NFL Power Rankings: Teams That Have Most to Gain in Week 2

The opening week of the 2013 NFL season saw several teams make statements, and the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the teams that have a chance to make a statement in the power rankings in Week 2.

It's still early in the season, so these rankings are a combination of last year's performance, any moves the teams made in the offseason and how they did in the opening week.

Teams that started the year with a loss are desperately looking for a victory in Week 2. It's not quite a must-win situation for those teams, but it's as close as it gets. According to NFL.com, only 11.6 percent of the teams that have started 0-2 since 1990 have ended up making the postseason.

It's time to unveil the latest power rankings and highlight which teams have the most to gain this week.

1. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

After making the Super Bowl last season, the 49ers deserve to be at the top of the rankings until they prove otherwise. 

The 49ers looked impressive in beating the Green Bay Packers, especially new receiver Anquan Boldin. He had more than 200 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Now San Francisco must travel to Seattle in what will likely be their toughest game of the year. A win gives them control of the NFC West, but nobody will knock the 49ers if they lose.

2. Denver Broncos (1-0)

Denver had the most impressive performance of the opening week as it routed Baltimore. Peyton Manning established himself as the leader for the NFL Most Valuable Player.

Not much for the Broncos to gain this week. They will head to New York, where Peyton and Eli will battle it out for bragging rights. The Broncos should run away with the division, so this game could play a factor in the race for home-field advantage.

3. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)

The team with the most to gain this week is Seattle. The Seahawks get to host the 49ers this week, which gives them a big chance to grab a hold of the division. 

Seattle and San Francisco split the season series last season, with each team winning at home. The Seahawks blew the 49ers out at home. 

Whoever wins this week's meeting will be able to control the division until the next meeting. Gaining early momentum is always important, and it can end up carrying a team through the rest of the season.

The Seahawks didn't look great on offense last week in a 12-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers. They will need to show that they can still move the football and put up points like they did last season if they are going to win the division.

Seattle was 8-0 at home last season, and the Seahawks have a chance to send an early message to their division rival.

4. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)

The Falcons were put in a tough spot last week. They had to go to New Orleans and face the Saints in Sean Payton's return. He rarely loses at home, and the Saints were able to make a late stand to grab the victory.

Not much to gain for the Falcons this week. Atlanta will host the St. Louis Rams, so Steven Jackson will get a chance to have a good game against his former team.

5. New England Patriots (2-0)

The Patriots are 2-0 this season, and they are 2-0 inside the AFC East. The two victories were by a combined five points, so they haven't looked dominant at all.

However, they have taken down two division rivals and gotten out to a good start in their quest to win the AFC East.

6. Houston Texans (1-0)

Houston rallied to beat San Diego on Monday night, and it still looks like the team to beat in the AFC South. A game against the Tennessee Titans shouldn't be much of a challenge for them.

The Texans are one of the most balanced teams in the league. They have playmakers on the ground and on the outside on offense, and their defense is balanced on the line and in the secondary.

7. New Orleans Saints (1-0)

Payton is back as coach, and he will certainly help his team. The Saints got a big win against the Falcons to get an early advantage in the NFC South. Now they will get a chance to knock off another team in the division.

New Orleans will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. It will be a big test for the Saints to see if they can win outside of New Orleans. They have always been able to defend home turf, but winning on the road hasn't been as easy.

The Buccaneers have an improved secondary with Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson. Drew Brees will be tested against those All-Pro players, but he has the experience necessary to go on the road and win.

With a win, the Saints would be 2-0 inside the divison. That would be huge for a team that is looking to get back to the postseason. 

8. Green Bay Packers (0-1)

Green Bay went to San Francisco and lost to the 49ers for the third time since Week 1 of last season. There's no shame in losing to the 49ers, especially when the Packers had to go across the country. 

Robert Griffin III comes to Lambeau Field this week. He looked rusty in the opener, especially in the first half. The Packers will be expected to win this game because they are at home and have Aaron Rodgers.

The quarterback has Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones. Green Bay has so many playmakers that it will be tough for Griffin to keep up this early in the season.

9. Chicago Bears (1-0)

The Bears had one of the better wins of the opening week. They were dominated for the first three quarters against the Cincinnati Bengals, but they stayed strong and rallied from an 11-point deficit to win.

Jay Cutler was able to execute a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, and he did so using one of the best receivers in the league. Brandon Marshall caught the game-winning touchdown, showing that he will make plays when his team needs him.

Now the Bears get to host the Minnesota Vikings. It will be their first division game, so it's important for Chicago to start strong. It finished 10-6 last season and narrowly missed the playoffs because of the Vikings.

Starting 1-0 inside the division is important for the Bears. The Packers are expected to win the division, so Chicago needs to win every game it can inside the division before it has to take on the Packers.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

Outside of San Diego, the Bengals had the most heartbreaking loss of the opening week. They had an 11-point lead in the second half against the Bears and couldn't finish them off.

Poor clock management and lack of discipline cost the Bengals late in the game, but they at least showed that they have the ability to compete with good teams.

Cincinnati will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, but it doesn't have much to gain. It is expected to win that game on its way to another postseason appearance, so a loss to a team that is struggling would be devastating. 

11. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

Dez Bryant will need to have more of an impact this week than he had last week. He had only four receptions for 22 yards. The offense was able to move the ball despite the lack of production from its best player. However, the defense won the game last week by forcing six turnovers.

Going to Kansas City will be a challenging task for the Cowboys, but this game won't end up being an extremely important one as the Chiefs are in the AFC.

12. Indianapolis Colts (1-0)

The Colts have a lot to gain this week. They struggled to put away Terrelle Pryor and the Oakland Raiders. A late touchdown saved them from a loss, so this week will be important.

Miami comes to town as the Colts look to build momentum. The Dolphins got a big road win in Week 1, and they look like they could contend for the postseason.   

Indianapolis won a bunch of close games last season, and it started this year the same way. It's a dangerous way to play, but it has worked so far. The Dolphins have a strong defense, and Mike Wallace will be looking to have more than one reception.

If the Colts can limit Wallace, they can hang around long enough to squeak out another victory. Last week's performance was underwhelming, but at least they managed to get the job done.

This will be a game to make a statement to the Dolphins. It could end up being a tiebreaker if the two teams are tied for the final wild-card spot at the end of the season.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

Outside of Seattle, the Eagles have the biggest week. It has nothing to do with their opponents, however. The Charges will travel to Philadelphia after blowing a big lead on Monday night, but this game will be all about the Eagles.

Everyone wants to know if last week's win in Washington was a fluke. Michael Vick and the offense were flying down the field in the first half, grabbing a 33-7 lead early in the third quarter and then coasting to an impressive victory.

Can the Eagles keep up the fast pace? They ran 53 plays in the first half last week. It's unclear if it was just a one-time thing or if they will do it all season.

Coach Chip Kelly had his offense moving the ball with ease. If the Eagles can stay healthy, Kelly's offense is going to be tough to stop.

Nobody would be surprised if Philadelphia won the NFC East. Any of the four teams can win the division, so a 2-0 start would go a long way in making the postseason. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (0-1)

The Ravens had a lead at the break in their opener, but they allowed 35 points in the second half on the way to a blowout loss. Losing to Peyton Manning is no big deal. However, the defensive was badly exposed.

Now the Ravens return to Baltimore to celebrate their Super Bowl victory. They will host the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Joe Flacco is 10-0 in his career against the Browns, so it should be a good week to get things straight. 

15. St. Louis Rams (1-0)

Nobody expects the Rams to go into Atlanta and upset the Falcons. A last-second victory over the Arizona Cardinals was big because the Rams trailed most of the game. They were able to rally a few times to get the victory.

This game will be a chance for Daryl Richardson to show that he is the answer at running back, and the Rams will hope to limit their former running back on the ground.

16. Miami Dolphins (1-0)

The Dolphins looked good on defense against the Cleveland Browns, but the offense didn't look good. The team rushed for less than one yard per attempt, and it struggled to take advantage of three turnovers created by the defense.

Mike Wallace will be a player to watch this week. He wasn't involved in the team's offense last week, so keep an eye on him to see if Ryan Tannehill tries to get him the ball more this week.  

17. Detroit Lions (1-0)

One of the more intriguing matchups of the week will take place in the desert. Reggie Bush had an explosive debut with the Lions. Calvin Johnson had a quiet game as he had only 37 yards on four catches. Now he will get to go up against one of the league's best young players in Patrick Peterson.

This will be a big game for the Lions as it could give them a boost in their attempt to return to the playoffs. They won only four games last season, but their offense is talented enough to get the team to the postseason.

18. New York Giants (0-1)

Eli Manning will get a chance to beat his older brother, but it'll take a perfect performance from the offense.

Last week, the Giants had six turnovers and lost by five. They have plenty of talent, but they can't afford to give the ball up so much. 

Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz give Manning plenty of talent to work with at receiver. It will be up to the quarterback to make smart decisions and keep his team in the game.

19. Washington Redskins (0-1)

Week 2 will be huge for the Redskins. They will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers, and they have a chance to pull off a big upset.

Washington will be a big underdog against Green Bay. The Packers have a lot of talent to work with on offense, so they are going to be putting up points. It's not clear if Washington will be able to keep up in Robert Griffin III's second game back.

The quarterback looked extremely rusty in the first half of the opener, which is to be expected. It was the second serious knee injury of his career, and fans wanted to see how he played only eight months after leaving a playoff game.

Washington doesn't have to win in order to "gain" something this week. A win would be nice, and it would help it avoid an 0-2 start. However, Griffin needs to show that he is capable of playing the way that he played as a rookie.

Establishing a flow early will be important. Griffin can't take a full half to get into a rhythm like he did last week. If he does, Washington will be run off the field.

20. Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

A 28-2 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars is nice. Not great, but still nice. The Chiefs were able to do whatever they wanted against the Jaguars, but it didn't help prepare them for the Cowboys.

Dallas has Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten on offense. The Jaguars didn't have a single player that were close to any of those playmakers, so this week will be a big test.

Playing in Kansas City will be big for the team. This game will show what the Chiefs are made of because of the level of competition. Dallas is expected to contend this season, so a win against the Cowboys would establish the Chiefs as legitimate contenders.

21. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)

A team that has a lot to lose would be the Minnesota Vikings. They already lost to a team that finished in last place in 2012, and now they will have to travel to Soldier Field in order to get back in the race.

The Vikings made the playoffs last season, but they could be done early if they don't win this week. An 0-2 start in the NFC North would be nearly impossible to overcome. Not only would they have lost two early games, but they would still have two games remaining against the Packers.

22. Tennessee Titans (1-0)

The Titans went to Pittsburgh and upset the Steelers in Week 1. Now they have a chance to thrive in the role of the underdog when they travel to Houston this week.

It would take a much better performance to beat the Texans than it did to top the Steelers. Houston has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, so this will be a big game for Tennessee.

Upsetting the two-time defending AFC South champions would immediately put the Titans in contention. Right now they aren't viewed as serious contenders after beating up a bad Pittsburgh team. Taking down the Texans would give the Titans an important victory early in the season and put them in the driver's seat in the division.

Is it likely? Probably not. As Week 1 showed, mismatches on paper can turn into thrilling games. Running back Chris Johnson will have to have a big game in order for the team to win, which would be big for a couple of reasons. A win would put them at 2-0, and a big rushing performance would show that Johnson can still be effective.

23. Carolina Panthers (0-1) 

Carolina's defense impressed in its loss to the Seahawks last week, but the offense struggled. Cam Newton threw for only 125 yards and didn't look great. Luckily for him, he will get to face the Buffalo Bills this week.

The Panthers will be expected to beat the Bills, and it could be a start of a big season for Newton. His team will need him to be a force on the ground and with his arm, so Newton will be expected to bounce back this week. 

24. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)

A tough loss at St. Louis hurt what could have been a strong start to the season. Carson Palmer looked like he had great chemistry with his new receivers. Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts each had at least 80 yards in Palmer's Arizona debut.

The Cardinals will host the Lions this week. It could turn into a shootout as both teams moved the ball through the air last week, but the Cardinals will be looking to see how their secondary holds up against a strong quarterback.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)

The Steelers are in a must-win situation in Week 2. They will travel to Cincinnati for Monday night's game, and Pittsburgh must find a way to win in order to save its season.

Week 1 was not kind to the Steelers. They got a 2-0 lead on the opening kickoff, but they didn't score on offense until the final minutes of the game. 

Pittsburgh also lost a few players for the season. Center Maurkice Pouncey and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling are both out for the season with torn ACLs. Unfortunately for the Steelers, those were two areas where they couldn't afford injuries.

The offensive line was already inexperienced, and losing its leader will only make it tougher on the offense. Stephens-Howling gave the team depth at running back as it looks for someone to step up.

A win would erase the memory of last week. It would also keep the Steelers atop the AFC North. At the end of the weekend, there will be two 1-1 teams in the division and two 0-2 teams. Getting a big road win against a division rival could save the season and send the team in a different direction.

Expectations are low for Pittsburgh right now. The offense is a mess right now, but winning a hard-fought defensive battle would prove that the team can still contend.  

26. New York Jets (1-1)

The Jets lost to the Patriots already this week. Rookie Geno Smith threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter when he had a chance to at least tie the game. He couldn't manage a comeback for a second straight week. 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Tampa Bay was the victim of a late rally by Geno Smith in Week 1. Now the team must find a way to rebound and beat New Orleans, which will not be easy.

The only way they will be able to win is if the secondary plays up to its potential. Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson are two of the best defensive players in the league. They will have their hands full this week trying to stop Drew Brees and the explosive New Orleans offense.

Every Tampa Bay fan wants to see how the defense holds up and how Josh Freeman performs. The quarterback needs to prove that he can lead the team in the future. Right now he hasn't shown that he is the long-term answer, but receiver Vincent Jackson should help him have a strong game.

This will be an extremely important game for the Buccaneers. They will get a home game against a top division rival, and a win would save the season. A loss sends the Buccaneers looking for answers in the coming weeks.

28. San Diego Chargers (0-1)

The Chargers blew a big lead last week. Now they will be the next team to face the new-look Eagles. Unfortunately they have to travel across the country, and they don't have the firepower to keep up with Philadelphia.

29. Buffalo Bills (0-1) 

A close loss to the New England Patriots is a huge blow to the team. It may help the team's confidence knowing that it came close to winning, but a loss is still a loss. Losing like that just hurts even more. Now Cam Newton comes to town looking to show that he can come back after having a mediocre performance.

30. Oakland Raiders (0-1)

Oakland is going to be competitive this season, but it will actually be favored this week. The Jacksonville Jaguars come to town in a game that could decide who gets the No. 1 pick. Terrelle Pryor looked good against the Indianapolis Colts and almost pulled off the upset. He should have an even better game against a team that didn't look like it was ready to play.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

Brandon Weeden could be fighting for his job again if he continues to struggle. He threw three interceptions in the first half last week. Even though the Dolphins didn't take advantage of those turnovers, Weeden couldn't lead his team to many points.

Now they will get to go to Baltimore to watch the Ravens celebrate a Super Bowl victory. The Browns haven't beaten Baltimore since 2007, and it doesn't look good this week.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)

When a team plays the Raiders and is the underdog, that is saying something. Chad Henne will take over for the injured Blaine Gabbert, but he will be without Justin Blackmon. The Jaguars are in for a long season.

*All stats are courtesy of NFL.com