We're two weeks into the 2026 NFL season, or roughly 11 percent of a 17-game regular season. Is that enough to make grand proclamations about what we expect to see over the next four months? In most cases, aside from the tried-and-true facts for the current landscape of the league ... probably not.
But we're going to make a decent effort at it anyway!
All sitting at 2-0, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals all look like they're ready to resume their respective recent individual holds at the top of the AFC. Similarly, but from an NFC perspective, the San Francisco 49ers are also back. The Seattle Seahawks can't be stopped, and it appears that they sometimes can Insert Quarterback as they please and still win. And the Minnesota
Vikings? They simply won't stop blitzing!
Ahead of a critical upcoming Week 3 in the early stages of this regular season, let's dive into the latest edition of For The Win's NFL Power Rankings.
32. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are not a good team, but at least they're consistent in their crapulence. They've racked up 13 points and 13 first downs in each of their first two games, losing both by double digits. Week 2 feels too early to begin planning a trade-deadline sell-off. Believe me, after watching Miami in September, it is not. — Christian D'Andrea
31. Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Rush and Division II standout/undrafted rookie Jack Strand threw three interceptions and needed 35 dropbacks to gain all of 129 yards. The bar has been dropped into an old diamond mine for a returning Michael Penix Jr., should he ever be healthy. In the meantime, expect Drake London to keep yelling at fans after getting double-covered on half his snaps and ignored by his quarterbacks for the rest of the game. — CD
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It's tough to pinpoint one singular problem that is plaguing the 0-2 Buccaneers. On the one hand, the newly extended Baker Mayfield has played like a replacement-level quarterback. On the other hand, his supporting cast, which was supposed to be elevated by second-year playmaker Emeka Egbuka, has been underwhelming. Oh, right, you want something about the defense. Well, I can safely tell you this: Any defense that makes 2026 Deshaun Watson look fine is not a defense you can win with. — Robert Zeglinski
29. Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward was better against the Eagles in a tough loss, but we're not clearing a high bar here. Through two games, Ward is averaging just over six yards per attempt even though he's only thrown the ball 52 times. In any context, that's not good enough. At all. Until Tennessee can credibly open up its playbook for its struggling young quarterback, it'll likely garner more of the same results in the win-loss column. — RZ
28. Washington Commanders
The Commanders' revamped defense let the Cowboys score at will Sunday afternoon, which raises further questions about how much the Eagles have actually fixed their offense. That's a big deal with Jayden Daniels, who was leading scoring drives with ease, out for an extended period with a dislocated elbow. Now, Marcus Mariota gets to face a Seahawks defense that has pantsed both QBs it's faced this season. Good luck! — CD
27. Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert didn't make the mistakes you'd expect from a team that's lost to two different three-win teams from 2025. His blocking has been a mess; his receivers have tipped balls into the hands of defenders or, more frustratingly, away from the teammates who were supposed to catch them. But he's also been unable to make this team more than the sum of its parts. In his seventh season as a pro, it's beginning to feel like he'll never lead the Chargers beyond "regular season good." This year, they probably aren't even that. — CD
26. Cleveland Browns
With all due respect to Todd Monken, a win over the middling Buccaneers amid heavy rain storms in Tampa Bay won't change anyone's minds about (ahem) the Browns being the Browns. Still, it had to feel good to notch his first-career win as a head coach with an inept quarterback who once faced more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as "predatory behavior." You could understand why Monken felt indignant after getting a win with a quarterback like that. — RZ
25. Arizona Cardinals
Ah, there's the Cardinals we expected to see this season. If we're being honest with ourselves, Mike LaFleur's bunch never had a chance against a Seahawks rival that doesn't play down to its competition. Still, this defensive nucleus featuring guys like Walter Nolen III and Josh Sweat is intriguing. The Cardinals have legit pieces to build around; it just might take a while for it all to come together. — RZ
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
The final season of the Aaron Rodgers experiment looks just as pointless as expected. The 42-year-old completed 23 passes Sunday but was just three-of-10 on throws at least 10 yards downfield. The Patriots blitzed him with an unproven pass-rushing corps and cut his average target distance down to just 4.5 yards on a rainy day where Pittsburgh scored a single field goal. Even if this were a prime Mike Tomlin defense, the Steelers would be in trouble (but able to limp to their annual Wild Card blowout loss). — CD
23. New York Jets
Is it good the Jets hung around with the Packers and were maybe a few plays away from a 2-0 start? Or is it bad that they choked away a decent chance at a win over a Green Bay team that clearly can't block? For what it's worth, I don't think Aaron Glenn is in the business of accepting moral victories, but perhaps his Jets deserve some credit for showing unexpected feistiness. — RZ
22. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders' newfound competence has them at 2-0, even if beating the Dolphins and the desiccated husk of the Chargers aren't massive accomplishments of their own. Kirk Cousins has proven a worthy placeholder who can offer above-average play even in the face of an encroaching pass rush. Despite L.A.'s 40.6 percent pressure rate, he still stood in the pocket to deliver three touchdown strikes. He has generally looked more mobile in silver and black than he did in his two seasons as a Falcon, and has brought play-action passes back into his arsenal. — CD
21. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had the Chiefs on the ropes. But after completing a 50-yard bomb in overtime to set Indy up at the Chiefs' 17-yard line with a chance to win, Shane Steichen elected to turtle. He stuffed the ball into Jonathan Taylor's chest on back-to-back plays that lost a collective three yards before settling for a chip-shot field goal that gave Patrick Mahomes another possession to win. He didn't waste it. It is 2026. How do people still operate as if it's a good idea to give Mahomes another chance to win? Stop that! — RZ
20. Dallas Cowboys
A new defense hasn't lived up to expectations, but the offense that disappeared in Week 1 roared to life against a bad Commanders team, even if Javonte Williams has regressed back to being an average runner (3.0 yards per carry) behind an offensive line that sorely misses Tyler Smith. Dak Prescott may have to put up 30-plus points every week, but the Cowboys have room for upward mobility in a weird season for the NFC. — CD
19. Green Bay Packers
The offensive line is officially a massive problem, and it's a hindrance to Jordan Love. The Packers QB hasn't consistently generated his trademark big plays so far this season, and it's because he's often running around away from an unblocked defender chasing him off his spot. Unless the Packers find a sustainable fix for this porous OL, Micah Parsons' looming return to help the Green Bay defense won't matter all that much. — RZ
18. Houston Texans
A utilitarian run game in Week 1 cratered against the Bengals in Week 2. That forced C.J. Stroud to throw 55 passes despite near-constant pressure (44 percent), even though Cincinnati only blitzed 13 percent of the time. Two things can be true. The Bengals' pass rush is significantly improved, and the Texans' new offensive line still has a long, long way to go. — CD
17. New York Giants
Jaxson Dart got hurt, and it wasn't because he ran face-first into a linebacker but thanks to a blocking breakdown in the pocket. That gave us three-plus quarters of Jameis Winston and a fond reminder why no one considers him a starting quarterback anymore. The bigger concern, however, was how bad the secondary looked when the pass rush couldn't get home against a 38-year-old Matthew Stafford and an offense missing Puka Nacua. The Giants are better than they were. They aren't a contender yet. — CD
16. Carolina Panthers
Through two games, Bryce Young has six touchdown passes and a single interception. His 0.308 expected points added (EPA) per dropback ranks seventh in the NFL. Sure, games against the mostly theoretical defenses of the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons have skewed this tiny sample size, but it's not out of the question that Dave Canales and a talented receiving corps have unlocked the necessary talent for the former first overall pick to be the franchise quarterback Carolina badly needs. — CD
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffery Simmons called Jalen Hurts out for not being a good enough "classic" dropback passer. Hurts wasn't entirely excellent in response, but he was good enough to drive a dagger into the Titans' hearts with a game-winning touchdown pass. The Eagles are 2-0, but their offensive line has been a chore, and their defense hasn't been the same shutdown unit we've come to expect. They're probably fine, but their entire operation might be built on a house of cards. In other words, it's another Eagles season according to their rabid, overly critical fans. — RZ
14. New England Patriots
Drake Maye has backslid from MVP candidate to borderline top-20 quarterback as the risk/reward matrix that served him so well in 2025 has gone dark. His interception rate has spiked. His touchdown and completion rate over expected have dipped. There's time to correct that, and the Patriots' defense has punched above its weight class even if it was against Drew Lock and a washed Aaron Rodgers. But with the Bills thriving, Maye is going to have to fix his stuff, and quickly. — CD
13. Minnesota Vikings
What's Brian Flores's rather emphatic response to the current league-wide defensive trend of deploying a soft Cover 2 shell? Blitz, blitz, blitz, blitz, and blitz some more. Torrential rain undoubtedly helped Flores's Vikings defense hem in Caleb Williams and company because no one could throw the ball in such weather. But it was still impressive to see a Minnesota unit so well-schooled in its coach's general vision. The Vikings are a paper tiger until they find a real quarterback, but they do have enough on defense to ruin a random good team's regular-season Sunday every now and then. — RZ
12. Detroit Lions
Blink, and you might have missed when the Lions were competitive with the Bills on Thursday night. Because it was very brief. Myriad blown coverages led to what was ultimately an insurmountable three-score lead at halftime for Buffalo, with a late fake rally making the 41-27 final score seem a lot closer than it really was. The Lions' offense is still a buzzsaw, but there's no way that defensive secondary, as constituted, will hold up against any competent quarterback and play-caller. Is a Joey Porter Jr. trade addition on the horizon? It probably should be. — RZ
11. New Orleans Saints
I am a buffoon who loves shiny things, and thus I am enamored with Tyler Shough's second-half play even if the Saints seem entirely unsustainable. The defense has holes, the offense is light on non-Chris Olave playmakers, and New Orleans' slow starts have already proven fatal once this season. But hot damn are the Saints fun to watch, and a Shough playoff game would be appointment viewing. — CD
10. Chicago Bears
Forget making any sweeping conclusions from a game that was played in a small window of a 30-hour Chicago rainstorm. Sunday's Bears loss to the Vikings ultimately came down to who had fewer unlucky bounces in impossible weather conditions. In related news, the Bears had 14 red-zone plays to the Vikings' one and came away with just three points. The only thing that matters for Chicago is that Caleb Williams' hamstring injury isn't serious. When he returns to the Bears' lineup, winning a second-straight NFC North division title and earning one of the NFC's top playoff seeds is still very much on the menu for Ben Johnson's crew. — RZ
9. Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Shough doused the flames of Ravens' rebirth hype, even if it came as a result of an iffy late touchdown call (in fairness to Shough, quarterback sneaks are much more difficult when Roquan Smith is yanking on your facemask like he's trying to start a lawnmower). Baltimore's lack of playmaking depth came into focus with Zay Flowers out and Derrick Henry having a merely above-average day. Will that be the fatal flaw that derails Jesse Minter's first season as head coach? — CD
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Broncos deprived us of a Trevor Lawrence two-minute drill, but Denver's ability to limit what had been one of the NFL's most efficient offenses may have shown the ceiling of the Jaguars' 2026. Jacksonville gained just 268 total yards while giving up nearly 400. Only Parker Washington had more than 40 receiving yards. Regular pressure without regular blitzing discombobulated Lawrence and gave his coaching staff plenty to digest in film study this week. — CD
7. Denver Broncos
Bo Nix isn't fixed yet, but his Week 2 was significantly better than his Week 1 (because pretty much anything would have been). Sean Payton seems content to ease his workload (down from 36 passes per game in 2025 to 29.5 so far), and Jonah Coleman looks like a vital boost to an injured tailback rotation. More importantly, the defense that got rocked by the Chiefs came back and cooled down one of the league's hottest offenses by limiting the Jaguars to 13 points. — CD
6. Los Angeles Rams
You don't get style points for beating up on Jameis Winston. You *do* get style points for doing this:
you guys wanna see Davante Adams give a safety PTSD?
— Christian D'Andrea (@trainisland.bsky.social) 2026-09-22T01:05:16.778Z
Not having Puka Nacua didn't make much of a difference because Davante Adams remains an absolute tornado wrapped up in Minions clothing. Also, Aaron Donald is back, notching a tackle for loss in his unretirement debut. — CD
5. Cincinnati Bengals
For years, we have begged the Bengals to build a defense worthy of supporting their high-flying offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Finally, it seems like they have one. After holding the Texans to just six points in their own building, the Bengals' resurgent defense, for once, resembles a championship-caliber unit. If this is how Cincy's defense will play all year, getting to that Big Game in February is a reasonable expectation. — RZ
4. Kansas City Chiefs
It turns out that fresh Chiefs defensive dominance was likely a product of playing an overmatched Bo Nix. But that's OK! The Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes-Travis Kelce Chiefs haven't controlled a decade of pro football thanks to their defense. The Chiefs butter their bread with their all-time quarterback and tight end duo. Mahomes was downright masterful on Sunday night against the Colts (32-of-47, 382 yards, three touchdowns) while Kelce turned up a vintage Kelce performance by planting his flag in the flats and up the seams all evening. This version of the Chiefs once again seems like, well, the version of the Chiefs that has terrified everyone for years. — RZ
3. Buffalo Bills
How good is the Bills' new defense? At a wholesale level, I'd venture to say it's still nothing to write home about compared to the cream of the crop in the sport. But a Buffalo defense that can finally close games with a top-tier pass-rush? It's early, but hoo boy: Ascending edge rusher Greg Rousseau and friends might give Josh Allen his best chance to finally win a Lombardi Trophy. Why? Because the Bills can finally pin their ears back and hold a lead! — RZ
2. San Francisco 49ers
We're getting a good reminder about what the 49ers are capable of when they're not ravaged by injuries from top to bottom. That is to say, they are a heavyweight capable of going all the way in the NFC. Also, watch for Brock Purdy as a possible MVP candidate. Through two games, the veteran signal-caller is completing over 80 percent of his passes and is averaging nearly nine yards per pass attempt at the helm of a well-oiled, machine-like offense. By the way, Fred Warner remains an incredible all-time player in his prime. — RZ
1. Seattle Seahawks
The presumption was that the Seahawks would be just fine without Sam Darnold while he recovers from injury. I don't think anyone expected them to make something of a statement, though (albeit a small one). Seattle held the lowly Cardinals to just 151 yards of total offense while backup quarterback Drew Lock enjoyed one of the best days of his career. If no one told you the Seahawks were without their starting passer, you would've thought nothing of it. The reigning Super Bowl champions are a wagon seemingly capable of blowing out any team with anyone under center. — RZ
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Aaron Rodgers’ final NFL season looks as pointless as expected
