Power Index Week 2: Jaguars Surge to No. 1 as the Rams Tumble

The first week of the NFL season is in the books, and with it our Power Index is back. One caveat before we dive in: the index grades how each team is performing right now and how that projects toward making the playoffs — which means the first few weeks are always volatile while teams find their identity. Don't get too attached to anything below.

Stock Up

Jacksonville Jaguars (5 → 1). The Jags didn't just win, they made a statement. Trevor Lawrence was calm and surgical, throwing 4 touchdowns in a 34–10 rout of Cleveland — picking up right where last year's breakout left off. They got help, too: every team ahead of them stumbled. But you can only beat who's in front of you, and Jacksonville did it emphatically. Year two of the Coen–Lawrence experiment looks like it's only growing.

Las Vegas Raiders (29 → 7). Yes, it was the Dolphins. Yes, it's one week. And yes — we've seen this story before. But give this team its due: Kirk Cousins threw his 301st career touchdown pass, Ashton Jeanty ran for 102 yards, and the Raiders controlled a 27–13 win start to finish. For a team that walked in with a new head coach and more questions than answers, that's exactly the kind of start that quiets a locker room.

Minnesota Vikings (22 → 6). Maybe the gutsiest win of the week. Kyler Murray went down within a few snaps, and Carson Wentz — Carson Wentz — came off the bench and kept the machine humming as Minnesota hung a 22–0 fourth quarter on Green Bay in a 39–22 comeback. The defense is still the identity, but Sunday was a reminder this roster has layers.

Also climbing: the Jets (+22) rode Breece Hall past Robert Saleh's Titans, and the Cardinals (+22) gave Mike LaFleur a debut win in Los Angeles.

Stock Down

Los Angeles Rams (1 → 29). From the penthouse to the basement in seven days. The Melbourne trip looks like a miscalculation in hindsight — while the 49ers spent the week soaking up Australia, the Rams arrived late and played like it, getting boat-raced 27–7 behind Purdy's three touchdowns. Worse, Myles Garrett is now expected to miss a few weeks. The roster is still the roster, but the "best team in football" talk is on hold.

Denver Broncos (4 → 30). Losing a divisional game in Kansas City is nothing to be ashamed of. Getting run off the field 31–10 on Monday night is. The Broncos didn't resemble a team that was one game from the Super Bowl — the Waddle upgrade was invisible, and the Chiefs did whatever they wanted. Long season, but that's a rough first impression.

Also sliding: the Patriots (–15) watched Maye throw three picks in Seattle, and the Chargers (–18) managed 14 points at home against Arizona.

See the full Power Index.