NFL Power Rankings 2026: All 32 Teams, Updated Weekly

Updated: September 14

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

NFL Team Rankings:

1. Buffalo Bills

Sunday's best game lived up to the hype, with the Bills holding on for a big win in Houston. Scoring 36 against what I still believe will be a great defense on the road in Week 1 was a big statement, and they did it despite a quiet game from James Cook. Buffalo's tough start to the season continues on Thursday night against the Lions, but they made their case as the best team in the league.

2. Baltimore Ravens

I was nervous about the Ravens heading into the season, but at least for one week, they looked like a buzzsaw. Lamar Jackson looked back to normal, Derrick Henry rumbled for 144 yards, and the defense held the Colts to 4.7 yards per play. The big concern is Zay Flowers‘ injury. It is reportedly minor, but soft-tissue injuries can be particularly troublesome for skill players, and the Ravens also lost promising rookie Ja'Kobi Lane against Indy.

3. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers did suffer yet another injury blow – rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to miss at least a month – but they looked like the clearly better team against the Rams. The defense, in particular, was impressive, limiting Matthew Stafford to 155 scoreless yards with an interception. They now get the Dolphins and Cardinals at home over the next two weeks, giving the 49ers a great chance at a 3-0 start.

4. Seattle Seahawks

Concerns about Seattle's defense falling off appear unfounded, but the team's big opening-night win was marred by Sam Darnold leaving with an early injury. The good news is what was once believed to be a hip fracture is actually a glute injury, but Darnold is still likely to miss at least several games. Seattle has the Cardinals and Commanders up next before the schedule gets a lot tougher.

5. Los Angeles Rams

Well. The season could have started better for the still Super Bowl favorites. The Rams looked overmatched in Australia, and major offseason addition Myles Garrett is headed to injured reserve following knee surgery, meaning he will miss at least the next four games. The Rams are still a talented team and will get back Aaron Donald soon, but even the most optimistic would start to worry if they can't get back on track against the Giants this week.

6. Denver Broncos

Updated after Monday Night Football

7. Houston Texans

The Texans lost at home to the Bills, but it was heartening to see the offense go blow for blow with one of the league's best attacks. C.J. Stroud did lose two fumbles, including the one that sealed the game on third-and-goal from the 18, but the passing game looked much better than a year ago. Assuming the defense gets back on track – they do have a date with Joe Burrow next week – the Texans should be just fine.

8. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals' new-look defense showed up in a big way, sacking Baker Mayfield four times, forcing 4 turnovers, and scoring a touchdown. They still need to prove they can slow offenses down when the ball does not bounce quite as kindly, and they will need a little more from the stars on offense. Still, especially given how the Bengals have started in other seasons, this was a great win.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

Not much to say after that performance. Trevor Lawrence threw 4 touchdowns on just 23 attempts, the defense forced 2 turnovers, and the game was over before halftime. The Jaguars will face tougher tests, starting this week in Denver, but it was promising to see the late-season trends from 2025 continue into the season opener.

10. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles won the game with a big stand on a two-point attempt, but it was a closer game than the Philly faithful would have wanted. The offense did not move the ball consistently enough, but it created enough big plays to get the job done. It was an underwhelming start, but the Eagles got the win and have a winnable game against the Titans next.

11. Kansas City Chiefs

Updated after Monday Night Football

12. Detroit Lions

All that ultimately matters is the 1 in the win column, but the Lions nearly gave away a game they once led 21-0. Jahmyr Gibbs had a big day, and Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 2 touchdowns. Still, the offense felt lackluster, and the defense gave up scores on five of the final six drives. The Lions need to be much better in Buffalo on Thursday night.

13. Chicago Bears

Ben Johnson talked about his desire to be the highest-scoring team in the league, and the Bears are off to a great start. Chicago dropped 59 points on the Panthers, including 291 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. The defense has some things to clean up after allowing 361 yards and 3 passing scores to Bryce Young, but the early returns on offense looked great even though Colston Loveland was held catchless on 2 targets.

14. New England Patriots

Despite the Seahawks losing Sam Darnold early in the game, the Patriots could not exorcise their Super Bowl demons, with Drake Maye once again having a tough outing. His final throw was his worst of the night, an interception deep in Seattle territory with the chance to send things to overtime. Without A.J. Brown for at least the next four games, New England looks worse at receiver than they were last year, and they have the Steelers, Jaguars, and Bills next up on the schedule.

15. Minnesota Vikings

Things looked grim after Kyler Murray was lost to injury in the first quarter, and the Vikings trailed by 12 late in the third quarter. Helped by turnovers, the offense scored 22 points in the fourth, though, and got a big win at home. The defense showed some flaws, and the offense managed a meager 3.9 yards per play. For this week, though, that was good enough.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh's defense did enough against an overmatched Cooper Rush, but it was not an impressive Week 1 win for the Steelers. The running game struggled against what we expect to be a lackluster defensive front, and DK Metcalf left yards on the field. A win is a win, but the offense will need to be better against the Patriots.

17. Green Bay Packers

Matt LaFleur showed more aggression, taking points off the board to go for a short fourth down in the fourth quarter, but the result was the same. The Packers gave up 22 points in the fourth quarter and lost a game they controlled early in the second half, a game in which they gained 6.3 yards per play to just 3.9 for the Vikings, an offense that lost its starter in the first quarter. That just can't happen. The offensive line appears to be a real concern.

18. Los Angeles Chargers

Chargering at max level, Los Angeles lost as 8.5-point home favorites to a team many expect to be picking near the top of the NFL Draft next spring. The passing game was particularly underwhelming, a disappointment with new OC Mike McDaniel running the show, and that passing attack lost Ladd McConkey to injury in the second half. This team has a lot to figure out before facing the Raiders next week.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs probably wish they could have that one back. Baker Mayfield fumbled three times, losing all three, and Bucky Irving lost another in the loss to the Bengals. Three of their five real drives in the first half ended with a fumble. They made things closer in the second half, but this was a disappointing start for a team that crumbled down the stretch last year.

20. New York Giants

The offense was a machine in the season-opening win over the Cowboys, and the defense shut down what has been one of the most consistent passing games in the league with Dak Prescott healthy. They need to keep things going next week against the Rams, but the Giants came out of the gate hot.

21. Dallas Cowboys

I had high hopes for the Dallas defense heading into the season. Perhaps the defense will improve as the year goes on, but the Giants consistently moved the ball against them on Sunday night. The offense couldn't match, and the team as a whole made too many mistakes. The season is by no means over, but it was a disappointing opener for a team that had a lot of buzz.

22. New York Jets

I am not sure how good the Jets actually are, but we saw the reasons I was a little higher than average on them this offseason. The revamped defense shut down Tennessee's offense, and Geno Smith averaged 9 yards per attempt while taking 0 sacks. Can they do the same thing against Green Bay? Only time will tell.

23. Washington Commanders

Despite a mixed offensive performance, the Commanders were just a failed two-point try away from tying the game with the Eagles and potentially forcing overtime. That's promising, but the offense will need to be more consistent, and the defense will need to give up fewer big plays moving forward.

24. Carolina Panthers

It was really a half-full, half-empty kind of start for the Panthers. Bryce Young had a big game, throwing for 361 yards, 3 touchdowns, and adding another on the ground. Unfortunately, the defense gave up 59 points and a staggering 291 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. Carolina did not have a great defense last year, but they were 20th in yards per play allowed with worse talent. That side of the ball will have a good shot to bounce back next week against the Falcons.

25. New Orleans Saints

While they did not win because of a failed two-point try in overtime, the Saints and Tyler Shough showed a lot to come back from what was once a 21-0 deficit. The offense scored on five of the final six drives, and the non-score was a missed 62-yard field goal at the buzzer. The team has plenty to clean up, but it was an impressive comeback attempt.

26. Arizona Cardinals

My consistent offseason opinion was the Cardinals were better top to bottom than many of the other teams at the bottom of these rankings, but the schedule made it tough to see much success. Well…one “tough” game down, and one win is on the board. The defense limited Justin Herbert, and the offense limited sacks and turnovers. The schedule seemingly does not get any easier with the Seahawks up next, but Seattle will not have Sam Darnold for that game.

27. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts took the lead with a Jonathan Taylor touchdown early against the Ravens, but it was nearly all Baltimore from that point forward. The defense looked like a major concern, giving up 7.9 yards per play and 11.3 yards per pass attempt. Even if the offense looks better moving forward, it will be difficult to win many games if the defense plays as it did on Sunday.

28. Las Vegas Raiders

It was “just the Dolphins,” but the running game worked well in the Week 1 win, and the offense did enough without No. 1 weapon Brock Bowers. The defense logged 5 sacks and shut down De'Von Achane. Things theoretically get more difficult with a road game against the Chargers, but Los Angeles is coming off a loss to the Cardinals.

29. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons kept things closer than expected against the Steelers despite starting Cooper Rush at quarterback, thanks mostly to 173 total yards and a touchdown from Bijan Robinson. The defense looked better than expected, especially up front, but they need more from the passing game moving forward. When will Michael Penix return? Is he the answer?

30. Tennessee Titans

The Titans scored a late touchdown to make the final score look better, but they were out of the game for much of the second half against the Jets. The offense managed just 4 yards per play and did not have a play longer than 15 yards, albeit against a Jets defense that revamped this offseason and is likely better than the public gives it credit for.

31. Miami Dolphins

It did not feel like an awful performance from the Dolphins in Week 1, but they could not get the running game working and lost fairly convincingly to what we believe to be a lackluster Raiders squad. On the bright side, rookie Caleb Douglas showed up with a good game.

32. Cleveland Browns

The Browns scored a late touchdown to make things look better, but their game against the Jaguars was over before halftime. It was a dispiriting performance for an organization that feels like it is just biding time until 2027.