Defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City looks the part of the top team in the Week 1 power rankings, but plenty of teams are right on the Chiefs’ heels. The San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all turned in dominant performances in the league’s first weekend.
- Kansas City Chiefs (1–0)
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has an entourage of playmakers around him again. The Chiefs look like the Super Bowl favorite until someone beats them.
- San Francisco 49ers (1–0)
Eight-straight scoring drives and a strong defensive performance against New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers have the 49ers looking as tough as ever. The Niners didn’t miss a beat without star running back Christian McCaffrey.
- Detroit Lions (1–0)
The Lions have a two-headed monster as a running back between David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. In addition, Lions quarterback Jared Goff showed that he has lots of playmaking wide receivers who are not named Amon-Ra St. Brown.
- Baltimore Ravens (0–1)
Quarterback Lamar Jackson shined, but he couldn’t get the job done in the end against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens’ defense likewise made plays but couldn’t slow down the Chiefs enough.
- Dallas Cowboys (1–0)
The Cowboys dominated a Cleveland Browns team that boasts one of the strongest defenses in the NFL. With the contract drama in the rearview mirror, Dallas looks poised to make a run.
- Houston Texans (1–0)
Skilled players, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon, showed why they were brought to Houston. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud looks like he will avoid a sophomore slump in 2024.
- Buffalo Bills (1–0)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored four touchdowns in a squeaker against the Arizona Cardinals, which bodes well for the weeks ahead. The Bills defense’s giving up 28 points against the Cardinals could be a concern, but Arizona also had a healthy Kyler Murray as quarterback.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1–0)
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield impressed his predecessor, Tom Brady, amid four touchdown passes in a rout of the Washington Commanders. The Buccaneers’ defense looked strong despite Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall being out.
- New Orleans Saints (1–0)
Saints quarterback Derek Carr led a blowout win that bodes well for life in the Bayou this season. Multiple playmakers got in on the action for the Saints, and the defense’s production of four sacks and two interceptions is a strong start.
- Miami Dolphins (1–0)
The Dolphins’ offense clicked amid the off-field drama with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and the defense contained the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially with a second-half shutout.
- Philadelphia Eagles (0–1)
The Eagles looked like a contender in some moments, with Saquon Barkley scoring three touchdowns. Philadelphia also looked like a team at times that couldn’t stop an offense, but a slippery field in Brazil played a role in that.
- Seattle Seahawks (1–0)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III impressed, and quarterback Geno Smith looked as good as ever. Seattle’s defense looked like the old Legion of Boom with a pair of interceptions.
- Minnesota Vikings (1–0)
Sam Darnold looked like 2024’s Baker Mayfield as the new Vikings quarterback threw two touchdowns in a rout of the New York Giants. The Vikings defense shut down the Giants, but a bigger test awaits in the 49ers.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1–0)
Steelers quarterback Justin Fields looks like the starter for the foreseeable future, and he got the job done in Week 1. The Steelers’ defense, meanwhile, grounded a potent Atlanta Falcons offense with 226 yards allowed, two interceptions, and two sacks.
- Indianapolis Colts (0–1)
The Colts showed a lot of promise with a big day from second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Indianapolis’ defense getting four sacks also bodes well, but the Colts can’t afford to give up 417 yards in a game again.
- New York Jets (0–1)
Rodgers had some good moments in his return from an ACL injury, but the Jets defense giving up score after score in San Francisco requires adjustments. The Jets running game also couldn’t get going in Week 1.
- Los Angeles Rams (0–1)
Despite the defeat, the Rams going toe-to-toe in a playoff rematch is a strong start. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford dominated, and the defense made plays for the first time since Aaron Donald’s retirement.
- Chicago Bears (1–0)
Bear rookie quarterback and No. 1 pick Caleb Williams didn’t dominate, but Chicago as a team found a way to win. Chicago’s defense started strong with three sacks and two interceptions.
- Los Angeles Chargers (1–0)
The Chargers’ defense came out with four sacks, 296 yards allowed, and two scoreless quarters is a promising start. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert made plays, but none of his receivers went over 39 yards for the game.
- Green Bay Packers (0–1)
Losing quarterback Jordan Love for three to six weeks could put the Packers in a tough spot. Green Bay’s early season now rides on the arm of second-year quarterback Malik Willis.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (0–1)
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a few big throws, but his team going scoreless in the second half raises concerns. The Jaguars’ sacking Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, holding the team to 20 points, and allowing 81 yards rushing by committee were positives for Week 1.
- Cincinnati Bengals (0–1)
The Bengals have quarterback Joe Burrow on the field again, but he couldn’t be the difference against the New England Patriots. Cincinnati’s defense had three sacks and limited the Patriots to 16 points and 290 yards, but offense wasn’t a strength for New England before this season after 13.9 points per game last year.
- Cleveland Browns (0–1)
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had his hands full with the Cowboys, but Cleveland’s defense overall made Dallas work for points. The Browns offense was littered with concerns as quarterback Deshaun Watson led only two touchdown drives.
- Denver Broncos (0–1)
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix only managed 138 yards passing in his debut, and the rushing attack only managed 99 yards. Defensively, the Broncos had two sacks and nine tackles for loss but gave up 17 second-half points.
- New England Patriots (1–0)
The Patriots defense shut down Cincinnati in head coach Jerod Mayo’s debut. New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson looked as good as his 1,000-yard season in 2022 amid his 120-yard rushing and a touchdown against the Bengals.
- Atlanta Falcons (0–1)
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins didn’t deliver in his debut amid two interceptions. The Falcons could get any playmakers going, including running back Bijan Robinson, who only had 68 yards on 18 carries.
- Tennessee Titans (0–1)
Titans running back Tony Pollard showed promise amid 82 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but Tennessee’s offense otherwise needs work. Quarterback Will Levis threw two picks and just 127 yards and a touchdown.
- Arizona Cardinals (0–1)
Arizona showed promise on offense. Murray threw for a touchdown, and running back James Conner ran for one. The Cardinals also earned the unique distinction of DeeJay Dallas’s first kickoff return for a touchdown under the new rules.
- Washington Commanders (0–1)
Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels looked worthy of going No. 2 in the draft amid his debut. The Commanders also had eight tackles for loss on a day where the defense had no answer otherwise for the Buccaneers passing attack.
- Las Vegas Raiders (0–1)
Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew throwing for 257 yards was one of the few bright spots for Las Vegas. The Raiders defense gave up 316 yards overall plus 13 points in the fourth quarter alone.
- New York Giants (0–1)
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones struggled in his first game without running back Saquon Barkley amid two interceptions, five sacks, and just 186 yards passing. The Giants showed no signs of filling Barkley’s shoes, and the defense had few bright spots beyond an interception and a sack.
- Carolina Panthers (0–1)
New Panthers head coach Dave Canales brings a lot of energy to the sidelines, but his team couldn’t get anything going on the field. The Panthers committed three turnovers and gave up 47 points, leaving lots of room for growth.
