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New York Post
NFL power rankings for Week 2: True Super Bowl contenders emerge
By Ryan Dunleavy,
9 hours ago
Who said that the biggest games happen at the end of the NFL season?
Everyone? OK, they are right.
But the Week 1 NFL schedule served up three premium matchups featuring six teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
The winners of those games — the Chiefs, Eagles and 49ers — solidified their status among the elite. Each loser — the Ravens, Jets and Packers — was left to rue a missed opportunity.
Then again, the line between winning and losing is thin almost all the time.
Week 1 featured 10 games decided by one score (eight points or fewer) and one more that was within one score in the fourth quarter.
For the first time in 45 years and third time since 1960, three teams overcame deficits of at least 14 points to win on Week 1: The Bears (17), Dolphins (14) and Bills (14).
What can Week 2 possibly do to produce more drama? Stay tuned.
Here are The Post’s power rankings for Week 2:
1. Kansas City Chiefs 1-0 (1)
The two-time defending Super Bowl champions beat arguably their biggest threat in the AFC without anything special from Patrick Mahomes, who threw for one touchdown in a 27-20 win against the Ravens. Travis Kelce (three catches for 34 yards) was quiet, too. The NFL’s new fastest man, rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, introduced himself with two touchdowns.
Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs makes a first-down reception against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Getty Images 2. San Francisco 49ers 1-0 (3)
No Christian McCaffrey, no problem. Jordan Mason stepped in and had a big day rushing , including a touchdown, in a 32-19 victory against the Jets. Deebo Samuel also scored on the ground with McCaffrey sidelined by injury. Give the credit to the 49ers offensive line, which dominated the vaunted Jets defensive line. Kicker Jake Moody was 6-for-6 on field goals.
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason #24 runs the ball as New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed #4 tackles during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 3. Baltimore Ravens 0-1 (2)
How different things might have looked if rising star Isaiah Likely hadn’t had a toe out of bounds on his would-be touchdown catch as time expired. The Ravens were about to go for a two-point conversion and the win. Instead, the incompletion clinched losing to the Chiefs for the fifth time in six meetings. Lamar Jackson accounted for 395 total yards.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton and linebacker Drue Tranquill, left, defend as time time expires in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. AP 4. Detroit Lions 1-0 (4)
David Montgomery’s walk-off, 1-yard touchdown run rescued the Lions from blowing a 14-point, second-half lead and clinched a 26-20 overtime victory against the Rams. Jahmyr Gibbs also scored a rushing touchdown for one of the NFL’s best backfield combinations. Jared Goff improved to 2-1 against Matthew Stafford since the quarterbacks were traded for each other in 2021.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery celebrates his winning 1-yard touchdown run to defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 26-20, during overtime at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK 5. Philadelphia Eagles 1-0 (5)
Who’s laughing now at king-of-the-last-laugh general manager Howie Roseman for spending big on a running back? Saquon Barkley became the second player in Eagles history (following Terrell Owens) to score three touchdowns in his first game with the franchise during a 34-29 win against the Packers. Jalen Hurts overcame three turnovers. Zack Baun tallied 11 tackles and two sacks.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) scores past Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (58) during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. AP 6. Houston Texans 1-0 (9)
Thinking big, the Texans traded for two stars from fellow Super Bowl contenders. How’d they do? Stefon Diggs caught two touchdown passes, and Joe Mixon carried a career-high 30 times for 159 yards and another score in a 29-27 win against the Colts. The Texans, who have won nine straight division games on the road, possessed the ball for 40 minutes.
7. Green Bay Packers 0-1 (7)
Haunted by only managing six first-quarter points off of great starting field position, the Packers lost more than a game to the Eagles in Brazil. Franchise quarterback Jordan Love suffered a sprained MCL and reportedly will miss about three to six weeks. It’s Malik Willis’ show for now. Maybe Jayden Reed (four catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns) can help him.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is assisted off the field after an injury during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Neo Quimica Arena. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Hours after becoming the NFL’s first $60 million-per-year player , Dak Prescott piloted a 33-17 rout against the Texans. The heavy lifting was done by Brandon Aubrey, who made four field goals of 40 yards or longer. And KaVontae Turpin, who returned a punt for a 60-yard touchdown. And a defense that registered six sacks and two interceptions.
9. Buffalo Bills 1-0 (10)
With fewer weapons than before, Josh Allen needs to play like an MVP. Well, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another two to fuel a 14-point comeback in a 34-28 victory against the Cardinals fits the bill. But Allen injured his left hand entering a short-turnaround week. The Bills fell behind 17-3 and later allowed the first dynamic kickoff return touchdown.
10. Jets 0-1 (6)
Aaron Rodgers’ long-awaited return from a torn Achilles fell flat . Sure, there was an impressive 70-yard touchdown drive featuring three third-and-long conversions and the two-touchdown revival of former free-agent bust Allen Lazard. But Rodgers also threw an interception, and Breece Hall fumbled. Things weren’t any better on the defensive side , where they allowed eight straight scoring drives. Paging holdout Haason Reddick.
The New York Jets bench looking dejected during the fourth quarter. The San Francisco 49ers defeat the New York Jets 32-19. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 11 . Miami Dolphins 1-0 (12) 12 . Los Angeles Rams 0-1 (15) 13 . Chicago Bears 1-0 (17) 14 . Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-0 (18) 15 . Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0 (19) 16 . Los Angeles Chargers 1-0 (22) 17 . Cincinnati Bengals 0-1 (8)
If it can’t get worse than last season’s 40-0, season-opening loss to the Cowboys in prime time, falling 28-6 to the low-expectation Vikings to start this season is close. All the expected concerns loomed large: Daniel Jones threw two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), the secondary gave up big plays, and the rushing attack was nonexistent. Worse, the vaunted pass rush was quiet.
Andrew Thomas (78) and Bryce Ford-Wheaton leave the field after the Minnesota Vikings beat the Giants 28-6 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J Bill Kostroun/New York Post 32 . Carolina Panthers 0-1 (32)
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