Who said the biggest games come at the end of the NFL season?
Guys? Yes, they are right.
But the NFL schedule for Week 1 features three premium matchups featuring six teams with serious Super Bowl aspirations.
The winners of those games — the Chiefs, Eagles and 49ers — solidified their status as elite teams, while the losers — the Ravens, Jets and Packers — were left to rue missed opportunities.
That said, the line between winning and losing is often very blurry.
In Week 1, there were 10 games decided by one score (eight points or less) and one more game that was decided by one score or less in the fourth quarter.
For the first time in 45 years and just the third time since 1960, three teams overcame deficits of 14 or more points to win in Week 1: the Bears (17), Dolphins (14) and Bills (14).
Week 2 promises to be even more dramatic. Stay tuned.
Here are The Washington Post's power rankings for Week 2:
1. Kansas City Chiefs 1-0 (1)
The team, which has won two straight Super Bowls, got a win over arguably the biggest threat in the AFC in Patrick Mahomes, but Mahomes didn't do anything special, scoring one touchdown against the Ravens in a 27-20 win. Travis Kelce (three catches, 34 yards) was also quiet. Rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, the new fastest man in the NFL, showed up with two touchdowns.
2. San Francisco 49ers 1-0 (3)
No Christian McCaffrey, no problem. Jordan Mason filled in and had a big game, including a touchdown, in a 32-19 win over the Jets. With McCaffrey out with an injury, Deebo Samuel also scored on the ground. Kudos to the 49ers offensive line for dominating a much-vaunted Jets defensive line. Kicker Jake Moody was 6-for-6 from the field.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
3. Baltimore Ravens 0-1 (2)
Things might have been different had rising star Isaiah Likely not had his toe go out of bounds on a touchdown catch with time running out. The Ravens were looking to win with a two-point conversion, but the incomplete pass sealed their fifth loss to the Chiefs in six meetings. Lamar Jackson had 395 total yards.
4. Detroit Lions 1-0 (4)
David Montgomery's 1-yard walk-off touchdown run saved the Lions from a 14-point second-half lead and secured a 26-20 overtime victory over the Rams. Jameel Gibbs also scored a rushing touchdown for one of the NFL's best backfield combinations. Jared Goff improved to 2-1 against Matthew Stafford in 2021 since the quarterbacks were traded for each other.
5. Philadelphia Eagles 1-0 (5)
Who's laughing at “King of the Last Laugh” GM Howie Roseman for spending big on running backs? Saquon Barkley became just the second player in Eagles history (joining Terrell Owens) to score three touchdowns in a franchise opener in a 34-29 win over the Packers. Jalen Hurts overcame three turnovers. Zach Baun recorded 11 tackles and two sacks.
6. Houston Texans 1-0 (9)
The Texans had big goals and acquired two stars from a Super Bowl-contender team. The payoff? Stefon Diggs caught two touchdown passes and Joe Mixon rushed for 159 yards on a career-high 30 carries in a 29-27 win over the Colts. The Texans, who were coming off a nine-game division win streak on the road, held the ball for 40 minutes.
7. Green Bay Packers 0-1 (7)
After a great starting position followed by just six points in the first quarter was a disappointment, and the Packers lost at least one game to the Eagles in Brazil. Franchise quarterback Jordan Love has a sprained MCL and will reportedly miss three to six weeks. For now, Malik Willis is the go-to guy, and maybe Jayden Reed (four catches, 138 yards, two touchdowns) can help him out.
8. Dallas Cowboys 1-0 (14)
Hours after becoming the NFL's first player to earn $60 million a year, Dak Prescott led the Texans to a 33-17 victory thanks to standout performances from Brandon Aubrey, who made four field goals of 40+ yards, Cavonte Turpin, who returned a 60-yard punt for a touchdown, and a defense that was sacked six times and intercepted two times.
9. Buffalo Bills 1-0 (10)
With fewer weapons than he used to have, Josh Allen needs to play like an MVP, which is exactly what he did in his 34-28 win over the Cardinals, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two to help the team rally from a 14-point deficit. But Allen injured his left hand before his brief return week, and the Bills lost 17-3 before allowing his first dynamic kickoff return touchdown.
10. Jets 0-1 (6)
Aaron Rodgers' long-awaited return from a torn Achilles tendon was a disappointment. Sure, there were three long third-down conversions and a spectacular 70-yard touchdown drive that included two touchdowns from the return of Allen Lazard, a free-agent fiasco. But Rodgers also threw an interception and Breece Hall fumbled. Things weren't any better on the defense, either, allowing eight consecutive scoring drives. Call on holdout Haason Reddick.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
11Miami Dolphins 1-0 (12)
12Los Angeles Rams 0-1 (15)
13Chicago Bears 1-0 (17)
14Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-0 (18)
15Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0 (19)
16Los Angeles Chargers 1-0 (22)
17Cincinnati Bengals 0-1 (8)
18Cleveland Browns 0-1 (11)
19Atlanta Falcons 0-1 (13)
20Jacksonville Jaguars 0-1 (16)
twenty oneSeattle Seahawks 1-0 (21)
twenty twoNew England Patriots 1-0 (31)
twenty threeMinnesota Vikings 1-0 (23)
twenty fourNew Orleans Saints 1-0 (25)
twenty fiveIndianapolis Colts 0-1 (20)
26Arizona Cardinals 0-1 (28)
27Denver Broncos 0-1 (24)
28Tennessee Titans 0-1 (26)
29. Commanders 0-1 (27)
30Las Vegas Raiders 0-1 (30)
31. Giants 0-1 (29)
If that wasn't worse than a 40-0 loss to the Cowboys in last season's primetime opener, this season's 28-6 loss to the low-flying Vikings was close. All the expected concerns loomed large: Daniel Jones had two interceptions (one for a touchdown), the secondary allowed no big plays and the rushing attack was nonexistent. To make matters worse, the vaunted pass rush was quiet.
32Carolina Panthers 0-1 (32)
