In this business, you either do power rankings half asleep or lose sleep doing the power rankings. This isn’t an attempt to puff out SI’s chest and say our power rankings are better than other power rankings, but it’s something I think about a lot because, if you’re here, it means something to you. In the past I’ve written about what we really mean by power, and I think it’s fine to have a somewhat fluid definition as long as you’re honest about it.
In society, we equate power with money and influence. So, in NFL terms, that means: if every team was a stock, with the ultimate goal of being the last team standing, or the team(s) everyone wants to be like and get ideas from, who would we invest in in?
Power rankings can also be “who’s good right now.” But we already have a goal for that, and it’s called the position. So without further ado, I present this week’s power rankings, which I definitely haven’t spent a disproportionate amount of my time thinking about.
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1. Buffalo Bills (4–1)
Last week: Victory vs. Read also : The State Department pursues “people-to-people” diplomacy through video games. Pittsburgh, 38-3. Next week: in Kansas City
As we mentioned on this week’s MMQB podcast, the Bills are one of those teams that can play a horrible game but still end up whipping an opponent by 30 points. Even on a day when a pedantic quarterback analyst took to Twitter to say Josh Allen was pedestrian, Allen is still big and tough and fearless and hard to bring down. He also plays with one of the deepest offenses in the NFL, and it’s all incredibly well planned. They might lose a dumb game in the playoffs, but that doesn’t change the fact that everyone is looking for the next Josh Allen, and everyone is going to keep hiring Bills coaches and managers.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4–1)
Last week: Win vs. Las Vegas, 30-29. Next week: vs. Buffalo
I’m not being sucked into a trap this year where I somehow think the Chiefs have been figured out. I’m not going to let that happen. Even if they lose four games in a row and it would be a very easy column, I’m not going to invite that mistake into my life (note to the editors, too). What we saw on Monday was one of the best teams in football winning in one of the myriad ways they know how. The Chiefs will continue to do so.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (5–0)
Last week: Win at Arizona, 20-17. This may interest you : San Jose State vs. Western Michigan live stream, channel, odds, how to watch on CBS Sports Network. Next week: vs. Dallas
While unbelievable throws are the norm now, it’s worth looking back at Jalen Hurts’ game against the Cardinals to see how fluidly he escapes pressure and finds open receivers with expert ball placement. That last part sometimes makes balls seem like they’re just limp in the air, when in reality they’re down and gone on purpose; the only place a good passport catcher can find it.
4. Green Bay Packers (3–2)
Last week: Loss vs. New York Giants 27-22Next week: vs. On the same subject : Luis Castillo trading figures: Mariners, Reds both receive an ‘A’ for the first blockbuster of the deadline. New York Jets
The Packers were sleepwalking in London, which seems to happen to good teams from time to time. A good coach (like Matt LaFleur) uses this weekend as an example to get the team refocused and motivated.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3–2)
Last week: Win vs. Atlanta, 21-15 Next week: at Pittsburgh
From an analytical perspective, more than half of the plays Tom Brady makes at age 46 are considered a “success.” Of all the statistics we possess, this may be the most amazing to me personally. In a league where immobile quarterbacks are absolutely punished on a regular basis, Brady remains a hot knife through the butter.
6. Baltimore Ravens (3–2)
Last week: Victory vs. Cincinnati, 19-17 Next week: at New York Giants
Lamar Jackson is missing some big throws, but he’s making up for it. Baltimore, in spurts, against the Bengals began to embrace their size and physicality on offense. Defensively, the zone has never looked so good in purple and black.
7. Dallas Cowboys (4–1)
Last week: Win at Los Angeles Rams, 22-10 Next week: at Philadelphia
The Cowboys are surfing right now with the Cooper Rush, which means they’re riding the waves of a season. When Dak Prescott returns, they will be downright dangerous, provided they can continue to attack the pass and play an efficient offense.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (3–2)
Last week: Win at Cleveland, 30-28 Next week: vs. Denver (Monday)
I don’t care what fourth downs Brandon Staley goes for, as long as he keeps the spirit alive. Austin Ekeler has run for 233 yards and three touchdowns the past two weeks. The Chargers are slowly creeping up the board in terms of their opponents’ quick success rate. Staley’s vision for this team has been crystal clear; the mottled finish slowly irons itself off.
9. Miami Dolphins (3–2)
Last week: Lost at New York Jets, 40-17 Next week: vs. Minnesota
We can’t punish a team down to its third-tier quarterback too harshly. The Dolphins are still dangerous, and fifth in the NFL in EPA per drop back. This is still astonishing, even if Tua Tagovailoa was under center anyway.
10. San Francisco 49ers (3–2)
Last week: Win at Carolina, 37-15 Next week: at Atlanta
The 49ers were the knockout punch of the Matt Rhule era in Carolina. They are a good test of preparation for an opponent. We don’t expect every team to beat the 49ers, but who gives up more than seven yards against them?
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11. Los Angeles Rams (2–3)
Last week: Lost to Dallas, 22-10 Next week: to Carolina
Rams are like a clock with only one hand that works. While it’s fun to see Cooper Kupp catch 30 passes in a game, there has to be a scary counter to this tough offense.
12. Minnesota Vikings (4–1)
Last week: Win against Chicago, 29-22 Next week: at Miami
The Vikings have the third-best punt completion rate in the NFL behind the Bills and Chiefs. Is it good? We should stop making fun of any team that hires Sean McVay’s friends. It seems to work.
13. New York Giants (4–1)
Last week: Win at Green Bay, 27-22 Next week: vs. Baltimore
At what point do we start looking at what Daniel Jones is doing and legitimately appreciate it? It seems like he spends dozens of snaps at a time getting into difficult throws and getting plowed. Being 16th in the league in EPA+CPOE composite doesn’t do his system justice.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (2–3)
Last week: Lost at Baltimore, 19-17 Next week: at New Orleans
If the Bengals are complaining about missing one of those three incredible wide receivers as a reason why this doesn’t work out, spare me. Then it’s time to take some of the responsibility off Joe Burrow’s plate and design something a little more user-friendly.
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15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2–3)
Last week: Lost to Houston, 13-6 Next week: at Indianapolis
We correctly predicted a Jaguars slump against the Houston Texans, which was always fertile ground to show Trevor Lawrence something he hasn’t seen before coverage-wise. I’m still betting big on this athletic, young roster.
16. Tennessee Titans (3–2)
Last week: Win at Washington, 21-17. Next week: BYE
The Titans are heading into a much-needed bye week, conveniently after a gimmie against the Commanders, one of the worst teams in football. We’ll see if the time off gives them the opportunity to shift from survival mode to thriving mode.
17. New England Patriots (2–3)
Last week: Victory vs. Detroit, 29-0 Next week: at Cleveland
Bill Belichick doesn’t need to remind everyone that he’s the greatest coach of all time, but playing Jared Goff certainly helps. Something about meeting Goff brings out the truly sadistic nature of Belichick, the game plan designer. A humble week also for the high-scoring Lions.
18. Denver Broncos (2–3)
Last week: Lost to Colts, 12-9 (OT) (Thursday)
Next week: at Los Angeles Chargers (Monday)
Nathaniel Hackett put the game on the quarterback’s shoulders just like everyone asked him to a few weeks ago, and Russell Wilson missed a wide-open wide receiver. The Broncos aren’t going anywhere until they figure out how to maximize Wilson in a very sticky situation.
19. New York Jets (3–2)
Last week: Win at Miami, 40-17 Next week: at Green Bay
The Jets haven’t been this relevant this far into a season (I know it’s only early October) in a long time. Zach Wilson is playing in his own right, and while the sample size is small, his poor fielding percentage has nearly halved from a year ago, according to Pro Football Reference.
20. Seattle Seahawks (2–3)
Last week: Lost at New Orleans, 39-32 Next week: vs. Arizona
Who has two thumbs and regrets not putting Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on his future head coaching list based on a mistaken assumption about his Russell Wilson-based offense and not the fact that he puts up with comical levels of efficiency with Geno Smith? This guy. Still one of the funniest and weirdest teams in the NFL, the Seahawks are now more fun to root for.
21. New Orleans Saints (2–3)
Last week: Victory vs. Seattle, 39-32. Next week: vs. Cincinnati
Here’s a promise you can take to the bank: If the Saints promise to keep being weird and give Taysom Hill 10 touches per game, I’ll move them up five spots in the power rankings every week regardless of whether it results in a win or a loss. They should have done this four weeks ago.
22. Las Vegas Raiders (1–4)
Last week: Loss at Kansas City, 30-29 Next week: BYE
The Raiders are the best 1-4 team I have ever seen. It’s not necessarily an accolade Josh McDaniels wants to have, but the final moments of Monday Night Football showed how comfortable this offense has become with each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish the year over .500.
23. Atlanta Falcons (2–3)
Last week: Lost at Tampa Bay, 21-15. Next week: vs. San Francisco
The worst part about Tom Brady scrambling past the pass call was that it ruined an absolutely beautiful Dean Pees stunt trying to get the ball back to Atlanta. How dare the judges take that away from us. In all seriousness, the Falcons lost by one, four and six points respectively this season. This team is on the rise despite not much help from a legacy personnel standpoint.
24. Arizona Cardinals (2–3)
Last week: Lost to Philadelphia, 20-17 Next week: at Seattle
We’re starting to see a Cardinals team materialize that was removed from some of their happiness a year ago. Kudos to them for fighting their way back into a game against one of the best teams in football, but they are what we’ve seen for most of this year: a team with a talented quarterback that is a level below any serious contender.
25. Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1)
Last week: Win at Broncos, 12-9 (OT) (Thursday)
This week, the Colts face the Jaguars for the second time in what will be a telling game for Frank Reich. By Halloween, he will have all the divisional games against the best of the AFC South behind him. How will their record look against the Jaguars and Titans?
26. Cleveland Browns (2–3)
Last week: Loss vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 30-28 Next week: vs. New England
Regardless of when their franchise quarterback arrives, this is still a defense that allows the third-worst EPA per game in the NFL. And Justin Herbert was the first true, Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback they’ve played all season after games against Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota and Mitch Trubisky.
27. Detroit Lions (1–4)
Last week: Loss at New England, 29-0 Next week: BYE
Getting blanked by the Patriots was a heartbreaking moment for the Lions-will-turn-this-about crowd. With all the talent offensively (both on the field and in the coaching booth) it is fantastic to see this team with 1-4.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (1–4)
Last week: Lost at Buffalo, 38-3 Next week: vs. Tampa Bay
I respect Mike Tomlin for making the trade for Kenny Pickett, even though making his first start against the best team in the NFL would have to be a tough proposition. Pickett will eventually be fine in Pittsburgh, but there are going to be some cringe-worthy moments.
29. Chicago Bears (2–3)
Last week: Lost at Minnesota, 29-22 Next week: vs. Washington
If you would have told me that five weeks into the season, Matt Eberflus would only have a minus-20 point differential and a top-15 team in points allowed, I would consider submitting my coach of the year ballot right now ( Mike McCarthy also deserves my early season rating, even if the haters and losers won’t give me an actual ballot).
30. Houston Texans (1-3-1)
Last week: Win at Jacksonville, 13-6 Next week: BYE
Boy is Dameon Pierce fun to watch. This might be the only show in town this year in Houston, so let’s enjoy every moment.
31. Washington Commanders (1–4)
Last week: Loss vs. Tennessee, 21-17 Next week: at Chicago (Thursday)
Ron Rivera’s comments about Carson Wentz, which will inevitably be sloppily clarified and re-clarified in the coming weeks, sounded like a desperate man. Nothing about what Washington has put together has been good. It doesn’t just fall on the easily apologetic Carson Wentz.
32. Carolina Panthers (1–4)
Last week: Loss vs. San Francisco, 37-15 Next week: at Los Angeles Rams
Matt Rhule is out. Baker Mayfield is out. At this point, it’s all about following Carolina’s scouts around to see which SEC and Big 10 games they attend later in the season and which of the top quarterbacks they might prefer.
