Philadelphia (2-0) might not be showing its entire arsenal yet, but the reigning Super Bowl champs scored two high-profile wins to begin the season. The slow roll out of the gate might not thrill A.J. Brown or Eagles fans, but a gauntlet schedule and scheme serving a dual purpose – keep-away offense and protecting a remodeled defense – reveals why the plan from Nick Sirianni is more than sensible.
The Packers and Bills are tightly clustered behind the Eagles with a track to challenge for the top spot if Philly is tripped up.
There is a longer queue at the bottom of the rankings, where precious little separates the bottom five teams in the NFL as we take stock of the bottom-to-top pecking order through two weeks.
32. Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Last Week: L, 27-22 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Up Next: vs. Atlanta Falcons (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
Panthers had the ball with a chance to win at Arizona. Timing of losing two starting offensive linemen to IR limits counter-punch options for Carolina head coach Dave Canales, QB Bryce Young.
31. Cleveland Browns (0-2)
Last Week: L, 41-17 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Up Next: vs. Green Bay Packers (2-0), 1 p.m. ET
Say something nice or don’t say anything: Cleveland’s run defense is a beast, allowing 45.5 yards per game. And a free tip to the Browns: Joe Flacco sharing the league lead with 90 pass attempts in two games isn’t the way.
30. Tennessee Titans (0-2)
Last Week: L, 33-19 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Up Next: vs. Indianapolis Colts (2-0), 1 p.m. ET
Morale might nosedive in Nashville if the Titans can’t find a way to protect No. 1 pick Cam Ward. Rookie is still INT free, but has absorbed 11 sacks, led one TD drive in two games.
29. Miami Dolphins (0-2)
Last Week: L, 33-27 vs. New England Patriots
Up Next: at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday)
Limping into AFC East play on a short week, the Dolphins were outscored by the Bills 61-37 in two losses last season and haven’t won in Buffalo since they beat Tyrod Taylor in 2016.
28. New Orleans Saints (0-2)
Last Week: L, 26-21 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Up Next: at Seattle Seahawks, 4 p.m. ET
Surprisingly competitive in Kellen Moore’s debut, the Saints are still a QB away from being a contender in the NFC South.
27. New York Giants (0-2)
Last Week: L, 40-37 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Up Next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2), 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday)
Steve Spagnuolo dialed up extra pressure 19 times on Jalen Hurts’ 25 passes last week, but the Eagles’ handsomely paid offensive line did its job. The Giants don’t have that kind of protection.
26. New York Jets (0-2)
Last Week: L, 30-10 vs. Buffalo Bills
Up Next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0), 1 p.m. ET
Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen ripped through the Jets’ defense. Baker Mayfield has enjoyed plenty of success against Aaron Glenn’s defense – as coordinator of the Lions – in recent years.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)
Last Week: L, 20-9 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Up Next: at Washington Commanders (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
No. 31 in points per game (14.5) but the Raiders get to the quarterback, a recipe for a road win especially if Jayden Daniels (knee) is idle.
24. New England Patriots (1-1)
Last Week: W, 33-27 vs. Miami Dolphins
Up Next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye are in position to secure the Patriots’ first back-to-back wins since November 2022 if New England can get to the quarterback.
23. Chicago Bears (0-2)
Last Week: L, 52-21 vs. Detroit Lions
Up Next: vs. Dallas Cowboys (1-1), 4:25 p.m. ET
Bad-to-worse News Bears: Their ailing secondary will be hard-pressed to hold up against the combination of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens unless Chicago can pressure Dak Prescott.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
Last Week: L, 31-17 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Up Next: at New England Patriots (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
Maybe rookie first-round DT Derrick Harmon will settle a run defense moved too easily. The offensive line issues have no such easy fix. Steelers averaged 62.5 rushing yards and have zero rushing TDs in two games.
21. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Last Week: W, 40-37 vs. New York Giants
Up Next: at Chicago Bears (0-2), 4:25 p.m. ET
We knew at some point the defense would be challenged to keep up. We didn’t know that would mean turning Russell Wilson into vintage Russell Wilson in Week 2.
20. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
Last Week: W, 27-22 vs. Carolina Panthers
Up Next: at San Francisco 49ers (2-0), 4:25 p.m. ET
First-place in the West is in play for Arizona after defense came up with stops in final minutes to beat Saints and Panthers.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
Last Week: L, 31-27 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Up Next: vs. Houston Texans (0-2), 1 p.m. ET
Good enough to win at Cincinnati, the Jaguars failed to get it done but recipe is right: second in NFL in turnover differential (+3) and fourth in total offense (389.0 yards per game).
18. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
Last Week: W, 22-6 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Up Next: at Carolina Panthers (0-2), 1 p.m. ET
Beat another unproven QB at Minnesota, but this one felt different. Falcons were more physical, played fast to avoid 0-2 start. Past three victories are against these QBs: Desmond Ridder, Drew Lock, J.J. McCarthy. Before you chalk this up as a sure W for Atlanta, recall the 44-38 home loss to Bryce Young in the regular-season finale in January.
17. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Last Week: W, 31-17 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Up Next: vs. New Orleans Saints (0-2), 4:05 p.m. ET
Seahawks attempt to carry road warrior mentality back home and defense appears primed to take flight.
16. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
Last Week: W, 26-21 vs. New Orleans Saints
Up Next: vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-0), 4:25 p.m. ET
Common opponent — each team has a win at New Orleans — implies the 49ers and Cardinals are close to even footing. The Christian McCaffrey Revival Tour might say something different this week as Mac Jones works to move beyond game manager mode.
15. Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
Last Week: W, 29-28 vs. Denver Broncos
Up Next: at Tennessee Titans (0-2), 1 p.m. ET
Takeaway-happy defense holding its own, Daniel Jones has been nails and the Titans are in rebuilding mode.
14. Houston Texans (0-2)
Last Week: L, 20-19 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Up Next: at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
Vaunted pass rush and secondary taking hits but Houston has allowed 34 points in two losses fronting for an offense that can’t stay on the field or score consistently.
13. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
Last Week: W, 31-27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Up Next: at Minnesota Vikings (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
The margin for error is razor-thin with Jake Browning as QB1, but he’s surrounded by playmakers.
12. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
Last Week: L, 22-6 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Up Next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0), 1 p.m. ET
Nonbelievers in Carson Wentz should rewind to the Sam Darnold Experience before he became a pupil of Kevin O’Connell. He’ll be better than you expect.
11. Washington Commanders (1-1)
Last Week: L, 27-18 vs. Green Bay Packers
Up Next: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1), 1 p.m. ET
Commanders hung around at Green Bay, but the Jayden Daniels injury equates to a pitstop: How long before the A team is back on the field?
10. Denver Broncos (1-1)
Last Week: L, 29-28 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Up Next: at Los Angeles Chargers (2-0), 4:05 p.m. ET
Swept by the Chargers last season, Bo Nix gets a third shot at solving the riddle. This version of the L.A. defense won’t have Khalil Mack (elbow) or Joey Bosa, who is now in Buffalo.
9. Los Angeles Rams (2-0)
Last Week: W, 33-19 vs. Tennessee Titans
Up Next: at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0), 1 p.m. ET
Matthew Stafford showing no signs of breakdown after a shaky summer and Rams lead the NFL in points allowed (14.0 per game).
8. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)
Last Week: L, 20-17 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Up Next: at N.Y. Giants (0-2), 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday)
Kansas City is back in the primetime slot on “Sunday Night Football” after dropping two one-score games. A loss invites sky-is-falling conversations.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)
Last Week: W, 20-9 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Up Next: vs. Denver Broncos (1-1), 4:05 p.m. ET
Justin Herbert doing MVP things in the early going. A win in first true home game of the season provides a substantial edge in the AFC West standings before September ends.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Last Week: W, 20-19 vs. Houston Texans
Up Next: vs. New York Jets (0-2), 1 p.m. ET
Baker Mayfield has never lost the plant-the-flag mentality that made him the No. 1 pick of the Browns coming out of Oklahoma. As Bucs inch closer to full health, they’re looking even more dangerous at 2-0 for the fifth year in a row.
5. Detroit Lions (1-1)
Last Week: W 52-21 vs. Chicago Bears
Up Next: at Baltimore Ravens (1-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
There’s getting healthy and then there’s the beatdown the Lions put on the Bears in Week 2. Beating Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Baltimore would put an exclamation point on Detroit’s first three weeks.
4. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Last Week: W, 41-17 vs. Cleveland Browns
Up Next: vs. Detroit Lions (1-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Outscoring opponents is exciting but Baltimore already knows it’s not a sustainable Super Bowl strategy. Ravens are desperate to rediscover defensive identity with major challenge ahead Monday night.
3. Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Last Week: W, 30-10 vs. New York Jets
Up Next: vs. Miami Dolphins (0-2), 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday)
Nobody has much to say about the Bills’ defense at the moment. That’s because Buffalo has scored 71 points in two games and owns the Dolphins, winning the past six over Miami.
2. Green Bay Packers (2-0)
Last Week: W, 27-18 vs. Washington Commanders
Up Next: at Cleveland Browns (0-2), 1 p.m. ET
A risky proposition rolling into Cleveland with a backup right tackle lined up across from Myles Garrett, but the Packers have been the NFL’s most complete team to date.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
Last Week: W, 20-17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Up Next: vs. Los Angeles Rams (2-0), 1 p.m. ET
An affront to modern-day offense or a throwback revelation, the Eagles are winning their way and daring teams to stop it. So far, so good.
