NFL Power Rankings Entering Week 1: Chiefs Start on Top

The NFL Kickoff Game takes place tonight between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. Before the 2024 season gets underway, it’s time for the initial NFL Power Rankings. These will be updated weekly based on wins and losses throughout the year. Much like the college football rankings, they will not always go strictly by record. However, the overall rankings should reflect how the teams perform on the field.

Since no teams recorded wins or losses before Week 1, a formula was used to determine these initial rankings. They used a combination of the teams’ 2023 finishes and their projected records this season. Those projections are based on the 2024 NFL Predictions from Patriots Football Now.

With that in mind, the NFL Power Rankings entering Week 1 of the 2024 season:

1. Kansas City Chiefs

2023: Won Super Bowl 58
Week 1: Thursday 8:20 vs Baltimore (NBC)
Question: Can they become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls?

2. San Francisco 49ers

2023: Won NFC Championship
Week 1: Monday 8:15 vs NY Jets (ABC/ESPN)
Question: Is San Francisco the most talented team in the NFL?

3. Dallas Cowboys

2023: Won NFC East
Week 1: Sunday 4:15 at Cleveland (FOX)
Question: Will Dallas regret not locking up QB Dak Prescott?

"There's a better chance, in my opinion, that Shedeur Sanders could be the quarterback [for the Cowboys] next year than Dak Prescott at this point."

😯 @RealTannenbaum pic.twitter.com/mRaGnnrH2L

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 30, 2024

4. Philadelphia Eagles

2023: NFC Wild Card
Week 1: Friday 8:15 vs Green Bay in Brazil (Peacock)
Question: Is head coach Nick Siriani’s job on the line in 2024?

5. Baltimore Ravens

2023: Won NFC East
Week 1: Thursday 8:20 at Kansas City (NBC)
Question: Can Lamar Jackson get the Ravens to a Super Bowl?

6. Detroit Lions

2023: Won NFC North
Week 1: Sunday 8:20 vs LA Rams (NBC)
Question: Will Detroit win their first back-to-back division titles since 1955?

7. Buffalo Bills

2023: Won AFC East
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs. Arizona (CBS)
Question: Is 2024 Josh Allen’s NFL MVP season?

8. Cincinnati Bengals

2023: Missed playoffs (9-8)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs New England (CBS)
Question: Can Joe Burrow stay healthy all season?

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

2023: Missed playoffs (9-8)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at Miami (CBS)
Question: Will rookie Brian Thomas Jr. make up for the loss of Calvin Ridley?

Trevor Lawrence finds the rookie Brian Thomas Jr. for the big gain!

📺: #JAXvsATL on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/a5pBYAIFoc

— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2024

10. Houston Texans

2023: Won AFC South
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at Indianapolis (CBS)
Question: Can they succeed again with higher expectations?

11. Green Bay Packers

2023: NFC Wild Card
Week 1: Friday 8:15 at Philadelphia in Brazil (Peacock)
Question: Can Jordan Love take the next step after a year as the starter in Green Bay?

12. Los Angeles Rams

2023: NFC Wild Card
Week 1: Sunday 8:20 at Detroit (NBC)
Question: What will life without Aaron Donald look like in L.A.?

Aaron Donald announces retirement from NFL after 10 seasons. pic.twitter.com/SeRUpgKf8o

— NFL (@NFL) March 15, 2024

13. Miami Dolphins

2023: AFC Wild Card
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Jacksonville (CBS)
Question: Will Mike McDaniel win his first playoff game this year?

14. Pittsburgh Steelers

2023: AFC Wild Card
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at Atlanta (FOX)
Question: Which version of Russell Wilson will show up this season?

15. Atlanta Falcons

2023: Missed playoffs (7-10)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Pittsburgh (FOX)
Question: Will Matthew Judon make the Patriots regret not keeping him in New England?

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2023: Won NFC South
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Washington (FOX)
Question: Can Tampa Bay repeat as champs of a weak NFC South?

17. Chicago Bears

2023: Missed playoffs (7-10)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Tennessee (FOX)
Question: How will all the Bears’ new pieces on offense mesh?

18. Los Angeles Chargers

2023: Won NFC South
Week 1: Sunday 4:05 vs Las Vegas (FOX)
Question: Can Jim Harbaugh duplicate the success of his other coaching stops?

19. Indianapolis Colts

2023: Won NFC South
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Houston (CBS)
Question: Is a healthy Anthony Richardson enough to get them back in the postseason?

20. New York Jets

2023: Missed playoffs (7-10)
Week 1: Monday 8:15 at San Francisco (ABC/ESPN)
Question: How much does Aaron Rodgers have left?

21. New Orleans Saints

2023: Missed playoffs (9-8)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Carolina (FOX)
Question: Can Alvin Kamara return to Pro Bowl form in 2024?

Alvin Kamara breaking tackles is majestic 😮 @A_kamara6 pic.twitter.com/cX5i8zkhzW

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 30, 2019

22. Seattle Seahawks

2023: Missed playoffs (9-8)
Week 1: Sunday 4:05 vs Denver
Question: Which Geno Smith shows up for the Seahawks?

23. New England Patriots

2023: Missed playoffs (4-13)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at Cincinnati (CBS)
Question: When will Christian Barmore return?

24. Cleveland Browns

2023: AFC Wild Card
Week 1: Sunday 4:25 vs Dallas (FOX)
Question: Can Myles Garrett repeat as NFL DPOY?

25. Washington Commanders

2023: Missed playoffs (4-13)
Week 1: Sunday 4:25 at Tampa Bay (FOX)
Question: Will Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin get enough help on offense?

26. Arizona Cardinals

2023: Missed playoffs (4-13)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at Buffalo (CBS)
Question: Can Marvin Harrison Jr. live up to the hype?

27. Las Vegas Raiders

2023: Missed playoffs (8-9)
Week 1: Sunday 4:05 at LA Chargers (CBS)
Question: Will Antonio Pierce’s good vibes carry over to year two?

The Antonio Pierce era is off to a hot start in Vegas 📈🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mm6nTudTVV

— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2023

28. Minnesota Vikings

2023: Missed playoffs (7-10)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at New York Giants (FOX)
Question: Can Sam Darnold’s NFL career be salvaged?

29. Tennessee Titans

2023: Missed playoffs (6-11)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at Chicago (FOX)
Question: Will they regret parting ways with Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry?

30. Denver Broncos

2023: Missed playoffs (8-9)
Week 1: Sunday 4:05 at Seattle
Question: Is Bo Nix the answer for Sean Payton’s team?

Nobody is breaking that interception record Peyton 😂😂 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/TlfPeHRk8x

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 6, 2024

31. New York Giants

2023: Missed playoffs (6-11)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 vs Minnesota (FOX)
Question: Did Brian Daboll not get enough credit for winning six games with last season’s squad?

32. Carolina Panthers

2023: Missed playoffs (2-15)
Week 1: Sunday 1:00 at New Orleans (FOX)
Question: Will Bryce Young show why Carolina put so much faith in him just a year ago?