The Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles are really turning heads, but the preseason Super Bowl favorites have also looked good early on. What to make of it all?
Here are my power rankings heading into Week 3:
1. Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Last week: 1
The Bills have a quarterback playing like an MVP, a superstar wide receiver, a dominant defensive line and a suffocating secondary. If this team stays healthy there is no one comparable in the NFL.
2. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1)
Last week: 2
The Chargers lost to the Chiefs but I don’t really care. If Justin Herbert doesn’t throw that pick-six because of an exhausted pass-catcher, Los Angeles very well could have won that game on the road. I think the Chargers are better than Kansas City and thus, they stay at No. 2.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Last week: 3
The Buccaneers defense is legit. But Tom Brady is only No. 23 in the NFL in Total QBR after two weeks, and there are some injuries at wideout. Cause for concern? Not yet, but it’s something to monitor.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Last week: 4
The Chiefs are going to be in the mix in the AFC. Patrick Mahomes is proving that the offense will be just fine without Tyreek Hill.
More on the MVP race after two weeks: https://t.co/UlbNPnxHym
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) September 20, 2022
5. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
Last week: 6
The roster is stacked, and the Eagles have an incredibly easy schedule the rest of the way. They should cruise to the NFC East title and be in the hunt for the Super Bowl. The question: Can Jalen Hurts keep this up?
6. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Last week: 5
Baltimore imploded late against the Dolphins, but there is still a lot to like. Lamar Jackson is top-5 in ESPN’s Total QBR early on and the team is first in offensive efficiency, according to Football Outsiders.
7. Miami Dolphins (2-0)
Last week: 10
The duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is as advertised, and Tua Tagovailoa is doing a nice job getting them the rock. The Dolphins must prove they can remain in the upper echelon, but so far, so good.
8. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)
Last week: 8
It was a good bounceback performance from San Francisco. The 49ers lost Trey Lance but should still be a good team with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. I still like San Francisco to win the NFC West behind its defense and skill group.
9. Green Bay Packers (1-1)
Last week: 14
Green Bay got back to business with an easy win over the Bears. And maybe they don’t need the passing game to be elite if Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon can keep this up.
10. Denver Broncos (1-1)
Last week: 12
It was another sloppy game from Denver, but these red zone issues are fluky. The Broncos are moving the ball and will hit their groove soon enough.
11. Los Angeles Rams (1-1)
Last week: 11
The Rams were cruising against the Falcons before needing to hold off a huge rally. Are they still elite? The Week 3 game in Arizona could tell us a lot.
12. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)
Last week: 7
The Bengals have some things to iron out, but two last-second losses isn’t the end of the world. This group still has considerable upside because of its passing-game potential.
13. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
Last week: 9
Terrible performance by Kirk Cousins against the Eagles. Minnesota has good pieces but was outclassed by Philadelphia.
14. New Orleans Saints (1-1)
Last week: 13
The Saints hung in there against the Buccaneers. No shame in losing that game, but Jameis Winston must take care of the ball better for this team to make a playoff push.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (0-2)
Last week: 15
The Raiders had about 473 chances to put away the Cardinals and couldn’t do it. Las Vegas is a solid team but an 0-2 start in the AFC West is not a good omen.
16. Detroit Lions (1-1)
Last week: 22
The Lions are top-10 in DVOA after two weeks, and that close loss to Philadelphia in Week 1 looks just fine after seeing the Eagles stomp the Vikings. Detroit could be a legitimate wild card contender.
17. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)
Last week: 20
The Cardinals are No. 28 in DVOA and have defensive issues that figure to linger. But they also have a quarterback that can hoist the entire team on his back, like Kyler Murray did in Las Vegas.
18. New England Patriots (1-1)
Last week: 19
The Patriots picked up a close, low-scoring win over the Steelers. That will probably be the formula to keep them competitive all season.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
Last week: 29
An impressive win over the Colts on Sunday. If Trevor Lawrence has indeed taken a second-year leap, a division title is possible.
I think the Jaguars can win the AFC South if Lawrence keeps shining, and the value is there to bet on them: https://t.co/UmqjrsfLKV
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) September 20, 2022
20. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Last week: 21
Nice win over the Bengals on Sunday, but is it sustainable without Dak Prescott?
21. Cleveland Browns (1-1)
Last week: 17
They had a 99.9% win probability against the Jets on Sunday and still lost. Oof.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
Last week: 16
How long will Mitchell Trubisky last as the starting quarterback?
23. Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1)
Last week: 18
The Colts are still the AFC South favorites, but the start has been ugly. They trailed the Texans by 17 points in the fourth quarter and then lost, 24-0, to the Jaguars in Week 2.
24. Tennessee Titans (0-2)
Last week: 24
They got smoked by the Bills on the road, but a lot of teams will this season. Even so, if Derrick Henry is not Superman, this team is in trouble.
25. Houston Texans (0-1-1)
Last week: 26
The Texans have held fourth-quarter leads over the Colts and the Broncos in their first two weeks. But they need to finish.
26. New York Giants (2-0)
Last week: 30
I thought about putting the Giants lower, but that would just be rude to one of the six undefeated teams remaining in the NFL. (They aren’t good though.)
The New York Giants are one of six undefeated teams left in the NFL.
They are also last in @fboutsiders' DAVE metric, a mixture of DVOA and preseason expectations.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) September 20, 2022
27. Atlanta Falcons (0-2)
Last week: 31
The Falcons have looked surprisingly competent in close losses to the Saints and Rams. But they are still winless.
28. Chicago Bears (1-1)
Last week: 23
Justin Fields has thrown the ball 28 times in two games. I know he’s a dual-threat, but the passing game is kind of important in the NFL.
29. Washington Commanders (1-1)
Last week: 27
Carson Wentz is actually playing decent football. Doubt it lasts.
30. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Last week: 25
Back down they go toward the power rankings basement. We will always have that win over Russ, though.
31. New York Jets (1-1)
Last week: 32
Fine, I’ll let the Jets out of the last spot because of that crazy comeback over the Browns.
32. Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Last week: 28
The Panthers lost two close games they needed to have. The next five on the schedule? The Saints, Cardinals, 49ers, Rams and Buccaneers. Matt Rhule’s seat is getting HOT.
Matt Rhule has to be the first coach fired, right? Panthers are 0-2 with these five games coming up:
*Saints
*Cardinals
*49ers
*Rams
*Buccaneers— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) September 20, 2022
