2012 NFL Power Rankings: Week 2 ESPN.com

Week: Select Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

The NFL season is only a week old, and already there is shuffling among the league's perceived powerhouses.

The changes start at the top, where our voters (ESPN.com's John Clayton, ESPN.com's Ashley Fox, NFC East blogger Dan Graziano, AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley and NFC West blogger Mike Sando) have installed a new team in the penthouse and dropped the former No. 1 team to the edge of the top five.

The Patriots were Super Bowl runners-up but ascend to the top spot. The 49ers move to No. 2 after their impressive road win over the Packers, who drop to fifth after going wire-to-wire at No. 1 last season and beginning 2012 in the same spot. The dazzling debut of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III pushes the Redskins up nine spots into the top 15, and the Seahawks take the biggest tumble, dropping out of the top 25.

Is more change on the horizon after Week 2? Could be. The No. 6 Falcons could continue their rise with a win over the Broncos (No. 9) on "Monday Night Football." If the No. 3 Ravens come out of Philadelphia (No. 12) victorious, they could threaten the top two.

Football is back, and the intrigue is just beginning.

• How they voted | Bloggers | Pro Football Focus: Cowboys underrated, Bucs overrated | Rank 'em | Mike & Mike | Team Power Rankings charts since 2002