KattMan’s Week 2 NFL Power Rankings

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10. Las Vegas Raiders

9. San Francisco 49ers

8. Arizona Cardinals

7. Buffalo Bills

6. Baltimore Ravens

5. Seattle Seahawks

4. Cleveland Browns

3. Los Angeles Rams

2. Kansas City Chiefs

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

We have a new #1 after another set of data points came from Week 2. We’ve widely regarded the Chiefs’ defense as flawed, but can get stops at times in big moments. That wasn’t close to the case on Sunday Night Football. Sammy Watkins fell down on the first drive of the game, gifting KC a pick-six, and Lamar Jackson hurled an ill-advised pass across the middle of the field into triple-coverage. Other than those two plays (unforced errors), the Baltimore Ravens carved up Kansas City up and down the field.

 

Yes, it took a fumble from Sophomore RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire to rain on the parade of what was going to be a game winning FG try for the Chiefs, but even with a win on Sunday night, it’s clear that Kansas City is more than vulnerable.

 

I can’t help but fall in love with the Raiders. It’s so easy to forget their 12-4 season in 2016 that was ended prematurely after the loss of QB Derek Carr. Now, Carr is healthy, he’s got a weapon at TE in Darren Waller, and a young deep-threat in Henry Ruggs III at wideout. The glitz and glam of a football team in Las Vegas may make me look at that franchise with rose-colored glasses, but darn-it, how can you not?!

 

I will say, the Cardinals’ defense scares me. Allowing the Vikings to hit what should have been 36 points is not the indicator of a contender. We shall see if Kyler Murray continues to be one of those upper-echelon QB’s that routinely make magic happen with their legs and arm to overcome a below-average defense. It does make for fun games!