NFL Analysis
9/17/24
14 min read
2024 NFL Week 3 Power Rankings: Texans Enter Top 3, Ravens Are in Free Fall
Week 2 was the week of upsets in the NFL. Multiple teams who were touchdown underdogs won outright, and that means there will be a ton of movement in our latest NFL Power Rankings.
So, without further ado, here is our full set of rankings coming out of the second week of action:
>> READ MORE: Latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft
NFL Week 3 Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 1 
They did it again. Down by two on a fourth and 16, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs found a way to survive against the Bengals.
This was not a great performance by Mahomes, as he threw two interceptions, but he made the plays when Kansas City needed them. The Chiefs are 2-0, but neither win has been all that convincing. Yet, they're No. 1.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Falcons
2. San Francisco 49ers (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 2 
Vikings DC Brian Flores is one of the few coaches in the league who knows how to slow down a Kyle Shanahan offense. And he did it again in Week 2.
The San Francisco 49ers couldn’t get anything going on offense despite another big game from Jordan Mason. You shouldn’t panic too much after a Week 2 road loss, as the 49ers are still the best team in the NFC, but it does show that this team has some flaws that can be exposed.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. LA Rams
3. Houston Texans (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 4 
The addition of Danielle Hunter could end up being why the Houston Texans make it to the AFC Championship this season. Pairing him with Will Anderson Jr. gives Houston arguably the best 1-2 EDGE rusher duo in the league to pressure quarterbacks all game long.
It wasn’t a pretty win against the Bears on Sunday Night Football, but it was the type of gritty win that the Texans needed to show that they could pull out.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Vikings
4. Buffalo Bills (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 6 
The Buffalo Bills looked dominant in Week 2 as they continued their success over the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo has now won 13 of the last 14 games, and it did so with their defense on Thursday Night Football.
If Buffalo’s defense continues to improve, there is no reason why they shouldn’t win the AFC East again this year. The schedule is tough, but Buffalo is a proven juggernaut with Josh Allen under center.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 23 vs. Jacksonville
5. Detroit Lions (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 3 
This was a bad loss for the Detroit Lions on multiple fronts. Jared Goff really struggled, and the offense only scored 16 points.
Aidan Hutchinson had 4.5 sacks for Detroit, but it still wasn’t enough to beat the Buccaneers in Detroit. The Lions are still the team to beat in the NFC North, but this was a tough early-season home loss.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Cardinals
6. Green Bay Packers (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 9
The Green Bay Packers ran the ball 53 times against the Colts to get a much-needed win, with Jordan Love injured. The defense stepped up in a major way, creating three takeaways and limiting the Colts to just 10 points.
Give a lot of credit to Matt LaFleur for figuring out a way to avoid starting 0-2 with a backup quarterback who was acquired a few weeks ago. That was one of the best coaching jobs you will ever see.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Titans
7. New Orleans Saints (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 22
No team in the NFL has been more surprising in the first two weeks of the season than the New Orleans Saints. Klint Kubiak (OC) has done a fantastic job putting Derek Carr in optimal situations, and their ground attack has been as dominant as ever.
The Saints scored touchdowns on their first six possessions against the Cowboys and could have easily scored 50+ points if they wanted to. It was a dominant performance by a team that suddenly has the look of a playoff contender in the NFC.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Eagles
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 16
What a win by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. They went on the road against the Lions and were without several key players, including Luke Goedeke, Vita Vea (who left in the third quarter), and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Yet, they came away with the win. It wasn’t a massive performance by the offense, but it was the type of gritty win that Tampa Bay needed. Don’t look now, but the Buccaneers and the Saints both look like legitimate playoff teams this year.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Buccaneers
9. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 8
The Dallas Cowboys were dominant on defense in Week 1 on the road in Cleveland, and they couldn’t have been worse in Week 2.
They allowed six straight touchdown drives to open the game against the Saints. The defense could not get off the field and looked incredibly slow throughout the contest. That was as bad a defensive performance as you will ever see in Week 2.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Ravens
10. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 7
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Falcons in Week 2. Yet, they found a way to lose. It felt a lot like the end of the 2023 season, where they would look great for most of the game but would falter down the stretch.
Questionable playcalling down the stretch by Kellen Moore didn’t help, and Vic Fangio’s defense couldn’t have allowed Kirk Cousins and the Falcons to score any quicker on the game-winning drive. Something about this Eagles team still feels a bit off compared to what we saw in 2022.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Saints
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 14
The Pittsburgh Steelers have scored just one touchdown this season, yet they are 2-0 with two road games. Mike Tomlin’s defense has forced five turnovers and shut down the opposing offenses.
With a pretty favorable schedule upcoming, Pittsburgh could easily start the season off with four straight wins. And with the rest of the AFC North falling apart, this might just be their year.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Chargers
>> READ MORE: Steelers Should Stick With Fields
12. New York Jets (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 12
The New York Jets got a much-needed bounce-back win after a really tough loss to the 49ers in Week 1. It was another road game, but the defense played much better in this contest.
The loss of Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) will be a major one for New York, but there were plenty of encouraging signs coming out of this game.
Next Game: Thursday, Sept. 19 vs. Patriots
13. Minnesota Vikings (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 23
The Minnesota Vikings are one of the few teams in the NFL that know how to stop Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. For the second straight year, they pulled off the massive upset and stifled San Francisco’s offense.
Sam Darnold had another strong performance and is playing the best football of his career. Even with their injuries, the Vikings are finding ways to win games because they are so well-coached on both sides of the ball.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Texans
14. Cleveland Browns (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 15
After a really rough Week 1 outing, the Cleveland Browns bounced back in a big way with their defense taking over. Not only did they allow just 13 points, but they also created a safety and pressured Trevor Lawrence consistently.
The offense still needs a lot of work, but Deshaun Watson looked better in Week 2, and it moved the ball fairly well. With the Bengals and the Ravens both starting 0-2, this was an important win for Cleveland to get back into the AFC North race.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Giants
15. Baltimore Ravens (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 5
It’s time to get concerned about the Baltimore Ravens. Going back to the 2023 postseason, they have now lost their last three games, and something about their offense doesn’t seem quite right. They can rack up a bunch of yards with Lamar Jackson, but the points haven’t been there.
There was no reason they should have lost to the Raiders at home after 10 days of rest, but they did. They now sit at 0-2 with a road game against Dallas coming up. After finishing as the No. 1 seed last year, Baltimore's season is already starting to teeter.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Cowboys
16. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 19
It didn’t take long for Jim Harbaugh to turn the Los Angeles Chargers into a bully. They dominated the Panthers in Week 2 despite a less-than-stellar performance by Justin Herbert.
The run game was fantastic, and the defense held the Panthers to less than 80 net passing yards. They’ll have a much tougher test in Week 3 against the Steelers, but so far, so good for the Harbaugh experience in Los Angeles.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Steelers
17. Seattle Seahawks (2-0) 
Previous Ranking: 24
It certainly hasn’t been pretty, but the Seattle Seahawks are 2-0 and alone atop the NFC West. Geno Smith was fantastic against the Patriots, airing the ball out all over the field.
The defense got stops when it needed to, and the team won a road game against a solid defense. Seattle’s schedule will get a lot harder, but Mike Macdonald did a good job winning the games they were supposed to.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Dolphins
18. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 21
It sure seemed like the Atlanta Falcons were destined to start 0-2, but they found a way to claw out a gritty win on Monday Night Football. Kirk Cousins still isn’t 100 percent, but he looked significantly better in Week 2 and actually made some throws down the field. Hopefully, his quickness will return, but this was a season-saving win for Atlanta in Week 2.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Chiefs
19. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 25
No quarterback in the NFL played better than Kyler Murray in Week 2. He was on fire from the start of the game, connecting with Marvin Harrison Jr. on four passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter.
The Arizona Cardinals obliterated the Rams in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score indicated. Arizona has one of the league's most fun offenses and could be a bit of a sleeper in the NFC this season.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Lions
20. Miami Dolphins (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 10
The Miami Dolphins might be the toughest team to rank on this list, given how poorly they performed against the Bills on Thursday Night Football and the injury concerns to their quarterback.
They are still a very talented team, but the offense has posted too many stinkers against quality opponents under Mike McDaniel. Maybe that will change as the season progresses, but it’s hard to trust Miami in any big game.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Seahawks
21. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 17
The Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2, but at least they looked good in Week 2. The offense bounced back, and the defense created multiple turnovers against Patrick Mahomes.
They still can't close out games, but the Bengals were highly competitive against the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Their schedule does get a lot easier in the next two months, but they can’t afford another misstep for a while.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 23 vs. Commanders
22. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 26
The Las Vegas Raiders want to be a physical football team that can bully other teams around. That's exactly what they did on Sunday. Without any semblance of a run game, the Raiders won an ugly, hard-fought game in Baltimore.
The offense still needs a lot of work, but the defense got all of the stops when needed. The Raiders might not be a contender in the AFC, but they will be a tough out for most teams.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Panthers
23. Chicago Bears (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 20
The Chicago Bears hung with the Texans for most of that contest, but the offensive line didn’t give Caleb Williams any shot at success. Williams had a few terrible throws, but he was under siege the entire game with no reprieve.
Chicago’s defense will keep them in a lot of games this year, and it did a good job of handling C.J. Stroud. It was a tough loss, but not one to be overly discouraged about moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Colts
>> READ MORE: Caleb's Struggles Compounded By Bears' OL
24. Los Angeles Rams (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 11
The Los Angeles Rams are in trouble. Their injuries have reached a point of no return, and it’s starting to affect their quarterback. Cooper Kupp is dealing with another injury, and the Rams looked lifeless against the Cardinals.
After sneaking into the playoffs last year, it appears several other teams in the NFC have already surpassed them.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. 49ers
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 13
It’s time to start getting concerned about the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have now lost seven of their last eight games dating back to 2023, and the offense has really regressed.
Trevor Lawrence completed less than 50 percent of his passes in Week 2, and the offense scored just 13 points. With the Bills up next, the Jaguars are looking at a possible 0-3 start.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 23 vs. Bills
26. Indianapolis Colts (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 18
The fact that the Indianapolis Colts lost a game to Malik Willis has to be awfully concerning. What is more concerning is Anthony Richardson's lack of development.
He has not improved his accuracy at all and is completing less than 50 percent of his passes this year. The Colts are struggling on offense, and their quarterback isn’t helping. Unless he improves dramatically in the next few weeks, the Colts could be in a really tough spot, given their upcoming schedule.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Bears
27. New England Patriots (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 28
The New England Patriots nearly pulled off another upset, taking the Seahawks to overtime in Week 1. The defense continues to make plays, but the offense just hasn’t created enough chunk plays.
They are one of three teams in the league without a turnover on offense, but their lack of big-play potential and overall conservative brand of football won’t help them win many games.
Next Game: Thursday, Sept. 19 vs. Jets
28. Tennessee Titans (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 27
The Tennessee Titans have a Will Levis problem. The rest of their roster is good enough to win games, and you can make a case that they should be 2-0.
However, Levis turns the ball over too often and is way too reckless for the offense to sustain drives. The Titans have a brutal upcoming schedule and have already dropped two games they should have won.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Packers
29. Washington Commanders (1-1) 
Previous Ranking: 28
The Washington Commanders just won a game in which they did not score a single touchdown (0-6 in the red zone) and allowed three touchdowns on defense.
Jayden Daniels looked much more comfortable in Week 2, and the offense racked up more than 400 yards. The defense is still a mess, but at least Washington looked competent this week.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 23 vs. Bengals
30. Denver Broncos (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 30
The Denver Broncos have several issues on both sides of the ball, but their biggest is that they are poorly coached. Denver had nine penalties for 124 yards and several other offsetting penalties that didn’t count toward that total.
Plus, Sean Payton’s clock management was a disaster, and he settled for far too many short field goals against Pittsburgh. Denver’s offense is an abomination, and it’s time to really look at the coaching staff, as they’ve been unable to generate any positive momentum on that side of the ball since the start of the 2023 season.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Buccaneers
31. New York Giants (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 31
The New York Giants lost a game in Week 2 in which they scored three touchdowns and did not allow Washington into the end zone. Figure that one out.
Daniel Jones looked better against the Commanders, but the defense allowed more than 400 yards, and Brian Daboll's mismanagement of the special teams cost them a victory. Sitting at 0-2 with the Browns and Cowboys on deck, it’s fair to wonder when the Giants will get their first victory of the season.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Browns
32. Carolina Panthers (0-2) 
Previous Ranking: 32
It will be a long time before anyone replaces the Carolina Panthers as the No. 32 team. Bryce Young was even worse in Week 2, and the offense managed to score just three points. On Monday afternoon, the Panthers announced they were benching Young just two games into his second season.
It’s gotten that bad in Carolina.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 22 vs. Raiders
