NFL power rankings entering Week 2 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):
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7. Dallas Cowboys (18): Let’s give them their flowers after handling QB Dak Prescott’s contract at the 11th hour. But the real story Sunday was the defense, a unit now run by Mike Zimmer and one that generated 25 pressures on Cleveland’s 56 dropbacks.
10. Los Angeles Rams (10): WR Puka Nacua’s knee injury, which will keep him out at least a month, is only the most notable test to a depth chart already under serious duress.
12. New York Jets (6): A rocky debut rendered them the only winless team in the AFC East. But QB Aaron Rodgers survived the night, the schedule seems poised to ease up significantly and – who knows? – maybe LB Haason Reddick will even show up rather than continue to miss game checks. Panic would be premature.
13. Miami Dolphins (16): They were fortunate to beat the self-sabotaging Jags. But the Fins certainly weren’t fortunate to be dealing with the off-the-field circumstances surrounding All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill and others before kickoff. Understandable why they’d come out flat given the troubling details that continue to emerge regarding Hill’s treatment by local police Sunday morning.
16. Green Bay Packers (3): New QB2 Malik Willis’ brief track record in the league isn’t especially encouraging as he prepares to stand in for injured Jordan Love (MCL). But at least Willis had a few extra days to prepare for a Colts team he’s already familiar with.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (21): OC Arthur Smith got his revenge in Atlanta on Sunday. Will QB Russell Wilson get his pound of flesh this weekend in Denver? Should he even be granted the chance?
18. Los Angeles Chargers (19): Suffocating defense, relentless run game, physical fronts. HC Jim Harbaugh’s new team debuted as advertised. (And just wait until QB Justin Herbert gets to be a bigger part of the attack after passing for a meager 144 yards Sunday.)
20. Chicago Bears (17): Their 148 yards of total offense were the fewest by a winning team in the league in the past four years. Seems like a glass half full situation.
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22. Cleveland Browns (15): Bad day to be without both starting offensive tackles, to say nothing of RB Nick Chubb’s continued absence. But that hardly explains just another bad day from QB Deshaun Watson.
32. New York Giants (32): They got to spend Friday night watching Barkley and S Xavier McKinney thrive in new uniforms. They got to spend Sunday afternoon watching QB Daniel Jones flounder in a new uniform – the Giants’ hideous alternates unveiled to celebrate their 100th season … and that celebration may already be over as HC Brian Daboll is already being asked about Jones’ status as QB1.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.
