Steph Chambers/Getty Images
32
Jacksonville Jaguars
(0-1)
Last Week: 29
Week 1: @ Texans (L 37-21)
Week 2: vs Broncos (Sun, 1pm)
This should go without saying. The Jags have not won a game since Week 1 of last season. They were given some grace in the Week 1 poll with a new QB and Head Coach, but they will fall back to the bottom after an ugly loss to the Texans.
31
Houston Texans
(1-0)
Last Week: 32
Week 1: vs Jaguars (W 37-21)
Week 2: @ Browns (Sun, 1pm)
Texans stay near the bottom of this poll despite their Week 1 win against the Jaguars. There were surprisingly really good performances from Tyrod Taylor and Mark Ingram. They still have a lot to prove in order to move up in the rankings. They will face their first real test of the season this week at Cleveland.
30
Atlanta Falcons
(0-1)
Last Week: 26
Week 1: vs Eagles (L 32-6)
Week 2: @ Buccaneers (Sun, 4:05 pm)
Week 1: vs Eagles (L 32-6)
Week 2: @ Buccaneers (Sun, 4:05 pm)
The Falcons were clearly outmatched on Sunday against Philly on both ends of the ball. Their offense failed to get in the end zone and their defense made the Eagles look like it was easy. Expect another difficult matchup again this week when they travel to Tampa.
29
Detroit Lions
(0-1)
Last Week: 31
Week 1: vs 49ers (L 41-33)
Week 2: @ Packers (Mon, 8:15 pm)
Despite the loss to San Francisco, the Lions will jump up 2 spots this week in the poll. Things started off rough for Detroit as they found themselves down 38-10 on Sunday in the 3rd Quarter, but managed to pull off a late comeback and eventually only lost by 8 points. Defensively, this team struggled for the most part but it wasn’t a bad performance on the offensive side of the ball.
28
New York Jets
(0-1)
Last Week: 30
Week 1: @ Panthers (L 19-14)
Week 2: vs Patriots (Sun, 1 pm)
Week 1: @ Panthers (L 19-14)
Week 2: vs Patriots (Sun, 1 pm)
There was nothing exciting to take away from the Jets season opener against the Panthers. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where they move much higher in the rankings this year but we will see. The Jets will be tested at home this week against division rival Patriots.
27
New York Giants
(0-1)
Last Week: 28
Week 1: vs Broncos (L 27-13)
Week 2: @ Washington (Thu, 8:20 pm)
Week 1: vs Broncos (L 27-13)
Week 2: @ Washington (Thu, 8:20 pm)
The Giants struggled to get much going in their home opener against Denver. Saquon Barkley still doesn’t appear to be 100% healthy yet and the team chemistry seems to be lacking. They will try to rebound on Thursday in what should be a tough matchup in Washington.
AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps
26
Chicago Bears
(0-1)
Last Week: 22
Week 1: @ Rams (L 34-14)
Week 2: vs Bengals (Sun, 1 pm)
It wasn’t a completely horrific performance, but the Bears struggled to keep up with the Rams on Sunday night. They could be making the switch over to Justin Fields very soon at QB after getting a very good sample size and David Montgomery held his own on the running game, but they are still a long way from looking like contenders.
25
Green Bay Packers
(0-1)
Last Week: 4
Week 1: @ Saints (L 38-3)
Week 2: vs Lions (Mon, 8:15 pm)
Week 1: @ Saints (L 38-3)
Week 2: vs Lions (Mon, 8:15 pm)
Okay, this might be a little bit of an overreaction, but the Packers looked absolutely terrible on Sunday against the Saints. After finishing the 2020 season with the NFC’s best record, the Packers opened their 2021 season expected to be Super Bowl contenders. Well, that definitely didn’t seem to be the case this past Sunday. Rodgers failed to even get in the red zone and also threw 2 brutal interceptions. Aaron Jones only amounted to 9 rushing yards and the whole vibe of the team felt completely off. Green Bay will likely bounce back on Monday night in their home opener against the Lions.
24
Indianapolis Colts
(0-1)
Last Week: 18
Week 1: vs Seahawks (L 28-16)
Week 2: vs Rams (Sun, 1 pm)
Week 1: vs Seahawks (L 28-16)
Week 2: vs Rams (Sun, 1 pm)
The Colts performance against the Seahawks wasn’t awful but their offense could use some work. Their leading two receivers were both RB’s (Taylor and Hines) so it seems like they’re lacking solid receiver options. Also, their running game had some trouble coming alive which could be due to weakness on the offensive line. They will face another tough matchup in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams at home.
23
Minnesota Vikings
(0-1)
Last Week: 17
Week 1: @ Bengals (L 27-24 OT)
Week 2: @ Cardinals (Sun, 4:05 pm)
Week 1: @ Bengals (L 27-24 OT)
Week 2: @ Cardinals (Sun, 4:05 pm)
The Vikings were robbed short of a victory on Sunday after the Bengals scored a field goal in the final seconds of regulation and then finished the job with another field goal in overtime. Dalvin Cook had an underwhelming game based on his 2020 standards with only 61 yards on 20 carries, but the offense was very productive on the passing end with 336 passing yards. They face a tough Arizona Cardinals team on Sunday in the desert.
22
New England Patriots
(0-1)
Last Week: 19
Week 1: vs Dolphins (L 17-16)
Week 2: @ Jets (Sun, 1 pm)
It was a lackluster performance by both teams, but the Patriots overall played better than the Dolphins on Sunday despite the 1 point loss. A couple crucial fumbles ended up being the factor that swung the game in favor of Miami. Rookie QB Mac Jones looked very comfortable in his debut start and Damien Harris looks like he could be poised for a big year. The Patriots hope to get back on track in Week 2 in a favorable matchup against the Jets.
21
Carolina Panthers
(1-0)
Last Week: 23
A Week 1 home victory over the Jets really isn’t anything to get too excited about, but it was great to see CMC back. He was back in form with 98 rushing yards and 89 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Clearly, he will be an offensive weapon that will be used a lot this season. The Panthers hope to open the offense even more this Sunday against a very difficult Saints defense.
20
Cincinnati Bengals
(1-0)
Last Week: 25
Bengals fans were excited to have Joe Burrow back at QB after losing him midseason to injury in 2020. What made it even more exciting was the thrilling overtime victory they pulled off over the Vikings in their home opener. This offense has high upside in 2021 with a solid receiver trio in Chase, Higgins, Boyd and a playmaking every down RB in Joe Mixon. Questions with the Bengals are more centered around their defense and offensive line. They hope to see another win on the road in Chicago on Sunday.
19
Denver Broncos
(1-0)
Last Week: 21
Week 1: @ Giants (W 27-13)
Week 2: @ Jaguars (Sun, 1 pm)
A Week 1 double digit win on the road is awesome, but let’s not get carried away since it was against the Giants. As we have seen before, the Broncos have a really good defense which will keep them alive in games but parts of their offense still seem questionable. Jerry Jeudy will likely be out 4-6 weeks so will Bridgewater be able to keep the passing game going and how effective will this running game be? They will get to face another weak opponent in Week 2 at Jacksonville.
18
Washington Football Team
(0-1)
Last Week: 11
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick exited the game early against the Chargers and will likely be out the next 3-4 weeks giving Taylor Heinicke the starting job for now. WR Curtis Samuel will also miss 4-5 weeks to injury so the Washington offense will probably not be as productive as we expected for a little while. Their defense is expected to be one of the best in the league so they should be able to hold their own against the Giants on Thursday night in Week 2.
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
17
Philadelphia Eagles
(1-0)
Last Week: 27
In a very lop-sided victory on Sunday, the Eagles got their 2021 season off to an amazing start. QB Jalen Hurts was beyond productive with 264 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 62 rushing yards proving that he is the right man for the job in Philly. He helped their offense come alive with touchdowns to Devonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, and Dallas Goedert. Miles Sanders also had a great performance on the ground 115 all purpose yards. The Eagles will face the 49ers this Sunday at home and are hoping for another big home win.
16
Miami Dolphins
(1-0)
Last Week: 16
Although they barely snuck by the Patriots on the road in Week 1, the Dolphins were not the convincingly better team in that game. It is still not clear yet that Tua Tagovailoa is the real deal in the NFL the way he was in college and they didn’t quite do a lot on the running game. It is still a very small sample size and it’s always a challenge facing Bellichik’s Patriots. Regardless, the Dolphins are 1-0 and they hope to pull off another win in a challenging home opener on Sunday against the Bills.
15
Tennessee Titans
(0-1)
Last Week: 7
The Titans home opener against the Cardinals in Week 1 was brutal. The offensive line allowed 6 sacks and RB Derrick Henry was only able to accumulate 58 rushing yards. It was also a mediocre performance from QB Ryan Tannehill and the Titans were not able to contain the Cardinals defensively either. We will be expecting better things from the Titans this year but it will be another tough matchup this Sunday when they play the Seahawks on the road.
14
Baltimore Ravens
(0-1)
Last Week: 6
Week 1: @ Raiders (L 33-27 OT)
Week 2: vs Chiefs (Sun, 8:20 pm)
It’s been a rough past few weeks for the Baltimore Ravens. They lost their first and second string RBs (Dobbins and Edwards) to season ending injuries and CB Marcus Peters will also be out for the year. In a thrilling Monday night in Vegas, the Ravens lost to the Raiders in overtime after leading for most of the game. Led by QB Lamar Jackson, the offense still looked very good and they will still have an elite defense this season. The Ravens will have another primetime matchup this Sunday night against the Chiefs for their home opener in Baltimore.
13
Las Vegas Raiders
(1-0)
Last Week: 24
Raiders fans were pleased to start off their 2021 season with an overtime win over the Ravens at home. QB Derek Carr threw for 435 passing yards and TE Darren Waller had a monster game with 10 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders are hoping to break through this year and become a playoff contender and Monday night’s epic win was definitely a great way to set the tone. They will be tested again in Week 2 against the Steelers on the road.
12
Dallas Cowboys
(0-1)
Last Week: 13
Despite the opening night loss to the Bucs last Thursday night, the Cowboys proved they can play against the best in a game that came right down to the wire. After missing most of the 2020 season to injury, QB Dak Prescott lit it up against Tampa with 403 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Receivers Amari Cooper and Cede Lamb also put on a show with a combined 20 receptions, 243 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns. If this team can remain healthy and see an improvement in defensive performance this season, they could definitely be a playoff contender by year’s end. They will travel to Los Angeles and face the Chargers in Week 2.
11
Cleveland Browns
(0-1)
Last Week: 5
Week 1: @ Chiefs (L 33-29)
Week 2: vs Texans (Sun, 1 pm)
This is another team that proved in Week 1 that they can hang with the big boys. The Browns led the Chiefs on the road for most of the game Sunday, before Mahomes and company pulled out the victory at the end. Cleveland looks like a team that is right on the cusp of being a title contender. Their RB duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is by fair the best running tandem in the league with enormous production this past Sunday. QB Baker Mayfield will definitely be hungry for a big win on Sunday in a favorable matchup at home against the Texans.
10
Buffalo Bills
(0-1)
Last Week: 3
Week 1: vs Steelers (W 23-16)
Week 2: @ Dolphins (Sun, 1 pm)
The Bills home loss against the Steelers in Week 1 was definitely not what was expected from this team. Their offense was not up to par from what we saw last year and penalties were also very costly in their loss (8- 81 yards). We will see better weeks in the future for this Bills team led by QB Josh Allen as they will have a chance to redeem themselves this week at Miami.
9
Los Angeles Chargers
(1-0)
Last Week: 14
Week 1: @ Washington (W 20-16)
Week 2: vs Cowboys (Sun, 4:25 pm)
It wasn’t a pretty win but you will have those weeks going against a tough Washington defense. The Chargers, however, were able to put up 424 total yards on offense and a high 3rd down efficiency with 14/19 conversions. There were a lot of penalties charged to this team that could have lost them the game (6 – 94 yards), but good defensive play was their saving grace. Expect a close game for the Chargers this week when they host the Cowboys in their home opener.
8
San Francisco 49ers
(1-0)
Last Week: 9
The 49ers had their Week 1 matchup completely under control by the 3rd quarter against the Lions with a 38-10 lead. This was before the Lions outscored the Niners 23-3 for the remainder of the game and nearly came all the way back. Although San Francisco still pulled out the win, there are definitely concerns about their overall consistency in games. Now that RB Raheem Mostert is out for the year, the 49ers will be relying on a rookie backfield tandem (Mitchell and Sermon). They still look like they will be a contending team in the NFC this year and expect a fun matchup for them this week when they travel to Philadelphia.
7
Pittsburgh Steelers
(1-0)
Last Week: 15
Week 1: @ Bills (W 23-16)
Week 2: vs Raiders (Sun, 1 pm)
After being down 10-0 at halftime, the Steelers ended up pulling off a road win in Buffalo against a Bills offense that is supposed to be one of the best in the league. The Steelers could be a contending team this season with the defensive play they had on Sunday keeping teams out of the end zone. Their offense was limited against the Bills on both passing and rushing sides of the ball but that will likely improve in weeks to come. They will face the Raiders in Week 2 for their home opener.
6
Los Angeles Rams
(1-0)
Last Week: 8
Week 1: vs Bears (W 34-14)
Week 2: @ Colts (Sun, 1 pm)
It was a solid Week 1 win at home for the Rams on Sunday night as they outpaced the Bears 34-14 and pretty much controlled the entire game. Their offense seemed to be clicking just fine with QB Matthew Stafford making his Rams debut and throwing for 321 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. This team is strong on both offensive and defensive sides and will continue to be one of the favorites in the NFC this year. They will be traveling to Indy for Week 2 and should have what it takes to pull off the victory.
5
Seattle Seahawks
(1-0)
Last Week: 12
Week 1: @ Colts (W 28-16)
Week 2: vs Titans (Sun, 4:25 pm)
The Seahawks opened up their season with an impressive victory over the Colts at home. QB Russell Wilson threw for 254 passing yards and 4 touchdowns and the whole offense seemed to be firing on all cylinders. The defense also had an impressive showing but they will be tested against a good Titans offense on Sunday in Seattle.
4
Arizona Cardinals
(1-0)
(1-0)
Last Week: 10
We already knew Arizona was a good team, but what we didn’t know was how good they really were. The Cardinals kicked off the 2021 season with a big win on the road over the Titans completely outplaying them offensively and defensively. The Cards’ offense outpaced in total yards 416 to 248 and their defense completed 6 total sacks with 5 of them coming from LB Chandler Jones. Cardinals will host the Vikings in Week 2 in a favorable matchup at home.
3
New Orleans Saints
(1-0)
Last Week: 20
Week 1: vs Packers (W 38-3)
Week 2: @ Panthers (Sun, 1 pm)
The Saints were the biggest gainers in this week’s SP poll jumping from 20 to 3. They absolutely destroyed the Packers in Week 1 in Jacksonville, which came as a surprise to a lot of people. Their defense completely shut down Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packers offense. The Saints’ offense also held its own with QB Jameis Winston throwing for 5 touchdowns and the running game going for 171 yards. Expect the Saints to pick up where they left off in Week 2 when they travel to Carolina.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
2
Kansas City Chiefs
(1-0)
Last Week: 2
Week 1: vs Browns (W 33-29)
Week 2: @ Ravens (Sun, 8:20 pm)
In an exciting home opener, the Chiefs pulled off a nail biting win over the Browns after playing most of the game from behind. In the closing minutes of the game, the Chiefs pulled ahead and sealed the victory to start off their season 1-0. QB Patrick Mahomes was completely on brand with 337 passing yards and 3 touchdowns and WR Tyreke Hill was all over the field as usual with 197 receiving yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown. TE Travis Kelce also did his thing with a pair of touchdowns and 76 yards on 6 receptions. It’s safe to say that the Chiefs will stay near the top of this poll all year in 2021. They will travel to Baltimore for Week 2 in an epic Sunday night showdown against the Ravens.
1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(1-0)
Last Week: 1
Week 1: vs Cowboys (W 31-29)
Week 2: vs Falcons (Sun, 4:05 pm)
At 44 years old, QB Tom Brady is still out here playing some incredible football on a team that could very likely win him his 8th Super Bowl ring. The Thursday night home opener against the Cowboys was a fun game to start off the Week 1 madness with the Bucs pulling out a close 2 point win. Brady threw for 379 yards and 4 touchdowns in that game with 121 yards going to WR Antonio Brown, 105 yards to WR Chris Godwin, and 90 yards to TE Rob Gronkowkski as all these weapons scored touchdowns as well. The running game was their biggest weakness with only 52 rushing yards but the game was centered around the pass for both teams. The Bucs will be a favorite to return to the Super Bowl again this year and their journey there will continue this week at home against a very poor Falcons defense. Let’s expect another big week for Brady and company.
