Who said that the biggest games happen at the end of the NFL season?
Everyone? OK, they are right.
But the Week 1 NFL schedule served up three premium matchups featuring six teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
The winners of those games — the Chiefs, Eagles and 49ers — solidified their status among the elite. Each loser — the Ravens, Jets and Packers — was left to rue a missed opportunity.
Then again, the line between winning and losing is thin almost all the time.
Week 1 featured 10 games decided by one score (eight points or fewer) and one more that was within one score in the fourth quarter.
For the first time in 45 years and third time since 1960, three teams overcame deficits of at least 14 points to win on Week 1: The Bears (17), Dolphins (14) and Bills (14).
What can Week 2 possibly do to produce more drama? Stay tuned.
Here are The Post’s power rankings for Week 2:
1. Kansas City Chiefs 1-0 (1)
The two-time defending Super Bowl champions beat arguably their biggest threat in the AFC without anything special from Patrick Mahomes, who threw for one touchdown in a 27-20 win against the Ravens. Travis Kelce (three catches for 34 yards) was quiet, too. The NFL’s new fastest man, rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, introduced himself with two touchdowns.
2. San Francisco 49ers 1-0 (3)
No Christian McCaffrey, no problem. Jordan Mason stepped in and had a big day rushing, including a touchdown, in a 32-19 victory against the Jets. Deebo Samuel also scored on the ground with McCaffrey sidelined by injury. Give the credit to the 49ers offensive line, which dominated the vaunted Jets defensive line. Kicker Jake Moody was 6-for-6 on field goals.
3. Baltimore Ravens 0-1 (2)
How different things might have looked if rising star Isaiah Likely hadn’t had a toe out of bounds on his would-be touchdown catch as time expired. The Ravens were about to go for a two-point conversion and the win. Instead, the incompletion clinched losing to the Chiefs for the fifth time in six meetings. Lamar Jackson accounted for 395 total yards.
4. Detroit Lions 1-0 (4)
David Montgomery’s walk-off, 1-yard touchdown run rescued the Lions from blowing a 14-point, second-half lead and clinched a 26-20 overtime victory against the Rams. Jahmyr Gibbs also scored a rushing touchdown for one of the NFL’s best backfield combinations. Jared Goff improved to 2-1 against Matthew Stafford since the quarterbacks were traded for each other in 2021.
5. Philadelphia Eagles 1-0 (5)
Who’s laughing now at king-of-the-last-laugh general manager Howie Roseman for spending big on a running back? Saquon Barkley became the second player in Eagles history (following Terrell Owens) to score three touchdowns in his first game with the franchise during a 34-29 win against the Packers. Jalen Hurts overcame three turnovers. Zack Baun tallied 11 tackles and two sacks.
6. Houston Texans 1-0 (9)
Thinking big, the Texans traded for two stars from fellow Super Bowl contenders. How’d they do? Stefon Diggs caught two touchdown passes, and Joe Mixon carried a career-high 30 times for 159 yards and another score in a 29-27 win against the Colts. The Texans, who have won nine straight division games on the road, possessed the ball for 40 minutes.
7. Green Bay Packers 0-1 (7)
Haunted by only managing six first-quarter points off of great starting field position, the Packers lost more than a game to the Eagles in Brazil. Franchise quarterback Jordan Love suffered a sprained MCL and reportedly will miss about three to six weeks. It’s Malik Willis’ show for now. Maybe Jayden Reed (four catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns) can help him.
8. Dallas Cowboys 1-0 (14)
Hours after becoming the NFL’s first $60 million-per-year player, Dak Prescott piloted a 33-17 rout against the Texans. The heavy lifting was done by Brandon Aubrey, who made four field goals of 40 yards or longer. And KaVontae Turpin, who returned a punt for a 60-yard touchdown. And a defense that registered six sacks and two interceptions.
9. Buffalo Bills 1-0 (10)
With fewer weapons than before, Josh Allen needs to play like an MVP. Well, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another two to fuel a 14-point comeback in a 34-28 victory against the Cardinals fits the bill. But Allen injured his left hand entering a short-turnaround week. The Bills fell behind 17-3 and later allowed the first dynamic kickoff return touchdown.
10. Jets 0-1 (6)
Aaron Rodgers’ long-awaited return from a torn Achilles fell flat. Sure, there was an impressive 70-yard touchdown drive featuring three third-and-long conversions and the two-touchdown revival of former free-agent bust Allen Lazard. But Rodgers also threw an interception, and Breece Hall fumbled. Things weren’t any better on the defensive side, where they allowed eight straight scoring drives. Paging holdout Haason Reddick.
11. Miami Dolphins 1-0 (12)
12. Los Angeles Rams 0-1 (15)
13. Chicago Bears 1-0 (17)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-0 (18)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0 (19)
16. Los Angeles Chargers 1-0 (22)
17. Cincinnati Bengals 0-1 (8)
18. Cleveland Browns 0-1 (11)
19. Atlanta Falcons 0-1 (13)
20. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-1 (16)
21. Seattle Seahawks 1-0 (21)
22. New England Patriots 1-0 (31)
23. Minnesota Vikings 1-0 (23)
24. New Orleans Saints 1-0 (25)
25. Indianapolis Colts 0-1 (20)
26. Arizona Cardinals 0-1 (28)
27. Denver Broncos 0-1 (24)
28. Tennessee Titans 0-1 (26)
29. Washington Commanders 0-1 (27)
30. Las Vegas Raiders 0-1 (30)
31. Giants 0-1 (29)
If it can’t get worse than last season’s 40-0, season-opening loss to the Cowboys in prime time, falling 28-6 to the low-expectation Vikings to start this season is close. All the expected concerns loomed large: Daniel Jones threw two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), the secondary gave up big plays, and the rushing attack was nonexistent. Worse, the vaunted pass rush was quiet.
