Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season has come and gone. The Las Vegas Raiders shocked the NFL world by taking down the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, but did Sin City do enough to shift the balance of power in the AFC West?
The Silver and Black weren’t the only AFC West team to leave Week 2 with a win, either. In fact, three of the four teams in the division enter the new week fresh off of a victory.
Here are our updated AFC West power rankings ahead of Week 3 in the NFL.
AFC West power rankings, Week 2
1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Nothing about the Chiefs’ performance this past Sunday says they were winners, except the final score. The Bengals came into Arrowhead and outplayed the defending champions, but lost their composure when the chips were all-in.
You can’t put a statistic on clutch, and the Chiefs just know how to win.
Week 3 should be a real test for Pat Mahomes and the Pips on Sunday Night Football. Can the defending champs continue their winning streak on the road against a Falcons team that just beat the Eagles in Philadelphia?
Week 3 Matchup: Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)
This Week’s Mood…
Yes, the Chargers are 2-0 after throttling the trainwreck Panthers.
J.K. Dobbins continued his Comeback Player of the Year bid while receiver Quentin Johnston remembered how to catch the football. But do we really believe this is who Los Angeles is?
Justin Herbert, the quarterback, continues to struggle. Looking back, what if Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy actually opened up the playbook in Week 1? Who knows if the Chargers remain undefeated? Week 3 welcomes a truly tough defense, but another underwhelming offense.
Week 3 Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0)
3. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)
Raider Nation is on a high, and rightfully so.
No AFC West squad had a more impressive win than the Silver and Black in Week 2, clawing back from a 10-point deficit on the road against the Ravens. Not losing to the Chargers in the season’s first week would have put them in first place. But alas, Antonio Pierce and company have to load up their ’64’s and play catch up.
A Week 3 home opener win should go a long way.
Week 3 Matchup: Carolina Panthers (0-2)
4. Denver Broncos (0-2) – This week’s last place AFC West squad
Sean Payton is in the process of realizing what legends like Joe Gibbs and Mike Shanahan did years ago. Once you call it quits, it is best to honor that decision. While Denver has been in both of their games, nothing about the team’s performances have been inspiring – especially not the rookie quarterback they “outsmarted” their AFC West rivals, the Raiders, to select.
Can the Broncos turn it around and be a true contender? I mean, Bo Nix is about the same age John Elway was when he won his two Super Bowls, so anything’s possible.
Week 3 Matchup: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
*Top Photo: WSN