NFL power rankings: Bears, Steelers & Packers bump up; Ravens, Rams drop for Week 7 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL season has been odd. Some surprising Super Bowl 61 contenders are fading, displaced by several familiar winning teams. The Chiefs, 49ers and Vikings remain unblemished. The Chargers are getting further from their first win with each passing week.
Between those top and bottom teams, there are a bunch of overachievers and underachievers, with some of the latter getting closer to coaching changes. Whether it comes down to offense, defense or injuries, several teams are still struggling to find a consistent identity before midseason.
Here's how all 32 teams stack up against each other in the latest edition looking at the league's hierarchy:
MORE: NFC East on verge of bleak record with Eagles, Giants, Cowboys
NFL Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs 5-0 (previous ranking: 1)
Kenneth Walker III is now averaging 133 rushing yards per game and is up to 6.3 yards per carry with his 8 TDs. He's on pace 2,261 yards, which should already put him in the MVP discussion as one of the best-ever free-agent pickups.
MORE:Walker headlines "NFL All-Free Agency Team" for 2026
2. San Francisco 49ers 5-0 (2)
The 49ers can go four games up on the Rams and three games up on Seahawks with a win over the Commanders on Monday night, also having won road games over both teams. They have a 95-96 percent chance of winning the NFC West, which they can clinch as early as Week 11.
3. Minnesota Vikings 5-0 (6)
The Vikings' defense has been the foundation of their undefeated start through their Week 6 bye. They have impressive pressure and takeaway stats in Brian Flores' aggressive, blitz-happy attack, but there's one simple number for why they haven't lost. Their defense allows opponents to convert only a league-best 22 percent of third-down attempts.
4. Buffalo Bills 5-1 (5)
Josh Allen is now on pace for 4,261 passing yards, 26 TD passes, 680 rushing yards and 23 rushing TDs. In other words, he's putting up the best season of his career (again) and in the lead to cement his Hall of Fame status with his second MVP in three seasons.
5. New England Patriots 4-2 (7)
The Patriots have now improved their rushing total to 784 yards in 6 games, a clip of 131 rushing yards per game. That's a huge number that doesn't get enough credit for their offensive success. They are up from 129 yards per game last year and it's helped them get Drake Maye out of his slump.
MORE: Why A.J. Brown has been such a bust of a Patriots trade
6. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-2 (3)
The Jaguars need to be more consistent overall with their loaded offense and jacked defense and may be too reliant on winning close games with Liam Coen. Despite the loss to Houston in London, they also may have unlocked the full two-way potential of cornerback Travis Hunter, who became only the third player in NFL history to record an interception and touchdown catch in the same game.
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
7. Chicago Bears 4-2 (10)
Welcome back, Caleb Williams. In the two games he has started and finished, the Bears have averaged 45 points per game after the drubbing of the Falcons. In the other four games, the Bears averaged only 15 points per game. That says how important it is that he stays healthy for a potential deep playoff run.
8. Denver Broncos 4-2 (9)
Just how bad are Bo Nix's numbers as the starting quarterback for a team with such a good record? He is No. 26 in passer rating (79.4) and No. 41 in passing yards per attempt (5.6). Only Jack Strand has been worse. That won't cut it longer-term, and Denver is doomed as it tries to catch Kansas City in the AFC West.
9. Seattle Seahawks 3-3 (6)
The Seahawks have a Sam Darnold problem. He has had a precipitous drop in completion percentage (67.7 to 60.4), yards per attempt (8.5 to 6.9), and passer rating (99.1 to 77.4). He is also on pace to throw a league-high 22 interceptions, which would fully revert him to his form with the Jets.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 4-2 (14)
Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times in Tampa Bay, but ground through more high passing volume (54 dropbacks vs. 22 runs) to produce his fourth straight game with multiple TD passes. A good development is more of a short-to-intermediate connection with two key wide receivers, DK Metcalf and dynamic rookie Germie Bernard.
11. Baltimore Ravens 4-2 (8)
The Ravens have seen the dropoff from Lamar Jackson to Tyler Huntley hurt in one predictable area: Downfield passing. Jackson was leading the league through his four starts at 10.1 yards per attempt. Huntley is at 5.6, a huge difference in how they support Derrick Henry and the running game.
12. Green Bay Packers 4-2 (15)
The Packers were throwing the ball at 66 percent clip going into their game against the Cowboys. Despite the Cowboys' run defense being so poor, the Packers didn't change that identity with Jordan Love throwing to his wide receivers often, with 44 dropbacks in contrast to 26 runs. Matthew Golden's huge second-year breakout has been an underrated story.
Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
13. Cincinnati Bengals 3-2 (12)
The Bengals have Joe Burrow leading the NFL with his 71.4 completion percentage through their first five games. He won that category in his second season in 2023 at 70.4, when they went to Super Bowl 56 in Los Angeles, the same host for Super Bowl 61 after this season.
14. Detroit Lions 3-2 (13)
The Lions have a strange defensive dichotomy. They led the league with 20 sacks going into their Week 6 bye, but they also had the No. 32 pass defense. Their job is to turn that pressure into better results in the second half of the season.
15. Los Angeles Rams 2-4 (11)
The Rams are running well. Matthew Stafford is being efficient. They were the No. 1 total offense going into Week 6, but they also were only ranked No. 15 in scoring offense. That latter number will slide down with only 16 points against the Cardinals at home. Sean McVay's attack might be getting too predictable.
16. Cleveland Browns 4-2 (20)
The Browns are allowing on average only 20.3 points per game to opponents, tied with the Seahawks and Jets for No. 7 in the league. Consider with Myles Garrett last season, they allowed 22.3. The defense doesn't get enough credit for getting better under new coordinator Mike Rutenberg.
17. Carolina Panthers 3-2 (21)
The Panthers' high-volume passing offense with Bryce Young is now averaging a league-best 294 yards per game, ahead of the Rams, who are down to 284 per game. That game plan by Dave Canales has also opened up the running game and led to winning results.
18. Las Vegas Raiders 3-3 (16)
The Raiders went into Week 6 vs. the Bills with the No. 28 rushing attack, averaging only 82 yards per game. Their league-low 3.0 yards per carry will go up despite the struggles with Mike Washington and Ashton Jeanty. That aspect of Klint Kubiak's offense slumping has quickly dropped Las Vegas to .500.
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19. Philadelphia Eagles 2-4 (17)
Tanner McKee's mobility limitations are not good when the Eagles don't have Saquon Barkley (or his two top backups) in the running game. Philadelphia has nothing to lose by turning to rookie Cole Payton for however long Jalen Hurts is out as his career 1,919 rushing yards at North Dakota State say he can provide a needed rushing element at QB.
MORE: Why Jalen Hurts' absence doesn't doom Eagles' playoff chances
20. New York Giants 3-2-1 (18)
J.J. McCarthy rushed for 28 yards in one half and almost rallied the Giants all the way back from a 27-10 fourth-quarter deficit. Jameis Winston is up to 46 rushing yards in his five starts. McCarthy deserves to start because he can help them operate the offense the way they really wanted with Jaxson Dart.
MORE: How J.J. McCarthy proved he should be Giants' new starting QB
21. Houston Texans 2-4 (26)
C.J. Stroud is saving the Texans with his play and has earned his contract extension, given the shocking defensive struggles. He threw his first interception of the season in the Week 6 win over the Jaguars. He's completing 65.2 percent of his passes with 9 TDs and a 100.9 passer rating. In his fine rookie season of 2023, he rated 100.8.
22. Dallas Cowboys 2-4 (19)
The Cowboys' defense isn't good, so their offense needs to be perfect with Dak Prescott passing often with little help from the running game. His passer rating of 90.1 is far from that level of play. That would be his lowest efficiency since his career-worst 2022 season.
23. New Orleans Saints 2-4 (28)
The Saints marched away with another road win after three consecutive home losses. It's still more gritty than pretty with Tyler Shough at quarterback. He keeps trending in the wrong direction with a microscopic 4.8 yards per attempt in the win over the Giants, but there will be no QB change because there's no better QB option short-term.
24. Arizona Cardinals 2-4 (29)
The Cardinals are fortunate to have Chad Ryland, who booted home six field goals to outscore the Rams in a massive road upset in Week 6. Jacoby Brissett, however, was bad again, averaging only 6.2 yards per attempt, forcing Mike LaFleur to go run- heavy (50 percent) against the Rams. That worked, but Arizona is getting closer to giving rookie Carson Beck his shot.
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25. Atlanta Falcons 2-4 (22)
The Falcons have crashed back to reality, sandwiching big wins over the Packers and Saints with losses to the Steelers, Panthers, Ravens and Bears. In the wins, Bijan Robinson has averaged 170 rushing yards. In the losses, he's averaged 83.
26. New York Jets 2-4 (23)
The Jets' offense is much improved and competent for a change with Geno Smith now getting more help from rookie first-round wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. to support Garrett Wilson and a running back revelation with Braleon Allen. Over the past three weeks with no Breece Hall, Allen has averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
27. Washington Commanders 1-3-1 (25)
The Commanders are struggling most defensively under Dan Quinn in the red zone. They are allowing opponents inside the 20 to score touchdowns at a league-high 83.3 percent clip. That will be rough against the 49ers, who lead the NFL with an 87.5 percent TD success rate in the red zone.
28. Indianapolis Colts 2-4 (24)
The Colts blew a 13-0 halftime lead at home despite dominating time of possession (38 minutes vs. the Titans) and Jonathan Taylor amassing 151 scrimmage yards. Daniel Jones taking six sacks and throwing two picks won't cut it and that return to his bad Giants form has fans wanting the QB to be benched.
MORE: Ranking Colts' best coaching candidates to replace Shane Steichen
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-5 (27)
The Buccaneers are bottom 10 in both third-down conversion percentage (37 percent) and red-zone touchdown percentage (47 percent) and lost to the Steelers despite a 16-3 fourth-quarter lead because their drives were also stalled by turnovers. That type of loss doesn't bode well for the future of Todd Bowles.
MORE: Ranking Bucs' best coaching candidates to replace Todd Bowles
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30. Tennessee Titans 1-5 (32)
Cam Ward wasn't sacked once, but was just 11 for 22 against the Colts. Only four players caught passes from him in Indianapolis. The win, fueled by special teams and takeaways, still won't take too much heat off his poor play in the new offense.
31. Miami Dolphins 0-5 (30)
The Dolphins need to tap more into a strong rushing offense featuring Ollie Gordon II coming out of the bye to finish a game with a win. They were No. 11 with 126.6 yards per game and No. 5 at 4.9 yards per carry. They can beat the Jets in Week 6 with that.
32. Los Angeles Chargers 0-6 (31)
Justin Herbert isn't a good quarterback in any way in 2026. He's the biggest reason for the start, even though Mike McDaniel is the scapegoat. Herbert has remedial numbers with a 59.4 completion percentage, 6.3 yards per attempt and a 68.8 passer rating. He is also on pace to throw 17 touchdowns to 27 interceptions and now get sacked 60 times. Yikes.