Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Here is where the New England Patriots rank in terms of average, best and worst:
- Average ranking: 17.6 (18th)
- Best ranking: 15th (NFL.com)
- Worst ranking: 20th (CBS Sports)
Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Patriots in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
ESPN -- Rank: 17
Top rookie: QB Mac Jones
Finishing 29-of-39 for 281 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, Jones was arguably the Patriots' best player in a season-opening loss to the Dolphins. Opposing players were impressed. "He didn't really make any mistakes. He was poised," Dolphins defensive back Jason McCourty said. "Even watching him in the huddle, getting guys in, yelling, commanding. ... He gave his team a chance to win." -- Mike Reiss
Finishing 29-of-39 for 281 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, Jones was arguably the Patriots' best player in a season-opening loss to the Dolphins. Opposing players were impressed. "He didn't really make any mistakes. He was poised," Dolphins defensive back Jason McCourty said. "Even watching him in the huddle, getting guys in, yelling, commanding. ... He gave his team a chance to win." -- Mike Reiss
NFL.com -- Rank: 15
Bill Belichick is notoriously fickle with his running backs, so you can only imagine the sleepless nights Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson suffered after each lost fumbles in a one-point loss to the Dolphins. Harris' fumble, which occurred late in the fourth quarter with the Pats in field-goal range, is the type of miscue that could cost him his hard-earned bell-cow role. The biggest positive came at quarterback, where Mac Jones looked fully capable of leading Josh McDaniels' offense going forward. The first-round pick settled into a nice groove as the game progressed and showed off impressive touch and accuracy on several throws. It will be a long week of practice for Pats players, but this team has significant potential for improvement.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 20
Mac Jones did some good things against Miami, but just not enough to win his first game. He now heads to the road to face the Jets in a winnable game.
USA Today -- Rank: 17
RB Damien Harris squandered a 100-yard day with a fourth-quarter fumble New England couldn't recover from. Good luck getting out of Belichick's doghouse, Damien ...
The Athletic -- Rank: 19
Overreaction: Mac Jones throws for 281 yards with zero turnovers in his NFL debut and the Patriots still lose? The late fumble by Damien Harris was a killer, and three drives stalling inside the Miami 25 didn't help. If the rookie quarterback isn't what you're worried about, you don't want to have many larger problems than that. They can still beat the Jets, right? -- Auman
Reality check: I hope we'll eventually get to see a less conservative offensive game plan, but right now it's hard to ask for much more out of Jones. -- Jones
Reality check: I hope we'll eventually get to see a less conservative offensive game plan, but right now it's hard to ask for much more out of Jones. -- Jones
Previous updates:
- New England Patriots 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 1
- New England Patriots 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft
More New England Patriots pages:
- New England Patriots Mock Draft Roundup
- New England Patriots Snap Counts
- New England Patriots Franchise Leaders
- New England Patriots Draft History
- New England Patriots Schedule
- New England Patriots Tickets
- 2022 NFL Mock Draft
- 2023 NFL Mock Draft
- 2022 NBA Mock Draft
- Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start'em, Sit'em
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
- NFL Power Rankings
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