David Helman
NFL Reporter
React away, everyone.
Week 1 of the NFL season is often not indicative of how the full season will play out. We’ve seen this over the years, we know it to be true. And yet, after a seven-month wait for NFL football, who are we kidding? We’ve got to get some takes off about what we watched — the good, the bad, the surprising, the expected.
Here are the first in-season power rankings for 2024 (with Super Bowl odds from FanDuel Sportsbook):
NFL Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0; no change)
Super Bowl odds: +500
Winning is winning — it doesn’t matter if it’s by an inch or a mile. Dom Toretto’s immortal words rang in my ears as I watched the defending champs hold off the Ravens by a literal toenail. Dramatic as the opener might have been, the Chiefs revamped offense looks just as explosive as we thought it might. That’s a scary thought.
2. San Francisco 49ers (1-0; +1)
Super Bowl odds: +550
Christian McCaffrey didn’t play. Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk didn’t have a training camp. There were so many reasons why the 49ers might get out to a sluggish start, and instead they rolled over the Jets as if they were a speedbump. Surprise, surprise, the 49ers are still a machine.
3. Detroit Lions (1-0; -1)
Super Bowl odds: +1100
It’s not the Lions’ fault they dropped a spot, the 49ers were simply that impressive. Meanwhile, I don’t know if there was a cooler moment in Week 1 than Detroit marching down the field for a walk-off winner in overtime against the Rams. This is such a complete team, and the emergence of Jameson Williams could open a whole new world of possibilities.
4. Houston Texans (1-0; +1)
Super Bowl odds: +1300
For all the hype and expectations placed on this team, it’s impressive the Texans managed to roll the ball out and look the part from Day 1. More importantly, Houston just might be able to run the ball this season, if Joe Mixon’s big debut was any indicator.
Power Rankings: Dak & Cowboys rise; Deshaun & Browns fall
5. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0; -1)
Super Bowl odds: +1100
Sluggish start for Jalen Hurts and the guys, but we saw so many reasons to be excited about how this offense can come together under Kellen Moore. You’d have liked to see a better effort on defense, but to be fair, the field conditions in São Paulo didn’t do anyone any favors.
6. Baltimore Ravens (0-1; +2)
Super Bowl odds: +1200
It’s got to sting to come so close to toppling the NFL’s bully and fall short. The Ravens shouldn’t let it fester, though. All the hallmarks of a strong team were there in Kansas City, though it’s crucial to get the offensive line playing more cohesively as the season moves along.
7. Buffalo Bills (1-0; +2)
Super Bowl odds: +1400
Sure looks like it’s going to be all hands on deck in replacing Stefon Diggs in the Bills’ lineup. Josh Allen got the ball to nine different receivers during the 34-28 win against Arizona. And, of course, when all else fails, being able to call his own number for two touchdowns is still one of the best clubs in Allen’s bag.
8. Dallas Cowboys (1-0; +3)
Super Bowl odds: +1400
That looked eerily familiar. The Cowboys’ defense and special teams were dominant in Cleveland, and Dak Prescott made exactly the plays he needed to for a dominant win. Better yet, this beatdown came on the road, where the Cowboys have often struggled. Hard to draw up a better opener.
Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
9. Los Angeles Rams (0-1; +3)
Super Bowl odds: +4000
If nothing else, I admire the way the Rams rebounded. This team has collapsed in the past when dealing with injuries to the offensive line, and that looked like it was going to happen Sunday in Detroit. Instead, we got a second-half fireworks show from Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp. Not enough to get the win, but that’s the type of stuff that could make the Rams a tough out all season long.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0; +1)
Super Bowl odds: +5000
We have to allow for the possibility that Washington is terrible, but it was still fun to watch Baker Mayfield & Co. score points on seven of eight possessions. And the Bucs weren’t just explosive, they were balanced, thanks to an impressive debut from rookie running back Bucky Irving. Tampa’s Week 2 trip to Detroit will be a fun measuring-stick game.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1; -4)
Super Bowl odds: +2000
Can we officially declare the Zac Taylor Bengals the worst openers in the NFL? Cincinnati is now 1-5 in Week 1 under Taylor, and even the lone win came in overtime. Even if the Bengals are currently a bit depleted on offense, it’s inexcusable to lose to a talent-poor Patriots team at home.
12. Miami Dolphins (1-0; +4)
Super Bowl odds: +2000
There wasn’t a crazier momentum swing in Week 1 than the Dolphins preventing a Jaguars touchdown on one snap and scoring one of their own on the next. The Dolphins probably don’t want to make a habit of clawing back from 10-point deficits, but this win showed a resiliency that has often been lacking in Miami.
13. New York Jets (0-1; no change)
Super Bowl odds: +2200
It’s a positive in the big picture that Aaron Rodgers was able to play a full game against a Super Bowl contender and make a few vintage plays in the process. But that Monday night demolition at the hands of the 49ers just showed how far the Jets have to go. Think the front office might want to give Haason Reddick a call after watching their pass rush struggle to pressure Brock Purdy all night?
Brock Purdy, 49ers shut down Jets in Aaron Rodgers’ return
14. Green Bay Packers (0-1; -8)
Super Bowl odds: +3500
Feels miraculous that Jordan Love’s MCL injury is only expected to keep him out for a few weeks. But even if that’s true, the Packers now must hold the rope until he’s back. Here’s hoping Malik Willis can keep them afloat, because this team looked exactly as fun as we thought it might before Love got hurt.
15. Chicago Bears (1-0; +2)
Super Bowl odds: +5000
Not to be mean, but it’s incredibly funny that the first Sunday of the Caleb Williams Era looked eerily similar to the last four decades of Bears football. Maybe it’s just something about Chicago. Jokes aside, it’s still better to work out the kinks in a win.
16. Cleveland Browns (0-1; -6)
Super Bowl odds: +4500
The good news is that Cleveland’s defense still looks like one of the best in the league. The bad news is that the Browns’ quarterback is still so bad that it might not matter. Not every defense is going to pressure Deshaun Watson as incessantly as Dallas did on Sunday, but it was still a performance that’s not going to inspire much confidence for the rest of the season.
17. Seattle Seahawks (1-0; +2)
Super Bowl odds: +4000
“It wasn’t pretty, but it was us,” new head coach Mike Macdonald said of his first career win. If that’s the case, then I see this as a gritty, physical team. Let’s not overreact to beating a rookie quarterback, but Seahawks fans had to have been pleased to see a ferocious defense on display in Seattle on Sunday.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0; +2)
Super Bowl odds: +10000
I firmly believe Mike Tomlin would rather win this way. Sure, it’s fun to have an All-Pro quarterback and a gaudy offense, but there’s something so badass about subduing your opponent so thoroughly that you don’t even need to score a touchdown to win. It’s safe to say the Steelers aren’t going to win many games by asking their kicker to get all their points, but they’re also not going to be afraid to try.
19. Atlanta Falcons (0-1; -5)
Super Bowl odds: +3500
Very troubling to learn that, for whatever reason, the Falcons didn’t put Kirk Cousins under center at all on Sunday. They also didn’t bother with play action. Gives off the impression that Cousins might not be all the way recovered from his Achilles tear, and that could pose quite a problem for this offense.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1; -2)
Super Bowl odds: +4500
Travis Etienne’s fumble prevented the Jags from closing out the Dolphins late in the third quarter. But here’s the thing: Even after that critical mistake, there were 17 minutes of game time left on the clock. Losing is one thing, but it felt like the Jaguars’ entire team went into the tank after that miscue. You’ve got to be mentally tougher than that.
21. New Orleans Saints (1-0; +7)
Super Bowl odds: +5500
Did we underestimate the Saints, or did they simply pulverize the worst team in the NFL? Even if it’s the latter, it’s still impressive when you can yank your starters from a regular-season game. The Saints deserve some credit, but now comes a much bigger test: a Week 2 trip to Dallas.
22. Minnesota Vikings (1-0; +1)
Super Bowl odds: +5000
You couldn’t draw up a better start for Sam Darnold, who looked like he can absolutely help the Vikings make some noise. We do need to keep in mind, though, that Sunday’s dominant win came against a Giants team that looks truly forgettable. Week 2 against the mighty 49ers will be the real litmus test.
23. Indianapolis Colts (0-1; -2)
Super Bowl odds: +8000
Winning is the object, but it feels important that Anthony Richardson remains just as fun as he was before the injury. He’s still raw, and he’s going to make mistakes. But having a quarterback who can run and throw like Richardson is going to make the Colts a must-watch, at the very least.
24. Arizona Cardinals (0-1; -2)
Super Bowl odds: +10000
Here’s hoping right tackle Jonah Williams’ knee injury isn’t too serious. The Cardinals were racing up and down the field in the early going of their Week 1 loss to the Bills. Once they lost Williams, things seemed to stagnate. And Arizona needs its offense to be as efficient as possible, because its defense struggled just as much as expected.
25. Los Angeles Chargers (1-0; +1)
Super Bowl odds: +5000
What a wonderfully on-brand debut for Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers looked like a Big Ten team on Sunday, toting the rock 27 times for 176 yards and playing fundamentally sound football. Don’t look now, but a 2-0 start feels possible with Carolina on deck.
26. Tennessee Titans (0-1; -2)
Super Bowl odds: +15000
The Titans showed a lot of good in building a 17-3 lead in Chicago on Sunday. Will Levis made what will likely be one of the most egregious errors of 2024, when his ill-advised shovel pass helped the Bears complete their comeback. Maybe it’s a learning experience, but it was a particularly painful one.
27. New England Patriots (1-0; +3)
Super Bowl odds: +30000
Not much about the box score is pretty, but who cares when you go on the road and knock off an AFC heavyweight. This Week 1 formula of swarming defense and an effective run game has won a lot of games, and we now know the Pats can follow it. Their ceiling probably isn’t high, but they can be a pain to play.
28. Washington Commanders (0-1; -3)
Super Bowl odds: +20000
Jayden Daniels had an encouraging start, showcasing the dual-threat ability that made him the No. 2 pick in the draft. The issue was everything else. It’s hard to pinpoint who else on offense is supposed to help him this season. And that’s without even getting into Dan Quinn’s defense, which the Buccaneers shredded.
29. Denver Broncos (0-1; -2)
Super Bowl odds: +25000
This is why they tell you not to overreact to the preseason. Bo Nix didn’t look quite as impressive in real NFL action, as he produced just 3.3 yards per attempt against Seattle’s defense. All in all, the Broncos played fairly well, but they’ll need more from their young quarterback.
30. Las Vegas Raiders (0-1; -1)
Super Bowl odds: +15000
We’ll see how long the vibes last now that Antonio Pierce isn’t an interim hire. The Raiders’ first-year coach drew plenty of criticism when he decided to punt on fourth-and-1 from the Chargers’ 43-yard line midway through the fourth quarter while training by six. That decision led to a 92-yard Chargers touchdown drive, effectively ending the game. Fair or not, these are the types of moments that form a coach’s reputation. Pierce can’t afford to be on the wrong end of too many.
31. New York Giants (0-1; no change)
Super Bowl odds: +35000
To be fair to Daniel Jones, he is still making his return from injury. But as we watched Year 6 of Jones’ career kick off with five more sacks and two more interceptions, it’s also fair to wonder how much longer Giants fans are supposed to be patient. One week in, this already looks like a team that’s focused on 2025.
32. Carolina Panthers (0-1; no change)
Super Bowl odds: +38000
There was so much reason for optimism that the Panthers had made serious strides this offseason, and it all fell apart in the span of about 15 minutes in New Orleans. It’s only one week, but getting thrashed by the Saints by 37 points doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence that this year will be better than the last.
David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He previously spent nine seasons covering the Cowboys for the team’s official website. In 2018, he won a regional Emmy for his role in producing “Dak Prescott: A Family Reunion” about the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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