# Seahawks soaring despite early injury blows

> Seattle dominates power rankings after Week 1 win over New England, even with star QB sidelined.
- Title: Seahawks soaring despite early injury blows | Shortify
- Summary: Seattle dominates power rankings after Week 1 win over New England, even with star QB sidelined. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are ranked number…
- Keywords: seattle seahawks, nfl power rankings, week 2, sam darnold injury, drew lock, new england patriots, super bowl champions, nfc west, arizona cardinals, defense, 2026 season, sports
- Source: Seattle Seahawks On SI — https://si.com/nfl/seahawks/onsi/nfl-power-rankings-week-2-roundup-seahawks-soaring-despite-injury-concerns
- Published: 2026-09-15T23:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: seattle seahawks, nfl power rankings, week 2, sam darnold injury, drew lock, new england patriots, super bowl champions, nfc west, arizona cardinals, defense, 2026 season, sports
## Seahawks open with statement win
Seattle beat New England on Wednesday night with Drew Lock filling in for injured Sam Darnold. The early start gave them time to scout the rest of the league.
## Next up: Arizona Cardinals
After Week 1 wraps with Monday Night Football, Seattle turns to NFC West rival Arizona, who pulled off a shocking upset over the Los Angeles Chargers.
## ESPN ranks Seahawks number two
ESPN highlighted safety Rodney Thomas II for his standout debut, including a pass breakup that led to an interception and a key open-field tackle.

> Thomas gets the nod for helping Seattle's defense hold New England to 10 points.
## Thomas steps up amid injuries
Starting for injured Ty Okada, rookie safety Rodney Thomas delivered a strong performance when called upon, proving Seattle's depth at the position.
## USA Today crowns them number one
USA Today's Nate Davis ranked Seattle first, saying the defending champs deserve the top spot until proven otherwise, even without their star quarterback.

> Should've known they'd demand and command the respect of a reigning champion that deserves the No. 1 slot until proven otherwise.
## Grit over dominance wins the day
Davis noted Seattle didn't look dominant against New England but proved their resilience by winning without Darnold. Continued success with Lock could make them even more dangerous.
## NFL.com also ranks them first
Seattle's second-half dominance, three fourth-quarter takeaways, and a signature Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown secured the number one ranking on NFL.com.

> Three fourth-quarter takeaways and one signature Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown were enough to swing the opener in favor of the Seahawks.
## Title winners fight to the end
NFL.com's Nick Shook summed up Seattle's character by saying title winners don't go down without a fight, which perfectly defines Mike Macdonald's team.

> Title winners don't go down without a fight.
## CBS Sports: Seahawks stay on top
Pete Prisco ranked Seattle number one, noting Darnold's hip injury is short-term and their schedule is favorable with Arizona and Washington coming up.

> They can handle that the next two weeks with their defense and Drew Lock.
## Reinforcements coming soon
Beyond Darnold, safeties Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada will return shortly, along with running back Zach Charbonnet. Winning now could make them unstoppable at full strength.
## Depth proves championship pedigree
The Seahawks' ability to win without key contributors shows they have the roster depth and coaching to handle injuries. Full health could make them nearly unstoppable.
## Key takeaway

The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are ranked number one by multiple outlets despite losing Sam Darnold to injury, proving their depth and resilience can carry them through his absence.