One week of NFL action is officially in the books, which means it’s now time to release the first installment of my NFL Power Rankings. Every Tuesday at 5:20 p.m. eastern I’ll update the power rankings live during Press Row, then share the latest rankings with you here.
Top 5
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Most of the power rankings I’ve seen since the conclusion of week-1 have one of two teams in the top spot. It’s either the Bucs or the Chiefs and that’s very understandable. Both teams flexed their muscles when it mattered the most and pulled out comeback wins in the fourth quarter.
I’m giving the slight edge to the Bucs. Yeah, they coughed the ball up four times and the defense gave up 451-yards to a Cowboys team that looked much-improved, but they found a way to win a poorly-played game. Here’s to betting the defense returns to last season’s form and that Tom Brady continues to do Tom Brady things.
I will admit that I gave the Bucs an extra tip of the cap because they are the defending Super Bowl Champions.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Football is often a tale of two halves and that’s exactly what went down in the week-1 match up between the Browns and Chiefs. Cleveland, who continues to be a trendy pick to win the AFC North, quickly jumped on the Chiefs on their home turf and took a two touchdown lead into the locker room at the half.
The Chiefs have earned a reputation over the years for being a team that starts slow and finishes strong, and they did it again Sunday afternoon. Pat Mahomes tossed three second-half touchdown passes and the Kansas City defense buckled down to force two Cleveland turnovers to secure the 33-29 win.
I could have made a great argument for the Chiefs in the top-spot. They beat what we all believe to be a better opponent than the Cowboys in week-1 and they weren’t as sloppy as the Bucs. I still feel good about the Chiefs in the number-two slot. I’m really splitting hairs here.
3. Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
It was a near perfect opening performance for the Rams. No one is claiming the Bears are a good team, but the Rams did what they were supposed to do in convincing fashion. No longer do the Rams have quarterback limitations after shipping Jared Goff off to Detroit in exchange for Matt Stafford, and the defense is still scary. The defense has the NFL’s best interior lineman in Aaron Donald and arguably the league’s best cornerback in Jalen Ramsey.
Every team in the NFC West opened the season with a win, and the division is going to be very difficult to win. The 49ers are now healthy and their win total should improve drastically. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals are still trying to remove their foot from the Titan a** after that 38-13 tail-kicking, and the Seahawks downed the Colts 28-16 in Indianapolis.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
Pittsburgh started hotter than anyone last year, but went just 1-5 over their last six games, including a loss to Cleveland in the Wild Card Round.
Before the season, the Steelers would not have found their name in the Top 5 of my power rankings. But after one of the most-impressive performances of week-1, a 23-16 win over the Bills in Buffalo, I have to show them some respect. The AFC North could be very tough, but the Steelers could be for real. Last season, Pittsburgh had the highest pressure rate in the NFL (45.1% – PFF) and many of the same faces are back on that side of the ball. The offense managed just 252 total-yards against the Bills, and it could take their new-look offense some time to find their footing, but if they do and the defense continues to play well, watch out.
5. New Orleans Saints (1-0)
The most-impressive win of the week goes to the Saints after they flat out embarrassed Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 38-3, yeah 38-3. It feels weird to type that score.
It’s very possible this lopsided score has more to due with the deficiencies of the Packers after a tumultuous off-season. At the same time, I’ve been a big believer in the Saints all off-season. Jameis Winston can now see after undergoing LASIK eye surgery back in February, and he’s now under the tutelage of one of the top offensive-minds in the NFL, Sean Payton. New Orleans boasts one of the better offensive lives in the league, a do-it-all back in Alvin Kamara and an opportunistic defense. They’ll battle it out with the Bucs this year for the NFC South.
Bottom 5
28 – Texans: 37-21 (W) vs. Jaguars
29 – Jets: 19-14 (L) at. Panthers
30 – Giants: 27-13 (L) vs. Broncos
31 – Falcons: 32-6 (L) vs. Eagles
32 – Jaguars: 37-21 (L) at. Texans
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