NFL 32-Team Power Rankings After Explosive Week One

The Giants signed three new quarterbacks in the offseason, which equated to six points in Game One. Russell Wilson’s 45.9% completion rate isn’t good enough to pair with last year’s 24th-ranked defense. Fans may still be without hope, and the team without a respectable plan.

28) Cleveland Browns 0-1

The Browns are haunted by the worst contract in the history of sports. After the team paid their fourth-string quarterback and defensive tackle, who doesn’t want to be there, all that’s left is despair. Joe Flacco is the current QB1 and Jerry Jeudy the WR1; good luck with that.

27) New England Patriots 0-1

The most overhyped team of the offseason, the Patriots, show why games aren’t played on paper. Their defensive stats in the game are intriguing. How does a team get ten tackles for a loss, but still give up 389 yards and lose the game? They struggled to protect quarterback Drake Maye last year, and they started 2025 with four sacks in this one. Even if all of the moves were perfect, how much progression is safe to expect from last year’s second-worst defense and 22nd-ranked offense?

26) Tennessee Titans 0-1

Last year’s second-best defense showed up to play, including two interceptions and five pass deflections. The issue lies in the offense, including rookie quarterback Cam Ward. The Broncos are a tough test to begin an NFL career, but that doesn’t make his 12/28 on passing attempts look that much better.

25) Chicago Bears 0-1

There is no team more consistently overhyped and disappointing than this one. Up 17-6 in the fourth quarter, the Bears then gave up 21 points to a quarterback making his first start. No running back or wide receiver tallied over 68 yards.

24) Jacksonville Jaguars 1-0

The Jaguars were abysmal last season and had a relatively easy start to this one against the Panthers. The team was carried by running back Travis Etienne Jr., as everyone else, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence, put on a lackluster performance. Don’t put too much stock in the defense keeping their opponent to ten points; this is still last year’s worst defense playing a bottom-of-the-barrel team.

23) Seattle Seahawks 0-1

The Jaguars may have won over the Seahawks, but the situations are much different. Seattle’s offense is almost completely overhauled, and it played a top-ten defense against the 49ers. Even so, they still have work to do, but their defense did well to keep them to 17.

22) Houston Texans 0-1

Keeping the dangerous Rams to 14 points is impressive, but the Texans’ offensive woes continue. Quarterback C.J. Stroud may take some stray shots online, but it’s been largely due to the O-line. Nobody would blame the quarterback for not buying them gifts this year, giving up three sacks already. The last few years of excitement around Houston have proven to be nothing more than the best of a pathetic division.

21) Indianapolis Colts 1-0

Call him Doctor Jones, the way he sliced up the Miami defense. While nobody is changing their opinion on one game against the Dolphins, Colts’ quarterback Daniel Jones racked up 272 yards through the air and didn’t give up the ball. Fans of the team can at least enjoy the early cohesion of the offense.

20) Dallas Cowboys 0-1

They may have lost 24-20 on Thursday Night Football, but they hung in there with the powerhouse of the NFL, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. A loss is always tough, but fans of the Cowboys can take solace in the fact that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had an uncharacteristic number of dropped passes. They still have plenty of convincing to do, but they’ve looked worse.

19) New York Jets 0-1

The Jets scored 32 points in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their stout defense. The results of their first game are mixed. Their feared defense gave up 34 points, but new quarterback Justin Fields and the offense far surpassed expectations. Only time will tell how much it’ll even out the other way.

18) Atlanta Falcons 0-1

The Falcons lost by a field goal in a competitive game against division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That being said, they are still clearly a rung below their competition. Fans need a larger sample size to decide how they feel about young quarterback Michael Penix Jr. He had 322 yards and two touchdowns. Penix finished as the team did, a little short of the other side.

17) Los Angeles Rams 1-0

For all of the firepower the Rams have on offense, it was disappointing to only see 14 points, albeit against a tough Texans defense. This game eliminated doubt around who the WR1 is since Davante Adams joined the team. Puka Nacua went off for ten catches and 130 yards.

16) Arizona Cardinals 1-0

The Cardinals had a relatively easy start to the season, taking on the hopeless Saints. Even so, they handled business and took care of the ball. There isn’t much to project from this. Arizona is very inconsistent and played one of the worst teams.

15) San Francisco 49ers 1-0

After a disappointing, injury-plagued 2024, the 49ers looked to be in line for a bounce-back season. Even with a win, they didn’t look impressive. They lost the turnover and penalty battles, and in the end, only beat a rebuilt Seahawks team by four.

14) Las Vegas Raiders 1-0

The Raiders retooled this offseason in an attempt to complement some of their talented pieces. Quarterback Geno Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty lead the charge. The tenured and new players clicked well enough to defeat an overrated Patriots team.

13) Cincinnati Bengals 1-0

Returning the same team as last year, with perhaps a worse defense, the Bengals are a tale of two opposites. The offense is so dangerous, and the defense so embarrassing, it’s funny. Look for higher-scoring games from the team as the season continues.

12) Detroit Lions 0-1

The Lions had a season for the ages last year, but lost their first playoff game. The team was hungry to come out strong in 2025. This was another in-division game for Week One, but the Packers didn’t seem to have many problems. Detroit had best figure it out before it’s too late. Fans can have this team on their flop radar.

11) Minnesota Vikings 1-0

Fans of the team were scared going into the fourth quarter, down 11 to the Bears. Vikings 2024 draft pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, led the team to 22 points in the quarter and picked up the victory. This was an incredible feat from the young star, so far continuing the tale of the quarterback whisperer, head coach Kevin O’Connell.

10) Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0

In a game reminiscent of neither team, the Steelers beat the Jets 34-32 in a shootout. Fans will have to wait to finalize a proper opinion on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Is he truly back to elite form, or was he riding the adrenaline of playing the team that let him go?

9) Baltimore Ravens 0-1

The Ravens know how to put on an offensive show, only to give up the most inopportune turnover. In a game nobody will forget, Baltimore was up 34-19 in the fourth quarter. A costly fumble in the final frame aided the Buffalo Bills in their 41-40 victory over the Ravens.

8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-0

The most underrated quarterback in the league, Baker Mayfield, threw for three touchdowns in the divisional win over the Falcons. The Buccaneers are doing a great job addressing any age issue, with young stars Bucky Irving and Emeka Egbuka scoring in this game.

7) Kansas City Chiefs 0-1

They may have lost the season opener in Brazil, but this is still last year’s AFC champion, who also won the two Super Bowls prior. There’s no denying the steady decline in the team’s production, but they still hold enough cache to be given the benefit of the doubt. They still have coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, not to mention they were without their best receiver due to suspension.

6) Denver Broncos 1-0

The Broncos did well to score 20 points on last year’s second-best defense, especially considering the team’s defensive identity. Quarterback Bo Nix has room to grow in his second season, especially in ball control. After finishing the regular season with 12 interceptions, he started 2025 with two more, as well as a lost fumble.

5) Washington Commanders 1-0

Last year’s Cinderella story is trying to prove it wasn’t a one-off, and looks to be in familiar form early. Although the Giants aren’t the toughest of competition, they still looked crisp in the 21-6 victory. It’ll be interesting to see if better teams improve with a year of tape on second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, or if the team continues in an upward trajectory.

4) Los Angeles Chargers 1-0

The Chargers are well-coached and came out immediately ready this season. The top-scoring defense of 2024 kept last year’s AFC champion to 21 points, while quarterback Justin Herbert outplayed his opponent. He threw for three touchdowns with no interceptions, continuing his efficient ways of 2024.

3) Green Bay Packers 1-0

The Packers had the daunting task of facing their 2024 division-winning rival, the Lions. Last year’s top five offense and defense put shame on the doubters in this game, winning convincingly. The team has improved its roster on both sides of the ball and may be the Eagles’ biggest threat in the NFC this season.

2) Buffalo Bills 1-0

Week One of NFL Sunday Night Football is already in contention for game of the year. Quarterback Josh Allen carried the offense to a win, despite a 15-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter. It’s a good thing this offense is at such an elite level, because their defense doesn’t look any better in game one.

1) Philadelphia Eagles 1-0

The defending Super Bowl champions are on top of the power ranking until something drastic happens. The good thing for teams like the Bills and Packers is that the Cowboys exposed some weaknesses and a lack of depth. Last year’s top defense had turnover this offseason, so it hurt when defensive tackle Jaylen Carter was ejected for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott. The defense looks formidable, but not the best in the league.

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End Of My NFL Power Rankings Rant

With only one game in the books, any of these teams could go either way. Teams like the Texans or Lions have the biggest chance of shooting up the list.

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