NFL Power Rankings

I thought about switching up the very top spot this week between Philadelphia and Buffalo, but the Eagles earned the right to stay put. Buffalo had to grind out a win against a struggling Miami squad, while Philadelphia stormed back with a huge second-half performance against the Rams. The Eagles were flat early, producing only 33 yards on 22 plays in the first half and coughing up a fumble deep in their own territory right after the break, which put them in a 26-7 hole. From that point on, though, they completely flipped the game, outscoring Los Angeles 26-0 over the final stretch. The defense tightened, special teams came through with a key block, and the offense put together three long scoring drives in four possessions. Philadelphia once again showed it can win ugly and finish strong when it matters most.

Buffalo’s offense moved the ball steadily against Miami but struggled to generate explosive plays through the air, a challenge that carried over from their game against the Jets. On defense, the Bills made it easier for the Dolphins to stay in the game by giving up 10 of 15 third-down attempts. Ultimately, Buffalo made the crucial plays when it mattered, further building their reputation as a team that can close out games, showing more resilience than in previous seasons. There’s little cause for concern, especially since their next three opponents before the Week 7 bye—New Orleans, New England, and Atlanta—all lost Sunday, combining for only two wins. After the bye, the Bills will bolster their defensive line with the return of Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi from suspension, and rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston, currently on injured reserve with a knee injury, could also join the rotation before then. These reinforcements should be a positive boost for the defense.

The Chargers have started 3-0 for the first time since 2002, and more importantly, they’ve won all three of their AFC West matchups, giving them an early lead in the division race. Each victory has been hard-fought, with Los Angeles often relying on endurance and late-game execution rather than dominating from start to finish. Their win over Denver came with a major setback, as Najee Harris suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Running the ball has already been a challenge, which clashes with the typical style associated with a Jim Harbaugh-led team. Now, the pressure falls on rookie Omarion Hampton, who impressed in the second half against the Broncos, to take on the primary workload. Despite the running game concerns, with Justin Herbert leading the offense and his talented group of pass-catchers, the Chargers remain a dangerous team. Herbert’s late touchdown pass to Keenan Allen was a textbook display of elite quarterback skill.

Any doubts about coordinators John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard can be set aside after Monday night. The Lions showed up as the tougher, smarter, and more disciplined team, making clutch plays consistently in a hostile road environment. Detroit struck first, and while the Ravens fought back with some big moments, the Lions never wavered, executing near-flawless football across all three phases and outmatching Baltimore at their own game. Four rushing touchdowns, seven sacks of Lamar Jackson, and a perfect record on fourth down highlighted their dominance—clear evidence of effective coaching and preparation. While many players stood out, the focus should remain on Morton and Sheppard, who orchestrated an outstanding performance in prime time. Any lingering questions about Ben Johnson or Aaron Glenn are now irrelevant; that storyline is over.

A fourth-quarter fumble by Derrick Henry gave Detroit the opening it needed, with Aidan Hutchinson’s textbook strip highlighting a dominant performance from the Lions’ defense. Lamar Jackson was pressured all night, taking seven sacks, limited as a runner, and stopped on a crucial 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Offensive mistakes were present, but Baltimore’s defensive struggles were more glaring—they couldn’t contain Detroit’s running game or stop ball-carriers at first contact. Tackling clearly made the difference, with the Lions excelling in that area. Baltimore’s defense was also hampered by injuries, missing Kyle Van Noy and Nnamdi Madubuike up front, and Jaire Alexander was a healthy scratch in the secondary. Still, this unit must show it can handle top-tier offenses; otherwise, Lamar Jackson’s season risks ending with more “What if?” moments. Even so, dropping the 1-2 Ravens to No. 7 seems fair—they’d likely be favorites in most neutral-site matchups against other teams.

No beating around the bush: this was one of the most baffling and disappointing losses of Matt LaFleur’s tenure. The Packers had a chance to win with a short field goal from Brandon McManus with under 30 seconds left in a tie, yet somehow it slipped away. Things unraveled after Jordan Love threw a costly interception, raising serious questions about whether this offense has the firepower to make Green Bay legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Love faced relentless pressure all night, taking five sacks against a strong Browns defense, while injuries to Zach Tom and Aaron Banks exposed issues on the offensive line. Even if the Packers had managed to salvage a win, the mistakes were too significant to overlook.

Signing Tyquan Thornton is already looking like a brilliant move. Earning just over a million dollars, Thornton helped bail the Chiefs out with a second-half surge that secured a solid—but far from pretty—road win over the Giants. Kansas City’s offense struggled early, and the situation could have been worse if Patrick Mahomes hadn’t recovered a misplayed backward pass from Bobby Okereke. Starting a drive at New York’s 47-yard line and then missing a 40-yard field goal felt like a setback, with the Chiefs clinging to a slim 6-0 lead. Fortunately, the Giants failed to produce any explosive plays, and Kansas City’s defense, strong for the second straight game, largely kept Big Blue in check. Mahomes and Thornton later connected for a touchdown that put the game out of reach, with two key downfield catches helping set up the clinching score. While not the dominant tune-up the Chiefs might have wanted ahead of their matchup with the Ravens, it was a meaningful win.

Marcus Mariota, making his first start in three seasons, looked sharp, overcoming an early fumble to lead the Commanders’ offense effectively against the Raiders. The game plan worked seamlessly thanks to an immediate impact from the running game, with Washington setting a physical tone early. Five different backs each carried the ball three or more times, all contributing effectively, while explosive plays returned to the offense and special teams, highlighted by Jaylin Lane’s 90-yard punt return touchdown. The Commanders put up 41 points, outscoring their total from the first two games combined, and they head into this week’s matchup at Atlanta with renewed confidence, especially if Mariota gets the nod in a potential revenge scenario. With Jayden Daniels’ long-term health a key concern, Washington will likely prioritize protecting their franchise quarterback if he remains limited.

The Rams looked dominant early, frustrating the Eagles on their first five drives and building a 19-point lead in the third quarter. But the game unraveled quickly as the offense stalled, producing only a punt and two blocked field goals to close things out. Defensively, Los Angeles struggled as pressure upfront couldn’t make up for breakdowns in the secondary. For much of the contest, the Rams seemed like one of the league’s top teams, but one sudden collapse—even on the road against a team that has won 19 of its last 20 games—erased that impression. They remain a dangerous squad, yet now face another tough test, hosting the 3-0 Colts, who arrive off a convincing win. Opportunities to measure a team against elite competition don’t come often, and the Rams will need to show up.

The Buccaneers entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable three-score lead over the winless Jets at home, only to see it shrink to six points with two minutes left. A 43-yard field goal would have effectively sealed the game, but New York added some unexpected drama by blocking the kick and returning it for a touchdown, suddenly putting Tampa Bay behind. Baker Mayfield and the offense ultimately delivered, setting up the game-winning field goal, but the lead-up exposed several issues. The Bucs allowed backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor and the Jets to march 80 and 73 yards for fourth-quarter touchdowns and struggled in the red zone, converting just one of five trips into touchdowns. Considering the Jets nearly upset the Steelers in Week 1, Tampa Bay got lucky to escape. Their late-game execution was impressive, yet this was a matchup that should have been a decisive statement, given how the second and third quarters played out.

Even with the Bengals hurting themselves on Sunday, the Vikings gave enough of a performance with Carson Wentz to suggest they can hold the fort until J.J. McCarthy returns. Wentz was sharp to start, cooled off midgame, then rallied to deliver an overall positive showing. Despite taking three sacks, he kept drives alive by consistently finding open targets. Minnesota’s running game, even without Aaron Jones, along with a defense that scored twice and forced five turnovers, did much of the heavy lifting and created ample opportunities for the offense. Thirteen penalties—mostly on offense—were a setback, giving coach Kevin O’Connell plenty to address ahead of the upcoming games against the Steelers and Browns before the early bye. If the Vikings can return home with a winning record, they’ll be better positioned to navigate the toughest stretch of their schedule. Sunday’s win proved it’s too early to write off Minnesota.

Mac Jones appeared finished after a fourth-quarter interception, and the 49ers’ chances against the Cardinals dropped to just 16 percent following a costly safety with a little over three minutes remaining. Yet San Francisco’s defense held firm, and Jones led a decisive drive to set up the game-winning field goal, securing a key divisional victory and a 3-0 start. Ricky Pearsall, quiet early, came through with several clutch catches, including a huge fourth-and-2 reception late in the game. The win, however, was overshadowed by the devastating news that Nick Bosa suffered a torn ACL. While the defense has performed well to this point, their task will become much harder, especially with tougher matchups ahead. Injuries have been an ongoing challenge in San Francisco, and Bosa is the latest high-profile player lost to a serious setback in recent seasons.

The Broncos have now dropped eight of ten one-score games since the start of 2024, and Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Chargers was largely self-inflicted. Penalties proved costly—early on defense and late on offense—and Denver went just 2-for-13 on third downs, including two critical failures in the final drives. Bo Nix came inches short on a third-and-13 scramble with six minutes left, and he narrowly overthrew Courtland Sutton on a deep route with under two minutes remaining. That allowed the Chargers to engineer the game-tying and game-winning drives. While offensive struggles are an obvious concern, Denver’s defense, once expected to be among the NFL’s best, has yet to live up to that billing through three games. At 1-2 with two close losses, the Broncos aren’t out of contention, but their inability to close these tight games is troubling.

This Colts team is off to an outstanding start. Unlike last year’s Saints, who impressed early but fizzled out, Indianapolis has now put together three consistently strong performances, highlighted by a pick-six less than a minute into the opener and another highly efficient offensive showing. Through three games, the Colts have committed no turnovers and have punted only once. Daniel Jones ranks third in the league in passing yards, leads qualified quarterbacks in yards per attempt, and has accounted for six touchdowns, putting him firmly in early MVP conversation. Jonathan Taylor is also having a career-best start at 26, making the backfield equally impressive. Indianapolis heads to Los Angeles to face the Rams this Sunday, and if they can pull off another road win, it will be hard not to be fully on board with this team.

The Cardinals flirted with disaster all season, but it finally caught up to them on Sunday. After two tight wins, Arizona seemed set to make it three in a row when Calais Campbell forced a safety with 3:15 left, giving the team a 15-13 lead. A third-and-9 catch from Zay Jones would have sealed the game, but he couldn’t make it, and the defense failed to hold the 49ers late. It was a disappointing loss, plain and simple. Jones wasn’t the only culprit—both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emari Demercado dropped passes on a crucial second-half drive that stalled and resulted in a field goal. Harrison did deliver a key reception on the game-tying drive in the fourth quarter, but his overall production—three catches for 44 yards—continued a slow start. To make matters worse, James Conner will undergo season-ending surgery, deepening the concerns about an offense that has struggled through the early part of the season.

This was the type of offense Bears fans were hoping to see under Ben Johnson. From the start, they exploited Dallas’ biggest weakness—defending deep passes down the seams—and kept up the pressure until late in the game. The effort was far cleaner and more consistent than in the first two weeks, providing a clearer picture of what this offense can do, even accounting for the Cowboys’ defensive struggles. Chicago managed its own secondary challenges well and made enough big plays on defense to feel confident. They’ll have a chance to build on both sides of the ball this week against an undermanned Raiders team before their surprisingly early Week 5 bye.

The Seahawks can take confidence from Sunday’s dominant win, which was effectively sealed by early in the second quarter. While the Saints weren’t a formidable opponent, they came in with two close losses and left thoroughly outmatched. Seattle was able to rest starters in the fourth quarter and turn its focus to the next three matchups: at Arizona, at home against the Bucs, and on the road at Jacksonville. Sam Darnold has found some rhythm, putting together back-to-back strong performances. The offense didn’t have to drive long fields, converting four touchdowns on five trips inside the red zone. Defensively, Seattle applied consistent pressure on Spencer Rattler, and the secondary limited big plays, forcing short throws. Special teams were once again a bright spot. The upcoming stretch will reveal whether the Seahawks can sustain this approach, but the early returns have been promising.

The Steelers came out strong and finished well, but the middle portion of their game featured troubling offensive lapses. Even with several key plays from the defense, Pittsburgh allowed New England to stay competitive until the final minutes, despite a plus-four turnover margin. The offense suffered too many negative plays—nine, excluding kneeldowns—and struggled to generate explosive gains. On defense, critical penalties and steady progress by the Patriots nearly undermined the team, though two crucial red-zone takeaways preserved the win. Overall situational football was mostly sound, but the Steelers should recognize how lucky they were not to squander the extra possessions they created. It was a necessary victory, but there’s still plenty of clean-up work ahead before Ireland.

It seems Houston hoped that changes at offensive coordinator and offensive line coach would unlock their attack, but the results haven’t materialized, leaving the Texans 0-3. Their 271 yards in Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Jacksonville was actually their season high, yet they coughed up three fourth-quarter turnovers, including two inside the Jaguars’ 30-yard line in the final four minutes. The running game improved slightly, and Nico Collins had a strong outing, but his late fumble was costly. Houston has reached the red zone four times this season and scored only six points. C.J. Stroud hasn’t done enough, but offensive line issues persist—though protection held up on the final drive, rookie bookend Aireontae Ersery allowed pressure that contributed to Stroud’s game-ending interception. The Texans have a chance to snap the streak against the winless Titans at home this Sunday, but upcoming road games versus the Ravens and Seahawks loom large. They’ve already dug a significant hole for themselves.

Dallas’ pass defense has completely fallen apart over the past two weeks. Russell Wilson and Caleb Williams have been fairly ordinary this season, but the Cowboys’ secondary has brought out their best, with Wilson throwing for 450 yards and three touchdowns and Williams matching his career high with four passing scores. Williams alone had 239 yards and three TDs by halftime, and the stat line could have been even worse if the game had been closer. The issues with Dallas’ defense are comprehensive: no pressure, poor tackling, and constant coverage breakdowns. It’s difficult to see Dak Prescott and the offense consistently compensating for these deficiencies. Some matchups may work, but with CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Booker likely sidelined for multiple weeks, the challenge only grows steeper.

Jake Browning has shown some flashes while leading the Bengals back to respectability in 2023, but he’s also thrown a league-high five interceptions on just 59 attempts. His first pick was returned for a touchdown on Sunday, putting Cincinnati down 14-0 within nine minutes. By the time he threw his second, the score was already 41-3 in favor of the Vikings. While the defense had a rough outing, the offense’s performance was catastrophic, turning the ball over five times and allowing 31 points. Two additional fumbles were recovered, but the game still became the largest blowout in franchise history—and it could have been even worse. Cincinnati remains 2-1, but Sunday exposed more flaws in an already fragile offensive resume. The key question is whether Browning can find a way to regain his rhythm.

You could argue the Patriots might be a deceptively fortunate 3-0, but the reality is they’re 1-2, having dropped two home games, and Sunday’s turnover-filled performance highlighted a surprising lack of discipline for a Mike Vrabel-coached team. They’ve racked up 27 penalties so far, which doesn’t reflect well on the new regime. Rhamondre Stevenson’s two lost fumbles add to concerns about the backfield rotation. Meanwhile, Drake Maye, despite some solid plays on Sunday and earlier in the season, has made too many avoidable mistakes—including a fumble, an interception, and two poorly thrown passes that nearly were picked off. If the Patriots struggle again at home against a motivated Panthers squad, it may be time to rethink expectations for the season.

Three of the Panthers’ seven wins with Bryce Young at quarterback have come against Atlanta. Young is 3-1 versus the Falcons and 4-25 against the rest of the league—a strange split—but a dominant 30-0 victory after an uninspired 0-2 start is impossible to ignore. In the first 96 minutes of the season, Carolina was outscored 53-13; since then, they’ve outscored opponents 49-0. The team looks far more confident now, particularly on defense. There are still weaknesses that stronger teams could exploit, but this suddenly feels like a much more respectable unit. Chau Smith-Wade returned a pick-six, Mike Jackson added another interception, and both Christian Rozeboom and A’Shawn Robinson were disruptive throughout. It may not be the 1985 Bears, but the Panthers’ previously overlooked defense has clearly awakened.

The Panthers, Bengals, and Texans might not be the toughest slate of opponents, but the Jaguars’ defense held up well across all three matchups, a key reason they sit at 2-1. While they’ll regret letting the Cincinnati game slip away, Sunday marked progress. Young teams need to make decisive plays in crunch time to learn how to win, and Jacksonville did exactly that, forcing three fourth-quarter turnovers against Houston—marking their third consecutive game with three takeaways to start the season. Liam Coen’s offense still has room to improve, and Brian Thomas Jr. had a rough showing early, with three drops and a generally frustrating first 58 minutes. Still, Thomas came through with a huge late catch that helped the Jaguars pull out a thrilling divisional victory.

Few could have predicted Michael Penix Jr.’s disastrous outing Sunday against a Panthers defense that had been the league’s worst in points allowed just a year ago. Even with Carolina’s improvement, Penix was completely off rhythm. He began 3-of-5 for 37 yards in the opening three minutes, then managed only 15-of-31 for 135 yards and threw two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown early in the third quarter. The score was 10-0 before that pick-six, and Atlanta was still in the game at 20-0 when he threw his second interception. The Falcons ran the ball just ten times in the first half and didn’t reestablish the ground game until the game was out of reach. Carolina’s defense shouldn’t bear all the blame, as the Panthers started three drives inside Atlanta’s 45-yard line, turning those into 13 points. It was a demoralizing performance for a team that had looked competitive in the first two weeks, now managing only one touchdown across their last 23 possessions.

Aaron Glenn is still searching for his first win as head coach, and Sunday’s game marked another frustrating near-miss. Like their Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, the Jets fought back and even took a late lead, only to see it slip away. The comeback against Tampa Bay was unlikely given the score, the road environment, and the quality of the opponent, yet the team fell just a few plays short. There were bright spots—Tyrod Taylor threw for two touchdowns and contributed on the ground—but he was sacked four times and pressured constantly, including on a costly pick-six before halftime. Taylor’s efforts helped the Jets claw back from a significant deficit, but much of it came from desperation rather than execution. If this team wants to operate as a run-heavy, defense-first squad, there’s still a lot of work ahead.

The Raiders made some intriguing offensive additions in the offseason, but nothing has clicked so far. While the line isn’t the only issue, it’s the primary concern, as Geno Smith is taking too many hits and sacks, threatening his ability to finish the season healthy. Running the ball effectively is also a problem, with few lanes for first-round pick Ashton Jeanty. That’s not to say Jeanty hasn’t struggled on his own—he has—but given the circumstances, including Brock Bowers playing hurt, the rookie deserves limited blame. Coupled with surrendering 41 points to a team led by a backup quarterback, the overall outlook feels grim.

The Dolphins had a real opportunity to beat the Bills last week but were undone by critical mistakes—an untimely interception on offense, penalties and missed tackles on defense, and a costly special-teams infraction by Zach Sieler. At 0-3, Miami faces decades of history weighing against midseason comebacks, but the team’s improved effort and offensive execution offer a foundation to build on. More playing time for Ollie Gordon II and more shots downfield would help, as Tua Tagovailoa spent much of the night throwing short while Buffalo effectively defended the underneath game. The Dolphins have explosive weapons; now they just need to showcase them more consistently. If the defense doesn’t improve quickly, Miami is likely headed for several high-scoring shootouts.

Shelby Harris’ late blocked kick didn’t just swing the outcome of Sunday’s remarkable win—it also placed him in elite company. That was Harris’ sixth career blocked field goal in his 12th season, marking him as one of the NFL’s rare specialists. Beyond that play, the Browns are showing signs of a promising young core. While questions remain about their quarterback decisions, rookies Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins, and Harold Fannin Jr. have already made significant contributions, each playing a role in Cleveland’s dramatic first win of the season. Joe Flacco still shows signs of age, and the offense has clear limitations, but this victory could reshape the team’s outlook moving forward.

A pick-six less than a minute into the game, two missed field goals, and costly penalties put the Titans in an early hole they couldn’t climb out of against the Colts. This marks their second home loss to a higher-caliber team, providing a clear benchmark they’ve yet to meet. The most alarming issue was their slow start, which Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. noticed even during pregame warmups. Coach Brian Callahan has significant work to do to keep the team competitive. While there are bright spots in Cam Ward and a few offensive contributors, the Titans have been inconsistent at best on offense and only marginally better on defense. With three straight road games—and four of the next five away from home—Tennessee must reverse course quickly to avoid another disappointing season.

Seeing Russell Wilson throw the ball away on three of four red-zone attempts late in the fourth quarter was a low point for Giants fans in Week 3. Two interceptions by Wilson and three turnovers on downs erased any hope of an upset, even though the game was close for a stretch. Will Bobby Okereke recover from the play where Patrick Mahomes stripped the ball from him? That turnover came with the game tied 6-6 and could have been the pivotal play for New York. Cam Skattebo had his best performance yet, but the offense struggled to get the ball to Malik Nabers. It was another disappointing showing offensively and marked the Giants’ 28th loss in their last 37 games. There is at least some intrigue heading into Week 4, however, as Jaxson Dart, who saw minimal action Monday, is set to start against the Chargers. It will be interesting to see if Brian Daboll made the right decision.

By halftime on Sunday, New Orleans had outgained Seattle, accumulated 15 first downs, and run more than twice as many plays as the Seahawks. Yet despite neither team turning the ball over, the Saints found themselves trailing 38-6. Eight first-half penalties, a turnover on downs, and disastrous special-teams execution were largely to blame. New Orleans missed a field-goal attempt, had a punt blocked deep in its own territory, and saw another returned 95 yards for a touchdown—all within the first 30 minutes. That combination made an early blowout almost inevitable. The offense and defense couldn’t overcome those deficits, leaving the Saints at 0-3, with a well-rested Bills team awaiting in Buffalo. Even with some winnable matchups ahead, there’s been little reason for optimism after such a brutal start.