1. 49ers (last week No. 1; 5-0): Plenty of other teams wish they’d made a run at signing Mike Evans.
2. Chiefs (No. 2; 4-0): They’ve got a chance to deliver the death blow to the Chargers’ season.
3. Jaguars (No. 3; 4-1): On a Sunday that featured plenty of lessons, Jacksonville’s contribution was to highlight the importance of having a backup long snapper.
4. Bills (No. 4; 3-1): Joe Brady wasn’t going to eff around and find out by trying to get the game-winning field goal closer.
5. Seahawks (No. 5; 3-2): They’re trying too hard to be something other than they were in 2025.
6. Vikings (No. 8; 5-0): As the offense improves, the Vikings go from “contender” to “threat.”
7. Broncos (No. 6; 3-2): When Seattle comes to town on Thursday night, everyone will find out whether this team is a true candidate to get to the Super Bowl.
8. Ravens (No. 10; 4-1): The Ravens still look like the Ravens, even after a coaching change.
9. Patriots (No. 13; 3-2): The patriotic pigeons had a field day on Tom Brady’s statue.
10. Rams (No. 7; 2-3): They have five winnable games before the bye; if they lose any of them, things could get interesting down the stretch.
11. Packers (No. 23; 3-2): When your adversary keeps talking, stay quiet and wait for your opportunity.
12 (tie). Browns (No. 12; 3-2): They’re first in the list because they beat the Steelers.
12 (tie). Steelers (No. 14; 3-2): They’re second in the list because they beat the Bengals.
12 (tie). Bengals (No. 15; 3-2): The win over the Dolphins shouldn’t have come down to an onside kick.
15. Bears (No. 9; 3-2): Tyson Bagent’s expiration date seems to have arrived.
16. Raiders (No. 11; 3-2): At what point will Fernando Mendoza become the better option to lead a run to a possible playoff berth?
17. Giants (No. 16; 3-1-1): Dan Quinn saved John Harbaugh and Cam Skattebo from being the pin cushions of talk radio in New York.
18. Panthers (No. 19; 2-2): They could win the division by default, again.
19. Eagles (No. 17; 2-3): A bad week ended in the worst way possible.
20. Cowboys (No. 18; 2-3): The arrival of Mike Pettine is both an acknowledgement that the defense needs help and a failure to acquire the kind of help it needs.
21. Lions (No. 21; 2-3): Nothing helps a bad defense like playing a bad offense.
22. Falcons (No. 20; 2-3): Michael Penix Jr. has a long way to go to show that he’s sufficiently durable to be a franchise quarterback.
23. Colts (No. 22; 2-3): It feels like an overhaul is inevitable.
24. Texans (No. 24; 1-4): They still have a long way to go to become the team that they were in 2025.
25. Saints (No. 25; 1-4): Three straight home losses may be very hard to overcome.
26. Jets (No. 28; 2-3): Geno Smith has gone from leading the league in interceptions to throwing none.
27. Buccaneers (No. 30; 1-4): They may have found something in Jalon Daniels.
28. Commanders (No. 26; 1-3-1): The clock is still ticking on Dan Quinn. In more ways than one.
29. Cardinals (No. 27; 1-4): The Week 1 win over the Chargers becomes less impressive by the week.
30. Chargers (No. 29; 0-5): The price for a potential Justin Herbert trade is dropping by the week.
31. Titans (No. 31; 0-5): The constant turnover in the organization feels like Game of Thrones meets the Island of Misfit Toys.
32. Dolphins (No. 32; 0-5): Maybe Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley should have waited a year.