NFL power rankings for Week 2: Bills, Eagles and Packers make early statements
Week 1 upsets and late comebacks reshaped perceptions as Josh Allen's fourth-quarter rally vaulted Buffalo to the top of The Post's list.
Three games in Week 1 sent loud messages to the rest of the league, prompting a shake-up in The Post's NFL power rankings for Week 2. The Buffalo Bills vaulted to No. 1 after a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, the Philadelphia Eagles reinforced their status as the NFC heavyweight with a workmanlike win over Dallas, and the Green Bay Packers made an early case to be the Eagles' chief NFC challenger by beating the Detroit Lions.
Buffalo erased a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 41-40, a finish capped by Matt Prater's 32-yard field goal as time expired. Josh Allen accounted for four touchdowns and 424 yards from scrimmage, and a forced fumble by defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the fourth quarter proved decisive. The comeback raised questions about Baltimore's late-game decision-making and underscored Buffalo's credentials as a Super Bowl contender.
The Eagles opened their title defense with a 24-20 victory over the Cowboys, relying on a ground game that looked much as it did a season ago. Philadelphia's offense totaled 158 rushing yards on 38 carries, with two touchdowns from Jalen Hurts and one from Saquon Barkley. The Eagles' defense, coordinated by Vic Fangio, pitched a second-half shutout and recovered a red-zone fumble that preserved the lead.
Green Bay's 27-13 win over Detroit provided another early-season statement. Jordan Love threw two first-half touchdown passes, and Micah Parsons, acquired in the offseason, recorded a sack in his Packers debut. Green Bay held the Lions out of the end zone until the final minute, continuing a run of strong home-opening performances that now stands at 13 straight wins.
The Los Angeles Chargers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, looked like a top AFC threat after a 27-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns and converted a critical third-and-14 with a run to secure the win. Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen each caught touchdown passes in a performance that suggests the Chargers could challenge Kansas City for the AFC West crown.
Kansas City's opening loss to the Chargers drew immediate scrutiny, though the club has a recent history of overcoming early-season setbacks. The Chiefs managed limited production on the ground, with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco combining for 41 rushing yards, and they also missed a point-after attempt and a two-point conversion. A shoulder injury to Xavier Worthy added to concerns for Kansas City's offense.
The Ravens' collapse against Buffalo was a low point for John Harbaugh's club. Baltimore's offense produced strong individual showings — Lamar Jackson had three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), and Derrick Henry ran for 169 yards and two scores — but a late fumble by Henry and the decision to punt deep into Bills territory on fourth-and-3 with 93 seconds left drew scrutiny and left the Ravens without a win.
Other notable Week 1 developments included Washington's 21-6 victory over the New York Giants, where new addition Deebo Samuel contributed 77 receiving yards and a 19-yard rushing touchdown, and the Denver Broncos' defense delivering a late-game stand in a 20-12 win over the Tennessee Titans. Tampa Bay opened with a 23-20 victory over Atlanta when rookie Emeka Egbuka, making his NFL debut, caught two touchdown passes including the game-winner in the final minute.
Several teams that carried high expectations into the season stumbled. The Lions' offense under Jared Goff failed to regain the explosiveness of recent years in the loss to Green Bay, a decline that can be traced in part to roster turnover on the offensive line and the departure of coordinator Ben Johnson. The New York Giants, despite offseason spending and draft capital, were held to no offensive touchdowns in a home loss to Washington, extending their struggles in season openers and intensifying scrutiny of quarterback Russell Wilson.
A surprising early finish came in Pittsburgh, where Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes in his Steelers debut, helping beat the Jets 34-32 on Chris Boswell's 60-yard field goal. The result bucked expectations and highlighted how quickly narratives can shift in the NFL's opening weekend.
The Post's Week 2 power rankings place the Bills at No. 1, followed by the Eagles, Packers and Chargers. The Chiefs fell to No. 6 after the loss in Brazil, while the Ravens occupy the No. 4 spot despite the defeat. The rankings reflect a single weekend's games but underline emerging storylines: Buffalo's resilience, Philadelphia's balanced attack, Green Bay's incremental rebuild, and Los Angeles' potential to reshape the AFC pecking order.
Week 2 will offer early tests for several clubs that underperformed, and it will give favored teams a chance to confirm or temper the impressions from Week 1. The rankings will be updated as results accumulate and trends either solidify or reverse, but the opening weekend made clear that the regular season's early days can carry outsized significance for perceptions of contenders and challengers alike.
