Two weeks are officially in the books, and the NFL is already giving us a sense of which teams are for real.
Of course, it is still way too early to make any serious conclusions about the season. We have seen teams go from Super Bowl contenders to complete disasters in the span of one Sunday, and we have only played two games.
Still, some teams have already separated themselves from the pack.
So, with two weeks down and 15 more to go, here are my top 10 NFL power rankings heading into Week 3.
Week 3 NFL Power Rankings
1. Buffalo Bills (2-0)
I am officially buying stock in the Joe Brady era. The Buffalo Bills offense is averaging 38.5 points per game, and Josh Allen is once again looking like an MVP candidate as the offence keeps finding ways to put up ridiculous numbers. The defense has had some issues defending the pass, although the run defense has been much more encouraging. The defense is really my only slight concern, but through two weeks, this looks like a team that can beat you in just about every way.
2. Seattle Seahawks (2-0)
If Sam Darnold were healthy, I would probably have the Seattle Seahawks sitting at No. 1. The defense has been absolutely ridiculous through two weeks, and it once again looks like the best unit in football by a pretty wide margin, but the offense still has some questions, especially at running back. Drew Lock has done enough to keep Seattle undefeated, but getting Darnold back would give this team another dimension. If the Seahawks can find a consistent lead back, watch out.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Maybe the Kenneth Walker signing really was the missing piece for the Kansas City Chiefs. Walker already has 290 rushing yards, and having a legitimate running game allows Patrick Mahomes to use play-action and carve defenses up in ways we have not seen consistently from this offence in recent years. The retooled defense also looks like it can be a top-10 unit, giving Kansas City a much more balanced team. Mahomes with a running game is a scary thought for the rest of the AFC.
4. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
No surprises here: Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy are absolutely humming. The San Francisco 49ers offence looks exactly like what we expected, with Purdy operating the system efficiently and San Francisco consistently finding ways to move the football. The biggest surprise might be the defense. New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris appears to have this unit back on track, which makes the 49ers even more dangerous. We already knew this offence could move the ball. If the defense is actually this good, San Francisco could be a nightmare matchup.
5. Los Angeles Rams (1-1)
I guess the Australia travel debacle really was the reason the Los Angeles Rams looked so flat in Week 1. Week 2 looked much more like the team we expected, and Aaron Donald‘s return after his two-and-a-half-year retirement only makes this defense even more terrifying. Somehow, Donald still looks like a top-five player, and the wild part is that Myles Garrett is still on injured reserve. If those two eventually share the field, good luck blocking that defensive line.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0, and honestly, that is really all that matters right now. Things have not been pretty offensively as Philadelphia adjusts to Sean Mannion’s offense and life without A.J. Brown, but the Eagles continue to find ways to win. The defense remains a top-10 unit with Vic Fangio calling the shots, giving the offence time to figure things out. They haven’t looked like the finished product yet, but an undefeated Philadelphia team is still going to be a problem once this offence gets going.
7. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
I am not moving the Baltimore Ravens too far down after their loss to the New Orleans Saints because there are some obvious reasons for the struggles. The revamped offensive line has not held up well enough in the passing game, and being down two starting receivers certainly has not helped Lamar Jackson. The good news is that this team should look much different once everyone gets healthy. If the offensive line improves and the receivers return, Baltimore has the talent to be an elite team.
8. Denver Broncos (1-1)
It is another slow start for Bo Nix, but we have seen this movie before. The Denver Broncos were a 2/5 on last week’s Panic Meter after getting destroyed by Kansas City, but the defense responded in Week 2 and carried the team to victory. That is probably going to be the formula for now: let the defense carry the load while Nix gets comfortable and finds his footing. If Nix starts playing better, this Broncos team could become a serious problem.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
Here’s something different for you: the Cincinnati Bengals defense might be their best unit. After years of investing in the draft and adding some key pieces in free agency, Cincinnati finally looks like it has built a legitimate top-15 defense. The offence has not been nearly as exciting as usual, but I still trust Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and company to eventually find their rhythm as long as everyone stays healthy. If the defense can keep this up, Cincinnati suddenly looks like a much more complete team.
10. Minnesota Vikings (2-0)
I am giving the Minnesota Vikings their flowers because they have earned them. Brian Flores and this defense have been a literal hurricane through two weeks, making life miserable for opposing offenses and giving Minnesota a chance to win every game. The offense has been dealing with Kyler Murray‘s absence and poor weather, but it still did enough to get the job done. If Murray returns and the offense starts clicking, this Vikings team could be much more dangerous than people expected.
Main Image: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
