Holy cow. What a Week 1 we were just treated to. That Sunday Night Football game between the Bills and Ravens is the best regular season football game I’ve ever watched. I’m not even exaggerating, it was incredible. Out of respect (and because I think it’s actually true), I moved them to the top of my power rankings this week.

But it wasn’t just that. Every primetime game was a tight, down-to-the-wire finish. The early Sunday window had a bunch of great games, and so did the late window. It was a fantastic weekend of football all around.

Overreactions are commonplace after Week 1, and I’ve tried to avoid doing that too much with this week’s rankings. Remember, this time last year we were talking about how dominant the Saints and Cowboys looked. But at the same time, this is the first real action we’ve had this season. We have real data points to look out now, no matter how small the sample size.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the rankings:

Tier 1: Super Bowl Contenders

This tier is for the locked-in title contenders. Teams won’t move into (or out of) this tier very easily.

1 — Buffalo Bills (1-0, UP 3)

Last week: W 41-40 vs. Baltimore Ravens

What a game. What a comeback. Erasing a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, QB Josh Allen put together a herculean effort to will his team to a victory. Critically, second-year WR Keon Coleman looked like a different player than he did as a rookie, coming through in big moments as a key piece of the offense. If he’s going to play like this more consistently, there’s no ceiling on this Buffalo offense.

2 — Baltimore Ravens (0-1, UP 1)

Last week: L 40-41 vs. Buffalo Bills

The Ravens collapsed late in the fourth quarter again on Sunday night, losing to the Bills on a walk-off field goal in Buffalo. It’s hard to be overly critical of Baltimore’s performance, though CB Jaire Alexander did not have a good debut. The secondary will need to play better moving forward, although they won’t face many offenses that can do what the Bills did.

3 — Green Bay Packers (1-0, UP 3)

Last week: W 27-13 vs. Detroit Lions

The game wasn’t really this close, as the Lions scored a late touchdown to make it less ugly. This was a dominating performance by the Packers, validating those who said their offseason upgrades turned them into true contenders. New OLB Micah Parsons’ contribution was big, but QB Jordan Love being healthy to open the season is a game-changer for this team.

4 — Philadelphia Eagles (1-0, DOWN 3)

Last week: W 24-20 vs. Dallas Cowboys

They got the win on the season’s opening night, but there are reasons to be concerned in Philadelphia, particularly on defense. The Cowboys’ offense mercilessly attacked whichever corner was across from Quinyon Mitchell, whether it was Adoree’ Jackson or Jakorian Bennett. Their run defense was also suspect, though it was without DT Jalen Carter after he got ejected prior to the first snap.

5 — Los Angeles Rams (1-0, —)

Last week: W 14-9 vs. Houston Texans

The final score doesn’t tell the full story here. The Rams moved the ball effectively against a very good Houston defense, though they were unable to score consistently. Los Angeles’s defense came up big, holding the Texans without a touchdown and securing a key turnover late to seal the win. We know the Rams offense is explosive, but if their defense is this good, they are a surefire Super Bowl contender.

6 — Kansas City Chiefs (0-1, DOWN 4)

Last week: L 21-27 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Things went from bad to worse for Kansas City’s offense when WR Xavier Worthy dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter after colliding with TE Travis Kelce on a drag route. Now down their top two receivers in Worthy and Rashee Rice (who will miss the next five games due to a suspension), it’ll take a lot of magic from HC Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes to keep this offense humming.

Tier 2: Playoff Teams

While these teams might not be true contenders, they’re almost certain to make the playoffs. And who knows, once they get there, they could make some noise.

7 — Los Angeles Chargers (1-0, UP 4)

Last week: W 27-21 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season than this. They were finally able to close out a game against Mahomes and the Chiefs. QB Justin Herbert was sensational, carving up Kansas City’s defense and moving the ball at will. Keep an eye on third-year WR Quentin Johnston, as he may have finally taken a big step forward in his development. The defense played a great game, too.

8 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0, UP 1)

Last week: W 23-20 vs. Atlanta Falcons

It was a rough day for QB Baker Mayfield, but he came up with the big plays when his team needed them most. First-round WR Emeka Egbuka had a phenomenal debut, looking like a natural out there. The defense was also up and down, getting gashed over the middle pretty consistently, but they too came up with big plays in critical moments. Down several key players, including All-Pro LT Tristan Wirfs, the Bucs got an important division win that could matter a lot down the road.

9 — Detroit Lions (0-1, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 13-27 vs. Green Bay Packers

This was a worst-case scenario for the Lions. Every offseason critic’s predictions came true in this game, as the offensive line got demolished, the secondary got torched and the new coordinators couldn’t find any answers. Losing Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson to head coaching gigs maybe didn’t grab as many headlines as it should have. This roster is still far too talented to miss the playoffs, but they’ll need to make some adjustments fast if they want to win the division again.

10 — Washington Commanders (1-0, —)

Last week: W 21-6 vs. New York Giants

The offense looked sluggish at times, but credit the Giants defense for playing a solid game. I was impressed with the Commanders’ defensive line, as they put New York QB Russell Wilson under constant pressure and all but shut off the water on their rushing attack. On offense, WR Deebo Samuel looks like a good piece, and the ground game was efficient.

11 — Dallas Cowboys (0-1, UP 1)

Last week: L 20-24 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

QB Dak Prescott played a sensational game, but WR CeeDee Lamb had an uncharacteristic four drops on the night, two of them on beautiful passes from Prescott on the final drive. Dallas’ defense had no pass rush to speak of, and they got shredded on the ground by the Eagles’ rushing attack. They proved they can hang with anybody, but there are also real concerns coming away from Thursday’s game.

Tier 3: In The Mix

Not all of these teams will make it to the playoffs of course, but they are at least making it a conversation.

12 — Denver Broncos (1-0, DOWN 4)

Last week: W 20-12 vs. Tennessee Titans

Yeah, the Bo Nix hype was maybe a tad overcooked. The second-year quarterback had a rough day, responsible for three turnovers and only throwing for 176 yards. The Denver defense was as advertised, however, locking down Tennessee’s offense and winning the Broncos this game. I’m not going to read too much into a sleepy Week 1 win against one of the league’s worst teams, but Nix will have to play better if this team is to live up to expectations.

13 — Houston Texans (0-1, UP 2)

Last week: L 9-14 vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Texans’ offensive line is brutal. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Turns out, trading away the only consistently good player on your line won’t make it better. In fact, it’ll probably get worse. Houston’s complete inability to move the ball overshadowed a fantastic performance by the defense, holding the Rams to just 14 points. That should equal a win.

14 — Minnesota Vikings (1-0, DOWN 1)

Last week: W 27-24 vs. Chicago Bears

Man, what a start to QB J.J. McCarthy’s career. He was in over his head in the first half, consistently late to get the offense set and snap the ball, and he was swimming upstream with the looks the Bears were throwing at him. After a pick six early in the second half, it looked over. But then he settled in and started picking Chicago apart. He scored three total touchdowns, including running one in himself late in the fourth that all but sealed the game. Minnesota has a playoff-caliber roster, and if McCarthy can be steady, they’ll be dangerous.

15 — Indianapolis Colts (1-0, UP 4)

Last week: W 33-8 vs. Miami Dolphins

Well that narrative flipped quickly. The vibes weren’t exactly ideal in Indianapolis over the summer, with an uninspiring quarterback battle and a coach and GM on the hot seat being the main storylines. But this roster is deep and talented, and they showed up to open the season. The defense looks scary, and they were flying around the field all night. QB Daniel Jones had a few bad throws, but he executed the offense efficiently and distributed to the Colts’ bevy of playmakers. It was Indy’s first win in their season opener since 2013.

16 — Cincinnati Bengals (1-0, DOWN 2)

Last week: W 17-16 vs. Cleveland Browns

Death, taxes, and the Cincinnati Bengals starting the season poorly. This time, at least, it still resulted in a win. The Bengals managed seven yards of total offense in the second half against one of the worst teams in the NFL. That’s not a typo — seven yards. The Browns had almost double Cincinnati’s total yards in the game, and only a pair of freak interceptions off dropped passes saved this game for the Bengals.

17 — Atlanta Falcons (0-1, UP 5)

Last week: L 20-23 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

First-year starting QB Michael Penix Jr. had a fantastic performance, looking every bit like the future at quarterback in Atlanta. He did it through the air, carving up the Bucs defense, and made a few plays on the ground when his team needed him most. In the end, he led his team in range for a game-tying field goal that was missed. On defense, some of the rookies stood out, especially first-round ED James Pearce Jr. and third-round S Xavier Watts.

Tier 4: Making It Interesting

I won’t go as far as to call these teams actual playoff contenders, but they’re making it interesting. It’s early, but with some sustained success, they could climb these rankings quickly.

18 — Arizona Cardinals (1-0, DOWN 2)

Last week: W 20-13 vs. New Orleans Saints

They gutted out a road win, but it wasn’t pretty for the Cardinals. The offense sputtered, struggling to sustain drives. In positive news, the connection between QB Kyler Murray and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. looked improved, and he went to him early and often. On the other side, the defense had an up-and-down day against one of the worst offenses they’ll face, especially in the secondary. Second-round CB Will Johnson had a nice debut, though.

19 — Chicago Bears (0-1, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 24-27 vs. Minnesota Vikings

What happened last night? The Bears offense completely shut down after their opening drive, scoring just three more points until late in the fourth quarter. After a pick six early in the third put Chicago up 17-6, it looked to be well in hand. Until it wasn’t. Bears QB Caleb Williams missed a lot of throws and held onto the ball for an eternity on every snap. He was protected fairly well up front, which was a positive. The injury absences on defense showed up late, too.

20 — Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0, —)

Last week: W 34-32 vs. New York Jets

Call me cynical, but I’m not as impressed by this win as most seem to be. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers’ box score is a bit deceptive — for the most part, I thought he looked like the same player he was in New York. While WR D.K. Metcalf is explosive, this running game struggled and the defense was picked apart by a Jets offense we didn’t think would be good entering the season. Still, they found a way to win, and sometimes that’s all that matters.

21 — San Francisco 49ers (1-0, DOWN 3)

Last week: W 17-13 vs. Seattle Seahawks

The biggest news coming out of the game for the Niners are injuries — QB Brock Purdy, TE George Kittle, and WR Jauan Jennings all might miss time. Kittle is already confirmed out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. It was a gutsy road divisional win, but the depth concerns on offense reared their ugly heads. Once Kittle went out on the second drive, the offense ran entirely through RB Christian McCaffrey. He’s a star, but for an older back with injury concerns, this kind of usage is a little worrying.

22 — Seattle Seahawks (0-1, DOWN 1)

Last week: L 13-17 vs. San Francisco 49ers

I’ll start with the positive: this Seahawks defense is legit. They stymied the Niners for most of this game, generating consistent pressure and covering like a blanket on the back end. That unit will carry Seattle this year, and they can be a factor in the playoff race because of it. On the other hand, the offense struggled. Offensive line play was a problem last year and at least though one game, that’s true again this year. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the entire passing game.

23 — New York Jets (0-1, UP 6)

Last week: L 32-34 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Talk about surprises. Who would’ve guessed the Jets would be so explosive? New Jets QB Justin Fields had maybe his best game as a pro, carving up the Steelers through the air and on the ground. First-round OT Armand Membou was stellar, and the defensive line was stout. Coverage was an issue, however, as CB Sauce Gardner was the only positive contributor in that unit. This team might be a lot more fun to watch than we all expected.

24 — Las Vegas Raiders (1-0, DOWN 1)

Last week: W 20-13 vs. New England Patriots

First-round RB Ashton Jeanty was one of the most anticipated rookie debuts, but he did not have much room to run. The Raiders’ run blocking is an issue, and it could mean a lackluster season for Jeanty. Raiders QB Geno Smith was unafraid as always, creating some big plays through the air to spark the offense. It was a good defensive performance for Las Vegas, though stiffer tests await.

25 — Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0, UP 2)

Last week: W 26-10 vs. Carolina Panthers

There was a lot to watch with the Jaguars this weekend. New head coach, two-way rookie Travis Hunter’s first game, WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s second season, a retooled defense. But it wasn’t Hunter or Thomas as the star of the passing game, it was TE Brenton Strange. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence played a fairly clean game and kept the offense on schedule. The defense did a nice job, with LBs Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd standing out in particular.

Tier 5: No Hope Remaining

Who cares if it’s only Week 2? The season’s already over. I think basketball starts soon….

26 — Miami Dolphins (0-1, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 8-33 vs. Indianapolis Colts

I don’t think the Dolphins are as bad as they looked on Sunday. But it was as bad a performance as they could give. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t see the field and badly missed receivers, leading to turnovers. Miami was dominated in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and an already thin secondary lost their best corner to injury. Things couldn’t be much worse for them, and HC Mike McDaniel is officially on watch as potentially the first coach fired this cycle.

27 — New York Giants (0-1, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 6-21 vs. Washington Commanders

The defense put on a great performance. New York’s stacked defensive line was a menace against Washington, consistently moving Commanders QB Jayden Daniels off his spot and creating havoc in the backfield. For the most part, the secondary held up against an explosive Commanders passing attack. The offense, however, was tough to watch. This might be the worst offensive line in the league, and there are already questions on when QB Russell Wilson will be benched for first-rounder Jaxson Dart. It’s going to be a long season for the Giants.

28 — Carolina Panthers (0-1, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 10-26 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

In one of the most underwhelming season debuts, the Panthers were largely uncompetitive against a mediocre Jacksonville team. Their defense wasn’t awful, but they did struggle. The more disappointing unit was the offense, which was supposed to be a fun operation this year. Panthers QB Bryce Young wasn’t bad by any stretch, but the offense could never really find its footing. It’s early, but they’ll need to produce to stave off questions about their future in the coming weeks.

29 — New England Patriots (0-1, DOWN 1)

Last week: L 13-20 vs. Las Vegas Raiders

On paper entering the season, the main concerns for the Patriots were at receiver and along the offensive line. That largely played out on Sunday, with the offense having some success but nothing extraordinary. Second-year QB Drake Maye had an up-and-down day, with some nice plays mixed in with a few head-scratchers. On defense, they shut down the Raiders’ rushing attack. Down CB Christian Gonzalez, their pass defense struggled more.

30 — Cleveland Browns (0-1, —)

Last week: L 16-17 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Browns should have won this game. A pair of genuinely bad luck interceptions proved the difference, but Cleveland shut down the potent Bengals offense almost completely in the second half. Veteran QB Joe Flacco proved himself a capable starter still, and ED Myles Garrett was his usual dominant self.

31 — Tennessee Titans (0-1, —)

Last week: L 12-20 vs. Denver Broncos

No. 1 overall pick QB Cam Ward didn’t put together a great box score, but I like a lot of what I saw from him. His receivers dropped a lot of passes, some of them on his best throws. He attacked down the field well and did a decent job navigating the pocket. Although, like many young quarterbacks, he held onto the ball too long and invited too much pressure. In fairness, the offensive line did him no favors. On defense, they hounded Nix all afternoon.

32 — New Orleans Saints (0-1, —)

Last week: L 13-20 vs. Arizona Cardinals

Saints QB Spencer Rattler had a decent game, despite the loss. He had some great throws on his tape, threading the needle and hitting some timing routes. The defense caused some problems for the Cardinals, and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry was all over the field. Not much is expected of this team, but they played hard and were competitive late. If that keeps up, they’ll surprise a few teams.