Surprise Teams: Steelers, Vikings, Saints, Bucs | Sports / NFL

NFL groups have solely performed two video games within the 2024 season.

But some groups have been early-season surprises two weeks into the season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a 2-0 begin, having solely allowed 16 factors in two video games. The Minnesota Vikings are additionally 2-0, with a shock win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The New Orleans Saints have outscored their opponents 91-29 in two video games, together with dominating the Dallas Cowboys in NFL Week 2.

And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved to 2-0 on the 12 months with a giant win over the Detroit Lions on the highway Sunday.

Will these groups proceed to shock within the third week of the NFL season?

Here's how we rank all 32 groups within the NFL getting into Week 3 of the 2024-25 season, with a number of changes based mostly on the outcomes from NFL Week 2 video games.

Previous rating in parentheses.

32. Carolina Panthers (32)

Last week: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers, 26-3

This week: Sunday vs Las Vegas Raiders

How unhealthy have the primary two video games been for Carolina? The Panthers have scored 13 factors … and allowed 73. Bryce Young has accomplished 55.4% of his throws for 245 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions in two video games.

31. New York Giants (31)

Last week: Lost to Washington Commanders, 21-18

This week: Sunday vs Cleveland Browns

A optimistic for New York? Daniel Jones did not flip the ball over. He was solely 16-for-28 for 178 yards, however it's important to take positives wherever you could find them.

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30. Denver Broncos (29)

Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-6

This week: Sunday vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Welcome to the NFL, Bo Nix. The Broncos rookie has zero landing passes and 4 interceptions in his first two video games.

29. Tennessee Titans (30)

Last week: Lost to New York Jets, 24-17

This week: Sunday vs Green Bay Packers

The Titans have misplaced each of their video games by a rating of 24-17. Will Levis has thrown two landing passes, however has had three passes intercepted this season.

28. Washington Commanders (28)

Last week: Beat New York Giants, 21-18

This week: Monday Night Football vs Cincinnati Bengals (Sept. 23)

It's laborious to win NFL video games with out scoring no less than one landing, however that is what the Commanders did behind seven Austin Siebert discipline targets Sunday.

27. New England Patriots (27)

Last week: Lost to Seattle Seahawks in time beyond regulation, 26-23

This week: Thursday Night Football vs New York Jets

For some time, it appeared like New England was going to maneuver to 2-0 on the season. Still, 1-1, with the loss in time beyond regulation is much more than many anticipated at this level from the Patriots.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (20)

Last week: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 18-13

This week: Monday Night Football vs Buffalo Bills (Sept. 23)

The excellent news for Jacksonville is it has solely been outscored by eight factors this season. The unhealthy information? It has the Bills' high-scoring offense up subsequent in Buffalo.

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25. Los Angeles Rams (13)

Last week: Lost to Arizona Cardinals, 41-10

This week: Sunday vs San Francisco 49ers

There's no excusing a 31-point loss to the Cardinals and there is not any excusing 53 dashing yards for Los Angeles. Cooper Kupp's standing looms massive for the Rams.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (26)

Last week: Beat Baltimore Ravens, 26-23

This week: Sunday vs Carolina Panthers

The Raiders rushed for simply 27 yards in opposition to the Ravens … and nonetheless gained the sport because of 13 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter. Minshew Mania has hit Las Vegas.

23. Arizona Cardinals (25)

Last week: Beat Los Angeles Rams, 41-10

This week: Sunday vs Detroit Lions

You could make an argument that Arizona must be a lot larger after it stayed near the Bills and throttled the Rams. Kyler Murray and firm will probably be a lot larger in the event that they beat the Lions.

22. Chicago Bears (22)

Last week: Lost to Houston Texans, 19-13.

This week: Sunday vs Indianapolis Colts

The Bears are at the moment our lowest-ranked group within the NFC North, which might have one of the crucial intriguing division races this season. We're nonetheless undecided about Caleb Williams.

21. Indianapolis Colts (12)

Last week: Lost to Green Bay Packers, 16-10

This week: Sunday vs Chicago Bears

There isn't any denying Anthony Richardson's expertise, however he is accomplished simply 49.1% of his passes up to now this season, and has 4 interceptions in two video games.

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20. Miami Dolphins (11)

Last week: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 31-10

This week: Sunday vs Seattle Seahawks

Yes, that is a steep drop, however Tua Tagovailoa's standing looms massive over Miami. We do not see the Dolphins doing a lot with out him.

19. Atlanta Falcons (19)

Last week: Beat Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, 22-21

This week: Sunday Night Football vs Kansas City Chiefs

How did the Falcons beat the Eagles? We're nonetheless undecided, however Atlanta will take it.

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18. Cleveland Browns (18)

Last week: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars, 18-13

This week: Sunday vs New York Giants

The Browns want extra from Deshaun Watson: He has accomplished 58.2% of his passes for 355 yards with one landing and two interceptions in two video games.

17. New York Jets (17)

Last week: Beat Tennessee Titans, 24-17

This week: Thursday Night Football vs New England Patriots

The Jets get one other primetime recreation this week, and with their struggles, and the Patriots' impressed play, it might be an intriguing recreation.

16. Seattle Seahawks (23)

Last week: Beat New England Patriots in time beyond regulation, 23-20

This week: Sunday vs Miami Dolphins

The Seahawks are our lowest-ranked unbeaten group after having edged the Broncos and Patriots. But 2-0 is 2-0.

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15. Cincinnati Bengals (10)

Last week: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 26-25

This week: Monday Night Football vs Washington Commanders (Sept. 23)

The Bengals are 0-2, however they misplaced to the Chiefs on a last-second 51-yard discipline aim. Don't write off Joe Burrow and firm but.

14. Los Angeles Chargers (15)

Last week: Beat Carolina Panthers, 26-3

This week: Sunday vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Should Jim Harbaugh's group be larger after its 2-0 begin? They impressed in opposition to the Raiders and Panthers, however let's examine what they do in opposition to the 2-0 Steelers in Week 3.

13. Dallas Cowboys (7)

Last week: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 44-19

This week: Sunday vs Baltimore Ravens

We had been so excessive on the Cowboys after their Week 1 efficiency, however that Week 2 efficiency stunk. Dallas rushed for 68 yards in opposition to New Orleans.

Last week: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders, 26-23

This week: Sunday vs Dallas Cowboys

We thought of dropping Baltimore extra after its 0-2 begin, however this group, led by Lamar Jackson, has an excessive amount of expertise to remain down for lengthy.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)

Last week: Beat Denver Broncos, 13-6

This week: Sunday vs Los Angeles Chargers

The Steelers solely have 31 factors of their two video games, however they've held opponents to 16. That protection makes them a menace within the AFC, irrespective of who's at QB.

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Last week: Beat San Francisco 49ers, 23-17

This week: Sunday vs Houston Texans

Are we too excessive on the Vikings? Probably. But 2-0 with a win over the defending NFC Champions has to rely for one thing even when we do not totally belief Sam Darnold.

9. Green Bay Packers (9)

Last week: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 16-10

This week: Sunday vs Tennessee Titans

This group is not going to go far with out Jordan Love, however Josh Jacobs might assist hold the Packers afloat till the QB returns from damage.

Last week: Beat Detroit Lions, 20-16

This week: Sunday vs Denver Broncos

That win over the Lions actually impressed us, as did Baker Mayfield, who has accomplished 73.5% of his passes for 474 yards and 5 touchdowns this season.

7. Houston Texans (8)

Last week: Beat Chicago Bears, 19-13.

This week: Sunday vs Minnesota Vikings

The Texans are displaying a knack at profitable shut video games and C.J. Stroud and firm might find yourself being in lots of shut video games this season.

6. New Orleans Saints (24)

Last week: Beat Dallas Cowboys, 44-19

This week: Sunday vs Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, that may be a huge leap for New Orleans, however the Saints deserve it. They have marched to 91 factors in two video games (and solely given up 29).

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5. Detroit Lions (3)

Last week: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-16

This week: Sunday vs Arizona Cardinals

Through two video games, Jameson Williams has 10 catches for 200 yards and a landing. Not a nasty No. 2 receiving choice.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4)

Last week: Lost to Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, 22-21

This week: Sunday vs New Orleans Saints

The Eagles' teaching employees is underneath hearth for its recreation administration within the loss to the Falcons. We're no positive how Philadelphia misplaced that recreation.

3. San Francisco 49ers (2)

Last week: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 23-17

This week: Sunday vs Los Angeles Rams

Christian McCaffrey's standing looms massive over this group, however the 49ers nonetheless have an elite protection and loads of different weapons on offense.

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Last week: Beat Miami Dolphins, 31-10

This week: Monday Night Football vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 23)

The Bills impressed of their Thursday Night Football drubbing of the Dolphins. Holding Miami to 10 factors isn't any simple process.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)

Last week: Beat Cincinnati Bengals, 26-25

This week: Sunday Night Football vs Atlanta Falcons

The Chiefs have not been essentially the most spectacular group by two weeks, however they're nonetheless 2-0 and they're nonetheless the 2 time defending Super Bowl champions.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on X, previously Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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