NFL Power Rankings: Initial Post-Sunday Breakdown Ahead of Week 2

The NFL is finally back full swing, as Sunday brought us 13 games to sink our teeth into.

As always, Week 1 was full of surprises, as unknown gems emerged to carry teams to victories and veteran stalwarts flopped in season debuts. 

While we never know exactly where the surprises are coming from, it's foolish to expect anything other than the unexpected from the NFL's first week of action. 

The power rankings through Sunday night reflect a mixture of Week 1 overreaction and preseason expectations. It's unfair to raise a team up too high or drop them too far based off one result, but it's also unrealistic to pretend that the first week of action is irrelevant. 

Some of what we saw this week will fade as the season progresses, but other Week 1 surprises will prove to be a genuine turn in luck for certain franchises. 

Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Through Sunday

Rank	Team	W-L
1.	New England Patriots	1-0
2.	Green Bay Packers	1-0
3.	Buffalo Bills	1-0
4.	Denver Broncos	1-0
5.	Arizona Cardinals	1-0
6.	Kansas City Chiefs	1-0
7.	Philadelphia Eagles	0-0
8.	Seattle Seahawks	0-1
9.	Cincinnati Bengals	1-0
10.	San Diego Chargers	1-0
11.	Dallas Cowboys	1-0
12.	St. Louis Rams	1-0
13.	Miami Dolphins	1-0
14.	Baltimore Ravens	0-1
15.	Indianapolis Colts	0-1
16.	Pittsburgh Steelers	0-1
17.	Minnesota Vikings	0-0
18.	Tennessee Titans	1-0
19.	New York Giants	0-1
20.	New York Jets	1-0
21.	Carolina Panthers	1-0
22.	Atlanta Falcons	0-0
23.	New Orleans Saints	0-1
24.	Detroit Lions	0-1
25.	San Francisco 49ers	0-0
26.	Houston Texans	0-1
27.	Chicago Bears	0-1
28.	Jacksonville Jaguars	0-1
29.	Washington Redskins	0-1
30.	Cleveland Browns	0-1
31.	Oakland Raiders	0-1
32.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	0-1

Notable Rankings

3. Buffalo Bills

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Not only were the Bills the biggest surprise from Week 1, but they were also among the most dominant teams in action on Sunday. 

Tyrod Taylor put on a show, looking like the quarterback so many believed Robert Griffin III would become in Washington.

Like the flashes RG3 showed as a rookie in 2012, Taylor was efficient through the air and a playmaker with his legs. 

"

Tyrod Taylor’s last start? 2011 Orange Bowl, also against Andrew Luck.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 13, 2015"

Taylor posted a Total QBR of 88.2, which ranks as the fifth-best in the league through Sunday's action. 

A season ago, Bills quarterbacks only generated a Total QBR over 80 once (Kyle Orton in Week 12).

8. Seattle Seahawks

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Obviously the Seahawks have to be dropped after a tough road loss to the Rams, but how far can the two-time defending NFC champs reasonably fall?

Russell Wilson didn't play great (Total QBR of 48.9), but the Seahawks have always found ways to be competitive when he struggles. In fact, they were 4-2 in games in which he posted a Total QBR under 50 a season ago. 

While the loss is a tough way to start the season, it's hard to view this as a real setback for Seattle. 

Marshawn Lynch remained productive (104 total yards on 23 touches), and the defense held St. Louis' running game to just 2.9 yards per attempt. 

Divisional road games are tough, and even a team like the Seahawks is bound to lose one or two throughout the season. 

18. Tennessee Titans

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It's only one game, so Tennessee can only rise so far in the rankings. But it would have been tough to script a more positive performance from Marcus Mariota and the Titans in Week 1. 

Mariota was nearly flawless, posting a 95.7 Total QBR—the highest rating of the week through Sunday. 

"

Highest Total QBR in 1st Career Start Last 10 Seasons Colin Kaepernick 95.9 Marcus Mariota 95.7

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 14, 2015"

Bishop Sankey, one of the league's biggest rookie flops a season ago, tore through the Buccaneers defense for 86 total yards and two touchdowns on just 14 touches. 

Tampa Bay may not have been the toughest test for Tennessee's defense, but the front seven brought consistent pressure on Jameis Winston, playing a key role in the team's two turnovers.