The New England Patriots were expected to be sitting dead last in most NFL power rankings heading into Week 2.
Yet, under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, they shockingly knocked off the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 and started their season with a 1-0 record. Make no mistake, the Patriots are still a flawed team, but they look much improved from the 2023 season.
The offense still looks sluggish and lacking in firepower, but it’s no longer a train wreck and an accident waiting to happen.
Perhaps the best thing they managed to keep from the previous regime is the shutdown defense that terrorized opponents last season. They also got back to making impact plays on special teams.
Let’s take a look at the power rankings roundup for the Patriots heading into Week 2:
ESPN: 24th (last week: 30th)
NFL.com: 27th (last week: 31st)
Pro Football Focus: 25th (last week: 28th)
CBS Sports: 24th (last week: 30th)
Bleacher Report: 29th (last week: 32nd)
ProFootballTalk: 25th (last week: 31st)
Yahoo Sports: 30th (last week: 32nd)
The Athletic: 15th (last week: 32nd)
FOX Sports: 27th
The Ringer: 27th
Patriots Wire: 21st
The Patriots face another stiff test in Week 2 with the Seattle Seahawks coming to town to visit. It’ll be New England’s home opener and a real opportunity to defeat a 2023 playoff contender.
Can the Patriots pull off back-to-back upsets and regain relevance in the AFC East? A win on Sunday could silence skeptics and change the grim narrative surrounding the team.