NFL Power Rankings

by Cody Olsen and Noah Pallipat

NFL POWER RANKINGS

By: Kody Olsen and Noah Pallipat

Whether it be the surprising leap of the Colts or the disappointing start that has been the Ravens’ season, this NFL season has already proven to be one of the most intriguing of the past 2 years, and we’re not even halfway through it yet. With that being said, here are our NFL power rankings according to performances so far and overall team strength.

32: New York Jets - Proj. 2-15

Easily the bottom of the barrel of the NFL teams this year, the NYJ have only won one game as of writing, currently sitting at a 1-7 record. They’re very talent-deficient, with their only solid players being Sauce Gardner, Breece Hall, and Garrett Wilson. Justin Fields has been playing solid, but he has been unable to get over the hump and win much so far, not to mention his abysmal inconsistency at performing at an elite level. As such, we don’t project them doing much better as the season goes on.

31: Tennessee Titans - Proj. 3-14

This team is so talent-deficient it’s sad. A team that used to have AJ Brown and Derrick Henry, now stuck with the likes of Calvin Ridley and Chig Okonkwo. We do believe Cam Ward has been playing better than his numbers are saying, as their O-line is not doing him any favors. With the firing of Brian Callahan, however, we can see this team being more competitive and winning a couple more games this season, although ultimately this season will yet again join a slew of other seasons as a staunch failure.

30: Cleveland Browns - 4-13

Not surprising if you’ve seen how they’ve been playing through this season so far. With their only win currently being against the Packers in a low-scoring affair and the Dolphins in a blowout, we don’t see them performing much better as the season continues. Their defense does continue to dominate, particularly due to the likes of Myles Garrett and their rookies Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger, but their offense has been bottom 5. We don’t see Shedeur Sanders starting by the end of the season, and we believe there’s a high chance Kevin Stefenski gets fired before the season’s end. We shouldn’t expect many more wins throughout the season.

29: Baltimore Ravens - Proj. 6-11

Easily the most disappointing team so far this season, the Ravens currently sit at a measly 2-5 record. While we do think Lamar being out is the major reason for that, they still lost multiple games even with him under center. They obviously have a lot of talent, from Derrick Henry to Zay Flowers, but they just simply haven’t been playing their best football. Their defense has been bottom of the league, and with how many injuries they’ve suffered already, we don’t see them making the playoffs for the second time with Lamar Jackson on their team. We could easily see Jim Harbaugh being fired by the end of the season, and we think their Super Bowl window could be effectively and essentially closed as well.

28: New Orleans Saints - Proj. 6-11

Starting from the worst team in the league at the beginning of the season, the Saints have improved drastically and put up good fights against good teams such as the Bills and Patriots. Spencer Rattler has started getting rhythm in the pocket and that should continue as the year goes on. They could possibly have more wins if they start giving the ball to Alvin Kamara more, and if their defense starts picking up pace also. While they don’t have many major players on defense, you only need a mediocre defense to lock down wide receivers for half of a game, something that they can’t do now. Their only win was against the Giants, which was in a dominating fashion. Their defense recorded 5 turnovers, which consisted of 2 interceptions and 3 fumbles. Kellen Moore was given a dumpster-of-a-team when he decided to become the head coach of the Saints, and he has yet to prove how good his team is so far. He should be able to stick around for at least a couple more seasons, but expect him to be considered in the “hot seat” among NFL coaches.

27: Miami Dolphins - Proj. 5-12

While their projected record might be lower than that of the Saints, we think that overall, they’ll be the better team. The offense has actually been solid, with players like Jaylen Waddle and Darren Waller having good performances through the first couple of weeks. Tua, however, is playing horribly, currently having 10 picks on the season. This is unsustainable in the long run, and Mike McDaniel will likely get fired before the season’s end. Losing Tyreek Hill was a major hit, and the defense has not been playing up to par. However, in a matchup of the Dolphins against the Saints, we would pick the Dolphins, and thus it only seems logical to place them above the Saints.

26: Las Vegas Raiders - Proj. 6-11

Another team with high hopes at the start of the season, the Raiders have been pretty disappointing as of late, with their only wins being over the Patriots and Titans. Ashton Jeanty has looked much better recently, though, and once players like Brock Bowers are healthy, this team could be dangerous. The main thing bringing them down is Geno Smith, a QB formerly known for his precision and consistent accuracy as a passer, but who has now thrown double-digit interceptions already and hasn’t looked good in a single game so far. The defense has been solid, though, and Maxx Crosby is an absolute beast, so we can see them keeping their later games close.

25: Cincinnati Bengals - Proj. 7-10

Honestly, the Bengals are the team we’re most confused about. The amount of talent on their team is ridiculous, mainly on offense, but they still struggle in games that they really should be winning. Things are looking up with Joe Flacco coming in, and Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are still good at football, but their defense continues to be at the bottom of the league. Due to this, by the time Joe Burrow comes back from his injury, it might be too late to save the season. We’ll just have to wait and see, however.

24: New York Giants - Proj. 6-11

This team, although not the most competitive so far, has looked much better with Jaxson Dart coming in and Cam Skattebo becoming the RB1. The defense is young, but there’s a lot of promise here, and we’d say the biggest issue is the lack of weapons for Dart to throw to. If Malik Nabers were healthy, we could see this team as a wild-card team, but for now, they won't be competing for the playoffs. In the future, this team could be lethal, and by next year, they’re a true threat (so long as they can avoid the injury bug). 

23: Arizona Cardinals proj. 7-10

The Cardinals started hot, with them beginning 2-0. However, they’ve now lost 5 games in a row, and they’ve struggled to close out games. All of their games have come down to one score, and this shows their coaching issues on full display. We know many are blaming Kyler Murray for this, but we honestly don’t think it’s him. They do have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, with people like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride on offense and Budda Baker and Josh Sweat on defense. Still, with nothing having changed thus far, we don’t see them in playoff contention. Moreover, with Kyler Murray aging and the residual stink of the Cardinals as a franchise, they have very little time to shed the superimposed “mediocre” stamp that has been used to refer to them for many years by this point.

22: Carolina Panthers - Proj. 7-10

We most definitely have seen an improvement from last year. In particular we can scrutinize Bryce Young’s performance, in which we see him throwing less risky throws and actually winning games. The Panthers got a steal in Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 180+ yards in two consecutive games when the starter, Chuba Hubbard, was injured. The Panthers are 4-1 at home and 0-3 away. Bryce Young is battling an injury, so Andy Dalton is starting. Right now, they are sitting at 0.500, something that they haven’t done in the past few seasons, and their next game is away against the 5–1-1 Packers. 

21: Houston Texans - Proj. 7-10

The Texans are definitely one of the most surprising yet simultaneously unsurprising teams in the NFL right now. We knew at the beginning of the season that the Texans would do significantly worse than their last two previous years due to their horrible O-Line. During the offseason, they lost their only good offensive lineman, Larmey Tunsil, to the Commanders. However what’s surprising is the use of the run game. They developed Woody Marks, a 4th round rookie out of USC, into their second string RB after the injured Joe Mixon. We think that the Texans should certainly prioritize guards and tackles in the 2026 draft and then they will be ready for the upcoming season. 

20: Dallas Cowboys - Proj. 8-8-1

After a humiliating loss to the Broncos last Sunday,  NFL fans are left to ponder; the defense or Jerry Jones? On one hand, their defense has been horrible (to say the least) and on the other hand Jerry Jones is at fault for trading away their best defensive player. Despite this, he did bring in George Pickens, a WR that has taken flight in Dallas especially when CeeDee Lamb was injured. Additionally, their offensive line has not been as good as they hoped it to be. Other than that, their offense has been fantastic, with Dak having the second most passing yards, Javonte Williams having the 4th most rushing yards in the league, and George Pickens with the 3rd most receiving yards in the league. Their only hope of making the playoffs this year is trading for a lot of secondary players before the trade deadline or drafting some in the 2026 draft. 

19: Chicago Bears - Proj. 8-9

Rookie Head Coach Ben Johnson has definitely elevated this team from last year, bringing in key players like Jake Moody and Joe Thuney helping the offensive line. The offense and defense have been solid this season, with Kevin Byard III leading the NFL with 4 picks, anchoring their defense that has been surprisingly solid. The offense is balanced, and the team has competed well against stronger opponents. Their 8–9 projection suggests they’re just outside playoff range. Continued development could make them a dark horse next season, but for now we must tamper our excitement into a more practical prediction. 

18: Minnesota Vikings - Proj. 8-9

The Vikings have hovered around .500, showing flashes of brilliance but lacking the consistency necessary for playoff contention and later a fluid playoff performance. Injuries have impacted their offensive rhythm, and the defense has struggled to close games. We see this when J.J. McCarthy got injured twice, and in that Aaron Jones Sr. has only very recently gotten healthy. Their run game has been solid, and the receiving core remains dangerous. Coaching decisions have been questioned, especially in late-game scenarios. They’re projected to finish just under playoff contention. A strong second half could change their fate, but perhaps it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say HC Kevin O’Connell’s seat may even be a little too hot to sit on right now.

17: Jacksonville Jaguars Proj. 9-8

Jacksonville has been competitive but hasn’t lived up to preseason expectations. Trevor Lawrence has had moments of excellence, but turnovers and red-zone inefficiency have hurt. The defense is middle-of-the-pack, and the team struggles against top-tier opponents. Their star kicker Cam Little (who easily drained a 70-yard field goal in the preseason) has been mild to outright horrific in the regular season, which will be upsetting to the Jaguars organization and could be a sneaky lethal impediment in the long run. Coaching stability has helped, but they need more from their offensive line. A 9–8 finish is within reach if they clean up the execution and masterfulness of their plays. They’re still in the playoff hunt but need a late-season surge and a genuine renaissance from their man under center (QB Trevor Lawrence).

16: Atlanta Falcons Proj. 9-8

The Falcons have leaned heavily on their run game, with Bijan Robinson continuing to impress. Quarterback play has been inconsistent, and the defense has been vulnerable to big plays. Coaching has emphasized ball control, but it hasn’t translated into wins against elite teams. Their special teams have been a bright spot, keeping them competitive in close games. A 9–8 projection reflects their potential but also their limitations. They’re a fringe playoff team at best, but look forward to a gradual, but eminent surge in the intellectual and characteristic development of QB Michael Penix Jr. 

15: Washington Commanders Proj. 10-7

Washington has surprised many with their aggressive defense and improved quarterback play. The addition of Laremy Tunsil has stabilized the offensive line, giving the QB more time to operate. Their defense ranks in the top half of the league, and they’ve pulled off a few upsets. Coaching has been solid, and the team plays with grit. A 10–7 finish is possible if they maintain momentum. They’re a legitimate wild-card contender, as long as they do not get objectively fazed by their 3-5 start to the season.

14: San Francisco 49ers - Proj. 10-7

The 49ers have battled injuries but remain one of the most fundamentally sound teams in the league despite their shortcomings. Their injuries this year include star players, including Brock Purdy, Brandon Ayiuk, Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and so on. Their defense is elite (when it’s healthy), and the offense has been efficient when healthy. Mac Jones has shown poise, and Christian McCaffrey continues to be a Herculean game-changer even though he has a low number of rushing yards. Coaching under Kyle Shanahan remains a strength. They’re projected to finish 10–7, with playoff expectations intact. Health will be the key to their postseason success.

13: Kansas City Chiefs - Proj. 10-7

The Chiefs have taken a step back from their usual dominance, struggling with offensive rhythm. Patrick Mahomes is still elite, but the receiving core has been inconsistent. The rushing game has also been bad, as Patrick Mahomes usually leads the team in rushing yards in many of their games. Travis Kelce remains a top target, but defenses have adjusted. Their defense has kept them in games, ranking top 10 in several categories. A 10–7 finish is realistic, but they’ll need to peak at the right time. They’re still dangerous in the playoffs (as they have made the AFC Conference Championship every year since and including the 2018 season). 

12: Seattle Seahawks - Proj. 10-7

The Seahawks have shown a ton of improvement from last year, although they end up with the same record as last year on this list. Sam Darnold has shown that his breakout season in Minnesota last year was no fluke, and he is a legitimately great quarterback when he is on a good team that is coached well. Cooper Kupp has been decently disappointing, but with Jaxon Smith-Njigba having an MVP-caliber season and the defense continuing to be dominant, playoffs are likely, unlike what happened last year.

11: Denver Broncos - Proj. 11-6

The Broncos had a rough start to their season, beginning 1-2. However, they’ve now won 5 in a row in an impressive fashion, and Bo Nix has been the reason for that. He’s picked up from where he left off last year well, and has been leading an offense that has taken a step this season with players like Courtland Sutton and JK Dobbins/RJ Harvey. Their defense continues to dominate, and they’re at the top of their division, so they’re most likely going to go into the playoffs looking good.

10: New England Patriots - Proj. 10-7

The Patriots have looked like a good football team again, something that should be scary for the league, considering it is only Drake Maye’s sophomore season. He’s been very consistent in the passing and rushing game, and ever since their statement game against the Bills to end their undefeated streak, they’ve been red-hot. Players like Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs have been very consistent receivers for Maye, and their defense has also taken a big leap from where it was the previous two seasons. Currently sitting at 6-2, playoffs are very likely, however be aware that they may drop games they’re expected to win.

9: Los Angeles Chargers - Proj. 11-6

The Chargers have finally found consistency, thanks to a healthy Justin Herbert and a revamped offensive scheme. Herbert is playing at an MVP-caliber level, spreading the ball efficiently to his deep receiving core. The addition of a reliable run game has helped balance the offense and keep defenses guessing. Defensively, they’ve improved dramatically, especially in red-zone efficiency and third-down stops. Khalil Mack and Derwin James are anchoring a unit that’s playing with confidence. Coaching has been more aggressive this season, with better in-game adjustments. Their 5–3 record includes wins over playoff-caliber teams, showing they can compete with the best. If they stay healthy, they could make a deep playoff run. The key will be maintaining momentum through the second half of the season.

8: Pittsburgh Steelers - Proj. 10-7

The Steelers, although dropping their last two games, have looked solid to begin this season. Their defense, though, has regressed at a shocking rate, which shouldn’t be happening if you have players like TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Unfortunately for Steelers fans at this point, though, the team has turned into an endless purgatory of flashes of potential, but late season collapses or a lack of maximization of that potential. With Mike Tomlin as their head coach, however, they will find a way to have a winning record by the end of the season, and with Aaron Rodgers as your quarterback, a seasoned vet with a lot still left in the tank it appears, they’ll look mid to solid doing it.

7: Buffalo Bills - Proj. 12-5

The Bills dropped 2 ugly games back to back, much like the Eagles did, but we’ll get to them in a bit. Since then, however, they blew out the Panthers in a get-right game for them, and it will hopefully propel them the rest of the way. Josh Allen is not nearly playing as good as his MVP season last year, but the team has continued to find ways to win, currently sitting at 5-2. They’re a well coached organization with a solid defense and top-tier offense despite limited WR talent, and the chances of that changing are very slim. Playoffs are going to happen with this team, and they’re one of our top picks for the Super Bowl as of right now.

6: Green Bay Packers - Proj. 12-4-1

The Packers, besides dropping a game to the Browns and tying with the Cowboys, have looked lethal as of late, currently sitting at 5-1-1. Jordan Love has been more consistent this year, and the offensive room is jam packed with talent across the board. Their defense has also improved quite a bit, something you can attribute to their trade for Micah Parsons and his presence in that defensive room. Playoffs are basically a given for this team at this point, and with how they’re playing this year, they’ll likely rival the Lions for the top of their division.

5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Proj. 13-4

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a really dominant team throughout the season with their only losses being against the Eagles, off of a game losing interception, and the Lions, without any of their star WR’s. Over the past three games thought, Baker Mayfield has been regressing significantly from the MVP-caliber quarterback he was at the beginning of the season. This may be due to the fact that the Bucs are missing their RB, Bucky Irving, but anyway, it has been rough. Their next games are against the Patriots, Bills, and Rams, all playoff-teams with elite defenses (except the Bills). The rest of the schedule however is extremely easy, playing the rest of their horrible division, and they should all be easy wins. They also have developed an incredible wideout in Emeka Egbuka, a 1st round rookie out of OSU. He has potential to become the Offensive Rookie Of the Year as the only other competitor is Giants’s Jaxon Dart. 

4: Philadelphia Eagles - Proj. 13-4

The Philadelphia Eagles’s season has been something of a rollercoaster. Through the first 4 games they were winning games and defending their title but after that, they lost two consecutive games to the Broncos and the Giants, causing Philly fans to compare this season to their 2023 season. However after that, they started locking in and won against the Vikings and the Giants (in dominating fashion) eradicating fans of their doubts. Heading into their bye week, they have many major injuries to heal up from including AJ Brown, Saquon Barkley, and Nakobe Dean, all players that are currently injured and expected to play week 10. Saquon Barkley finally found his rhythm in the run game rushing for almost 150 yards and 1 rushing touchdown along with a receiving touchdown. Throughout the season, Devonta Smith has developed immensely and has been crucial in times of distress among fans. In week 7, Devonta Smith had a career game receiving for 183 yards and a touchdown. When AJ Brown is out, he consistently keeps the game going by moving the chains and always being open when Jalen Hurts is in trouble. Speaking of Jalen Hurts, he had a great game against the Giants having a total of 4 touchdowns. Against the Vikings he recorded more than 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, his first time throwing for over 300 yards in a year, and he became the first QB this season to have a perfect passer rating in a game. The O-Line has been rough through all the games, but they eventually found their rhythm against the Giants. And then there is AJ Brown, sending cryptic messages on social media and criticizing the pass game leading to NFL fans urging their team to trade for him. However, despite all the teams that called to trade for AJ Brown, Howie Roseman and the Eagles have decided to take no trades for AJ Brown. This is because if they did accept one, they would lose up to $40 million is lost money. While this team doesn’t look nearly as good as the Super Bowl winning team last season, they definitely are going to the playoffs and can improve further.  

3: Los Angeles Rams - Proj. 13-4

The Rams have started out much faster than in previous years, but this could be a bad thing if they struggle with the second half of their schedule. The past two years they’ve started with losing records, and during that time people weren’t sure if they’d even be a playoff contender. However, they’ve peaked late both of those times, and have shown that they’re a dangerous team when they make the playoffs. Puka Nacua, if he hadn’t gotten injured, would likely be having an MVP campaign, but he’ll at least be a contender for OPOY. With Davante Adams joining the team and Matthew Stafford still looking like a fantastic quarterback, winning their division is practically in their hands.

2: Indianapolis Colts - Proj. 13-4

The Colts have been the most shocking team in a positive way. They’re currently 7-1, and have only lost one game to the Rams that was close the entire time and could’ve gone either way, at least until the fumble through the back of the endzone that could’ve been a touchdown and instead was a touchback. Daniel Jones is showing the problem wasn’t him, and instead was the Giants organization being terrible, as he is now a potential MVP candidate with his precision in the pocket and ability to keep the football safe leading his team to many wins. Jonathan Taylor has been another MVP candidate, with him already having 12 touchdowns on the season and a ridiculous 5.9 yards per carry. With other players like Tyler Warren having a great rookie season and their defense taking a major step, they’re going to make the playoffs after two years of heartbreak under Anthony Richardson.

1: Detroit Lions - Proj. 14-3

The Lions are the best team in the league currently, and it’s not very close. Their record might not say this, but understand they just had a bye and their two losses came at the hands of other playoff contenders currently. Comfortably sitting at 5-2, the Lions are looking fantastic, which shouldn’t be a surprise when you look at their roster. They have the exact same supporting cast on offense, with the only change being loosing Ben Johnson, which hasn’t effected the team’s dynamic much. With players like Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Aiden Hutchinson, the playoffs are almost guaranteed for this team, and we believe they will make the NFC Championship, as long as they don’t have another historic collapse.