Tom Brady’s Week 1 Power Ranking Features 3 Losing Teams in Top 10, Including Chiefs

With Week 2 approaching, NFL legend Tom Brady has released his Week 1 power rankings. The Eagles hold the top spot as defending champions, while the Bills climbed to second after a dramatic comeback. He placed the Packers at No. 3, citing their dominant win and the obvious impact of the Micah Parsons trade. Now, Brady’s list also includes a few surprising picks.

The Commanders landed at No. 4, and the Ravens followed at No. 5. Despite their loss to the Bills, Brady admitted Baltimore’s strong showing. And he seems to have faith in John Harbaugh‘s squad to bounce back. “Lions, Broncos, Bucs, Chiefs and then Chargers I gotta go head to head LA’s got the edge at five. I’ve got the Ravens. It was a tough one to rank because at times on Sunday night they look basically in mid-season form but that fourth quarter, something I’ve seen a few too many times from Baltimore but still a team that can make explosive plays in the air and on the ground is always going to find a way to make it into my top five,” he said.

The Chiefs and Lions are the other two teams that made it to Brady’s list despite Week 1 losses. The Ravens’ ability to stay strong in the first three quarters when Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry teamed up explains why Brady placed the team in 5th place. There were mistakes, and the collapse started with a three-and-out that handed Buffalo the ball. The team was almost unstoppable until Ed Oliver stepped up.

The Lions suffered a tough loss, with Micah Parsons making a big impact in just 29 snaps, constantly pressuring Jared Goff and disrupting the offense. After the game, head coach Dan Campbell took full responsibility, saying, “They came out and they played outstanding and we didn’t play good enough, we didn’t coach good enough, including me.” One major issue was the offensive line.

Turnovers and protection issues were evident, especially after Frank Ragnow’s retirement and Kevin Zeitler’s move to the Titans. While the Lions face their own challenges, the Chiefs are also under pressure to rebound.

The team must avoid repeating past mistakes. In their 27-21 loss to the Chargers, the Chiefs struggled on both offense and defense, committing 10 penalties and missing an extra point. Patrick Mahomes tried to rally in the fourth quarter, but the Chargers controlled the game. With Week 2 against the Eagles looming, the Chiefs will need urgency and precision to bounce back.

Senior NFL writer Frank Schwab ranked the Chiefs seventh in his power rankings, with the same top three as Brady’s list. He placed the Ravens fourth and the Lions fifth, noting both must avoid early missteps for those spots to hold.

While things look positive for the Ravens and Lions, there is one issue with the Chiefs.

The Chiefs slip in NFL power rankings

Mahomes’ squad made Brady’s power rankings but missed the top five, just like in several other analysts’ lists. NFL writer Frank Schwab highlighted the Chiefs’ offensive issues, noting that with Xavier Worthy out due to a shoulder injury, Mahomes was left to carry the offense alone.

“The Chiefs lost one of their first 16 games last season. They could blow past that number by mid-October this season. And the rest of the AFC West can probably see it too: The Chiefs might be more vulnerable than usual this season,” he wrote.

The timeline for Worthy’s return remains uncertain, raising major concerns for head coach Andy Reid and the team. The Chiefs still face formidable opponents ahead, including the Eagles, Ravens, Jaguars, and Lions, potentially without Rashee Rice, who is expected to return after a six-game suspension.

There are more power rankings out there reflecting mixed views on the Chiefs. Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd placed the franchise seventh, though he noted the team should be “fine” moving forward. Meanwhile, NFL journalist Eric Edholm ranked the Chiefs fifth in his list.

While faith in Kansas City hasn’t vanished, it has clearly dipped after their loss to the Chargers. To avoid repeating history and regain momentum, a win against the Eagles is crucial.