After the final preseason rankings were provided on August 8, 2026, it’s time for the updated NFL Week 2 power rankings. The conclusion of Week 1 has thrown major changes up and down the charts.
How every team moved from the preseason rankings to the updated Week 2 rankings
The chart compares each team’s preseason ranking with its updated position after Week 1.
The Tennessee Titans are a disappointment on both sides of the ball. After finishing second-to-last in 2025, the offense managed only 195 total yards and ten points in Week 1 this year. The defense also coughed up 23 points to an unimpressive New York Jets roster.
The Miami Dolphins lived up to expectations in Week 1 when they lost 13-27 to the Las Vegas Raiders. New quarterback Malik Willis rushed in the team’s only touchdown, but evened it out with an interception. The lone bright spot on the offense, running back De’Von Achane, was also shut down, totaling just 36 yards over 11 carries.
The story for the Cleveland Browns heading into this season was that at least the defense was strong and entertaining. That said, 2026 didn’t get off to a promising start, giving up 34 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Management also made questionable pregame decisions, including choosing quarterback Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders, which didn’t pay off. Watson threw one interception and one touchdown, struggling to reach 205 yards.
After selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, some were shocked when Kirk Cousins was named QB1. Albeit against one of the cellar dwellers of the league, the decision is paying off so far. Cousins threw three touchdowns, while second-year running back Ashton Jeanty caught two of those and ran for 102 yards.
The Jets’ game plan is clear and efficient early: protect the ball and grind them out. Both touchdowns were on the ground, the team had no turnovers, and they kept the Titans to ten points. They could work on the penalties, with eight in Week 1, but they looked to squeeze the most out of their roster early.
The Atlanta Falcons were without their top two quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Michel Penix Jr., and were forced to start Cooper Rush, despite reported back spasms. The defense played well, including limiting the Pittsburgh Steelers to 264 yards and one touchdown, but the offense floundered.
The Indianapolis Colts had a white-hot start to the 2025 season, only to lose the final seven games and miss the playoffs with an 8-9 record. Now seeking redemption, last year’s 23rd-ranked defense let them down in Week 1, giving up 41 points.
After a breakout rookie season two years ago, quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders fell on their faces in 2025. Although it was a loss, the Commanders started 2026 with a gritty 22-24 defeat against a stout Philadelphia Eagles team. Offseason acquisition wide receiver Stefon Diggs paid off early with a touchdown, but also had a costly unsportsmanlike penalty late.
The Arizona Cardinals’ 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers is one of the biggest shocks of the weekend. Averaging 20.9 PPG last season, the Cardinals put up 26 points on a top-five defense. Fans also got a fun introduction to their 2026 third-overall draft selection, running back Jeremiyah Love, who found the end zone in his debut.
For a team that lost by 27 points, the Carolina Panthers offense looks promising. Quarterback Bryce Young threw three touchdowns and rushed for another, but that’s not enough when you give up 552 total yards to your opponent. The offense appears legit early, but their defense was nothing short of abysmal.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored 27 points against the Cincinnati Bengals, but they still lost, largely because they couldn’t take care of the ball, or keep up on first downs. They had eight penalties, and four turnovers, in a game which they truly had a shot late.
The well-rounded New Orleans Saints’ offense came to play on Sunday, putting up 30 points in an overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and shared the ball around. Wide receiver Devaughn Vele, along with tight ends Noah Fant and Juwan Jennings, each scored a touchdown, while running back Kendre Miller punched one in on the ground, and WR Chris Olave finished with 182 yards. The team’s early defensive performance is concerning, but they have time to rebound from a Week 1 thumping and become one of the league’s best.
The Steelers’ offense is off to a lackadaisical start this year, but their defense has certainly begun its redemption story. Linebacker T.J. Watt finished with a pick-six, a sack, and a tackle for a loss, totaling four tackles. The defense also limited the Falcons to 13 points, leading the team to a seven-point victory.
The Bengals are determined to rebound after missing the playoffs last year, mostly because of their third-worst defense . While far from dominant, the defense looked sharp to begin the season, including forcing four turnovers and timely stops. Quarterback Joe Burrow also showed up ready to play, completing 25 of 35 pass attempts for 354 yards.
The New England Patriots had a great opportunity to reaffirm their greatness in the Super Bowl rematch, but their offense failed to gain momentum. In fact, quarterback Drake Maye made some questionable decisions, including three interceptions. The offensive line also struggled, resulting in three sacks on Maye. Furthermore, AJ Brown was forced to leave the game in the third quarter, and is expected to miss four weeks. The defense also coughed up a ten-point lead to Seattle Seahawks’ backup quarterback Drew Lock.
The Chargers had one of the most disappointing Week 1 results. The team hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, hoping to match the top-five results of the defense, but scored just 14 points against a team that allowed 28.7 PPG last year. It doesn’t end there: that same defense allowed 26 points against the Cardinals.
The Houston Texans’ Week 1 didn’t play out to the expected script. The 2025 second-worst offense scored 31 points, while the league’s best defense allowed 36 points against the Buffalo Bills. They’re destined to level out, but for now, the offense has never been scarier.
The Dallas Cowboys’ offense was supposed to light the world on fire, but struggled against last year’s 28th-ranked defense. Quarterback Dak Prescott had 175 passing yards, and the team totaled just 68 rushing yards. Fantasy owners of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb likely cringed at his 44 yards, but were thankful it included a touchdown.
The New York Giants’ young core was looking forward to a fresh start after some unfortunate injuries last season. Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw three touchdowns, while running back Cam Skattebo ran another in. He wasn’t on the team last year, but tight end Isaiah Likely had an electric debut, including 78 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Jordan Love and wide receiver Christian Watson linked up for two touchdowns on an overall successful day on offense, but the defense had more holes than the cheesehead hats. They gave up five touchdowns to Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Carson Wentz in a 22-39 loss. The Packers’ rushing attack could also use some work, combining for 66 yards on the day.
After going 4-0 against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, the Denver Broncos were steamrolled by them on Monday night. Quarterback Bo Nix managed only 131 yards, while offseason pickup wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught one pass for two yards. The team also managed just 61 rushing yards across four players. Last year’s second-best defense was nowhere to be found, giving up 392 yards and 31 points.
Tight end Dallas Goedert stepped in just fine for the traded Brown, catching four receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns. The defense played well enough, although allowing 13 points in the fourth quarter to put the Commanders within two was an eyebrow-raising moment. Quarterback Jalen Hurts had a safe but efficient day: 203 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
The Vikings lost their big offseason acquisition, quarterback Kyler Murray, but the offense never broke stride. Wentz stepped in to toss three touchdowns, while running backs Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones each ran one in. One point of contention going forward may be their pass defense, giving up 353 yards in Week 1.
The Baltimore Ravens are off to an impressive start to the era under new head coach Jesse Minter. After missing four games to hamstring and back issues, quarterback Lamar Jackson looked sharp, throwing for 324 yards and a touchdown, and rushing in another. Running back Derrick Henry was the star of the show, rushing for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
The big boys showed up to play for the Lions offense, in a game they won in overtime thanks to a missed two-point conversion. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs tallied 156 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while quarterback Jared Goff and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown linked up for two more through the air. The defense, on the other hand, is concerning, giving up 469 yards to a Saints team with low expectations.
After winning the AFC South with a 13-4 record and losing to the Buffalo Bills by three points in the postseason, the Jaguars want to prove last year wasn’t a one-off. Scoring 34 points against last year’s fourth-ranked defense is a great way to begin. The defense looks stout as well, but only time will tell how much of that was from playing the lowly Browns.
Quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are on a mission to prove last year was only the start, and they’re doing well so far. The Bears scored an astronomical 59 points in their Week 1 win over the Panthers, and the team took care of the ball. Williams had two touchdowns and zero interceptions, while the team had just one turnover. Last year’s 29th-ranked defense, however, has work to do, giving up 37 points in the shootout.
The Los Angeles Rams failed to live up to the hype in their Week 1 game in Australia, and paired that with numerous questionable decisions. There’s been a lot of excitement around the revamped defense, including the acquisitions of DE Myles Garrett and DT Aaron Donald. Things didn’t go as planned: the defense gave up 27 points, and Garrett failed to make the stat sheet. Not only that, the defensive end was placed on the IR for knee surgery after the game, while Donald didn’t make the trip because he’s not ready for NFL action. The team also flew there just the night before, while their opponents had been acclimating for days.
The Kansas City Chiefs are out to end the story of a crumbling empire, and started 2026 by crushing the Broncos. Offseason acquisition running back Kenneth Walker looks to be a genius signing for the Chiefs, as he went off for 173 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also answered any questions with a strong performance, including tossing two touchdowns, and running in another.
Is it too early to say quarterback Josh Allen is on the path to another MVP award? Allen threw for two touchdowns over his 334 yards, but he also ran in a couple more to lead his team to a 36-31 win over the Texans. He may need to keep it up if the defense continues to play this way, giving up that many points against a team that averaged just 16.7 last year.
The San Francisco 49ers flew to Australia and silenced all doubters with their 27-7 win over the Rams. With the return of players like tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa, the team looks to improve on last season, which, considering their injuries, was impressive in its own right. In a year that RotoWire reports the 49ers had the fourth-most man-games missed; a 12-5 record and postseason appearance is remarkable. Dominating the Super Bowl favorites on both sides of the ball, San Francisco is off to a hot start.
The Seahawks lost starting quarterback Sam Darnold in the second quarter, yet the team still pulled out the comeback victory over the Patriots. The defense was the star of the show, including three interceptions and only ten points allowed. The offense has some question marks, but it showed poise under pressure.
Nothing beats the return of NFL football. The Bears jumped the most since the preseason power rankings, while the Patriots’ 14-spot drop is the biggest downfall.
Fresh Takes Sports Live Tuesdays 8:15 PM ET Here | Stadium Rant Articles by Howe Fresh | The Real Fresh Channel X Here
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
