NFL Power Rankings: 4 teams the Chargers rightfully usurped after Week 1

The Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles started on the perfect foot. The LA Chargers punched the Las Vegas Raiders in the mouth to win a gritty contest that has oftentimes gone against the Bolts in years past.

It was not always perfect for the Chargers as the team still has some talent gaps that will ultimately limit how far Harbaugh can take them in year one. However, the Bolts proved that with Harbaugh running the show, this is a completely different team that cannot be taken lightly.

The NFL world should certainly be taking note of this. This is not the same Chargers team that went 5-12 last season and that is already being reflected in most NFL power rankings after Week 1. The Chargers climbed three spots in FanSided.com's NFL power rankings and usurped four key teams in the process.

4 teams Chargers usurped in NFL power rankings:

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals were on the receiving end of the biggest upset in Week 1 and it was not pretty. Joe Burrow and Co. were unable to beat a New England Patriots team led by Jacoby Brissett. Even without Tee Higgins and all the Ja'Marr Chase contract drama, that is an inexcusable loss.

The Bengals went from ninth to 20th in the power rankings and it was a deserving dip. While the team still has juice from making the Super Bowl three seasons ago, it also has not earned the right for analysts to completely overlook the ugliest loss of the week.

Burrow has benefitted from having an elite defense (something Justin Herbert has never had on the Chargers) and elite weapons. The defense is no longer playing at an elite level and the weapons have gotten worse. Now it is on Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor to respond.

Cleveland Browns

Every year there are 5-7 playoff teams from the previous season that do not make the playoffs again. The Cleveland Browns were a prime candidate to be one of those teams entering the season and Sunday's brutal loss to the Dallas Cowboys was a reminder of that.

Last year's elite defense was only elite at home and mostly against bad quarterbacks. It took just one game to show some of the cracks in the defense against a Cowboys team that is not as good offensively as it has been in the past.

Throw in the fact that Deshaun Watson is legitimately one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league and it is beyond clear that the Chargers have a brighter future ahead in 2024 than the Browns. Cleveland will still win some games against bad QBs, but so will the Bolts.

Atlanta Falcons

Maybe signing Kirk Cousins off a torn Achilles was a bad idea after all. Despite all the offensive weapons and the hype around new head coach Raheem Morris, the Atlanta Falcons were unable to beat a Pittsburgh Steelers team that did not even score a touchdown.

To be fair, the Steelers have one of the best defensive fronts in the league but so do the Raiders and the Chargers were able to navigate those waters just fine. Atlanta has better weapons than the Chargers but the Bolts have a far better quarterback and a defense that looks better.

Unfortunately, the Chargers don't get the luxury of playing in the NFC South so while the Bolts are the better team, the Falcons have a much better chance of winning their division.

Chicago Bears

The only team on this list that won, the Chicago Bears escaped an ugly game against the Tennessee Titans that does not help the team's stock much. Caleb Williams is clearly going to take time to get use to the NFL and former Charger Keenan Allen turned in a bad first game in Chicago.

The defense was the story of this game but the Bears are not going to have the benefit of playing a Tennessee Titans team led by Will Levis every week. It is absolutely fair to rank to rank the Chargers as the higher 1-0 team.