NFL Power Rankings Week 1: Lions show they might be NFC favorites after bullying Rams into submission

Tabulating power rankings for the NFL after just one week of play is always an interesting exercise.

You're trying not to overreact to mediocre performance because it looks like just about everyone is knocking off some measure of rust. This sentiment is especially true for the slow-starting Cincinnati Bengals, who are somehow routinely forgetting to put something in their backpack. At the same time, it's hard to overlook teams who are seemingly primed and in midseason form from the jump. Amongst a cavalcade of struggling quarterbacks like Daniel Jones, you realize it would be silly not to reward the “haves” for coming to class prepared.

This is exactly where we stand after one week into the 2024 NFL season.

It's so early, but the Kansas City Chiefs seemed poised for a three-peat after dispatching the Baltimore Ravens with relative ease on opening night. Elsewhere, the Houston Texans and C.J. Stroud certainly feel like the No. 1 contender to the Chiefs' throne in the AFC. On Sunday night, the Detroit Lions fought through an uneven back-and-forth battle to make a defining statement to the Los Angeles Rams. It is this Detroit squad that, honestly, makes me most intrigued about matching up with Kansas City. I'm not sure there's another NFC team that can match the Lions in the trenches. Shoot, that idea probably applies to the entire league. If the Lions want to bully you, they will.

And let's not get it twisted: Jameson Williams is a gift.

Week 1 in the NFL is a fickle and confusing place. Let's try to make sense of it all in For The Win's opening NFL power rankings for the 2024 season.

32. Carolina Panthers

Last week's rank: 32

Bryce Young's first pass of the season was an interception. His second pass of the second half was ... an interception. Young and new head coach Dave Canales had plenty of time to plan out both of those drives (the first much more than the second), and they still ended in disaster. We're about four more losses like this away from David Tepper getting fined $1.5 million for kicking a service dog. -- Christian D'Andrea

31. New York Giants

Last week's rank: 28

Wanna know how bad it is in Giants Land? Malik Nabers, a rookie, is already pulling rank on the much-maligned Daniel Jones. Big Blue knew that 2024 would be a transitional year. But I don't think anyone understood how much Jones would drag down the rest of the operation with him. On the plus side, if Sunday was any indication, the woeful Giants should be able to get their hopeful franchise QB with either the first or second pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. -- Robert Zeglinski

30. Denver Broncos

Last week's rank: 30

Bo Nix on passes more than 10 yards downfield: 2-of-12, 42 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 2.1 passer rating. On a related note, Sean Payton will make an estimated $18 million this season. -- CD

29. Washington Commanders

Last week's rank: 29

The Jayden Daniels era is off to an inconspicuous start. This is good because, let's be candid: the Commanders never had a chance of upsetting the Buccaneers. But Daniels was solid in his NFL debut, showing off enough athleticism and poise to keep Washington above water. In a rebuilding year, that's all you can ask for in the nation's capital. -- RZ

28. New England Patriots

Last week's rank: 31

Let's not overreact to an upset win in Cincinnati; slow starts are a tradition akin to seafood on Christmas Eve in the Joe Burrow era. Still, the Patriots' defense showed proof of concept, helmed by Christian Gonzalez. As Ja'Marr Chase's primary defender, he held the All-Pro wideout to just three catches and 14 yards. He's showing last year's four-game standout sample size was no fluke. -- CD

27. Tennessee Titans

Last week's rank: 26

The Titans had the first win of the Brian Callahan era in the bag. Then Will Levis decided to "put his team on his back" with ... a three-score lead, squandering any and all goodwill Tennessee had manifested in Chicago. These Titans could be more competent than we think -- especially coordinator Dennard Wilson's defense -- but none of that will matter if their surrender cobra-ing QB is content to play erratic hero ball when he doesn't have to. -- RZ

26. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week's rank: 20

Antonio Pierce molded this team into a winner after taking over last season, but his 2024 debut was not ideal. He was timid in the wrong spots (punting on fourth-and-1 at the Chargers' 43, trailing 16-10 in the fourth quarter) and aggressive in the wrong ones (stuffed on a first-quarter fourth-and-1 in Raiders territory that led to an L.A. field goal). But those rough edges will be sanded down over time. The question is whether Pierece's defense can return to the dizzying heights of December 2023. -- CD

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week's rank: 22

Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. might be a gamer. The former LSU playmaker was a bright spot against the Miami Dolphins, scoring a touchdown in his first NFL game. But because these are the Jaguars, there wasn't much else to write home about. Trevor Lawrence's year-long slump has officially leaked into 2024, and the fate of Jacksonville's franchise hasn't felt this murky since, I don't know ... the Urban Meyer era? Yikes. -- RZ

24. New Orleans Saints

Last week's rank: 27

You can only play the teams on the schedule, and New Orleans did exactly what it needed to do against the Panthers. It beat the breaks off of them. Derek Carr was surgical en route to an 82 percent completion rate, and Alvin Kamara suggested he had plenty of gas left in his tank. This would all be much more inspiring if not for, you know, the Carolina of it all. -- CD

23. Cleveland Browns

Last week's rank: 17

The Browns paid Deshaun Watson $230 million guaranteed after he faced more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as "predatory behavior" to play like the NFL's worst QB. The Browns have a talented roster, perhaps one that could really compete for a championship. They have no chance of even attaining a semblance of relevance as long as Watson continues to play like dead weight. -- RZ

22. Arizona Cardinals

Last week's rank: 24

Arizona wasn't supposed to win in Buffalo -- at 6.5 points, they were Sunday's second-largest underdog. Even so, the Cardinals were one lob to a wide-open Marvin Harrison Jr. away from taking a last-second lead. The defense is a mess, but if Kyler Murray finds a way to incorporate his dynamic rookie wideout into the mix, this team can be a full-on headache for the NFC West. -- CD

21. Los Angeles Chargers

Last week's rank: 23

The Chargers opened the Jim Harbaugh era in classic, unsurprising fashion -- they rammed the ball down the Raiders' throats. On a day when Justin Herbert didn't have to do much, L.A. generated 176 rushing yards (!) while averaging over 6.5 yards per carry (!!). It'll take time for Harbaugh to initiate his entire vision for the Chargers. But it's refreshing to know that this man can get a great running game going anywhere. -- RZ

20. Minnesota Vikings

Last week's rank: 25

Sam Darnold? SAM DARNOLD. The journeyman slowed down after a torrid start, but he showed flashes of the 2022 version of himself that played quietly efficient football for the Panthers. Brian Flores' revamped defense made Daniel Jones look stupid, but ... eh. Jones actually faced less pressure (36 percent) than Darnold (42 percent) on his dropbacks, which could be a point of emphasis going forward. -- CD

19. Atlanta Falcons

Last week's rank: 14

I guess that's what's supposed to happen with a 36-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles. The Falcons had a layup win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the palm of their hands, but Kirk Cousins never looked comfortable enough to pull it off. Of every NFL team that suffered a disappointing opening defeat, the Falcons should probably feel the best. The defense is there. So are the weapons. It's just a matter of how long it'll take Cousins to get used to the water's temperature again. -- RZ

18. Seattle Seahawks

Last week's rank: 21

Mike Macdonald's first duty as a head coach was to lock Bo Nix up in football hell. Mission accomplished, as the rookie quarterback clocked in at -23 expected points added (EPA) in his NFL debut. Geno Smith, on the other hand, struggled against Denver's blitz-heavy defense. That's not something you want to see in a division where the 49ers are just waiting to throw defensive ends at you until you curl up and die. -- CD

17. Indianapolis Colts

Last week's rank: 18

No one had a tougher opener than the Colts, who were forced to play the rival Houston Texans, a team many have penciled in for the AFC title game. Fortunately for Indy, Anthony Richardson was more than up to the task, generating over 260 yards of offense and three touchdowns by himself. While he's an unpolished product, this is the tantalizing Richardson the Colts were more than willing to wait for. If Richardson and Shane Steichen continue to build good chemistry, Indy will be officially on the sleeper contender watch list. -- RZ

16. Green Bay Packers

Last week's rank: 6

Pheewwwwww. Jordan Love's ACL is intact, but three to six weeks of Malik Willis behind center isn't ideal. Green Bay could be looking at another slow start, but this time without the reps that built Love's confidence and made him one of the game's most efficient passers over the back half of 2023. The pressure is on new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to keep scores low and give Willis a chance to win. -- CD

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week's rank: 19

Week 1 was an encapsulation of the Mike Tomlin era in Pittsburgh. T.J. Watt did T.J. Watt things for a Pittsburgh defense that never let Atlanta sustain any positive momentum. Justin Fields played a near-perfect statistical game as an all-around quarterback. And the Steelers were more or less in control the entire way en route to sole possession of first place in the AFC North. There's an arduous path ahead, but we're already on track toward another winning season for Tomlin. -- RZ

14. New York Jets

Last week's rank: 16

Aaron Rodgers' first full game as a Jet was as least partially concerning. His scrambling was subdued and the sheer arm strength that defined his career appears to have lost some force. Still, New York can win games when he's average if its defense comes through. On Monday night, however, that unit gave up 32 points and 400-plus yards. -- CD

13. Chicago Bears

Last week's rank: 13

Caleb Williams struggling in Week 1 because of NFL debut jitters was unsurprising. There's a reason he's the first top-pick QB to win their first game in over two decades. What Sunday showed is that the Bears' floor might be higher than we thought. They are good enough to pull off unlikely comeback wins in spite of their quarterback, which isn't anything new for this franchise. If Williams starts to piece it together, the Bears will be cooking with gas. -- RZ

12. Miami Dolphins

Last week's rank: 11

Things certainly could have gone better, but Miami course-corrected to lock down a home win over the Jaguars. Jalen Ramsey adjusted to Brian Thomas Jr.'s impressive debut, and the Dolphins' defense held Jacksonville scoreless in the second half, leaving space for the inevitable Tyreek Hill game-breaker. Once again, the Dolphins look like a solid regular-season team. Who knows if that will amount to anything more this time around. -- CD

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Yes, the Commanders' secondary is a glorified Division 1 unit, but let's not kid ourselves. Baker Mayfield was one of the few NFL quarterbacks who actually played a clean game this weekend. A year after eking out an NFC South division title, the Buccaneers and Mayfield picked up where they left off in an emasculation of Washington. If Tampa Bay is poised to start with more consistency, then this squad is a likely NFC power. -- RZ

10. Buffalo Bills

Last week's rank: 12

Buffalo handed Josh Allen a bunch of spare parts and told him to figure it out. And he did because he plays football like a kangaroo with a cocaine habit and a rocket launcher. That rebuilding defense, however, may be the fatal flaw that once again ends the Bills season after giving up 21 points to an undermanned Arizona offense (seven more came via kickoff return). -- CD

9. Cincinnati Bengals

Last week's rank: 4

Rule No. 1 of following the NFL in September: the Bengals are going to get off to a slow start, and you have to know they'll be OK in the long run. There's no other way to describe Cincy's opening clunker against the Patriots. Joe Burrow was cold. Ja'Marr Chase couldn't get open. And the defense made enough mistakes for a ravenous underdog to steal a win. This is all well and good because we're past judging the Bengals in September. This Super Bowl contender's fate will be decided in December and January. However, it still has to get there in one piece first. -- RZ

8. Los Angeles Rams

Last week's rank: 9

Matthew Stafford answered any concerns about his age with a vintage performance in Detroit -- right down to constantly being harassed by opposing pass rushers and thriving anyway. That could be a recurring problem for a team with depth concerns up front (and with Puka Nacua missing time with a knee injury), but Los Angeles should be able to hold its own in a turbulent NFC. -- CD

7. Dallas Cowboys

Last week's rank: 10

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Mike McCarthy is essentially an NFL coaching lifer who will never, ever know how to properly use his timeouts. His obliviousness is almost endearing. McCarthy will, however, likely always have the Cowboys humming in the regular season. Sunday's blowout win in Cleveland was proof. Even still, no one's patting the Cowboys on the back about expected wins over the hapless Browns. This organization hasn't played in the NFC title game in nearly three decades. It has bigger fish to fry. -- RZ

6. Philadelphia Eagles

Last week's rank: 8

Saquon Barkley is leading the running back revolution, and his performance in Week 1 could be the kind of data point that gets future RB1 types paid better than he did. His ability to grind out yards helped Philly overcome a couple of Jalen Hurts brain fart interceptions and grind out an important Week 1 win that finally stopped an on-field spiral that began last December. -- CD

5. Baltimore Ravens

Last week's rank: 5

Charged with upending the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, the Ravens fought uphill all evening. With Baltimore's offensive line and receivers struggling and the Ravens' defense showing weakness after losing Mike Macdonald, it took a superhero Lamar Jackson performance to have a chance of stealing this one. The good news is that not every opponent will be as good as Kansas City. The bad news is that margins in the NFL are already extremely tight. If the Ravens have fallen off even a tad, then they're bound to tumble in the league pecking order. -- RZ

4. Houston Texans

Last week's rank: 7

C.J. Stroud picked up right where he left off. But Sunday's hero was Joe Mixon, who toted the ball 31 times to grind down the clock and prevent any late-game Anthony Richardson heroics. A top-heavy secondary breaking in a pair of rookies wasn't perfect, but its headliners managed to limit Michael Pittman to just 31 receiving yards. Pair that with Jonathan Taylor's 3.0 yards per carry, and, well, good luck to the rest of the AFC South. -- CD

3. Detroit Lions

Last week's rank: 2

There will be questions about a Detroit offense that felt like it was stuck in the mud for much of Sunday night. But those conversations will go by the wayside after watching the Lions remember who they are in overtime. With the game on the line, the Lions ran seven of eight plays between the tackles, mercilessly pounding an L.A. defensive front that was running on fumes all the way into the end zone. It was an excellent picture of what the Lions are capable of when they stay true to themselves -- a run to Super Bowl 59 based on simply overpowering everyone. -- RZ

2. San Francisco 49ers

Last week's rank: 3

The Niners stared down a 2023 top-three defense without Christian McCaffrey, got very little out of Brandon Aiyuk, and still drove inside the Jets' 35-yard line eight times on Monday night. The secondary is a concern -- such is life when you give up multiple touchdowns to Allen Lazard in this, the year of our lord 2024 -- but San Francisco looks dangerous again. -- CD

1. Kansas City Chiefs

On their second straight ring night, the Chiefs delivered more of a B-caliber performance. Patrick Mahomes was good but not great. Travis Kelce was a non-factor. And Kansas City let the Ravens back into a game they had no business winning. But from start to finish, it never felt as if the Chiefs weren't in control. They had one of the AFC's best teams locked into a fighting pit with no chance of escape. Now imagine what will happen when Kansas City is firing on all cylinders. Once again, the NFL is on notice when it comes to the Big Red Machine. -- RZ

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 1: Lions show they might be NFC favorites after bullying Rams into submission