NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Cowboys rising after defensive makeover; Bears drop out of top 10 NFL.com NFL Week 1 power rankings: Rams a superteam at the top, but lots of questions below them - The Athletic The New York T...
Plenty will transpire between now and January. Favorites will falter, sleepers will rise and we'll all enjoy the tumultuous ride of an 18-week campaign.
I'll be here all season to capture where each of the 32 teams stand on a weekly basis. Here's where we begin. We'll forge our path together, starting with the first Power Rankings of the '26 regular season.
NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect movement from the preseason edition of the Power Rankings.
Am I worried about the statuses of Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua ? Mildly, although Garrett practiced Sunday , and Nacua appears to be on track to play against San Francisco in the opener in Australia. Oh, and Aaron Donald is back on the team now. No movement for the Rams here, but a big test awaits them Down Under.
No change to Denver's standing in this hierarchy after a successful, largely quiet preseason. WR Marvin Mims Jr. seems to be working his way back from a foot injury, and it's fair to expect CB Riley Moss (ribs) to be ready in time for the Broncos' Monday night showdown with the rival Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
It sounds as if Jadarian Price has impressed coaches plenty during the preseason, and if the first-round running back can match his rising expectations, the Seahawks shouldn't miss a beat. They stay at No. 3 for now, but that could change after they raise their Super Bowl banner and face the Patriots in an instant rematch on Wednesday night.
"GMFB" debate will Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold get a second ring before Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen or Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson get their first.
The vibes are generally high in Buffalo, although receiver Khalil Shakir 's health status is worth monitoring prior to the season opener in Houston . The potential for a honeymoon campaign with WR DJ Moore -- oh, and the commencement of Joe Brady's first season as a head coach -- begins against an elite defense, which should inform us on where the Bills stand offensively.
Philly sees a minor drop after first-round pick Makai Lemon didn't hit the ground running in preseason action and trade acquisition Jonathan Greenard continued dealing with a nagging pectoral injury, but the Eagles should be fine otherwise. I think we're all eager to see what new OC Sean Mannion's attack can do.
Interior disruptor Nnamdi Madubuike is moving closer toward a full return from the neck injury that cost him most of 2025. Rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is already turning heads. Trey Hendrickson is poised to provide the Ravens with the edge-rushing force they've lacked for years. The arrow is pointing up in Baltimore, but the team needs to pass its first test in Indianapolis to keep the positive momentum rolling.
All of the offseason hype appears to have carried over through the preseason. Cincinnati hasn't been this high on its defense in quite some time, and we already know Joe Burrow sees great potential in the Bengals' offense. They're my Super Bowl pick from the AFC, and it's high time for them to start delivering on expectations.
I'm confidently pushing the Cowboys up the board because I believe they'll deliver on the promise of defensive improvement with a significantly upgraded lineup operating under exciting new coordinator Christian Parker. I wonder, though, if the 'Boys are ready for the bright lights of prime time in a hostile MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, especially after losing Pro Bowl LG Tyler Smith for the next month-plus .
I'm a little concerned with the Jaguars' situation along the offensive line, where tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) is still working his way back toward being ready for Week 1 after spending most of camp on the physically unable to perform list. Jacksonville is also looking at starting third-round rookie Emmanuel Pregnon at guard, which is an accomplishment for the Oregon product but also a development that comes with uncertainty for the team. If that group coalesces quickly, the Jags will be fine. Fortunately, they host Cleveland in Week 1.
The loss of WR Jayden Higgins prompted a late trade for Kayshon Boutte , lowering my expectations for Houston's passing attack. This team still boasts an elite defense, though, and if the starting offense can produce in the running game like it did in brief preseason outings, the Texans be fine.
I have questions about the Bears' young receiving corps, though I am much more concerned about their pieced-together secondary following some terrible injury luck early in camp. I can be convinced this isn't a massive issue if Chicago limits Bryce Young and Kyler Murray in the first two weeks of the season.
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Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams dominated the gridiron as the Los Angeles Rams cruised to a commanding 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. However, the lopsided affair was severely marred by a potentially devastating MCL sprain suffered by Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
NFL legend Aaron Donald made a triumphant and surprising return to the gridiron, wreaking havoc in the Los Angeles Rams' dominant rout of the New York Giants. The defensive powerhouse admitted the game felt surprisingly slow despite his two-year retirement.
The New York Giants' promising start to the season crashed to a halt on September 21, 2026, after a 28-6 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams was overshadowed by a severe knee injury to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Initial medical evaluations point to an MCL sprain, throwing the franchise's offensive strategy into immediate turmoil.
