The long wait is almost over. This time next week we will be counting down to the season opener between the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. That feels like a good time to weigh in with my Power Rankings thoughts ahead of the new campaign.
I’ll be presenting my 1 to 32 every Wednesday during the season and you, of course, will disagree with where I have your team placed. And that’s great. Opinion and debate can fuel our season together. With that in mind, let’s start by annoying every Seattle fan by refusing to put the champs in top spot.
- Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were Super Bowl-worthy last year but got edged out by Seattle in the NFC. They are elite with reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback, Puka Nacua at receiver and the should-be-illegal pairing of Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald terrorising opposing QBs.
- Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have the culture to defend their Super Bowl crown. There will not be too many in their locker room getting too big for their boots, that’s for sure. The D will be strong, Sam Darnold solid and Jaxon Smith-Njigba productive. Running back is a slight concern.
- Denver Broncos
The Broncos were 60 minutes from the Super Bowl last season with Bo Nix sidelined due to a broken ankle. With the starting QB returning and teaming with new WR Jaylen Waddle, Denver’s hopes are a Mile High. Sean Payton has this squad firmly in the mix.
- Buffalo Bills
The Super Bowl window is still open as long as Josh Allen is at quarterback, but boy oh boy have these Bills missed some chances? Now it will be up to Joe Brady to finish the job that Sean McDermott failed to complete. Adding DJ Moore at WR helps the attack.
- Baltimore Ravens
A breath of fresh air is blowing through Baltimore in the form of rookie head coach Jesse Minter. And I think it was needed. Lamar Jackson is still, as the head coach told me, “one of one” and there are talented players all over this roster. This is a true contender.
- Houston Texans
If you want to know my Super Bowl dark horse, here they are. The Texans have made the NFL’s final eight in each of their past three seasons and they are powered by the best defense in the NFL. To take that next vital step, CJ Stroud must improve his play at QB.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags are another who could surprise and mount a serious challenge. But would it be a surprise? After all, Liam Coen’s men won their final eight regular season games in 2025 before narrowly falling to Buffalo at home. QB Trevor Lawrence has truly arrived as a star.
- Chicago Bears
Here is another team capable of winning it all. QB Caleb Williams has everything he needs to become the NFL’s biggest star. I really believe that and I think he will grow even further in year two under Ben Johnson. Has enough been done to upgrade the league’s 29th-ranked D?
- Philadelphia Eagles
The bar is always set high for the Eagles. After winning the Super Bowl in 2024, they won the NFC East in 2025. But the campaign was deemed a failure due to a first-round playoff loss. With whispers of discontent growing louder, this is a big, pressure-packed year for Jalen Hurts.
- New England Patriots
New England won 14 regular season games in 2025 but seven came against New Orleans, Tennessee, Cleveland, Miami (twice) and the Jets (twice). The road will be tougher this time around, starting off with games against Seattle, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Buffalo.
- Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been a decent team but also one that has not ventured too far into the postseason recently. But there were times when they showed Super Bowl readiness in their 9-3-1 start. Then they didn’t win another game when Micah Parsons went down.
- Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are fast becoming the England football team of the NFL. They have endured “30 years of hurt” since they last reached an NFC title game and won Super Bowl 30. The potent offense is set. Has enough been done to improve what was a terrible D in 2025?
- Detroit Lions
I visited the Lions during the summer and found a team that still firmly believes it is in the Super Bowl mix. Head coach Dan Campbell insisted the Lions have “everything they need.” It starts on offense with Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
- Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid was similarly confident when I spoke to him in August, stating how quickly things can turn around in the NFL. I have no worries that Patrick Mahomes will get back to his best, but I do wonder if there are enough quality passing game targets in KC.
- Cincinnati Bengals
This is a pivotal season for the Bengals. Star quarterback Joe Burrow has put the team on notice and is demanding that they win now. If he stays healthy, Cincinnati can be serious contenders once more. If it all goes south, Burrow could force his way out in 2027.
- San Francisco 49ers
It has been a turbulent offseason for the 49ers and injuries continue to plague this team with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall already gone for the year. But it was all doom and gloom in 2025 and Kyle Shanahan still delivered a 12-5 record and a playoff victory in Philly.
- Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are another who cannot avoid the injury bug. The decimation of their offensive line left them toothless in the last season’s playoffs. And they have already lost center Tyler Biadasz for the year. Mike McDaniel’s impact as offensive coordinator is vital.
- Indianapolis Colts
Which Colts team will show up in 2026? The one that opened the 2025 campaign with an 8-3 record while fielding one of the NFL’s best attacks. Or the team that lost six straight to end the year, missing the playoffs. The health of quarterback Daniel Jones will be key.
- Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings won nine games in 2025 while riding a not-very-enjoyable quarterback carousel. That shows the talent on this team outside of the game’s most important position. That’s why Minnesota are rolling the dice on Kyler Murray. Is he up to the task?
- Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s a new era in Pittsburgh after 19 years of Mike Tomlin. But how fresh does it feel with the NFL’s oldest roster? Mike McCarthy is 62 years old and entering his third stint as an NFL head coach. And his quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is 43. Can they roll back the years?
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The feel-good factor has been washed away from the Bucs and head coach Todd Bowles will feel some early-season pressure. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is annoyed at the club for not giving him a long-term contract. It’s not the best of starting points for 2026.
- New Orleans Saints
The Saints showed signs of life at the back end of last season, winning four of their final five with Tyler Shough at quarterback. But plans to upgrade the league’s 23rd-ranked attack have been hit by injuries to rookie WR Jordyn Tyson and veteran runner Alvin Kamara.
- New York Giants
The Giants have been in the doldrums for quite some time, but I believe they are going to find an upward path with John Harbaugh taking over as head coach. Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and a fit-again Malik Nabers offer attacking hope, while the defense is good.
- Carolina Panthers
Winning the NFC South in 2025 should not detract from the fact that there is still much work to be done in Carolina. I still don’t believe we have a definitive answer when it comes to Bryce Young at QB. Upgrading the league’s 27th-ranked offense is a must.
- Washington Commanders
Washington have addressed a defense that ranked dead last in the NFL a year ago (in yards allowed). But let’s face it, their playoff chances rest on the exciting, playmaking – but diminutive – shoulders of QB Jayden Daniels, who missed 10 games last term.
- Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta have mouth-watering playmakers in running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. But they are the perfect example that little of that matters if you don’t have a QB. Can Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix grasp that role?
- Las Vegas Raiders
With a new head coach in Klint Kubiak and the first overall pick in the NFL Draft at quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders are at the beginning of their rebuild. Patience will be key, which is why veteran QB Kirk Cousins should get an extended run early on.
- Tennessee Titans
Robert Saleh has been hired to breathe life into a Titans team that won just three games during quarterback Cam Ward’s rookie campaign. Saleh’s speciality is defense, but the future of this club will hinge on Ward’s growth. Giving him better protection will be a good place to start.
- New York Jets
The Jets are building for the future, but they don’t yet have a young QB who can grow with them, Mendoza-style. Instead, the hope will be that Geno Smith can ease the pressure on head coach Aaron Glenn. But if he wins too many and the Jets fall down the draft board, who plays QB in 2027 and beyond?
- Arizona Cardinals
There is not a lot of positivity following the Cardinals’ three-win 2025 season. Mike LaFleur is the new head coach and he will work without a long-term QB solution with Jacoby Brissett at the helm. Exciting rookie RB Jeremiyah Love has a high-ankle sprain, which will hurt in September.
- Cleveland Browns
The Browns are going to roll out Deshaun Watson at quarterback (for at least two weeks), to the dismay of their own fans. Watson has looked a shadow of his former self in recent seasons (when fit) and it’s fair to wonder if he has much left. Otherwise, there is promise on this young roster.
- Miami Dolphins
The Browns are young… but they are not the youngest team in the NFL. The Dolphins have an average age of 25 and are clearly building for the future. Talent is sparse, but I think the passion of rookie head coach Jeff Hafley and QB Malik Willis will win enough games to take them out of the first-pick-in-the-draft stakes.