If last week was about the primetime games, this week was about the early Sunday window. We had four games down to the wire as the late window was kicking off, including Cowboys/Giants that was won on a game winning field goal as time expired…in overtime.

This time last year, we were all talking about how awesome the Saints looked. Appearances can be deceiving, even two weeks in. However, two weeks of data is enough to start to drop preseason expectations for on-field results, at least a little bit. This week brings one of my more dramatic rankings reshufflings, as even though I avoid overreacting to individual week-to-week variances, this is one of the times to shake things up based on what we’ve seen.

Also, is it just me, or has the on-field product been even better than usual this year? Through two weeks, we’ve had so many intense, down-to-the-wire finishes in exciting games. Let’s hope it continues.

Anyway, let’s get to 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 (2-0, —)

Last week: W 30-10 vs. New York Jets

A brief injury scare with Bills QB Josh Allen had fans holding their breath, but it was the Buffalo defense that won them this game. A week after the Jets posted 32 points on the Steelers, the Bills held them in check, allowing virtually nothing before a garbage-time touchdown. The gap between Buffalo and the rest of this division is wider than ever.

2 — Baltimore Ravens (1-1, —)

Last week: W 41-17 vs. Cleveland Browns

After a heartbreaker against the Bills last week, Baltimore rebounded to secure the easy win over the Browns. The offense started slow but cranked things up in the second and third quarters, pulling away from Cleveland for a feel-good win. Sometimes that’s just what you need after a tough loss. Ravens WR DeAndre Hopkins turned back the clock with some big plays, offering an element this offense didn’t possess a year ago.

3 — Green Bay Packers (2-0, —)

Last week: W 27-18 vs. Washington Commanders

Let there be no doubt: the Packers are here to stay. After a dominating performance to open the season against the Lions, Green Bay followed it up with another assertive Thursday night victory over the Commanders. Packers QB Jordan Love is spreading the ball around to his bevy of playmakers, and Green Bay’s unrelenting pass rush helps cover up the question marks at cornerback. In back to back weeks now, the Packers have shut down two of the top offenses in the league.

4 — Los Angeles Rams (2-0, UP 1)

Last week: W 33-19 vs. Tennessee Titans

Another team that got off to a slow start, the Rams eventually kicked things into a high gear and pulled away comfortably from the outmatched Titans. There was a clear emphasis to get Rams WR Davante Adams more involved in the offense — he had a whopping 13 targets in this game. Los Angeles’s pass rush made life difficult on Titans first-round QB Cam Ward, forcing a game-changing fumble deep in Titans territory that ended Tennessee’s comeback hopes.

5 — Philadelphia Eagles (2-0, DOWN 1)

Last week: W 20-17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

It was only a three-point win, but the Eagles felt comfortably in control for most of this game. Second-round S Andrew Mukuba flipped the game when he picked off Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in the end zone, racing 41 yards the other way to set up Philadelphia’s offense. Mukuba’s fingerprints were all over this game, including a sack, and the Eagles defense rebounded from a tough Week 1. Philadelphia’s passing offense still seems out of sorts, though, as Eagles QB Jalen Hurts only had 101 passing yards.

6— Detroit Lions (1-1, UP 3)

Last week: W 52-21 vs. Chicago Bears

What better way is there to rid yourself of the bad vibes from a blowout division loss in Week 1 than to get a blowout division win in Week 2? Even once Chicago’s offense started finding a rhythm in the second quarter, the Lions breezed their way to matching scores, getting out of whatever funk they were in last week. Lions QB Jared Goff threw five touchdown passes and Detroit got whatever it wanted on the ground. If there’s one concern coming out of this game, it’s that they still have an issue at cornerback.

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, —)

Last week: W 20-9 vs. Las Vegas Raiders

It wasn’t the emotional high of their Week 1 win, but the Chargers notched a different type of victory this week. A gritty, tough win against a divisional opponent is always a good thing, even if it felt sluggish at times. The big story from this game, however, is the injury to ED Khalil Mack. It appears to be a serious elbow injury, one that could potentially be season-ending, and Mack is a player they can hardly afford to lose.

8 — Kansas City Chiefs (0-2, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 17-20 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

This is the first 0-2 start in the Mahomes era in Kansas City. Those two losses came against a pair of playoff teams a year ago, so there’s no reason to panic just yet — but this is still a position we’re not used to seeing the Chiefs. They have a brutal schedule upcoming, with the Ravens, Lions, Commanders, Bills, Broncos, Colts, Cowboys, Texans and Chargers all in their next 12 games. The Chiefs offense should look better once WR Xavier Worthy returns from injury and WR Rashee Rice from suspension, but they don’t have much time to figure things out in the meantime.

9 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0, DOWN 1)

Last week: W 20-19 vs. Houston Texans

Through two weeks, the Buccaneers are about as close to being 0-2 as a 2-0 team can be. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield led yet another game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes, creating some plays against a stingy Houston defense. It’s had a feeling of sloppiness, but the Bucs have played two strong defenses and came out on top in both contests. They’ll need to play better in the future, though, if they want to repeat as NFC South champions.

10 — Washington Commanders (1-1, —)

Last week: L 18-27 vs. Green Bay Packers

The Commanders were largely noncompetitive against the Packers in a game that showed they still have a ways to go to be among the NFC’s elite. But the story coming out of this one is the number of serious injuries Washington suffered. It was a costly defeat, with RB Austin Ekeler and ED Deatrich Wise Jr. being lost for the season. More importantly, QB Jayden Daniels might miss a few weeks with a knee injury, which is a nightmare for the Commanders. The only silver lining here is that Daniels shouldn’t be out long-term, though he could miss a few weeks.

11 — Indianapolis Colts (2-0, UP 4)

Last week: W 29-28 vs. Denver Broncos

Beating up on the Dolphins was one thing, but the Colts faced a real test in the Broncos’ stellar defense. The Indianapolis offense passed it with flying colors, creating chunk plays at will in the passing game and creating a good push up front in the running game. Colts QB Daniel Jones is on his way to revitalizing his career, appearing in perfect command of the offense and executing at a high level. Despite missing two of their top defensive players in CB Charvarius Ward and ED Laiatu Latu, their defense came up with a few plays in the game’s biggest moments.

12 — Denver Broncos (1-1, —)

Last week: L 28-29 vs. Indianapolis Colts

This was a game that the Broncos will be kicking themselves for letting slip away. They had several opportunities to close out the Colts and couldn’t do it, with a costly leverage penalty giving Indianapolis another shot at the game-winning field goal. This Broncos team never beat themselves last year, but through two weeks Denver has been plagued with penalties, turnovers, and sloppy play on both sides of the ball. Broncos QB Bo Nix doesn’t look like the same player he was a year ago — they need to get him right.

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.

13 — Houston Texans (0-2, —)

Last week: L 19-20 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Texans special teams unit gave this team a chance late against the Bucs, blocking a punt and later returning another punt inside the opposing 30-yardline. But it wasn’t enough, as the stout Houston defense gave up a touchdown drive in the final minute. This offensive line is a major problem, and Texans QB C.J. Stroud clearly doesn’t trust it. He looks rattled, and he’s making bad plays. Houston entered the season as the clear favorites in the AFC South, but with the way the Colts and even the Jaguars are playing, they better figure things out fast.

14 — Atlanta Falcons (1-1, UP 3)

Last week: W 22-6 vs. Minnesota Vikings

This wasn’t the cleanest performance, but the Falcons did enough to pull away late from a struggling Vikings team. Red zone offense was an issue, as Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. and RB Bijan Robinson had the offense clicking but couldn’t consistently convert yards into touchdowns. The infusion of youth on Atlanta’s defensive line finally paid off, with guys like first-round ED James Pearce Jr., first-round ED Jalon Walker, DT Brandon Dorlus, and DT Ruke Orhorhoro making big plays.

15 — Dallas Cowboys (1-1, DOWN 4)

Last week: W 40-37 OT vs. New York Giants

This Cowboys team is starting to remind me of last season’s Bengals. Last year, Bengals QB Joe Burrow put up MVP numbers, but it didn’t matter because their defense lost them so many games. We might be seeing a similar thing play out in Dallas right now, as Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has been incredible, but this defense is an issue. Prescott had a sensational 300-yard performance, but Dallas’ defense made a struggling Giants offense look like it was helmed by prime Peyton Manning.

16 — Arizona Cardinals (2-0, UP 2)

Last week: W 27-22 vs. Carolina Panthers

The Cardinals built a sizable lead in the first half and tried to coast to a victory in the second half. While they did get the win, it didn’t work out as planned, as the Panthers clawed their way back into it and had a chance to win the game on their final drive. Arizona is 2-0, but those two wins came against two of the worst teams in the NFL. They’ll have to play a lot better if they want to beat San Francisco next week.

17 — San Francisco 49ers (2-0, UP 4)

Last week: W 26-21 vs. New Orleans Saints

Injuries continue to mount for the 49ers, especially one offense. They were without their starting quarterback, top wide receiver, and star tight end in this one, but backup QB Mac Jones was able to guide San Francisco to a victory. Despite being so beat up, the Niners have two road wins to start the season, an impressive display of fortitude. This team can be dangerous if they ever get fully healthy.

18 — Seattle Seahawks (1-1, UP 4)

Last week: W 31-17 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Seahawks marched into Pittsburgh and ran all over the Steelers, something most wouldn’t have guessed possible going into the game. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is proving his stellar season in Minnesota last year wasn’t a fluke, and he’s playing quite well in Seattle now. Seattle WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is stepping up as a go-to guy, and this defense is impressing week in and week out.

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.

19 — Minnesota Vikings (1-1, DOWN 5)

Last week: L 6-22 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy might technically be in his second season, but he’s essentially a rookie, as he missed all of last season with a torn meniscus. Through two games, he’s had one good quarter, and now he’s set to miss up to four weeks with an ankle injury. This Minnesota defense is having a lot of fun and causing plenty of havoc, but the offense with McCarthy at the helm could get almost nothing done against Atlanta.

20 — Las Vegas Raiders (1-0, UP 4)

Last week: L 9-20 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

This was a winnable game for the Raiders. I’ve been impressed by their defense through two games, a unit I expected would struggle this year. But Raiders QB Geno Smith had a tough game, throwing three interceptions and finding himself under constant duress all night long. Las Vegas needs to find a way to get rookie first-round RB Ashton Jeanty more involved, as he had a few nice runs but isn’t yet fully integrated into the game plan.

21 — Cincinnati Bengals (2-0, DOWN 5)

Last week: W 31-27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Somehow, some way, the Bengals escaped this one with a win. But it almost doesn’t matter, as Bengals QB Joe Burrow suffered a serious turf toe injury that will require surgery and sideline him for three months. It’ll be up to backup QB Jake Browning to keep Cincinnati in the playoff race until Burrow can return in December, but that’s easier said than done. He threw three interceptions but also had 241 passing yards in about two and a half quarters of action.

22 — Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1, UP 3)

Last week: L 27-31 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Jaguars blew a golden opportunity to get a road win against the injured Bengals. It was more of the same from Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, who never fully got into a groove and had two interceptions of his own. Jacksonville’s defense couldn’t cover anyone all afternoon, but their pass rush looked fantastic. Jaguars ED Travon Walker is starting to live up to his pre-draft hype, and he was dominant in this game.

23 — Chicago Bears (0-2, DOWN 4)

Last week: L 21-52 vs. Detroit Lions

What happened to the Chicago defense? The offense wasn’t perfect in this game, but anytime you give up 52 points, the conversation has to start with the defense. The Bears can’t cover deep, and teams are exploiting that to create huge plays in the passing game. All the offseason talk in Chicago was about new HC Ben Johnson working with second-year QB Caleb Williams, but none of that matters if the Bears defense is going to play like this. Whatever the issue is, they’d better figure it out quickly, as they have the high-flying Cowboys offense up next.

24 — New York Giants (0-2, UP 3)

Last week: L 37-40 OT vs. Dallas Cowboys

Hello, Russell Wilson. The Giants quarterback turned back the clock and had the best quarterback performance of the young season, going 30/41 for 450 yards and three touchdowns to just one interception. He also had three carries for 23 yards on the ground, looking like he did in his prime back in Seattle. Giants WRs Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson were straight-up dominant, and the New York defensive line had a good day as well. It didn’t result in a win, though, giving this performance more a feeling of bitter disappointment than Wilson’s game deserved.

25 — Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1, DOWN 5)

Last week: L 17-31 vs. Seattle Seahawks

One of my takes last week that’s aged well so far was to be skeptical of this Steelers offense. They couldn’t get anything going vertically against Seattle, settling for a sluggish horizontal passing attack with little in the way of rushing threats. More concerningly, this Pittsburgh defense was dominated up front by the Seahawks, getting out-muscled in the trenches. That’s not something we’re used to seeing under Steelers HC Mike Tomlin.

26 — New York Jets (0-2, DOWN 3)

Last week: L 10-30 vs. Buffalo Bills

The Bills might be the best team in football, so losing to them is nothing to hang your head over. But the Jets couldn’t get anything at all going on offense, a far cry from the explosive attack they put on display last week against the Steelers. Jets QB Justin Fields exited this game with a concussion, and was replaced by veteran Tyrod Taylor, who led a late touchdown drive.

27 — New England Patriots (1-1, UP 2)

Last week: W 33-27 vs. Miami Dolphins

In an exciting back-and-forth affair, the Patriots come out on top of a big divisional matchup. Patriots QB Drake Maye had maybe his best game as a pro, looking calm and collected on his way to 230 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. This offense still has a long way to go, but it was an encouraging game from Maye.

Tier 5: No Hope Remaining

Who cares if it’s only Week 3? The season is already over. I think basketball starts soon….

28 — Tennessee Titans (0-2, UP 3)

Last week: L 19-33 vs. Los Angeles Rams

This Titans team is feisty. No. 1 pick Cam Ward looked like his vintage college self on his first career touchdown pass, hitting fellow rookie WR Elic Ayomanor in the end zone after running around for 11 seconds. Speaking of Ayomanor, the Stanford product fell to the fourth round in the draft but has quickly become one of Ward’s top targets. This team isn’t very good, but they’re well-coached and play inspired football.

29 — Miami Dolphins (0-2, DOWN 3)

Last week: L 27-33 vs. New England Patriots

After laying an egg against the Colts in Week 1, the Dolphins needed a bounce-back win at home against the Patriots. They played better, but still didn’t get the win, turning up the heat on this coaching staff and front office. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa missed some key throws down the stretch, but the Dolphins defense and offensive line are catastrophically bad. It’s hard to see this team notching many wins this year.

30 — Carolina Panthers (0-2, DOWN 2)

Last week: L 22-27 vs. Arizona Cardinals

What happened to the Panthers team we saw the second half of last season? It hasn’t been pretty on either side of the ball through two games for Carolina, and unlike in the past, it’s not really on Panthers QB Bryce Young’s shoulders. He needs to be better, specifically at taking care of the football, but this goes beyond him. The Panthers defense is a mess, as expected, but the major letdown is the offensive line. Carolina lost two key players on that line for the season due to injury against the Cardinals.

31 — Cleveland Browns (0-2, DOWN 1)

Last week: L 17-41 vs. Baltimore Ravens

After giving the Bengals a serious fight in Week 1, the Browns were blitzed by the Ravens in this one. There isn’t much to take away from this game for Cleveland, but we did see third-round QB Dillon Gabriel’s first real NFL action once this game got out of hand. He threw his first touchdown pass and led some effective offense in garbage time, though we’re still a ways out from seeing him take over as the starter for veteran Joe Flacco.

32 — New Orleans Saints (0-2, —)

Last week: L 21-26 vs. San Francisco 49ers

Another inspired performance from the Saints. It helped that the 49ers were so beat up, but this time is playing inspired football, even if it isn’t leading to wins just yet. Saints QB Spencer Rattler is playing well, if not great, and this defense is keeping them in games when the offense struggles. There’s not a ton of talent on this roster, but they feel like the classic team that wills themselves to a few more wins than you’d expect and plays their way out of the No. 1 pick in the draft.