NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Cowboys rising after defensive makeover; Bears drop out of top 10

Am I worried about the statuses of Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua? Mildly, although Garrett practiced Sunday, and Nacua appears to be on track to play against San Francisco in the opener in Australia. Oh, and Aaron Donald is back on the team now. (EDITOR'S UPDATE: Aaron Donald has been ruled out for Week 1.) No movement for the Rams here, but a big test awaits them Down Under.

No change to Denver's standing in this hierarchy after a successful, largely quiet preseason. WR Marvin Mims Jr. seems to be working his way back from a foot injury, and it's fair to expect CB Riley Moss (ribs) to be ready in time for the Broncos' Monday night showdown with the rival Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

It sounds as if Jadarian Price has impressed coaches plenty during the preseason, and if the first-round running back can match his rising expectations, the Seahawks shouldn't miss a beat. They stay at No. 3 for now, but that could change after they raise their Super Bowl banner and face the Patriots in an instant rematch on Wednesday night.

The vibes are generally high in Buffalo, although receiver Khalil Shakir's health status is worth monitoring prior to the season opener in Houston. The potential for a honeymoon campaign with WR DJ Moore -- oh, and the commencement of Joe Brady's first season as a head coach -- begins against an elite defense, which should inform us on where the Bills stand offensively.

Philly sees a minor drop after first-round pick Makai Lemon didn't hit the ground running in preseason action and trade acquisition Jonathan Greenard continued dealing with a nagging pectoral injury, but the Eagles should be fine otherwise. I think we're all eager to see what new OC Sean Mannion's attack can do.

Interior disruptor Nnamdi Madubuike is moving closer toward a full return from the neck injury that cost him most of 2025. Rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is already turning heads. Trey Hendrickson is poised to provide the Ravens with the edge-rushing force they've lacked for years. The arrow is pointing up in Baltimore, but the team needs to pass its first test in Indianapolis to keep the positive momentum rolling.

All of the offseason hype appears to have carried over through the preseason. Cincinnati hasn't been this high on its defense in quite some time, and we already know Joe Burrow sees great potential in the Bengals' offense. They're my Super Bowl pick from the AFC, and it's high time for them to start delivering on expectations.

I'm confidently pushing the Cowboys up the board because I believe they'll deliver on the promise of defensive improvement with a significantly upgraded lineup operating under exciting new coordinator Christian Parker. I wonder, though, if the 'Boys are ready for the bright lights of prime time in a hostile MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, especially after losing Pro Bowl LG Tyler Smith for the next month-plus.

I'm a little concerned with the Jaguars' situation along the offensive line, where tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) is still working his way back toward being ready for Week 1 after spending most of camp on the physically unable to perform list. Jacksonville is also looking at starting third-round rookie Emmanuel Pregnon at guard, which is an accomplishment for the Oregon product but also a development that comes with uncertainty for the team. If that group coalesces quickly, the Jags will be fine. Fortunately, they host Cleveland in Week 1.

The loss of WR Jayden Higgins prompted a late trade for Kayshon Boutte, lowering my expectations for Houston's passing attack. This team still boasts an elite defense, though, and if the starting offense can produce in the running game like it did in brief preseason outings, the Texans be fine.

I have questions about the Bears' young receiving corps, though I am much more concerned about their pieced-together secondary following some terrible injury luck early in camp. I can be convinced this isn't a massive issue if Chicago limits Bryce Young and Kyler Murray in the first two weeks of the season.

Running back Josh Jacobs' placement on the commissioner's exempt list removes a major contributor from Green Bay's offense, but I believe Matt LaFleur can game plan around this absence, especially if Tucker Kraft can suit up at tight end. I also expect Minnesota DC Brian Flores to cause problems for Green Bay in Week 1, making this one of the more precarious placements in this edition of the Power Rankings.

This ranking is not about the Patriots' offense, which I think will be quite productive; it's about the changes they experienced on the defensive side. Consider me a hater, but I believe it will be difficult for Mike Vrabel's team to replicate its 2025 success this year. That said, given where the Pats finished last season, I can't have them start this season any lower than atop the teens.

A smooth offseason and seemingly successful return to action for Patrick Mahomes has Kansas City in a place of relative stability entering 2026. There is valid concern regarding left tackle Josh Simmons' status, though, which isn't great news for those hoping for a safe start to the season for Mahomes. There's also the new-look secondary, which hasn't been tested yet, leaving plenty of questions for the Chiefs to answer when they welcome the AFC West rival Broncos to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.

The sidelining of center Cade Mays (wrist) has me feeling uneasy about this offense as Detroit embarks on a new campaign. Tight end Sam LaPorta followed up back surgery with a hip injury in August, which isn't great, but I think the Lions still have the edge over the Saints in Week 1.

After enduring terrible luck along the offensive line last season, the Chargers are again facing adversity up front entering 2026. Center Tyler Biadasz is out for the year, and left tackle Rashawn Slater's surgically repaired knee isn't doing him any favors, creating the potential for a significant trench weakness yet again for the Bolts. If they can weather that, though, they might cook up something special with Mike McDaniel now running the show offensively. That backfield is mighty fascinating.

Yet again, the 49ers enter a new campaign with plenty of health issues: Ricky Pearsall's done for the season; George Kittle is attempting to play in Week 1 after tearing his Achilles eight months ago; Nick Bosa has battled knee tendinitis in his return from last September's ACL tear; and Mike Evans dealt with ailments throughout August. If any team can overcome injuries, though, it's the 49ers, who are also testing international game preparation strategies by arriving in Australia well ahead of game day. We'll see if that pays off against the Rams.

All of the bad vibes that surrounded Tampa Bay at the start of camp seem to have evaporated. Vita Vea got an extension, Baker Mayfield is preparing to "shock a lot of people," and the Buccaneers seem better positioned to chase an NFC South crown than they did a month ago. They'll face quite a test at Cincinnati on Sunday.

As everyone predicted when the Vikings quickly signed him back in March, Kyler Murray won the quarterback battle over J.J. McCarthy. Now, it's up to the former No. 1 overall pick to deliver under the watchful eye of ballyhooed QB whisperer Kevin O'Connell. I'm curious to see how Minnesota's run defense performs following an underwhelming August from rookie first-rounder Caleb Banks, who recently admitted he's not in the best shape after missing most of his final college campaign and parts of the offseason due to foot issues.

Indy's nine-figure investment in Alec Pierce came with immediate concerns when the receiver spent most of August on the PUP list following ankle surgery. He's since practiced fully, but it's fair to wonder how much the Colts can count on him against the Ravens in Week 1. Keenan Allen is expected to play in the opener despite his recent arrest on drunken driving charges, but expect plenty of work for Josh Downs and reliance on Jonathan Taylor in an offense that isn't exactly fully equipped to start the season.

While I expect the Steelers to prove their superiority against the Falcons in Week 1, I'm more interested in seeing how this offense operates under the direction of new head coach Mike McCarthy. The new-look receiving corps could produce some highlights to start the season and alter expectations quickly.

Injuries on both sides of the ball (DT Bryan Bresee, WR Jordyn Tyson) have lowered expectations a bit for the Saints, but they could do themselves plenty of favors by competing in Detroit to start the season.

There wasn't much to glean from the Panthers' preseason, but I am fascinated to see how they distribute carries in the backfield between Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks. Also, where does Xavier Legette fit into this receiving corps? And how much of a difference will Jaelan Phillips make on the defensive side?

A revenge game right off the bat in Week 1? That's what Robert Saleh has in store with Jets-Titans, as his new team hosts his old team this Sunday in Nashville. It's also an opportunity to see if Brian Daboll has helped Cam Ward take the next step, but don't put too much stock into the opener -- it's a long season.

Jeremiyah Love's ankle injury put a damper on an otherwise-encouraging preseason for this downtrodden franchise. On the bright side, there is optimism that the No. 3 overall pick still could play in Week 1. Not to mention, Arizona has other weapons on offense. On the dark side, the Cardinals' schedule is an absolute beast. Rookie coach Mike LaFleur will have to prove himself from the start with an opener in Los Angeles against the Chargers.

The John Harbaugh era begins with a major showdown against the Cowboys in prime time on Sunday night. I expect high energy at MetLife Stadium, but I'm not as sure about whether the Giants will match it defensively.

Tua Tagovailoa will start the opener in Pittsburgh, but he received the nod by default. Tua's uneven preseason has increased the urgency on Michael Penix Jr.'s return from a third ACL tear. It reeks of desperation, which is never a good feeling to start a season.

Look, Geno Smith might actually find the redemption he's seeking in New York in 2026. I know it sounds a little crazy, but I'm intrigued by the Jets' offense, especially if Breece Hall (groin) is good to go from jump street.

As expected, Kirk Cousins will begin 2026 as the Raiders' starter. It's still safe to assume No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will see the field before long, though Cousins could delay the passing of the torch by producing quickly. Regardless, I expect Raider Nation to find some joy in the Week 1 meeting with the Dolphins, which would be nice for that fan base.

The Browns found a way to unite their fans in disgust by naming Deshaun Watson the starter two days after he was lustily booed during a ghastly performance on his home field. I expect a change under center by Week 3, which should tell you how I think Cleveland will fare in the first two contests of 2026 (road games at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay).

After losing left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps and missing center Nick Allegretti for most of August due to a calf strain, things appear rather dire up front for Washington. The Commanders produced a dreadful showing in a joint practice with the Ravens, then followed that up by getting destroyed by Baltimore in the preseason finale. Washington knows it needs to keep Jayden Daniels healthy in order to be competitive, and right now, I'm afraid for the quarterback's well-being Sunday in Philadelphia.

Rookie WR Chris Bell's emergence has been a fun storyline to track in Miami, where the rebuilding Dolphins enter the season with the league's thinnest roster. There's something invigorating about being doubted, though, and I'd love to see the Malik Willis-led Fins exceed their low expectations. I don't expect it as of now, though.