NFL Power Rankings - Week 3: Colts soar, winless Chiefs slide
NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.
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1. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
Previous rank: 1
The champs get the top spot until someone takes it from them. But keep an eye on how the passing game takes shape under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Jalen Hurts throwing for just 253 yards and no touchdowns across two games is, at the very least, notable.
2. Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Previous rank: 2
Buffalo's defense looked like a completely different unit after getting torched by the Ravens in Week 1. Perhaps we can attribute the turnaround to a more favorable matchup with the Jets. Steady growth from the defense over the course of the season would make the Bills a wagon.
3. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Previous rank: 3
The Ravens avoided any emotional letdown after opening the season with a heartbreaking loss in Buffalo. Blowout wins like Sunday's rout against the Browns may become a familiar sight with the amount of talent on Baltimore's roster.
4. Green Bay Packers (2-0)
Previous rank: 4
The Packers' defense is allowing a league-best 3.7 yards per play despite starting the year against the Lions and Commanders. With Micah Parsons still ramping up toward a full-time role, Green Bay may only get better from here.
5. Detroit Lions (1-1)
Previous rank: 6
Giving the Bears a reality check in the form of a 52-21 beatdown was a great way to ease any tension coming out of a disappointing Week 1 loss. The Lions have everything they need to overcome the departures of two star coordinators.
6. Los Angeles Rams (2-0)
Previous rank: 8
Sunday's win versus the Titans gave us a good look at what the Rams' offense could become with Davante Adams alongside Puka Nacua. Meanwhile, Los Angeles' young defense has seemingly taken another step forward, ranking first in EPA/play, according to TruMedia. This is quietly one of the NFL's most complete teams.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)
Previous rank: 10
The Chargers are for real. Not only is Justin Herbert playing the best football of his career, but the defense is now firmly among the league's elite. That unit put the clamps on an explosive Raiders offense Monday night.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)
Previous rank: 5
The Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time since 2014. It's tough to imagine Kansas City won't find a way to turn things around, but it may be a rough process until its receiving corps is back to full strength. The defense is also worth monitoring, as key departures over the years are starting to take a toll.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Previous rank: 11
It's long past time we stop sleeping on the Bucs. Monday night's last-gasp win over the Texans is just the latest example of this team's ability to rise to the occasion in big moments. Tampa Bay will likely reach another gear when the offensive line gets healthy.
10. Washington Commanders (1-1)
Previous rank: 9
The Commanders may well be in for some regression this year, but there's no need to overreact to Thursday night's result. They won't be the only team to struggle against the Packers.
11. Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
Previous rank: 20
Currently tied with Lamar Jackson for third in EPA/dropback, Daniel Jones looks better than ever in his new surroundings. The Colts are 2-0 for the first time since 2009, and they're the first club in the Super Bowl era with zero punts through two games. That's what everyone expected, right?
12. Houston Texans (0-2)
Previous rank: 14
The Texans stick in the top 12 on account of a difficult opening stretch of games, but there will be no more excuses. Houston needs to take full advantage of its next two opportunities against the Jaguars and Titans. Anything other than a 2-2 mark after that and it's officially time to be concerned.
13. Denver Broncos (1-1)
Previous rank: 12
Getting picked apart by the Colts is a bit of a tough look for the Broncos' defense. If that group is going to be anything less than the elite unit we saw last season, Denver needs Bo Nix to take a big step forward. So far, that hasn't happened. The second-year QB is tied with Caleb Williams for 21st in EPA/dropback.
14. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
Previous rank: 23
An offseason focused on the defense may have finally addressed the Falcons' longstanding pass-rush issues. Atlanta is a legitimate playoff contender if Michael Penix Jr. can find his stride to complement a dangerous Bijan Robinson-led run game.
15. Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
Previous rank: 7
The Vikings could be on the rise again before long, but Sunday night's loss to the Falcons was particularly discouraging. J.J. McCarthy is off to a rocky start, and Brian Flores' defense is giving up 5.2 yards per carry.
16. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
Previous rank: 18
Though Sam Darnold will have to limit the turnovers, Sunday's win over the Steelers showed everything this team is capable of in 2025. Kenneth Walker posted 105 yards on just 13 carries after struggling in the opener. The defense also resembled the 2024 unit that ranked third in EPA/play from Week 9 through the end of the season.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
Previous rank: 16
Aaron Rodgers gives the Steelers a real chance to field their best offense since 2020. However, the bar to compete may be significantly higher considering the way things are trending on the defensive side. Pittsburgh's defense is tied with the Giants and Bears for 28th in EPA/play.
18. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Previous rank: 19
Everyone knew the Cowboys' defense would be bad without Micah Parsons. Russell Wilson going off for 450 yards in Dallas may only be the first of many such examples this season. Still, as we saw in the winning effort, the offense has what it takes to prevail in a shootout.
19. Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
Previous rank: 22
The Cardinals' opening schedule against the Saints and Panthers couldn't have been more of a cakewalk, so we'll avoid moving them up too far just yet. They take on the Niners next week, but a meeting with the Seahawks in Week 4 should give us a much better idea of where this team stands.
20. San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
Previous rank: 15
Mac Jones led the 49ers past the Saints in Week 2, but the schedule is about to get a lot more challenging. The fast start could go to waste if Brock Purdy's injury absence ends up being on the long end of his two-to-five week timeline.
21. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)
Previous rank: 21
The Raiders' offense was completely outmatched against the Chargers on Monday night, and the blueprint is now there for other opponents to replicate. Geno Smith and the coaching staff have to find other answers when opponents take away the big play.
22. Chicago Bears (0-2)
Previous rank: 13
The Bears hype train is already out of steam. While there's no shame in falling to the Vikings and Lions, giving up 50 points to Ben Johnson's former squad was the perfect snapshot of the distance still standing between Chicago and the real contenders. Johnson's offense can't reach its ceiling without a consistent run attack, and Dennis Allen's defense has been far worse than anticipated.
23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
Previous rank: 17
The Bengals finally managed to avoid their trademark slow start, but it's all for naught. Joe Burrow suffering a toe injury that'll sideline him for at least three months all but ends Cincinnati's season before it truly began. Jake Browning will likely have a tough time guiding a flawed team through the gauntlet schedule that awaits over the next month.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
Previous rank: 24
It's nice to see the Jaguars playing good defense (seventh in EPA/play) and running the ball well. However, the passing game has been frustrating, as Trevor Lawrence's connection with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter is a work in progress. Jacksonville could be a sneaky bubble team if that group ever starts to click.
25. New England Patriots (1-1)
Previous rank: 25
Drake Maye put together the best performance of his career in a win over Miami. There could be similar results on the way if Christian Gonzalez's return is enough to elevate an otherwise thin secondary. A new-look defensive line, bolstered by the additions of Milton Williams and Harold Landry III, should feast with a little more time to get after the quarterback.
26. New York Giants (0-2)
Previous rank: 28
Jaxson Dart's time will have to wait. Russell Wilson's big game against the Cowboys showed exactly why the Giants were high on his potential as a short-term starter. The veteran quarterback consistently pushed the ball downfield with success, connecting on big plays of 48, 52, and 50 yards. Wilson could help New York stay competitive regardless of what the defense does.
27. New York Jets (0-2)
Previous rank: 26
The Jets had the NFL's third-ranked offense by EPA/play in Week 1. The story flipped the second time out, with only the Vikings faring worse. That won't be a fun roller coaster to ride, especially as the defense struggles to play up to its talent level.
28. Tennessee Titans (0-2)
Previous rank: 27
This season in Tennessee is all about building for the future. A few wins would be nice, but Cam Ward giving fans a reason to be excited is fine, too. The rookie's first two games suggest he'll be doing exactly that with at least a few highlight throws every week.
29. Miami Dolphins (0-2)
Previous rank: 29
The Dolphins' offense looked much better in the second game of the season, so perhaps there's still hope for this team's chances of avoiding a complete meltdown. Either way, persistent issues on the offensive line and in the secondary could make for a long year.
30. Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Previous rank: 30
Tetairoa McMillan is already making good on his first-round draft status, but the Panthers need more from the rest of the offense if Bryce Young is ever going to do the same. Xavier Legette turning eight targets into one catch for a loss of 2 yards in Sunday's defeat to the Cardinals is a major cause for concern.
31. New Orleans Saints (0-2)
Previous rank: 32
Give the Saints credit, they played tough against both the Cardinals and the 49ers. Spencer Rattler's three-touchdown effort in Week 2 is also the best game of his young career. New Orleans could at least be an interesting squad to watch, even if the wins are few and far between.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-2)
Previous rank: 31
Quinshon Judkins' immediate impact was one of the lone bright spots in a blowout loss to the Ravens. The second-round pick should quickly emerge as Cleveland's feature back after putting up 61 yards on 10 carries just one week after signing his contract. Judkins and fellow rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. are exciting young players to monitor with an eye to the future.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.