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NFL power rankings Week 3: Steelers, Vikings, Saints, Bucs early surprises in 2024 season

By Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic,

2024-09-16

NFL teams have only played two games in the 2024 season.

But some teams have been early-season surprises two weeks into the season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a 2-0 start, having only allowed 16 points in two games. The Minnesota Vikings are also 2-0, with a surprise win over the San Francisco 49ers .

The New Orleans Saints have outscored their opponents 91-29 in two games, including dominating the Dallas Cowboys in NFL Week 2.

And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved to 2-0 on the year with a big win over the Detroit Lions on the road Sunday.

Will those teams continue to surprise in the third week of the NFL season ?

Here's how we rank all 32 teams in the NFL entering Week 3 of the 2024-25 season, with several adjustments based on the results from NFL Week 2 games.

Previous ranking in parentheses .

32. Carolina Panthers (32)

Last week: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers, 26-3

This week: Sunday vs Las Vegas Raiders

How bad have the first two games been for Carolina? The Panthers have scored 13 points … and allowed 73. Bryce Young has completed 55.4% of his throws for 245 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions in two games.

31. New York Giants (31)

Last week: Lost to Washington Commanders, 21-18

This week: Sunday vs Cleveland Browns

A positive for New York? Daniel Jones didn't turn the ball over. He was only 16-for-28 for 178 yards, but you have to take positives wherever you can find them.

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30. Denver Broncos (29)

Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers , 13-6

This week: Sunday vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Welcome to the NFL, Bo Nix. The Broncos rookie has zero touchdown passes and four interceptions in his first two games.

29. Tennessee Titans (30)

Last week: Lost to New York Jets, 24-17

This week: Sunday vs Green Bay Packers

The Titans have lost both of their games by a score of 24-17. Will Levis has thrown two touchdown passes, but has had three passes intercepted this season.

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28. Washington Commanders (28)

Last week: Beat New York Giants, 21-18

This week: Monday Night Football vs Cincinnati Bengals (Sept. 23)

It's hard to win NFL games without scoring at least one touchdown, but that's what the Commanders did behind seven Austin Siebert field goals Sunday.

27. New England Patriots (27)

Last week: Lost to Seattle Seahawks in overtime, 26-23

This week: Thursday Night Football vs New York Jets

For a while, it looked like New England was going to move to 2-0 on the season. Still, 1-1, with the loss in overtime is a lot more than many expected at this point from the Patriots.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (20)

Last week: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 18-13

This week: Monday Night Football vs Buffalo Bills (Sept. 23)

The good news for Jacksonville is it has only been outscored by eight points this season. The bad news? It has the Bills' high-scoring offense up next in Buffalo.

NFL Week 3 schedule: Television channels, how to watch, stream games

25. Los Angeles Rams (13)

Last week: Lost to Arizona Cardinals, 41-10

This week: Sunday vs San Francisco 49ers

There's no excusing a 31-point loss to the Cardinals and there's no excusing 53 rushing yards for Los Angeles. Cooper Kupp's status looms large for the Rams.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (26)

Last week: Beat Baltimore Ravens, 26-23

This week: Sunday vs Carolina Panthers

The Raiders rushed for just 27 yards against the Ravens … and still won the game thanks to 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Minshew Mania has hit Las Vegas.

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23. Arizona Cardinals (25)

Last week: Beat Los Angeles Rams, 41-10

This week: Sunday vs Detroit Lions

You can make an argument that Arizona should be much higher after it stayed close to the Bills and throttled the Rams. Kyler Murray and company will be much higher if they beat the Lions.

22. Chicago Bears (22)

Last week: Lost to Houston Texans, 19-13.

This week: Sunday vs Indianapolis Colts

The Bears are currently our lowest-ranked team in the NFC North, which could have one of the most intriguing division races this season. We're still not sure about Caleb Williams.

21. Indianapolis Colts (12)

Last week: Lost to Green Bay Packers, 16-10

This week: Sunday vs Chicago Bears

There is no denying Anthony Richardson's talent, but he's completed just 49.1% of his passes so far this season, and has four interceptions in two games.

NFL Week 3 odds: Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders for betting on games this week

20. Miami Dolphins (11)

Last week: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 31-10

This week: Sunday vs Seattle Seahawks

Yes, that's a steep drop, but Tua Tagovailoa's status looms large over Miami. We don't see the Dolphins doing much without him.

19. Atlanta Falcons (19)

Last week: Beat Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, 22-21

This week: Sunday Night Football vs Kansas City Chiefs

How did the Falcons beat the Eagles? We're still not sure, but Atlanta will take it.

NFL Monday schedule, TV: How to watch Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles game today

18. Cleveland Browns (18)

Last week: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars, 18-13

This week: Sunday vs New York Giants

The Browns need more from Deshaun Watson: He has completed 58.2% of his passes for 355 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in two games.

17. New York Jets (17)

Last week: Beat Tennessee Titans, 24-17

This week: Thursday Night Football vs New England Patriots

The Jets get another primetime game this week, and with their struggles, and the Patriots' inspired play, it could be an intriguing game.

16. Seattle Seahawks (23)

Last week: Beat New England Patriots in overtime, 23-20

This week: Sunday vs Miami Dolphins

The Seahawks are our lowest-ranked unbeaten team after having edged the Broncos and Patriots. But 2-0 is 2-0.

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15. Cincinnati Bengals (10)

Last week: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 26-25

This week: Monday Night Football vs Washington Commanders (Sept. 23)

The Bengals are 0-2, but they lost to the Chiefs on a last-second 51-yard field goal. Don't write off Joe Burrow and company yet.

14. Los Angeles Chargers (15)

Last week: Beat Carolina Panthers, 26-3

This week: Sunday vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Should Jim Harbaugh's team be higher after its 2-0 start? They impressed against the Raiders and Panthers, but let's see what they do against the 2-0 Steelers in Week 3.

13. Dallas Cowboys (7)

Last week: Lost to New Orleans Saints , 44-19

This week: Sunday vs Baltimore Ravens

We were so high on the Cowboys after their Week 1 performance, but that Week 2 performance stunk. Dallas rushed for 68 yards against New Orleans.

12. Baltimore Ravens (5)

Last week: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders, 26-23

This week: Sunday vs Dallas Cowboys

We considered dropping Baltimore more after its 0-2 start, but this team, led by Lamar Jackson, has too much talent to stay down for long.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)

Last week: Beat Denver Broncos, 13-6

This week: Sunday vs Los Angeles Chargers

The Steelers only have 31 points in their two games, but they have held opponents to 16. That defense makes them a threat in the AFC, no matter who is at QB.

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10. Minnesota Vikings (21)

Last week: Beat San Francisco 49ers, 23-17

This week: Sunday vs Houston Texans

Are we too high on the Vikings? Probably. But 2-0 with a win over the defending NFC Champions has to count for something even if we don't fully trust Sam Darnold.

9. Green Bay Packers (9)

Last week: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 16-10

This week: Sunday vs Tennessee Titans

This team isn't going to go far without Jordan Love, but Josh Jacobs could help keep the Packers afloat until the QB returns from injury.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16)

Last week: Beat Detroit Lions, 20-16

This week: Sunday vs Denver Broncos

That win over the Lions really impressed us, as did Baker Mayfield, who has completed 73.5% of his passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns this season.

7. Houston Texans (8)

Last week: Beat Chicago Bears, 19-13.

This week: Sunday vs Minnesota Vikings

The Texans are showing a knack at winning close games and C.J. Stroud and company could end up being in a lot of close games this season.

6. New Orleans Saints (24)

Last week: Beat Dallas Cowboys, 44-19

This week: Sunday vs Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, that is a massive leap for New Orleans, but the Saints deserve it. They have marched to 91 points in two games (and only given up 29).

What changed? NFL power rankings Week 2

5. Detroit Lions (3)

Last week: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-16

This week: Sunday vs Arizona Cardinals

Through two games, Jameson Williams has 10 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown. Not a bad No. 2 receiving option.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4)

Last week: Lost to Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, 22-21

This week: Sunday vs New Orleans Saints

The Eagles' coaching staff is under fire for its game management in the loss to the Falcons. We're no sure how Philadelphia lost that game.

3. San Francisco 49ers (2)

Last week: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 23-17

This week: Sunday vs Los Angeles Rams

Christian McCaffrey's status looms large over this team, but the 49ers still have an elite defense and plenty of other weapons on offense.

What channel is Monday Night Football? How to watch Falcons vs Eagles NFL game today

2. Buffalo Bills (6)

Last week: Beat Miami Dolphins, 31-10

This week: Monday Night Football vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 23)

The Bills impressed in their Thursday Night Football drubbing of the Dolphins. Holding Miami to 10 points is no easy task.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)

Last week: Beat Cincinnati Bengals, 26-25

This week: Sunday Night Football vs Atlanta Falcons

The Chiefs haven't been the most impressive team through two weeks, but they are still 2-0 and they are still the two time defending Super Bowl champions.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL power rankings Week 3: Steelers, Vikings, Saints, Bucs early surprises in 2024 season

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Bryan Mayer

09-16

Bills played a minor league football team last week

Jeffrey John Finn

09-16

This has to be the worst rankings I’ve seen. I’m guessing the writer is biased beyond means. Probably covering their asses for exhausting the darlings in the off season and trying to cover their tracks for their garbage predictions

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