Although the AFC boasts top-end juggernaut teams like the Ravens and Bills, the NFC is not to be forgotten. The NFC obviously includes the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and a number of other contenders besides them.
Heading into Week 3 action, it looks like the NFC is as deep as we've seen it in recent years. Even if the teams are not on the same tier as the Ravens and Bills right now, there are a lot of teams that will be vying for playoff spots and even coming after the Eagles for the NFC crown.
Our latest NFL Power Rankings will take an updated look at the NFC after Week 2 action, and look ahead at what Week 3 might hold.
NFL Power Rankings: Risers and Fallers in the NFC ahead of Week 3
16. Carolina Panthers
A valiant comeback attempt in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals fell short, and the Carolina Panthers are on the cusp of an early-season collapse. Predictably, the Carolina defense has struggled so far. They just don't have the talent on that side of the ball yet, and GM Dan Morgan has to know that.
The Panthers get to play at home in Week 3 against a young QB in Michael Penix Jr., so they can try to get back on track with a divisional win.
15. New Orleans Saints
I said it during the offseason and I'll reiterate -- the Saints are not nearly as bad as many have stated. At least on paper, this is a roster full of experienced players. The Saints have been understandably underrated all offseason because of their highly questionable quarterback situation, but Spencer Rattler has shown some nice things in the first two weeks of the season.
Let's see how the process plays out here. It's a long season, but the Saints might be a bit more of a thorn in everyone's side than originally thought.
14. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears followed up a horrendous collapse in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings with an absolutely deplorable performance against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. After giving up 52 points to the Lions, and another clunker from Caleb Williams, where do the Bears go from here?
This team desperately needs a win, and to get it, they're going to have to slow down Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. And right now, that doesn't look like the easiest task.
13. New York Giants
After a dismal offensive performance in Week 1, the New York Giants exploded with 37 points against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. We got a vintage Russell Wilson performance, whose only blemish on the afternoon was the most ill-timed interception the Giants could have possibly asked for.
Could that offensive explosion be the start of something for the Giants? Can the defense figure out a way to keep the opposition out of the end zone? We still don't know what this Giants team is yet.
12. Minnesota Vikings
After an encouraging fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears that led to a stellar Week 1 win, the Minnesota Vikings came crashing down to reality in Week 2. We're going to see Carson Wentz leading this team in Week 3, and the Kevin O'Connell magic will be put to the test.
The Vikings have a good roster, and it's possible the higher floor with Wentz will even lead to some more consistent offensive success.
11. Atlanta Falcons
You could argue the Atlanta Falcons could very well be 2-0 to start the season were it not for a defensive collapse late against the Buccaneers. But you can't be too upset with them for that, because the same exact thing happened to the Texans on Monday night.
The Falcons have a ton of promise on both sides of the ball. The way their defense performed against the Vikings has to be one of the most encouraging signs for this team's ability to compete long-term in quite some time.
10. Dallas Cowboys
I feel like I'm really selling the Cowboys short here, but let's rehash this ranking in a couple of weeks. Heck, maybe even a week from now. The Cowboys are currently 1-1 with a chance to go into Chicago this week and get a second win against a struggling NFC team.
Dak Prescott is playing very well through the first two weeks of the season, and the Cowboys just fortified their EDGE group by signing veteran Jadeveon Clowney. This team is getting a bit slept on right now but the arrow is pointing up.
9. Arizona Cardinals
We like the Arizona Cardinals right now. We don't love the Arizona Cardinals right now.
After getting off to a 27-3 lead against the Carolina Panthers, the Cardinals needed a major mental error late from Bryce Young to hold on and win. This team has the ability to be competitive in the NFC, but at some point, they feel like they're going to go on some type of skid.
They need to keep the pedal to the metal and prove themselves in Week 3 against the 49ers.
8. Washington Commanders
After a strong showing in Week 1 against the New York Giants, the Commanders got blown away on a short week by the Green Bay Packers.
While we don't want to hold that one against them too much, it was also pretty revealing of this team's current struggles and a stark reminder of the fact that they were well ahead of schedule last year. There's still a lot of work to be done for this team. How they bounce back in Week 3 at home against the Raiders will tell us what kind of team this is.
7. Seattle Seahawks
I was really down on the Seahawks after the offseason they had, and then even more so after Week 1. But in Week 2, a road victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Seahawks showed me something.
This team is very capable of doing some damage this year and competing in the extremely tough NFC West. The defense the Seahawks have is underrated, and if the offense continues to get the type of balance we saw against Pittsburgh, this team is going to be tough into January.
6. San Francisco 49ers
I don't know how the injury situations for the 49ers will impact this team over the long haul, but they looked like they might be able to weather the storm as of Sunday's win against the Saints.
The 49ers have started this season 2-0 with back-to-back road games and an injury to their starting quarterback. Mac Jones looked pretty solid against the Saints, so we'll see how he does going up against teams now that there's film of him running Kyle Shanahan's offense. The pieces are there for the 49ers to be a competitive outfit in the NFC and they could make noise even when they're not at full strength.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Two weeks in a row, the Buccaneers have pulled off some Jack Sparrow-level escapes when they've been at the end of a walk down the proverbial plank. Two weeks into the season, we've seen two clutch drives from Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense to get to 2-0.
Now playing a home game against the Jets in Week 3, the Bucs have a chance to really get out ahead of everyone else in the division with a strong 3-0 start to the season. They look like they'll be a factor all throughout the year in the NFC.
4. Detroit Lions
Maybe they were buying all the offseason negativity, or maybe they just ran into a buzzsaw in Week 1. Whatever the case, the Detroit Lions found their mojo in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, dropping 52 points on their division rivals and looking elite doing it.
The Lions have officially jumped back into the conversation of the NFC's elite after that performance against the Bears, but questions about the coordinators on both sides of the ball won't be answered definitively in just two games.
3. Los Angeles Rams
Just like a lot of offenses, we saw the Rams struggle to a win in Week 1. That wasn't the case in Week 2 as they put up 33 points against the Titans and now have a marquee matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.
We've said it all offseason, but a healthy Matthew Stafford has the Rams in obvious title contention this year. Davante Adams had his first 100-yard game with the Rams, who got contributions from all their stars in Week 2. They'll need those guys to step up to beat a tough Eagles team.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
I don't love the idea of knocking the Eagles down a spot without losing a game, especially after going on the road to Kansas City and gutting out a tough win. The Eagles have looked strong to start this season, and they can beat you in a number of different ways.
After having had some time to chew on it, I don't know that they've been the most impressive NFC team through the first two weeks. That doesn't mean they aren't going to end up the best team in the conference, but another team is taking the top spot as of now.
1. Green Bay Packers
To open the season against the Detroit Lions with a dominating win and follow that up on a short week with another dominating win against the Washington Commanders?
Nobody has been more impressive in the NFC through two weeks than the Green Bay Packers. Very few teams around the league are playing the level of complementary football we're seeing from Green Bay, and they look like they are poised for a Super Bowl run at this rate. A road game against the Browns presents an early trap opportunity for Matt LaFleur and his guys, but they should pass that test with flying colors.