NFL
Although Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season didn’t lead to too much shake up in the league power rankings, Week 2 caused a lot more turbulence with some impressive wins and surprise results.
Going to Week 3, two NFC West teams inch closer to the top spot from the AFC’s clear best team. Elsewhere, injuries and losses caused the favorites from the two Norths to slide. There’s also a new team claiming rock bottom.
Here’s diving into the latest edition of Sporting News’ look at all 32 teams from best to worst going into Week 3:
MORE: Playing «contender or pretender» with NFL’s 2-0, 0-2 teams
NFL Power Rankings
Gregory Fisher — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
1. Buffalo Bills 2-0 (previous ranking: 1)
The Bills are rolling with Joe Brady pushing the offense to even higher production with Josh Allen while raising his profiler to be a master motivator for the entire team. Buffalo pushed the right button to make that happen early.
2. Seattle Seahawks 2-0 (4)
The Seahawks are flexing as complete champions again even without Sam Darnold. Jaxon Smith-Njigba racked up 155 yards and three TDs on Sunday. The defense is still the defense for Mike Macdonald with a few new pieces.
3. San Francisco 49ers 2-0 (5)
The 49ers are back to being a well-balanced offensive machine for Kyle Shanahan with the usual big plays from Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey. They also need to be extra pleased about how swarming the defense has been under Raheem Morris.
4. Philadelphia Eagles 2-0 (6)
The Eagles survived their scare in Tennessee, overcoming some key early mistakes with late heroics from Jalen Hurts. The QB also got the job done despite losing Saquon Barkley (neck) and Dallas Goedert (knee) to mid-game injuries, silencing even more critics.
5. Kansas City Chiefs 2-0 (7)
The Chiefs have a healthy Patrick Mahomes who can lean on more big plays from more receivers and also has a steady power running game on which to lean featuring Kenneth Walker III. The defensive and special teams foundation is also there in the immediate rebound to Super Bowl contenders after a hurting, hungover 2025 season.
MORE: Patrick Mahomes puts on a show in overtime win
Mandatory Credit: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
6. Cincinnati Bengals 2-0 (11)
The Bengals have shaken off their history of slow starting under Zac Taylor with a second successful 2-0 start. Last season, that didn’t add up to playoffs with Joe Burrow going down in Week 2. Now Burrow has big wins over the Buccaneers and Texans with the Steelers next.
7. New England Patriots 1-1 (9)
The Patriots were bound to lean more on the running game and defense early with A.J. Brown’s injury limiting the passing potential of the Drake Maye offense. Mike Vrabel turned well to that game plan with big results against another one of his former teams, the Steelers.
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8. Minnesota Vikings 2-0 (15)
Carson Wentz hasn’t lit it up since taking over for Kyler Murray, but he’s managed situations as well as possible with the defense flying around and making a ton of big plays for a game and a half. With the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Saints and Colts over the next the month, the Vikings can stay hot with their D going to Detroit to start November.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-1 (8)
The Jaguars flexed hard on the Browns in Week 1 and it looked like their defense was set to make another statement in Denver. They need to hope their rare offensive hiccup with Trevor Lawrence is temporary.
10. Denver Broncos 1-1 (14)
The Broncos needed that strong comeback win at home against the Jaguars with their defense getting very well in the second half and Bo Nix finding some timely help. The desperation kicked into high gear for Denver with the Rams and 49ers up next.
11. Los Angeles Rams 0-1 (10)
The Rams ran into a determined 49ers team in Australia, a trip for which Sean McVay wasn’t prepared. Now his coaching is put to the test with both Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua hurting before a must-win situation against the scrappy Giants.
2026 NFL POSITIONAL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Defense
Matt Marton — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
12. Chicago Bears 1-1 (2)
The Bears went from scoring 59 points in a road win over the Panthers to scoring only only 3 points in a home loss to the Vikings, losing Caleb Williams to a worrisome hamstring injury. Treading water with however long Tyson Bagent is at QB will get strenuous with their brutal schedule. The Eagles are up next.
MORE: Why Caleb Williams’ injury could turn dream to doom for Bears
13. Baltimore Ravens 1-1 (3)
The Ravens’ transition is a little bumpier than expected with both Lamar Jackson and the defense getting used to new coordinators’ schemes. All the positives from Week 1 became more head-scratchers in Week 2 with a home loss to the Saints, which was not helped by wide receiver injuries. Week 3 vs. the Cowboys will help better define the new identity.
14. Detroit Lions 1-1 (12)
The Lions knew they might have some bigger defensive problems away from their Aidan Hutchinson-led front. They are trying to compensate better with Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and the rest of their offensive stars, but are they stuck trying to win high-scoring games every week.
15. New York Giants 1-0 (17)
The Giants were excited with the new-look Jaxson Dart in a fun new offense and they also made some key defensive plays with all their first-round talent against the Cowboys. John Harbaugh can have a «they’re for real» moment in prime time Monday at the Rams.
Read more AFL
16. Dallas Cowboys 1-1 (18)
The Cowboys took care of business with Dak Prescott ripping apart an inferior Washington defense and their own new-look defense feeding off that typical energy at home. Dallas is back on track before a Baltimore showdown.
17. Las Vegas Raiders 2-0 (21)
The Raiders’ offseason vibes with Klint Kubiak leading the culture change have been evident. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is showing great leadership despite some injuries. There’s reason to believe Las Vegas can compete for a wild card.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-1 (13)
The Steelers’ defense, led by a healthy and disruptive T.J. Watt, is working to keep their team in the game every week. But the Aaron Rodgers-led offense under Mike McCarthy has shown big overall limitations out of the gate that doesn’t inspire.
Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
19. New Orleans Saints 1-1 (25)
The Saints have found a lot of spunk with Tyler Shough at quarterback, executing offensive-minded Kellen Moore’s plan philosophy with improved weapons. Don’t forget how the defense has fueled them going 1-for-2 on major road comebacks. Winnable home games vs. the Raiders, Falcons and Vikings are next.
20. Green Bay Packers 1-1 (19)
The Packers needed an overtime escape in New York after their late meltdown in Minnesota. Jordan Love and the defense were resilient when Matt LaFleur needed them to respond the most to save their season.
MORE: Packers find a way despite offensive struggles
21. Houston Texans 0-2 (16)
The Texans started 0-2 last season and ended up still getting an AFC wild-card playoff berth at 12-5 on the strength of some dominant defense under DeMeco Ryans. Sadly, their usual combination of tough coverage and pass rush has let them down against top QBs Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. Losing two such home games doesn’t bode well.
MORE: CJ Stroud’s 353-yard passing performance not enough for Houston
22. Arizona Cardinals 1-1 (20)
The Cardinals’ win over the sloppy Chargers in Week 1 got a bit of a reality check in facing the locked in Super Bowl champions. They figure to stay an inconsistent offensive work in progress under Mike LaFleur.
23. New York Jets 1-1 (22)
Hand it to Aaron Glenn for getting a lot more winning energy and moxie out of his team in his second season despite the heartbreaking Week 2 overtime loss to the Packers. The Jets have fewer concerns about their overall fuselage with more stable offense and defense.
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24. Carolina Panthers 1-1 (28)
The Panthers’ offense is chugging along with Bryce Young responding to having help beyond Chuba Hubbard and Tetairoa McMillan in Dave Canales offense. Linebacker Devin Lloyd had a sack, two interceptions (including a pick-six) and a fourth-down tackle-for-loss for an inspired Panthers defense.
MORE: Panthers defense produces stunning 56-point turnaround
25. Indianapolis Colts 0-2 (27)
The Colts showed little in being clipped by the Ravens at home before playing well on the road and staying with the Chiefs until the very end of overtime. They are not a terrible 0-2 team, but it’s not a good look for Daniel Jones and Shane Steichen following last season’s injury-marred fade.
26. Los Angeles Chargers 0-2 (23)
The Chargers’ talent is letting Jim Harbaugh down and there is some transitional offensive breakdown under Mike McDaniel as Justin Herbert is failing to execute. The mistakes have been killer early. This good team is becoming just bad in a hurry.
MORE: Is Jim Harbaugh on the hot seat after 0-2 start?
27. Washington Commanders 0-2 (24)
Here we go again with another Jayden Daniels’ injury, now in a new offense. Here we go again with some major defensive holes under Dan Quinn. The Commanders’ growing pains are real after their fluky 2024 spike.
MORE: Examining Jayden Daniels’ troublesome injury history
28. Cleveland Browns 1-1 (32)
Todd Monken is getting a lot of heat for starting Deshaun Watson, but the bottom line is that Watson gives the Browns a much better chance to win than Shedeur Sanders. He has done well to lift some young pieces early and inspire the whole team.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-2 (26)
The Buccaneers’ defensive transition under Todd Bowles is not looking good, far removed from the Super Bowl dominance six seasons ago. Baker Mayfield is trying to do too much to compensate, and that’s not good for him.
David Gonzales-Imagn Images
30. Tennessee Titans 0-2 (29)
The Titans went through the motions for Robert Saleh against the Jets, but then got off the mat big time to push the Eagles to the brink with more inspired play through end. Cam Ward showed improvement from Week 1. That was a better look despite the same result.
31. Miami Dolphins 0-2 (30)
The Dolphins are overmatched with limited offensive pieces to support Malik Willis once De’Von Achane is shut down in the running game. The defense somehow has been the bigger overall problem.
32. Atlanta Falcons 0-2 (31)
The Falcons have seen their quarterback situation become a third-string injury-riddled disaster, giving them little chance to compete despite having Bijan Robinson leading some talented offensive skill players. There’s just too much responsibility on the defense as a result.
Read more Indianapolis Colts
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