NFL Power Rankings 2023

10. Saints

This was a highly contested spot on the Power Rankings. The Saints got this spot because they showed a lot of room to grow and got the win. They had a new QB in his first game with a new team. It was a defensive battle early, much like a lot of the games of week one, but eventually, the Saints got rolling.

Derek Carr threw for 300 yards and a touchdown. I respect the Titan's defense more than some of the defenses that other 1-0 non-top ten teams played. The Titans offense was also shut down. Hopkins was shut down, and Henry was contained. Carr has never had a defense like this to work with. Not only did the Saint's rock-solid defense show up, but the offense found their way, got the win, and didn't even scratch their true potential, and they haven't even got Kamara back yet. If I'm a Saints fan, I'm getting excited.

9. Jaguars

Jaguars are at the number 9 spot for two reasons. Let's start with the negative. They are so low on the top ten totem pole because they nearly lost to a Rookie QB on what was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league. The positive is that Calvin Ridley's debut showed that he takes the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence to another level. Now Lawrence can reach his full potential, and the Jaguars offense can become a pretty scary unit to face. Ridley looked unstoppable in that game, opening things up for the whole team. Zay Jones, for example, had the best TD catch of week one.

This Jaguars team showed they are more explosive, but they still have that same grit that got them their playoff win last year. They won and are number 9 on the Power Rankings, but to move up the Power Ranking, I'd like to see if they can be more dominant.

8. Ravens

It might seem odd to some that I am ranking the Ravens in the top ten, even though the high-flying offense we were promised never seemed to show up on Sunday. However, the Ravens won 25-9. The Ravens definitely have some work to do, but they did what they needed to do in week one. If Lamar Jackson can put on that subpar performance and they still blow the other team out, then that has got to make you wonder who can stop them at full strength.

7. Packers

The question mark for the Packers was their Qb Jordan Love, and while many people were saying he would suck, I never joined that crowd. In limited action, Loved looked good, and the situation and the roster are definitely good. Love was exactly who I thought he was a good to above-average QB. He has running upside but didn't have to use it much against the Bears.

The Packer's defense looked great, smothering the Bears for most of the game. Aaron Jones looked great, and if he can stay healthy, he will be as good as everyone thought he would be last year with Rodgers. The Packers still look like the Packers, even after Rodgers. They have a good run game, defense, and QB play. Thus far, it looks like the Packers can play with anybody.

6. Jets

Some people might question having the Jets just outside of the top 5 on the Power Rankings, but think about it for a second. All offseason, the Jets were saying we got Rodgers, and they believed they had a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl with Rodgers. Drive one: The Jets lost their ace in the hole, Aaron Rodgers. What did they do but defeat the Bills with Zach Wilson at the helm.

Nobody is giving Zach the credit he deserves, but I will. He stepped into that game in a really tough spot where he probably wasn't ready to play, and the team certainly hadn't a game planned for Zach, but he held it together, didn't throw away the game, and even scored a TD. The Jet's defense and special teams obviously get the lion's share of the credit. That defense can play like that all year, but the question is, can the QB? Regardless, the Jets faced enormous adversity, and with their back against the wall, they came out on top against a top team.

5. Lions

Lions started the football season off slaying the defending Super Bowl Champs, which is why they are in the top 5 of the league. Jared Goff looked good. Goff didn't make any big mistakes and got his team up and down the field. The Lions running game looks great, and Gibbs hasn't even been fully unleashed yet.

The Lions beat the team to beat in the NFL, and it's a huge win. They also played them close despite the Chiefs missing their biggest weapon on offense and defense, which is why the Lions only landed at 5. But, one week, one win for the Lions, and they are overdelivering on the hype so far. Lions look to have a very bright future ahead of them this season

4. Dolphins

The Dolphins coming in hot at number four. Tua and the Dolphins heard the noise. They were being passed over by the Jets, and people were questioning if Herbert should have been taken over Tua. Tua and the Dolphins immediately silenced the critics,beating the Chargers by just being more clutch than the when it mattered most.

Tua threw for 3 TDs and the fourth-most yards ever in a season opener. To think there was a time when people called him limited. One thing is clear: The Dolphins are unlimited when Tua is healthy. They have picked up right where Tua left off last year before injuries. They are only lower on the list because there were some more dominant performances.

3. Browns

I saw this upset coming. The Browns have had the Bengals number for a while now. Still, I didn't expect such a dominant performance by the defense. The Browns made a statement in week one. I believed in what the Browns have been building since they signed Watson. This year's defense isn't last year's defense. If the Brown's defense can play like that every week and the offense plays to their potential, they could win the AFC North. The Browns definitely looked like the best team in the division on opening weekend.

The offense struggled a bit, but they were able to figure it out to the tune of 24 points. The Browns won 24-3, and that was the basement of what's possible for their offense. In the two years that the Bengals went to the conference championship and Super Bowl the Browns still had Baker, and he was hurt the last year. The Ravens were riddled with injuries in both years. The AFC North will be much different this year, and there is a real chance the Browns could overtake the Bengals overall and win the division, and then who knows.

2. 49ers

The 49ers are just a model of excellence. They open the year with an overwhelming 30-7 win over the Steelers. Watching this game was like watching the 49er's greatest hits. Every playmaker was having a day. However, one man stood above the rest: Brock Purdy. He is coming off an injury, plus he is a seventh-round Mr. Irrelevant coming off an injury to his throwing hand. He didn't miss a beat despite spending time recovering rather than practicing in the offseason. Brock Purdy still has a perfect record. He has never lost a game in which he has been healthy. Mr. Irrelevant is making all the doubters look irrelevant. If health is on the 49ers side, then they have an excellent chance of hoisting the Lombardi trophy at the end of the season.

1. Cowboys

After week one, the Cowboys have to be the number-one team in the NFL. They took a team that went to the playoffs last year and won and ran them off the field. I expected the Cowboy's defense to be the number one defense in the league, but I didn't expect them to be historically great. Shutting out a team in this day and age is incredible. They played well in every phase. Even the backups were giving the Giants offense fits.

The Dallas offense didn't do much, and that's what McCarthy wants. He wants to win games with defense and have his offense be effective without jeopardizing the game. I have no questions about the Cowboys' offense. My question is, who will get through that Dallas defense and make the Cowboys play offense? If the Cowboys don't go all the way this year(barring injury), it won't be because they didn't have the pieces.