NFL Power Rankings: Teams Due to Drop after Week 2

No matter how dominant you look in Week 1, it doesn't matter if you can't keep the momentum rolling throughout the season. (I'm talking to you, Dallas.)

A team is only as good as its most recent win and only as bad as its most recent loss. Even some of those that pulled off surprising and decisive wins in the kickoff week of the 2012 season aren't safe from a steep drop-off in Game 2.

Here are my complete NFL power rankings heading into Week 2 with a special emphasis on the teams that are the most vulnerable.

1. San Francisco 49ers

After a huge win over Green Bay on the road, the 49ers get to return to the comforts of their home stadium and what bodes to be a much easier date with Matthew Stafford and the Lions.

2. Houston Texans

Offensively, the Texans looked like one of the strongest teams in the league after the 30-10 beating they laid on the Dolphins in Week 1. True, that was the Dolphins—but after the way they played in Week 1, the Jaguars look just as vulnerable.

3. New England Patriots

The Pats were a big question mark heading into 2012. Although their offense has never been much of a problem, their defense was one of the worst in the league in 2011. Not anymore, though: After holding Titans running back Chris Johnson to a career-worst four yards in the opener, this unit has made a big statement.

4. Baltimore Ravens

As expected, Baltimore was as formidable as ever against the Bengals on Monday Night Football. After embarrassing Cincinnati 44-13, Ed Reed & Co. will have an opportunity to destroy Michael Vick and the Eagles.

5. Denver Broncos

The Broncos, too, were a question mark coming into 2012 because none of us knew how Peyton Manning would fare in his new home with his surgically-repaired neck. Officially, we can say that he's going to be just fine, but a win over the Falcons in Week 2 will help him prove it.

6. Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan has never been able to take the Falcons as far as they seem capable of going early in the season, but perhaps this year is different. If he throws for 299 yards every time out—including against the Broncos defense on Monday Night Football—this might really be his year.

7. Dallas Cowboys

Unquestionably, the Cowboys registered one of the biggest wins of the week with a road victory over the Giants in the official season opener. Compared to that, a visit to the Seahawks in Week 2 will be a breeze.

8. Chicago Bears

To some extent, Jay Cutler and his cohorts got a stroke of luck in Week 1 when the Colts ended up on their schedule. Winning at home against a rookie quarterback facing more pressure than anyone else appeared to be a recipe for success for the Bears, who played themselves out of the postseason at the end of 2011 when Cutler got injured.

Clearly, the win over the Colts was a big statement for the Bears. Unfortunately, though, they're coming up against a team that is on the warpath to make an even bigger statement in Week 2.

The Packers were victimized on their own turf by the 49ers in Week 1, and now they are angry. The Bears could be the victims of one of the most powerful offenses in the league as a result.

9. New York Jets

New York looked good in its season opener—in fact, it's probably fair to say that it looked far better than anyone expected, especially offensively.

After a completely futile preseason performance, Mark Sanchez got his act together just in time for the season opener, leading the Jets to a 48-28 win over the Bills. But that is the key: It was the Bills. Whether Sanchez can lead this team to victory against a better team—like the Steelers—will be the true test.

There is, in fact, no better test for a quarterback than the Steelers defense, which honestly looked awful in Week 1. 

10. San Diego Chargers

Chargers vs. Titans is one matchup that really could go either way. San Diego did get a big win on MNF over the Raiders earlier this week, and the Titans were stymied by the Patriots. But the Chargers are not the Patriots. 

11. Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford's crew can expect a drop in the power rankings when Week 2 is all said and done. They may have gotten a (disturbingly slim) win over St. Louis to kick things off, but facing the 49ers will be a much more unpleasant experience.

12. Washington Redskins

This is the week we all get to find out whether Robert Griffin III is all hype or actually for real. Something tells me a matchup against the Rams will help him prove the latter.

13. Minnesota Vikings

Yet another team whose effectiveness is hard to gauge from Week 1. They got an overtime win over Jacksonville, but how good are the Jaguars? The Vikings get the Colts in Week 2, which honestly doesn't tell us more about how good this team is, considering the Colts are pretty terrible, too.

14. Arizona Cardinals

Kevin Kolb was just fine in the few minutes he played against the Seahawks in Week 1. And it's nice that Arizona fans are excited about what he might be able to do.

But expecting him to come into Foxboro and shred the Patriots' defense might be overblowing expectations a little bit.

The Patriots had one of the best games of any team in the NFL in Week 1, and the Cardinals, by all indications, did not. On top of that is the fact that they lost their starting quarterback along the way. The Week 1 win was certainly a feel-good victory, but for the Cardinals, the success will probably be short-lived.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles were one of the most disappointing teams in Week 1, and Michael Vick was one of the most disappointing quarterbacks. Drawing the Ravens in Week 2 will do nothing to change that.

16. Green Bay Packers

This team is my pick to surge after Week 2. An opening game against the strongest team in the NFC was a tough draw, but Green Bay will make up for last week's performance with a win over the Bears.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steel Curtain looked almost disturbingly weak against Peyton Manning last week, but that could just be a tribute to Peyton Manning. The Jets will be a better barometer for just how solid this unit is.

18. New York Giants

Was New York's season-opening loss to the Cowboys a fluke? Are the Giants really that vulnerable, or are the Cowboys just better than we thought? Regardless, the Bucs aren't the toughest of opponents and should help New York get its first W on the board.

19. New Orleans Saints

It seems that the Saints are going to have a tough go of things this season in the aftermath of the bounty scandal. But a date with the Panthers could be just what they need to restore hope.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags were overtime losers in Week 1, so it could've been a lot worse. Unfortunately, though, they have the Texans and their ridiculous offense in Week 2, which could stretch out the heartbreak for another week.

21. Oakland Raiders

Their 22-14 loss to San Diego was close enough to provide hope that the Raiders might be able to compete in 2012. The Dolphins are just futile enough to present the perfect opportunity to restart the season on the right foot.

22. Tennessee Titans

The Titans' early success could come down to Jake Locker's health and Chris Benson's effectiveness. For them, going on the road to take on the Chargers could be just as tough as opening up against the Patriots.

23. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City played the victim to Matt Ryan in Week 1. Fortunately for them, they have the Bills in Week 2, which should provide a much more favorable change of pace.

24. Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson may have all the confidence in the world, but it doesn't matter if he can't get the job done in the last few minutes of the game, which he couldn't against Arizona. It will be much harder to be a hero against the Cowboys.

25. Cincinnati Bengals

Last year, the Bengals looked like they were finally ready to turn things around. Then they flopped in Week 1 and have become a huge question mark. Beating the Browns isn't a terrific accomplishment, but for them, it will be a start.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This offense struggled against the Carolina defense in Week 1, and it could provide the Giants with the perfect opportunity to work out the kinks in Week 2.

27. Carolina Panthers

The Cam Newton inconsistencies appear set to continue throughout 2012. A matchup against the Saints will prove to be a good barometer for where he's at and what he can accomplish.

28. St. Louis Rams

It appears to be the same story all over again for the Rams: struggles. The fact that they could keep up with the Lions in Week 1 was somewhat encouraging, but now they'll have to deal with another potential superstar quarterback in RG3.

29. Indianapolis Colts

It was a surprise to see Andrew Luck struggle as much as he did in the Colts' season opener. Maybe it was a fluke. Or maybe he'll be just as ineffective against the Vikings and we can spend another week talking about where everything went wrong.

30. Buffalo Bills

After being embarrassed by the Jets' offense in Week 1, the Bills will get a chance to start over against the 0-1 Chiefs. May the least-futile offense win.

31. Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill wasn't the worst rookie quarterback to step on the field on Opening Weekend 2012, which was an accomplishment, even though the Dolphins lost. Maybe he can get that first W at home against Oakland.

32. Cleveland Browns

Speaking of the league's worst rookie QB, that honor goes to Brandon Weeden. If he fares as poorly against the Bengals as he did against Philly, the Browns may be questioning their demotion of Colt McCoy.