NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Saints’ resurgence feels incredibly fake, but we can’t lie to ourselves forever

Every year, one or two NFL teams play well beyond their means to start the season.

Be it due to a favorable schedule, a healthy injection of talent, or perhaps a well-schooled coach instituting his program, some random squad always sneaks up on the rest of the league for whatever reason. It's uncanny.

This year, the team that most fits this definition is Dennis Allen's New Orleans Saints. When you have a team quarterbacked by conservative check-down machine Derek Carr, everything you achieve feels fake, hollow, and untenable. It's just not how the modern NFL is played anymore. It appears the 2-0 Saints have accounted for the Carr Factor, and we might not be able to lie to ourselves much longer about how good they actually are.

The Saints have effectively decided not to make Carr the fulcrum of their offense anymore. You know, the guy who threw 548 passes (10th-most in the NFL!) during an inspiring Saints debut season in 2023. Rather than lean on Carr, the Saints are having him thrive where he's probably best -- managing the game, never really pushing the envelope unless absolutely necessary, and most importantly, making few mistakes. Instead of letting Carr lose games for them, the Saints and first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak have entrusted a resurgent Alvin Kamara -- who has 290 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 42 touches --- to be the catalyst behind what sure looks like the NFL's top offense through two weeks. (Psst, if the Saints' new offensive philosophy holds up, then Carr is on pace for roughly 330 passes in a 17-game season. A tectonic shift in identity.)

Seriously, the Saints have over 90 points so far. No one else in the entire NFL has even eclipsed 70 yet. It's mind-boggling to consider. This is nothing to say of Allen's defense, which has predictably been brilliant, hemming in the hapless Carolina Panthers and the supposedly high-octane Dallas Cowboys.

We might live in the NFL Twilight Zone when it comes to these Saints, but our only boundaries are that of the imagination. And soon enough, if they can keep their early torrid play up, it might be high time to imagine these Saints becoming known as a genuine NFC superpower.

Needless to say, the Saints are rising fast in For The Win's weekly NFL power rankings. Let's see where New Orleans and other surprising teams stand as we get ready for Week 3.

32. Carolina Panthers

Last week's rank: 32

The Panthers benched Bryce Young because, well ... duh. I'm sorry, but if you're shocked by that revelation ... were we watching the same player? Let's get a grip of reality here, folks. With Young out of the picture, though, Carolina's problems haven't vanished. It still has the NFL's worst roster, with very few foundational pieces for the future. Worse yet, the perpetual curmudgeon and micromanager, David Tepper, remains the owner. So, don't expect the Panthers to crawl out of the league's basement any time soon. In fact, they should probably start paying rent for their extended stay. -- Robert Zeglinski

31. New York Giants

Last week's rank: 31

Daniel Jones wasn't terrible on Sunday. That doesn't mean much since it was against the desiccated husk of the Washington Commanders, but it's something. -- Christian D'Andrea

30. Denver Broncos

Last week's rank: 30

Bo Nix was so bad on Sunday that an uninspiring Justin Fields performance was enough to let the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense carry the load to victory. Nix does not test the defense downfield. Nix does not go through his progressions. Nix even already takes phantom sacks! It's only two games, but it's unclear what kind of effect Sean Payton is having on Nix. Considering Payton has tied his Denver future to Nix, that's regrettable. Because I'm not sure there should be much of any hope for the passer right now. -- RZ

29. Tennessee Titans

Last week's rank: 27

Will Levis is the football equivalent of giving a dog a pot of coffee. Sure, sometimes it's a delightful spectacle. But mostly, it just runs around aimlessly before crapping all over the grass. -- CD

28. Washington Commanders

Last week's rank: 29

The Commanders are 1-1, and Jayden Daniels has yet to throw a single touchdown. Not that this is unique to Daniels, as none of the 2024 rookie quarterbacks have found paydirt through the air to this stage. Fortunately, he's showing enough glimpses of progress so far that should give Washington hope moving forward. Unfortunately, it can't play the hapless Giants every week. You live and you learn. -- RZ

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week's rank: 25

Jacksonville let Miami and Cleveland off the hook in consecutive weeks, thanks to a low-octane offense. It failed to generate meaningful stops thanks to a defense that's forced zero turnovers and, against an injury-riddled Browns offensive line, only two sacks. The Jags don't do enough things right, and when they figure it out, they can't sustain it long enough to make a difference yet. -- CD

26. Cleveland Browns

Last week's rank: 23

If the Browns play any team with a real quarterback, they're probably going to lose. That's because Deshaun Watson, who is now facing a lawsuit alleging another instance of sexual misconduct, is a replacement-level player. But if they play the broken Trevor Lawrence? Well, OK, the Browns can win! That's just about where Cleveland stands right now. Its defense can beat up on bottom-feeders who have no other capabilities. Hooray? -- RZ

25. New England Patriots

Last week's rank: 28

Hoo boy, not that I'm surprised, but Jerod Mayo can coach. This Patriots team is in transition. It's starting Jacoby Brissett as a temporary stopgap for Drake Maye. Matthew Judon is gone, and Christian Barmore is out indefinitely with health issues. Yet, here the Patriots are, upending the Bengals on the road in Cincinnati and then pushing the well-coached Seahawks to their absolute limit. I don't think New England is good, per se. But there's no way it would just roll over and die in a rebuilding year. -- RZ

24. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week's rank: 26

That's the Raiders team I thought we'd see in Week 1 -- an opportunistic group that makes nothing easy for opponents. Las Vegas got out-gained by Baltimore handily but came up big to erase a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit as Gardner Minshew welcomed Davante Adams and Brock Bowers into his circle of trust. Is that sustainable? The first part, no. But the Adams/Bowers connection? Yeah, that should work. -- CD

23. Miami Dolphins

Last week's rank: 12

The first and only concern for the Dolphins right now should be about Tua Tagovailoa. Thursday night saw him endure his fourth concussion in the NFL as many years, as his future playing status now remains up in the air. A lot of upheaval feels like it's on the way for a Miami team stuck in neutral. It'll probably start with how Tagovailoa chooses to proceed with his professional career. That is, if he returns at all. -- RZ

22. Indianapolis Colts

Last week's rank: 17

Anthony Richardson is playing like Josh Allen. Specifically, the early version who threw into coverage and stared down bad throws. But the Colts did him few favors by dialing back his designed running game against a Packers team that wasn't great against mobile quarterbacks in 2023. Obviously, keeping him healthy is a concern, but where's the balance that keeps defenses honest behind a dual-threat offense? -- CD

21. Chicago Bears

Last week's rank: 13

Good. Lord. So much for the Bears having the "best rookie QB situation ever." For that sentiment to apply, they would need an offensive line that doesn't let defenses tee off Caleb Williams every week. That's exactly what happened against the Texans (again), who had 36 quarterback pressures (!) on 49 dropbacks. Not a typo. It is way too early to give up on Williams' long-term prospects. He's shown a lot of toughness battling through Chicago's turnstile offensive front so far.

But at a certain point, you worry about Williams' health. You start to think that he doesn't even have a chance to grow behind a line that hangs him out to dry. The Bears better solve their blocking issues fast, or they run the risk of ruining another first-round quarterback. -- RZ

20. Los Angeles Rams

Last week's rank: 8

The offensive line is officially a problem. Matthew Stafford got crushed on third down, and the Rams never had a chance in Arizona. Giving up a perfect 158.3 passer rating to Kyler Murray? That may be an even bigger problem. Still, Los Angeles dug itself out of a hole last season and has the chops to do it again. -- CD

19. Los Angeles Chargers

Last week's rank: 21

Through two weeks, Jim Harbaugh's Chargers have the NFL's second-leading rushing offense. Buoyed by J.K. Dobbins in his second act, the Chargers are punishing defenses who dare to leave just seven defenders in the box. It's to the point where Justin Herbert's uninspiring receiving corps doesn't factor into the equation. I have my doubts this stellar rushing play will last -- you can't play the Raiders and Panthers every week -- but it seems apparent L.A. has found a winning formula many squads around the NFL are also successfully adapting at the same time.

When in doubt, ride the (electric) wave. -- RZ

18. Green Bay Packers

Last week's rank: 16

Running all over a team that just gave up 150-plus yards to Joe Mixon wasn't groundbreaking and probably isn't sustainable, but at least one Wisconsin-based team made the Big Ten proud this week. Malik Willis did enough to win and escaped pressure well, but his downfield passing is a concern. It feels like Green Bay is just a few third-and-long situations away from dropping back under .500 until Jordan Love can return. -- CD

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week's rank: 15

Through two games, Justin Fields has 273 total passing yards, a single touchdown pass, and is averaging just 6.3 yards per pass attempt while fumbling the ball twice. The Steelers are 2-0. Yes, Jesse Pinkman. Mike Tomlin is indeed going to keep getting away with it. -- RZ

16. Atlanta Falcons

Last week's rank: 27

Kirk Cousins is feeling better. He regained his mid-range game, completing five of seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown on throws 10-19 yards downfield. Factor in a game-winning two-minute drill in which he completed five of six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, and even if he's not looking 100 percent, Cousins certainly seems back. -- CD

15. Arizona Cardinals

Last week's rank: 22

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s belated breakout was the headliner, but the lasting takeaway may be how a defense that fell apart in Week 1 rose to the challenge in Week 2. Arizona crushed Matthew Stafford on third down, sacking him four times on those pivotal downs (and adding a fifth via strip sack on second down). Generating lasting pressure against the Rams' patchwork offensive line is one thing. Make it a trend and the Cardinals' rebuild adds a few more stories in 2024. -- CD

14. New York Jets

Last week's rank: 14

Aaron Rodgers looked comfortable and played within himself to notch the first win of his Jets career over the Titans. The key was a ground game punctuated by all-around dynamo Breece Hall, who had 114 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 21 touches. This is how the Jets can win -- rely on timely shot plays from Rodgers while otherwise taking the air out of the ball. I would usually be skeptical about this being a consistent winning recipe for a contender. But after seeing the rest of the struggling NFL offensive landscape, the Jets have likely chosen the right path. -- RZ

13. Baltimore Ravens

Last week's rank: 5

Baltimore is 0-2 and Zay Flowers is unhappy with his usage. Things will sort themselves out, but this isn't the early statement a team with Super Bowl aspirations (and limited playoff success) wanted to make. Giving up a late lead to Patrick Mahomes is one thing. Blowing a 10-point fourth quarter lead to Gardner Minshew is another. -- CD

12. Cincinnati Bengals

Last week's rank: 9

Week 1 was your typical Bengals struggling to get out of bed on the first weekend of the season. It happens. But Week 2? That was the Bengals delivering a spirited effort against the hated Chiefs and still shooting themselves in the foot on multiple occasions. This was an actually devastating defeat, sending Cincinnati to a dreaded 0-2. No one else in the NFL understands quite what it takes to beat the Chiefs like the Bengals. But I'm not so sure they'll get another chance in 2024 after a shaky start in the standings. -- RZ

11. Seattle Seahawks

Last week's rank: 18

Geno Smith threw 44 passes Sunday with an average throw distance of 8.4 yards. Not a single pass was graded as off-target by NFL's Next Gen Stats. That's remarkable, but it's also pretty commonplace for Smith, who remains the underrated engine behind a team that's a little defensive cohesion away from being a real postseason problem. -- CD

10. Minnesota Vikings

Last week's rank: 20

The Sam Darnold Express keeps on rolling along. Darnold saw one of the tougher tests of his career against the juggernaut San Francisco 49ers, and he passed with flying colors, consistently leveraging the Vikings' dynamic weapons like Justin Jefferson into advantageous situations. Which brings me to a larger point. Minnesota is coached extremely well. Kevin O'Connell might be a top-five offensive play-caller right now. The same can be said of Brian Flores on defense. Quality coaching and preparation can cover up a lot of warts. Even a journeyman quarterback on his fourth NFL team since 2018. -- RZ

9. Dallas Cowboys

Last week's rank: 7

Six drives, six touchdowns. That's how the Saints started their game against Dallas. That left Dak Prescott to win a shootout while holding a Roman candle, and his offense of limited playmakers failed to stand up. That's two straight subpar games from the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, and while that trend won't hold up, it's probably giving Jerry Jones heartburn at the very least. -- CD

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Last week's rank: 6

Whatever excitement the Eagles got from getting C.J. Gardner-Johnson looking like his old self quickly gave way when the defense couldn't find a way to stop Kirk Cousins and his 1.5 Achilles tendons in what became the world's easiest two-minute drive. And Jalen Hurts' passing game remains a concern. -- CD

7. New Orleans Saints

Last week's rank: 24

Derek Carr has only thrown 39 passes so far in 2024. Meanwhile, the undefeated Saints -- led by a revitalized Alvin Kamara -- have outscored their opponents by a 91-29 margin. Eventually, Carr will probably have to air it out for New Orleans to be taken seriously as a legitimate NFC contender. For now, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak deserves a lot of credit for instituting a Saints offense that will be grinding its opponents into a fine paste until someone finally says "uncle." -- RZ

6. Detroit Lions

Last week's rank: 3

Welp, ooooof. Jared Goff played broken football in Week 2 -- the kind that makes you trust him less in the postseason, even though he's been there before. His throws short of the sticks helped squash the Lions' comeback hopes and may have given head coach Dan Campbell something to consider in his run/pass balance. Still, one bad game won't taint his Detroit revival. It's just something to keep an eye on with the veteran QB. -- CD

5. San Francisco 49ers

Last week's rank: 2

I'm willing to give the 49ers a mulligan because the Vikings have an obvious hex on them whenever they play in Minnesota. However, I do worry about what this offense will look like should Christian McCaffrey continue missing time, even if the 49ers don't appear concerned. The one true lingering issue in the Bay Area might be Brandon Aiyuk, who has just six catches for 71 yards on 10 targets in two games after missing the preseason due to his contract dispute. If Aiyuk doesn't get going soon, the offense of the defending NFC champions will become much easier to contain. -- RZ

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week's rank: 11

Todd Bowles keeps giving us reasons to believe, and while No. 5 seems a bit high based on this team's overall talent, you can't argue with the results. Tampa Bay brought a depleted roster north to Michigan and then messed with Jared Goff just enough to make the veteran quarterback implode. Get everyone healthy, and the Bucs may be able to do more this postseason than just win a Wild Card game. -- CD

3. Buffalo Bills

Last week's rank: 10

So much for a "down year" in Western New York. One week after surviving the upstart Cardinals, the Bills emasculated the rival Dolphins. It was never close, with Buffalo seeing little resistance on both sides of the ball. The scary part is that these new-look Bills are undefeated and have yet to ask Josh Allen to put on a red cape as much as they usually do. That's quality team balance that can finally push Buffalo over the top in the crucible of January ... and February. -- RZ

2. Houston Texans

Last week's rank: 4

Sunday night proved that Houston's offense remains a greater work in progress than we expected. Sure, there were flashes, but most of that felt like it came from C.J. Stroud's brilliance before the Bears locked the Texans in a fighting cage. Nonetheless, the Texans' defense -- especially the relentless pass rush led by Danielle Hunter -- might actually be better than we thought. And this young Texans team, while still growing, is well on track toward living up to the hype of a young, bona fide Super Bowl contender. -- RZ

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Last week's rank: 1

Patrick Mahomes didn't look great, and the Bengals were able to lock down Xavier Worthy, effectively ruining Kansas City's deep game. This didn't matter because last year proved the Chiefs can win games even when his average target distance is only 3.8 yards downfield. Mahomes should be thanking Roger Goodell for not suspending Rashee Rice yet because the rest of K.C.'s receiving corps combined for 76 yards in Week 2. -- CD

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Saints’ resurgence feels incredibly fake, but we can’t lie to ourselves forever