2026 NFL Power Rankings

Tony Mario Last Updated: September 17, 2026.

1. Miami Dolphins 0-1-0
   
   
   Miami is the unanimous worst team in the NFL. Every season preview I read had Miami at 0-17 or 1-16.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Cleveland Browns 0-1-0
   
   
   Cleveland looks awful at quarterback at Deshaun Watson. Untli a change is made this will be a bottom two team.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Tennessee Titans 0-1-0
   
   
   Tennessee drafted Cam Ward first overall. Cam Ward does not look like the guy his first game into year two.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Atlanta Falcons 0-1-0
   
   
   Atlanta can thank Cooper Rush for finishing this low on my rankings. This looks like a long year for Atlanta
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. New Orleans Saints 0-1-0
   
   
   New Orleans put up a fight against Detroit. Tyler Shough will have to take a leap this year to sell me on this team competing down the road.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Dallas Cowboys 0-1-0
   
   
   Dallas has a good offense. Without Tyler Smith at left guard, the interior showed cracks. Dallas might have a bottom three defense though which is why the Cowboys rank this low.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Carolina Panthers 0-1-0
   
   
   Bryce Young looked like the guy. I don't think Carolina has a strong offensive line or a sack artist to compliment him. I'm not sure he will get extended unless he wins nine games this year.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Washington Commanders 0-1-0
   
   
   Washington switched their defensive scheme to a 3-4 defense. Laremy Tunsil is missing most of the year too. This feels like a make or break year for Jayden Daniels too.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Las Vegas Raiders 1-0-0
   
   
   Las Vegas has won in week one each of the last two years. Las Vegas beat the worst team in the league which doesn't say much about this franchise making them the worst 1-0 team in the league. Las Vegas faces a tough test against the Los Angeles Chargers. Brock Bowers should be back soon though.
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Indianapolis Colts 0-1-0
    
    
    Indianapolis looked like a one year wonder that peaked last year. It is hard for me to be convinced that Indianapolis is not still in a rebuild.
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-1-0
    
    
    Tampa Bay has the talent to go far, but turnovers cost them in week 1. There's a reason Mike Evans left. I got zero confidence in the Glazers or Todd Bowles. The sad part is that this is the best team in the NFC South.
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Los Angeles Chargers 0-1-0
    
    
    The Los Angeles Chargers interior offensive line matched up poorly against Arizona. Losing defensive coordinator Jessie Minter to the Baltimore Ravens really hurt the Chargers since Minter looked strong in his debut as the Ravens head coach.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Green Bay Packers 0-1-0
    
    
    Green Bay has lost six in a row. Matt Lafleur keeps blowing leads and he might be on his way out as Green Bay Packers head coach if this continues by the end of the season.
    
    
    
    
    
    
14. New York Jets 1-0-0
    
    
    The New York Jets beat the Tennessee Titans in week 1. I expect the Jets to fall apart, but they will get the benefit of the doubt until week 2 ends.
    
    
    
    
    
    
15. New York Giants 1-0-0
    
    
    The New York Giants offense looks good. I need to see them beat a quality opponent on the road before we declare them a playoff team.
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Arizona Cardinals 1-0-0
    
    
    Arizona beat the Los Angeles Chargers on the road as underdogs. They host the Super Bowl Champions in week 2 and they don't have Sam Darnold.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
17. Los Angeles Rams 0-1-0
    
    
    The Los Angeles Rams lost Myles Garrett to an injury as Garrett is now on injured reserve. The Los Angeles Rams also have two really tough road games coming up after their home opener on Monday Night football.
    
    
    
    
    
    
18. New England Patriots 0-1-0
    
    
    New England should rebound against Pittsburgh this weekend, but both Denver and Houston showed better quarterback play. New England has to play Jacksonville and Buffalo on the road. A.J. Brown could be out for up to six weeks. Drake Maye has to do more moving forward for New England to be a playoff team.
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Denver Broncos 0-1-0
    
    
    Denver lost to Kansas City in week 1 by a pretty signifcant margin. I need to see more before I can say they are a contender.
    
    
    
    
    
    
20. Houston Texans 0-1-0
    
    
    Houston's offense looked good in week 1. The defense sucked, but Houston has the best defense between Denver and New England if I have to pick one of the 0-1 teams to get the last wild card. Also playing the Colts and Titans twice a year helps.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
21. Detroit Lions 1-0-0
    
    
    Detroit looks very good offensively. Some injuries on the offensive line and a depleted secondary make this team the final wild card in the NFC even if they find a way into the playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
    
22. Minnesota Vikings 1-0-0
    
    
    Minnesota has won the NFC North in even numbered years under Kevin O'Connell, but has failed to make the playoffs in odd numbered years. Assuming the Vikings continue that trend, this team is a three seed at best.
    
    
    
    
    
    
23. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0-0
    
    
    Pittsburgh might be good enough to get a wild card. I don't expect Pittsburgh to win in January if they get back to the playoffs. I also believe they will lose on Sunday, but for now they have done enough to earn one of the three wild card spots in the AFC with how lethal their defense.
    
    
    
    
    
    
24. Chicago Bears 1-0-0
    
    
    Chicago looks like a machine on offense with 59 points versus Carolina. Worst case scenario this is the six seed in the NFC, best case scenario they are the three seed. If they draw Minnesota as a six seed, they win in Minnesota since Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson have won in January while Kevin O'Connell hasn't.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
25. Cincinnati Bengals 1-0-0
    
    
    The Cincinnati Bengals have enough talent to be a top five AFC team which will get them back to the playoffs. I don't think they got enough pieces on defense to win a playoff game. Cincinnati's offensive line was phenomenal and the Bengals led the NFL in turnovers in week 1. I don't think that is sustainable as the season progresses.
    
    
    
    
    
    
26. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-0-0
    
    
    Jacksonville was my pick to play Seattle in Super Bowl 60 in my final power rankings last year. Jacksonville has enough talent on both sides of the ball to win a wild card game if they repeat as AFC South Division. The Jaguars still feel a notch below the top three dogs in the AFC Conference despite this.
    
    
    
    
    
    
27. Kansas City Chiefs 1-0-0
    
    
    Kansas City finally has a running back that can take pressure off of Mahomes. He doesn't look like the same guy he was that dominated under Eric Bienemy. That's why I would say through one week, Buffalo and Baltimore look like the two best AFC teams with Kansas City as a distant third.
    
    
    
    
    
    
28. Baltimore Ravens 1-0-0
    
    
    Baltimore is good enough to win two playoff games if they can secure the two seed in the AFC this year. Baltimore looks fantastic on both sides of the ball with new head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. They played the Indianapolis Colts though, and host the New Orleans Saints in their home opener this week. I got Baltimore beating Houston and Kansas City. There's one team in the AFC besides Kansas City that Baltimore hasn't conquered and that team hasn't conquered Kansas City, so if someone else beats Kansas City for them, that gives them a concievable path to a Super Bowl.
    
    
    
    
    
    
29. Buffalo Bills 1-0-0
    
    
    Buffalo was my preseason pick to win the AFC before I had them losing to the Super Bowl to the next team on my list. I've picked Buffalo to win the AFC for the second year in a row. I had the Bills beating the Rams in Super Bowl 61. Right now there are three NFC teams with more experience than Buffalo when it comes to playing in the big game known as the Super Bowl, and those three teams would more than likely beat Buffalo if they got to play the Bills in Los Angeles.
    
    
    
    
    
    
30. Philadelphia Eagles 1-0-0
    
    
    Philadelphia is putting Landon Dickerson on injured reserve. However they still got a strong front seven along with some quality cornerbacks.
    
    
    
    
    
    
31. San Francisco 49ers 1-0-0
    
    
    San Francisco looked very dominant. This team looks like they are on a mission with their division rival getting another Super Bowl.
    
    
    
    
    
    
32. Seattle Seahawks 1-0-0
    
    
    Seattle is coming off a Super Bowl. They retained a lot of talent at key positions. This team could do what Seattle did after winning Super Bowl 48 and get back to the Super Bowl. The offense has to play better, but the defense should hold up because like the Legion Of Boom, the Legion Of Doom appears to be a historically great defense.