If the first two weeks of the 2022 NFL season are an indication of what’s ahead, then we may as well cancel the rest of the season and crown the Bills the champions of Super Bowl LVII.
Rounding out the top five in these power rankings was mostly trivial, but then it’s chaos from there.
Here’s a look at where all 32 teams stack up heading into Week 3.
1. Buffalo Bills (2-0) (Previously: 1)
Two weeks. Two dominant victories. The wagons are circling.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) (Previously: 2)
Everything went right for the Chiefs last Thursday against the Chargers. Between a trio of Patrick Mahomes interceptions that didn’t count/were called back and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown, Kansas City should feel fortunate to be 2-0. The Chiefs are no longer a team without a peer in the AFC West, even if they end up winning the division for a seventh-straight season.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) (Previously: 4)
Injuries to the Bucs skill players are worrisome given most are likely to be lingering issues. Tampa Bay’s defense is good enough to where it might not matter. The Bucs have allowed just one offensive touchdown through two weeks. Shaq Barrett posted two sacks against Jameis Winston and the Saints, leading a pass rush that totaled six sacks while the secondary racked up three interceptions.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) (Previously: 5)
The Eagles have been the most impressive team in the NFC through two weeks. Jalen Hurts is playing like an MVP candidate behind an elite offensive line with a standout crop of skill players. Not to be outdone, Philadelphia’s defense was equally dominant on Monday night. Kirk Cousins was seeing ghosts.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) (Previously: 3)
Chargers bettors will be forever grateful for Justin Herbert battling through a rib injury in order to get the backdoor cover. That means little for a team that missed a huge opportunity to beat their predominant rivals on the road. This franchise continues to struggle to shed its longtime trait of shooting itself in the foot. That said, there’s zero reason Asante Samuel Jr.’s interception should have been overturned.
6. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) (Previously: 6)
Baltimore’s defensive backs are going to have nightmares about Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle running by them. Allowing 547 yards of total offense and blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead at home is not something we’re accustomed to seeing from the Ravens defense. The Ravens remain in the six spot due to teams behind them losing.
7. Los Angeles Rams (1-1) (Previously: 8)
Cooper Kupp remains inevitable, posting 11 catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons near-epic comeback made it two straight underwhelming performances for the defending champs out of the gate.
8. Green Bay Packers (1-1) (Previously: 9)
Aaron Rodgers doesn’t appear to be his MVP self through two weeks, but Green Bay still owns Chicago nonetheless. The Packers have now won seven straight games against their NFC North rivals.
9. Miami Dolphins (2-0) (Previously: 14)
We knew Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle could be a nightmare duo for opposing defenses, we just weren’t sure if Tua Tagovailoa could deliver the mail consistently. A whopping 469 passing yards and six touchdowns in the epic come-from-behind victory in Baltimore should silence some of the QB’s detractors. Contrary to what is happening in Denver with Nathaniel Hackett, the Mike McDaniel era couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
10. Minnesota Vikings (1-1) (Previously: 7)
Darius Slay was Minnesota’s most targeted receiver in Week 2. Darius Slay plays for the Eagles. My respect for Philadelphia limits the Vikings fall here.
11. San Francisco 49ers (1-1) (Previously: 19)
In a matter of one play, the Trey Lance era was put on hold with Jimmy Garoppolo taking the reins of the 49ers offense once again. Fingers crossed Lance is OK long term, but what a bizarre situation that luckily worked out for San Francisco. What a story it would be if Garoppolo ended up leading the 49ers back to the Super Bowl this season. That storyline overshadowed San Francisco trouncing Seattle at home.
12. New Orleans Saints (1-1) (Previously: 12)
We saw vintage Jameis Winston in the worst way possible as he threw three picks in a winnable game against the Bucs. Mark Ingram and Chris Olave also lost fumbles in what was a comprehensively abysmal performance from the Saints offense. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ defense allowed just one touchdown.
13. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) (Previously: 16)
Cooper Rush strikes again. Last year it was Rush leading the Cowboys to a win over the Vikings, and the Bengals became his latest victim. Really the story was a Cowboys defense that sacked Joe Burrow six times. Micah Parsons is already one of the best defensive players in football with 4.0 sacks through two games. He was dominant on Sunday.
14. Denver Broncos (1-1) (Previously: 15)
Things have gotten off to a dreadful start in Denver with Broncos fans already eager to move on from first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett. A listless performance, albeit in a win against Houston, didn’t inspire much confidence in Denver’s offense. Russell Wilson completed just 14 of 31 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Can the Broncos continue to rely on a pass-first offense while the running game has been so much more effective? Javonte Williams (5.0 YPC) and Melvin Gordon (4.7) have each been more efficient sources of offense.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (0-2) (Previously: 13)
‘Twas a Sunday of epic comebacks or prolific collapses, depending on which side of the coin you were on. Las Vegas was on the latter, losing to the Cardinals in overtime in horrific fashion. The Raiders squandered a 20-0 lead while mustering just three points in the second half. Those are games you can’t afford to lose in a crowded AFC.
16. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) (Previously: 21)
Credit where credit is due: Kyler Murray’s Houdini act in Las Vegas was worthy of a residency on the strip.
17. New York Giants (2-0) (Previously: 22)
Mike McDaniel is garnering the headlines, and deservedly so, but fellow first-year head coach Brian Daboll has quietly led his Giants to a 2-0 start as well. New York hosts Dallas in Week 3.
18. Detroit Lions (1-1) (Previously: 26)
The Lions are undeniably fun with an offense that ranks top five in both points and yards through two weeks and a defense that saw second-overall pick Aidan Hutchinson rack up 3.0 sacks against the Commanders.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) (Previously: 10)
It’s officially time to panic in Cincinnati after two ugly losses two start the season, at home against the Steelers and against the Dak Prescott-less Cowboys. Joe Burrow has already been sacked 13 times, indicating the Bengals offseason investments in the offensive line were swings and misses. The Bengals have a -4 turnover differential.
20. Cleveland Browns (1-1) (Previously: 17)
Remember when I mentioned prolific collapses? Well Cleveland’s topped them all. A busted coverage, an onside kick and a Joe Flacco game-winning drive powered the Jets to a road win over the Browns. First-round pick Garrett Wilson caught 8-14 targets for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner. Cleveland led 30-17 with 1:55 left in the game, which means this loss is going to sting for a while.
21. Washington Commanders (1-1) (Previously: 20)
Give the Commanders credit for battling against the Lions and hanging around despite trailing 22-0 at one point. However, if you ever find yourself trailing 22-0 to the Lions, how good could you possibly feel about your performance?
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) (Previously: 30)
The Jaguars embarrassed the Colts with a dominant win in Week 2. We all clowned on Christian Kirk for getting big time money this offseason, and all he’s done is ball out through two weeks with 195 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville’s defense posted five sacks and three interceptions in a shutout of Indianapolis.
23. New England Patriots (1-1) (Previously: 28)
I don’t think New England is very good, and a win against the T.J. Watt-less Steelers isn’t going to convince me otherwise. I’ll be willing to eat my words if they beat the Ravens in Week 3.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) (Previously: 18)
T.J. Watt is a massive band-aid that covers up a number of Pittsburgh’s shortcomings. Without him and a dominant defense, the Steelers go from a league average team to a cellar dweller. Sunday’s loss to the Patriots was an ugly game to watch in general.
25. Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1) (Previously: 11)
In addition to the Bengals, the Colts have been arguably the most disappointing team in the league thus far. Indianapolis has looked dreadful in a pair of road division matchups. Matt Ryan has the 28th-ranked QBR at just 31.3. He’s accounted for five turnovers already with just one touchdown pass. It’s hard to be a downgrade from what Carson Wentz gave the Colts last season, but Ryan is well on his way through two games.
26. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) (Previously: 23)
Seattle got thoroughly whipped by San Francisco on Sunday. Being the vastly inferior team is going to take some getting used to for Seahawks fans this season after a decade-plus of relevancy.
27. New York Jets (1-1) (Previously: 32)
Joe Flacco leading a game-winning drive for the New York Jets in 2022 is a remarkable headline. Credit to Robert Saleh’s squad for fighting until the bitter end.
28. Carolina Panthers (0-2) (Previously: 24)
I need to quit Baker Mayfield, which means he’s about to torch the Saints at home in Week 3.
29. Tennessee Titans (0-2) (Previously: 25)
I feel confident in saying the Titans are just a bad football team in all facets.
30. Chicago Bears (1-1) (Previously: 27)
You’re not going to win many games when your starting quarterback throws for just 70 yards despite playing all four quarters.
31. Houston Texans (0-1-1) (Previously: 29)
Houston is 2-0 against the spread, which counts for something if you’re a rebuilding team looking to take a step forward while simultaneously not playing yourself out of a top five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
32. Atlanta Falcons (0-2) (Previously: 31)
Speaking of covering the spread and not winning... though Falcons fans would feel better about this if Kyle Pitts was producing. Last year’s fourth-overall pick has just 38 receiving yards through two games. Conversely, Drake London has looked as advertised.
