This is not the standings, nor your typical power rankings. Just like a 12-pack, you feel great about the first one, and the idea of a Super Bowl gets fuzzier by number 12.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Another week, another stay at the top for the Chiefs. Kenneth Walker continues to make this offense so much scarier than it’s ever been. He’s leading the league in rushing yards, and is more than on pace to be Mahomes’ first 1,000 yard rusher. They look unbeatable right now and Mahomes isn’t even playing at a “world-beater” level.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy has arguably been the best quarterback in the league. He continues to lead the league in passer rating and has 11 touchdowns to one pick. What’s most impressive is how balanced the offense is. In past years, the Niners were so Christian McCaffrey dependent. They were only as dominant as he was. Purdy is spreading the ball around, they have a second punch in the backfield with Kaelon Black, and the defense is playing fast and angry.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Just because this team isn’t in a major market doesn’t mean we have to keep tossing them aside. The Jags have played one rough half of football through a quarter of the season. The knock on Trevor Lawrence was the turnovers, and Liam Cohen has crushed that narrative. The defense continues to make huge plays that flip games and make life easier for the offense. Jacksonville is a balanced elite team with plenty of offensive weapons and true playmakers on defense.
4. Chicago Bears
Does it really matter who the starting quarterback is for the Bears? Well, yes. But just for the playoffs, and Caleb Williams will be back by then. For now, Ben Johnson looks like he just needs a warm body under center to keep winning. The Jets have looked solid through three weeks, and Chicago just dominated them. They had more first downs than the Jets had snaps on offense. The suspect defense can stay fresh at least with that type of possession dominance.
5. Seattle Seahawks
The reigning champs should still be feared, but there are some cracks in the armor. They are still trying to figure out the run game post-Kenneth Walker and the injuries aren’t helping. It’s affecting Sam Darnold a little as he’s been a little more turnover prone this year, but there’s earned faith in the organization to figure that out.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson potentially missing this week against a hot Falcons team wouldn’t be ideal. However, Snoop Huntley has been in the organization a lot since 2021 and has kept the team afloat before. It hasn’t always been pretty for Baltimore this year, but the defense has been good situationally (10th in third down conversion rate). Derrick Henry doesn’t look like he’s slowing down, Jackson is showing last year was a fluke, and Zay Flowers has popped after getting paid.
7. Buffalo Bills
The first month of the year for Buffalo has been the same as every year for the Josh Allen-led Bills. “Oh my goodness, Josh Allen is the best quarterback ever, and this is the year they finally get over the hump,” in September. Then Mr. Hyde begins to show his face and those same incredible plays result in mind-boggling turnovers and losses. Look, the Bills are probably still going to win the division, but we’ve seen this same script year after year. It’s just nice to know that, even if you don’t have a calendar, you can still keep track of the date based on the Josh Allen discourse.
8. Los Angeles Rams
That win in Philadelphia was more impressive than you think. Not because the Eagles are that good, but because of that the first month has been for the Rams. They have already travelled over 23,000 miles this year, and that fatigued showed in the first half. They were without their top two pass rushers, Puka Nacua was on a pitch count, and they looked dead through three quarters. Then Sean McVay lit a fire in his team on the sideline and they took over the fourth quarter. It’s far from perfect in LA right now, but the end of that game showed why they are still so dangerous. When this team is locked in and eventually has its full roster, they are going to be a handful.
9. Las Vegas Raiders
A loss means you drop in the standings, but remember, this isn’t the standings. The Raiders may no longer be undefeated, but they showed that they are for real. That is as impressive of a loss as I have seen in quite some time. They stepped up to the challenge and went toe-to-toe with the Chiefs. When they could have rolled over and accepted they aren’t ready yet, they battled back and gave themselves a chance. Klint Kubiak is doing a phenomenal job with this team. They look composed. They look ready for every challenge. They are a real threat to make some noise late in the year.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
It’s a rough two-game losing streak, but Cincy is still too talented to go away. The run game has been an issue the last few weeks, but that can easily be attributed to some tough matchups. Chase Brown isn’t in that elite tier of backs, but he’s also not as bad as he’s been lately. The defense is better than it has been in the past. The Bengals may have just saved their slow start for games three and four rather than coming out of the gates that way.
11. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are still undefeated, but should they be? They are the number one total defense, and that unit is smothering everyone they play. The offense on the other hand, is abysmal. Kyler Murray’s injury threw a wrench into their progression, but Kevin O’Connell is the guy to make everybody work, right? If it was 1984, this team would probably be atop every list. Unfortunately, it’s 2026 and they are going to need to find a way to produce on offense at some point.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Week 1 against the Giants was a nightmare, but the Cowboys have really turned the corner. Dak Prescott is playing some of the best football of his life. He hasn’t turned the ball over since the opener, and 297 yards per game, six touchdowns with a 111.6 rating in his last three games. The best part though, is the division is theirs for the taking. Washington looks done, the Eagles are in shambles, and the Giants are crossing their fingers each week with Jameis Winston.
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