The 2024 NFL regular season is officially underway as each team looks to begin its journey to the Super Bowl.
Many of the top teams in the league took care of business in Week 1 and walked away with a win, but another half of the league came away with a loss and is starting the season trailing the victors.
While the first games of the year do not provide a conclusive answer as to who the best team in the league could be, they do provide enough information to begin crafting power rankings.
The official Week 1 Dallas Express power rankings for the 2024 NFL season are as follows:
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City remains the top dog following the first week of games after once again defeating reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 on Thursday Night Football. The back-to-back Super Bowl Champions picked up right where they left off and are arguably stronger this season after adding even more weapons for Patrick Mahomes.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were without 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey after he was a late scratch against the New York Jets on Monday night. Losing one of the most impactful players in the game has little impact as San Francisco walked away with a commanding 32-19 win over a New York Jets team that has one of the best defenses in football. This team remains one of the most dominant in the league and is going to finish either at the top or near the top of the NFC by the end of the season.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia had a tough matchup against the Packers in its first game of the season but was able to leave Brazil with a win. The Eagles once again look like a team that will dominate the trenches as the offensive line created space for Saquan Barkley to run all over the Green Bay defense while the pass rush was wreaking havoc on the other side of the ball.
4. Detroit Lions
Detroit took on the Los Angeles Rams and walked away with a close 26-20 victory, as the team stayed true to its identity by focusing on a consistent running attack from Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Although the Rams were missing multiple key components to their team, the Lions handled business and will continue to be one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC. This team will be competing with the 49ers and Eagles for the top spot in the conference all season.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Despite losing to the Chiefs in the first game of the season, the Ravens remain in the Top 5 of these power rankings. Baltimore would likely have beaten every other team in the league with how they played in Week 1, but they lost to the Chiefs by a toe after Isaiah Likely stepped out of bounds on a potential game-tying touchdown as time expired. This team has to clean up some of the smaller mistakes but can still beat nearly every team in the NFL when playing at its best.
6. Dallas Cowboys
A noisy offseason and players signing with other teams made many people skeptical about the Cowboys coming into the year, but a dominant win over the Cleveland Browns should put many of these concerns to rest. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer already looks like a good choice and the offense remained potent. Dallas will have to keep an eye on tight end Jake Ferguson, who will likely miss a few games with a knee injury, but this offense will still be one of the best in the league.
7. Houston Texans
After having one of the most surprising seasons in 2023, the Texans opted to be aggressive in the offseason. This decision is already looking to be a good one as Houston took down Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday with help from many of the team’s new additions.
8. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo still has a lot of questions regarding the weapons available to quarterback Josh Allen this season, but those questions were seemingly inconsequential this weekend as Allen carried the team to victory. After going down 17-3 to the Arizona Cardinals at home, Allen threw or ran for four straight touchdowns to help guide Buffalo to a 34-28 win. Should Allen continue his heroics throughout the entire season, the Bills will be tough to beat, and he will have a real shot at the Most Valuable Player award.
9. Miami Dolphins
Miami began Week 1 slowly as the team trailed 14-0 at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars before going on a 20-3 run to win the game. The Dolphins brought back their explosive wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, along with the dynamic backfield of runningbacks De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, and will be one of the best offenses in the league this season. While there are still questions about whether quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can lead this team to a Super Bowl, their dominance in the regular season should not be overlooked.
10. Green Bay Packers
The Packers nearly walked away with a win against the Eagles in Week 1, but issues in the red zone and an inability to capitalize on turnovers held the team back in Brazil. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme resulted in two interceptions, and a fumbled snap gave the Packers three turnovers, but this defense also allowed 34 points and a seven-minute fourth-quarter drive by the Eagles that effectively ended the game. Green Bay now has to deal with an injury to quarterback Jordan Love that will likely keep him out for at least three weeks, bringing concerns about whether the team will be able to bounce back if it gets off to a rough start in a competitive conference.
11. Los Angeles Rams
A depleted Rams team nearly went into Detroit and walked away with a victory in a playoff-like atmosphere, but losing the overtime coin flip gave the Lions the ball first and allowed them to end the game on the first drive. Rams head coach Sean McVay has now confirmed that wide receiver Puka Nacua will be placed on the injured reserve and miss at least four weeks, resulting in a huge loss for this team’s offense. Regardless, the Rams remain one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC and can beat nearly any team with strong performances from McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers easily defeated the Washington Commanders behind quarterback Baker Mayfield and an exciting passing attack. Almost every aspect of this Buccaneers team looked solid in their 37-20 win, as Tampa Bay is looking like the clear favorite to win the NFC South division.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville could have easily been higher on this list if they had capitalized on the opportunities presented by Miami. The Jaguars opened the game with a 14-0 lead and had an opportunity to take a commanding 24-7 lead near the end of the third quarter, but a goal line fumble by running back Travis Etienne resulted in Miami scoring on the other end to make it 17-14. While the collapse raises some concerns about the long-term competitiveness of this team once the playoffs come closer, they will still be in the hunt for first place in the AFC South.
14. New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers officially made his return from a torn Achilles suffered early last season and struggled at times to get the offense moving; however, the 49ers boast one of the best defenses in the NFL and will provide issues for many quarterbacks. The Jets still have arguably the best defense in the league, and Rodgers may not be asked to do too much while he works his back to full health. New York should remain one of the better teams in the AFC throughout the season once Rodgers begins to get in a groove.
15. Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh has officially arrived in Los Angeles. The Chargers ran all over a Las Vegas team that was expected to be solid on the defensive end while also holding the Raiders to just 10 points in the game. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards combined for 22 rushing attempts and 161 rushing yards. The Chargers’ style of offense will likely produce relatively low-scoring games throughout the season but will also keep them in many of these games near the end.
16. Chicago Bears
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams got his first taste of the NFL against the Tennessee Titans and struggled for much of the game, producing just 93 yards and only completing 48.3% of his pass attempts as the offense failed to score a touchdown in the 24-17 win. However, the Bears still managed to win due to performances from the defense and special teams, providing hope for the season if Williams can improve on his first game. The Bears still have major questions about the validity of the offensive line, but being able to win any game without an offensive touchdown should bode well for the rest of the season.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Losing to a bad New England Patriots team is simply disappointing for the Bengals. Cincinnati had a noisy offseason with wide receiver Tee Higgins requesting a trade and Ja’Marr Chase holding out amid contract discussions. Regardless, the team was still expected to be one of the better teams in the league. The good news for the Bengals is that this team is now 1-10 in Weeks 1 and 2 under head coach Zac Taylor, meaning there is still hope for a solid bounce back the rest of the season.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers defeated an Atlanta Falcons team that had a lot of hype entering this season, yet many of the questions and guarantees of this team remain the same. Questions about the quarterback and offensive line situations are still out there, as the offense was unable to score a single touchdown. However, T.J. Watt and this Steelers defense are still one of the most dynamic in the entire league and could even carry this team to another season above .500.
19. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts took on the division rival Texans and nearly secured the victory, but this loss still provides some hope for the rest of the season. Houston is expected to be one of the best teams in the league and only defeated the Colts by two points. Quarterback Anthony Richardson displayed his incredible athleticism with multiple deep touchdowns but still leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to working through his progressions. Indianapolis should never be counted out of a game due to its big play potential, but aspects of the team, such as the running defense, could result in losses.
20. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have an issue in the quarterback room. Deshaun Watson was inaccurate against the Cowboys and often seemed reluctant to throw the ball downfield, resulting in just 169 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Moving forward, the team will have to find a way to build around Watson and his massive contract. However, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and the Browns’ defense could salvage this season by keeping games low-scoring and forcing field goals when the offense turns the ball over.
21. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is one of the more interesting franchises in the league due to the plethora of weapons on the team, yet concerns about quarterback Sam Darnold’s ability to find his weapons remain a valid concern. Minnesota easily handled the New York Giants over the weekend, but it is still unclear if that outcome says more about the Vikings or the Giants. If Darnold can work through his progressions and find the open receiver, then this team can be dangerous and compete with many teams across the league. Throw in a solid defense and a good offensive line, and the Vikings could quickly move up this list.
22. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos at home, but it was not the most inspiring performance from the team. This team should have a solid season but is unlikely to compete for the playoffs due to a tough schedule. Additionally, running back Kenneth Walker III is now dealing with an abdominal injury that does not seem too serious but could hamper him for a few weeks.
23. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals took an early lead over Buffalo and then struggled to stay ahead as the defense struggled to contain Allen. Quarterback Kyler Murray will likely lead Arizona, being involved in a high number of shootouts this season, as the defense is unlikely to be a strong part of this team. A below-average defense is a bad sign in the current age of football, and the Cardinals are unlikely to make any real noise as the season progresses.
24. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta was one of the most intriguing teams entering the 2024 season after the various moves made during the offseason. However, quarterback Kirk Cousins did not look fully recovered from his torn Achilles, which is an indication that this team may have a ceiling on how good it can become this year. While the defense is expected to be ranked in the upper half of the league, a struggling quarterback and offense are unlikely to produce consistent wins.
25. New Orleans Saints
The Saints easily took care of the Carolina Panthers in a Week 1 divisional game that was lopsided from the start. In a similar manner to the Vikings’ win against the Giants, it is unclear whether the Saints win says more about them or the Panthers. This performance looks to be a good sign for New Orleans, but the team will have to show more in a Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
26. New England Patriots
A win over the Bengals moved the Patriots up this list slightly, but there is still little to be excited about for this team moving forward. New England has one of the worst receiving rooms in the NFL and questions about the offensive line, but the defense remains stout and should help the team compete in more games than initially expected. Even with a solid defense, the Patriots will likely finish at the bottom of the standings and may be competing to earn the top overall pick in the draft.
27. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were on their way to a very solid win in Week 1 before quarterback Will Levis and the offense collapsed. Tennessee had a commanding 17-0 lead over the Bears and had an opportunity to extend that lead even further. Levis then proceeded to turn the ball over three times en route to a tough loss. Tennessee now has to deal with concerns about the quarterback and offensive line play, which is a bad sign for a team that was already expected to struggle this season.
28. Washington Commanders
The Commanders showed signs of life despite the loss to Tampa Bay, as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels showed flashes of brilliance throughout the game. Washington does not have many receiving options outside of wide receiver Terry McLaurin, but running back Brian Robinson Jr. showed flashes as well and could help the Commanders have a respectable offense. Although Washington will likely struggle to secure wins this season, Week 1 provided a glimpse of hope for a team looking for a spark.
29. Denver Broncos
The Broncos decided to move on from quarterback Russell Wilson this season in favor of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, meaning Denver could have some rough moments as Nix works his way into the speed of the NFL. Head coach Sean Payton has raved about Nix throughout the offseason but this Broncos team does not have the necessary talent across the roster to compete every week.
30. Las Vegas Raiders
Unsurprisingly, the Raiders were unable to get much production from the offense in their Week 1 loss against the Chargers. New head coach Antonio Pierce has a defensive background and will look to keep the Raiders’ games low-scoring. However, having an offense that could finish as one of the worst in the league will not result in many wins. Pierce and the Raiders should begin looking into the quarterbacks who may be available in the 2025 NFL Draft.
31. New York Giants
Daniel Jones and the Giants offense could not get anything going in Week 1 against the Vikings, as he finished with 186 passing yards and two interceptions without a single touchdown. New York was also unable to stop the Vikings on defense, allowing Darnold to work his way through his options while picking the Giants apart. Head coach Brian Daboll seems adamant that Jones is the team’s franchise quarterback, but this team also seems destined to finish near the bottom of the NFC.
32. Carolina Panthers
Carolina looks like an early candidate to have the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, as the team seemed unable to accomplish anything against the Saints in Week 1. Quarterback Bryce Young struggled to make easy throws and the defense could not stop any of the receivers in New Orleans, giving up 47 points and multiple deep touchdown passes. Executives in the Carolina front office should start evaluating the 2025 draft class as early as possible to make sure the team makes the right selection.