NFL power rankings, updated entering Sunday Week 1

Welcome to the 2026 NFL Season. As we head into the first Sunday of the season, we have already seen a couple of games and have already suffered a couple of injuries. Let's run down the entire league and see where all 32 teams stand as we kick off our first full Sunday of football.

Jan 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley, right, joined by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, left, speak to reporters during their introductory press conference at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

#32 Miami Dolphins: This is going to be a learning year for new head coach Jeff Hafley as he works with a roster that will be hamstrung by $180m in dead cap money.

#31 Cleveland Browns : Will it be Watson or Shadeur? It doesn't matter much; this offense is going to be led by one of the worst QBs in the league either way. The defense is decent, but losing Miles Garrett is going to sting.

#30 Arizona Cardinals : They could have a top-5 offense, but they will certainly have a bottom-5 defense. This team should be fun to watch, but it's hard to project more than 3 or 4 wins.

#29 Washington Commanders : They are pinning their hopes on Jayden Daniels staying healthy, but that's easier said than done. The defense is mediocre at best, and this offense is going to feel the loss of Larami Tunsil.

#28 Las Vegas Raiders : Klint Kubiak is going to turn this team around, but it's probably not going to happen right away. Losing Brock Bowers just days before the opening for a few weeks is less than ideal.

#27 New York Jets : Geno Smith is going to settle the offense down, and the defense is going to get better as the year progresses. The upside for this squad is close to .500, but it feels like they are going to need to draft their franchise QB and find their head coach next offseason.

#26 Atlanta Falcons : They changed coaches, but didn't do anything else to make the team better. The defense is going to suffer between the injury to Jalen Walker and the suspension of James Pierce, and the offense is going to struggle without a QB.

#25 New York Giants : John Harbaugh comes to town bringing tons of experience. Translate that to an old coaching staff that would be a great fit for a team on the verge of taking the next step. That's not this roster quite yet, so expect mixed results this season.

#24 Tennessee Titans : A new coaching staff comes in to shepherd their top pick QB for his sophomore campaign. Things could be getting better in Nashville, but this division is still multiple steps ahead of the Titans right now.

#23 Carolina Panthers : Will Bryce Young ever take the next step? This is a big prove-it year for both the QB and his head coach.

#22 Pittsburgh Steelers : They have an old QB and replaced their old coach with another old coach. They may be good enough to win the North, but it feels like the upside here is limited to maybe one playoff game at best.

#21 Indianapolis Colts : If Daniel Jones can make it all the way back to how he was playing before the injuries last season, this team could make some noise and challenge for the South Division crown. They need their cornerbacks to live up to their reputation for the defense to be a factor.

Aug 28, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

#20 New Orleans Saints: Kellen Moore might have his QB in Tyler Shough. If the offense takes a step forward, this team has a real shot at winning their division.

#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers : The team paid both Vita Vea and Baker Mayfield to clear either of those contract talks from being a distraction. It feels like it would have been smarter to let Baker play angry. The team is decent, not great, but that might be plenty to win the NFC South.

#18 Green Bay Packers : There are still a ton of question marks surrounding this team. The offensive line is suspect, their starting running back is in limbo awaiting a suspension, and they are waiting on Micah Parsons to return on defense.

#17 Kansas City Chiefs : The Power of Mahomes and Reid will compel them to a winning record. It may just be 9-8, but it will be a winning record.

#16 Cincinnati Bengals : The defense is better, and Joe Burrow is healthy. The range of outcomes for this team is anywhere between a deep playoff push and a top 10 pick in next year's draft. Their success is directly tied to that first sentence remaining true all season.

#15 Chicago Bears : They have a great offense with a great offensive coach. They are going to struggle to get deep into the playoffs with this defense, but they will be fun to watch this year.

#14 San Francisco 49ers : They traveled down under and came away with an opening week victory. In the process, they lost rookie D'Zhaun Stribling, and this team is going to really struggle if the injury bug is going to torment them again all season.

#13 Minnesota Vikings : Brian Flores' defense is going to keep them in games, and if Kyler Murray can just be adequate, this team is going to challenge to win the NFC North.

#12 Los Angeles Chargers : The offensive line was a huge issue last season. With both tackles back and fully healthy and with new OC Mike McDaniels calling the plays, Justin Herbert may have his best year ever.

#11 Detroit Lions : The window to win a championship feels like it has closed considerably in Detroit. It will be interesting if Drew Petzig coming in as the new OC will have a positive effect, as there are still some questions regarding the offensive line. Week 1 will be a good test as they host the Saints.

Aug 13, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#10 New England Patriots: The good news is they don't have to play the Seahawks again this year unless we get a Super Bowl rematch. The bad news is we don't know if Drake Maye has now been figured out by the league.

#9 Houston Texans : This is easily one of the best defenses in the league, and if they can avoid mistakes on offense, they will be a problem for the rest of the AFC. Demeco Ryans is sticking with CJ Stroud for now, but don't be shocked if the leash is short, as Davis Mills has shown he can manage a game plan.

#8 Dallas Cowboys: The defense was the worst in the league last year. Improvements were made, and if they can just get the unit to the middle of the pack, this team will be a playoff contender.

#7 Jacksonville Jaguars : Coach Liam Coen had Trevor Lawrence and the offense playing at an elite level for the second half of last season. With another step forward, this team can develop into a potential dynasty with their young core of players.

#6 Baltimore Ravens : The vibes surrounding this team have all been positive as new head coach Jesse Minter, along with new OC Declan Doyle, have the players and fans excited. If Lamar can return to his previous MVP-level form, this team should make quick work of the AFC North.

#5 Buffalo Bills : The new head coach isn't really new as he's been with the team for a few years. This is likely Josh Allen 's last shot to stake a claim to becoming the King of the North……East. The Bills defense needs to improve from last year's horrid showing, especially against the run.

#4 Los Angeles Rams : We had to ding them after the opening night loss. The Rams look to be one of the best teams in the league on paper, but the games aren't played on paper. Sometimes they're played in Australia. Once Aaron Donald is ready to roll, this defense is going to be filthy.

#3 Philadelphia Eagles : The offensive line is healthy and so is the defense. If Sean Mannion and Jalen Hurts are on the same page, this offense is going to be plenty strong enough to outpace their opponents each week. It will be interesting to see if they can handle business at home this week against Washington.

#2 Denver Broncos : This might be the best defense from top to bottom in the league. If Bo Nix can pick up where he left off last year and take another step forward, this can very well be the AFC representative in this year's final game.

#1 Seattle Seahawks: If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. Right now, this team is the best in the league until somebody comes in and knocks off their crown.