Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will bear in mind not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how nicely every crew measures up as Super Bowl contenders.
Here are the rankings heading into Week 2:
Super Bowl favorites
1. Buffalo Bills (1-0)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills made a powerful opening assertion, defeating the defending champion Rams, 31-10, with a dominant efficiency on each side of the ball. Allen seems to have taken his recreation to a different stage in his fifth season, backing up the preseason hype that made Buffalo the Super Bowl favourite. The addition of edge rusher Von Miller paid speedy dividends, with the longer term Hall of Famer recording two sacks towards his former crew.
What extra are you able to say in regards to the Chiefs? Kansas City’s offense confirmed no indicators of slowing down after buying and selling star huge receiver Tyreek Hill, as Patrick Mahomes threw 5 landing passes to 4 receivers in a dominant 44-21 win over the Cardinals. Tight finish Travis Kelce hasn’t misplaced a step, receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling delivered of their debuts and a rejuvenated Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie Isiah Pacheco led a promising speeding assault. This nonetheless appears like the very best offense within the NFL.
Despite all the eye on quarterback Tom Brady this offseason all through his retirement, eventual return and mysterious time spent away from the crew, the Bucs regarded simply as unbeatable in a 19-3 win over the Cowboys. The receiving room continues to be deep, Leonard Fournette continues to be an efficient operating again and the protection is simply as dominant as ever. Receiver Chris Godwin’s hamstring damage looms massive and the depleted offensive line struggled at instances to guard Brady, however the expertise on this roster will win out most of the time.
Contenders beginning sturdy
4. Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
5. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
6. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
8. Miami Dolphins (1-0)
After falling in need of the playoffs within the final recreation of the 2021 common season, the Chargers look decided to lastly break via within the AFC. A 24-19 win over the Raiders was not at all convincing, however the Chargers largely averted the particular groups errors and defensive miscues which have value them dearly in latest seasons. Quarterback Justin Herbert appears able to make the leap to an MVP contender, whereas Khalil Mack (three sacks) and Joey Bosa (1 1/2 sacks) seem like the dominant pass-rushing duo many anticipated. The protection additionally intercepted Derek Carr 3 times. If coach Brandon Staley’s squad can ship in crunch time week after week, this might be the highest seed within the AFC.
Not to be outdone, the Ravens seem like the Super Bowl contender they’ve at all times been all through quarterback Lamar Jackson’s profession. Questions about Jackson’s long-term contract negotiations don’t seem to have rattled the 2019 NFL MVP nor his teammates, as he continued his Week 1 dominance with three landing passes in a 24-9 win over the Jets. When left sort out Ronnie Stanley, operating again J.Ok. Dobbins and cornerback Marcus Peters return, there’s a superb likelihood the Ravens run away with the AFC North title and at last make a deep postseason run with Jackson on the helm.
In the NFC, the place most of the prime contenders had been outplayed in Week 1, the Vikings and Eagles regarded stable. Justin Jefferson exploded for 184 receiving yards in Minnesota’s 23-7 rout of the Packers, whereas A.J. Brown had 10 catches for 155 yards in Philadelphia’s 38-35 win over the Lions. While Kirk Cousins and Jalen Hurts are usually not thought of among the many league’s prime quarterbacks, they performed nicely sufficient Sunday to indicate they’re able to main a division champion.
Contenders with considerations
9. Los Angeles Rams (0-1)
10. Green Bay Packers (0-1)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
12. New Orleans Saints (1-0)
13. Denver Broncos (0-1)
14. Indianapolis Colts (0-0-1)
After coming into the season among the many favorites to win the NFC, the Rams and Packers had been left to reply some robust questions on their future. The Rams insist that quarterback Matthew Stafford’s throwing elbow is ok, however he didn’t seem like his regular self in Thursday’s loss to the Bills. Aaron Rodgers, in the meantime, appeared to overlook star receiver Davante Adams, who completed with extra receiving yards in Week 1 with the Raiders (141) than the remainder of Green Bay’s huge receivers mixed (120). Both groups are nonetheless gifted sufficient, significantly on protection, to stay close to the highest of the convention, however they need to not be thought of the favorites.
Last yr’s shocking AFC champions, the Bengals, received off to only in regards to the worst attainable begin in a 23-20 additional time loss to the Steelers. Quarterback Joe Burrow turned the ball over 5 instances (4 interceptions, one fumble), kicker Evan McPherson missed a 29-yard area purpose in additional time and had a game-winning extra-point try blocked on the finish of regulation, and the protection couldn’t cease quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on the ultimate drive that led to Chris Boswell’s game-winning 53-yard area purpose. The offensive line, regarded as improved with free-agent signings this offseason, struggled as soon as once more, permitting seven sacks on Burrow’s 60 dropbacks. Sustaining final yr’s stage of success was at all times going to be a problem, however the Bengals dug themselves an early gap as the one AFC North crew to lose in Week 1.
The wild playing cards
15. Las Vegas Raiders (0-1)
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
17. Cleveland Browns (1-0)
18. San Francisco 49ers (0-1)
19. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
20. Tennessee Titans (0-1)
The Steelers seem to be the Steelers they’ve at all times been beneath Mike Tomlin: well-coached, sturdy defensively and difficult to beat. There’s a purpose Tomlin has by no means had a dropping season in Pittsburgh. The offense appears to have an outlined ceiling with Trubisky at quarterback, however the looming presence of first-round draft decide Kenny Pickett means the Steelers must be taken significantly. There’s an opportunity reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt is out for the season with a torn pectoral, however even that massive blow most likely isn’t sufficient to maintain Pittsburgh out of playoff consideration.
There may not be a extra disappointing outcome from Week 1 than the 49ers’ 19-10 loss to the Bears. While the sloppy circumstances at Chicago’s Soldier Field made it tough to maneuver the ball, San Francisco ought to anticipate extra from quarterback Trey Lance, who linked on lower than half of his passes, took two sacks and threw an interception that led on to a Bears landing that sealed the sport. With Jimmy Garoppolo again within the constructing, Lance may be on a brief leash.
Hope springs everlasting
21. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
22. Washington Commanders (1-0)
23. Chicago Bears (1-0)
24. New York Giants (1-0)
25. Detroit Lions (0-1)
26. Houston Texans (0-0-1)
Say what you need about quarterback Carson Wentz, however the Commanders have sufficient gifted playmakers to provide an efficient offense this season. Curtis Samuel regarded electrical after lacking practically all of final season, rookie Jahan Dotson caught two landing passes and Antonio Gibson delivered each on the bottom and thru the air. The emergence of security Darrick Forrest and the move rush offered by defensive linemen Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat makes Washington a harmful wild card in a wide-open NFC.
Also within the NFC East, the Giants confirmed issues may be just a little totally different this yr beneath new coach Brian Daboll. His name to go for 2 late in a 21-20 win over the Titans offered a shot within the arm for a crew that hadn’t been above .500 at any level over the past 5 years. Perhaps much more promising is the play of operating again Saquon Barkley, who seems totally recovered from the torn ACL that value him a lot of the 2020 season and sapped his explosiveness in 2021. The 2018 No. 2 total decide completed with 194 whole yards and flashed his game-breaking means with a strong push inside the tip zone on the essential 2-point conversion. If Barkley is again to his rookie season type, the Giants needs to be a lot improved.
Down within the dumps
27. New England Patriots (0-1)
28. Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
29. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
30. Carolina Panthers (0-1)
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
32. New York Jets (0-1)
As if dropping 20-7 to the Dolphins wasn’t dangerous sufficient, the Patriots received phrase that quarterback Mac Jones is affected by again spasms, which may maintain him out this week and probably longer. Training camp studies indicated the Patriots’ offense was a large number beneath the path of Joe Judge and Matt Patricia, and it regarded that means on the sector Sunday as New England dedicated three turnovers and averaged simply 3.5 yards per carry. Even legendary coach Bill Belichick and a powerful protection may not be sufficient to save lots of the Patriots from falling out of the playoff race.
Dallas additionally received dangerous information about its quarterback after its season-opening loss to the Buccaneers. Dak Prescott could have surgical procedure on his proper thumb and is predicted to overlook 6-8 weeks, pushing Cooper Rush into the beginning position except the Cowboys make a transfer to accumulate a veteran quarterback. While Rush delivered a win over the Vikings in emergency responsibility final season, he’s merely not adequate to guide Dallas to the highest of the division. It’s solely Week 1, but it surely already feels just like the Cowboys ought to begin fascinated by 2023.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com