2021 NFL power rankings, Week 2: Chiefs rally, Packers throttled
Previous: . Detroit Lions. 28. team. 50. . 0-1
Exuberant Dan Campbell and the Lions hosted the San Francisco 49ers in a battle of teams that finished last in their respective divisions a season ago. The home team played with plenty of fire but still wound up trailing by 24 points with less than 10 minutes to play.
But quarterback Jared Goff, making his regular-season debut with the franchise, led a frantic rally. Detroit had its chances to send the game into OT but the rally died at the Niners’ 24-yard-line.
27. team. 35. . 0-1. Previous: . Tennessee Titans
Mike Vrabel’s Titans hosted the Arizona Cardinals in a very interesting interconference affair. No team that reached the playoff in 2020 gave up more points than Tennessee and the defense didn’t look much better in this opener.
The reigning AFC South champions surrendered 416 total yards and five offensive touchdowns. Ryan Tannehill was sacked six times, Derrick Henry ran for only 58 yards and these Titans were less than memorable.
The 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year welcomed the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as Chase Young and the Washington took on Justin Herbert and the Chargers. Ron Rivera’s club lost Ryan Fitzpatrick in the first half (see NFL.com).
Enter Taylor Heinicke, who threw for 122 yards and led the team to their only touchdown of the day. But the pass rush barely harassed Herbert, who was picked off once but threw for 337 yards and one score.
0-1. Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 25. team. 123.
Mike McCarthy’s team rolled up 451 total yards on the Buccaneers’ defense, wound up with four takeaways and still managed to come up short against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Dak Prescott was sharp, throwing for 403 yards and three scores (2 to Amari Cooper) and was picked off just once. But the Dallas’ pass rush didn’t sack Tom Brady. And the Cowboys allowed the Bucs to march to the game-winning field goal in the closing minutes.