NFL Power Rankings Week 3: 2020 Standings, Reaction for All Teams Post-MNF

Compared to Week 1, the second week of the 2020 NFL season was a relatively surprise-free affair, at least until Monday night.

The Las Vegas Raiders stunned the favored New Orleans Saints 34-24 in a contest that might put an end to the talk of Derek Carr being on the hot seat. The Raiders signal-caller out-dueled Drew Brees, finishing 28-of-38 for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Raiders defense, meanwhile, held the Saints to just seven second-half points.

One early loss in a game played without wideout Michael Thomas doesn't mean New Orleans isn't a legitimate contender. However, it does give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers an opportunity to keep pace in the NFC South. The Raiders move to 2-0 and in a tie with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.

There is obviously a lot of football left to be played, but the league's hierarchy is at least beginning to take shape.

NFL Standings, Week 3

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills 2-0

2. New England Patriots 1-1

3. Miami Dolphins 0-2

4. New York Jets 0-2

AFC South

1. Tennessee Titans 2-0

2. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-1

3. Indianapolis Colts 1-1

4. Houston Texans 0-2

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens 2-0

2. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-0

3. Cleveland Browns 1-1

4. Cincinnati Bengals 0-2

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs 2-0

2. Las Vegas Raiders 2-0

3. Los Angeles Chargers 1-1

4. Denver Broncos 0-2

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys 1-1

2. Washington Football Team 1-1

3. Philadelphia Eagles 0-2

4. New York Giants 0-2

NFC South

1. New Orleans Saints 1-1

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-1

3. Carolina Panthers 0-2

4. Atlanta Falcons 0-2

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers 2-0

2. Chicago Bears 2-0

3. Detroit Lions 0-2

4. Minnesota Vikings 0-2

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks 2-0

2. Los Angeles Rams 2-0

3. Arizona Cardinals 2-0

4. San Francisco 49ers 1-1

NFL Power Rankings, Week 3

1. Kansas City Chiefs

2. Baltimore Ravens

3. Seattle Seahawks

4. Green Bay Packers

5. Buffalo Bills

6. Arizona Cardinals

7. New England Patriots

8. Tennessee Titans

9. Las Vegas Raiders

10. New Orleans Saints

11. San Francisco 49ers

12. Los Angeles Rams

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

15. Chicago Bears

16. Los Angeles Chargers

17. Indianapolis Colts

18. Jacksonville Jaguars

19. Washington Football Team

20. Dallas Cowboys

21. Cleveland Browns

22. Denver Broncos

23. Houston Texans

24. Miami Dolphins

25. Philadelphia Eagles

26. Minnesota Vikings

27. Cincinnati Bengals

28. Atlanta Falcons

29. Carolina Panthers

30. Detroit Lions

31. New York Giants

32. New York Jets

Buffalo Bills

Like the Saints, the New England Patriots lost in Week 2. This fully opens the door for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to stake their claim in the AFC East. Allen and Co. had to mount a comeback against the Miami Dolphins, but they're atop the division nonetheless.

There's a chance that the Bills could stay there too. Allen is playing like a viable MVP candidate, thanks in no small part to the arrival of No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs. After struggling with accuracy and consistency in his first two seasons, Allen is completing over 70 percent of his passes this year.

With Allen finally developing into a reliable signal-caller, Buffalo appears to have a complete team. It's running game and defense are both solid if not spectacular—the Bills rank 22nd in rushing and sixth in total offense. However, Allen has been the star of the show.

"Every week you come out there wondering like what crazy stuff is Josh going to do this week, whether he's going to run the ball for 100 yards or throw a 60-yard bomb or put balls on the money for Diggs to make plays on. And he made some great throws today," safety Jordan Poyer said, per Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com.

Allen might just have the Bills on the verge of a special season in 2020. The last time a team other than New England won the AFC East was in 2008.

San Francisco 49ers

While the San Francisco 49ers didn't lose their game in Week 2, they lost big in the injury department. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, pass-rusher Nick Bosa, defensive lineman Solomon Thomas and running back Raheem Mostert were all injured.

Bosa, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, is done for the season with a torn ACL.

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

This compounds an already present injury problem for San Francisco. The 49ers came into Week 2 without star tight end George Kittle and cornerback Richard Sherman. San Francisco could conceivably be without many of its key starters in Week 3 against the New York Giants—Mostert is likely out with an MCL sprain.

While San Francisco has enough talent to escape New York with another win—and this is partially due to New York losing running back Saquon Barkley for the season—the 49ers are looking at a rough start to their NFC title defense.

San Francisco is the only team in the NFC West not sitting at 2-0, and it has tough matchups against the Los Angeles Rams, Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in Weeks 6-8.

If the 49ers stumble against the Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles or the Miami Dolphins before then, they could be in very real danger of missing the postseason.