NFL Power Rankings: Week 2

By Teddy Covers - Covers Expert

The Niners' win over the Packers was impressive, moving San Francisco to the No. 2 spot. The Ravens, Falcons and Cowboys also make moves in the Week 2 rankings.

NFL Power Rankings

Week 2 Rank Last Week Change Team W-L-T
(ATS) 		Power Rating Team Comments
1 2 move up in rankings1 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-8.0 New England
All streaks eventually come to an end, like the Patriots ending a decade-long record of pointspread futility for the Super Bowl loser with their blowout at Tennessee.
2 5 move up in rankings3 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-6.5 San Francisco
With all 11 starters returning from the NFL's best defense, San Fran's downfield passing game with Randy Moss and Mario Manningham could make this team downright scary.
3 8 move up in rankings5 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-6.0 Baltimore
This team was a dropped touchdown pass away from going to the Super Bowl last year and their explosive Monday Night performance showed they're capable of another run in 2012.
4 1 move down in rankings3 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		-6.0 Green Bay
Sure, the Packers went 15-1 SU in the regular season last year but the hard numbers show that they've lost three of their last five in SU fashion, including their last two at Lambeau.
5 6 move up in rankings1 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-5.5 Houston
A plus-4 turnover margin made it easy against Miami, but the Texans' 2.4 yards per carry on 35 rush attempts is a potential concern moving forward.
6 3 move down in rankings3 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		-5.5 N.Y. Giants
Victor Cruz dropped a bunch of passes, the Giants secondary got torched and this team looked rather "fat and happy" against Dallas. Too soon to push the panic button.
7 10 move up in rankings3 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-5.0 Atlanta
Matt Ryan avoided costly errors in the Falcons opening day blowout, finishing the game as the second-highest rated QB in the NFL.
8 7 move down in rankings1 1-0-0
(0-1-0) 		-5.0 Philadelphia
I don't downgrade a team when they commit five turnovers on the road and still find a way to win the game, especially when they outgain their opponent by a more than 2:1 margin.
9 11 move up in rankings2 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-4.5 Chicago
The Bears showed great offensive execution in their blowout win over Indy, with Matt Forte rushing for five yards per carry and Jay Cutler averaging 9.5 yards per pass attempt.
10 14 move up in rankings4 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-4.0 Dallas
The Cowboys came into the season with a boatload of questions about their offensive line, but Tony Romo mostly stayed upright against the powerful Giants pass rushers.
11 4 move down in rankings7 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		-4.0 New Orleans
This defense was mediocre at best last year, and they looked much worse in Steve Spagnuolo's first game as coordinator without bounties to motivate them.
12 13 move up in rankings1 1-0-0
(0-1-0) 		-3.0 Detroit
The Lions handed the Rams 14 cheap points (7 on a pick six, 7 that they didn't get with a first and goal interception from the 3-yard line) and still found a way to win. That’s good!
13 12 move down in rankings1 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-2.5 Denver
If you had any questions about Peyton Manning's ability to return to the NFL at a high level following a missed season and four neck surgeries, they should be answered now.
14 9 move down in rankings5 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		-2.0 Pittsburgh
A Steelers team with limited offensive line depth suddenly has cluster injuries up front; potentially very bad news moving forward.
15 16 move up in rankings1 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-1.5 San Diego
Twenty rushes for only 32 total yards; Philip Rivers not showing much chemistry with his receivers downfield. Good thing for Chargers backers that Oakland couldn't long snap.
16 18 move up in rankings2 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		-1.0 N.Y. Jets
There's one question we'll find out the answer too in Week 2: Are the Jets that good or are the Bills that bad? If it's the former, expect this rating to jump next week.
17 23 move up in rankings6 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		0.0 Washington
Rookie QB RG3 leads the NFL in passer rating following his outstanding Week 1 showing, and he was the only one of five rookie QBs who's coaching staff let him loose to create.
18 17 move down in rankings1 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		1.0 Carolina
The Panthers were outrushed 130-10 in their opening day loss at Tampa Bay, and two Cam Newton picks overshadowed another 300-yard passing effort.
19 15 move down in rankings4 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		1.0 Cincinnati
Positive signs from their blowout loss at Baltimore on Monday Night? Ummm, I guess Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis didn’t lose his first career fumble...
20 20 no change in rankings 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		1.5 Seattle
With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, WRs Doug Baldwin, Braylon Edwards, Sidney Rice and Charly Martin all failed to come down with potential TD catches in the end zone.
21 19 move down in rankings2 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		2.0 Kansas City
So much for the concept that Arrowhead provides a strong home-field edge for KC. After losing to Atlanta, the Chiefs are now 14-28 SU at home since the start of 2007.
22 21 move down in rankings1 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		2.0 Tennessee
The Titans spent the entire offseason trying to figure out ways to get the ball into Chris Johnson's hands with room to run. Eleven carries for four yards = back to the drawing board.
23 24 move up in rankings1 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		2.5 Arizona
After failing to gain a first down on six straight drives to open the second half, QB Kevin Kolb came off the bench and looked like a Pro Bowler, leading the Cards to victory.
24 27 move up in rankings3 1-0-0
(1-0-0) 		2.5 Tampa Bay
Rookie Doug Martin (Boise State) was an absolute beast in Week 1, giving Josh Freeman and company the offensive balance they desperately coveted.
25 22 move down in rankings3 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		3.0 Buffalo
Ryan Fitzpatrick had 16 INT's with only 10 TD's as the Bills closed out 2011 on a 1-7 skid. After throwing three more INT's last week, he now has eight multi-INT games in his last 12 starts.
26 29 move up in rankings3 0-1-0
(1-0-0) 		4.0 St. Louis
Stephen Jackson didn't have a single run of 10 yards or more in 21 attempts, very bad news against one of the weaker run defenses in the NFL.
27 28 move up in rankings1 1-0-0
(0-1-0) 		4.5 Minnesota
The Vikings Week 1 MVP had to be kicker Blair Walsh, who nailed four pressure kicks in the fourth quarter and OT, including a 55 yarder to send the game to OT.
28 26 move down in rankings2 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		5.0 Oakland
After their Monday Night loss to the Chargers, the Raiders are now a woeful 6-16 SU through the first three weeks of the season dating back to 2005.
29 25 move down in rankings4 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		5.5 Miami
The Dolphins actually hung tough with Houston for extended stretches, but a string of three turnovers on three consecutive second-quarter plays doomed their upset chances.
30 32 move up in rankings2 0-1-0
(1-0-0) 		6.0 Jacksonville
Blaine Gabbert threw the game winning touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter, a real confidence inspiring road victory. Too bad the defense couldn't hold for 20 seconds.
31 31 no change in rankings 0-1-0
(1-0-0) 		6.5 Cleveland
Rookie QB Brandon Weeden is transitioning from a shotgun spread offense in college to an under center, West Coast offense in the NFL. So far, the transition has not gone well.
32 30 move down in rankings2 0-1-0
(0-1-0) 		7.0 Indianapolis
When the betting markets have installed Indy as a home dog against Minnesota this week, there's only one place these Colts can be ranked – right at the bottom.
Return to the Current Week's rankings

Power Ratings compute offensive and defensive statistics into one number for each team, while accounting for factors like recent performances and strength of schedule. Power Ratings can be used as a baseline for relative spread index to compare current or future match-ups between two teams. The relative spread does not account for non-statistical factors like home-field advantage, recent injuries, game time decisions, rivalries, publicity, and weather.