Week 1 of the NFL season yielded some interesting results that don't match preseason predictions for a lot of teams. Multiple Super Bowl contenders fell to teams that aren't even locks to be in the playoff mix.
An old friend reminded the world that he exists, despite dealing with a crazy injury on a lackluster team a year ago. One team took an offensive step that even the most positive fans didn't see coming. Even the Sunday night game exhibited a squad that may be back in the mix.
From a power rankings standpoint, there has been another shift. This is what the 32 teams look like heading into Week 2 of the 2026 season:
The Contenders
1. Seattle Seahawks (Last Week: 1)
2. Buffalo Bills (Last Week: 4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (Last Week: 12)
4. Chicago Bears (Last Week:
6)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Last Week: 7)
6. Denver Broncos (Last Week: 3)
7. San Francisco 49ers (Last Week: 9)
8. Los Angeles Rams (Last Week: 2)
9. New England Patriots (Last Week: 5)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: 8)
11. Houston Texans (Last Week: 10)
12. Detroit Lions (Last Week: 11)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (Last Week: 15)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last Week: 16)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (Last Week: 13)
16. Dallas Cowboys (Last Week: 14)
The Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl, and they won the Week 1 rematch. Right now, the top spot is theirs until someone comes and takes it from them. The Los Angeles Rams appeared poised to do so, but a horrific loss in Melbourne set them back in a big way, especially since Myles Garrett is going to be out for a while.
The Chicago Bears have some defensive issues, but they scored 59 points on offense. Will that be enough to keep them as a top-five team all year long? Are the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions the other legit contenders in the NFC? After Week 1, it sure seems like it.
Although they aren't all in this tier, the AFC seems to be dependent on the big four quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson. Mahomes specifically came out and reminded everyone just how dominant the Chiefs can be if they are healthy and on top of thier game. If the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Houston Texans don't figure out their overall game soon, they will be trailing in the standings quickly.
Teams To Watch
17. Indianapolis Colts (Last Week: 19)
18. Minnesota Vikings (Last Week: 21)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last Week: 17)
20. Washington Commanders (Last Week: 20)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week: 22)
22. Green Bay Packers (Last Week: 18)
23. Carolina Panthers (Last Week: 23)
All of these teams could end up being contenders by the end of the year, and they could all end up being in the bottom tier. The Minnesota Vikings pulled off an impressive win, but will Carson Wentz be good enough if Kyler Murray can't go? It's hard to give them too much of a jump after their impressive win over the Green Bay Packers.
Speaking of Green Bay, that was a disaster. They were already wildly overrated coming into the season, and blowing the lead in the style that they did solidified that thought, at least for now. Will their old quarterback Aaron Rodgers continue to do well with their former head coach, Mike McCarthy? That's the biggest question coming out of this tier.
More To Prove
24. New Orleans Saints (Last Week: 24)
25. New York Giants (Last Week: 25)
26. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week: 26)
27. Arizona Cardinals (Last Week: 30)
28. Las Vegas Raiders (Last Week: 27)
29. Tennessee Titans (Last Week: 28)
30. New York Jets (Last Week: 29)
31. Cleveland Browns (Last Week: 31)
32. Miami Dolphins (Last Week: 32)
After one week, there can't be too much movement in this tier. Of course, the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets had impressive victories, but starting 1-0 doesn't mean that their reign of being lousy NFL teams is over. The Cleveland Browns were blown out by the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. They are in the running for the worst team in the NFL and will have a good battle for that bottom spot with the Miami Dolphins throughout the year. The New Orleans Saints and New York Giants are disrespected here after big wins and rosters that look like they can compete, but they definitely still have "more to prove".
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL Week 2 power rankings: Chiefs and Bears send a message
