Denver Broncos

Week Two NFL Power Rankings

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Week one is in the books and what a great opening week it was. The defending champs proved that Super Bowl 50 was no fluke. Lot’s of crazy come from behind victories that defied all odds. Oh, and New England is still good—even with their backups. Who rose? Who fell? Check out the Week Two NFL Power Rankings now.

1. Denver Broncos (1)

Sep 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) celebrates the win against the Carolina Panthers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 21-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In Trevor Siemian’s first career start, all he did was go out and win the game. Were there some hiccups? Of course there were. But two things proved true—the defense is still domianant, and the offensive line is a heck of a lot better than it was a season ago. Provided he stays healthy, C.J. Anderson is going to run wild this season, and the Broncos will win a lot of games.

2. Green Bay Packers (4)

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Davante Adams (not pictured) against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

It took a last second stand, but the Packers got a road win, and the NFL that is tough to do, no matter the opponent. Rodgers was his normal, masterful self as he made countless highlights in this one, including this gem:

The defense didn’t have their finest day, but I think as time will tell, the Jaguars offensive attack will end up being top-10 in the NFL. The most promising thing in this game perhaps, was the return of Jordy Nelson. A healthy Nelson means the world to Rodgers, and means the Packers are going to be a top notch team, week in and week out.

3. New England Patriots (5)

Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates after beating the Arizona Cardinals 23-21 at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps it doesn’t really matter who plays quarterback for this team. Or tight end, left tackle, etc. The Patriots essentially rolled a bunch of backups in to University of Phoenix Stadium and came away with a road win against a team that finished last season 13-3. Add Solder, Gronk and Brady to the mix, and clearly you have one of the best teams in the NFL—as always.

4. Seattle Seahawks (3)

Sep 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is tackled by Miami Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams (94) during a NFL game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The reasons the Seahawks dropped a spot in a win is two-fold:

First, it took a last second touchdown drive to beat the Dolphins at home with the 12th man behind them.

Second, Russell Wilson got hurt, and the team is already non-committal about his status for next week.

This doesn’t bode well for a team that relies heavily on their star quarterbacks mobility to succeed on offense. What is even scarier is who sits behind Wilson on the depth chart. The Seahawks need Wilson to be himself in order to succeed, and even before the injury, it wasn’t like they were lighting it up.

On the bright side for the fans, the Seahawks are 1-0, and the Cardinals lost, so that is a good thing.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)

Sep 12, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates with wide receiver Eli Rogers (17) after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

This Steelers offense is absolutely ridiculous. Antonio Brown simply cannot be stopped, and there is a good chance that Big Ben will break a record or two this season. The Steelers defense even seems to be coming around nicely and they were out there laying some wood on the Redskins Monday night. The Steelers will undoubtedly be a top team in the AFC.

6. Carolina Panthers (2)

Sep 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (19) against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 21-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not easy to knock off the champs. The Panthers did their best, and it was certainly a better outing than Super Bowl 50. However, they couldn’t hold on to a 10-point fourth quarter lead against a 7th round pick, making his first career start at quarterback. Cam Newton was abused in the second half of this game after having his way in the first half. The Panthers should be fine in the long run—especially given the way that Kelvin Benjamin played in his return from an ACL injury. The Panthers need to look ahead and cannot let the back to back losses to the Broncos cloud their minds if they want another chance to win a Super Bowl.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (8)

Sep 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) and New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) meet at midfield after a game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Wasn’t A.J. Green supposed to be banged up? All he did was prove that the Bengals only need one receiver to be successful. No wonder they let Jones and Sanu walk—just throw the ball to A.J. Green and get out of his way. Revis got abused by the big receiver, and the Bengals got themselves a really nice road win against a very good Jets team.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (9)

Sep 11, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) is congratulated after scoring the winning touchdown in overtime against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

For the better part of three quarters the Chiefs looked helpless. It took a franchise record comeback in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. For the Chiefs, they had better hope that the first three quarters were just first game jitters, not a sign of things to come. If they plan on doing that every week, they are going to lose a lot of games. However, they got the win, and at the end of the day that is all that really matters. 1-0 for the Chiefs, who hope that this year is finally the year to knock off the Broncos in the AFC West.

9. Baltimore Ravens (10)

Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) celebrates with fans in the stands after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Two things were clear in this game:

First, Joe Flacco looks just fine coming back from an ACL injury that caused him to miss the final six games a year ago.
Second, Flacco appears to have a stable of weapons to throw to, something that is never said about the Ravens. They have Steve Smith Sr, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman and Kamar Aiken. With lots of weapons should come lots of wins. It’s hard to keep these Ravens down for long.

10. Oakland Raiders (11)

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio celebrates as he leaves the field following a win against the New Orleans Saints in a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Gotta give it to the Raiders—they aren’t afraid to take a chance. After a great comeback, albeit against a lowly Saints defense, they made the bold move that says we are here to play—going for two and the win, instead of kicking the extra point and the tie. They were rewarded with a win as the Saints rookie kick just missed from 62 yards.. The bad news for the Raiders is that it took a marvelous comeback in order to get the win, and that they allowed Drew Brees to throw for 423 yards and four scores. Brees was only sacked him once with the upgraded pass rush the Raiders were supposed to have, which is a cause for concern when they had 42 pass attempts to get to him. The denfense will have to improve if this team is going to be taken seriously. However, it was a gut check win in a tough environment, which is a good start for the young Raiders.

11. Minnesota Vikings (15)

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) picks up a Tennessee Titans fumble and runs for a touchdown during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Minnesota won 25-16. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports.

This win was all about defense for the Vikings. The Bridgewater injury was devastating—nobody is doubting that. But the Vikings defense is good enough for them to win games like they did Sunday. The offense will need to improve as the competition improves, and that is where the Vikings are hoping Sam Bradford gets up to speed sooner, rather than later.

12. Arizona Cardinals (7)

Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) is embraced by quarterback Carson Palmer after missing the game winning field goal in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This was not a good week for the Cardinals. The talent differential between these two teams was enormous on this night, as the Patriots were without Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Nate Solder. At home, this should have been an easy win for the Cards. Maybe the Cardinals just aren’t as good as we assumed they’d be.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20)

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Jameis Winston is an impressive football player. He shook off a slow start and absolutely lit up the Falcons on Sunday, throwing for four TD’s. What’s as impressive as his play is the leadership he possesses.

Winston is no longer in college, he has no problem leading, by example and vocally. He has no problem calling out players that are his elders, and he commands the respect of his teammates. The young Bucs should only get better from here on out, and could be a surprise playoff team in the NFC.

14. Houston Texans (18)

Sep 11, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) celebrates with center Greg Mancz (65) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears during the first half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

In his first start with his new team, Brock Osweiler had an uneven performance but lead his team to a victory. Beating the Bears at home is nothing too special, but a win is a win, and in this league, every win is hard earned. Brock Osweiler will have two good receivers in Hopkins and Fuller to help shoulder the offensive load. We’ll see if they can have sustained success.

15. Washington Redskins (12)

Sep 12, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins defensive back Josh Norman (24) talks with head linesman Mark Hittner (28) and side judge Jeff Lamberth (21) during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Losing to the Steelers at home is not unforgivable—these things happen. Josh Norman expressed his frustration after Monday night’s contest, and rightfully so. Antonio Brown had a field day and the coaches refusal to move Norman out of his typical left corner spot cost his team. What is the point of paying Norman that kind of money if you aren’t planning to put him on the opposing teams best receiver? This is a question that will need to be answered moving forward.

16. New York Jets (16)

Sep 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) catches a pass in front of New York Jets corner back Darrelle Revis (24) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

There were two concerning things we saw from the Jets on Sunday in a game that felt like was otherwise controlled by the home team:

One—Darrelle Revis got torched all day by A.J. Green. We are not used to seeing Revis get beat this badly on a consistent basis. Should we chalk it up to a bad game by Revis, or is this a sign that Revis Island is sinking quickly.

Two—The special teams weren’t good. A missed field goal from inside the 30, and a missed extra point proved to be the difference in 0-1 and 1-0.

17. Indianapolis Colts (13)

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) avoids the tackle of Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. the Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts by the score of 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a good news bad news deal for the Colts. The good news is that Andrew Luck is back, and looks like he deserves that contract the Colts gave him. The bad news? The Colts just lost a home game to the Lions, and the defense looked abysmal in doing so. Maybe the Lions will prove to be an offensive juggernaut and the Colts weren’t ready, but it’s going to be hard to get back to the top of the AFC South with defensive performances like that.

18. Jacksonville Jaguars (16)

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (80) catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter as Green Bay Packers cornerback Quinten Rollins (24) defends at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, the Jags lost. With that said, there was a lot of good that happened on Sunday as the young Jags nearly beat an elite level Packers team. The Jaguars offense looks potent, and the defense did some good things against the best quarterback in the NFL. Rodgers made a few plays that can’t be defensed. The Jags will have a legitimate shot to win the division if this is the type of performance we can expect week in and week out.

19. New York Giants (22)

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) cannot catch a pass while defended by New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (41) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants did some great things on the road on both sides of the ball:

On offense, they showed that they have three good receiving threats. Of course ODB is going to be dominant, but the return of Victor Cruz and the emergence of rookie Sterling Shepard will vastly improve the offense and won’t allow defenses to focus solely on Beckham.

On defense the Giants blanketed receiver Dez Bryant, and mostly limited Ezekiel Elliott in his pro debut—a debut in which most predicted he’d run all over the Giants defense behind a brilliant offensive line. The Giants should be given credit for the struggles of both Bryant and Elliott.

20. Dallas Cowboys (17)

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) dives in for a touchdown against New York Giants free safety Nat Berhe (29) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys delivered a decent performance at home, but a division loss at home in week one always hurts. Rookie Dak Prescott played alright, and made some throws that his receivers probably could have caught. However, only 5 yards per attempt is not good. You also would have expected the offensive line to open up more holes for the rookie Elliott who most plays simply looked as if there was nowhere he could have possibly gone. The Cowboys had better figure it out as an 0-2 start could be hard to overcome with a rookie QB.

21. Buffalo Bills (19)

Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) scrambles during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens won 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills played alright Sunday as the game was always close, but you just never got the feeling that they were going to win. They’ve been marred by suspensions and distractions, and it could be a slow start coming for the northern New York occupants.

22. Detroit Lions (27)

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks the game winning field goal in the four quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. the Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts by the score of 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Lions certainly impressive early in this one, and seemed to handle gettign punched back really well. The Colts stormed back to tie this game midway through the fourth. But the Lions were resilient, getting a touchdown of their own, only to miss the extra point. Most teams would have quit when the Colts drove down to take a one point lead with under a minute to play, but Matthew Stafford gave Matt Prater a chance to redeem himself. Redeem himself he did as he drilled the field goal for a walk off road win, not an easy accomplishment. The defense could be the undoing of this team, but the offense sure looks good under Jim Bob Cooter.

23. Miami Dophins (23)

Sep 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills (10) attempts to catch a pass while defended by Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during a NFL game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Did the Dolphins win the game? No. Did anyone think that they’d lose a 12-10 game on a last second TD by the Seahawks at CenturyLink? No way. The Dolphins played a great game, and had Kenny Stills hauled in a sure TD pass, the Dolphins likely would have won that game. Does this mean the Dolphins are for real, or the Seahawks aren’t for real, or is it simply just another example of Any Given Sunday? Only time will tell, but for now, that’s an impressive start in a loss for Adam Gase and the Dolphins.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (29)

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz looks to pass in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Carson Wentz looked fantastic in his first career start. Eagles fans should be very excited about their future, but everyone needs to pump the brakes. It was only the Brown they beat after all and the Browns are, well the Browns.

25. New Orleans Saints (24)

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints kicker Will Lutz (3) attempts a 61-yard field goal from the hold of Thomas Morstead (6) on the last play of the game against the Oakland Raiders in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders won 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints offense looked incredible. The defense on the other hand was awful. The Saints are going to be in for yet another 7-9 season, wasting yet another beautiful Drew Brees season. The Raiders are an up and coming team, but that game shouldn’t have been close.

26. San Francisco 49ers (31)

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) celebrates after he scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter at Levi

Well, this was a nice start for Chip Kelly’s 49ers as they absolutely steamrolled the Rams. Not quite sure if the Niners defense is actually good, or if the Rams are just that bad but time will tell. Navorro Bowman looked like a beast out there, which is a welcome sight for Niners fans. Blaine Gabbert was average at best, but when you play for Chip Kelly, that’s really all you need. A larger sample size will be needed but the early returns are good in San Francisco—then again I’m sure the people of Philadelphia said the same thing after their first Chip Kelly game.

27. San Diego Chargers (28)

Sep 11, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) is carted off of the field after an injury during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers blew the big lead and lost a game they easily should have won. But the bigger loss came when Keenan Allen blew out his ACL midway through the game. The Chargers offense looked potent, but losing a receiver like that will hurt them vastly, and make it very tough for them to compete. Tough break for Allen and the Chargers.

28. Atlanta Falcons (25)

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) carries the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) defends in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Ryan to Julio Jones may be the only thing the Falcons get going this season. Simply put, this is not a very good team that just got blitzkrieged on their home field by a very young Tampa Bay team. If they continue this level of play, they’ll be lucky to squeak out five wins.

29. Los Angeles Rams (21)

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Sean Mannion (14) reacts during a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

The worst performance of week one goes to the Los Angeles Rams. The display of football put on by the Rams was borderline unwatchable. Case Keenum was terrible. Todd Gurley had no room to run. The defense wasn’t prepared for the uptempo pace of the 49ers. After one week, there is no reason to keep their number one overall pick Jared Goff on the sidelines. Give him a helmet and see what he’s got.

30. Chicago Bears (30)

Sep 11, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) grabs the leg of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears lost a game that wasn’t really close after the second half began. It’s not like the Texans lit the place up either. The Texans performance would be classified as “uneven,” so needless to say, this Bears team is just plain bad.

31. Cleveland Browns (26)

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin (98) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 29-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns will be the Browns. After losing to the rookie Carson Wentz and the Eagles, they lost Robert Griffin III until at least week 10, possibly for the year. At least they’ll own every pick in the 2017 draft.

32. Tennessee Titans (32)

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (19) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jabari Price (25) after catching a pass during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Minnesota won 25-16. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The Titans have no excuse for a loss like this to a Vikings team that couldn’t get anything going. Demarco Murray had a nice day, but at the end of the day, they are currently the worst team in football, and will likely keep that title along with the Browns for the remainder of the year. Good thing, like the Browns, they will have a huge haul of picks, including their own to build for the future.