NFL Week 1 Power Rankings

By: Mark T. Wilson

The 2005 NFL season is upon us, and with that, it’s time for the Week 1 NFL Power Rankings. Will anyone ever agree on where teams are placed? It’s just one man’s opinion. Teams this offseason made moves to either position themselves for a Super Bowl run this season or later on down the line. Can the Eagles repeat? Can Cam Ward change the direction of the Titans? What should we expect from the Commanders and much more?

Here are my NFL Week 1 Power Rankings.

32- New Orleans Saints

The Saints brought in a new coach with a winning pedigree, but he’s inheriting a unit that knows nothing about winning. Teams in the NFC South are improving, while the Saints are stuck in the middle of the pool, treading water.

31-Tennessee Titans

The Titans had the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft for a reason. Adding Cam Ward will not change the course for the team this season. The Titans still have work to do, and the rest of the division might be coming out of their suffering years.

30-Carolina Panthers

Is Bryce Young ready to command the team? Will he still be looking over his shoulder? The Panthers are providing him with weapons. The defense is still super suspect. There will be no playoffs for this team this season.

29- Cleveland Browns

Joe Flacco is not the answer here, but maybe he can pull out a few wins for the Browns team until one of the young guys is ready to step in. The defense will need to play great for the Browns to reach at least 7 wins.

28- Indianapolis Colts

Richardson is out as QB, and Daniel Jones is taking over. If Jonathan Taylor can stay healthy, the Colts will use him heavily. Can Jones connect with his receivers? The defense will need to play Remember the Titans-style for them to make some noise.

27- Arizona Cardinals

Everything is set up for them to contend in the NFC West this season. The QB, the receivers, and the rushing game are all there. But can they do it? Time to take this football thing seriously.

26- New York Jets

Another team and opportunity for Justin Fields. He has to ball out for the Jets or else. They have a few weapons on the offense side, but the Jets’ identity is supposedly built on defense. Is this the year they break through?

25- Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars could be in the hunt for a QB change of their own if Trevor Lawrence continues to regress. They have young talent on the offense side of the ball. If their defense can get stops, the Jags could find themselves on the winning side of a few games.

24- Houston Texans

Will the real Texans please stand up? Have we seen their ceiling already? The electric play of CJ Stroud may have reached its peak. Injuries have hobbled this team and stunted its growth. Can they bounce back in 2025?

23- Miami Dolphins

Is the turmoil from last and this offseason too much for the Dolphins to get past? The talent is there as always, but that extra push they need, it’s unclear what that may be. The time is now, or this could all be blown up.

22- New York Giants

Supposedly, the weakest link in the NFC East. The Giants will not be as bad as many think. Russell Wilson and that moon-ball will be a perfect fit for Malik Nabers. The running game will be improved, and the defense should not be slept on.

21- New England Patriots

Can Stefon Diggs take Drake Maye to new heights the same way he did Josh Allen? The Patriots are banking on it, no matter what they say to the media. The Pats must win the close games, and that falls on the shoulders of their young QB.

20- San Francisco 49ers

No idea what people are seeing with this team. Yes, Christian McCaffrey appears to be healthier than he was last year, but this team has lost entirely too much on both sides of the ball.

19- Chicago Bears

Is Ben Johnson the missing piece? Despite the criticism, Caleb Williams is not the next Anthony Richardson. He played well despite all the other factors. A new regime is in place and the Bears are expecting different results.

18- Atlanta Falcons

Is this the season where everything falls in place? The Falcons are officially led by Michael Penix and armed with a young and explosive offense. Can the defense perform at a high level? In a division where 9 wins could win, the Falcons could be primed for a playoff run.

17- Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are betting on Sam Darnold to keep his high-caliber play of last season going with not only a new team but new expectations. The Seahawks parted ways with their top receivers, but gained a veteran in Kupp.  

16- Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers is not the Savior, but he could help. They may need more receivers, and the ground game has to perform out of their mind. The defense will need to play like a top 5 unit to mask the issues on the offensive side.

15- Denver Broncos

The Broncos will be one of the most talked-about teams this season. The Broncos are gearing up for a run behind the play and growth of their 2nd year QB. If the defense lives up to its name, this team could be a problem.

14- Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders don’t need Geno Smith throwing the ball 30 times per game. The season hinges on the success of rookie RB Ashton Jeanty. If he can provide yards, that will open up the passing game and take pressure off Geno.

13- Dallas Cowboys

The offseason has not been kind to the Cowboys, but when has it ever been? This is not a bad team. Injuries killed them last season, but if they can find a way to get everyone on the field, they can be contenders even with a hobbled backfield.

12- Cincinnati Bengals

Which Bengals team will we get? What happened to the one that was just a step away from being labeled a dynasty? Joe Burrow and crew can score, but can they stop anyone on the other side of the ball?

11- Minnesota Vikings

Did the Vikings make a mistake by handing the keys over to a rookie? Time will tell. This is JJ’s second season, but he has yet to take a regular-season snap. The offense is still loaded, and the Vikings still have a top 10 defense, but that division is a real one.

10- Los Angeles Chargers

At some point, Justin Herbert has to put the Chargers on his back like the other Superstar QBs in this league. The AFC West is not a one-team show anymore. Can Harbaugh take advantage?

9- Washington Commanders

Is the hype real? Last season, the Commanders and rookie QB Jayden Daniels shocked the NFL. Can they duplicate it? The offense may have issues running the ball, but any type of success hinges not only on the arm of Daniels but their defense. 

8- Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans are a duo that doesn’t get talked about enough. They have a two-headed monster at the running back position and a defense that can play lights out. Oh, and they ay in the NFC South. 

7- Green Bay Packers

It’s time for Jordan Love to put all the pieces together this season. The Packers’ front office finally provided him with weapons on the outside. The defense took a major step forward with the addition of Micah Parsons. 

6- Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are the only team that could have stopped the Eagles last season in the playoffs. They are still loaded on both sides of the ball, but has time caught up with QB Matthew Stafford?

5- Kansas City Chiefs

Sometimes, it’s a bad idea to wake a giant. The Chiefs were denied a 3rd straight championship and are looking to regroup. They are a year older, and Kelce is not as unique as he once was. However, he and Mahomes can never be counted out.

4- Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen is ready to put the playoff ghost behind him, but is everyone else? The Bills are on the heels of the Chiefs and Ravens. As long as Allen is in uniform, they have a chance.

3- Detroit Lions

Is this the year where the Lions avoid injuries and rely on talent? They have been knocking at the door. However, winning will also come down to making it all work with two new coordinators.

2. Baltimore Ravens

What else does Lamar have to do? He has the MVPs and respect; he just needs the wins in the important games. Derrick Henry has more tread on his tires, and the defense is still strong. This could be the year for Baltimore.

1- Philadelphia Eagles

The champs took a few hits this offseason, but their offense is still intact, and the young defense has a championship season under its belt. The schedule is tough, and repeating will be hard.