The Creight 8: NFL Week 2 Power Rankings

Week one of the 2022 NFL season is in the books. In what may be the biggest overreaction week in professional sports, nobody knows anything, yet everybody seems to know everything. What upsets from the weekend are a foreshadow of what is to come? Is it time for some of last season’s contenders to panic? In this week’s version of The Creight 8, we rank the Top eight teams in the NFL headed into Week two.

1. Buffalo Bills (1-0)

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• If first-time fans tuned into Thursday’s game knowing that one of the teams they were watching won last year’s super bowl, there’s no doubt who they would assume was the reigning league champion. The Bills dismantled the Los Angeles Rams on both sides of the football, scoring 31 points on offense and holding Matthew Stafford and company to 10 points. Going into the game, the previous season’s NFL champion was 14-3 in their Thursday night season opener since the NFL began the tradition in 2004. The Bills are the complete package, led by a fire-powered offense functioned around star quarterback Josh Allen, and an elite defense that is anchored by linebacker Von Miller and All-Pro safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. There is no team in the NFL that deserves the number one spot in the power rankings more than Buffalo, and until they start showing cracks in the surface, it is theirs to lose.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

• Anybody who was doubting how the Chiefs’ new offense would succeed without Tyreek Hill was quickly silenced on Sunday. Kansas City dominated Arizona 44-21, with the largest margin of victory as well the most points scored in Week one. Patrick Mahomes threw for 360 yards and five touchdown passes to four different Chief receivers. Following the win, Mahomes is now 12-2 all-time in the month of September with 46 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Chargers tomorrow night at Arrowhead Stadium for their home opener, in what should one of the best games of the week.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)

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• In Todd Bowles’ first game as head coach, the Buccaneers defeated the Cowboys 19-3. It might have been the most boring game of the week, but that is largely in part due to Tampa Bay’s defense, which didn’t allow a single Dallas point after the first drive of the game. Tampa Bay held Dallas to just 173 yards passing, and only 244 yards in total. Although the Bucs only scored 19 points, they got to within the Dallas 29 yard line a total of five times in the first half, where they had to settle for five field goal attempts. If Tom Brady and the offense can execute better in the red zone, then Tampa Bay is going to be very tough to beat.

4. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

• If you are a sports better, invest in the Minnesota Vikings before it is too late. Heading into Week one, the Vikings upsetting Green Bay to start out the season was my pick of the week. The Vikings have had the offensive talent and firepower to contend in the NFC for years, but now with former Rams offensive coordinator and Sean McVay prodigy Kevin O’Connell calling the shots in Minnesota, the Vikings may be the team to beat in the NFC North. Minnesota dominated Green Bay, holding Aaron Rodgers to just 195 yards passing with zero touchdowns and one interception. The Packers didn’t score their first points until 40 minutes into the game, and had no answer for former Packer Za’Darius Smith, who sacked Rodgers once and got two big hits on the reigning MVP. The Green Bay defense could not stop superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson either, who set a career-high with 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Minnesota has a great match-up this Monday in Philadelphia, a game in which they can show the world that Sunday’s dominating win against Green Bay wasn’t a fluke. Based off of what we saw on Sunday, it just might be Minnesota’s time to step in as the team to beat in the NFC North, and maybe even the NFC in general.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)

• In what is arguably the toughest division in the NFL, the Chargers started out the season on the right foot, defeating the Raiders 24-19 and picking up a crucial division win. Although the Charger secondary struggled to contain Davante Adams, they forced Derek Carr to throw three interceptions, and made a key stop in the fourth quarter when they denied the Raiders of a two-point conversion. Khalil Mack made his presence felt in his Charger debut, strip-sacking Carr on fourth and eight with 1:52 left in the game to seal the victory for Los Angeles. With J.C. Jackson set to return against the Chiefs on Thursday night, the Chargers secondary will be getting a big boost in their passing defense. Thursday’s night game against Kansas City will be the next big test of the season, as the Chargers hope to start out the season 2-0 against two divisional heavyweights.

6. Miami Dolphins (1-0)

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• Rookie coach Mike McDaniel and the new-look Miami Dolphins didn’t disappoint in their season opener. Miami defeated divisional rival New England 20-7, while holding the Patriots offense to just 271 yards and forcing three turnovers. Tyreek Hill shined is his Miami debut, catching eight receptions for 94 yards. In what was arguably the gutsiest play of opening weekend, McDaniel elected go for it on fourth-and-seven from the New England 45 with 24 seconds to go in the first half. If Miami didn’t convert, New England would have a chance to kick a field goal to close out the half, making it a one score game at half time. Instead, Tua Tagovailoa found Jaylen Waddle for a 45 yard touchdown, and the Dolphins went into halftime up 17-0. The Bills may be the team to beat in the AFC East, but don’t expect Miami to go away anytime soon.
  
  

7. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

• Baltimore came out strong against the Jets, winning their season opener 24-9. A New York touchdown with 1:00 made the game look a little bit closer than it actually was. Lamar Jackson looked strong throwing the football, as he threw for three touchdowns. The uncertainty of Jackson’s future in Baltimore will be a constant talking point throughout the season, as him and the Ravens failed to agree to a long-term deal after a series of negotiations the entire offseason. If Jackson’s performance on Sunday was any indicator of what is to come, it doesn’t look like he is going to let it distract him on the playing field. After finishing the 2021 season third in rushing yards per game, Baltimore did not have much success running the ball on Sunday, as they tallied only 63 rushing yards on 21 attempts. Help should be on the way however, as J.K. Dobbins is looking to make his season debut this Sunday against Miami.
  

8. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

• It can be argued that nobody in the NFL had a better offseason than the Philadelphia Eagles. With the additions of A.J. Brown, Haason Reddick, and rookie Jordan Davis, the Eagles were locked-in and ready to go on Sunday in Detroit. After dominating the first three quarters and leading 38-21, Philly walked away with 38-35 victory. A.J. Brown didn’t disappoint in his Eagle debut, posting a stat line of 10 receptions and 155 yards (second in the league). With Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott missing 6-8 weeks, the Eagles have a golden opportunity to build a gigantic division lead over Dallas, who was the preseason favorite to win the NFC East. The Eagles have a tough matchup this week against Minnesota, a game in which fans will be painfully reminded that they drafted Jalen Reagor (who is no longer an Eagle) over Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson, who may be turning into the best offensive player in the NFL before our very eyes.
  
  

Tune in next week to see the Week three version of The Creight 8!