This NFL season began with some familiar faces vying for the MVP title, yet a new contender emerged from the pack.
Josh Allen of the Bills, Lamar Jackson from the Ravens, and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs—each previously an MVP—delivered impressive performances in Week 1. But it was Caleb Williams of the Bears who really stole the show with a standout game.
On a different note, reigning MVP Matthew Stafford of the Rams seemed to struggle, looking as if he had aged significantly since last season.
So, how do all these quarterbacks and their respective teams measure up at this point in what many consider to be the league’s biggest overreaction week?
Here’s how The Post ranks the NFL teams for Week 2:
1. Bills 1-0
In a thrilling finish, Allen connected on a crucial 34-yard touchdown pass with just 1:36 left on the clock. It was a refreshing change for the defense, which actually secured the win when Greg Rousseau registered his second strip sack during a 36-31 victory over the Texans, marking head coach Joe Brady’s debut. Also noteworthy, this was the Bills’ first win in Houston since 2006.
2. Bears 1-0
Williams had an incredible game, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another pair as the Bears triumphed over the Panthers 59-37. This was the highest-scoring game in Week 1 history. Both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai rushed for over 100 yards, contributing to a 291-yard, six-touchdown effort. It’s also worth noting that this was among the franchise’s top scoring outputs.
3. 49ers 1-0
The 49ers’ 27-7 victory against the Rams down under is sparking discussions about travel impact. Perhaps it shows that when the 49ers are healthy, they pose a serious Super Bowl threat. Brock Purdy threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns, including one to his former teammate Deebo Samuel Sr.
4. Seahawks 1-0
The Seahawks faced a setback early when Sam Darnold hurt his hip on the fifth play of the game. However, the defense rose to the occasion with three interceptions in the fourth quarter, including a key play by Josh Jobe at the 3-yard line late in the game, which secured a 13-10 win against the Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch. Drew Lock managed to throw for 187 yards and a touchdown.
5. Ravens 1-0
Derrick Henry recorded his 125th rushing touchdown—placing him third all-time—with three scores in a 41-23 win over the Colts. Meanwhile, Jackson threw for 324 yards and found the end zone both through the air and on the ground. The Ravens have consistently scored 20 or more points in their last ten Week 1s, but this was their first such performance under head coach Jesse Minter.
6. Rams 0-1
The Rams’ performance against the 49ers fell flat, failing to live up to their preseason Super Bowl expectations. Stafford threw an interception, star player Myles Garrett didn’t contribute much and is now on injured reserve, and Tyler Higbee lost a fumble. Maybe having arrived in Australia more than 28 hours before kickoff wasn’t the best idea.
7. Chiefs 1-0
With Taylor Swift attending the game instead of the Emmys, the Chiefs looked strong once again. Mahomes threw for two touchdowns and added another on the ground. New players Kenneth Walker III (191 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns) and rookie Mansoor Delane (with an interception) made significant impacts during their first games.
8. Texans 0-1
In a bit of drama, Kamari Lassiter dropped an interception that could have sealed the game and was then beaten for a late touchdown by Joshua Palmer as the Texans lost to the Bills. It was a tough day for the Texans’ defense, which allowed an uncharacteristic number of points. David Montgomery found the end zone three times in his first game with the Texans.
9. Eagles 1-0
Moro Ojomo played a key role in sealing a narrow 24-22 victory against the Commanders by stopping a potential game-tying two-point attempt in the final minute. Jalen Hurts threw for three touchdowns, with Dallas Goedert catching two of them, continuing his win streak in season-openers to six under coach Nick Sirianni. Hurts also executed a crucial 22-yard scramble when facing a third-and-18.
10. Lions 1-0
Despite blowing a 21-point lead in the third quarter, the Lions managed to snag a 32-31 win in overtime when the Saints missed a field goal and failed on a decisive two-point conversion. Jahmyr Gibbs carried the ball 29 times for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught two touchdown passes.
11. Jaguars 1-0
12. Bengals 1-0
13. Patriots 0-1
14. Broncos 0-1
15. Giants 1-0
Malik Nabers (69 receiving yards) and Isaiah Likely (78 receiving yards with two touchdowns) impressed in their roles with Jaxson Dart, who completed 23 of 29 passes for three touchdowns in a 28-20 win against the Cowboys. The offensive line also contributed effectively, generating 165 rushing yards and keeping Dart upright. It seemed to go just as head coach John Harbaugh envisioned in his debut.
16. Saints 0-1
17. Vikings 1-0
18. Steelers 1-0
19. Buccaneers 0-1
20. Cardinals 1-0
21. Packers 0-1
22. Colts 0-1
23. Chargers 0-1
24. Cowboys 0-1
25. Jets 1-0
The Jets managed a 23-10 victory against former head coach Robert Saleh’s Titans, spoiling his debut. Geno Smith threw for 215 yards without being sacked, while Breece Hall rushed for 102 yards, largely thanks to a strong offensive line. Rookie David Bailey recorded his first sack in the game.
