The weekly NFL power rankings received quite a reshuffling heading into Week 5 with significant shakeup at the top.
As much as the Los Angeles Rams still look like they’ll be one of the teams to beat once fully healthy, a 1-2 start can’t be overlooked.
As much as logic and the depth of talent on their roster says the Houston Texans will surely turn this around, there’s no way to sugarcoat an 0-3 start.
A bad road loss for the Seattle Seahawks against the Washington Commanders and backup QB Marcus Mariota is hard to write-off too, while even at 3-0 the Buffalo Bills looked disjointed in their 24-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
Overall, only five teams remain undefeated and one is the Las Vegas Raiders!
Week 4 NFL Power Rankings
All of that made for quite a challenge in trying to sensibly restructure the top of the weekly NFL power rankings, and that means more shuffling is likely in the forecast through the early part of the season. Click here for the Week 3 NFL Power Rankings.
But for now, this is how we see it with quick one-liner thoughts on each team.
Tier 1 Super Bowl Contenders
1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0, up 3 spots): Kenneth Walker III (360 rushing yards, 82 receiving yards, 3 total TDs) has given the Chiefs offense a new dynamic from recent years while Patrick Mahomes (812 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs) has looked solid in his return from knee surgery. Meanwhlie, the defense ranks fourth overall (278.0 YPG) and third in points allowed (16.7 PPG) to give Kansas City the edge for the top spot — for now.
2. Buffalo Bills (3-0, up 1 spot): Buffalo trailed into the fourth quarter at home last week in an ultimate 24-16 win over the Chargers while Josh Allen threw 2 picks, but we’ll give him a pass as he remains our early pick for MVP with 786 passing yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs and 114 rushing yards with 6 scores. The defense keeps the Bills out of the top spot for now.
3. San Francisco 49ers (3-0, up 2 spots): It’s hard to argue with the results so far. Brock Purdy has been as dialed in as any QB in the league, completing 72.3% of his passes for 789 yards, 9 TDs (tied for NFL lead) and 1 INT along with 93 yards and a TD rushing.
4. Los Angeles Rams (1-2, down 3 spots): We had to move the Rams off the top spot after two losses, but they shouldn’t have two losses as a horrendous pass interference call handed the Broncos a first down inside the 10 (rather than an interception) in the final minutes to set up the decisive touchdown in a 30-26 result. Add in the jetlagged performance in Australia in Week 1, missing star edge rusher Myles Garrett for a chunk of this early season and star wideout Puka Nacua for the past two games and the Rams’ outlook ultimately hasn’t changed at all.
5. Seattle Seahawks (2-1, down 3 spots): There’s no making sense of the reigning Super Bowl champs losing 33-31 to the Commanders and backup QB Marcus Mariota in Sam Darnold’s return to action, other than to say the Seattle rushing attack (18th in the NFL at 101.0 YPG, 18 carries for 44 yards vs. Washington) is clearly missing Walker.
6. Baltimore Ravens (2-1, no change): Maybe the late-game heroics in Brazil with Lamar Jackson connecting with Zay Flowers for 27 yards while leaving a fraction of a second on the clock for Tyler Loop to kick a game-winning 56-yard field goal to beat the Cowboys, 34-31, will be the launching point for the Ravens to build momentum after an up-and-down start.
7. Chicago Bears (2-1, up 2 spots): The 9-3 loss to the Vikings was discouraging, but Bears coach and offensive mastermind Ben Johnson bounced back in a big way in guiding 38-year-old third-string QB Case Keenum to a 27-7 annihilation of the Eagles. Caleb Williams will be back in a few weeks, and the Bears’ ceiling is sky-high.
8. Denver Broncos (2-1, up 2 spots): While it was a controversial win given that unjustified and game-swinging pass interference call, it’s officially a win nonetheless for Denver in a showdown of Super Bowl contenders with the Rams. The offense came to life in the second half while QB Bo Nix shows his flare for late-game dramatics and comebacks is very much alive again in 2026.
Flawed But Fun Teams With A Chance To Contend
9. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1, down 2 spots): The storyline of the Bengals bolstered defense took a hit in a 30-27 loss to the Steelers in which they gave up 411 yards to Aaron Rodgers and Co., but that Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase connection will win out in a lot of games like that.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1, up 3 spots): The Jaguars dominated the Patriots in a 35-6 win last week and it looks like Liam Coen is going to keep this team in contention again despite a worse roster than his debut season — at least as long as Trevor Lawrence (616 passing yards, 7 TDs and 2 INTs) plays to his potential.
11. Dallas Cowboys (1-2, up 4 spots): Yes, the Cowboys moved up in the rankings despite a 34-31 loss to the Ravens in Brazil. Dallas traded for Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to further address the defense, while Dak Prescott (730 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT) and CeeDee Lamb (20 catches for 309 yads and 3 TDs) have been elite so far this season.
12. Detroit Lions (1-2, up 4 spots): The Lions’ standing on these rankings is tenuous week to week due to their defensive deficiencies, but Jahmyr Gibbs looks to be in the midst of a career season with 307 rushing yards and 4 TDs and 18 receptions for 156 yards and 2 TDs in three games.
13. Minnesota Vikings (3-0, up 1 spot): Kyler Murray is back at quarterback for the undefeated Vikings but left a lot to be desired in Week 3 while completing 15 of 29 passes for 168 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT with 17 rushing yards. Also, star WR Justin Jefferson exited that win over the Buccaneers early with an ankle injury that threatens his status this week.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1, down 6 spots): It’s hard to see this Eagles team, which has looked like a shell of its 2024 Super Bowl form since the start of last season, suddenly morphing into a contender again. That 27-7 loss Monday night to the Bears and their third-string QB was damning.
15. Houston Texans (0-3, down 3 spots): The only reason the Texans are still clinging to this tier is because they also started 0-3 last year and then rallied to 12-5 and reached the divisional round of the playoffs with one of the NFL’s best defenses, which returned every key member. But time is running out to turn it around.
Can’t Pretend We Don’t See It
16. New England Patriots (1-2, down 5 spots): It’s officially time to panic for the Patriots after a 35-6 loss to the Jaguars. Drake Maye, runner-up for the MVP award last season, just isn’t right while passing for just 585 yards, 1 TD and a league-worst 6 INTs so far.
Not To Be Overlooked Any Week But Not Winning It All Either
17. Las Vegas Raiders (3-0, up 7 spots): Are we selling the undefeated Raiders short? Maybe, but can they really keep this up? Kirk Cousins has passed for 661 yards, an NFL-leading 9 TDs and 3 INTs while TE Brock Browers was excellent in his season debut with 10 catches for 116 yards and a TD in a 35-27 win at New Orleans.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1, up 2 spots): Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock to outduel Joe Burrow and the Bengals, throwing for 292 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT in a 30-27 win.
19. New Orleans Saints (1-2, no change): The Saints are going to be entertaining no matter the outcome. Last week it was a 35-27 home loss to the Raiders in which Tyler Shough passed for 255 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT but also lost 2 INTs.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (0-3, down 2 spots): The Chargers held a lead on the Bills entering the fourth quarter before losing 24-16, but the bigger problem is Justin Herbert still doesn’t back to peak form while passing for 226 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
21. Atlanta Falcons (1-2, up 4 spots): It turns out all the Falcons needed was even semi-competent QB play, as Michael Penix Jr.’s season debut helped elevate both Bijan Robinson (194 rushing yards and a TD) and Drake London (9 catches for 194 yards).
22. Indianapolis Colts (1-2, down 3 spots): It’s not clear how the Colts are doing it — beyond having an elite running back in Jonathan Taylor (258 rushing yards, 4 TDs, 67 receiving yards) — but after pushing the Chiefs to overtime in a Week 2 loss they beat the Texans 19-17 last week.
23. Green Bay Packers (1-2, down 6 spots): The Packers got flat-out embarrassed in a 35-14 loss to the Falcons last week and nothing seems to be working for Matt LaFleur’s team.
24. Carolina Panthers (1-2, down 3 spots): The Jekyll & Hyde Panthers are back! A 59-37 loss to the Bears, a 34-3 win over the Falcons and a 21-18 loss to the Browns. True to form, indeed. But Bryce Young leads the NFL with 939 passing yards along with 7 TDs and 2 INTs.
25. New York Jets (1-2, up 1 spot): The Jets have been competent and competitive this year! Geno Smith completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs in a 31-24 loss to the Lions.
Better Luck Next Year
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3, down 4 spots): QB Baker Mayfield is out for several weeks with a dislocated thumb, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels is in at QB and the Todd Bowles Era in Tampa Bay is nearing its end.
27. Washington Commanders (1-2, up 1 spot): Marcus Mariota threw for 183 yards and 3 TDs in leading Washington to a stunning 33-31 upset win over the Seahawks. Maybe the Commanders can weather Jayden Daniels’ latest injury absence and stay relevant. Maybe.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-2, up 1 spot): High-profile rookie RB Jeremiyah Love had his best game yet in Week 3 with 21 carries for 90 yards and 5 catches for 19 yards and a TD vs. the 49ers.
29. New York Giants (2-1, down 2 spots): Jameis Winston wasn’t very impressive in his first start since Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury, passing for just 118 yards and 0 TDs, but the Giants won nonetheless, 12-7, over the Titans. New York traded for J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings this week, which isn’t a solution to anything.
30. Cleveland Browns (2-1, no change): Excuse us for being slow to jump on the bandwagon, but credit to Deshaun Watson for winning back-to-back games and playing generally well with 587 passing yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT plus 105 rushing yards.
Race For The No. 1 Pick
31. Tennessee Titans (0-3, no change): The questions will only keep mounting about whether QB Cam Ward (504 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 2 rushing TDs) is the future for the Titans.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-3, no change): An already thin roster lost its only offensive star with RB De’Von Achane sustaining a season-ending torn ACL last week.
