playNFL NationSep 22, 2026, 06:20 AM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsWeek 2 of the 2026 NFL season marked a return to defensive dominance one week after record scoring numbers. This season, NFL defenses have a 35% pressure percentage (the highest through two weeks since ESPN began tracking pressures in 2009) and a 25% pass rush rush win rate (highest since 2017).How is this impacting quarterbacks around the league? In our Power Rankings ahead of Week 3, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to name the one thing we’ve learned so far from each team’s QB situation.
Which quarterbacks are handling the pressure? How are teams such as the Giants, Bears, Commanders, Seahawks and Vikings dealing with early injuries to their QB1s?To form the list, our power panel of more than a dozen NFL analysts evaluates how all 32 teams stack up against one another, ranking them from No. 1 to 32. And here are a few highlights from this week’s rankings:The 49ers climbed into the top three, led by a near-perfect two weeks from quarterback Brock Purdy. He became the fifth QB in NFL history to record multiple games with 90% completion percentage, per ESPN Research.
And San Francisco gets to stay at home for two more weeks, starting with the Cardinals next Sunday.The Chargers are down to No. 22 after falling to 0-2. According to ESPN Research, they are the second team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to be favored by at least 6.5 points in each of their first two games and lose both. The Raiders, who most recently beat the Chargers, are at No. 20 and 2-0 for the first time since 2021.Meanwhile, the Falcons and Dolphins are squarely at the bottom of the rankings. The Dolphins are the only team to not lead at any point this season, and ESPN’s Football Power Index already gives them a 43% chance at the No. 1 pick.
Atlanta is hoping to rebound with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back in the fold from ACL surgery.Let’s get into the full list, starting with the same No. 1 team as last week.Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH1. Buffalo Bills (2-0)Week 2 result: Beat the Lions 41-31 Week 2 ranking: 1One thing we know about the QB1: Josh Allen is going to make defenses pay either way.Allen has kept his eyes downfield through two games, averaging a career-best 9.7 yards per attempt on his deepest average depth of target (10.5) since 2018, his rookie season. That has led to three touchdowns on throws of 20-plus air yards. But Allen is just as dangerous when defenses bail out to protect against the deep ball.
Of his 92 rushing yards on 20 carries this season, 70 have come on six scramble plays. — Nick Suss2. Seattle Seahawks (2-0)Week 2 result: Beat the Cardinals 31-7 Week 2 ranking: 2One thing we know about the QB1: Drew Lock is one of the NFL’s best backup QBs.He’s not the same player who turned the ball over 25 times in 24 games over his first three seasons in Denver. Or the one who couldn’t beat out Geno Smith after a trade to Seattle in 2022. Lock has gotten plenty of help from receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Seattle’s defense, but he has also played like a starter.
Since stepping in for an injured Sam Darnold one series into the season opener, Lock has completed almost 73% of his passes with four touchdowns, zero turnovers and only two sacks. His Total QBR of 86.4 ranks fourth. — Brady Henderson3. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)Week 2 result: Beat the Dolphins 35-13 Week 2 ranking: 5One thing we know about the QB1: Brock Purdy looks poised for his best season.Purdy has been one of the league’s most productive quarterbacks since taking over the starting job in 2022. Now in his fifth season, he’s completely comfortable in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and coming off his best training camp.
That hot start has teammates such as linebacker Fred Warner openly wondering whether Purdy can compete for league MVP honors. Through two weeks, Purdy is atop the league in QBR (94.9) despite a supporting cast that has already been thinned by injury. If he stays healthy, there’s reason to believe Purdy will post his best year yet. — Nick Wagoner4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)Week 2 result: Beat the Colts 33-30 (OT) Week 2 ranking: 8One thing we know about the QB1: Patrick Mahomes can deal from under center.With the addition of running back Kenneth Walker III, Mahomes has shown that he can be surgical when passing from under center, especially on play-action passes.
On under-center plays, Mahomes threw a touchdown against the Colts and has already recorded 107 passing yards. It’s one of the biggest changes from last season, when the clear majority of the Chiefs’ snaps with Mahomes were in the shotgun — 80.6% of their formations (excluding quarterback kneel-downs), third most in the league. — Nate Taylor5. Los Angeles Rams (1-1)Week 2 result: Beat the Giants 28-6 Week 2 ranking: 4One thing we know about the QB1: Matthew Stafford is still capable of playing at an MVP level.Stafford and the Rams’ offense struggled in the season opener, but wide receiver Davante Adams said the team’s Week 2 offensive performance was closer to what the group expects to look like this season. On Monday night against the Giants, Stafford, the reigning MVP, completed 22 of 31 passes for 327 yards with four touchdown passes and an interception.
He had that success without wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is dealing with soreness in his groin. — Sarah Barshop6. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)Week 2 result: Beat the Titans 24-20 Week 2 ranking: 6One thing we know about the QB1: Jalen Hurts is carrying this team.The thought heading into the season was Hurts and the passing offense would need time to acclimate to coordinator Sean Mannion’s system, meaning the Eagles would have to rely on their defense and ground game early. The defense did not dominate as expected against Washington and Tennessee, while the running game has been spotty behind an offensive line still trying to find its footing. Meanwhile, Hurts led the team to a Week 1 win with three touchdowns and another victory Sunday via a go-ahead touchdown drive in the closing seconds.
He is tied for second in touchdown passes (five) and ahead of schedule in this new scheme. — Tim McManus7. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)Week 2 result: Lost to the Saints 24-17 Week 2 ranking: 3One thing we know about the QB1: Lamar Jackson is facing a lot of pressure.Baltimore’s revamped offensive line has struggled in protection. The Ravens’ two lowest pass block win rates with Jackson as the starting QB have come in the first two weeks this season. Baltimore had a 38% pass block win rate at the Colts in Week 1 and a 33% win rate in Week 2.
Jackson and the Ravens should have a more favorable matchup this week against the Cowboys, who have two sacks this season. — Jamison Hensleyplay2:00How Lamar became a QB who doesn’t just scramble to run, but scrambles to throw8. Denver Broncos (1-1)Week 2 result: Beat the Jaguars 20-13 Week 2 ranking: 9One thing we know about the QB1: Bo Nix might not be all that fond of September.Whether it’s an issue with his mechanics or rushing into plays, Nix is caught up in the Broncos’ propensity for slow starts under coach Sean Payton. In his first two seasons, Nix has thrown eight of his 23 interceptions in September — including three games with at least two picks. And in the season-opening loss to the Chiefs, Nix had his first career three-fumble game and was sacked four times, tying a career high.
The Broncos escaped with a win in Week 2 after Nix and the offense got things cranked up in the second half. But he did throw his second interception of the season. — Jeff Legwold9. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)Week 2
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