You only get one chance to make a first impression.
Some teams took advantage of that opportunity and made very good first impressions in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Other teams? Not so much.
Check out how we rank every NFL team after NFL Week 1, with the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens among the most impressive teams in the opening week and the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Chargers not.
Previous ranking in parentheses. These NFL Week 1 power rankings will be updated after the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos game on Monday Night Football on Sept. 14.
Watch NFL games on FUBO (free trial)
32. Cleveland Browns (28)
Deshaun Watson was sacked five
times in the loss to the Jaguars. It appears like it is going to be a long season in Cleveland.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-10 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sept. 20)
31. Tennessee Titans (28)
Cam Ward went 19-for-32 for 140 yards and Tennessee only had 195 total yards in the Week 1 loss. Ouch.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to New York Jets, 23-10 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 20)
30. Miami Dolphins (31)
De'Von Achane was stuffed all game for Miami, rushing for 36 yards on 11 carries. That's not a recipe for success for the Dolphins.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders, 27-13 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At San Francisco 49ers (Sept. 20)
29. Carolina Panthers (25)
The Panthers put up an impressive 37 points against the Bears, but unfortunately gave up a whopping 59 points. That has to change, fast.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Chicago Bears, 59-37 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 20)
28. New York Jets (28)
Geno Smith looked just fine at QB for New York (19-for-24, 215 yards). Could the Jets be much better than most people thought this season?
- NFL Week 1: Beat Tennessee Titans, 23-10 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Green Bay Packers (Sept. 20)
27. Las Vegas Raiders (27)
No Brock Bowers, no problem? Kirk Cousins complete passes to six different receivers in the win over the Dolphins.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Miami Dolphins, 27-13 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Los Angeles Chargers (Sept. 20)
26. Arizona Cardinals (31)
The Cardinals were the biggest underdog in NFL Week 1 and beat the Chargers by 12 points in Mike LaFleur's debut. Suddenly a Week 2 game at home against the Seahawks doesn't seem as daunting.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Los Angeles Chargers, 26-14 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Seattle Seahawks (Sept. 20)
25. Atlanta Falcons (25)
Bijan Robinson racked up 21 carries and 10 targets in the loss to Pittsburgh. He can't be the entire team each week.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-13 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Carolina Panthers (Sept. 20)
24. Indianapolis Colts (20)
The Colts' defense allowed the Ravens to gain 506 total yards. Baltimore averaged 7.9 yards per play. A lot to fix in Indianapolis.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Baltimore Ravens, 41-23 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Kansas City Chiefs (Sept. 20)
23. New Orleans Saints (24)
We liked the aggressiveness with the Saints going for the 2-point conversion at the end of their game against the Lions. We just didn't like the play call.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Detroit Lions, 31-30 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 20)
22. Washington Commanders (20)
Jayden Daniels went 18-for-34 for 164 yards and two touchdowns in his return for the Commanders and also had Washington in position for a nice comeback late in the game.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 24-22 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Dallas Cowboys (Sept. 20)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (23)
T.J. Watt still has it, as does the Steelers' defense, but Pittsburgh will need more from Aaron Rodgers and company in Week 2.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Atlanta Falcons, 20-13 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At New England Patriots (Sept. 20)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)
It's hard to win NFL games when you turn the ball over four times. Pretty remarkable that Tampa Bay was even in this game.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals, 33-27 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Cleveland Browns (Sept. 20)
19. Dallas Cowboys (15)
The Cowboys' offense has too many weapons to look like it did for much of the NFL Week 1 Sunday Night Football loss to the Giants.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to New York Giants, 28-20 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Washington Commanders (Sept. 20)
18. Green Bay Packers (11)
Green Bay allowed Minnesota to score 29 straight points to end this game after holding a 22-10 lead in the third quarter. Not ideal.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 39-22 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At New York Jets (Sept. 20)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (6)
Justin Herbert was just 17-for-27 for 209 yards, with one touchdown pass and one pass intercepted in the shocking loss to Arizona.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Arizona Cardinals, 26-14 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Las Vegas Raiders (Sept. 20)
16. New York Giants (20)
John Harbaugh's first regular season game as the Giants' coach was a big success, with Jaxson Dart impressing. A huge test against the Rams looms on Monday Night Football in NFL Week 2.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Dallas Cowboys, 28-20 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Los Angeles Rams (Sept. 21)
15. New England Patriots (11)
Drake Maye was expected to take a leap forward this season. He leaped backward (3 INTs) in Week 1.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 13-10 (Sept. 9)
- NFL Week 2: Pittsburgh Steelers (Sept. 20)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (14)
The Bengals had their first fumble recovery for a touchdown since 2022 and forced four turnovers. That will work in Week 1.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 33-27 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Houston Texans (Sept. 20)
13. Houston Texans (11)
Kamari Lassiter dropped a potential interception one play before Josh Allen found Joshua Palmer for the game-winning score with 1:36 left. Ouch.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 36-31 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals (Sept. 20)
12. Minnesota Vikings (18)
The Vikings overcame a 22-10 deficit in the third quarter to beat the Packers, but the big news was starting QB Kyler Myurray exiting the game with a concussion early.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Green Bay Packers, 39-22 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Chicago Bears (Sept. 20)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (8)
Jalen Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener, but it was the defense that made the big play, with Moro Ojomo stuffing the Commanders' 2-point conversion attempt late.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Washington Commanders, 24-22 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Tennessee Titans (Sept. 20)
10. Detroit Lions (8)
The Lions almost blew a 21-0 lead on the Saints. But a win is a win in the NFL.
- NFL Week 1: Beat New Orleans Saints, 31-30 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Buffalo Bills (Sept. 17)
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (17)
How's this for efficient? Trevor Lawrence was 18-for-23 for 245 yards and four touchdowns against the Browns.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Cleveland Browns, 34-10 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: At Denver Broncos (Sept. 20)
8. Denver Broncos (8)
NFL Week 1 ends with a Monday Night Football game between the Broncos and Chiefs on Sept. 14, 2026.
- NFL Week 1: At Kansas City Chiefs (Sept. 14)
- NFL Week 2: Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 20)
7. Chicago Bears (15)
The Bears scored 59 points in Week 1. Ben Johnson's offense could really impress this season.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Carolina Panthers, 59-37 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Minnesota Vikings (Sept. 20)
6. Los Angeles Rams (1)
It was just one game and it was in Australia, but the Rams certainly did not look like the Super Bowl favorites in Week 1.
- NFL Week 1: Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 27-7 (Sept. 10 in Australia)
- NFL Week 2: New York Giants (Sept. 21)
5. Kansas City Chiefs (5)
NFL Week 1 ends with a Monday Night Football game between the Broncos and Chiefs on Sept. 14, 2026.
- NFL Week 1: Denver Broncos (Sept. 14)
- NFL Week 2: Indianapolis Colts (Sept. 20)
4. Seattle Seahawks (3)
Sam Darnold's status obviously looms large over Seattle, but the defense can win games on its own.
- NFL Week 1: Beat New England Patriots, 13-10 (Sept. 9)
- NFL Week 2: At Arizona Cardinals (Sept. 20)
3. Buffalo Bills (2)
Josh Allen delivered when he had to against the Texans, throwing a late strike to put Buffalo at 1-0.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Houston Texans, 36-31 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: Detroit Lions (Sept. 17)
2. San Francisco 49ers (6)
Christian McCaffrey had 10 carries for 68 yards and the 49ers still trounced the Rams. Maybe the offseason turmoil galvanized this team?
- NFL Week 1: Beat Los Angeles Rams, 27-7 (Sept. 10 in Australia)
- NFL Week 2: Miami Dolphins (Sept. 20)
1. Baltimore Ravens (3)
Derrick Henry (24 carries, 144 yards, 3 TDs) continues to beat Father Time.
- NFL Week 1: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 41-23 (Sept. 13)
- NFL Week 2: New Orleans Saints (Sept. 20)
NFL's highest paid players in 2026: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | O-linemen | D-linemen | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge rushers | Overall | By position | By team
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL power rankings Week 2 shaken up with Bears, 49ers, Cardinals wins
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
