B/R Experts Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

After months of pre-draft predictions, free-agency frenzy, draft-day surprises, OTAs, minicamps, training camp and the preseason, it's time to play NFL games that count.

With all that excitement comes a mountain of uncertainty. The NFL has a habit of reminding people that what they think they know and what they actually know are two different things.

Predictions of a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl at this time last year were rare.

Every Sunday is a wild ride, and the landscape is constantly changing.

Still, you have to start somewhere. Square 1 is where you'll find Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport , Kris Knox , Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski ranking all 32 teams from worst to first entering the regular season.

Miami Dolphins fans could be in for a difficult 2026 season.

By just about any estimation, the Dolphins have the weakest roster in the league after purging veterans all offseason.

The team signed Malik Willis to start under center after he showed some promise in Green Bay, but he's made all of six starts in four seasons. Miami has an electric young running back in De'Von Achane, but that's it where offensive weapons are concerned.

Defensively, Jordyn Brooks and rookie Jacob Rodriguez are a solid duo at linebacker, and Zach Sieler is a quality tackle. But there are major questions on the edge and on the back end, and in today's pass-heavy NFL that's a dangerous combination.

The Dolphins are in Stage 1 of a ground-up rebuild, and it's going to show this season. — Davenport

The Arizona Cardinals are entering an evaluation season.

If anything, the slight chance of outperforming expectations should be viewed as a negative since Arizona won't surpass the other three teams in the NFC West and could hurt its draft standing, which is vitally important to ensure the acquisition of a top quarterback prospect.

Some will look at this setup as a defeatist attitude. They wouldn't be wrong, either.

At the same time, the Cardinals can't consistently compete based on how their roster is currently constructed.

New head coach Mike LaFleur gets a mulligan campaign until he can help with the selection process of the team's next quarterback. — Sobleski

Our experts all seem to agree that the Cleveland Browns are a bottom-tier team, and that probably says more about their quarterback situation than anything else.

The Browns have some talented young players on their roster and the bones of a defense that ranked fourth overall last season—with Jared Verse trying to replace the departed Myles Garrett.

Even with Garrett leading the defense, though, Cleveland couldn't notch more than five wins, in large part because of bad quarterback play.

The return of Deshaun Watson doesn't really improve the Browns' QB situation, and the looming 2027 quarterback class could eventually leave Cleveland searching for fewer wins than it got a year ago. — Knox

B/R NFL Scouting Dept's 2027 NFL Mock Draft Before 2026 Season

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The Jets are a franchise stuck in limbo—and it's partly of their own doing.

On one hand, the team hopes to be building a foundation for the future. New York had three first-round picks in 2026 and is set to have three more in a 2027 draft that is projected to be loaded at quarterback.

However, the Jets have also been reluctant to fully embrace a rebuild. The addition of veteran quarterback Geno Smith is unlikely to get them into the playoffs or deliver their first winning season since 2015.

The Jets have enough talent on both sides of the ball to win 5-6 games with competent quarterback play—and all that will do is make it that much harder to draft an elite quarterback prospect in 2027 without moving up. — Davenport

Atlanta enters the 2026 season with significant questions on both sides of the ball.

In terms of offensive weapons, the Falcons are set up well. Running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts are an impressive trio, and the offensive line is solid.

However, Atlanta headed into Week 1 without having named a starting quarterback, and that's not a good sign.

Defensively, things are even worse. We already knew the linebacker position was going to be a potential concern, but a Falcons team that led the NFC in sacks last season will now be down its top two edge-rushers for at least the first eight games—and one is out for the season.

Those absences create a major problem for the defense.

The NFC South is widely viewed as one of the league's weakest divisions, but Atlanta's issues entering the season may be too much to overcome. — Davenport

The Tennessee Titans are slowly building toward something of substance and should be far more competitive this fall.

The pieces are falling into place after the back-to-back top-10 selections of quarterback Cam Ward and wide receiver Carnell Tate.

The organization signed Wan'Dale Robinson as a free agent to give Ward another quality target.

Defensively, Tennessee experienced an overhaul under the watchful eye of new head coach Robert Saleh. The additions of John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, Jermaine Johnson II, Jacob Martin, Solomon Thomas, Cor'Dale Flott, Alontae Taylor and Joshua Williams, as well as first- and second-round rookies Keldric Faulk and Anthony Hill Jr., provide a significant boost on that side of the ball.

Ward needs to show growth in Year 2. Tennessee's offensive line must hold together. And the defense should jell over time. As these things progress, the Titans will be viewed as a difficult matchup. — Sobleski

Coming off a 3-14 campaign, the Las Vegas Raiders should be able to build early momentum in their home opener against the Miami Dolphins, who are also in the early phases of a rebuild.

Kirk Cousins played in new head coach Klint Kubiak's system during his time with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He should be solid behind a revamped offensive line that features three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.

While the Raiders' offense will be much improved, their secondary will be inexperienced and susceptible to big plays. First-time defensive coordinator Rob Leonard is a question mark. His ability to put the young defensive backs in spots to succeed could make or break the defense. — Moton

Everyone is eager to see Jayden Daniels return to the form he showcased as Offensive Rookie of the Year two seasons ago.

However, I'm not convinced that having the quarterback healthy and playing at a high level will be enough to return Washington to contention.

This is a team that had serious flaws in 2025 that extended beyond its injury issues. Its offense was short on playmakers, and its defense was the worst in the league in terms of yards allowed.

The Commanders will have to prove they're better, not just healthier, on both sides of the ball to rise in our power rankings. — Knox

The New York Giants should be instantly more competitive with John Harbaugh taking over as head coach. He knows what it takes to build a contender and to sustain success, and fans should expect to see glimpses of that in 2026.

However, we're probably still a year away from seeing New York make a real run in the NFC East. Despite having several promising young players, the Giants still have a lot of unknowns.

Much will hinge on Jaxson Dart's ability to stay healthy and make a significant second-year jump. — Knox

The Indianapolis Colts are running it back this year, though significant lingering concerns exist. Injuries will play the biggest factor.

Quarterback Daniel Jones may be cleared and ready to start in Week 1, but he's still coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Wide receiver Alec Pierce finally practiced fully last week after ankle surgery, but he missed all of training camp and the preseason. Tight end Tyler Warren is dealing with a groin injury. Top rookie CJ Allen dealt with injuries throughout his first training camp, which means he's not fully ready for the regular season.

Meanwhile, the defensive trio of DeForest Buckner, Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward are coming off injuries last season that should be considered worrisome.

The talent found on Indianapolis' roster is obvious, but the squad's depth is thin. If the Colts are going to play like the team that showed up during the first half of last season, its top players must remain on the field. – Sobleski

It's now or never for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers.

Winning a division at 8-9 was hardly dominant, but a title is a title, and the Panthers showed promise at times last season—most notably with a Week 13 win over the Rams.

The Panthers exercised Young's 2027 option, though Yahoo Sports reported that his future as Carolina's starter could be in doubt if he does not take a significant step forward in his fourth season. He surpassed 3,000 passing yards last season but has yet to throw for 25 touchdowns in a single year.

There are weapons in Carolina in wideouts Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. The Panthers spent big adding free agents on defense in linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips.

But it's still a flawed team—led by a flawed quarterback. — Davenport

Expect head coach Kevin O'Connell to open up the playbook with the most talented quarterback he's had in his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings.

Kyler Murray has played through one full season in five years, but he's still a dynamic quarterback when healthy. In Minnesota, he shouldn't have to use his legs much with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings and T.J. Hockenson downfield.

Murray is a strong Comeback Player of the Year candidate, and he'll play with a top-notch defense led by Brian Flores that will take some pressure off the offense. Don't be surprised if the Vikings are in contention for a division title this year. — Moton

For years, some fans and analysts have called on the New Orleans Saints to begin a full rebuild after five consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.

To date, general manager Mickey Loomis has resisted that approach, and the decision is reflected in the 2026 roster.

To be fair, if Tyler Shough can build on a promising rookie season under center, the offense could make some noise—wide receiver Chris Olave is coming off his best season, and Travis Etienne Jr. should add some pop in the backfield. The defense was quietly ninth in the league in total defense in 2025.

The Saints could win a weak NFC South this season, but they are not a Super Bowl contender—and it is difficult to see a path to becoming one while they remain committed to chasing the fringes of playoff contention. — Davenport

The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like the wild card of the AFC North.

They have enough overall talent to make some postseason noise if the reunion between Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers is successful. However, an aging roster and some notable holes could also leave Pittsburgh out of the playoff mix early if Rodgers regresses.

This is a team that ranked 25th and 26th in yards gained and yards allowed, respectively, last season. We should learn quickly whether former coach Mike Tomlin was holding the Steelers back or holding them together. — Knox

Prior to last year, the Buccaneers had won four straight NFC South titles. But a 6-2 start in 2025 turned into a 2-7 finish, followed by a missed postseason and a rocky offseason.

Todd Bowles enters 2026 under significant pressure, while Baker Mayfield faces unresolved contract uncertainty. Franchise stalwarts such as wide receiver Mike Evans and Lavonte David are gone.

Reinforcements have arrived, but they aren't Evans and David.

The Buccaneers are the betting favorites in the NFC South, but there are real questions with just about every position group on this roster.

Tampa could win the division, or wind up in the basement. — Davenport

The Kansas City Chiefs are in the middle of the power-ranking pack because they need to convince us they're closer to the team that was a Super Bowl contender before their 6-11 campaign in 2025. Although Patrick Mahomes is on track to suit up for Week 1, there are still questions about the roster.

As the No. 1 receiver, can Rashee Rice stay healthy? Is Xavier Worthy going to make a third-year leap? How effective will Travis Kelce be in his 14th year? Can Jaylon Moore be a reliable right tackle? How will the secondary hold up following an offseason of changes?

There are just too many questions, aside from how Mahomes bounces back from a torn ACL, to think the Chiefs belong back in the top half of our power rankings. — Moton

Quarterback Jordan Love must carry the Green Bay Packers through the first several weeks of the season.

Running back Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner's exempt list. The team placed edge-rusher Micah Parsons on the physically unable to perform list, which means he'll miss at least four games.

Green Bay's cornerback group is shaky, with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine on the boundary. Both allowed passer ratings above 105 and gave up 13 touchdowns combined in coverage last year.

In 2024 and 2025, the Packers ranked in the bottom six in pass attempts. Love has the playmakers to lead a productive passing attack, but he'll have to compensate for a potentially leaky defense and unproven running backs in the ground game. Green Bay could stumble to the NFC North basement early if he can't. — Moton

It may be now or never for the Cincinnati Bengals.

After years of seemingly only investing in offensive players who could help sell tickets, Cincinnati put some work into rebuilding its defense. If new pieces like Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and Cashius Howell can help the Bengals be just average defensively, they should be a playoff team.

That is, of course, assuming that Joe Burrow can stay healthy, which isn't guaranteed. If he does and Cincinnati misses the playoffs again anyway, fans can probably expect a regime change. — Knox

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the NFL's most potent offenses last season. Unfortunately, they also had a historically bad defense that was the first in franchise history to surrender more than 500 points in a season.

The good news is that the bulk of last year's offense remains intact, while the Cowboys added several promising pieces to their defense in the offseason. Even moderate improvements on defense should be enough to make Dallas a legitimate playoff threat. — Knox

The Chicago Bears should make more strides in their second season under head coach Ben Johnson. In all four of his years as an offensive play-caller, he's fielded a top-nine scoring offense, three as a coordinator with the Detroit Lions and last season.

Any one of Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze or Colston Loveland could break out this year while D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai share touches in an effective ground attack.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen must cover holes on his side of the ball, though. Safety Coby Bryant will be out for a few months after undergoing knee surgery. The team traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons, which leaves Pro Bowler Montez Sweat as the only reliable pass-rusher on the front line.

The Bears are still a playoff-caliber squad, but their defensive question marks could be an issue against tough opponents. — Moton

Although the Detroit Lions will open the season without safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, they're explosive enough on offense to reach their Week 6 bye with a winning record.

The Lions' home opener against the New Orleans Saints could be a tight battle, but Detroit will face the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals before its bye, three teams that aren't high-scoring juggernauts.

If Joseph and Branch are back in October, the Lions' momentum should take off during a stretch in which the team plays one road game between Weeks 7 and 12.

New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing can help get the offense on track during a favorable home stretch as the secondary gets healthy. There's a lot to like about the Lions, both in their roster and schedule. — Moton

Our experts seem to agree that the Baltimore Ravens will be back in the playoff picture this season. They might even be title contenders if they can fix a few key issues from the 2025 season.

Baltimore was a missed kick away from winning the AFC North last season, but it never quite felt like a team that could challenge the AFC's best. If Jesse Minter can dramatically improve last year's 24th-ranked defense and Lamar Jackson can stay healthy, the Ravens can be the sort of conference threat they were just two years ago. — Knox

The Los Angeles Chargers are usually offseason darlings, though they have earned it under head coach Jim Harbaugh, going 11-6 in back-to-back seasons. The Chargers have also deservedly garnered criticism for their lack of playoff success.

As the panelist who ranked the Chargers slightly outside the top 10 (No. 13), it's fair to note the loss of former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who took over as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

Sure, this team will score a lot of points under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, but it may also struggle to keep defenses out of the end zone as the players adjust to first-year play-caller Chris O'Leary. — Moton

The Philadelphia Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC East, and they might even be a little underrated heading into Week 1.

Dallas' defensive overhaul and John Harbaugh's arrival in New York soaked up much of the divisional spotlight during the offseason. However, Philly has made four playoff appearances, won three division titles, appeared in two Super Bowls, and lifted one Lombardi Trophy over the past four seasons.

With A.J. Brown gone, the inexperienced Sean Mannion taking over as offensive coordinator and some shuffling in the secondary, the Eagles could regress. If those unknowns prove to be non-issues, though, they could also make their way back to the title game. — Knox

Kyle Shanahan's squad has been hit hard by injuries over the years. At the same time, the Niners remain one of the league's most competitive teams.

In five of the last seven seasons, San Francisco has made the postseason. Shanahan and Co. own a 72-45 record during that stretch.

There's no reason to expect this year's team to take a step back this fall, not with Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and George Kittle back in the lineup despite coming off season-ending injuries.

From there, the Niners front office reworked the wide receiver room by signing Mike Evans, drafting De'Zhaun Stribling and re-signing Deebo Samuel. Also, the acquisition of Osa Odighizuwa should provide an interior pass-rush presence to help the squad's edge-defenders and hopefully create far more pressure than last season.

On paper, the 49ers are set. Everyone needs to stay on the field, though. — Sobleski

The Jacksonville Jaguars were already the NFL's best team over the second half of the 2025 regular season. Granted, Liam Coen's squad lost in the first round of the postseason. Even so, this year's squad can be even more dangerous.

Obviously, quarterback Trevor Lawrence finally lived up to his potential, with the chance to build off that performance. Travis Hunter is back and healthy after playing in only seven games as a rookie. Also, the Jaguars will now have a full season with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the lineup.

Despite last season's ending, the Jags should be excited about what they can do this fall. But the team needs a full season of consistent performance, not just half of one. — Sobleski

The Patriots experienced a seismic turnaround in Mike Vrabel's first season as head coach, going from a four-win team in 2024 to a 13-win AFC champion in 2025.

The question now is if they can back that success up.

Offensively, the team should be formidable. Quarterback Drake Maye looks the part of a superstar. The arrival of A.J. Brown gives Maye a true alpha receiver. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson offer an impressive thunder-and-lightning combination in the backfield.

However, there are potential issues. The offensive line was mauled in Super Bowl LX. The defense heads into the season without its most proven pass-rusher. After facing a historically easy schedule a year ago, the Patriots open this season against four consecutive 2025 playoff teams, including road games at Seattle, Jacksonville and Buffalo.

New England could lose as many games in September as it did all of last year. — Davenport

There isn't a team east of Los Angeles more in Super Bowl-or-bust mode than the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills dismissed their highly successful coach because he couldn't get the team over the hump. They are led by Josh Allen, who has more playoff wins than any quarterback in NFL history without a Super Bowl appearance.

The good news is the team should be in the thick of it in the AFC. The offense has the league's reigning rushing king and a new No. 1 wide receiver in D.J. Moore. The defense ranked seventh in the league last year.

The bad news is that the Bills have been in the thick of it for the better part of a decade, but for whatever reason they come up short in the postseason. — Davenport

The Houston Texans will go as far as quarterback C.J. Stroud takes them. He doesn't need to operate at any MVP standard for the Texans to become a serious Super Bowl contender, either.

Houston's defense is already good enough to place the team among the NFL's best. The quarterback simply needs to be better than what's been seen the last two seasons and closer to how he performed as a rookie.

The pieces are now around him after the acquisition of running back David Montgomery and the front office reworking the offensive line.

For most NFL teams, the idea of playing complementary football is getting enough from a defense to ensure the squad's high-flying offense doesn't find itself in a shootout every week. In Houston's case, its defense dictates terms.

However, the Texans need to consistently move the ball offensively. If Stroud and Co. do so, the AFC will be ripe for the taking. — Sobleski

The Denver Broncos head into the 2026 season fully loaded.

With the exception of edge-rusher Jonathon Cooper, who's on the commissioner's exempt list, they return most of their third-ranked scoring defense from the previous year.

Bo Nix made a full recovery from two ankle surgeries, and he'll have a new lead receiver in Jaylen Waddle. Going into his third year with an established big-play wideout, Nix can elevate the passing attack to a top-10 unit under head coach Sean Payton.

Most of our panelists agree that Denver is a top-three team to open the season, which seems fitting for a club coming off an AFC Championship appearance. — Moton

Typically, the reigning Super Bowl champions receive the benefit of the doubt heading into the following campaign. The Seattle Seahawks are still considered one of the NFC's best teams. However, the current makeup of the squad could realistically make them the NFC West's third-best team depending on how things break this fall.

First, the Seahawks must adjust offensively without Klint Kubiak calling plays and the reigning Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, serving as the lead back. Defensively, the trio of Riq Woolen, Boye Mafe and Coby Bryant departed in free agency.

Seattle remains a veteran and experienced group, which should prevent any post-Super Bowl slump. At the same time, slight regression shouldn't be unexpected based on where the team currently stands. — Sobleski

Anything short of a Super Bowl victory will be viewed as a disappointment for the Los Angeles Rams.

The addition of Myles Garrett, who is the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and Aaron Donald coming out of retirement only made last season's NFC Championship Game participant even more dangerous.

While those two headline the franchise's offseason moves, the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson at cornerback shouldn't be overlooked, especially when the Rams finished among the bottom half of the league in pass defense in 2025.

Los Angeles now has the connective tissue between its defensive front seven and back end to thrive in all phases of the game.

As long as Matthew Stafford and the offense continues to perform at expected levels, it's hard to imagine the Rams not being the league's best team this fall. – Sobleski