NFL power rankings entering Week 2 of the 2023 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. 49ers (4): Hard to begin more impressively than flying cross-country and beating another (supposed) contender by 23 points in their own building. The Niners dominated in every phase at Pittsburgh on Sunday, and second-year QB Brock Purdy built upon the historic start of his career. "Mr. Irrelevant" from the 2022 draft, he's the first passer in league annals with a QB rating of at least 95.0 in his first six regular-season starts and the first to win his first six non-playoff starts while notching at least a pair of TD throws in each. Purdy's lone loss remains January's NFC title game defeat at Philadelphia, when his UCL snapped early in the game. The wing – and this team at large – looked ready to go, S.F. positioned to be better than ever in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era.

2. Eagles (2): The NFC champs broke in their new coordinators, running back by committee and some defensive alterations, and it showed in a slightly uneven performance – though no shame in winning in the rain and in Bill Belichick's backyard. Philadelphia's home opener is Thursday against Minnesota, almost exactly a year after they waxed the Vikes 24-7 at Lincoln Financial Field in prime time.

3. Cowboys (16): Whatever reservations you might have about Dallas' offense – and I've expressed multiple in this space – such concerns are largely moot if this defense manifests as Doomsday III (or is it IV, depending how you feel about the 1990s groups?). QB Dak Prescott and HC Mike McCarthy, the new play caller, didn't have to show much Sunday night after the D and special teams ignited the biggest shutout in club history and largest in Week 1 in 24 years. They get the reeling Jets next.

4. Chiefs (1): After so much offseason speculation regarding AFC supremacy, the conference's first entry lands here – and Kansas City didn't even win. That said, let's not knock the champs too much considering they were missing their second- and third-most important players, TE Travis Kelce's knee buckling just days before the opener. Even if he's not back in Week 2 – and, at least, DT Chris Jones will be – the bet here is that a much better offensive performance will be forthcoming.

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5. Lions (11): Yes, they caught K.C. a bit short-handed. But credit Detroit for surrendering just 316 yards – a level 2022's league-worst defense kept opponents under just three times. DE Aidan Hutchinson is headed for stardom and propelling this group along the way.

6. Browns (13): As expected, the defense appears to be the bedrock of this squad – though few could have foreseen a near-shutout of Cincinnati. However don't underestimate the loss of RT Jack Conklin to a devastating knee injury … even if it will be fascinating to see how 6-8, 374-pound rookie Dawand Jones fills in.

7. Jaguars (9): Trevor Lawrence's four-game winning streak against AFC South foes is a team record for a quarterback. Certainly helps to have WR Calvin Ridley, fresh off his first 100-yard receiving day in nearly three years.

8. Bills (5): They knocked Jets QB Aaron Rodgers out of the game early Monday night, then watched their own signal-caller, Josh Allen, consistently undermine the offense in a loss that may come back to haunt Buffalo in a really bad way.

9. Bengals (3): Maybe it was the rain. Maybe it was waiting for QB Joe Burrow's calf and contract to come around. Maybe it's a Cleveland bugaboo, Cincinnati having dropped six of seven to their cross-state rivals. Certainly averaging 2.6 yards per play cemented the Bengals' demise. But let's give them a mulligan … for now.

10. Dolphins (15): QB Tua Tagovailoa (466 yards and 3 TDs passing) and WR Tyreek Hill (11 catches for 215 yards and 2 TDs) fueled Sunday's most entertaining game … and Miami didn't need injured LT Terron Armstead or CB Jalen Ramsey to get off to a 1-0 start. Just wait until Vic Fangio's defense dials in.

11. Ravens (8): Given QB Lamar Jackson didn't take a preseason snap, little surprise an entirely new offense failed to impress. But the primary worry is the amount of injuries Baltimore has already sustained – TE Mark Andrews, LT Ronnie Stanley, C Tyler Linderbaum, S Marcus Williams and, worst, RB J.K. Dobbins, who's gone for the year with an Achilles injury.

12. Saints (10): Bit of a slow start offensively, yet encouraging nonetheless given the presence of WR Michael Thomas (5 catches, 61 yards) and temporary absence of RB Alvin Kamara.

13. Chargers (14): Felt like the last team to have the ball would win … except the Bolts had it with the chance to prevail and folded in their 36-34 setback to Miami. But give new OC Kellen Moore points for cutting against his reputation by running 53% of the time, while we have to dock HC Brandon Staley for again fielding a D that's less than the sum of its parts.

14. Steelers (7): Perhaps no club was more disappointing in Week 1, Pittsburgh suffering its worst home defeat of the Mike Tomlin era while losing team captain Cam Heyward to a groin injury for at least the next few games.

15. Packers (18): The offense was balanced, the young receivers made plays, and the defense rose up to its talent quotient. Not clear why a quarterback would want to leave this situation, but highly effective Jordan Love (3 TD passes) is understandably psyched for his opportunity.

16. Jets (6): Not clear why a quarterback would want to join this haunted operation, but Aaron Rodgers did. Yes, the NYJ are 1-0 for the first time since 2018, but this season already seems lost with the quarterback's Achilles officially compromised.

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17. Falcons (17): They're above .500 for the first time in nearly six years – the longest dry spell in the league – but that's not really a shock. The surprise is that they've reclassified Cordarrelle Patterson to the "joker" position. Wondering what a franchise tag is worth for jokers.

18. Rams (26): WR Cooper Kupp is on injured reserve. Naturally, HC Sean McVay drilled down the depth chart and coaxed 119-yard receiving days out of both Tutu Atwell and rookie Puka Nacua in Sunday's win at Seattle.

19. Patriots (21): QB Mac Jones looked effectively resurrected as New England gave the highly touted Eagles all they could handle. If the run game gets going – and if things are as bad as they seem in New York – you wonder if the Pats might just be back in 2023.

20. Titans (20): Cagey trade for K Nick Folk, who nearly booted Tennessee to victory with five field goals – and maybe he would have if RB Derrick Henry (17 touches, 119 yards) had played more than 48% of the offensive snaps?

21. Seahawks (12): Underwhelming as their offense was, the defensive lapses against a Rams team breaking in so many unproven players are a real worry.

22. Buccaneers (31): Three takeaways from a defense that will have to reassert itself. QB Baker Mayfield protecting the ball and capitalizing on opportunities. Might have been premature to write them off out of the chute.

23. Vikings (23): The law of averages can be cruel, most certainly for a team that so often evaded it in 2022.

24. Raiders (30): WR Jakobi Meyers' wild Silver-and-Black ride continues. The guy who infamously gave away a game in Las Vegas last year as a member of the Pats debuted with his new team by scoring two TDs, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter at Denver, before being concussed on a brutal hit.

25. Broncos (19): Rough debut for recently added K Wil Lutz, who missed a field goal and extra point in Denver's 17-16 loss.

26. Commanders (24): Sam Howell became Washingtons's seventh different Week 1 QB1 in the past seven seasons … and did little to dispel doubts there might be an eighth new face in 2024.

27. Bears (25): New WR DJ Moore had one fewer tackle (1) in his Chicago debut than he did receptions (2). Not the way anyone expected that to go.

28. Giants (22): In case you're keeping track – we are – they've lost their last two games, both to NFC East foes, by a combined score of 78-7.

29. Colts (29): Despite the presence of rookie QB Anthony Richardson, the youngest player (21 years, 111 days) in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to pass for a TD and run for one in the same game, Indianapolis hasn't won its opener in 10 years.

30. Panthers (27): Despite the presence of rookie QB Bryce Young, he wasn't really close to becoming the first passer drafted No. 1 overall to win his debut in the past 21 years.

31. Texans (28): Despite the presence of rookie QB C.J. Stroud, Houston offered little reason to believe it's not headed for a fourth consecutive season with double-digit defeats.

32. Cardinals (32): Jonathan Gannon told his team he wanted "killers" prior to the season. Interpret that as you will, but what the rookie HC got was a few dirty hits at Washington – part and parcel of showing that earned nine flags (for 122 yards) in Arizona's four-point loss.

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