win over the Raiders doesn’t constitute anything crazy.
22. Seattle Seahawks (Previously 22)
They won. Yay. Let’s see what happens this week.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previously 20)
The Jaguars almost had the Dolphins, but Tyreek and Tua proved to be too much. At least rookie WR Brian Thomas looked good.
24. Cleveland Browns (Previously 17)
Much to the delight of a good portion of NFL fans, the Browns and Deshaun Watson were firmly trounced by the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Without Nick Chubb, the Browns lack offensive firepower.
25. New England Patriots (Previously 30)
Unquestionably the upset of week one was the Patriots knocking off the Bengals. I doubt the Pats can continue the win streak, but a win is a win.
26. Arizona Cardinals (Previously 28)
The Cardinals were very close to making a game of it against Buffalo, but Josh Allen prevailed.
27. Denver Broncos (Previously 29)
The Broncos were respectable in their loss to the Seahawks, but it was still a loss.
28. Washington Commanders (Previously 25)
With no downfield passing game in rookie QB Jayden Daniels debut, it wasn’t much of a contest with the Buccaneers. Daniels has talent, it’s just a question of how soon he can translate it to the aerial attack.
29. Tennessee Titans (Previously 26)
The Titans managed to lose to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Bears had their rookie QB, Caleb Williams, throw for under a hundred yards passing. The Bears did not score an offensive touchdown in the game. And the Titans still lost. Yikes.
30. Las Vegas Raiders (Previously 27)
Talented players dot the Raiders roster, but the puzzle is simply not together at this point. It remains to be seen if Antonio Pierce’s squad can put the pieces together this season.
‘Editors Note’ Neither of the following two teams (the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers) deserve to be ranked higher than 32. After deep consideration, the only fair solution is to create the ‘Daniel Jones and Bryce Young’ tier.
Special consideration for Daniel Jones and Bryce Young
T-32. Carolina Panthers
Long season ahead in Carolina. The defense is bad and the offense is bad. When those two things occur simultaneously the result is, you guessed it, a bad team
T-32 . New York Giants
If you look up the word “Inept” in a dictionary, you see a picture of the New York Giants offense. At least Daniel Jones memes are funny. Although, I doubt Giants fans are cracking a smile at much of anything as of late.
