Crowe - NFL Week #2 Power Rankings 2022
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe - NFL Week #2 Power Rankings 2022
It’s true, most fanbases fall into one of two categories: their team is either headed to the playoffs after a week one win or they’re headed to a devastating freefall with an opening weekend defeat. Then again, there’s always Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who may be just trying to avoid reality altogether.
"Well, it's obviously a disappointing start here. It was really a pretty even game. Two big plays, 14 points, really skewed the game,” said Belichick, after his team was dominated by the Dolphins 20-7.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow by the letter of the law, Belichick would be right in that if you took away Miami’s two biggest plays that led to two touchdowns, the scoreboard would read differently. However, the other 59 minutes of the game showed Miami’s clear and total control over his team. That perception has fans in Foxboro teetering on the brink of a bad season ahead.
Elsewhere around the league, Cowboys fans are now living life without quarterback Dak Prescott (fractured thumb) after a Sunday night home loss has left them seeing many more losses in their immediate future. Both of last season’s conference championship teams, the Bengals and Rams, showed signs of Super Bowl slumber, losing at home to the Steelers and Bills, respectively.
The one thing football fans can agree on is that they are happy the NFL is back, especially after a Sunday 1 pm window in which two games went to overtime and six games overall went down to the final possession. Let’s also not forget about those final seconds in Seattle Monday night where Denver stood by and watched Russell Wilson’s chance at a homecoming win slide right by on Brandon McManus’ 64-yard field goal miss as time expired. Tick tock, Broncos.
As to who’s best after week one, let’s get to the power rankings.
10. New Orleans Saints (1-0)
The more things change, the more they stay the same. History tells us that the Atlanta Falcons can’t keep leads. Recent history reminds us that this story remains the same. The Falcons had the Saints on the rope 26-10 in the fourth quarter Sunday. All Atlanta did was watch quarterback Jameis Winston lead New Orleans to three straight scoring drives, good for 17 points and the victory on Wil Lutz 51-yard game-winner in the final minute.
9. Miami Dolphins (1-0)
To say that Miami’s week one matchup with the Patriots was an easy win might be an understatement. The Dolphins picked off quarterback Mac Jones on New England’s opening drive and never looked back, beating the Pats 20-7. They got a nice debut for new Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill with eight catches and 94 yards. One Brandon Jones strip-sack and a Melvin Ingram recovery for touchdown later, the Fins were up 10-0. Then, with just 20 seconds left in the first half, first year head coach Mike McDaniel rolled the dice on fourth down, dialing up a Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle 42-yard touchdown as three Patriots’ defenders failed to wrap Waddle up to end the half. 17-0 Miami and this one was a wrap as the Dolphins’ defense held New England to under 300 yards of offense.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
Talk about your good news, bad news week one for the Steelers. Sure, they caused Cincinnati all sorts of trouble, turning Joe Burrow over five times. They dodged a sure loss at the end of regulation by blocking the Bengals’ extra point, winning the game, 23-20, on the last play of overtime on a Chris Boswell 53-yard field goal. That was the good news. The downside is that they lost All-Everything pass rusher T.J. Watt for at least four weeks with a torn pectoral muscle and saw running back Najee Harris reinjure his foot. The Steelers got the win but they may have lost the war early on if they can’t overcome those two injuries. Luckily for them, New England comes to town this Sunday.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Run, run, run the ball, gently to a win. Last season’s top rushing team continues to grind it out in 2022 as Philly pounded the Lions to the tune of 216 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Buoyed by Miles Sanders (96 yards, 1 TD) and Jalen Hurts (90 yards, 1 TD), raced out to a 17-point lead and held on for dear life for the 38-35 win.
6. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
No contract, no problem for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. All Jackson did was toss a trifecta of touchdown passes against the Jets in an easy 24-9 victory. This was one never in doubt for Baltimore, who will have a tougher time signing Jackson to that new guaranteed contract he wants now that Jackson says he’s not talking money until the offseason.
5. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Things are definitely looking up in Minneapolis. Game one of new head coach Kevin O’Connell’s regime was a bona fide success, beating NFC North rival Green Bay at home 23-7 in a game that really wasn’t that close. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson led the way with a game-high 184-yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 catches against a Packers defense that didn’t seem to want to cover him at times. Dalvin Cook added 90 yards on the ground while Kirk Cousins, aided by Jefferson’s brilliance, came through clean with no interceptions and those two scores to Jefferson. Defensively, Minnesota stymied Aaron Rodgers all day to the tune of 4 sacks, an interception and no touchdown passes.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1)
The Chargers, who ran past the Raiders 24-19 in week one, were well on their way to a 2-0 start and first place in the AFC West Thursday night but then squandered a pair of 10-point leads, losing in Kansas City 27-24. Tied at 17, quarterback Justin Herbert threw a costly interception that Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson returned 99-yards for the go-ahead score. Herbert (3 TDs, 334 yards passing) appeared to injure his ribs in the fourth quarter but missed only one play. Head coach Brandon Staley said on Friday that Herbert has a fracture to his rib cartilage and he’s now day-to-day heading into LA’s next game against Jacksonville in week 3.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Ho-hum. Tom Brady’s 23rd NFL season started just as you would expect. Brady led his Bucs to an easy 19-3 win over the Cowboys, who lost quarterback Dak Prescott during the game with a fractured thumb. TB12 threw to Mike Evans for the game’s only touchdown as he shook off the rust of missing 11 days of practice during the preseason. So much for all the turmoil reportedly going on in his personal life with wife Gisele Bundchen (GoLocal Prov). Brady and the Bucs continue to just win.
2. Buffalo Bills (1-0)
The scary thing about the Bills 31-10 victory on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Rams is that they didn’t play their best game. Josh Allen did throw for three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions and fell just shy of the 300-yard mark (297 yards). Buffalo didn’t run the ball all that well either with Allen being their top rusher with 56 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. What the Bills did do very well though was sacking Matthew Stafford seven times, forcing three interceptions and limiting the Rams to a measly 243 total yards on offense. This Buffalo team is on a mission this season to erase the memory of those final 13 seconds of last season in Kansas City in which their playoff hopes were dashed by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Who said the Chiefs would struggle on offense without star wide receiver Tyreek Hill? Certainly, not quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who’s now thrown for seven touchdown passes through two games after Thursday’s night 27-24 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes threw to 10 different receivers in the win. Down 10-0 and 17-7, all Kansas City did was rally off 17 straight points including Jaylen Watson’s 99-yard interception return for a score to thwart a Chargers go-ahead tally. That victory comes on the heels of week one’s rout of the Cardinals in Arizona, 44-21. It’s early, but through two weeks, the Chiefs are wearing our power rankings crown.
Games to watch – Week 2
Patriots at Steelers (Sunday 1pm CBS) – Can the Patriots rebound in week 2?
Dolphins at Ravens (Sunday 1pm CBS) – Possible early season playoff preview in Baltimore
Buccaneers at Saints (Sunday 1pm FOX) – Tom Brady is 0-4 vs. New Orleans in the regular season
Bengals at Cowboys (Sunday 4:25pm CBS) – The loser will be 0-2
Titans at Bills (Monday 7:15pm ESPN) – Buffalo’s home opener; Titans trying to avoid 0-2 start
Vikings at Eagles (Monday 8:30pm ABC) – Expect an offensive show in Philadelphia