Updated: October 5
Learn where each NFL team stacks up in our updated power rankings and among the best NFL teams for the 2026 season.
2026 NFL Power Rankings: Best NFL Teams Week 5
| Power Rank | Team | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Chiefs | +1 |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | +1 |
| 3 | Buffalo Bills | -2 |
| 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | +1 |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | +1 |
| 6 | Denver Broncos | -2 |
| 7 | Baltimore Ravens | 0 |
| 8 | Los Angeles Rams | 0 |
| 9 | New England Patriots | +3 |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | -1 |
| 11 | Chicago Bears | +3 |
| 12 | Detroit Lions | -2 |
| 13 | Minnesota Vikings | -2 |
| 14 | Dallas Cowboys | +2 |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | 0 |
| 16 | Las Vegas Raiders | +2 |
| 17 | Cleveland Browns | +3 |
| 18 | Carolina Panthers | +3 |
| 19 | Pittsburgh Steelers | -6 |
| 20 | Atlanta Falcons | +2 |
| 21 | Houston Texans | -4 |
| 22 | Green Bay Packers | +1 |
| 23 | New Orleans Saints | -4 |
| 24 | Indianapolis Colts | 0 |
| 25 | New York Giants | +4 |
| 26 | Washington Commanders | -1 |
| 27 | Los Angeles Chargers | -1 |
| 28 | New York Jets | -1 |
| 29 | Arizona Cardinals | -1 |
| 30 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 |
| 31 | Tennessee Titans | 0 |
| 32 | Miami Dolphins | 0 |
Week 5 NFL Team Rankings:
1. Kansas City Chiefs
It was something of a Pyrrhic victory, with both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton leaving with injuries, but the Chiefs held on for a 30-27 win over the upstart Raiders. Kenneth Walker continues to be a transformative force for the offense, producing multiple big plays during the pivotal fourth quarter. Kansas City heads into the bye week undefeated and as the undisputed favorite for the AFC West.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Denver's offense has not been great this year, but Raheem Morris deserves credit for crafting a great defensive performance despite an undermanned unit. San Francisco now ranks third in yards per play allowed (4.8) and sixth in points per drive allowed (1.73). Sitting at 4-0, the 49ers have a massive test against the Seahawks in Week 5.
3. Buffalo Bills
The Bills flirted with disaster in Week 3 against the Chargers, and New England finished the job on Sunday. 2 more turnovers, including a game-ending interception, are a concern. Still, Buffalo's defense remains the worry spot. Through four weeks, the Bills rank 20th in yards per play allowed (5.5) and 27th in points per drive allowed (2.55). That defense faces a tough test next Monday night against the Rams.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars backed up their bludgeoning of the Patriots with a 22-17 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Jaguars have established themselves as one of the best teams in the AFC, but their secondary remains a question mark. Despite Ja'Marr Chase leaving the game early, Jacksonville gave up 428 yards to Joe Burrow. They did intercept him twice, and they are once again near the top of the league in takeaways through four games. Still, that secondary looks like a red flag for an otherwise elite team.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Things got a little closer late, but the Seahawks bounced back from their first loss of the season with a solid Week 4 win over the Chargers. Sam Darnold did throw another interception on his first play of the game – right after Justin Herbert threw one on his first play – but the offense did enough, and Seattle's defense continues to play lights out.
6. Denver Broncos
The offense struggled to get anything going for most of the game against the 49ers, and despite their traditional fourth-quarter comeback, the Broncos fell to 2-2 following a 24-14 loss. Denver has scored 35 points in the first three quarters of games this season, ahead of just the Tennessee Titans. They have scored 39 in the fourth quarter, tied for third in the league. That is a really tough way to live.
7. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens handled their business against the Titans, jumping out to a 24-7 lead in the first half and then holding on late. The big story, though, is the health of Lamar Jackson, who left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. He was seen in a walking boot after the game, but the reporting around the injury suggests it is minor. It needs to be for the Ravens to be true contenders.
8. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams scored 14 fourth-quarter points for a much-needed comeback win over the undermanned Eagles. The win is great, but the Rams were down late to an Eagles offense that averaged just 3.0 yards per play and had 68 net passing yards. Philly's scoring drives were 17 yards, 29 yards, 17 yards, and 35 yards. Matthew Stafford has thrown 6 interceptions after throwing 8 total all of last year. The offense is 29th in penalty EPA, and the defense is 24th. They ranked fourth and third in those metrics last year. This is obviously a talented team that should improve as players return healthy, but they simply have to play cleaner football moving forward.
9. New England Patriots
The Patriots got back on track in a big way, winning 29-26 in Buffalo. Drake Maye continued to struggle with ball security, throwing an interception, losing one fumble, and losing control of the ball two other times. He came through when it mattered, though, connecting with Efton Chism for a 23-yard, game-winning touchdown. New England still has a lot to clean up heading into what looks like a tough matchup against the Raiders, but this was a big step forward.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals lost to Jacksonville, but their injury losses at receiver seem to be a bigger concern. Ja'Marr Chase left the game early with a concussion, and Tee Higgins appeared to suffer a groin injury late in the game. The good news is they get the Dolphins this week before a bye, giving the two stars time to heal.
11. Chicago Bears
Despite 2 turnovers, the Bears soundly beat the Jets for their third win of the season. Each of those wins has come with a different quarterback. Following a rough Week 1, the defense has turned things around in the last three games, and the running game has been immense. Bears running backs rank first in rushing yards and fifth in yards per carry.
12. Detroit Lions
Detroit's Achilles heel was on full display on Sunday night. The defense allowed 32 points to the Panthers, with Bryce Young throwing for 8.0 yards per attempt and Chuba Hubbard running for 6.1 yards per carry. Through four weeks, the Lions defense is dead last in success rate allowed, points per drive allowed, explosive play rate allowed, yards per game allowed, and third-down conversion rate allowed. Brian Branch is reportedly nearing a return, but even a player as good as Branch can't fix everything.
13. Minnesota Vikings
They did not have Justin Jefferson, and Minnesota moved to 4-0, but the offense is officially a concern. With Kyler Murray at quarterback over the last two weeks, the offense has averaged 4.5 yards per play (28th) and 1.35 points per drive (28th). Coming into Week 4, Miami's defense ranked 29th and 32nd in those two categories, and the Vikings did not manage a touchdown against them. The Vikings have room for error because of their start, and Murray deserves more time with Jefferson healthy to see if he can get things moving. Still, alarm bells are ringing.
14. Dallas Cowboys
The 2026 Dallas Cowboys look a lot like the 2025 version. The defense is a disaster, ranking dead last in yards per play allowed, 31st in points per drive allowed, and 30th in success rate allowed through four weeks. The offense, though, is elite and did just enough to beat the Texans 34-30 on the back of a massive 17-189-1 line from CeeDee Lamb. Dallas' defense is missing several key players and could take a step forward once they get healthy, but they have to play better on that side of the ball to be real contenders.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were without several key pieces on both sides of the ball and still almost beat the Rams. That is the positive. The negative is Jalen Hurts threw for 93 yards and took 25 yards in sacks, giving the offense 68 net passing yards. He averaged 3.4 yards per pass attempt. Among 29 qualified quarterbacks, Hurts is now 23rd in yards per attempt, 23rd in EPA per play, and 28th in the rate of plays that lose 1 EPA or worse. The health of his surrounding talent has certainly played a role, but the offseason offensive changes do not appear to be working.
16. Las Vegas Raiders
It will ultimately go down as a loss, but the Raiders established themselves as a real playoff threat by pushing the Chiefs all the way to the end in Week 4. The defense showed some cracks, allowing 6.9 yards per play including multiple long gains, but if not for a late special teams turnover, the Raiders would have been in a real position to win. The schedule stays tough, with the Patriots, Bills, and Rams next up.
17. Cleveland Browns
After seemingly letting a 21-10 halftime lead slip through their fingers, the Browns found a way with a late field-goal drive to move to 3-1. Deshaun Watson is up to 10th in EPA per dropback among qualified quarterbacks, and the defense has been a top-10 unit since their disastrous start against the Jaguars in Week 1. With the Jets up in Week 5, Cleveland has a real shot to move to 4-1.
18. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers bounced back from a somewhat disappointing loss to the Browns with a 32-26 victory over the Lions on Sunday night. Bryce Young was on fire, throwing for 8 yards per attempt and connecting with Tetairoa McMillan for 14 catches, 192 yards, and 2 scores. Heading into their bye week, Carolina's offense ranks fifth in yards per play and ninth in points per drive.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh's roller-coaster season continued Thursday night with a 27-24 loss to the Browns. Aaron Rodgers posted a decent stat line, but the passing game continues to struggle against man coverage. Rodgers has the most dropbacks in the league against man coverage this year, ranking 26th among 29 qualified quarterbacks in success rate against man. The Browns played man coverage on 71.1% of the Pittsburgh dropbacks Thursday night.
20. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix has transformed Atlanta's offense through two weeks, though the real damage has come on the ground. Bijan Robinson had another massive game on Monday night, and Brian Robinson contributed 3 touchdowns of his own. The other side of the ball deserves a mention, too. Despite questions about their personnel, Atlanta's defense is second in success rate allowed through four games and 10th in pressure rate generated. Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich is making a strong early case for 2027 head coaching openings.
21. Houston Texans
Whether it was the return of Nico Collins or just getting to play against the Cowboys, C.J. Stroud had a much more productive game on Sunday, but the Texans still fell to the Cowboys in their fourth straight loss to open the season. After allowing more than 30 points zero times last season, Houston's defense has given up 36 points to the Bills and 34 points to the Cowboys through four games. The defense ranks 28th in explosive play rate allowed. Houston bounced back from an 0-3 start last season, but that was with a defense that kept them in every game. This year's version does not appear to be at that same level.
22. Green Bay Packers
The Packers won and are now 2-2. Jordan Love did not take a sack and faced the least pressure of any quarterback in Week 4. 70% of his throws came within 2.5 seconds of the snap, and 36.7% of them were at or behind the line of scrimmage. Both were the highest rates of the week. Those are short-term solutions, and the offense will certainly have to open things up in the coming weeks against the Bears, Cowboys, and Lions. Can they do that and still keep Love upright?
23. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans offense did not have a great time on Monday night, but the defense was the real story. The Saints' run defense gave up 19-145-2 to Bijan Robinson and 14-62-3 to Brian Robinson in a blowout loss. Even before the game against the Falcons, New Orleans was in the bottom five in both yards per carry allowed and explosive run rate allowed to running backs.
24. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have won two games in a row, but the questions on offense remain. Indy's offense leads only the Cardinals and Vikings in yards per play. Among 29 qualified passers, Daniel Jones ranks 28th in yards per attempt, 26th in EPA per play, and dead last in air yards per attempt. 67.4% of his attempts have come within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. They simply have to figure out how to get something going down the field in the passing game.
25. New York Giants
We lived the full, beautiful Jameis Winston Experience on Sunday. Winston threw for 3 touchdowns, tossed 2 interceptions, was 26th among qualified quarterbacks in success rate, but was fourth in explosive throw rate. Cinema. Most importantly, he led the Giants to a 36-24 win, taking New York to 3-1. I still wonder if this is sustainable, but the defense has played well three of the four games this season.
26. Washington Commanders
The Commanders continue to have rough injury luck, this time losing Marcus Mariota in the first half against the Colts. Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Sam Cosmi, and Rachaad White were inactive, and Laremy Tunsil is on injured reserve. Washington could get some of those players back for the Giants this week, but it has been a rough start to a pivotal season.
27. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers made it closer with 10 fourth-quarter points, but they were soundly beaten by the Seahawks to fall to 0-4. To add to the loss, the offense saw Ladd McConkey, Rashawn Slater, and Joe Alt go down with injuries during the game. Now they face the Broncos and Chiefs before a much-needed Week 7 bye.
28. New York Jets
I wanted to give the Jets some credit after two close losses to the Packers and Lions, but they never really appeared to be in it against the Bears. Chicago dominated the time of possession (42:45 to 17:15), and the Jets committed a league-high 8 penalties on defense. I still think this roster is better than the worst teams in the league, but it is shaping up as a long season.
29. Arizona Cardinals
A week after pushing the 49ers, the Cardinals suffered a disappointing loss to the Giants despite taking a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Jacoby Brissett had a rough game, tossing 3 interceptions and averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. Only Malik Willis ranked worse in EPA per dropback in Week 4.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs hung around with the Packers, with the defense forcing two late turnovers on what should have been scoring drives for Green Bay. Even so, Jalon Daniels was roughly what we expected in his first NFL start, tossing 2 interceptions and taking 3 sacks while averaging 5.5 yards per pass attempt.
31. Tennessee Titans
A late touchdown made the score look better, but the Titans were never really in the game against the Ravens after the second quarter, despite Lamar Jackson leaving before halftime. Carnell Tate has been a bright spot, but the offense continues to struggle, ranking 25th in yards per play (4.9) and 28th in points per drive (1.45).
32. Miami Dolphins
The defense deserves credit for shutting down Minnesota's offense, and Ollie Gordon surprisingly added some explosive plays to the running game. Chris Bell also had a big play that was called back for a penalty. Even with those positives, it's hard to argue for any other team taking the No. 32 spot.