Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season has officially wrapped up as teams around the league have already begun separating themselves from their peers.
See the official Dallas Express power rankings following Week 2 of the NFL season below:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Ranking: 1)
This ranking comes as no surprise as the Chiefs once again took on one of the best teams in the NFL and stood alone at the end of the game, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 26-25 on a Harrison Butker field goal as time expires. Kansas City simply finds ways to win against the best team in the league and should be considered the heavy favorite to win the 2024 Super Bowl behind Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
2. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Ranking: 2)
The Minnesota Vikings dismantled the 49ers 23-17 on Sunday, yet the 49ers remain the top overall team in the NFC this season. San Francisco will have to work through injuries in the coming weeks with both Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel expected to miss a significant amount of time, but the roster is still one of the most loaded in the league. The next few weeks will be a good test for Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense, but they are still in the top tier of overall NFL teams.
3. Houston Texans (Previous Ranking: 7)
The Texans look legit. Houston took on the Chicago Bears in Week 2 and the defense stood out, picking up seven sacks and pressuring the quarterback on 36 out of 37 passing attempts. Houston already has one of the best offenses in the NFL and adding an explosive defense to this team will keep it at the top of these rankings for the foreseeable future.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Ranking: 3)
There was not a single piece of the Eagles that looked overly impressive in a Monday Night Football loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but this team is still going to be one of the best in the league this season. Wide receiver A.J. Brown was unable to play for the Eagles and the team still would have won if it weren’t for an impressive game-winning drive by Kirk Cousins. The franchise still has questions with the defense, but a fully healthy Eagles team will be competing for the first overall seed by the end of the year.
5. Detroit Lions (Previous Ranking: 4)
The Lions rarely look out of sync on the offensive but that is exactly what happened against Tampa Bay. A common question within NFL circles is whether certain quarterbacks can truly win the Super Bowl for their teams, and that is the biggest question that Detroit will have to determine this season. This team has seemingly zero weaknesses, yet many doubters will still point to quarterback Jared Goff and raise concerns. Goff finished the Lions’ Week 2 game with 307 passing yards but needed to throw the ball 55 times to get there and threw two interceptions and zero touchdowns in the process. Detroit can win a lot of games this season and may even claim the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs, but this success is much more likely to come from the running instead of the passing game.
6. Buffalo Bills (Previous Ranking: 8)
Josh Allen, who is arguably the second-best quarterback in the league, had a pedestrian game over the weekend and the Bills still managed to destroy a division rival. That is a scary sign for the NFL. There are still questions about the Bills’ receiving core, but being able to win games without Allen carrying the team is a very positive sign for this team.
7. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Ranking: 5)
Baltimore is now 0-2 for the first time since 2015 and there are serious concerns about whether the offensive line can hold up for an entire season. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will help the Ravens win games as the year progresses, but this offensive line could pose real issues all season as teams look to pressure the quarterback.
8. Green Bay Packers (Previous Ranking: 10)
Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur should be an early candidate for coach of the year after he helped lead the team to victory against the Indianapolis Colts without Jordan Love. Green Bay ran for a total of 261 yards and had the ball for more than 40 minutes of game time. There were rumors that Love may return from his injury much sooner than initially expected, meaning the Packers could be at full strength sooner rather than later. Once healthy, this team will be competing for the top spot in the NFC with the 49ers, Eagles, and Lions.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Ranking: 12)
Winning a road game in Detroit, one of the toughest stadiums in the NFL, is an incredibly impressive accomplishment and the Buccaneers deserve their praise all week. Tampa Bay features a stout defense that seemingly confused Lions quarterback Jared Goff all game, while the offense looks to be incredibly solid behind Baker Mayfield.
10. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Ranking: 6)
The Cowboys could not figure out the Saints’ offense at any point over the weekend, giving up 432 total yards and multiple long-yardage touchdowns in the blowout loss. Unsurprisingly, the Cowboys still have major issues with defensive tackles and running backs, which are the two positions that were the biggest concerns entering the season. Dallas can still compete with any team when playing at their best, but inconsistency could be an issue all season if certain players do not step up.
11. New York Jets (Previous Ranking: 14)
The Jets have been one of the most polarizing teams all offseason with many debating whether this team could win a Super Bowl. There is still a long way to go before discussing Super Bowl aspirations, but this Jets team still has one of the best defenses in the league and an offense that could be equally as impressive. The lack of weapons at skill positions could hurt the team in the long run, but New York is still one of the most dangerous teams in the league during the regular season.
12. New Orleans Saints (Previous Ranking: 25)
New Orleans might go down as the biggest surprise this season after they once again put up more than 40 points, with this week’s performance coming in a 44-19 win over the Cowboys. New Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak has massively increased the number of play-action sets run by the team, which has allowed the offense to fire on all cylinders to start the season. While the domination over the league is unlikely to continue all season, the Saints have made it clear that they can beat any team they match up against.
13. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Ranking: 21)
The Vikings are another team that could end up as the biggest surprise of the season after defeating the 49ers. Minnesota has some of the most offensive weapons in the NFL and a defense that can force turnovers and prevent touchdowns in the red zone. Now, the main question for this team is whether quarterback Sam Darnold can continue his impressive play for the next 15 games.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Ranking: 17)
Following a disappointing start to the season in Week 1, the Bengals bounced back and came within seconds of defeating the Chiefs in Arrowhead. Cincinnati is still without wide receiver Tee Higgins while he recovers from a hamstring injury, which is an addition that should add a lot to the team’s offense. The Bengals are now 1-11 in Weeks 1 and 2 since Head Coach Zac Taylor joined the team, providing hope that the team can bounce back like they have in previous seasons.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Ranking: 15)
The Chargers did exactly what they were supposed to do this week with a 26-3 win over the Carolina Panthers. Unsurprisingly, Los Angeles put together 219 rushing yards as the team got out to an early lead and ran the ball for the majority of the second half. A win over the Panthers does not hold much weight but Los Angeles can still be excited about what is coming with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert leading the team.
16. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Ranking: 24)
Atlanta looked much better in Week 2 as the team leaned into the run game and play action to help them secure a close win over the Eagles. The Falcons’ defense looked impressive with the new additions while quarterback Kirk Cousins looked much healthier against the Eagles than in Week 1. Atlanta is set to compete with the Saints and Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South division and can challenge any team in the league for a single game.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Ranking: 18)
The Steelers may be one of the lowest-scoring teams this season after combining for just 31 points and only one touchdown through the first two weeks of action. However, infrequent scoring has not stopped this Steelers team from winning in the past and it has not stopped them this season, as Pittsburgh is now 2-0 and sits atop the AFC North division. This team does not have the offensive firepower to really compete with the teams at the top of the AFC but
18. Miami Dolphins (Previous Ranking: 9)
Miami has more offensive weapons than nearly any team in the league, yet there are serious questions regarding the defense and the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after another concussion against the Bills. The Dolphins will have to address the quarterback position while they wait for Tagovailoa to get healthy, but this team could struggle until he is able to return. The Dolphins’ offense relies heavily on timing and it will be hard for another quarterback to step in and make his presence felt.
19. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Ranking: 23)
Arizona could move up these rankings quickly if rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to show why he was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Cardinals handled a depleted Los Angeles Rams team
20. Cleveland Browns (Previous Ranking: 20)
This Cleveland defense is still one of the best in the league at preventing scores by opponents, which is a skill that will be necessary for this team to make any noise this season. Deshaun Watson looked better against the Jaguars than he did in Week 1, but he is still far away from the player he used to be in Houston. The Cleveland defense will be able to bail the team out of many predicaments this season, but teams with high-scoring offenses could pose issues for the Browns.
21. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Ranking: 22)
The Seattle Seahawks are 2-0 and are in first place in the NFC West division, but neither of these two wins was terribly impressive. Seattle narrowly defeated the Broncos and Patriots in back-to-back weeks to go undefeated on the season, but both of these teams are expected to finish near the bottom of the league. The Seahawks do not have an overly difficult schedule this season and the team will win its fair share of games, but it is unlikely they will ever be considered true contenders to win the Super Bowl.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Ranking: 13)
While teams like the Saints and Vikings have been the most pleasant surprises this season, Jacksonville may already be in the running for the most disappointing. The Jaguars lost to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 and have looked completely out of sync on offense through the first two games of the season. Dating back to last season, the Jaguars have now lost seven of their last 10 games. Jacksonville will have to start winning games quickly if it hopes to compete with Houston for the top spot in the AFC South division.
23. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Ranking: 11)
The hits keep coming for the Rams as wide receiver Cooper Kupp is now expected to be placed on the injured reserve, meaning he will be out for a minimum of four games. Los Angeles has a difficult schedule coming up with the 49ers, Bears, and Packers being the next three games. The Rams can compete with nearly every team in the NFL when fully healthy, but the numerous injuries could quickly derail this season.
24. Chicago Bears (Previous Ranking: 16)
Caleb Williams did not look good in the Bears’ 19-13 loss to the Texans on Sunday night. However, this was also not Williams’ fault. He had very little time in the pocket as the offensive line was getting beat nearly every single possession, allowing Houston to make life difficult for the rookie quarterback. The Chicago defense is still one of the best in the NFL and will keep the team in many games this season, but having one of the worst offensive lines in the league rarely leads to sustainable success.
25. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Ranking: 19)
It might be panic time in Indianapolis after a surprising loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. Many of the issues for the Colts have already become clear early in the season, as quarterback Anthony Richardson has struggled with his accuracy and the defense might be the worst in the NFL at stopping the run. Richardson has more interceptions than touchdowns through the team’s first two games and multiple of these interceptions were just bad throws. Additionally, the defense has allowed more than 200 rushing yards in each of the first two games. Despite many believing the Colts could be competitive in the 2024 season, it is looking like the team may be at the bottom of the AFC when the season is over.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Ranking: 30)
The Raiders are set to be one of the more fun teams in the league this season with Gardner Minshew, Davante Adams, and Mason Crosby playing spoiler against many of the best teams. However, this roster still has a lot of flaws that cannot be overcome by players who are at the top of their positions. The offensive line has struggled and the secondary is average at best, which is a combination that will allow the Raiders to remain competitive but they will struggle to finish games as the season continues.
27. New England Patriots (Previous Ranking: 26)
The Patriots have looked much better than expected through the first two weeks of the season. After defeating the Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots nearly came out with a win against the Seahawks in Week 2. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has looked solid to begin the year but the Patriots still lack game-changing pieces on the offensive side of the ball. New England still has a solid defense led by cornerback Christian Gonzalez, but the team will be sitting near the bottom of the AFC by the end of the year.
28. Washington Commanders (Previous Ranking: 28)
Washington took on the New York Giants and was able to handle business without scoring a single touchdown, which may say more about New York than it does for Washington. Regardless, picking up a win with a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels is a good sign for a Washington team that should improve as the season continues. Although the Commanders are not expected to make the playoffs, the team could make noise by competing and becoming a nuisance for any team they play this season.
29. Tennessee Titans (Previous Ranking: 27)
The good news for Tennessee is that they are an exciting team, but the bad news is that they are also a bad team. This team has the ability to score the ball at any time with the array of weapons at skill positions, but quarterback Will Levis puts a ceiling on how good the offense can be due to his poor decision-making. Tennessee could be competitive in games throughout the season but is unlikely to make any real noise as teams begin to separate themselves.
30. Denver Broncos (Previous Ranking: 29)
Head Coach Sean Payton spent the entire offseason raving about quarterback Bo Nix and his ability to lead the team, but the rookie has still yet to account for a single touchdown through the first two games of the regular season. The Denver defense is set to be very solid with star cornerback Patrick Surtain leading the unit, but the offense is even more likely to struggle all season with Nix at quarterback. After scoring only three points against the Steelers, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Broncos will finish near the bottom of the league.
31. New York Giants (Previous Ranking: 31)
The Giants continue to find new ways to lose football games, as they lost to the Commanders without giving up a single touchdown. New York will find itself competing for the top overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft by the end of the season and could opt to move on from quarterback Daniel Jones after his struggles this year.
32. Carolina Panthers (Previous Ranking: 32)
There is not much to say about this Panthers team. Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, Carolina is getting outscored 73-13 and has shown no signs of being competitive. Head Coach Dave Canales announced on Monday that Andy Dalton will be starting ahead of Bryce Young at quarterback in Week 3, indicating that the franchise may be moving on from the first overall draft selection in 2023. Even with Dalton stepping into a more prominent role moving forward, the Panthers must begin preparing for the 2025 draft as early as possible.
