NFL Power Rankings: Our post-Week 2 poll, plus what we know about every QB1 — SkimNews
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- NFL defenses posted a 35% pressure percentage in Week 2 (highest through two weeks since ESPN began tracking in 2009) and a 25% pass rush win rate (highest since 2017), a sharp reversal from Week 1's record scoring.
- Brock Purdy became the fifth QB in NFL history to record multiple games with 90% completion percentage, leading the 49ers to climb to No. 3 in the Power Rankings after a 35-13 win over the Dolphins.
- The Chargers dropped to No. 22 at 0-2, becoming just the second team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to be favored by 6.5+ points in each of their first two games and lose both.
- The Dolphins are the only team yet to lead at any point this season, with ESPN's Football Power Index giving them a 43% chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
- Josh Allen is averaging a career-best 9.7 yards per attempt with a 10.5 average depth of target (his highest since 2018), keeping the Bills at No. 1 with three touchdowns on throws of 20-plus air yards.
- Drew Lock ranks fourth in Total QBR (86.4) since stepping in for injured Sam Darnold, completing nearly 73% of passes with four touchdowns and zero turnovers to keep the Seahawks at No. 2.
- Caleb Williams sustained a right hamstring injury in the Bears' 9-3 loss to the Vikings, but coach Ben Johnson labeled it week-to-week and expressed confidence in backup Tyson Bagent, who signed a two-year, $10 million extension in 2025.
Why it matters: The Week 2 defensive shift — 35% pressure rate (highest through two weeks since 2009) and 25% pass rush win rate (highest since 2017) — makes the QB injury picture more consequential. With Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams sidelined or limited, teams like Seattle, Chicago, and Minnesota are now leaning on backups in a tougher pass-rush environment, while Purdy's historic accuracy and Allen's career-best 9.7 yards per attempt show the top tier pulling away.
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