With the first week of the NFL season in the books, Tom Brady has released his own set of power rankings, offering a mix of expected favorites and surprising inclusions.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion placed the defending champion Eagles at the top spot, followed by the Bills, who stunned Baltimore with a fourth-quarter comeback.
The Packers landed third on Brady‘s list after a commanding opening win that highlighted the immediate difference made by Micah Parsons, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade. From there, Brady‘s order began to diverge from consensus.
He placed Washington at No. 4, a bold nod to the Commanders‘ strong debut, and gave the Ravens the final slot in his top five despite their late collapse against Buffalo.
Ravens earn recognition despite collapse
Brady admitted that Baltimore was a difficult team to rank but credited their explosiveness on both sides of the ball.
“Lions, Broncos, Bucs, Chiefs and then Chargers I gotta go head to head LA’s got the edge at five. I’ve got the Ravens,” Brady said.
“It was a tough one to rank because at times on Sunday night they look basically in mid-season form but that fourth quarter, something I’ve seen a few too many times from Baltimore but still a team that can make explosive plays in the air and on the ground is always going to find a way to make it into my top five.”
For most of the night, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry powered an offense that looked dangerous. But after a critical three-and-out, the Bills seized momentum, with defensive tackle Ed Oliver fueling the decisive shift.
Baltimore‘s inability to close the game raised familiar concerns, yet Brady clearly believes the talent is in place for the Ravens to recover.
Chiefs face an uphill climb
Kansas City also featured on Brady‘s list, though the Chiefs‘ placement drew scrutiny after a 27-21 loss to the Chargers.
The defending AFC champions looked sloppy, committing 10 penalties and missing a critical extra point. Patrick Mahomes tried to engineer a late rally, but Los Angeles maintained control throughout the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs will now turn their attention to Week 2 against the Eagles in what already feels like a pivotal test. To avoid an 0-2 start, Andy Reid‘s group will need to address discipline issues and rediscover the precision that has defined their dynastic run.
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