Another week in the NFL is in the books, filled with highlight plays, nail-biting finishes, and standout performances. From the Super Bowl rematch in Kansas City to the Peyton Manning Bowl in Indianapolis, fans got another excuse to spend ten straight hours glued to the couch. Here’s how the league’s 32 teams stack up after two weeks of action:
32. New Orleans Saints (0-2)
I know I’ve got the Saints at 32, but I’ve been mildly impressed by how competitive they’ve been. Two one-score losses against better rosters isn’t nothing. Spencer Rattler looks improved from his rocky rookie year, throwing three touchdowns with no picks against San Francisco’s defense. The bigger concern is on defense, where getting sliced by Mac Jones tells you all you need to know. With limited talent on that side of the ball, it wasn’t shocking to see Kyle Shanahan exploit them. The losses will keep piling up, but this season is more about developing players than chasing wins.
31. Cleveland Browns (0-2)
Cleveland followed a winnable opener with a blowout loss to Baltimore, and the offense remains a mess. Joe Flacco starting in 2025 speaks volumes, and outside of rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., there are few bright spots, although RB Quinshon Judkins finally got on the field and he could be special. The defense played better than the 41 points allowed suggest, holding the Ravens to just 242 yards while Myles Garrett added 1.5 sacks. Still, moral victories don’t count in the standings, and with Green Bay next, an 0–3 start looms.
30. Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Carolina was close to the bottom spot this week, but Bryce Young and the offense finally showed signs of life against a sneaky-good Arizona defense. The defense continues to sputter, and the offense often stalls, but it was encouraging to see Young connect with rookie receiver Tetaroia McMillan. This team is still a long way from competing.
29. Miami Dolphins (0-2)
The offense flashed a little this week, but it still ended with Tua Tagovailoa throwing a brutal interception. The defense is even worse. They got lit up by a Daniel Jones-led Indianapolis squad in week one, and they just allowed 33 points to Drake Maye and the Patriots. Miami looks headed toward a top-five pick, a new coach, a new GM, and maybe even a new quarterback.
28. New York Jets (0-2)
Justin Fields’ electric Week 1 already feels like a distant memory. The offense was awful this week, and Aaron Glenn’s defense hasn’t helped. Giving up 64 points in two games is ugly, and now they face a high-powered Tampa Bay offense.
27. Tennessee Titans (0-2)
The Titans’ season is really all about the development of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. So far, Ward has looked the part. Against two elite pass rushes (Rams and Broncos), he’s shown enough flashes to give fans real hope for the future.
26. New York Giants (0-2)
Even in a week where the offense scored 37 points, the Giants somehow looked worse. The front seven hasn’t delivered, and the defense as a whole just isn’t good enough. They’ll get a chance to prove something Sunday night in a desperation matchup against Kansas City.
25. Chicago Bears (0-2)
Year 2 of the Caleb Williams era is off to a rough start. I still believe in the Ben Johnson/Williams pairing, but the defense needs to show something after giving up 52 points to Detroit. Until then, the Bears stay near the bottom.
24. New England Patriots (1-1)
Against a weak Miami defense, rookie Drake Maye looked sharp. It’s critical for the Patriots’ future that he develops into a franchise quarterback, and this was a step forward. On defense, Milton Williams lived up to his big contract with two sacks.
23. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)
Monday night against the Chargers was discouraging. Geno Smith struggled, the defense was overmatched, and Ashton Jeanty’s limited usage was puzzling. The Raiders remain competitive but don’t look like a team anyone fears in the playoff race.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
After a solid Week 1 win, the Jaguars stumbled against a Bengals team led by backup Jake Browning. Trevor Lawrence had some highs, but his inconsistency is holding this team back from playoff contention.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
With a healthy Joe Burrow, this team would rank higher. With Jake Browning at quarterback, they’re more likely to be average than contenders and are by far the worst 2-0 team in the league.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
The loss to Seattle didn’t show Pittsburgh as the inferior team. A fluky special teams touchdown and a tipped interception swung the game. I still think this team can recover, starting with New England next week.
19. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Yes, Seattle beat Pittsburgh, but it felt more fortunate than dominant. The offense remains uninspiring outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though the defense has the potential to be elite.
18. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Even after the Micah Parsons trade and the Brian Schottenheimer hire, Dallas has looked solid. Dak Prescott is sharp, CeeDee Lamb looks like he’ll notch another 1,500-yards receiving season, and the offense is humming. But the defense allowing 500 yards to the Giants is alarming.
17. Houston Texans (0-2)
So far, this Texans team looks unchanged from last year. The offensive line is a problem, and C.J. Stroud is struggling because of it. The defense is championship caliber, but until the offense improves, they won’t be seen as true contenders.
16. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
This team rises and falls with J.J. McCarthy. Outside of one strong quarter against Chicago, he’s struggled. And now he’s got an ankle injury and will miss their next game against the Bengals. The defense remains stout, but without consistent quarterback play, Minnesota won’t contend seriously.
15. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
Arizona is 2-0, but both wins came against weak opponents (Saints and Panthers) so let’s take them with cautious optimism. Their divisional matchup with San Francisco will give us a better read on how good they really are.
14. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
For the first time in years, Atlanta has a reliable pass rush. They racked up six sacks on Sunday night in a statement win over Minnesota. That unit gives this team a new level of credibility.
13. Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
The biggest surprise so far has been Daniel Jones. After years of criticism, he’s playing at a high level, and if he keeps it up, the Colts will be taken much more seriously in the AFC playoff race.
12. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
Mac Jones, rumored to be on San Francisco’s radar back in 2021, played his best game since his rookie year. It came against a weak Saints defense, but he looked competent enough to keep the 49ers afloat until Brock Purdy returns.
11. Denver Broncos (1-1)
Despite losing to the Colts, I didn’t come away thinking Indianapolis was the better team. A special teams blunder on a potential game-winning field goal was the difference. Denver should be fine, but the defense needs to resemble last year’s unit for them to contend.
10. Washington Commanders (1-1)
The Commanders ran into a buzzsaw in Green Bay, but their blueprint is still the same as last season: electric offense and opportunistic defense. Next week against the Raiders will be a good test.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)
Talk of the Chiefs’ demise is premature. They outplayed Philadelphia for stretches, and a dropped Travis Kelce touchdown that turned into an interception loomed large. With the Giants up next, this is a chance to get back on track.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Tampa continues to fly under the radar. Missing Chris Godwin and both starting tackles, Baker Mayfield still found a way against Houston’s defense. When healthy, this team can beat anyone.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)
The Chargers couldn’t ask for a better start: two division wins and Justin Herbert playing at a new level. Jesse Minter’s defense is solid even without a superstar. This could be the year they reclaim the AFC West.
6. Los Angeles Rams (2-0)
The Rams are a sneaky NFC contender. Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, and a steadily improving defense give them a high weekly floor. They’ll get a real test against the defending champs in Week 3.
5. Detroit Lions (1-1)
Concerns about the offense without Ben Johnson faded quickly. The Bears game looked like the Lions we’ve grown accustomed to, and they remain a major force in the NFC.
4. Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Buffalo took care of business against the Jets and should do the same against Miami on Thursday. This ranking is more about the strength of the three teams ahead of them than any issue with the Bills themselves.
3. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
The Ravens rolled Cleveland a week after letting Buffalo steal a win late. Outside of that collapse, Baltimore has looked dominant and remains the AFC team to beat. And yes, despite the head to head loss against Buffalo, I’m ranking this team one spot higher.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
The Eagles have been good, not great, but their roster is so loaded that even a C+ game beats most teams. The passing attack has lacked creativity, and new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has plenty to prove, but the ceiling is still sky-high.
1. Green Bay Packers (2-0)
Through two weeks, Green Bay looks like the league’s best team. The addition of Micah Parsons has elevated the defense, which has held Detroit and Washington to just 31 points combined. On offense, Jordan Love is steady, the run game is strong, and Tucker Kraft has taken a leap. With Jayden Reed sidelined, rookie receiver Matthew Golden should see more opportunities to contribute.
Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop
