The NFL power rankings after Week 1 were provided on September 15, 2026, and these are the updated rankings after Week 2. Eight teams remain winless, while an equal number are a perfect 2-0.
The Tennessee Titans are a charity case on both sides of the ball through two weeks. Quarterback Cam Ward has thrown just one touchdown over 323 passing yards, and the defense is giving up 23.5 PPG. Does anyone know who the top draft prospects are next year? The Titans likely do.
The Miami Dolphins have scored 13 points in both games this season, while giving up 31 PPG. Quarterback Malik Willis had just one passing and one rushing touchdown, with an abysmal 43.4 QBR. The schedule doesn’t get much easier after their Week 2 loss in San Francisco, with the Kansas City Chiefs on deck, and the Minnesota Vikings in the hole.
The Atlanta Falcons are in a world of trouble, being outscored 54-16 through Week 2. Quarterback Cooper Rush has started both games but has four interceptions and only one touchdown, while the defense is allowing 27 PPG. The Falcons announced https://www.sportsnet.ca/nfl/article/falcons-qb-michael-penix-jr-to-start-week-3-vs-packers-make-season-debut/ their change to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on Monday.
After a competitive Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Commanders fell apart in Week 2. Most notably, quarterback Jayden Daniels was forced to leave the game near the end of the first half with a dislocated elbow. Sportsnet confirms the injury, along with player comments postgame. Coach Dan Quinn said imaging showed the dislocation but no fracture for Daniels, while backup quarterback Marcus Mariota said, “You watch that kid battle through all that he’d been through last year, just very, very unfortunate. … He’s got an incredible support system. We’re gonna do everything we can to get him back and get him right.”
Quarterback Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy are clearly not in sync. Herbert has thrown for two touchdowns, but three interceptions through two weeks. The defense has also played relatively poorly, considering it’s been their strength, giving up an extra six points per game on average this year, compared to 2025.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have looked out of sorts in their two losses against AFC North opponents. Both games may have been one-possession losses, but quarterback Baker Mayfield has just one passing touchdown, and just as many interceptions. The defense giving up 28 PPG isn’t helping, and the road ahead doesn’t look much smoother, with upcoming games against the Vikings and Green Bay Packers.
Cleveland Browns fans are ecstatic after they beat former quarterback Mayfield 23-19 in Tampa Bay on Sunday. In a shocking turn of events, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was better on this day, throwing for 238 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. After two road games, the Browns travel back home for two, against the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
After scoring 26 points in a Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Arizona Cardinals were blown out by the defending Super Bowl Champions 7-31 on Sunday. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and a touchdown to open the year, but followed it up with 95 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. 2026 third-overall draft pick Jeremiyah Love was also contained in Week 2, kept off the scoreboard with 29-rushing yards.
The Indianapolis Colts offense has been a top-ten scoring offense so far, but they’ve also had the worst defense in the NFL. After being outscored 53-74 through two weeks, the Colts go back home to host the struggling Houston Texans. Both teams are seeking their first win in Week 3.
The New York Giants were blown out in more ways than one. The Giants lost to the Los Angeles Rams 6-28, and quarterback Jaxson Dart may have blown out his knee. Fans received slight relief when wide receiver Malik Nabers returned to the game, after leaving the first quarter due to a shoulder injury.
After a strong Week 1 win over the Titans, the New York Jets took the Packers into overtime, albeit in a losing effort. They have the league’s best defense as of Monday morning, and the team continues to take care of the ball, without a turnover this season. The Jets will travel to Detroit and Chicago before their next home game, hosting only two of their first six games.
The Steelers offense is in trouble. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has only one touchdown and an interception through Week 2, while newly acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. missed their game Sunday with a foot injury. Their underperforming 2025 defense has bounced back well so far, top-ten through two games.
The Packers are struggling to find traction this season, scoring 21 PPG, while giving up 28. Quarterback Jordan Love has already been sacked seven times, and the defense struggles against the most lackadaisical offenses. They’ll look to rebound at home against the Falcons next week.
The Texans followed up their Week 1 shootout loss by scoring six points on last year’s third-worst scoring defense. Their one strength coming into the season has been a disappointment, allowing 28 PPG so far this year. They’ll try to improve their -9.5 average scoring margin against the Colts.
After initial scrutiny, the decision to start quarterback Kirk Cousins over 2026 first-overall draft selection Fernando Mendoza is paying off. Cousins has thrown six touchdowns and three interceptions, while the defense has done well providing enough of a cushion. The Las Vegas Raiders boast the third-ranked scoring margin, at +13.0 PPG.
The Panthers offense may be a genuine threat this season, scoring 34+ points in both games, against teams with two very different identities. The defense, however, is still a wait-and-see. They may have allowed only three points against a weak Falcons team, but they also allowed 59 against a potent Chicago Bears offense.
The drop from 59 points in Week 1 to three points in Week 2 is almost as big a drop as Bears fans’ jaws on Sunday. The Vikings gave quarterback Caleb Williams little to work with, keeping him to 138 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. Adding salt to the wound, Williams was forced to exit the game in the fourth quarter with a non-contact hamstring injury in the rainy 9-3 loss.
The Baltimore Ravens coughed up a 24-17 loss against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. The offense failed on 56% of third downs; they were charged with seven penalties, and quarterback Lamar Jackson added an interception. The unpredictability and inconsistencies of 2025 seem to be leaking into 2026.
The New England Patriots defense has been a dominant force, allowing just one touchdown through Week 2, with opponents averaging eight points. Quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots, however, have room for growth, with one passing touchdown and four interceptions through two games.
The Dallas Cowboys followed their underwhelming Week 1 loss in style. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw a clean game on Sunday, including four touchdowns and 279 yards. The defense hopes to improve the aid provided in their upcoming game against the Ravens, currently giving up 24 PPG.
After a convincing 34-10 win over the Browns in Week 1, the Jacksonville Jaguars left fans disappointed with a 20-13 loss against the Denver Broncos. The mixed results make projections feel confusing and more like a shot in the dark at this point. The Jaguars travel back home to host the Patriots in a Week 3 game where both teams try to get things on track.
The Broncos followed up their 10-31 Week 1 loss with a 20-13 win over the Jaguars. Quarterback Bo Nix is still seeking rhythm, with a single touchdown and interception in each game this season. They’ve also played sloppily compared to their normal standard, with 17 penalties over two games.
The Eagles are an interesting study so far in 2026. On one hand, they are 2-0, while on the other, they have just an average scoring margin of +3.0, against two soft matchups. The team will travel to Chicago next week to challenge a dangerous Bears offense, and perhaps the stiffest test so far.
No team has more passing yards than quarterback Tyler Shough and the Saints. After losing due to a failed two-point conversion in overtime against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, they crushed the favored Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday. The team now travels home to host three straight games, hoping to keep silencing the doubters.
The Lions scored 31 points in both games this season, but the defense was questionable again, and they still lost this week. Quarterback Jared Goff had four touchdowns and zero interceptions, but the Buffalo Bills were up 14-0 after the first quarter and never looked back. The Lions are giving up 457.5 yards per game thus far, and it is the biggest concern moving forward.
The Rams rebounded after a poor performance in Australia with a dominant performance over the Giants. Wide receiver Davante Adams stepped up in a big way with the absence of Puka Nacua in this game. Quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with Adams for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford threw two other touchdowns in this spirit-lifting rebound.
The Cincinnati Bengals continue their redemption tour with a strong 20-6 win over the Texans. Their bottom-of-the-barrel defense of last year is a top-ten scoring defense as of Monday morning, and quarterback Joe Burrow has only one interception over the first two games.
The Vikings are squeezing every last drop of juice from their lemons, playing a smart, efficient game in Week 2 against the Bears. The defense limited them to three points, allowing the offense to play slow and methodical. While quarterback Carson Wentz isn’t a fantasy starter, he did what was required to win, including no turnovers and feeding the run game. Running back Aaron Jones had 23 carries for 105 yards, truly the backbone of the win.
The Kansas City Chiefs kingdom is off to a great rebuild. After the Broncos had their number in 2025, the Chiefs buried them 31-10 in Week 1. After two home wins, the tickets are booked for a mugging in Miami for Week 3.
The San Francisco 49ers are proving why they were perhaps the most underrated team at the end of last season. Despite being one of the most injury-riddled teams, the 49ers finished 12-5 and made the postseason. After embarrassing the Super Bowl favorite Rams in Week 1, they traveled back to San Francisco and turned the Dolphins into fish out of water. They are healthy, hungry, and dominant on both sides of the ball, outscoring opponents 62-20 after two games.
Quarterback Josh Allen had four touchdowns in Week 1 and somehow increased his production. Allen’s Week 2 stat line includes three passing touchdowns, zero interceptions, 317 total yards, and two rushing scores. To nitpick, two questions are moving forward. First, star offseason acquisition wide receiver DJ Moore was forced to leave the game with a shoulder injury, and is currently day-to-day. The other is the defense: have they played it safe because of the big leads, or has the offense felt the need to play this way to make up for it?
Allen and the Bills are knocking on the door, but the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks have been sturdy. After winning that championship rematch to open the season, they went on the road and crushed the Cardinals 31-7. Which one of these top-ranked teams in these power rankings will flinch first?
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The Bengals climbed the most up the NFL power rankings after Week 2, while the Chargers fell the furthest. It’ll be interesting to see how all of the brand-name injuries affect the rankings moving forward.
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