2020 NFL power rankings, Week 2: Packers roll, 49ers stunned
The defending Super Bowls champions looked the part in their 2020 debut.
The Las Vegas Raiders. The Washington Football Team. And Tom Brady now plays quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It was going to be a different kind of year for the NFL as it began its second century of play. And this week’s results continue to show the game’s unpredictability.
As for the “Last rank” for each of the 32 teams in this first regular-season edition of the NFL Power Rankings, those are the post-2020 draft rankings.
team. 50. . 0-1. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 32
Matt Patricia’s club entered 2020 riding a nine-game losing streak but looked to be in control at home against the rival Bears via a 23-6 fourth-quarter advantage. The Lions actually rolled up an impressive 426 total yards and ageless Adrian Peterson had 93 of Detroit’s 138 yards on the ground. But the team couldn’t slow down Bears’ quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the fourth quarter and Patricia’s record as a head coach dropped to 9-23-1.
Cleveland Browns. 31. team. 53. . 0-1. Previous:
A year ago, the Browns went into Baltimore in Week 4 and handed the eventual AFC North champions a stunning 40-25 loss. Now new head coach Kevin Stefanski and his team were looking to stun the team with the best record in the NFL last season. Baker Mayfield and company trailed 10-0 after 15 minutes of play and never recovered as the third-year quarterback threw for only 189 yards and one score and had one of the team’s three turnovers.
team. 31. . 0-0. Previous: . New York Giants. 30
The new head coach for Big Blue is Joe Judge, a longtime assistant with the New England Patriots. He inherits a club that is a combined 12-36 the past three seasons, this after the Giants made the playoffs in 2016 with an 11-5 record. Running back Saquon Barkley is one the best players at his position in the league and quarterback Daniel Jones shows promise. But the defense needs to step up after three consecutive seasons of substandard play.
team. 30. . 0-1. Previous: . New York Jets. 29
Adam Gase’s club won six of its final nine games a year ago so there was some reason for optimism heading into 2020, even with All-Pro safety Jamal Adams now a member of the Seahawks. But the Jets were pushed around by the physical Bills, especially in the first half as New York was down 21-0 in the second quarter. And Gase’s club managed a mere 52 yards on the ground, making life a lot more difficult for third-year quarterback Sam Darnold.