Welcome to Week 3 of the Pro Football Network company-wide NFL power rankings! While Dalton Miller ably provides his own power rankings following the conclusion of each Sunday’s action, we’ll be polling each of PFN’s NFL contributors to assemble our list.
Each week, we’ll combine rankings from yours truly, Chief Content Officer David Bearman, NFL Director Adam Beasley, Betting Director Brian Blewis, Audience Engagement Director Mike Gambardella, COO Matt Infante, NFL Analyst Dalton Miller, Bengals Reporter Jay Morrison, Cowboys Reporter Jess Nevarez, and Fantasy Director Kyle Yates.
Which teams are too high or too low as we enter Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season?
Pro Football Network’s Week 3 NFL Power Rankings
32) Arizona Cardinals
Week 2 Ranking: 32
The Cardinals have actually looked better than expected this season, but they’re still dead last in our power rankings. Josh Dobbs has looked competent, and Arizona has been in both of their games until the end. But the Cardinals simply didn’t have the defensive talent to stop the New York Giants from mounting a 21-point comeback on Sunday.
31) Houston Texans
Week 2 Ranking: 31
Nico Collins and Tank Dell emerged as legitimate weapons for C.J. Stroud in Week 2, but Houston’s offensive line is concerning. Stroud has taken more sacks (11) than QB in the NFL, and the Texans are playing second and even third-stringers at multiple positions. The young talent on this roster is exciting, but Houston is at least a year away from competing.
30) Chicago Bears
Week 2 Ranking: 29
While the Bears seemingly made all the right moves over the offseason, they’ve looked abysmal through two games. Justin Fields hasn’t shown any signs of improvement nor received help from Chicago’s coaching staff. And Matt Eberflus’ defense is probably the worst in the NFL.
29) Carolina Panthers
Week 2 Ranking: 30
Bryce Young doesn’t necessarily have the weapons around him to compete, but he hasn’t done himself any favors. He’s held the ball for an average of 2.96 seconds on his pass attempts, the third-longest in the NFL. That won’t work behind a Panthers offensive line that’s already down two starters.
28) Indianapolis Colts
Week 2 Ranking: 28
Anthony Richardson looked like a future MVP candidate during his second NFL game, completing six of 10 attempts while taking three rushes for 35 yards and two scores. But a first-quarter concussion sidelined him in the first quarter and could keep him out of Week 3.
MORE: NFL Standings
If Richardson is sidelined, we won’t be surprised if Garnder Minshew has a decent game against a banged-up Baltimore Ravens secondary.
27) Denver Broncos
Week 2 Ranking: 26
The moon ball has returned! Russell Wilson hit rookie Marvin Mims Jr. for two 50+ yard receptions on Sunday, displaying the sort of deep-ball touch we got used to seeing when he was in Seattle.
The perfect moon ball from Russ! He finds the rookie Marvin Mims for a TD.
📺: #WASvsDEN on CBS⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/ij3y2lDs2u
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
The Broncos have lost a pair of close games to start the season, but it’s not on Wilson or the club’s offense. Denver’s defense — elite under Ejiro Evero in 2022 — has taken a step back this season and doesn’t look like the same caliber of unit.
26) Las Vegas Raiders
Week 2 Ranking: 22
Josh Jacobs finished with -2 yards on nine rushing attempts this week, which doesn’t even seem possible. The Raiders squeaked out a win over the Broncos in Week 1 but got destroyed by the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. Las Vegas might be able to compete with other teams that will land in the bottom quartile of our power rankings, but they’re not a genuine threat.
25) Minnesota Vikings
Week 2 Ranking: 20
One year after making the playoffs on the strength of their success in one-score games, the Vikings are already 0-2 in such contests this season. Kirk Cousins has been efficient, but Minnesota hasn’t been able to run the ball. Meanwhile, Brian Flores’ defense got decimated by the Philadelphia Eagles’ rushing attack on Thursday night.
24) New York Giants
Week 2 Ranking: T-23
The Giants just barely averted disaster by rallying for a win against the Cardinals on Sunday, and it’s hard to feel good about New York at the moment. Saquon Barkley sprained his ankle in Week 2 and could miss time, while the Giants’ defense can’t stop anyone. Every other team in the NFC East is undefeated.
T-22) Tennessee Titans
Week 2 Ranking: 27
Mike Vrabel’s club always finds a way to pull out victories. The Titans returned to their roots in Week 2, rushing for more than 140 yards while holding the Los Angeles Chargers to just 61 yards on the ground. Tennessee can always win bully-ball games, but does this team have enough firepower to compete for the entire season?
T-22) New England Patriots
Week 2 Ranking: 16
The Patriots’ schedule started with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that they’re 0-2 to begin the year. Mac Jones has been more efficient under Bill O’Brien’s tutelage, but New England’s defense hasn’t been the same elite unit we saw in 2022.
This is the 1st time a Bill Belichick-coached Patriots team has been down by at least 10 points in each of the first 2 games of a season.
The only other time Belichick's teams were down by 10+ in each of the first 2 games of a season was with the 1992 Cleveland Browns. pic.twitter.com/N3vDPPZK9D
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 18, 2023
The Patriots will face three of the NFL’s best defenses — New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints — over the next three weeks.
21) Washington Commanders
Week 2 Ranking: T-23
Washington is fortunate to be 2-0 heading into the third week of the 2023 campaign. They barely eked out a win over the Cardinals in Week 1, then had to make an 18-point comeback against the Broncos on Sunday. Sam Howell has been roughly league-average thus far, while Brian Robinson Jr. looked like a vintage 1990s power back while scoring twice against Denver this week.
20) Los Angeles Rams
Week 2 Ranking: 21
Matthew Stafford is turning back the clock in 2023 — he’s made rookie fifth-round pick Puka Nacua one of the most productive receivers in the league and turned Tutu Atwell into a valuable contributor. The Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks and kept it close against the San Francisco 49ers, two outcomes no one would have predicted a month ago.
Matthew Stafford remains the WR kingmaker. Been behind:
1. Best WR season ever (Cooper Kupp, 2021)
2. Second-best WR season ever (Calvin Johnson, 2012)
3. Kenny Golladay top-10 WR (2018, 2019)
4. Golden Tate 1300-yard season (2014)
5. Marvin Jones three 9-TD seasons (2017, 2019,…— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 18, 2023
Can Los Angeles keep this up? Aside from Aaron Donald, their defense is still almost entirely anonymous, but Cooper Kupp’s pending return could take the Rams’ offense to the next level.
T-18) Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2 Ranking: 19
Kenny Pickett is dead last in quarterback efficiency this season, and the Steelers’ offense ranks 32nd in EPA per play. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada is probably more to blame for that performance than Pickett — just ask the Pittsburgh crowd that chanted “Fire Canada” during Monday night’s game.
T-18) Los Angeles Chargers
Week 2 Ranking: 12
The Chargers’ defensive metrics are skewed by their shootout against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, but Brandon Staley’s unit has been disappointing. This a club with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James on its depth chart, but they still can’t seem to stop anyone.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
Los Angeles will face another 0-2 team — the Vikings — in Week 3. The loser of that game can probably kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.
T-16) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 Ranking: 25
Baker Mayfield has been better than anyone could have imagined, but the Buccaneers’ defense also deserves a lot of credit. The veteran-laden unit has given up just 32 first downs and ranks second with five turnovers. That performance seems more sustainable than Mayfield’s, but Mike Evans and Chris Godwin can help elevate the 28-year-old quarterback.
T-16) New York Jets
Week 2 Ranking: 13
The Jets were able to pull out a victory over the Buffalo Bills after losing Aaron Rodgers in Week 1, but Gang Green came back to Earth against the Cowboys’ elite defense in Week 2. Zach Wilson looked exactly like the quarterback we’ve all come to know, competing just 44% of his passes while tossing three interceptions and taking three sacks.
We’ve already seen this version of the Jets — they went 7-9 last season. New York’s defense is elite, but unless the Jets find a more viable quarterback, they’ll be on the outside looking in when the postseason starts.
15) Green Bay Packers
Week 2 Ranking: 15
The Packers almost started their first season without Rodgers with a 2-0 record. Green Bay held a 12-point lead against the Atlanta Falcons with 12 minutes remaining but couldn’t hang on for the win.
Jordan Love bringing the 🔥 & rookie wideouts catching on 🙌
Packers Daily ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/aDP9JtGV5w
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 19, 2023
Jordan Love leads the NFL in touchdown rate and is second in adjusted net yards per attempt. He won one game without Christian Watson and nearly won another without Watson and Aaron Jones.
14) Cleveland Browns
Week 2 Ranking: 11
The Browns’ Monday night loss was an absolute disaster. Nick Chubb is done for the season after suffering a gruesome near injury. Deshaun Watson is still playing like one of the league’s worst quarterbacks. And Cleveland already lost right tackle Jack Conklin for the year in Week 1.
But it’s impossible to ignore the work new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is doing. The Browns’ defense features a wrecking ball of a defensive line and excellent communication on the back end. Cleveland ranks second in overall defensive EPA, but they’re first against the run.
13) Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2 Ranking: 7
This ranking somehow feels both too high and too low. The Bengals were dominated by the Browns in Week 1, lost again in Week 2, and Joe Burrow is questionable for Week 3 after aggravating his calf injury.
But Cincinnati has been here before. They started 0-2 last season before rebounding to win the AFC North and make their second straight AFC title game. The Bengals have too much talent to be counted out, but another loss on Monday night — against the Rams in a repeat of Super Bowl 56 — would be a nightmare.
12) Seattle Seahawks
Week 2 Ranking: 17
No team made as big of a leap in our power rankings as the Seahawks, who followed up their Week 1 loss to the Rams with an overtime victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 2. Geno Smith can play in shootouts, as evidenced by his 328-yard, two-touchdown day on Sunday.
But Seattle’s defense remains a problem, ranking 29th in scoring and 30th in yards per play. This young unit could improve as the season rolls along, but allowing 30.5 points per game isn’t a workable action plan.
11) Atlanta Falcons
Week 2 Ranking: 18
While the Falcons will always be a run-first team, Desmond Ridder has added more to Atlanta’s offense than he did last season. He’s been more accurate and managed 39 yards on the ground in Week 2. But the Falcons’ defense should receive most of the credit for the team’s hot start.
10) New Orleans Saints
Week 2 Ranking: 14
One of three undefeated teams in the NFC South, the Saints finally gave up their first touchdown of the year when Adam Thielen scored for the Panthers with 1:16 remaining Monday night’s game. We’re not exactly sold on Derek Carr and New Orleans’ offense. But if the Saints’ defense keeps this up, New Orleans should be a playoff team.
9) Detroit Lions
Week 2 Ranking: 8
Coming off the high of their season-opening win against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Lions suffered a bit of a letdown against the Seahawks in Week 2. While they managed an impressive comeback after trailing by 10 points with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Detroit allowed Seattle to score on the first overtime possession.
#Lions DB CJ Gardner-Johnson is feared to have suffered a a torn pec in Sunday’s game, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. The playmaker had been a big part of Detroit’s defense. Now out indefinitely, potentially for the season. pic.twitter.com/lpWTKG7rUY
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2023
Now, a potentially season-ending injury to C.J. Gardner-Johnson will affect how the Lions organize their defensive backfield.
8) Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2 Ranking: 9
It doesn’t feel like the Jaguars have really gotten going yet, but we have enough confidence in Doug Pederson, Trevor Lawrence, and Co. to place them ninth in our power rankings. Lawrence struggled against the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense on Sunday, completing just 54% of his passes for 216 scoreless yards. A Week 3 matchup against the Texans could be just what the doctor ordered.
7) Buffalo Bills
Week 2 Ranking: 10
Josh Allen giveth, Josh Allen taketh away (or something like that). After a dreadful four-turnover game against the Jets in Week 1, Allen came out firing on Sunday. He missed on only six of his 37 attempts, totaling 274 yards and three scores through the air while raming turnover-free and generating a whopping 0.433 EPA per play.
Dominating the Raiders is one thing, but we’re curious to see how Buffalo’s sometimes problematic offensive line handles Washington’s elite defensive front in Week 3.
6) Baltimore Ravens
Week 2 Ranking: 6
That the Ravens are 2-0 despite suffering injuries of varying severity to J.K. Dobbins, Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey, Ronnie Stanley, and Tyler Linderbaum is a testament to Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh, and coordinators Todd Monnken and Mike Macdonald.
If Baltimore can get some of those key pieces back in the coming weeks, they could build on their solid start and take a commanding lead in the AFC North.
5) Miami Dolphins
Week 2 Ranking: 5
Traveling for road games against the Chargers and Patriots didn’t line up as the easiest start to the season, but the Dolphins walked away with wins in both games and already look like surefire contenders.
Tua Tagovailoa looks as good as he did when healthy in 2022. Raheem Mostert ran incredibly hard en route to 121 yards on Sunday. Miami’s offensive line has surprisingly held up through two games, even with left tackle Terron Armstead sidelined.
If Jalen Ramsey can return from his meniscus injury by December, or at least by the time the playoffs begin, no one will want to face the Dolphins in the tournament.
4) Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2 Ranking: 4
While the Chiefs’ wide receivers didn’t post the same disastrous results in Week 2 that they did in Week 1, it still feels like Kansas City hasn’t put it all together yet. Part of that is pure personnel — Travis Kelce is still working his way back from a knee injury after missing the season opener.
Chris Jones's go-to move is this side scissors attack, especially on the edge. Being big, long and strong definitely helps, but his hip rotation to slip past contact is pretty wild at his size. pic.twitter.com/FGMUQuI0MA
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) September 18, 2023
Chris Jones didn’t need any time to get acclimated, though. After signing a revised deal to rejoin the Chiefs following his summer holdout, Jones got right back to work, posting six pressures, two QB hits, and 1.5 sacks against Jacksonville.
3) Philadelphia Eagles
Week 2 Ranking: 2
Jalen Hurts hasn’t quite looked like the quarterback who finished second in MVP voting last season, but that hasn’t stopped the Eagles from going 2-0. Always capable of finding solutions, Philadelphia leaned on the run game against the Vikings in Week 2, with D’Andre Swift piling up 175 rushing yards.
The Eagles’ defense probably won’t be as dominant as it was in 2022, but that was to be expected after the club lost several key pieces — Javon Hargrave, Gardner-Johnson, and Marcus Epps, among others — over the offseason.
2) San Francisco 49ers
Week 2 Ranking: 1
The only club with a top-five offense and defense by EPA, the 49ers destroyed the Steelers in Week 1 before playing a tight game with the Rams on Sunday. Brock Purdy is tied for the league lead in QBR, and he’s been an incredibly efficient point guard in an offense overflowing with weapons. If they’d beaten Los Angeles by a few more points this week, San Francisco would probably have held onto the No. 1 spot in our power rankings.
1) Dallas Cowboys
Week 2 Ranking: 3
The Cowboys’ defense has been the single most dominant unit in the NFL this season. They’ve allowed just 10 total points, given up scores on only 8.7% of their opponents’ drives, and created a turnover on nearly a third of their series.
The Dak Prescott-to-CeeDee Lamb connection is absolutely lethal, while Tony Pollard already looks like one of the league’s top backs in his first full season as a starter. Dallas should cruise over the next two weeks (Cardinals, Patriots) before facing a potential NFC title game preview against the 49ers in Week 5.