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NFL power rankings: 32-team overreactions heading into Week 2

By Peter Panacy

FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown by Phillip Dorsett #13 (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown by Phillip Dorsett #13 (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 09: Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers listens to a play call against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 09: Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers listens to a play call against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

11. team. 87. . W, 16-8 vs. Cowboys. Previous: . Carolina Panthers

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Panthers sure seemed to make easy work out of the visiting Cowboys in Week 1.

Quarterback Cam Newton was effective, if not brilliant. But that didn’t matter so much when second-year pro running back Christian McCaffrey is able to gain 95 all-purpose yards over the contest despite losing a fumble.

Simply put, Carolina didn’t need a lot of offense despite Norv Turner taking over as offensive coordinator during the offseason.

Instead, what mattered most was just how effective the Panthers defense was at snuffing out any and all attempts by the Cowboys to gain momentum throughout the game. Linebacker Luke Kuechly, to no one’s surprise, was phenomenal. Defensive tackle Kawann Short added two sacks.

And overall, the Panthers held Dallas to a lowly 2-of-11 mark on third down and a mere 232 yards of total offense.

Typically speaking, defenses that do that on a regular basis often win. Carolina did, and it gets rewarded with a nice boost in our NFL power rankings.