Chaos. That’s the only appropriate word to describe Sunday’s Week 3 action around the National Football League. Two of the best NFL teams in the first two weeks (Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals) lost, the Cleveland Browns won for the second week in a row and both the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers experienced a bit of a scare.
We’ll also remember NFL Week 3 for the Green Bay Packers shaping up to be one of the biggest disappointments this season, all the while the Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings are making real noise.
Let’s dive int our Week 4 NFL power rankings. We’ll also provide updates after Sunday Night Football () and Monday Night Football (Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles).
1. Buffalo Bills (2)
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Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills offense turned it over five times in Week 3 and they still went on to win 24-16, outscoring the Chargers 24-6 in the final three quarters. That’s certainly an indictment in some regard of Los Angeles, but it also further highlights what can happen when Joe Brady allows Allen to keep playing so aggressive. Buffalo’s pass defense remains a bit shaky, but Greg Rousseau (6 sacks in three games) and Co. should feel great about their ability to get after Drake Maye next week.
2. San Francisco 49ers (3)
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Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The San Francisco 49ers are 3-0 and Brock Purdy looks like an NFL MVP candidate. Unfortunately for Kyle Shanahan, in an all too familiar theme for this club, the win came with injuries. Mike Evans (rib) and Trent Williams were both carted off with injuries, crushing blows to a 49ers offense that absolutely needs them. All of this came just a few days after Nick Bosa suffered an injury in practice that will sideline him multiple games. Can the 49ers overcome those potential absences to beat the Broncos and Seahawks in the next two weeks? If anyone can do it, it would be Purdy, Shanahan and Christian McCaffrey.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5)
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Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
As Week 3 demonstrated, regardless of the competition, it can be difficult to string together a three-game winning streak. The Kansas City Chiefs were certainly aided on Sunday by facing a Dolphins’ offense that lost all of its running backs, but this is still one that Kansas City largely had some control of from start to finish. There are some things Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will want to clean up, but the 3-0 Chiefs should be feeling good about their chances of creating some breathing room in the AFC West next Sunday when they travel to Las Vegas.
4. Los Angeles Rams (6)
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Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Sunday Night Football is an opportunity for the Los Angeles Rams. Still without Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, Denver feels like the perfect test to really determine just how great the Rams can be. The Broncos offensive line is exceptional in pass protection, creating a strength versus strength duel for Los Angeles. Meanwhile, we can get a good gauge for how effective this Rams’ passing game can be without Nacua against a top secondary. It’s going to be a great game.
5. Denver Broncos (7)
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Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Can the Denver Broncos replicate what we saw in the second half of last week’s comeback win against Jacksonville? Bo Nix was great in the fourth quarter and Denver’s defense looked far more fundamentally sound than it did in Week 1. Both of those things will be put under the microscope on Sunday Night Football against a Rams team that might have the highest ceiling in the NFL.
6. Seattle Seahawks (1)
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Aug 28, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) takes the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Sam Darnold returns and the Seattle Seahawks lose, not what we expected for a team facing a backup quarterback. Turnovers by Darnold and Jadarian Price proved fatal on Sunday, as Washington turned them into 21 points in a 33-31 game. Everything that could go wrong for Seattle’s offense in this cross-country trip did. We’d anticipate a return home to face a winless Chargers squad provides a nice turnaround for Seattle in Week 4.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (9)
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Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Eagles caught a massive break in Week 3. Getting to face Ben Johnson’s offense with Case Keenum operating it is a gift. It also means that, barring a disastrous performance from both Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia’s run defense, this team should come out of Monday Night Football with a 3-0 record. However, the resume would be the most unimpressive in the NFL.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (12)
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Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
That’s more like it from the Jacksonville Jaguars. A defense that specialized in creating takeaways and generating pressures last season hit the sweet spot in Week 3, forcing Drake Maye to turn it over three times in the first three quarters. Trevor Lawrence took full advantage and continues to do a great job of spreading the football around, making this offense all the more difficult to contain. We can’t wait for the Jaguars vs Bengals matchup next Sunday.
9. Minnesota Vikings (8)
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Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings improved to 3-0 on Sunday with their 23-16 win, but wide receiver Justin Jefferson left in the first quarter with an ankle injury and the passing game wasn’t exactly inspiring in Kyler Murray’s return (152 net passing yards, 5.8 ypa, 1-1 TD-INT). Similar to the Eagles, what matters most is the perfect record and Minnesota’s defense should maintain it in Week 4 against a Dolphins offense that will be missing De’Von Achane.
10. Baltimore Ravens (10)
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Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Have the Baltimore Ravens finally exercised their fourth-quarter demons? It certainly felt like late in the final quarter in Brazil, the Ravens’ timeless tradition of blowing a fourth-quarter lead and collapsing in the closing moments would doom them again. Instead, thanks to a blown coverage, Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers for a 27-yard gain and Tyler Loop came through with the biggest make of his life from 57 yards out to win it with 1 second left. If this last-second comeback can be a stepping stone for Baltimore to finally get past its long-standing issues, this is a Super Bowl contender.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (4)
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Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
That’s a deflating loss for the Cincinnati Bengals and it felt reminiscent of the recent iterations of this club. Joe Burrow (282 passing yards and 3 touchdowns) was great through the air on Sunday, but Cincinnati’s defense allowed over 400 total yards and 30 points to a Pittsburgh offense that couldn’t function through its first two games. If the Bengals are regressing defensively that quickly, this team is in real danger of losing at home to the Jaguars in Week 4.
12. Chicago Bears (13)
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Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is reportedly dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday. He’s out for Monday Night Football, meaning Chicago would need a miracle to avoid consecutive losses. With that acknowledged, there’s still very much hope in Chicago that Williams could return in a few weeks. Based on how the Jets and Packers have looked this season, we’re not ruling out Chicago being 3-2 if Williams were to return in Week 6.
13. Las Vegas Raiders (20)
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Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Las Vegas Raiders are 3-0. How? It still feels so stunning that it is hard to explain, but veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins keeps finding a way to get this team on top. In Sunday’s comeback victory in New Orleans, it was the Raiders’ defense creating four consecutive takeaways in the fourth quarter that led to the comeback. There just seems to be something magical going on with Las Vegas this season. Will that continue against the Chiefs? Maybe not, but Raider Nation has a chance to make Allegiant Stadium insane next Sunday and beating Kansas City would send a message to the entire NFL.
14. Detroit Lions (14)
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Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Take notes Green Bay, that’s how you handle your business against the New York Jets. It wasn’t an entirely clean operation for the Detroit Lions in Week 3, as it was a 0-0 game entering the second quarter, but Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff locked in after that. We still have very real concerns about Detroit’s defense, but there’s a bit more confidence in this club’s ability to go into Carolina next week and improve to 3-1 with a win on Sunday Night Football.
15. New England Patriots (11)
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Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Drake Maye is broken. The New England Patriots quarterback was obviously disastrous in the NFL playoffs (58.3% completion rate, 4 INT, 21 sacks taken) but the hope in Foxborough was that he’d rebound. Through three games, Maye has now turned it over seven times and taken double-digit sacks. Maye is nowhere near good enough right now to think New England can go into Buffalo in Week 4 and win. A 1-3 start to the season feels inevitable and there are plenty of tough matchups after that on the Patriots schedule, too.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (23)
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Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Well there’s a version of Aaron Rodgers and this Pittsburgh Steelers offense we weren’t sure we’d see in 2026. DK Metcalf (3-31-1) remains a disappointment this far, but Pittsburgh got big plays from tight end Darnell Washington (47-yard catch-and-run) and Jaylen Warren (176 scrimmage yards on 20 touches) all on a day when Pittsburgh’s defense clearly didn’t seem to have it. This was a crucial win for the Steelers (2-1) and one that certainly keeps their hopes of winning the AFC North this season fully alive.
17. Dallas Cowboys (16)
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Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Trailing 21-38, the Dallas Cowboys had the football at the 2-yard line on 1st-and-goal with just over 20 seconds remaining. In a span of six plays, they managed to settle for a field goal with 7 seconds left and then allow the Ravens to go downfield and hit the game-winning kick as time expired in Brazil. That epitomizes everything that has defined the Cowboys for more than a decade now.
18. Indianapolis Colts (24)
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Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Even in September, that was a must-win game for the Indianapolis Colts. Daniel Jones wasn’t particularly good in Week 3 (32.1 ESPN QBR) and Jonathan Taylor was shut down (3.8 ypc) by Houston’s defense, but Indianapolis stepped up defensively to make up for it. Then, with the victory on the line, Jones made the throw he needed to with under 2 minutes to go to Laquon Treadwell to help set up the game-deciding field goal. A 1-2 record with the Commanders, Steelers and Titans coming up puts Indianapolis back on the radar for relevancy in the AFC South.
19. New Orleans Saints (15)
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Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Saints were on the opposite end of a fourth-quarter comeback in Week 3. Tyler Shough coughed it up on three consecutive drives and the last-ditch effort ended on a fourth consecutive giveaway by the Saints’ offense in a 15-minute span. It’s a heartbreaking loss for New Orleans and the week ahead feels like a great test of this team’s resiliency. Will New Orleans rebound from this to take down an Atlanta team that has renewed confidence or will it let this fourth-quarter implosion lead to an even more damaging loss at home to its rival? We’ll find out next Monday night.
20. Houston Texans (17)
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Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Houston Texans don’t have a run game. In the last two weeks, David Montgomery and Woody Marks have combined for 66 rushing yards on 30 carries (2.2 yards per carry). This is happening to a team that lost its No. 2 receiver Jayden Higgins before the season and has now been without Nico Collins (hamstring) for the last two games. We’re not completely out on Houston, because this defense is elite and Collins could potentially return in Week 4. However, at 0-3, the Texans’ margin for error is gone and it feels like they need to beat the Cowboys next Sunday.
21. New York Giants (21)
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Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Was it a memorable win? Certainly not, but that’s also a game that the previous New York Giants coaching staff would find a way to lose. We’re not convinced New York should stick with Jameis Winston as its starting quarterback for the rest of the season, especially based on what he’s shown in these two games. With that said, the fan base can at least feel good about the leaders it has right now. Maybe New York can win another ugly one next week against the Cardinals.
22. Cleveland Browns (27)
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Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Well then, it appears Deshaun Watson will be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback for a while. Let’s just hope the franchise doesn’t talk itself into signing him to a new deal. During this two-game win streak for Cleveland, Watson had a 4-0 TD-INT line with 382 passing yards and 67 rushing yards. He’s protecting the football and this young defense is clicking. If the Browns can find a way to beat the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, it will be fascinating to see how the fan base treats Watson.
23. Carolina Panthers (18)
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Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Well that’s a bad look for the Carolina Panthers. The passing game. It was the kind of Sunday where Brycen Tremayne (83 receiving yards) put up nearly three times as many receiving yards as Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan combined (35) in Week 3 against Cleveland. That’s how you get an offense that goes 4-for-15 on third down and turns just one of its red-zone trips into a touchdown. If the Panthers’ passing game can’t get back on track on Sunday Night Football against Detroit’s secondary, there should be some concern.
24. Washington Commanders (29)
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Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Everything seemed to go in the Washington Commanders‘ favor this weekend. Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury won’t require surgery and he could return to the field within the next three weeks. Days after getting that news, the football bounced the Commanders’ way on Sunday with a lost fumble and an interception that deflected off a helmet at the line of scrimmage, proving instrumental in the Commanders’ 33-31 win over the reigning Super Bowl champions. Up next, a trip to London to face a Colts team that is coming off its own surprise victory.
25. Atlanta Falcons (31)
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Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Falcons offense looks solid with the return of Michael Penix Jr. We might not be ready to put a ton of stock into what Atlanta did defensively on Thursday Night Football given how abysmal Green Bay is up front, but what matters is the Falcons have a quarterback who can put Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London in a position to succeed. Penix is still a below-average starting quarterback in our view, but that is a vast upgrade over a signal-caller who arguably should not be on a roster.
26. Arizona Cardinals (25)
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Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
This is Jeremiyah Love’s backfield now. The Arizona Cardinals might’ve dropped to 1-2 on Sunday, but they did put up a great fight in San Francisco (36-30) and the coaching staff has to feel great about Love’s 119 scrimmage yards and the big day from Michael Wilson (11-89-1). With the way this Cardinals offense is capable of clicking, going to MetLife Stadium and coming out with a 2-2 record is doable. However, the cross-country trip might prove to be an issue for a young team.
27. Green Bay Packers (19)
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love passes the ball under pressure from Atlanta Falcons defensive end Cameron Thomas on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Falcons won the game, 35-14.
This feels like rock bottom for the Green Bay Packers. To put it rather simply, Green Bay has the worst offensive line in the NFL and their running back room appears to be just as bad.. It makes the Packers offense non-operational leading to a league-high number of three-and-outs, which puts a below-average defense on the field for most of the game. Micah Parsons isnt saving this team.
Related: Green Bay Packers Coaching Candidates to Replace Matt LaFleur
28. New York Jets (22)
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New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw the ball during a game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium, Sep 20, 2026, East Rutherford, NJ, USA.
The New York Jets are at least a much more competitive team than we saw last season. Geno Smith is taking far too many sacks, but he is also protecting the football and bringing some life to this Jets’ passing game. Is it enough for New York (1-2) to consider keeping head coach Aaron Glenn for a third season? Barring something great happening in the next three months, absolutely not.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28)
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Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Baker Mayfield (thumb) is hurt, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-3 and we have no faith in their head coach. Tampa Bay looked good defensively in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, but its offense again failed to deliver in some critical moments. With the loss, the Buccaneers are now 2-10 since Nov. 9, 2025. It’s beyond clear at this point that a reset of the coaching staff is needed, but that isn’t coming for months.
30. Los Angeles Chargers (29)
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Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Chargers are simply a bad football team. When your opponent turns it over five times and commits 10 penalties for 88 yards, you should score more than 16 points. It’s particularly inexcusable when you can only produce a pair of field goals in the final three quarters against a bad defense. We don’t see a path to the Chargers winning a game until late November.
31. Miami Dolphins (32)
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Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
It’s impossible not to have some respect for what Jeff Hafley and the Miami Dolphins are building. De’Von Achane (knee) left early with a knee injury and that forced Miami to put even more on Malik Willis’ shoulders. It wasn’t pretty, but the Dolphins offense still put up 329 total yards and a 50% third-down conversion rate on Sunday. Miami probably isn’t going to win one for a long time, but at least they are showing some real fight. Sadly, there’s a real chance Achane is out long-term and that would be a devastating blow for a Dolphins offense that has next to nothing without him.
32. Tennessee Titans (30)
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Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward (1) leads his offense to a go-ahead field goal against Philadelphia late in the fourth quarter of their game at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.
Cam Ward simply might not be the guy. The Tennessee Titans offense got shutout for most of Sunday. While weather could be blamed for some of that, it can’t be attributed to Ward’s dumbfounding interception on 1st-and-goal at the 7-yard line with 24 seconds left when Tennessee still had time to go for the win. Ward could’ve run it or even lofted it to his receiver in the back of the end zone, but instead he tossed an easy game-ending pick. The Titans’ infrastructure is obviously bad, but we’re just not seeing tangible progress from Ward in his second NFL season.