FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. —The second week of the 2024 season had a little bit of everything: Last-second wins, big-time upsets, questions answered, questions remaining. No matter how you looked at it, the slate of games and their outcomes in Week 2 were everything you'd want the league to be and more.
The big movers and shakers of Week 2 actually came out of the NFC South, and no we're not just saying this because the Falcons are in the NFC South. It's true. The Saints, Buccaneers and Falcons all made national headlines thanks to their wins this week. Meanwhile, the Panthers made headlines for other reasons entirely. We'll talk more about all of this and how everything shook out in the power rankings below.
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1
Kansas City Chiefs
The Bengals may have put up a fight, but the Chiefs found a way to win, as all No. 1 ranked teams tend to do.
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2
San Francisco 49ers
Despite losing to the Vikings, I still couldn't find it within myself to move the 49ers out of the No. 2 spot. Sue me.
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3
3
Buffalo Bills
A decisive 31-10 win over the Dolphins was a game more in line with what we expect from the Bills, which is why they moved as far up as they did.
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4
5
Houston Texans
Yes, the Texans beat the Bears like they should have. No, I don't have an issue with moving them into the top-5.
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5
1
Detroit Lions
The Lions lost a tight one to the Bucs and I can't tell who this says more about at this point in the season.
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6
17
New Orleans Saints
No other team made a jump like the Saints did from Week 1 to 2, but no other team beat the Cowboys 44-19 so...
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7
4
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers cruised to a 26-3 win over the Panthers. As well they should. They have another 2-0 team on tap in Week 3 with the Steelers. That'll be an interesting test to see if the Chargers are indeed a top-10 team this year.
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8
8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Like the Saints, the Bucs had a massive jump in the rankings thanks to a 20-16 win over the Lions in Detroit. Is the NFC South back?
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9
6
Philadelphia Eagles
Despite a Monday Night Football loss to the Falcons, that wasn't enough to drop the Eagles out of the top-10, especially when the margin of victory was one point.
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10
10
Minnesota Vikings
If I wasn't going to move the 49ers out of the No. 2 spot, I couldn't in good conscious not reward the Vikings for beating the No. 2 team.
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11
Green Bay Packers
The Packers got a tally in the win column after a Week 1 loss to the Eagles. However, only beating the Colts by six didn't do enough to punch them into the top-10.
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12
7
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are 0-2, and though I still believe them to be a top-10 team, they have yet to win a game, making my argument for them mute at the current moment.
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13
New York Jets
The Jets have been a difficult team to place in the rankings through the first two weeks of the season. Maybe that's why they didn't move up or down in my rankings this week.
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14
7
Dallas Cowboys
The Saints whooped up on the Cowboys in a game very few predicted would go the way it ultimately went. If the game was closer, Dallas wouldn't have dropped as far as they did.
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15
7
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins will have a tough road ahead with Tua on injured reserve. If they can stay in the middle of the pack that should be a moral win.
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16
2
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers may not be scoring very many point but their defense is good enough that they're 2-0. This is a top-10 defense.
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17
4
Seattle Seahawks
With a nice overtime win over the Patriots, the Seahawks get a nice jump up in the rankings thanks to their 2-0 status.
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18
3
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals put together a much better performance from Week 1 to Week 2, hanging with the Chiefs until the very end. However, they still haven't tallied a win yet. So, even though I think this team is better than 18 overall, that's where they land without a win.
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19
Cleveland Browns
The Browns got a big win over the Jaguars this past week. That keeps them in the top-20.
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20
4
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are coming off one of their biggest wins in the last few years. When you beat a playoff contender at home in prime time you deserve a spot in the top-20 yourself.
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21
4
Arizona Cardinals
Like the Falcons, the Cardinals bounce back from Week 1 to Week 2 gives them a boost in the rankings. A 41-10 win against a Rams team that is only a few years removed from a Super Bowl championship will do that for ya.
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22
6
Chicago Bears
Do I think the Bears deserved to drop six places from Week 1 to 2 because of a low-scoring loss to the Texans? No. Could I find no other place to put them? Yes.
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23
5
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags loss to the Browns wasn't really expected. Without a win in their record to start the season, it is difficult to put them in the top-20 just yet.
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24
2
Indianapolis Colts
I felt bad dropping the Colts down two spots after keeping it close with the Packers in Week 2. But they're still 0-2.
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25
13
Los Angeles Rams
The season has not started the way the Rams would have hoped. A loss to the Lions in Detroit in Week 1 is one thing, a 31-point deficit to the Cardinals is something else entirely.
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26
4
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders get a nice little bump up in the rankings for surprising the whole league with a win over the Ravens this past week. No one saw it coming.
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27
1
New England Patriots
The Patriots were one or two plays away from a win over the Seahawks. They drop one spot because of it.
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28
1
Washington Commanders
The Commanders beat the No. 31 team in the league. How that equated to a one-place jump, I truly don't know.
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29
2
Tennessee Titans
I expected a little more from the Titans in their 24-17 loss to the Jets. I really did, which is perhaps why they had to drop.
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30
2
Denver Broncos
The Broncos lost 13-6 to the Steelers. And I get it, the Steelers defense is good. Trust me, I know. I've seen TJ Watt live. But losing a game 13-6? That stings.
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31
New York Giants
They lost their Week 2 game to the Commanders. I don't have any other reason to keep them at 31 than that.
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32
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have decided to bench Bryce Young. I am not going to twist the dagger further by droning on about why they are ranked last yet again.
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