The 2026 NFL regular season’s Week 2 featured the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Indianapolis Colts on “Sunday Night Football” in overtime.
Let’s see how the national media responds in this week’s sampling of power rankings:
ESPN: 4
(Up from 8)
One thing we know about the QB1: Patrick Mahomes can deal from under center.
With the addition of running back Kenneth Walker III, Mahomes has shown that he can be surgical when passing from under center, especially on play-action passes. On under-center plays, Mahomes threw
a touchdown against the Colts and has already recorded 107 passing yards. It’s one of the biggest changes from last season, when the clear majority of the Chiefs’ snaps with Mahomes were in the shotgun — 80.6% of their formations (excluding quarterback kneel-downs), third most in the league. — Nate Taylor
— Nate Taylor
The Athletic: 4
(Up from 7)
Rookie spotlight: Mansoor Delane
The first-round cornerback had an interception on the first drive of the season but has been out since then due to a shoulder injury. It hasn’t been a problem for the Chiefs, though, who seem to have drafted well in 2026. Defensive lineman Peter Woods and edge rusher R Mason Thomas are already contributing, and fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson has 10 rushes for 39 yards and four catches for 64 yards despite limited playing time.
— Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
Pro Football Talk: 4
(Up from 8)
Kenneth Walker III could become one of the best free-agent signings ever.
— Mike Florio
CBSSports.com: 5
(Up from 10)
They are 2-0 and the passing game came alive in the victory over the Colts. Patrick Mahomes looked like Patrick Mahomes again, which is not good for the rest of the league.
— Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports: 6
(Up from 7)
Kenneth Walker might have the second-biggest impact of anyone in the NFL through two weeks, behind Josh Allen. In Week 1, Walker set a career best by forcing 14 missed tackles. In Week 2, he forced 15 missed tackles. When the Chiefs needed a game-winning drive in overtime, he was involved in five of their six offensive plays. Included in that was a 22-yard gain on a catch that got the Chiefs into easy field-goal range. For the first time in a while, the Chiefs have balance on offense and that’s helping Patrick Mahomes.
“It’s fun for me, just him running the ball, our offensive line driving off the ball the way that they’re driving off,” Mahomes said. “It’s making defenses have to account for that. I mean, if not, we’re going to run the ball for 200 yards or whatever we did the week before, and so you want to be able to do it all.”
— Frank Schwab
USA Today: 5
(Up from 6)
It’s early yet − way early, obviously − but the Super Bowl MVP backfield of QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Kenneth Walker III is on pace to pass for nearly 5,000 yards and rush for nearly 2,500, respectively.
— Nate Davis
Sports Illustrated: 3
(Up from 5)
There’s a lot we can say and should say about the Chiefs’ storming out of the gate this year. But the one that I am the most curious about, and need the most information on, is how Travis Kelce got into the best shape of his life in his late thirties post-wedding. Normally that is the time in a man’s life to really embrace the dad bod.
— Conor Orr
FOX Sports: 8
(Up from 12)
They needed all of overtime to escape the Colts, but look at what Patrick Mahomes did with 382 yards and three touchdowns. There’s no more doubt: The Chiefs are back.
— Ralph Vacchiano
