Bengals nosedive down NFL power rankings after Week 1 disaster

The Cincinnati Bengals opened the season with another disappointing Week 1 loss . So how did that affect their standing across the league?

The Bengals went into the year with high expectations, but losing to the New England Patriots , a team expected to be near the bottom of the AFC standings, is concerning for fans inside the Queen City.

Here's where they stand in various Week 2 power rankings following the 16-10 loss to New England. The number of spots the team moved is in parenthesis.

ESPN NFL Week 2 power rankings: No. 14 (🔻 5)

The Bengals went into Week 1 at No. 9 on ESPN , but the lack of productivity offensively led to them falling down a few spots. However, ESPN's Ben Baby wrote of the positive impact running back Zack Moss had on the team.

"(Offensive coordinator) Dan Pitcher called Moss an all-around back, and his usage suggested that was the case. He played 65% of the team's offense snaps and will continue in a key role for a unit that needs to improve going forward," Baby wrote.

USA TODAY NFL Week 2 power rankings: No. 14 (🔻 5)

Cincinnati's standing in USA TODAY 's rankings are identical to ESPN's. Aside from the disappointing Week 1 performance, Nate Davis called on the team to lock down its star receiver.

"This team needs to figure out WR Ja'Marr Chase's contractual situation – especially with a visit to the rested Chiefs coming up," he wrote.

CBS Sports NFL Week 2 power rankings: No. 16 (🔻 11)

The Bengals plummeted in CBS Sports ' Pete Prisco's rankings, as he a wondered if the performance was a fluke or genuinely concerning.

"What the heck was that against the Patriots," he wrote. "They looked disjointed on offense, which isn't a good thing going to Kansas City."

The Athletic NFL Week 2 power rankings: No. 25 (🔻 16)

The Athletic may have been the harshest on the Bengals this week. Josh Kendall noted that Chase played relatively well, but the offense was still horrible.

"The Bengals still had their third-lowest offensive output since 2021. It didn’t help that (Chase's) fellow receiver Tee Higgins sat out with a hamstring injury. Joe Burrow ’s 164 passing yards were the fifth fewest of his career," he wrote.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals nosedive down NFL power rankings after Week 1 disaster