It was very obvious that most NFL teams desperately needed football back, based on how many high-scoring matchups played out in Week 1. Starting with the season-opening matchup on Wednesday, there were plenty of upsets and offensive fireworks, creating a few changes in ClutchPointsâ Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, including at the top.
Check out ClutchPointsâ Week 2 NFL Power Rankings to see where your team lands.
1. Buffalo Bills (+3)
What a wacky Week 1 for the Buffalo Bills â facing one of the leagueâÂÂs best defenses, Josh Allen and company hung 36 points on them, four touchdowns coming via Allen, after a slow-starting first quarter. DJ Moore and Joshua Palmer caught touchdowns from Allen, while both Moore and Dalton Kincaid crossed the century mark in receiving yards, and Allen found the end zone twice on the ground, as he threw for 334 yards, putting his stamp on the early-season MVP race and helping the Bills jump into the top spot in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.
2. Seattle Seahawks (no change)
A superb, stand-in performance from Drew Lock helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Week 1 win over the New England Patriots, but losing Sam Darnold to a lower-body injury clouded the victory. Darnold, who was knocked out early in SEAâÂÂs win, was ruled out quickly, leading many to infer about the severity of his injury, but all signs point to Darnold having avoided something serious.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba put up a quiet 122 yards and a touchdown in the win, easily leading all pass catchers, and rookie running back Jadarian Price earned 12 touches (58 yards) on Wednesday night.
3. Denver Broncos (Monday Night Football)
A divisional matchup to wrap up Week 1 awaits the Denver Broncos, as they will give Patrick Mahomes his first test post-injury. After coming up one game short of a Super Bowl berth last year, Bo Nix is looking to run it back on offense, as he now has offseason addition Jaylen Waddle in his repertoire.
4. Los Angeles Rams (-3)
Of the two teams that played in Australia, it was the Los Angeles Rams that looked worse for wear with jet lag. Matthew Stafford and the offense looked on different pages all game, as a Kyren Williams rushing score is the only reason that they were not held scoreless.
While an early-season divisional loss sets the Rams off on the wrong foot, pairing that with an IR stint for Myles Garrett makes it quite a poor start to the 2026 NFL season for the Rams. This loss drops the Rams out of the top spot in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.
5. Chicago Bears (+1)
What a statement win for the Chicago Bears to kick off their 2026 season, as the offense hung 59 points on the Carolina Panthers and took a big step forward in Ben JohnsonâÂÂs offense. Caleb Williams threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, DâÂÂAndre Swift proved why he deserved his three-year extension this week with a three-touchdown performance, and the 96 total points scored set an NFL record as the highest-scoring Week 1 matchup in league history.
6. San Francisco 49ers (+1)
The Brock Purdy show was on full display in Week 1, as his three-touchdown performance helped pick up the scoreless performance from Christian McCaffrey. Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, and Demarcus Robinson caught TDs from Purdy, CMC accounted for 88 yards on 15 touches, and the SF defense held Stafford and the Rams to 155 yards and an interception in the key divisional win.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (+1)
The Jacksonville Jaguars' passing attack ran the show yet again, as their blowout win over the Cleveland Browns was anchored by Trevor Lawrence. Connecting with Parker Washington (5/83/1), Brenton Strange (2/23/1), and rookie Josh Cameron (2/20/1) for scores, Lawrence was in control all game.
Defensively, the Jaguars harassed the CLE offense to the tune of an interception, two forced fumbles, five sacks, and only 10 points allowed.
8. Baltimore Ravens (+1)
The first game of the Jesse Minter/Declan Doyle era got underway with a bang, as the Baltimore Ravens put up a strong performance in their Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts. A heavy dose of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry running the ball dominated the offensive game plan, as they combined for 184 yards and four TDs on the ground, while Zay Flowers led all pass catchers with 150 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Flowers did leave Sunday's win early with a hamstring injury, but early signs point to him having avoided a long-term injury, so Ravens fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
ZAY FLOWERS HAS 138 YARDS AND A TOCUHDOWN WITH 7 MINUTES LEFT IN THE FIRST HALF ð pic.twitter.com/HgG4AtgLau
â Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife) September 13, 2026
9. New England Patriots (-4)
It now makes two consecutive bad performances by Drake Maye against the Seahawks, as a three-interception performance to start the year bogged down the NE offense. Combined with an early exit from A.J. Brown due to injury, the Patriots' offense was bogged down. Brown is looking at a month-plus recovery for an ankle injury, putting more of a focus on Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas in the passing attack.
10. Detroit Lions (+4)
It was a slow start for the Detroit offense, but Jahmyr Gibbs helped steady the Lions and guided them to their first win of the season. A monster 156-yard performance on the ground, with five receptions and 30 yards through the air, from Gibbs helped get this offense back in gear, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 10 passes, two of which he found the end zone with. Detroit finds itself rounding out the top 10 in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings, jumping four spots with its overtime win.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (+2)
The Philly offense utilized a healthy split between the run and pass in their Week 1 win, as Jalen Hurts attempted 25 passes and four players combined for 25 rushing attempts. Hurts looked comfortable in the new offensive scheme, connecting with Dallas Goedert for two touchdowns while playing a turnover-free game. Overall, it was a strong showing from the PHI offense, as they will need to string together this kind of consistent play more as the season goes on.
12. Houston Texans (-1)
A three-touchdown performance from David Montgomery kept the Texans in most of their Week 1 matchup, but two fumbles from C.J. Stroud and a late collapse by the defense allowed the Bills to snatch a win away from Houston. Stroud had a solid day (minus the turnovers), as he threw for 274 yards and two scores, but Montgomery led the way on offense, earning 23 touches and scoring two on the ground and one through the air.
13. Green Bay Packers (-3)
Another season of late-game losses for the Green Bay Packers, as their 12-point lead in the second half turned into a 17-point deficit that they could not overcome. Without Josh Jacobs, the run game for Green Bay struggled, putting more on the shoulders of Jordan Love, and he responded with 387 yards and two touchdowns.
Christian Watson had a huge game as the Packersâ leading pass catcher, catching six passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. A lot of this loss can be placed on the shoulders of the same issues dating back to last year, when they were unable to put away opponents late in games.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (+3)
In a surprising development, the Cincinnati Bengalsâ defense stepped up to the occasion and helped out their high-octane offense. Forcing four fumbles, recording four sacks, and taking a fumble back for a score, the Cincy defense held up their part of the bargain in Week 1.
Offensively, Joe Burrow had a quiet game, connecting with Mike Gesicki for his lone touchdown of the day, as both JaâÂÂMarr Chase (2/12) and Tee Higgins (3/59) didnâÂÂt put up their normal numbers, especially against a Tampa defense that should have been susceptible through the air. With the win, the Bengals jump three spots in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (Monday Night Football)
Mahomes will get his first taste of regular-season action in an AFC West battle, as the Chiefs will play host to the Broncos on Monday Night Football. Offseason addition Kenneth Walker III will help take a lot of pressure of Mahomesâ shoulders right out of the gate, as the Chiefs will be very happy to have a solid running game yet again.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (-4)
The first week of the Mike McDaniel era got stuck in the mud, as the Los Angeles Chargersâ offense failed to efficiently move the ball in their Week 1 loss. A lack of a sustained running game, specifically from Omarion Hampton, made things very one-dimensional for Justin Herbert, as he barely eclipsed 200 passing yards.
Having played down to their competition, the Chargers will need to forget about their loss if they want to factor into the AFC West race.
17. Minnesota Vikings (+2)
Losing Kyler Murray early with a concussion put a real damper on the opening-week plans for the Minnesota Vikings, but Carson Wentz stepped in (like the trusted veteran he is) and led a second-half comeback for the win.
Wentz heavily targeted Justin Jefferson in the victory, as the stud receiver caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. While WentzâÂÂs performance likely doesnâÂÂt create a QB controversy whenever Murray is ready to return, it does show that this offense can function with different styles of quarterbacks.
18. New Orleans Saints (no change)
There was a lot that the Saints wonâÂÂt want to take from their Week 1 loss to the Lions, but there is a lot of good that they should take from how their offense looked, at least in the second half. A three-turnover performance by Tyler Shough is certainly not something that Kellen Moore hopes is a sign of things to come, but a second-half improvement took New Orleans from being shut out to putting up 30 points.
Chris Olave went off against Detroit despite the Saints coming up just short in OT
10 REC, 182 YDS, 18.2 AVG pic.twitter.com/H0Fq4AjeR3
â Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) September 13, 2026
Chris Olave was ShoughâÂÂs favorite target, catching 10 passes for 132 yards, while Devaughn Vele, Juwan Johnson, and Noah Fant all caught touchdown passes. A failed two-point conversion in overtime turned a second-half comeback into a loss for the Saints, as they will need to figure out some things on offense next week; even with the loss, there were enough positive takeaways to not drop the Saints in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.
19. New York Giants (+3)
Article Continues BelowJaxson Dart and Malik Nabers came out of the gates strong, helping kick off the Sunday Night Football slate with a win for the New York Giants. Dart looked to handle running situations smarter by not putting himself in as much danger as last season, and Nabers did not look to have any limitations or concerns with his knee, as he caught six passes for 69 yards.
Isaiah Likely ended up being DartâÂÂs favorite target in their SNF win, catching eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the win, and Cam Skattebo averaged 4.5 yards per carry, turning 18 carries into 81 yards and a score.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (no change)
A Week 1 win for Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy kicked off their reunion tour/swan song on the right foot, and it was mostly due to the Pittsburgh defense. A pick-six by T.J. Watt, coupled with two total turnovers and only 238 yards of total offense allowed, paved the way for the Pittsburgh defense to earn the headlines in their contest.
Offensively, Rodgers connected with Pat Freiermuth for his long score, while the Jaylen Warren/Rico Dowdle run-game combo did the offense no favors, only combining for 61 yards on the ground.
21. Dallas Cowboys (-5)
It was a disappointing start to the 2026 NFL season for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, as a scoreless first quarter set the table for a disappointing opening week. Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb and Javonte Williams for scores, but the inability to move the ball down the field made it difficult to put points on the board.
On the flip side, the defense wasnâÂÂt able to get the NYG offense off the field; an issue dating back to last season, the DAL defense continues to be a sieve against opposing offenses, and it seems to be leaking over into this season already.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1)
Fresh off signing a lucrative extension, Baker Mayfield was the reason that the Buccaneers lost their Week 1 matchup with the Bengals. Three lost fumbles and some questionable decisions from Mayfield led to an inconsistent showing for the Buccaneers' offense, as Bucky Irving (7/48), Emeka Egbuka (5/63), and Chris Godwin (4/40) were his favorite targets.
23. Carolina Panthers (+1)
It is very uncommon to put up 37 points and lose in the NFL, yet the Panthers put up 37 points and still lost by 22 to the Bears to open the season. While the scoreboard was unfriendly to Carolina, their offensive performance was not, as Bryce Young and his weapons showed true improvement from last year.
Young threw for 361 yards and touchdowns to Jalen Coker (x2) and Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard chipped in a score on the ground, and Coker caught eight passes for 138 yards and two TDs.
24. Indianapolis Colts (-1)
Things are still very clunky on offense for the Colts, as Daniel Jones did not look like his old self in his first game back. The offense was once again very one-dimensional, relying heavily on Jonathan Taylor (the only RB to earn a carry) for the majority of their offense. For the Colts, they will need to become more two-dimensional and lean on the passing game if they want to become more efficient, as being too predictable isnâÂÂt a long-term option.
25. Washington Commanders (no change)
It was a good sight to see Jayden Daniels back on the field for the Commanders, but a Week 1 loss to the Eagles kicked off the 2026 NFL season on the wrong foot. Daniels connected with Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams for scores, while Jacory Croskey-Merritt took the majority of touches in the backfield, rushing for 63 yards and score.
No turnovers for Daniels is a good sign, but only throwing for 164 yards and having a completion percentage under 60 percent shows a few areas of improvement for both Daniels and the WAS offense.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (+2)
The Klink Kubiak tenure is off to a solid start, as the Las Vegas Raiders earned their first win of the year with a 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins. It was far from a clean game, as Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions, but a 29-touch performance from Ashton Jeanty quells any long-term concerns about his preseason injury.
Jeanty rushed for 102 yards and led all LV pass catchers with six catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, as he is clearly the only option on offense you can trust with Brock Bowers out, as the Raiders jumped two spots in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.
27. Atlanta Falcons (-1)
The QB issues continue to plague the Atlanta Falcons, as Cooper Rush was thrust into the starting gig with both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa fighting injuries. Bijan Robinson was once again the key cog in this offense, earning 29 touches and racking up 173 yards, but he was the only real option that Atlanta could count on in this game.
28. New York Jets (+1)
The second Geno Smith era is underway for the New York Jets, and it started with a 23-10 win over the Tennessee Titans. Smith threw for 215 scoreless yards in the win, as his favorite target was receiver Garrett Wilson, who hauled in six of his targets for 79 yards.
Breece Hall crossed the century mark on the ground, rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, chipping in 16 yards through the air in the win.
29. Tennessee Titans (-2)
The first game of the Robert Saleh era did not go as planned for the Titans, as a quiet performance from Cam Ward and the offense resulted in a 13-point loss. It was more of the same from the Titans' offense, as Ward only threw for 140 yards, although a turnover-free game from the second-year QB is a step in the right direction.
Expecting an immediate improvement from Ward in his first year under Brian Daboll isnâÂÂt realistic, but Daboll is a great fit for the development of Ward, as he has experience developing young, moldable QBs that need to use their mobility and athleticism better.
30. Arizona Cardinals (+2)
The Mike LaFleur era is off and running for the Arizona Cardinals, as their upset win of the Chargers was the biggest surprise of Week 1. Jeremiyah Love scored his first NFL touchdown in the win, Jacoby Brissett went 27/37 for 277 yards, and Trey McBride hauled in nine receptions and BrissettâÂÂs lone touchdown in the win, helping the Cardinals get out of the basement in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.
31. Miami Dolphins (no change)
The Miami offense is going to be a work in progress all year, but the Malik Willis addition is going to add an exciting facet to this offense that it has been missing. Willis threw for 220 yards and an interception in MIAâÂÂs Week 1 loss, leading the team with 39 yards and a rushing touchdown in the process. Willisâ relationship with his trio of rookie wideouts will be fun to track, as Week 1 was the week of Caleb Douglas, as he led all Miami pass catchers with five catches for 94 yards (on seven targets).
32. Cleveland Browns (-2)
Another year, another season of a bad on-field product for the Browns, as Deshaun Watson and the entire CLE offense failed to put up much of a fight. Watson looks just as bad as he looked when he last stepped on the field (back in 2024), and the run game wasnâÂÂt able to get anything going either, having played from behind most of the game, solidifying themselves as the worst team in the Week 2 NFL Power Rankings.