Two weeks are in the books, and EST Elite is already seeing some major movement.
Week 2 gave us dominant performances, close calls, surprising losses and a much clearer picture of which teams deserve to be considered among the NFL’s best right now. Remember, EST Elite is not about preseason expectations or reputation. What happens on the field matters, and every team has to earn its place.
Here is the EST Elite Top 10 after Week 2.
1. Seattle Seahawks =
Week 2: Seahawks 31, Cardinals 7
Seattle remains king of EST Elite.
After grinding out a close win in Week 1, the Seahawks showed a completely different side of themselves by dismantling Arizona 31–7. This was the type of performance you expect from the No. 1 team in football: control the game, take care of business and never give your opponent much of a chance.
Two weeks, two wins and two very different types of victories. Until somebody gives us a reason to move them, Seattle owns the throne.
2. Buffalo Bills =
Week 2: Bills 41, Lions 31
Buffalo stays at No. 2 after another impressive performance, this time putting 41 points on Detroit.
Josh Allen and the Bills offense continue to look dangerous, and Buffalo has now started the season 2–0 after beating Houston and Detroit. Neither opponent made life particularly easy, but Buffalo has answered every challenge so far.
The Bills are knocking on the door of No. 1, but Seattle has done nothing to lose its spot.
3. San Francisco 49ers =
Week 2: 49ers 35, Dolphins 13
Another week, another dominant San Francisco victory.
After beating the Rams 27–7 in Week 1, the 49ers followed it by handling Miami 35–13. Through two games, San Francisco has put together two convincing victories and looks like one of the most complete teams in football.
There is very little separating the top three teams right now. The 49ers are 2–0, playing complete football and look every bit like one of the NFL’s elite teams.
4. Kansas City Chiefs ↑1
Week 2: Chiefs 33, Colts 30 (OT)
Kansas City moves up one spot, although this one was anything but easy.
The Chiefs needed overtime to survive Indianapolis 33–30, but sometimes being an elite team means finding a way to win when you aren’t playing your best football. Kansas City did exactly that.
After dominating Denver in Week 1 and surviving a completely different challenge against Indianapolis, the Chiefs have shown they can win in multiple ways. They are 2–0 and continue climbing EST Elite.
5. Cincinnati Bengals — NEW
Week 2: Bengals 20, Texans 6
Welcome to EST Elite, Cincinnati.
The Bengals move into the Top 10 after improving to 2–0 with an impressive 20–6 road victory over Houston. Holding a talented Texans team to six points deserves recognition, and Cincinnati has earned its way into the top half of these rankings.
The Bengals may not have generated as much attention as some of the teams above them, but quietly starting 2–0 and winning on the road is exactly how you earn respect in EST Elite.
6. Philadelphia Eagles ↑2
Week 2: Eagles 24, Titans 20
Philadelphia keeps winning.
The Eagles didn’t blow Tennessee away, but they did enough to leave with a 24–20 victory and improve to 2–0. After two close games to begin the season, Philadelphia still has areas where it can improve, but undefeated is undefeated.
At some point, results have to matter. The Eagles have won both games put in front of them, and that earns them a two-spot jump in EST Elite.
7. Los Angeles Rams ↑2
Week 2: Rams 28, Giants 6
What a response from Los Angeles.
After getting embarrassed by San Francisco in Week 1, the Rams needed to show that one ugly loss wasn’t going to define their season. They answered by dominating the Giants 28–6 on Monday Night Football.
The Week 1 concerns haven’t completely disappeared, but this is exactly what good teams do after a bad performance. Los Angeles moves up two spots following one of Week 2’s most convincing wins.
8. Minnesota Vikings — NEW
Week 2: Vikings 9, Bears 3
It wasn’t pretty, but Minnesota is 2–0.
The Vikings won an old-fashioned defensive battle against Chicago, holding the Bears to just three points and finding a way to win despite playing without Kyler Murray.
Now Minnesota gets Murray back for Week 3, which should provide a much-needed boost to an offense that didn’t have to do much against Chicago. If Minnesota can continue playing this level of defense while getting improved quarterback play, this becomes a very interesting team.
For now, an undefeated start earns Minnesota the No. 8 spot in EST Elite.
9. Chicago Bears ↓5
Week 2: Vikings 9, Bears 3
Chicago takes the biggest fall among the teams remaining in EST Elite.
One week after an explosive offensive performance against Carolina, the Bears managed only three points against Minnesota. That’s about as dramatic a swing as you can have offensively, and the situation becomes even more concerning with their quarterback now injured.
That injury doesn’t bode well for a Bears team trying to regain the offensive rhythm it showed in Week 1. Still, one poor performance doesn’t completely erase what Chicago showed us to open the season, so the Bears remain inside the Top 10 for now.
They’ll need to prove they belong here moving forward.
10. New Orleans Saints — NEW
Week 2: Saints 24, Ravens 17
The Saints were knocking on the door after Week 1. Now they’re officially in.
New Orleans nearly pulled off the comeback against Detroit in Week 1 before going into Baltimore and beating the Ravens 24–17 in Week 2. Even at 1–1, the Saints have now put together two performances that deserve respect.
Going into Baltimore and beating the Ravens was enough to push New Orleans through the door and into EST Elite.
Out This Week
Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions
Houston falls out after dropping to 0–2 and scoring only six points against Cincinnati. The Texans entered the season with high expectations, but EST Elite has to be earned on the field, and through two weeks Houston hasn’t done enough.
Baltimore also has to go. The Ravens are now 1–1 after losing at home to the same Saints team that nearly came back to beat Detroit in Week 1. New Orleans has earned its opportunity inside the Top 10, while Baltimore hasn’t done enough to keep its place.
Detroit’s situation is a little different. The Lions are simply dealing with too many injuries right now. They nearly choked away their Week 1 game against New Orleans before giving up 41 points to Buffalo in Week 2. Detroit still has plenty of talent, but right now there are healthier teams playing better football that deserve those Top 10 spots.
It’s only Week 2, so none of these teams are buried. But EST Elite is about what teams have shown us right now, not what we expected them to be before the season.
Stay Tuned for Week 3
Two weeks down, and the rankings are already moving quickly.
Seattle remains on the throne, Buffalo and San Francisco are right behind them, Kansas City continues climbing, and Cincinnati, Minnesota and New Orleans have forced their way into the conversation.
Week 3 gives everybody another opportunity to rise, fall or prove that they belong exactly where they are.
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Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you for Week 3! 🏈👑
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