We’re pushing two types of teams to the top of the football-playing pantheon this week: good teams that find a way to win even when they shouldn’t (hello, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and teams capable of getting a defensive stop with the game on the line (Los Angeles Chargers, come on down).
The Packers didn’t make the type of statement we expected in Cleveland, and Micah Parsons summed it up perfectly as Green Bay tries to rally before a headlining gig in Dallas this week.
We’re still buying the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens even if their defenses make us doubt which direction they’re headed after December.
The race is just as intense at the rear of the line and at least five teams appear to have what it takes to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft.
32. New York Giants (0-3)
Last Week: L, 22-9 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Up Next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
It’s easy to see the draw of throwing Jaxson Dart into the starting lineup. There’s also wisdom in the warning label from WR Darius Slayton about the developmental damage he witnessed when the Giants rushed Daniel Jones into the lineup Week 3 of his rookie season. Slayton’s advice is to let Dart follow the Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson plan of learning the game from the sideline for a year.
31. New Orleans Saints (0-3)
Last Week: L, 44-13 at Seattle Seahawks
Up Next: at Buffalo Bills (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
Spencer Rattler is 0-9 as a starter and the Saints are not one or two pieces away. Early trade calls about Alvin Kamara — from the Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders and others — should be fruitful as New Orleans transitions toward a full reset under Kellen Moore.
30. Tennessee Titans (0-3)
Last Week: L, 41-20 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Up Next: at Houston Texans (0-3), 1 p.m. ET
Titans scored one of their three wins last season at Houston, their fourth road win over the Texans in the past five meetings.
29. Miami Dolphins (0-3)
Last Week: L, 31-21 at Buffalo Bills
Up Next: vs. New York Jets (0-3), 7:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Showed life at Buffalo in primetime last week until Tua Tagovailoa threw a baffling INT. Back in a spotlight slot Monday, is Miami in win-or-else territory with head coach Mike McDaniel?
28. New York Jets (0-3)
Last Week: L, 29-27 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Up Next: at Miami Dolphins (0-3), 7:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
In an epic week for special teams, the Jets were the only team to block a FG and return it for a score to lose. Aaron Glenn has inspired a competitive environment. That spark won’t be easy to maintain as losses mount.
27. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
Last Week: W, 30-0 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Up Next: at New England Patriots (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Life is easier for any quarterback with an unabashed commitment to running the ball. The Panthers placed two starting offensive linemen on IR last week, then ripped the heart of the Falcons’ defense by sticking with the run. Carolina put on a team tackling clinic to take away Bijan Robinson.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)
Last Week: L 41-24 at Washington Commanders
Up Next: vs. Chicago Bears (1-2), 4:05 p.m. ET
Chip Kelly’s offensive plan was to feature rookie RB Ashton Jeanty and create an identity around the running game. Offensive line issues are limiting Jeanty’s chances, which might send the Raiders back to the drawing board.
25. New England Patriots (1-2)
Last Week: L, 21-14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Up Next: vs. Carolina Panthers (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Two home losses but at least the Patriots aren’t in the AFC East cellar with the winless Jets and Dolphins. New England nosedives in the rankings if it can’t get a victory at home against Carolina.
24. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
Last Week: W, 13-10 vs. Green Bay Packers
Up Next: at Detroit Lions (2-1), 1 p.m. ET
All aboard? Not quite. A masterful defensive plan minimized every playmaker on the Green Bay offense and Cleveland still needed a last-second FG to steal the win.
23. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Last Week: L, 31-14 at Chicago Bears
Up Next: vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday)
At this pace, the Cowboys might score 400-plus points this season and give up 500. Don’t look now but Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur own Dallas. They’re bringing Micah Parsons, too.
22. Houston Texans (0-3)
Last Week: L, 17-10 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Up Next: vs. Tennessee Titans (0-3), 1 p.m. ET
Sure they miss RB Joe Mixon but the bigger concern is how uncomfortable C.J. Stroud looks in the new scheme. At this point last season, we were discussing since-fired coordinator Bobby Slowik as a head-coaching candidate.
21. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
Last Week: L, 30-0 at Carolina Panthers
Up Next: vs. Washington Commanders (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Maybe Michael Penix Jr. was “off” last week at Carolina as Raheem Morris stated. Or maybe this is who he is as an NFL QB. A shutout at Carolina is beyond confounding ineptitude.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Last Week: L, 48-10 at Minnesota Vikings
Up Next: at Denver Broncos (1-2), 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Every team clamoring for a backup QB to get more time should review the past six quarters of Cincinnati’s offense transitioning from Joe Burrow to Jake Browning. Life won’t get any easier. Denver’s pass rush, secondary present major problems for the Bengals and their absent running game.
19. Chicago Bears (1-2)
Last Week: W, 31-14 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Up Next: at Las Vegas Raiders (1-2), 4:05 p.m. ET
Hold on with two hands, Bears fans. This is going to be a bumpy ride. Dallas can do a lot for a team’s confidence — see New York Giants. A suspect running game plus injury issues in the secondary imply a rollercoaster of results.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
Last Week: W, 21-14 at New England Patriots
Up Next: vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-1) in Dublin, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sunday)
Jaylen Warren is underappreciated outside of Pittsburgh. He’s been a huge benefit to Aaron Rodgers as both feel their way around a work-in-progress offense.
17. Arizona Cardinals (2-1)
Last Week: L, 16-15 at San Francisco 49ers
Up Next: vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday)
No one area of the team is dominant and subtracting James Conner is a step back for Arizona’s offense.
16. Minnesota Vikings (2-1)
Last Week: W, 48-10 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Up Next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) in Dublin, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sunday)
Credit Kevin O’Connell for having Carson Wentz ready to play within weeks of working together. Last week’s win belongs to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
15. Washington Commanders (2-1)
Last Week: W, 41-24 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Up Next: at Atlanta Falcons (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Long-term outlook for Jayden Daniels reflects the long-term ceiling of the Commanders. Dan Quinn’s return to Atlanta sets up as entertaining undercard game in Week 4.
14. Denver Broncos (1-2)
Last Week: L, 23-20 at Los Angeles Chargers
Up Next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Had a puncher’s chance to spoil home opener for Chargers, left with another one-possession loss. Denver does look to be legit and the best of the three 1-2 teams in the AFC West behind L.A.
13. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)
Last Week: L, 33-26 at Philadelphia Eagles
Up Next: vs. Indianapolis Colts (3-0), 4:05 p.m. ET
Went scoreless in the fourth quarter and gave up 26 second-half points to spoil an upset bid at Philly. Looking like a team that can run with anyone in the league.
12. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)
Last Week: W, 22-9 vs. New York Giants
Up Next: vs. Baltimore Ravens (1-2), 4:25 p.m. ET
Flickering hope for a full revival of Patrick Mahomes and the passing game emerged in the second half at New York. It’s a good time for the Chiefs to see the flame-fanning Ravens’ defense, which was torched by the Bills (41 points in Week 1) and Lions.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
Last Week: W, 17-10 vs. Houston Texans
Up Next: at San Francisco 49ers (3-0), 4:05 p.m. ET
One defensive stop at Cincinnati away from a 3-0 record, the Jaguars are forming a physical and fiery persona in for a test at San Francisco even without Nick Bosa.
10. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Last Week: W, 44-13 vs. New Orleans Saints
Up Next: at Arizona Cardinals (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday)
This is why the Seahawks wanted Mike Macdonald last year. Defense is turning a corner. Seattle leads league with at plus-6 net touchdown differential.
9. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
Last Week: W, 16-15 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Up Next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1), 4:05 p.m. ET
Mission becomes more difficult without Nick Bosa (torn ACL). Injury toll can’t be ignored but San Francisco sits atop NFC West.
8. Indianapolis Colts (3-0)
Last Week: W, 41-20 at Tennessee Titans
Up Next: at Los Angeles Rams (2-1), 4:05 p.m. ET
We’re on board with the Shoe based on offensive balance and the resurrection of Daniel Jones, but Colts MVP candidate might be RB Jonathan Taylor. He’s No. 1 in the league in yards from scrimmage (112.7 per game) and rushing (338 yards). Indy leads the league in point differential (+47)
7. Baltimore Ravens (1-2)
Last Week: L, 38-30 vs. Detroit Lions
Up Next: at Kansas City Chiefs (1-2), 4:25 p.m. ET
For the first time ever, a quarterback lost a game with a passer rating over 140 this season. And Lamar Jackson suddenly has done it twice (at Buffalo, vs. Detroit). Defense has been gutted by Super Bowl contenders.
6. Green Bay Packers (2-1)
Last Week: L, 13-10 at Cleveland Browns
Up Next: at Dallas Cowboys (1-2), 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday)
We might not grasp how good the Browns can be defensively, but the Packers are a step below our top-tier Super Bowl contenders until Jordan Love delivers against a top-tier defense.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (3-0)
Last Week: W, 23-20 vs. Denver Broncos
Up Next: at New York Giants (0-3), 1 p.m. ET
Justin Herbert has excelled with Jim Harbaugh doing the teaching. We’re ready to begin discussing defensive coordinator Mike Minter as a head coach. Even without Khalil Mack, the Chargers limited Broncos to two third-down conversions last week. However, 25 defensive penalties in three games is a potential landmine.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0)
Last Week: W, 29-27 vs. New York Jets
Up Next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
Baker Mayfield’s heroics kept Bucs perfect last week. If this team gets healthy, is Tampa the team to beat in the NFC? Potential statement game up next.
3. Detroit Lions (2-1)
Last Week: W, 38-30 at Baltimore Ravens
Up Next: vs. Cleveland Browns (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Throwing up 90 points in two games places a Week 1 no-show at Green Bay in the rearview mirror. If the Lions are healthy on the offensive and defensive line, they have an edge in almost every matchup.
2. Buffalo Bills (3-0)
Last Week: W, 31-21 vs. Miami Dolphins
Up Next: vs. New Orleans Saints (0-3)
Establishing a dynamic running game temporarily can boost a Buffalo defense still finding its way.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)
Last Week: W, 33-27 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Up Next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
Ripped a win from the jaws of defeat with a FG block and score. While many of its biggest threats are finding ways to lose, the Eagles stand out for winning at less than their best.
