The Rankings
1- Buffalo Bills (3-0)
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.
