Breaking down the NFL’s Week 1 Power Rankings after an eventful start to the season! There were plenty of upsets, action, and excitement. Make sure to drop your thoughts and feedback in the comment section.
No. 10: Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers looked like the real deal in Week 1 with new head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm. They played that classic Harbaugh ground-and-pound style of football paired with a tantalizing defense, totaling 176 rushing yards en route to a 22–10 win over their division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Justin Herbert and company are just getting started.
No. 9: Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills were fantastic again in Week 1, beating the Arizona Cardinals at home in a 34–28 shootout. The Bills are contenders every year with Allen under center but entered this season with plenty of question marks. They answered many of those questions in Week 1 and re-established themselves as a top-10 team in the NFL.
READ MORE: Giants’ offensive line shows signs of major improvements in Week 1 against Vikings
No. 8: Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys marched into Cleveland and beat the Browns as underdogs in Week 1. The Cowboys’ elite defense made the Browns and QB Deshaun Watson look silly at times while QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense did enough to keep the scoring margin wide. The Boys are back with a new highest-paid quarterback-wide receiver duo and once again aiming to be among the best teams in the NFC this season.
No. 7: Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins scraped by the Jacksonville Jaguars in a come-from-behind victory at home. A game-winning field goal sent them to a 1-0 record in somewhat ugly fashion, but it seemed to be Week 1 rust more than anything. QB Tua Tagovailoa tossed for a league-high 338 yards as both WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle went for over 100 receiving yards. The Dolphins’ defense held the Jaguars to just 267 yards of total offense as Miami earned its first win of the season.
READ MORE: 3 silver linings from the Giants’ Week 1 disappointment
No. 6: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans won a thriller on the road against their division-rival Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 as C.J. Stroud and the offense willed the team to victory. They totaled 417 yards of total offense (213 rushing) and dominated possession to earn the crucial win in Week 1. The Texans look like they could be serious contenders this season.
No. 5: Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens lost in Week 1 but they went toe-to-toe with the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and nearly pulled off a late comeback. QB Lamar Jackson was an elite threat as both a passer and rusher and the Ravens’ defense had a few moments of brilliance, too. The Chiefs ended up being too much to handle in Kansas City in Week 1, but the Ravens’ potential to have both an elite rushing offense and an elite defense flashed.
No. 4: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions won a thriller at home over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 on Sunday night football. The Lions are coming off a historically successful 2023-24 campaign in which they made it all the way to the NFC Conference Championship Game. There are still some kinks to iron out, but the Lions seem to be picking up right where they left off from last season.
No. 3: Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles made some key additions this offseason including the signing of RB Saquon Barkley and are now looking like one of the best teams in the NFL again. Barkley put up three touchdowns in Week 1 as the Eagles beat the Packers at home by a final score of 34–29. Both their offense and their defense flashed elite potential in the first game of the season. QB Jalen Hurts needs to do a better job of taking care of the football, but once he knocks off that rust, this team is going to be dangerous.
No. 2: San Fransisco 49ers
The San Fransisco 49ers marched all over the New York Jets in Week 1 despite superstar RB Christian McCaffrey being inactive. Without him, they still managed to rush for 180 yards against a Jets defense that was arguably the best in the NFL last season. Their defense also suffocated the Jets’ offense and rained on Aaron Rodgers’ parade as he made his return to the field. The 49ers lost the Super Bowl last season but seem hungry to make it back to the big game and hopefully hoist the trophy this season.
No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL’s reigning champs and they looked every bit of a Super Bowl champion in Week 1. Patrick Mahomes has a few new toys to play with, including rookie speedster WR Xavier Worthy, who put up two touchdowns on Thursday night’s kickoff. The Chiefs’ defense also gave the Baltimore Ravens’ offense plenty of trouble. The Chiefs look like legitimate contenders to three-peat this season — a feat never accomplished before in NFL history.