NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.
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1. Los Angeles Rams
Preseason rank: 1
As if the Rams weren't stacked enough, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald came out of retirement at the end of August to rejoin them. Even if he doesn't recapture his award-winning form, Donald gives L.A. another big-time presence on a loaded defensive line that includes Myles Garrett, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young. This team will be tough to slow down on both sides.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Preseason rank: 2
Three depth players suffered season-ending injuries before Week 1, with wide receiver Jake Bobo, offensive lineman Mason Richman, and safety Bud Clark all going down. However, the Seahawks' core made it to Week 1 relatively healthy, giving the defending champs a chance to pick up where they left off.
3. New England Patriots
Preseason rank: 3
The Patriots can prove the Super Bowl hangover is a myth in Wednesday's rematch against the Seahawks. Drake Maye struggled mightily the last time he faced Seattle, but he'll go into the second chapter with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs by his side.
4. Buffalo Bills
Preseason rank: 5
Buffalo has lingering questions throughout the defense and at wide receiver, even after adding DJ Moore to the roster. Still, as long as Josh Allen's under center, the Bills have a chance to finish the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
5. Chicago Bears
Preseason rank: 8
What do Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams have in store for their second year together? Year 1 was a resounding success, with the Bears streaking to their first NFC North title in seven seasons and their first playoff victory in 15 campaigns. The sky's the limit.
6. Denver Broncos
Preseason rank: 4
The Broncos have a Super Bowl-caliber roster, but Jonathon Cooper opening the season on the commissioner's exempt list takes some steam out of their pass rush. There's no word on when the NFL might clear Cooper to play games again.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
Preseason rank: 6
Philly's offense won't have the same firepower without A.J. Brown, and rookie Makai Lemon had a disappointing preseason, but the Eagles still have enough talent to make a deep playoff run. Speaking of running, Saquon Barkley returning to form in the backfield would do wonders for this team.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Preseason rank: 7
The Ravens finished the preseason with uncertainty about their kicker. Tyler Loop missed three of his eight field-goal attempts in the exhibition slate, and those woes came on the heels of a season-ending Week 18 miss against the Steelers last season.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Preseason rank: 9
Kansas City must discover some new weapons around Patrick Mahomes, who's officially healthy for Week 1, and piece together a new defensive secondary. We've seen the Chiefs do it before, so we're banking on them to do it again after last year's 6-11 disaster.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Preseason rank: 10
The Jaguars won 13 games in Liam Coen's coaching debut, even without getting much impact from Brian Thomas Jr. or Travis Hunter. If either - or both - of those playmakers are more involved in 2026, the Jaguars will be primed to take another step toward their first championship.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Preseason rank: 12
Although the injury list was troubling early in training camp, the 49ers got healthier and flew to Australia with a full squad. That plane included George Kittle and Nick Bosa, who were limited throughout training camp but should be ready to take on the Rams in the season opener.
12. Houston Texans
Preseason rank: 11
The Texans lost Jayden Higgins to a season-ending injury but promptly traded for Kayshon Boutte to serve as the interim No. 2 receiver opposite Nico Collins. Houston has a championship-ready defense, but it just needs the offense to pull its own weight.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Preseason rank: 14
The Cowboys put the finishing touches on their defensive overhaul by signing Von Miller in August. The future Hall of Famer had nine sacks for the Commanders last year, showing he could still be an impact player in a situational role. Dallas' defense should support its prolific offense a lot better than it did last season.
14. Los Angeles Chargers
Preseason rank: 13
At this time last year, the Chargers had already lost star left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending injury and then lost their other top tackle, Joe Alt, a month into the regular season. Both are back healthy, so Justin Herbert should get to enjoy the best protection he's had since entering the NFL.
15. Minnesota Vikings
Preseason rank: 17
The Vikings named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback early in training camp, giving him plenty of time to acclimate to the first-string offense. He'll become Minnesota's fourth different opening-day quarterback in as many years when he takes the ball against the Packers.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
Preseason rank: 18
Knowing they can't waste another year of Joe Burrow's prime, the Bengals spent all their offseason resources on fixing an atrocious defense. Further disappointment could lead their star quarterback to angle for a change of scenery, so Cincinnati is all-in on 2026.
17. Detroit Lions
Preseason rank: 16
The Lions didn't make a meaningful addition to their secondary in the closing stages of the offseason, leaving that group thin heading into Week 1. There's a lot of pressure on this offense, which will be without No. 2 running back Isiah Pacheco to open the season.
18. Green Bay Packers
Preseason rank: 15
The NFL placed Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list, leaving the Packers with a host of unproven running backs on an indefinite basis. Couple his absence with Micah Parsons landing on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and Jordan Love is going to have to come out firing to keep Green Bay afloat early.
19. New York Giants
Preseason rank: 19
All eyes are on New York's wide receiver room. Malik Nabers has made progress in his ACL surgery rehab, but his Week 1 status is still uncertain. It's hard to see the offense reaching its full potential without him. At least the vibes are high for this unit with Odell Beckham Jr. back in town. The Giants legend made the roster and could mentor younger receivers while potentially playing meaningful snaps after Calvin Austin's season-ending injury.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Preseason rank: 20
The veteran-laden Steelers beat the Jets in Week 1 as part of a hot start last campaign, building a cushion for the inevitable regression that came. Aaron Rodgers and Co. would love to use a Week 1 date with the Falcons for the same purpose this season.
21. Indianapolis Colts
Preseason rank: 23
Indy added Keenan Allen to its receiver room in the preseason in a move that would've been far more exciting five years ago but should still help. Ultimately, the Colts are banking on their 8-2 start last year being a more accurate representation of their talent level than their 0-7 finish.
22. New Orleans Saints
Preseason rank: 21
The Chris Olave-Jordyn Tyson two-headed monster got split in half before the season could start, with Tyson suffering a hamstring injury that will cost him the first month, if not more. The Saints' offense looks much less intimidating without the two dynamic receivers in the lineup together.
23. Washington Commanders
Preseason rank: 22
The Commanders' offense has weapons, but Jayden Daniels will have a tough time getting the ball to them after losing star left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a major injury in training camp. Unless Washington can figure out how to keep the third-year quarterback upright and healthy, it'll be another long season.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Preseason rank: 27
The Buccaneers settled one high-profile contract dispute with Vita Vea, but left the other one unresolved going into the season. Baker Mayfield wasn't feeling the love in extension talks, though maybe a contract year will bring the best out of the 31-year-old passer.
25. Carolina Panthers
Preseason rank: 25
The Panthers have said all the right things about Bryce Young publicly, but holding off on extending his contract tells you what they really think. While Young has played well in spurts, he needs to put together a full season of strong play to be taken seriously as a franchise quarterback and Carolina to be taken seriously as a contender.
26. Tennessee Titans
Preseason rank: 24
You don't want to read too much into the preseason, but it's hard to ignore how consistently the Titans got outplayed when their starters were on the field. Robert Saleh's defense broke down, No. 4 pick Carnell Tate caught none of his six targets, and second-year quarterback Cam Ward barely completed half his passes - albeit on only 19 attempts.
27. Las Vegas Raiders
Preseason rank: 26
Fernando Mendoza didn't look quite ready in the preseason, meaning he'll hold the proverbial clipboard for Kirk Cousins for the foreseeable future. Cousins is serviceable, but the Raiders' true upside rests with their No. 1 overall pick, who captained Indiana to the national championship last season.
28. Atlanta Falcons
Preseason rank: 28
Tua Tagovailoa was ultra-conservative in the preseason, while Michael Penix Jr. didn't play, leaving first-year coach Kevin Stefanski with two suboptimal choices to quarterback the Falcons in Week 1. On defense, Atlanta has to somehow overcome the absences of top edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
29. New York Jets
Preseason rank: 29
Geno Smith has been written off before, and it'll happen again. He struggled with the Raiders last campaign, tailed off with the Seahawks the season prior, and is on a Jets team that hasn't fielded a top-20 offense since 2015 - the year Ryan Fitzpatrick unseated him as the starter.
30. Cleveland Browns
Preseason rank: 30
Deshaun Watson will begin the campaign under center, but it's only a matter of time before he gives way to Shedeur Sanders or one of the Browns' other young passers. This team has enough on defense to put up a fight each week, yet wins will be hard to come by as long as the quarterback situation remains shaky.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Preseason rank: 31
You can't realistically go into a season with Jacoby Brissett as your starting quarterback and expect to compete for anything besides the first overall pick. The most talented passer on this roster is probably Carson Beck, and he's opening the season as the third string.
32. Miami Dolphins
Preseason rank: 32
A talent deficiency on both sides of the ball will keep the Dolphins from picking up wins, especially early in the season as the young players get their feet wet. Let's see how the youth develops over the year.
