The Green Bay Packers gained little ground in the USA Today NFL power rankings following an uninspired overtime win over the New York Jets in Week 2.
The Packers, who dropped to No. 22 after losing in Week 1, jumped two spots to No. 20 overall after escaping with a 20-17 win at MetLife Stadium.
From Nate Davis: "Back in the win column after suffering their first six-game skid since the pre-Favre years. It's helped that former first-round pass rusher Lukas Van Ness' 2½ sacks are already more than he had all of last season."
The Packers trailed 17-7 in the fourth quarter but were able to flip the script and mount their own comeback, scoring 10 points over the final 11 minutes and then winning the game on a field goal in overtime. The win snapped
a six-game losing streak, and Lukas Van Ness looked like Hercules for Jonathan Gannon's defense, but the Packers lost right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and receiver Jayden Reed to potentially significant injuries during the first drive.
A chance to get to 2-1 arrives Thursday night when the Packers host the winless Atlanta Falcons, the No. 29 ranked team in the USA Today power rankings.
Packers power rankings by week (USA Today)
- Week 1: No. 16
- Week 2: No. 22
- Week 3: No. 20
Here's where the Packers rank in other national power rankings entering Week 3:
ESPN: No. 17 (down three spots)
From Rob Demovsky on "what we know" after two games: "Through two games, Love has taken 18 quarterback hits and been sacked four times. And given the state of his offensive line, it might not get much better anytime soon. The Packers lost right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and their top two left guards, starter Aaron Banks and backup Donovan Jennings, on Sunday. Regardless, Green Bay still avoided its first 0-2 start since 2006, keeping alive the longest active streak in the NFL, per ESPN Research."
CBS Sports: No. 13 (up one spot)
From Pete Prisco: "They were staring 0-2 in the face before rallying against the Jets. But they still don't look right on offense."
The Athletic: No. 18 (down one spot)
Rookie spotlight from Josh Kendall and Chad Graff: "Green Bay used a sixth-round pick on a kicker, and so far Smack is paying off the investment. Through two games, he is 5-for-5, and he hit a walk-off game winner against the Jets. Sure, it was only a 26-yarder, but the Packers will take any good news they can get right now because Jordan Love is 23rd in the league in EPA per dropback (minus-0.06), and they barely beat the Jets."
SI/MMQB: No. 17 (down one spot)
From Connor Orr: "We know the injury shortfalls this team is facing right now after Jayden Reed and Zach Bako-Bewele went down at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. So, regardless of whatever outlier statistical parameter you’re going to apply to this game—the Packers were the first team to win a game gaining fewer than yada yada yards and yada yada penalties—getting out of there with an overtime victory is good enough given the difficult road ahead."
FOX Sports: No. 20 (down two spots)
From Ralph Vacchiano: "Yeah, OK, they came back and beat the Jets. But the Packers had just 199 yards of offense and looked terrible until the end when they finished their comeback. Green Bay doesn't get any credit for a comeback win that look like a mess, as it did."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers gain little ground in USA Today NFL power rankings after beating Jets
