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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Curt Popejoy

NFL Power rankings: Where do the Steelers land after win and who is the surprise No. 1?

With the second week of the NFL regular season in the books, it is time for us to release our first NFL Power Rankings of the year. Two games in, we are starting to see some trends and have a pretty good feel for where teams are headed. We know you want to know where we ranking the Pittsburgh Steelers after their 26-22 win over the Cleveland Browns.

At this point what we have seen across the NFL is the rule of thirds. About a third of the league is playing really well, a third is still a mystery and a third are playing as well as they should or well above expected. This means it isn’t just a simple matter of putting the teams with the best record up top, the teams with the worst at the bottom and sprinkling the rest in all willy nilly.

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We will update these rankings every week through the end of the NFL season.

32 - Arizona Cardinals (0-2)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs (9) breaks past New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) for a touchdown at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.

31 - Carolina Panthers (0-2)

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

30 - Houston Texans (0-2)

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye (51) smiles after bringing down Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, during a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston

29 - Chicago Bears (0-2)

Nov 8, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) celebrates a sack of Chicagoi Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 29-27. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

28 - Tennessee Titans (1-1)

Titans wide receiver Jacob Copeland hauls in a pass during preseason training at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Friday morning, July 28, 2023.

27 - Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) makes a touchdown catch past Philadelphia Eagles safety Justin Evans (30) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

26 - Indianapolis Colts (1-1)

Aug 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

25 - Denver Broncos (0-2)

Jan 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

24 - Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)

Sep 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson (30) in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

23 - Los Angeles Chargers (0-2)

Nov 21, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs for a first down before he is stopped by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) in the second half the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

22 - New England Patriots (0-2)

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots guard Cole Strange (69) catches a lateral pass from tight end Mike Gesicki (88) (not pictured) against the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

21 - New York Giants (1-1)

New York Giants running back Arizona Cardinals (26) runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.

20 - Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Sep 18, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) passes against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

19 - New York Jets (1-1)

Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

18 - Cleveland Browns (1-1)

Sep 18, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb (55) and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during the second quarter against at Acrisure Stadium. Chubb was injured on the play and taken from the field on a cart. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

17 - Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett catches a touchdown pass against Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs during the second half Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

16 - Washington Commanders (2-0)

Sep 17, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) pressures Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) in the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

15 - Los Angeles Rams (1-1)

Sep 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay stands next to defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

14 - New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker D’Marco Jackson (52) recovers an onside kick during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

13 - Atlanta Falcons (2-0)

Sep 17, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

12 - Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)

Sep 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs for a first down during the fourth quarter of a Week 1 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

11 - Green Bay Packers (1-1)

Sep 17, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes under pressure from Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) and linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

10 - Detroit Lions (1-1)

Detroit Lions cornerback Cam Sutton (1) and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) celebrate a play against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

9 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)

Sep 17, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

8 - Buffalo Bills (1-1)

Bills quarterback Josh Allen congratulates Latavious Murray after his touchdown.

7 - Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)

Aug 20, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) passes the ball against the Pittsburgh Stealers in the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

6 - Baltimore Ravens (2-0)

Dec 5, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) causes Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) to fumble during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The ball rolled out of bounds and the Ravens retained possession. Pittsburgh won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

5 - Dallas Cowboys (2-0)

Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) calls a play at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

4 - Miami Dolphins (2-0)

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (98) and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (94) react after defeating the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

3 - Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) walks off the field after win against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

2 - Kansas City Chiefs (1-1)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball during the second quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

1 - San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

Sep 10, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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