NFL power rankings: Ranking the Chargers and every 2-0 team in the NFL

It took Jim Harbaugh two games to accomplish something that has not happened in over a decade. After a definitive smackdown of the Carolina Panthers in Week 2, the LA Chargers are officially 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

The Chargers have already reached 40% of their win total from a year ago and look like a completely different football team in the process. Casual NFL fans may be surprised with how the Chargers are playing but fans who saw what Harbaugh was doing in training camp knew this was coming.

That being said, the 2024 NFL season has been extremely wonky and there are several 2-0 teams that nobody expected (and on the flip side, 0-2 teams that were projected to make the playoffs). Here is how the Chargers compare to their 2-0 peers, both surprising and unsurprising.

Note: The Philadelphia Eagles are not on this ranking as they still need to play on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons. Welcome to the NFL media world, where we all do NFL power rankings on Mondays even though the week isn't officially over.

NFL power rankings, 2-0 edition:

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Chargers' Week 3 opponent checks in as the worst 2-0 team in the league. Hats off to the Pittsburgh Steelers and what they have been able to accomplish but they are not the scariest team in the league.

Pittsburgh has only scored one offensive touchdown in two games and has won its two games in large part due to having a great pass rush and getting to play bad quarterbacks. Kirk Cousins on a junk Achilles and Bo Nix in his second start do not present the toughest challenges.

8. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have also beaten two junky quarterbacks — Nix in his NFL debut and Jacoby Brissett, who is simply keeping the starting job warm until Drake Maye officially makes his NFL debut. And while the Seahawks were obviously the better team in both matchups, it is worth noting they only have a +9 point differential.

Seattle will have a real chance to test itself over the next month as the team plays the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. A 1-3 stretch in the next four is absolutely on the table.

7. Minnesota Vikings

The Sam Darnold story has been great and the Minnesota Vikings do have a quality win under their belt. On paper, the Vikings' 2-0 start has been more impressive than the Chargers simply because they upset the defending NFC Champions.

However, long-term, it is hard to rank a team with Darnold at quarterback over a team that has Justin Herbert at quarterback. We have seen the Vikings elevate mediocre quarterbacks in short stretches only for reality to come crashing back down to Earth. That absolutely could happen next with Darnold.

6. LA Chargers

There is a good chance that Chargers fans reading this will think the Bolts rank too low on this list and we love that attitude. Hopefully, by the time the 2024 season ends, the Chargers can prove those fans correct and usurp many teams ahead of them on this list.

However, it is worth noting that the Chargers beat the worst team in the league in Week 2 and before that, beat a Las Vegas Raiders team in a game where Gardner Minshew forgot how to be a quarterback. Granted, Vegas increased its value with a win over the Ravens, so that might end up being a better win on paper.

5. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are the story of the NFL so far with two huge wins over the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. As mentioned, Carolina is the worst team in the league but that win over Dallas is one of the most valuable on this list.

New Orleans might be sneaky good as the team is 6-1 in its last seven games dating back to last season. This hot start may not be a mirage.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders is not all that impressive but Tampa Bay went into Detroit and took it to the Lions in Week 2. Beating the hottest team in the NFC, who many people picked to make (or win) the Super Bowl, is no small feat.

The Bucs are the No. 1 candidate to slide down this list in the future but as it stands right now, they rank ahead of their divisional foes.

3. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans do not have huge wins under their belt and the two teams they beat (Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears) are not overly impressive. However, because of the pedigree they had entering the season, they secure the No. 3 ranking.

Houston has done just enough to win the first two games of the year and while the team does not yet have a signature win, they all count the same.

2. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo's Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals did not seem all that special until the Cardinals went and whacked the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Suddenly, the Bills have two wins over two hot offenses against Arizona and Miami.

As long as Josh Allen is under center the Bills are going to be in the conversation to win the Super Bowl. Despite what the preseason expectations may have been after losing Stefon Diggs, the Bills are the rightful No. 2 undefeated team.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The two-time defending Super Bowl Champions are the best undefeated team in the league. They are a big reason why the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are both 0-2. Do we really need to analyze it much further?