Wholesale changes of opinion based on the NFL preseason are not something that any smart football fan would advise. At most, we're seeing starters play one half, and who knows how many starters they're playing on defense. There are things we can read into, like the acclimation of new additions to teams or how rookies could contribute or what a new scheme might look like. But at the end of the day, these are exhibition games.
As these exhibition games happen, though, we do learn some of the aforementioned things, as well as getting to see which impactful injuries are cropping up, where some vibes might not be so hot, and so on. So with that being the case through two weeks of the preseason, it's time to revisit our NFL Power Rankings.
32. Tennessee Titans
- Last Rank: 31
The prospects for the Tennessee Titans weren’t particularly high coming into the season, but the early look at Cam Ward entering year two was harrowing to say the least. Maybe it’s just Brian Daboll and this offense trying to play their hand close to the vest. Maybe it’s just Ward getting a feel for some new pass-catchers. But given their woes a year ago, it’s hard not to think that it might be the fact that the Titans just aren’t that good.
– Cody Williams
31. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Rank: 32
Carson Beck’s performance in the Hall of Fame Game gave Arizona Cardinals fans some hope, but Jacoby Brissett is their starter right now, so even with some solid weapons (Jeremiyah Love, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, Michael Wilson) to work with, I’m not sure how many points they’ll score. Defensively, things will only be more challenging. They should be exciting, especially if Love and Harrison can stay healthy, but their roster holes are real, and their schedule might be the toughest in the sport.
– Zach Rotman
30. Cleveland Browns
- Last Rank: 30
The quarterback battle in Cleveland has often felt like Todd Monken deciding whether or not he wants to be kicked or punched in the groin. That’s probably a bit hyperbolic, sure, but neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders has truly looked the part of a proverbial QB1. The defense should still be good, albeit less so without Myles Garrett, but the offense will again hold the Browns back.
– CW
29. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Rank: 28
The Atlanta Falcons are littered with offensive talent, led by Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but their quarterback situation is a massive question mark both health and production-wise, and their defense could be a mess with Jalon Walker out for the year and James Pearce suspended for half of it. Playing in the NFC South can help them stay relevant, but this has the potential to implode rather quickly.
– ZR
28. New York Jets
- Last Rank: 29
While it’s only the preseason, it should be noted that there have been more flashes from the Jets defense that look more like what fans expected upon the franchise hiring Aaron Glenn than just about anything that we saw last year. That’s a good sign moving forward — unfortunately, it’s still hard to have full-bore belief in this team with Geno Smith at quarterback and a group, overall, that just lacks juice. I don’t think New York is an abject disaster, but there’s a lot of ground to cover between that and being a winning football team.
– CW
27. Miami Dolphins
- Last Rank: 27
The expectation for Malik Willis and this Dolphins offense should be that it’ll provide a ton of fun and entertainment throughout the season, even with Mike McDaniel no longer in Miami. Outside of that, it feels like all bets are off. This defense remains quite porous on the whole and, while there are some building blocks on this roster, there are more holes, unfortunately, which could lead to quite the long season.
– CW
26. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Rank: 26
The fact that Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has still not named a starting quarterback is interesting. Kirk Cousins looked the part in his limited action in the first week of the preseason, but while Fernando Mendoza hasn't been perfect, he's shown that he has the NFL goods. Now, the Raiders are still imperfect beyond quarterback, but the offensive line does look improved and the defense does have some upgrades. I'm not sure it'll matter totally this season, especially in the loaded NFC West, but it feels like the vibes are on a steady trend up in Sin City.
– CW
25. New York Giants
- Last Rank: 25
The pieces are in place for the New York Giants to improve this season. John Harbaugh is bound to raise their floor, and their offensive ceiling is as high as its been in quite some time led by the young trio of Jackson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers. Defensively, there’s a lot of potential too, particularly up front, with Arvell Reese joining the likes of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter (among others). With that being said, injury concerns, particularly on the offensive side, are very real, and the core of this team is still very young. Even if the Giants improve, there’s a long way to go from 4-13.
– ZR
24. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Rank: 22
In all honesty, I still can't get over how far Anthony Richardson has fallen. Watching him in the preseason has been nothing short of painful — and this was a guy taken No. 4 overall! The Indianapolis Colts can say all they want that they won't trade him, but they should. Both sides need a divorce here. As for the Colts we'll see on the field, Alec Pierce's lingering injury is a real concern for this team, even if Daniel Jones is still on track in his Achilles-tear recovery. At the end of the day, though, it doesn't feel entirely like Indianapolis has the same magic they captured early last season.
– CW
23. Washington Commanders
- Last Rank: 21
Jayden Daniels is healthy, and Stefon Diggs, even while he isn’t quite as dynamic as he once was, should help, but I have lots of questions about this Washington Commanders team. Can Daniels stay healthy? Can their offensive line survive without Laremy Tunsil? Can their revamped defense step up? The ceiling of any Jayden Daniels-led team is high — the Commanders were in the NFC Championship Game just two years ago — but there are too many ifs to not be a little bit concerned.
– ZR
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Rank: 23
No doubt, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the more fun teams in the preseason thus far. Watching Drew Allar essentially shock the world as a rookie in his first taste of pro action has been delightful as a football fan. But does it really change how I feel about this team? Not really. Aaron Rodgers is too long in the tooth, the defense doesn't seem settled by any stretch, which is also true of the offensive line, and who knows how Mike McCarthy handles the entire situation. There are things to like, sure, but not enough to think that this isn't comfortably the third-best team in the division.
– CW
21. New Orleans Saints
- Last Rank: 24
It’s easy to overlook the fact that the New Orleans Saints ended the 2025 campaign winning four of their last five games with Tyler Shough looking every bit like a real franchise quarterback. The Saints improved their core around Shough this offseason, signing Travis Etienne and drafting Jordyn Tyson, improving their ceiling. Injuries to Tyson and Brian Breese figure to hurt, and guys like Cam Jordan and Alvin Kamara are on their last NFL legs, but if Shough plays as well as he did down the stretch, why can’t they make things interesting in such a winnable NFC South?
– ZR
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Rank: 19
It feels like vibes aren’t where they should be with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last season ended horribly, longtime Bucs like Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Jamel Dean are gone, and while they finally took care of Vita Vea, Baker Mayfield is still searching for his big payday that is unlikely to come. They have the talent necessary to win the NFC South if everything clicks, but we’re going to need to see it to believe it with this team.
– ZR
19. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Rank: 20
It’s entirely possible that we’re underrating the San Francisco 49ers, a team with a Super Bowl-caliber ceiling when healthy, but are we sure they’ll ever be healthy? I mean, Ricky Pearsall is already out for the year, George Kittle is recovering from his torn Achilles, and Mike Evans isn’t 100 percent either. We aren’t even done with Week 2 of the preseason yet. We know they can make the playoffs even undermanned, but doing so again, particularly in the NFC West, is easier said than done.
– ZR
18. Detroit Lions
- Last Rank: 17
Knowing how important the offensive line is to the Detroit Lions’ success, they signed Cade Mays in free agency. Fittingly, Mays suffered an injury that’ll keep him sidelined for a couple of months at least, putting the pressure on guys like Penei Sewell and rookie Blake Miller to step up. A soft-ish start to begin their season should help, but that offensive line, as well as the Lions still searching for another reliable pass rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, are concerns worth watching to begin the year.
– ZR
17. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Rank: 15
As underwhelming as the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation may be, it’s important to note that they went 9-8 with perhaps the worst quarterback situation in the sport last season. Say what you want about Kyler Murray, but he’s a clear upgrade over the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer. Murray should be fine with a skill position group headlined by Justin Jefferson. There’re some defensive concerns, but there’s also every reason to believe Brian Flores will get the most out of this unit.
– ZR
16. Carolina Panthers
- Last Rank: 18
The Carolina Panthers greatly improved their defense by signing Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd in free agency, but how will their offense look with Ikem Ekonwu and Taylor Moton out to begin the year? Can Bryce Young step up without his high-end offensive tackles protecting him? The defense should be much better, but a lot of pressure is on youngsters like Young, Tetairoa McMillan and Jonathan Brooks to help keep the Panthers afloat until they get healthier.
– ZR
15. New England Patriots
- Last Rank: 15
I'm getting dangerously close to zagging with the New England Patriots while the majority is zigging with the fact that they're about to regress after a Super Bowl appearance last season. There's reason for that. They caught lightning in a bottle, Drake Maye was out of his mind, and it was before a massive scandal involving Mike Vrabel. At the same time, though, the roster should conceivably be better with defensive additions, A.J. Brown and perhaps an even better offensive line. The Pats haven't suaded me fully just yet to move them up higher, but it's getting close to that point.
– CW
14. Green Bay Packers
- Last Rank: 14
The Green Bay Packers needed to make changes after another disappointingly early postseason exit, but they lost several key contributors (Rashan Gary, Romeo Doubs, Elgton Jenkins, Dontayvion Wicks) and didn’t add much of note. Not to mention, Josh Jacobs remains in legal limbo and Micah Parsons is working his way back from a torn ACL. The duo of Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur should keep this team competitive, but it feels like there’s a lot more uncertainty with the Packers than in years past.
– ZR
13. Houston Texans
- Last Rank: 12
Especially after catching a glimpse of C.J. Stroud in the Houston Texans' preseason loss to the Raiders, I'm worried that we're just going to see the exact same script from last season. Everything about this defense is 100 percent legit. When you talk about the NFL's best units on either side of the ball, Houston's defense is in that conversation. But with Stroud looking like he's still not totally a franchise guy and now having a receiving corps that's injured and depleted, it's reasonable to wonder if the offense is even passable enough in a postseason setting for the Texans to truly contend.
– CW
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Rank: 13
It feels a bit safer to be somewhat bullish on the Jacksonville Jaguars rather than going all-in from the jump. On one hand, I liked the Jags' operation in free agency. The other hand, however, is maybe the worst draft class in the NFL. Yet, Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence showed more than enough last year to be enticed by what this offense is capable of, and the defense overall should be taking a step forward. There is a chance that they are a sort of one-year wonder who regress a bit, so until we get more of a sample in the 2026 season, we'll slightly temper expectations with the Jags.
– CW
11. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Rank: 7
Why is everyone so eager to proclaim that Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are back? It's great that Burrow is healthy and that this offense should be back to showing out as one of the league's most high-octane units. That's going to win this team a lot of games, as it has before. But Dexter Lawrence isn't a cure-all for what's been a poor defense the past few years. There are still a number of holes on that side of the ball that concern me. It's a better unit, no question, but how much better it makes this team very much remains to be seen in my estimation.
– CW
10. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Rank: 11
It’s easy to forget how good the Dallas Cowboys offense was because of how bad their defense was. Well, they added to that defense in a big way, trading for Rashan Gary, signing Von Miller and drafting Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the first round of the NFL Draft. We still need to see how these players fit, but the defense should be much better than the literal worst in the league. Assuming that’s the case and that the offense picks up where it left off, this Cowboys team figures to be tough for anyone to face.
– ZR
9. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Rank: 8
As cautious as it makes sense to be with teams when it's just the preseason, it's still hard to not be ready to order what the Los Angeles Chargers have cooking. Justin Herbert, though divisive, is electrically talented. The weapons around him should be better. The offensive line will hopefully be healthy. And now Mike McDaniel is hoping to unlock it further. When you combine that with a defense that is still quite solid, this team is absolutely dangerous in the AFC, not just as a good team, but as a real threat to win the conference.
– CW
8. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Rank: 9
Though I'm still waiting on my GM certification in the mail, I'd highly recommend paying Lamar Jackson if you're the Baltimore Ravens. This team is interesting, though, as they enter uncharted territory after moving on from franchise staple John Harbaugh. The front office fully recognized the deficiencies on defense last year and made moves to address them. Trey Hendrickson might've been a roundabout and ill-advised move, but it should help in the immediate. If that's the case with the firepower of this offense, the Ravens will be a contender again. It's now about living up to that, especially deep in the winter.
– CW
7. Buffalo Bills
- Last Rank: 10
Understanding that injuries to the likes of D.J. Moore and Keon Coleman are certainly concerning, the Buffalo Bills look like they could be special — at least on offense. Josh Allen and James Cook alone is an enticing duo, but Moore showed that, if he's on the field, he already has a rapport with his new quarterback and could further unlock this passing attack. The Bills are one of several AFC contenders that have questions on defense, sure, but there's enough on offense to carry them through most games. If the defense exceeds expectations, the rest of the league should look out.
– CW
6. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Rank: 6
The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot to figure out with their wide receiver corps now that A.J. Brown is gone, but as painful as it is to lose a receiver of his caliber, getting rid of the drama he brought figures to greatly improve this team that struggled so mightily to end the 2025 campaign. There’s still a ton of talent on this Eagles team, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert and a strong offensive line, and even with Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship landing elsewhere in the offseason, their defense has lots of talent. The offense should be improved and the defense is quite good, giving reason to believe the Eagles should be NFC East favorites
– ZR
5. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Rank: 3
Considering that there has been something of a decline from the Kansas City Chiefs in the past year or so, it's a bit concerning that some people (perhaps FanSided included) are getting too far over their skis with this team. Patrick Mahomes still has viable questions about who will be catching his throws, not to mention with his return from injury. Kenneth Walker III adding a dynamic element to the backfield that's been missing could be huge, but I really think the Chiefs come down to their defense. I'm a believer, but it's also not as proven of a commodity as it has been in the past.
– CW
4. Chicago Bears
- Last Rank: 5
The Chicago Bears showed how dangerous they can be last season, and in year two of the Ben Johnson era, there’s reason to believe they can take another leap offensively, even with DJ Moore now in Buffalo. With that being said, Luther Burden III suffering a groin injury that’ll knock him out for the remainder of the preseason could hurt, and the Bears are dealing with their share of injuries to the secondary as well. Chicago should be quite good, but the beginning of the year could be challenging.
– ZR
3. Denver Broncos
- Last Rank: 4
Anyone who's read my work knows that I'm not exactly what you'd call a "Bo Nix believer". That's not something I'm going to move off of. However, you don't have to be a Bo-liever to recognize how damn good and talented this Denver Broncos team is. All signs point to Pat Surtain II and Nik Bonitto leading one of the NFL's best defenses again, the offense has a ton of weapons suited to Nix and Sean Payton's offense, and it feels like all systems are go for a group that, if not for Nix's injury and a blizzard, might've played in the Super Bowl last year.
– CW
2. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Rank: 2
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is gone, and Klint Kubiak’s departure is sure to sting, but for the most part, the Seattle Seahawks are running back most of a team that just won the Super Bowl, and did so in dominant fashion. That’s bound to be a good thing, right? There’re injuries to guys like Zach Charbonnet and Nick Emmanwori worth keeping an eye on, but with so much of the team still in tact, there’s every reason to believe the Seahawks will be right back in the thick of the Super Bowl conversation this season. In fact, I wouldn’t blame you for being upset at the Seahawks not topping the rankings.
– ZR
1. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Rank: 1
Yes, the Seahawks outlasted the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, but they did so by the skin of their teeth. The Rams were arguably the second-best team in the NFL last season, and while Seattle didn’t get notably worse, Los Angeles added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to its defense, and could add Aaron Donald to the mix too. The Rams are all-in, and should be considered favorites to win it all, even over Seattle.
– ZR
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