Big win in Seattle. Now they head home to face a struggling Washington.
2- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) +1
Jags pulled off a miracle against Philly. They stay in England to welcome division rival Houston, who just scored their first win.
3- Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) +1
Coming off their bye, the Chiefs host the hapless Chargers.
4- Buffalo Bills (4-1) +1
Bills won an epic battle in LA, now they travel to Vegas.
5- Seattle Seahawks (3-2) -3
Tough loss to San Fran, quick turnaround to go to Denver.
6- Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
Ravens survived without Lamar Jackson in Atlanta. Will he be back for their trip to Cleveland.
7- Minnesota Vikings (5-0) +3
Vikings enter their bye at 5-0, but a less than impressive 5-0.
8- New England Patriots (3-2) +4
Patriots appear to have righted the ship after routing Vegas. Looking to keep their momentum when they host the Jets.
9- Los Angeles Rams (2-3) -1
Rams dropped another tight one to Buffalo. Get right game upcoming with Arizona coming to town.
10- Denver Broncos (3-2) -1
Denver won against the Chargers, but it was hardly convincing. Welcoming the defending champs to Mile High on Thursday.
11- Chicago Bears (3-2) -4
Ugly, ugly loss to their bitter rivals, but Chicago expects Caleb Williams back when then travel to Atlanta.
12- Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) -1
Cincy ended their two game skid by beating Miami before the bye.
13-Carolina Panthers (2-2)
Panthers come out of their bye with a trip to Philly, looking to take control of the NFC South.
14- Detroit Lions (3-2) +4
Lions romped over Arizona and head to their bye right in the mix.
15- New York Giants (3-1-1) +2
Giants somehow salvaged a tie with Washington. Now they host a scuffling New Orleans.
16- Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
Vegas has fallen back to earth after a hot start. Schedule doesn’t get any easier as Buffalo comes to town.
17- Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) -3
Eagles dropped their third straight in London to the Jaguars, can they right the ship when they host Carolina?
18- Cleveland Browns (3-2) +1
Tough loss in tough conditions against the Jets. We may find out if Cleveland is for real when they host Baltimore.
19- Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) +5
Steelers rebounded with a solid win against Indy. They travel to Tampa to take on the Bucs who finally got their first win.
20- Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
Atlanta nearly pulled off their third straight win against Baltimore. Now, they host Chicago, possibly without Michael Penix Jr.
21- Green Bay Packers (3-2) +4
Packers thumped the Bears in their best game of the season. The high powered Cowboys invade Lambeau this week.
22- Dallas Cowboys (2-3) -7
Just when I start to trust Dallas, they lose to Tampa. Can they rebound in Green Bay?
23- Houston Texans (1-4)
Texans got their first win over Tennessee. They have a chance to get right back in the mix when they face Jacksonville in London.
24- New Orleans Saints (1-4) -3
Saints fell again, this time to Minnesota. Can they figure out how to win against the Giants in the Meadowlands?
25- Indianapolis Colts (2-3) -3
Colts up and down season hit a down against Pittsburgh, but the schedule gives them an up this week when they host Tennessee.
26- New York Jets (2-3) +1
Jets ended their 3 game skid by beating Cleveland. Do they have anything for the Patriots in Foxboro?
27- Washington Commanders (1-3-1) -2
It wasn’t a loss, but the tie against the Giants is the kind of game that can break a team. I see a blowout looming when they travel to San Francisco.
28- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) +2
Bucs win! Tampa shocked Dallas, now they host Pittsburgh looking to continue the momentum.
29- Arizona Cardinals (1-4) -1
Arizona is a long way from their week one win. Their fourth straight loss against Detroit wasn’t even close. Another rough one coming when they travel to LA.
30- Los Angeles Chargers (0-5) -1
The Chargers are just brutal. Loss to Denver followed by a trip to Arrowhead with KC coming off a bye.
31- Tennessee Titans (0-5)
Tennessee wasn’t even competitive against Houston. Can they at least show up in Indy?
32- Miami Dolphins (0-5)
After the fifth straight loss to open the season, against Cincy, Miami enters their bye week.
Victory is mine! Iceman gets their first win of the season, and it was never really in doubt. Best showing of the season for my team.
What Went Right
1- Bryce Young- Young was my number one key to the week. He needed a bounce back after putting up single digits a week ago. He responded with 25 this week, edging out a 1 point win at the QB position.
2- Kyle Monangai- I had RB as a whole listed as a key and they gave me a slight edge without Monangai, his 26 points allowed me to roll up a big win at RB.
3- Jaylen Waddle- I listed Waddle and Burden as keys, hoping they could combine to equal Chris Olave’s output. Waddle outscored Olave on his own.
4- Ka’imi Fairbairn- Is it any surprise that the best week from my kicker came in a week where I won?
What Went Wrong
1- Colston Loveland- Loveland won the TE matchup but that was only because my opponent put up a goose egg. Still looking for that breakthrough game from Loveland.
2- Josh Downs- I really thought I found a gem at WR on my bench, then he throws up 2 points in a game where the Colts scored 30.
3- Jeremiyah Love- Love reminded me of the ups and downs of a rookie. In a wild shootout, Love only managed 5 points.
Kyle Monangai put up 26 points to lead me to victory.
Week 5 Preview
Iceman Shelved vs Dawgs of the Gridiron
Iceman is a pretty significant underdog as I look to continue my winning ways. Bye weeks start and it hits me as I’m down to my third QB.
Keys to Victory
1- Michael Penix Jr- Penix gets the start for Iceman as Caleb Williams remains sidelined and Bryce Young has his bye. Atlanta has been on a roll offensively, though that’s been mostly on the ground. I’m hoping Penix can stay within ten points of Stafford.
2- Kyle Monangai & Jerimiyah Love- My opponent has a slight advantage, on paper, at RB, but I think I can overcome that. Monangai & Love both have very favorable matchups. I think the projection on Monangai, in particular, is low.
3- Colston Loveland & Kyle Pitts- Although neither has had that breakthrough game yet, I’m back to my two tight end lineup. I need both to hit their projections, at minimum. A breakout from one of them would be huge.
4- New York Giants defense- This isn’t a good week for streaming defenses and the Giants were the best one out there. Washington gets Jayden Daniels back, which could be a problem. The projection is low, but I think the Giants can double that.
PANDAS WIN! It took until early in the fourth quarter of the Monday Night game, but the Pandas pulled off their first win of 2026.
What Went Right
1- Brock Bowers- Bowers was my number one key to the week and he came through. Won the TE battle by 9. This won’t be the last time I win a game because of Bowers.
2- Ollie Gordon II- A waiver wire add that came through big time. Won the FLEX position by 20 points.
3- Jacob Rodriguez- The rookie LB had a monster game, putting up 21 points and outscoring my opponent by 10.
4- New York Giants defense- The pick 6 to seal their victory might have been the difference in my matchup. Outscored my opponent by 13.
What Went Wrong
1- Chase Brown & Jahmyr Gibbs- Brown was listed as one of my keys for this one. He wasn’t terrible and neither was Gibbs, but they were both rather pedestrian. Kenneth Walker III outscored them by 10 on his own.
2- Michael Penix Jr- QB continues to be a problem for the Pandas. I added Penix via waivers and I still haven’t broken 20 at the position. His late TD pass on Monday night did give me the win, though.
3- Luther Burden III- Burden was another one of my keys. He wasn’t terrible just average. Only one double digit output from my WRs so far this season.
Ollie Gordon II went from waiver wire to pacing my team with 21 points.
Week Five Preview
Trash Pandas vs Lanc Lanc Underdawgs
Projected Lineups & Reserves
Tough matchup for the Pandas as we try to keep the momentum up this week. Bye weeks starting as well. I’m a significant underdog in this one.
Keys to Victory
1- Jahmyr Gibbs & Chase Brown- I have a distinct advantage at RB that is offset by an equally distinct disadvantage at WR. I don’t need Gibbs & Brown to just win the RB matchup but to make up the deficit from WR.
2- Luther Burden III & Roman Wilson- As I said, I’m at a distinct disadvantage at WR. I’m not expecting mine to play level with Chase & St. Brown, what I need is for them to outscore my opponent’s RBs.
3- Brock Bowers- This will be the only week that Bowers doesn’t give me a distinct advantage as I’m going up against Trey McBride. This is a heavyweight fight. If Bowers can win it, I could pull off the upset.
4- Michael Penix Jr- I’m rolling with Penix again. Still looking for a good week out of my QBs. I hope Penix can stay within 10 of Goff.
My Bears are 3-1, winning games with 3 different starting quarterbacks. I’m happy with that, but I can’t help lamenting the one loss.
The Bears shot themselves in the foot so many times against the Vikings. A fumble at the goal line, a blocked field goal, penalties wiping out big gains. The topper was Caleb Williams getting hurt. He was going to score on the play where he pulled his hamstring, that alone would have won the game for the Bears, and they’d be 4-0 instead of Minnesota.
But, maybe it was for the best, because they’ve played two of their most complete and dominant games in years since then.
The offensive line is a juggernaut, even with left tackle being in flux. The rushing attack has been stellar, allowing both Case Keenum & Tyson Bagent to flourish in their starts. As good as the Bears have been offensively, thus far, I think the best is yet to come.
The defense got torched by Bryce Young and the Panthers passing game in week one, but since then they’ve played pretty well. Rookies Dillon Thieneman & Malik Muhammad have been very good additions to the secondary. The linebackers have been very good and the pass rush has had its moments.
The defense still needs work and I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a move before the trade deadline to add a piece or two.
They’ve got Green Bay, in Lambeau, this week, which always worries me. Truth be told, though, the Bears should cruise in this one, even without Williams. The Packers have issues on both sides of the ball. They’re lucky to be 2-2, since they’ve eked out wins against the Jets, who Chicago just dominated, and the winless Buccaneers, playing with an undrafted rookie quarterback.
They follow up the trip to Lambeau with a trip to Atlanta to play the Falcons, then back home for a Thursday night tilt against the Patriots at Soldier Field. I’ll honestly be disappointed if they don’t go into their mini-bye and head to Seattle at 6-1, regardless of when Caleb Williams returns.
Obviously, we need Williams back & healthy, but this is a pretty good stretch of the schedule to be without him. Of course, his absence means that we’re likely to endure another season of every pundit in America pointing out that the Chicago Bears have never had a 4,000 yard passer.
Most Pleasant Surprise
Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins
Not only are the Raiders 3-1, but they look like legitimate playoff contenders. They stood toe to toe with the Kansas City Chiefs, and had a real chance to win that game.
The Raiders have stockpiled some talent, on both sides of the ball, over the last few years and first year head coach, Klint Kubiak, has unlocked it.
Signing Kirk Cousins and naming him the starter was one of the smartest moves the Raiders have made in years. Cousins is a smart, savvy veteran that knows how to utilize the playmakers at his disposal. If Cousins and the Raiders continue on this trajectory, not only will #1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, remain on the bench but Vegas will have to seriously consider bringing Cousins back next season.
Honorable Mentions- The Cleveland Browns are an even more surprising 3-1. Deshaun Watson looks like an actual NFL quarterback for the first time since his Houston days. It looks like I was wrong about my original assessment of the hiring of Todd Monken. Former defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, who I felt should have gotten the job, would not have been able to get this kind of play out of Watson and the offense. The New York Giants are also 3-1, despite losing promising second year quarterback, Jaxson Dart, for the season. They’ve faced an easy schedule since Dart’s injury, so I’m not sure how sustainable this success is, but new head coach, John Harbaugh, will get the most out of Big Blue.
Biggest Disappointment
Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert
The 0-4 Chargers edge out the 0-4 Texans for this dubious honor because I think there’s less of a pathway for the Bolts to turn things around. The offense and quarterback, Justin Herbert, have been a hot mess and now the offensive line is being wracked with injuries.
Something needs to change and, fair or unfair, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, will be the fall guy. It’s time to wonder how long he will survive in his current position.
Honorable Mentions- Slow starts are normal for the Houston Texans, who started 0-3 last season, but at 0-4 it looks even worse this year. The most surprising thing has how bad their vaunted defense has been. They’ve been torched for 30+ in 3 of their 4 losses. I expected a bounce back season from the Detroit Lions, but they appear to be exactly the team they were last year. The defense might actually be worse. The offense is capable of lighting up anyone, but they also have stretches where they’re shockingly ineffective.
Told Ya So…
New England Patriots
I said, repeatedly, that the Patriots would regress in 2026 when they didn’t have the benefit of an absurdly easy schedule. I’ll admit, though, that I’m a little shocked at how much Drake Maye has struggled. The win over Buffalo proved that New England is still a dangerous team, though.
Honorable Mention- I predicted that the Green Bay Packers would miss the playoffs this season, one month in that looks accurate. Not only that, it looks like the Packers could finish last in a tough NFC North.
Don’t Believe the Hype
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings sit atop the NFC North at 4-0, but it’s a very deceiving record. Minnesota has squeaked past two bottom feeders in the Buccaneers and Dolphins. They needed an epic fourth quarter to beat Green Bay, another dumpster fire. The Vikings signature win, over the Bears in Chicago was also deceptive. The Bears fumbled at the goal line, missed a field goal, committed costly penalties and on the play that Caleb Williams got hurt, he was heading for the end zone for what would have been the go ahead and likely game winning touchdown.
I’m a Kyler Murray truther. He’s a great athlete, but he is not a good quarterback. The fall for Minnesota will be sharp. Mark my words, they will be eliminated from playoff contention before Christmas.
Watch Out For
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were hands down the worst team in the NFL through two weeks, then Michael Penix Jr returned. Penix hasn’t lit it up, but Atlanta has. They look like a completely different team.
The Falcons have some serious talent and I really like Kevin Stefanski as a head coach. Atlanta is certainly in the hunt in the NFC South, and they could get themselves into the wild card mix, as well.
Revised Predictions
AFC East- 1. Bills* 2. Patriots 3. Jets 4. Dolphins
AFC North- 1. Ravens* 2. Bengals** 3. Steelers 4. Browns
AFC South- 1. Jaguars* 2. Texans 3. Colts 4. Titans
AFC West- 1. Chiefs* 2. Raiders** 3. Broncos** 4. Chargers
The MVP traditionally goes to a quarterback, but thus far this season there’s been no more valuable player than Walker has been to the Chiefs. He’s transformed this offense and given them the consistent running threat they’ve lacked for years.
A running back won’t get MVP, but Walker should get some serious consideration.
Honorable Mentions- Brock Purdy has the San Francisco 49ers offense humming, despite a depleted receiving corps. Purdy hasn’t taken a sack yet this season. Trevor Lawrence has entered elite territory and he’s leading a very dangerous Jacksonville Jaguars team. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have been rather pedestrian the last two weeks, but Allen is always capable of going on a heater and he’s always a contender for this award.
Coach of the Year
Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are looking like a legit playoff contender in the AFC and that’s all because of Kubiak’s leadership. The Raiders have talent, on both sides of the ball, and they finally have a coach that knows how to maximize it.
Honorable Mentions- Todd Monken has the Cleveland Browns playing great football and Deshaun Watson looks like his younger self. Kyle Shanahan might be the best coach in the NFL. The Niners have had a plethora of injuries, again, but Shanahan has them 4-0. Ben Johnson has the Bears 3-1, and he’s won games with 3 different quarterbacks.
The Hot Seat
Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Baker Mayfield injury, ironically, might have given Bowles a bit of a reprieve, but make no mistake he’s on borrowed time, Bowles will not be coaching this team in 2027, guaranteed. The only question is if he makes it through 2026.
Honorable Mentions- While losing their last two games, the Philadelphia Eagles have been thoroughly out coached in each. Nick Sirianni won a Super Bowl, but I’m not sure that saves him if Philly misses the playoffs. There were rumblings about Matt LaFleur after last season, but the Green Bay Packers ultimately decided to extend him. The rumblings are getting louder with each passing week. A loss, at home, to the rival Bears could bring those to a fever pitch.
Niners won a defensive battle with Denver before the O took over late. Huge NFC West showdown in Seattle this week.
2- Seattle Seahawks (3-1) +1
Seahawks let the Chargers back into it by being undisciplined and sloppy. They can’t have that against San Francisco.
3- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) +1
Jaguars won a tough one in Cincinnati, now they head to England for two weeks. First up, Philly.
4- Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) +1
Chiefs prevailed in a slugfest with a resurgent Vegas. Now they hit their bye.
5- Buffalo Bills (3-1) -4
Bills were sloppy for a second straight game, and it cost them as New England toppled them at home. Cross country trip to LA to face the Rams is a tough follow up.
6- Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Ravens were never in trouble against Tennessee, despite the final score, but they did lose Lamar Jackson. Question is for how long. A trip to Atlanta will be very tough without him.
7- Chicago Bears (3-1) +2
The final score doesn’t do justice to how thoroughly the Bears dominated the Jets. Trip to Green Bay this week, probably without Caleb Williams, once again.
8- Los Angeles Rams (2-2)
Rams had an epic comeback in Philly. Now they welcome another contender in Buffalo to SoFi.
9- Denver Broncos (2-2) -2
Not only did the Broncos fall in San Francisco, but they wracked up some big injuries. A trip to LA to face the Chargers could be a chance to get right.
10- Minnesota Vikings (4-0) +2
Unimpressive win over lowly Miami. Now, the Vikings travel to the Big Easy to face a tough Saints team.
11- Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) -1
Bengals dropped their second straight versus Jacksonville, they need a get right game. A trip to South Beach should do the trick.
12-New England Patriots (2-2) +3
Huge win in rival Buffalo. Can they keep the momentum at home versus Vegas?
13-Carolina Panthers (2-2) +5
Panthers rebounded with a resounding win over Detroit before hitting their bye.
14- Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) -3
Eagles let one slip away against the Rams. A trip across the pond to face Jacksonville could send things way off the rails.
15- Dallas Cowboys (2-2) +4
Cowboys won the Battle of Texas. A home tilt on Thursday against lowly Tampa this week.
16- Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) -2
Raiders might have lost the battle to KC, but they proved they’re in the war. Cross country to New England isn’t an easy follow up.
17- New York Giants (3-1) +3
Giants found a way against Arizona. The Jameis Winston experience heads to the Nation’s Capital next.
18- Detroit Lions (2-2) -2
Lions couldn’t slow down Carolina at all. A trip to the desert won’t be an easy one, either.
19- Cleveland Browns (3-1) +3
Browns are announced themselves against Pittsburgh. They need to win in the Meadowlands for people to take them seriously.
20- Atlanta Falcons (2-2) +4
Falcons look like a completely different team. Absolutely on fire in the Big Easy. Hosting Baltimore this week, who might be without Lamar.
21- New Orleans Saints (1-3) -4
Saints got stomped at home against a division rival. Another home tilt this week against undefeated Minnesota.
22- Indianapolis Colts (2-2) +1
Colts cruised across the pond once Washington was down to their third QB. They return stateside for an always tough trip to Pittsburgh.
23- Houston Texans (0-4) -10
Texans defense got torched again by Dallas. They’re running out of time to right this ship. A trip to Music City should help.
24- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) -3
Steelers followed up a big division win by dropping a big division game in Cleveland. Welcoming a well traveled Indy to the Steel City this week.
25-Green Bay Packers (2-2) +1
Packers squeaked by lowly Tampa. Now their bitter rivals from the Windy City invade Lambeau.
25- Washington Commanders (1-2) +5
Commanders went overseas to lose a game and another QB. Coming home to face an equally banged up Giants.
27- New York Jets (1-2) -2
Jets had been competitive in every game until they went to Soldier Field. Now they get to host a resurgent Cleveland.
28- Arizona Cardinals (1-2) -4
Cardinals had a shot to steal a win in the Meadowlands but threw it away. They welcome high powered Detroit to the desert this week.
29- Los Angeles Chargers (0-3) -7
Chargers found some fight late in Seattle. Must win home tilt versus Denver upcoming.
30- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) -3
Buccaneers gave Green Bay all they wanted. Short week as they travel to Dallas on Thursday.
31- Tennessee Titans (0-3) -2
Titans kept Baltimore close only because Lamar Jackson got knocked out. They host a desperate Houston this week.
32- Miami Dolphins (0-3)
Dolphins showed some fight against Minnesota. Welcoming Cincinnati to South Beach this week.
I never stood a chance in this one. Afterwards, I decided to temporarily change my team name since Caleb Williams is on IR.
Not much went right for me this week, though Ashton Jeanty & Jeremiyah Love continue to be solid RBs.
My WRs disappointed. To make things worse, I benched Luther Burden III because I wasn’t sure about the Bears offense, and he had his best week of the season thus far.
Bryce Young had his first real dud of the season. It had to happen when I thrust him into the starting lineup, of course.
The TE position has been the main culprit in my struggles this season. I planned on Kyle Pitts & Colston Loveland being a huge part of my team, and neither has done much of anything, thus far.
Jeremiyah Love led my squad with 18 points, his highest output of his career, so far.
Week 4 Preview
Iceman Shelved vs Legion of Squirrels
Projected Lineups & Reserves
To say this is a must win would be an understatement. I’m a slight favorite, for now, but I expect that to change by Sunday.
Keys to Victory
1- Bryce Young: If I’m going to have any chance of scoring my first victory, I cannot have Young put up single digits again.
2- Colston Loveland: I’m back to starting Loveland this week. TE has been a major disappointment, thus far. To turn my season around, I need both to start putting up points.
3- Running Backs: On paper, I have a slight advantage here. Ashton Jeanty & Jeremiyah Love have been decent, thus far. It would be nice if one of them has a breakout game. I’m also rolling with Kyle Monangai, if I can win the RB position by 15-20 points, I should be able to get a win.
4- Jaylen Waddle & Luther Burden III: My opponent has Chris Olave, which gives him a distinct advantage at WR. I’m hoping that, combined, Waddle & Burden can offset Olave.
Jahmyr Gibbs continues to be an absolute fantasy stud. I figured this would be my last season with Gibbs on my roster, but at my current trajectory, I could end up in a position to draft him once again.
Welcome back, Brock Bowers. It wasn’t enough to push me over the top, this week, but I’m pretty sure Bowers is going to get me a win sooner or later.
Luther Burden III showed signs of life this week with his first double digit output of the season.
Unfortunately, my early season struggles can be pinpointed to the quarterback position. Justin Herbert has been a colossal bust. I have no hope at contention if I can’t get something out of the QB position.
Jahmyr Gibbs had another spectacular performance, putting up 34 points.
Week Four Preview
Trash Pandas vs Xandar Guardians
Projected Lineups & Reserves
Battle of the two worst teams in the league, and it’s a division tilt. The winner could get themselves back in the race, the loser is more than likely in for a long, long season.
The Pandas are significant favorites in this one.
Keys to Victory
1- Brock Bowers: Bowers returned last week and did what I drafted him to do. Dominate the tight end position. He’s my X factor. A fantasy cheat code. His presence, alone, can be the difference between a win and a loss.
2- Chase Brown:Jahmyr Gibbs is going to do his thing, which will always give me a leg up at the RB spot, but I need Brown to start hitting like a low end RB1 instead of a middle of the pack RB2 like he has been.
3- Quarterback: I have a claim in on Michael Penix Jr, but I won’t know until Friday morning if I get him. If I miss out, I may pivot to Jameis Winston. The bottom line is that I’m just not sure I can keep starting Justin Herbert. Herbert is a big reason why I’m 0-3 at this point.
4- Luther Burden III: Burden had his best game of the season last week, finally putting up double digits. If I’m going to turn my season around, I need him to keep that momentum.
Buffalo played about as bad a game, offensively, as they’re likely to play all season, and still won. They could have the AFC East sown up by Thanksgiving.
2- San Francisco 49ers (3-0) +2
Kyle Shanahan might be the best coach in the NFL. Niners keep weathering all the injuries and keep winning. A cupcake schedule didn’t hurt.
3- Seattle Seahawks (2-1) -1
Seattle suffered the most surprising upset of the season, but it was a long road trip. Should just be a minor speed bump.
4- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) +4
Jacksonville looks primed to run away with the AFC South. Last year was no fluke.
5- Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) +1
Kansas City is back atop the AFC West, with a battle versus Vegas looming. Not really blowing teams out, but winning.
6- Baltimore Ravens (2-1) +1
Baltimore’s defense still isn’t right, but they have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.
7- Denver Broncos (2-1) +3
Denver looks like the same team from last year, they look horrible for long stretches, but the defense keeps them in it and suddenly they catch fire.
8- Los Angeles Rams (1-2) -5
The preseason favorites are suddenly two back in the NFC West with a tough road trip looming. Rams need to right the ship in a hurry.
9- Chicago Bears (2-1) +4
Last week the sky was falling, this week it looks like the Bears have a real chance to weather QB1’s absence.
10- Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) -5
Bengals defense reverted to its 2025 form. Hopefully, for them, it was a one week blip.
11- Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) -2
Philly is wildly inconsistent, on both sides of the ball, but they’re still the heavy favorites in the NFC East and capable of beating anyone in any week.
12- Minnesota Vikings (3-0) +6
Vikings are 3-0, but two of those wins were against raging dumpster fires and the other was a slop fest where their opponent repeatedly shots themselves in the foot.
13- Houston Texans (0-3) -2
Texans were also 0-3 last year. I’m not panicking, yet. That said, Houston needs a win, soon, or they can kiss the NFC South title goodbye.
14- Las Vegas Raiders (3-0) +7
Raiders equaled their win total from last season already. We’ll know if they’re for real after this week.
15- New England Patriots (1-2) -3
Patriots have a Drake Maye problem. He’s been terrible and the schedule will only get tougher.
16- Detroit Lions (2-1) +1
Lions are a very unconvincing 2-1. Eked out two home wins and got their doors blown off on the road. Great offense, but the defense is suspect.
17- New Orleans Saints (1-2) -3
Saints have looked impressive at times, but they’re still a young team learning how to win.
18- Carolina Panthers (1-2) -3
The Panthers are in a similar position to the Saints. They’ve got to win the games they are supposed to win.
19- Dallas Cowboys (1-2) -3
Different season, same Cowboys. The offense can be great, the defense cannot. Overhyped as usual.
20- New York Giants (2-1)
Giants are getting hit with the injury bug, again. I don’t know if JJ McCarthy is the answer, but at least they’re trying.
21- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) +2
Best Steelers performance of the season. I’m still unconvinced, though. Can they replicate this performance week to week?
22- Cleveland Browns (2-1) +4
Don’t look now, but the Browns have a winning streak. Best Deshaun Watson has looked in Cleveland. Tough division, but they could hang in there.
23- Indianapolis Colts (1-2) +5
Colts pulled off a big division win, but I’m still skeptical. The defense is subpar and Daniel Jones is still Daniel Jones.
24- Atlanta Falcons (1-2) +7
Falcons finally got their QB1 back, and the offense rolled, albeit against a team in total disarray. This week should tell us how far Atlanta can go.
25- Washington Commanders (1-2) +5
Commanders pulled the upset of the season, with a backup QB. Now they have to go across the pond, but it’s a winnable game.
26- Green Bay Packers (1-2) -7
It’s a raging dumpster fire in Green Bay. The schedule keeps giving them a chance to put it out, though.
27- New York Jets (1-2) -2
Jets aren’t the embarrassment they were last year, but they need to learn to seize wins.
28- Arizona Cardinals (1-2) -4
Cardinals will fight, but they’re seriously overmatched in the NFC West.
29- Los Angeles Chargers (0-3) -7
Chargers created 5 turnovers and lost! Offense is a complete mess. Could find themselves out of the race very quickly.
30- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) -3
Bucs are bad and Baker Mayfield is out for a few weeks. Todd Bowles might not make it to the end of the season.
31- Tennessee Titans (0-3) -2
I thought the new coaching staff would have better results. Tennessee looks like a team in search of an identity.
32- Miami Dolphins (0-3)
Dolphins lost their only star player for the season. They might be on the clock with the first pick in the 2027 draft soon.
