Week 3 Power Rankings: The Top 16

With two weeks of football behind us, it's time to take a look at the top 16 teams in the league. Three of the teams in the top 16 are dealing with injuries to key players, meaning that next week's top 16 could look very different.

16. Seahawks (1-1)

Seattle beat Pittsburgh 31–17 with a strong rushing attack led by Kenneth Walker III. Sam Darnold looked steady in the new offense, and Cooper Kupp chipped in with important catches. Even so, they made mistakes that could cost them against tougher opponents. The Seahawks want to keep building their run-first identity.

15. Steelers (1-1)

Pittsburgh’s new look with Aaron Rodgers throwing to DK Metcalf started well, but the run defense was shredded by Seattle. The offense showed flashes, yet they couldn’t keep up when the game got physical. The Steelers need their defense to get back to their tough identity if they want to stay in the AFC race.

14. Cowboys (1-1)

Dallas beat the Giants 40–37 in overtime, but it wasn’t pretty. Dak Prescott played well enough, and new receiver George Pickens made an impact, but the defense gave up 450 passing yards. The Cowboys need to be sharper, especially on defense, if they want to challenge the Eagles in the NFC East.

13. Broncos (1-1)

Denver lost a heartbreaker to the Colts, 29–28. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix showed poise and tossed some nice passes, while J.K. Dobbins powered in a touchdown. But the defense gave up a big run late and couldn’t hold the lead. The Broncos will try to tighten up on defense and give Nix more protection as they look to bounce back.

12. 49ers (2-0)

San Francisco edged out the Saints behind a healthy Christian McCaffrey, who scored and looked sharp. Backup quarterback Mac Jones did just enough to move the offense, but they didn’t create many big plays. The 49ers are winning with balance, and if McCaffrey stays healthy, they’ll remain one of the NFC’s toughest teams.

11. Bengals (2-0)

Cincinnati beat Jacksonville 31–27 even with Joe Burrow leaving hurt. Backup Jake Browning stepped in and hit Ja’Marr Chase for big plays to seal the win. The Bengals are undefeated, but Burrow’s health is a major concern. He won't be back until December and they will certainly lose a few games between now and then.

10. Chargers (2-0)

Los Angeles kept rolling with a 20–9 win over the Raiders. Justin Herbert looked calm and efficient, and the defense intercepted Geno Smith three times. Under new coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers are finally playing smart, physical football. If they keep protecting Herbert and making plays on defense, they could be a playoff threat.

9. Buccaneers (2-0)

Tampa Bay survived a 20–19 thriller in Houston. Baker Mayfield led a late scoring drive, and rookie Emeka Egbuka showed why the Bucs are excited about him with his third NFL touchdown. The defense bent but didn’t break. Tampa looks like a serious NFC South contender, and Mayfield’s leadership is giving them confidence.

8. Commanders (1-1)

Washington fell 27–18 to the Packers, but Jayden Daniels kept battling, throwing two late touchdowns. Losing Austin Ekeler to injury was a huge blow, and it may force the team to lean more on Deebo Samuel and the young running backs. Jayden Daniels also sprained his knee in the game. The Commanders have fight, but replacing Ekeler’s production won’t be easy.

7. Chiefs (0-2)

Kansas City lost another close one, falling 20–17 to Philadelphia. Patrick Mahomes made big plays, but the offensive line struggled, and the receivers didn’t provide enough help. Starting 0–2 is rare for the Chiefs, but Mahomes and Travis Kelce still give them a chance every week. They need other players to step up soon.

6. Rams (2-0)

The Rams rolled past Tennessee 33–19. Matthew Stafford spread the ball around and leaned on new star Davante Adams, who already looks comfortable in Los Angeles. The defense sacked rookie Cam Ward five times, showing they can dominate. If Stafford keeps connecting with Adams and Puka Nacua, the Rams could be very dangerous.

5. Lions (1-1)

Detroit crushed Chicago 52–21, showing their offense is still one of the best in the NFL. Jared Goff threw five touchdowns, and Amon-Ra St. Brown dominated with three scores. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also shined. If the Lions can play with this kind of balance more often, they’ll be right in the playoff mix again.

4. Packers (2-0)

Green Bay beat Washington 27–18 with a balanced attack. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns, and running back Josh Jacobs powered the ground game. The defense also came up big in key moments. The Packers look like one of the most complete teams in the NFC, and they’re showing they can win in multiple ways.

3. Ravens (1-1)

Baltimore bounced back from a shootout loss to Buffalo by crushing Cleveland 41–17. Lamar Jackson threw and ran for scores, and the defense forced turnovers all game long. The Ravens looked like a championship team when everything was clicking. If Lamar stays hot, they’ll be tough for anyone to stop.

2. Eagles (2-0)

Philadelphia won a hard-fought 20–17 game in Kansas City. Saquon Barkley ran tough, and Jalen Hurts managed the offense while the defense made plays late. The Eagles aren’t always pretty, but they know how to win close games. As defending champs, they remain the standard until someone knocks them off.

1. Bills (2-0)

Buffalo crushed the Jets 30–10 after an opening week shootout win over the Ravens. Josh Allen threw for big plays, and running back James Cook had another strong game. The Bills’ defense also dominated against the run. With Allen playing at a high level and the defense locked in, Buffalo looks like the NFL’s most dangerous team right now.