Week 4’s WCG NFL Power Rankings are here! After another unpredictable week, there were plenty of shakeups. @AaronLemingNFL has details here.
With Week 3 wrapping up, the NFL will turn the calendar to October as it heads into Week 4. Although the opening month of the season is over, there’s still plenty to learn about all 32 teams around the NFL. Week 2 brought key quarterback injuries, leading to multiple backups making starts and further clouding things for certain teams. With October on the horizon, here’s how our WCG Week 4 Power Rankings shake out.
1. Buffalo Bills (3-0)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Continuity exists, despite a change at head coach. Is this the boost the Bills needed to get over the hump?
Maybe this isn’t a huge surprise to some, but so far, Joe Brady has his team playing at as high a level as, if not higher than, former head coach Sean McDermott did. Quarterback Josh Allen is the frontrunner for MVP, and for the most part, they’ve looked like the best team in football.
2. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Despite more injuries (no surprise), they are a perfect 3-0, and the defense looks worthy enough to be considered Super Bowl caliber.
Nick Bosa is hurt again. Their defensive line is in shambles. Mike Evans left with a rib injury on Sunday. Despite that, the 49ers are 3-0, and they look more complete than they did a year ago. There’s no reason to think that won’t continue.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)
Biggest Surprise Through September: How quickly a 31-year-old Patrick Mahomes has returned to form is a credit to hard work, and of course, modern medicine.
Not only are the Chiefs undefeated through September, but their star quarterback looks like he’s back to his normal self. Things got a little dicey against Miami, but Mahomes has a 7-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, a 68% completion rate, and he’s averaging 270 yards per game. Life is good in Kansas City again.
4. Minnesota Vikings (3-0)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Despite more chaos at quarterback, the Vikings are a perfect 3-0. Will it last?
Coming back against the Packers at home was one thing. Smoothing a high-scoring Bears offense was another. Now their defense has smothered a third team, and things look great for the Vikings so far in 2026. All of this, despite starting two quarterbacks through three games. All that bad luck from last year appears to be reversed this season.
5. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Their lone loss came with Sam Darnold playing all 60 minutes.
Make no mistake, the Seahawks are one of the best teams in football. They’re also at their best when Darnold is under center. That said, it’s mildly surprising that their only loss of September came with Darnold at quarterback, and with the Jayden Daniels-less Commanders being the ones to do it.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: For the most part, the defense looks Super Bowl caliber. If that holds, the Bengals will be dangerous.
Even with a disappointing loss to the Steelers on Sunday, fans have to feel good about the direction the Bengals are headed. Dexter Lawrence has helped transform this defense, and if everyone on the offense stays healthy, this will be a team no one wants to face all year.
7. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The defense isn’t quite fixed under first-year head coach Jesse Minter, despite a highly paid and highly talented unit.
To nobody’s surprise, the offense is back to looking like it normally does with Lamar Jackson under center. First-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has done a great job of keeping things explosive. Defensively, they still leave a lot to be desired. While they might be improved, it’s fair to wonder if they’ve improved enough to get back into the Super Bowl contender conversation.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence are quickly proving last year’s impressive run wasn’t a fluke.
Jacksonville was one bad second half against the Broncos from being a perfect 3-0. Head coach Liam Coen became the quickest head coach to 15 wins in franchise history, and for the most part, everything is trending in the right direction. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence can also be included in that conversation. He’s playing at the highest level of his career.
9. Las Vegas Raiders (3-0)
Biggest Surprise Through September: How real is their hot start? Eventually they’ll turn to Fernando Mendoza, but so far, Kirk Cousins has been more than up to the task.
The most surprising team in the league through three games? The Las Vegas Raiders at a perfect 3-0 under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak. I’m not sure whether the offense under Cousins or their defense (which has given up just 54 points) has been more impressive. I’m not sure it’ll last, but Raiders fans have to be over the moon heading into October.
10. Chicago Bears (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: No Caleb Williams… No problem? Despite a disastrous Week 2 that cost the team three to four games with Williams out, Case Keenum helped deliver a winning month.
It would have been easy to write the Bears off after last weekend against Minnesota simply. The offense looked anemic; they lost their starting quarterback, and overall, spirits seemed down heading into a pivotal early-season matchup against the undefeated Eagles. Instead, they have ridden two great defensive performances and a lifetime-from-Keenum performance to come out of September at 2-1 and in good shape moving forward.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Saquon Barkley is still not himself, and because of that, the Eagles’ offense continues to teeter in the middle.
Despite a 2-0 start, it was easy to look at the quality of their opponents, how they won those games, and wonder what was going on. The defense is no longer elite, but still plenty good enough. Although the offense isn’t “bad” by any stretch of the imagination, it still lacks the same pop we saw from a few years ago. They’re still in good shape moving forward in the NFC East, but it’s worth wondering if Sean Mannion is the answer at offensive coordinator.
12. Detroit Lions (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Despite their third new offensive play caller in as many seasons, the Lions’ offense is still pretty damn productive.
It hasn’t looked the same as it did during Ben Johnson’s heyday, but they have scored exactly 31 points in each of their first three games. The bigger concern is the defense, which continues to give up far too many points, leading to a -2 point differential despite averaging 31 points per game offensively.
13. Denver Broncos (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Despite being 2-1, offensive regression has hit, and the Broncos have been left searching for consistency.
Some will blame it on first-year play caller Davis Webb, while others will point to a bad start from quarterback Bo Nix. Regardless of how you cut it, it stands to reason that head coach Sean Payton could take back play-calling if things don’t improve drastically soon for more than one half at a time. We’ll see if they can string together a full game of good offense soon.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Despite a new head coach and a 42-year-old quarterback, the Steelers look like a playoff contender.
Count me as shocked as anybody. AFC North games are always close and usually ugly, but being able to pull out a win against the Bengals was an impressive feat. Hell, I’d even argue that it was Aaron Rodgers’ best game of the young season. Now, we’ll see if the offense can do enough to keep them well-rounded.
15. Los Angeles Rams (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: That vaunted defense won’t be at full strength until at least November. Building continuity while Myles Garrett heals will be key to a deep playoff run.
The Rams came into the regular season as the overwhelming Super Bowl favorites. Yet, the story of the season so far has been Myles Garrett’s injury. Aaron Donald has looked good after a two-year layoff, but without Garrett for the next three-to-four games, they’ll have to find ways to produce pressure and live up to expectations. So far, they are 1-2 in a deep division.
16. New England Patriots (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Drake Maye’s fall from grace is extremely concerning. Is this a slow start or something more?
Through three games, Maye has a 1:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and he’s simply not the same quarterback that he was last regular season. Considering his track record last year, logic says he will figure it out. Even so, his knack for mistakes has contributed to their offensive struggles and is a big reason they are 1-2. Buckle up, the schedule doesn’t get any easier any time soon.
17. Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The defense isn’t nearly as good as expected. Will it improve throughout the season?
All offseason, we heard about the hiring of Christian Parker and all the additions on that side of the ball. Through three games, it hasn’t looked pretty. Week 1 was a disaster, and the end of Week 3’s loss to the Ravens wasn’t much better. Heading into October, they are giving up an average of 27.33 points per game, which isn’t nearly good enough. The talent is there; now we see if they can figure it out. Their season might depend on it.
18. Green Bay Packers (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Their -35 point differential tells the story of how much the Packers have struggled to start the year.
Count me as someone who thought the Packers would be worse than most believed. That said, I’m not sure anybody could have predicted this start. Although Micah Parsons has yet to return, even his presence can’t fix all the issues they’ve faced through three games. The immediate concern is stabilizing the offensive line, but the defense has some serious issues too.
19. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Tyler Shough is good and, dare I say, the best quarterback from last year’s class?
Now the question is, will that be good enough to win a bad NFC South? They had a prime opportunity to take control of the division in Las Vegas, and despite leading in the fourth quarter, they came up short. Shough is a good, young quarterback, but the rest of the roster needs to come along with him.
20. New York Giants (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury. Can the Giants stay afloat?
Any time a team loses an exciting, young quarterback, it’s bad for the league. Combine that with the biggest media market in the country, and it’s an absolute disaster. With Dart done for the year, Jameis Winston led his team to a victory on Sunday. That said, it doesn’t feel overly sustainable for another 14 games, no matter how good a head coach John Harbaugh is.
21. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The defensive struggles, despite the investments on that side of the ball.
Before Week 3’s 17-point performance, the Colts’ defense had given up a combined 74 points over the first two weeks of the season. Considering the investments they have on that side of the ball, it’s a big reason why they find themselves at 1-2. If that improves, life is good. If not, this could finally be the year they clean house.
22. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The offensive production. At least through the first two games of the season. Quarterback Bryce Young looks for real, even after a subpar Week 3 performance on the road.
The good news is that the NFC South is just as bad as it was last year. The bad news is that the Panthers dropped a very winnable game in Cleveland on Sunday. The offense is for real, as is Young, but the defense needs to take bigger strides if it’s going to be better than last year. This division is wide open, but the defense needs to catch up.
23. Cleveland Browns (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Deshaun Watson’s best days are behind him, but new head coach Todd Monken seems to have brought out the next best thing.
Week 2’s win felt like a fluke; Week 3’s win felt like a statement. The defense is still pretty damn good, and frankly, Watson has been considerably better than expected over the last two weeks. Monken is a no-nonsense coach, and his team has embraced that identity so far.
24. Houston Texans (0-3)
Biggest Surprise Through September: A slow start is one thing; a winless September is another. Concerns are mounting in Houston and for good reason.
On the surface, nothing sticks out as “overly bad,” but they have a 21-point differential and have scored under 20 points in two of their three games. Quarterback C.J. Stroud’s numbers look good on the surface, but their lack of a run game and empty numbers have led to two different disappointing performances through three games. Things need to change, and they need to change fast.
25. Los Angeles Chargers (0-3)
Biggest Surprise Through September: How is the offense (and Justin Herbert) this bad under Mike McDaniel?
Starting 0-3 is surprising; Herbert and this offense struggling to score points or move the ball is simply shocking. McDaniel was supposed to rebuild his “stock” for a year before taking another head coaching job, but it’s fair to wonder how things look in January if things don’t turn around quickly. People love to make excuses for Justin Herbert, but a 3-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a sub-60 % completion rate are unacceptable for a seventh-year quarterback of his caliber.
26. Washington Commanders (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Following an 0-2 start, they took down the defending Super Bowl champions with a backup quarterback.
The Commanders, with Marcus Mariota under center, were responsible for Week 3’s biggest upset. Not only did they take down the defending champs, but there’s also a lot to like on defense. Daniels should be back at some point soon, and although it’s unlikely they push for a playoff spot, there’s hope that they can be better than they were last season.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)
Biggest Surprise Through September: How are the Buccaneers 0-3? More importantly, it’s fair to wonder how “fixable” it is, even in the lowly NFC South.
The Bucs have slowly been bleeding talent over the last few years, and it’s fair to wonder if it was smart to extend Baker Mayfield. That said, many could have made a pretty easy argument for them winning the NFC South this season. Instead, they’ve started 0-3, Mayfield dislocated his thumb, and the road doesn’t get any easier in October.
28. New York Jets (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The Jets are much more competitive than expected, thanks to a much-improved defense that has still yet to force an interception.
Even after back-to-back disappointing losses, I’m not sure you’ll find anyone who thinks this group has been anything short of exceeding expectations. Head coach Aaron Glenn still leaves a lot to be desired as an in-game coach, but they’ve finally got some talent, and more will be on the way next offseason.
29. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: Tua didn’t start a game, despite Michael Penix missing the first two.
The first two games for the Falcons were disastrous. In fact, their offense didn’t reach the red zone once with Cooper Rush under center. That all changed on Thursday night as they hung 35 points on Green Bay in Penix’s season debut. Despite all the chaos, Tua missed the first two games with back issues and didn’t get a chance to prove himself. That opportunity might be gone now.
30. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)
Biggest Surprise Through September: They won a game this month and look slightly more competent than expected.
The Cardinals are in the midst of Year 1 of a complete regime change. There’s plenty to rework in the coming years, and although they aren’t likely to win many games, they had the most impressive upset of Week 1. Outside of that, it’s likely to be another long year in Arizona. The only plus is that they finally have a direction.
31. Tennessee Titans (0-3)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The change at head coach hasn’t yielded the expected results. It’s fair to wonder if quarterback Cam Ward is already on borrowed time.
Don’t get me wrong: I wasn’t a fan of hiring a defensive-minded head coach for a young quarterback. That said, I believed Ward had enough talent to overcome some early-season hiccups. So far, I’ve been dead wrong. With a new regime at the helm, it’s fair to wonder how long they stick with the plan, especially if they have a high first-rounder come April.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-3)
Biggest Surprise Through September: The Dolphins might be worse than expected, but without running back De’Von Achane, they could be the shoo-in for the No. 1 overall pick in April.
It’s no secret that the Dolphins lack talent on both sides of the ball. After all, they are in the infancy stages of a full-blown rebuild. Even so, things have looked ugly. Hence their -50 point differential over three games. With Achane seriously injured, it might be time to start focusing on how they can land the top pick in next year’s draft.
Comments