In our NFL power rankings after NFL Week 1, we gave our first impressions of each NFL team.
For our NFL power rankings after NFL Week 2, we are sharing our second thoughts on those initial notions.
And some NFL teams gave us plenty of reasons to have second thoughts on our original perceptions in our NFL Week 3 power rankings.
Check out how we rank every NFL team in our NFL power rankings before NFL Week 3, with the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers among the NFL teams to change our opening ideas for the better and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears among those to change our introductory beliefs for the worse after NFL Week 2.
Where is every team in our Week 3
NFL power rankings? Previous ranking in parentheses. Return after the Rams vs. Giants game on Monday Night Football for updated rankings.
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32. Miami Dolphins (30)
Malik Willis was 14-for-23 for 197 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the 49ers. The Dolphins have the Chiefs, Vikings and Bengals up next. When do they win their first game? It might be a while.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 35-13 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs (Sept. 27)
31. Tennessee Titans (31)
The Titans almost beat the Eagles, allowing a touchdown pass with nine seconds left. We don't believe in moral victories, but sometimes a team has to take anything it can get. A real win will come for Cam Ward and Tennessee, eventually.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 24-20 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At New York Giants (Sept. 27)
30. Atlanta Falcons (25)
It's hard to judge the Falcons with Cooper Rush as their starting QB, but the results have not been good. Bijan Robinson can't do everything for Atlanta. The good news? Atlanta plays in the NFC South, which always seems wide open.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Carolina Panthers, 34-3 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Green Bay Packers (Sept. 24)
29. Cleveland Browns (32)
Who had Deshaun Watson and the Browns beating the Buccaneers? A week after we said it was going to be a long season in Cleveland, the Browns evened their record at 1-1. We don't see Cleveland competing for the AFC North title, but maybe the season won't be that long.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-19 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Carolina Panthers (Sept. 27)
28. Arizona Cardinals (26)
Arizona looked great after Week 1 and after it tied Seattle, 7-7, at halftime, in Week 2. But it allowed 24 unanswered points and had only 151 yards of total offense against the Seahawks. That isn't going to cut it. Was Week 1 an anomaly? The schedule is tough, and the results might be difficult for Cardinals fans to see.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 31-7 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At San Francisco 49ers (Sept. 27)
27. New York Jets (28)
New York came back to earth after its Week 1 win with a very Jet-like performance in Week 2. Still, this team is better than we thought it would be before the season.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Green Bay Packers in overtime, 20-17 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Detroit Lions (Sept. 27)
26. Washington Commanders (22)
We had high hopes for Washington with Jayden Daniels' return this season, but the Commanders are now 0-2 and Daniels left Week 2. Is another long season coming for Washington? It sure looks like it right now. The upcoming schedule is brutal.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 37-20 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Seattle Seahawks (Sept. 27)
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20)
It looks like the Buccaneers' offense misses Mike Evans. It has fewer than 400 yards passing in two games, with the scary Vikings defense up next. Is it a must-win game for Tampa Bay?
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 23-19 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Minnesota Vikings (Sept. 27)
24. Los Angeles Chargers (17)
We thought the Chargers could be a contender in the AFC this season. We are rethinking that stance after losses to the Cardinals and Raiders. It's been only two weeks, but Justin Herbert and company do not look like playoff contenders.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders, 26-14 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Buffalo Bills (Sept. 27)
23. Indianapolis Colts (24)
The Colts' loss on Sunday Night Football brought the AFC South to 1-7 two weeks into the season. Ouch. The loser of the Texans vs. Jaguars game in NFL Week 3 will be 0-3, but you can't count an 0-3 team out in that division.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, 33-30 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Houston Texans (Sept. 27)
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (21)
Aaron Rodgers was 23-for-39 for 187 yards, with an interception in Week 2. Pittsburgh has a solid defense, but it won't be able to compete in the AFC North without more on offense.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to New England Patriots, 20-3 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals (Sept. 27)
21. Houston Texans (13)
Where is Houston's running game? The Texans had 18 rushes for 60 yards in the loss to the Bengals, while C.J. Stroud threw 55 pass attempts, only completing 30. The defense doesn't look that formidable anymore, either. It's only two games, but it doesn't look good for Houston.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals, 20-6 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Indianapolis Colts (Sept. 27)
20. Carolina Panthers (29)
Maybe we were too rough on the Panthers after their Week 1 loss to the Bears. Carolina's defense went from allowing 59 points to giving up three. Bryce Young appears to have taken a big step forward. The NFC South could be there for the taking in 2026.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Atlanta Falcons, 34-3 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Cleveland Browns (Sept. 27)
19. New Orleans Saints (23)
The Saints are a two-point conversion attempt away from being 2-0. Tyler Shough's development has been fast, and the NFC South suddenly seems in play for New Orleans this season.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Baltimore Ravens, 24-17 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Las Vegas Raiders (Sept. 27)
18. Las Vegas Raiders (27)
Who saw this coming? Kirk Cousins and the Raiders are 2-0. And this is without Brock Bowers. It helps when Tre Tucker has five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. The schedule is about to get a lot more difficult. Will Las Vegas be brought back down to Earth?
- NFL Week 2: Beat Los Angeles Chargers, 26-14 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At New Orleans Saints (Sept. 27)
17. Green Bay Packers (18)
This team is so close to being 0-2. But it's not. Jordan Love and company somehow won a game where they had 199 yards of total offense and went 1-for-9 on third down. That won't cut it against most opponents, but it worked against New York.
- NFL Week 2: Beat New York Jets in overtime, 20-17 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 24)
16. Dallas Cowboys (19)
Where was this offense in Week 1? Dak Prescott was 26-for-31 for 279 yards, with four touchdown passes. That will do. That will also make Dallas a threat in the NFC East.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Washington Commanders, 37-20 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 27 in Rio de Janeiro)
15. New York Giants (16)
The Giants visit the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football in NFL Week 2.
- NFL Week 2: At Los Angeles Rams (Sept. 21)
- NFL Week 3: Tennessee Titans (Sept. 27)
14. Chicago Bears (7)
After scoring 59 points in Week 1, the Bears were held to 3 in Week 2, with Caleb Williams' injury looming large in Chicago. Can the Bears challenge for the NFC North title if he misses a lot of time?
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 9-3 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 28)
13. New England Patriots (15)
The Patriots' defense absolutely smothered Aaron Rodgers in this game. Good thing, too, because the offense just doesn't look right. The defense (16 points allowed in two games) might keep New England in the AFC East race.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-3 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 27)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (8)
It's hard to win at Empower Field at Mile High, as the Jaguars found out. Just how good is Jacksonville? We're about to find out with the Patriots, Bengals and Eagles up next. One positive? The Jags are in the AFC South, so they are never out of it.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Denver Broncos, 20-13 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: New England Patriots (Sept. 27)
11. Denver Broncos (12)
Jaylen Waddle had eight catches for 138 yards against the Jaguars. That impresses us. So did Denver's defense bouncing back in a big way from Week 1. This Broncos team is dangerous in the AFC West and the AFC.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-20 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Los Angeles Rams (Sept. 27)
10. Detroit Lions (9)
Jared Goff and the Lions never gave up in a short week against a team opening a new stadium. We still think Detroit will have a big say in the NFC North this season.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 41-31 (Sept. 17)
- NFL Week 3: New York Jets (Sept. 27)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (10)
Saquon Barkley's status looms large over Philadelphia, but the Eagles are 2-0 and looking like the favorite in the NFC East again. It helps to have Jalen Hurts at QB.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Tennessee Titans, 24-20 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Chicago Bears (Sept. 28)
8. Minnesota Vikings (11)
It might not matter who plays QB for the Vikings, this Minnesota defense just might give it a chance in every game. Dallas Turner has been unstoppable.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Chicago Bears, 9-3 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sept. 27)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (14)
The Joe Burrow to Ja'Marr Chase connection still works, but it is Cincinnati's defense that has us thinking the Bengals could be the new favorite in the AFC North.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Houston Texans, 20-6 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Pittsburgh Steelers (Sept. 27)
6. Los Angeles Rams (6)
The Rams host the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in NFL Week 2.
- NFL Week 2: New York Giants (Sept. 21)
- NFL Week 3: At Denver Broncos (Sept. 27)
5. Baltimore Ravens (1)
The Ravens were outscored 15-0 in the fourth quarter in Week 2, with Lamar Jackson throwing a late interception to seal the loss. This team could still challenge for the AFC title, but it has work to do on defense and offense.
- NFL Week 2: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 24-17 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Dallas Cowboys (Sept. 27 in Rio de Janeiro)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (3)
It wasn't pretty, but the Chiefs moved to 2-0 with the overtime win over the Colts and now sit atop the AFC West with the 2-0 Raiders. Kansas City started 0-2 in 2025, but appears ready to contend again in 2026.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Indianapolis Colts in overtime, 33-30 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Miami Dolphins (Sept. 27)
3. Seattle Seahawks (5)
No Sam Darnold, no problem? Drew Lock went 19-for-26 for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Cardinals. Seattle's defense allowed only 151 total yards. Yeah, this team could repeat as Super Bowl champions.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 31-7 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: At Washington Commanders (Sept. 27)
2. Buffalo Bills (4)
The Bills have given up 62 points this season, but Josh Allen and company have scored 77 in a 2-0 start. This team appears to be a bigger Super Bowl contender than we first thought.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Detroit Lions, 41-31 (Sept. 17)
- NFL Week 3: Los Angeles Chargers (Sept. 27)
1. San Francisco 49ers (2)
This team is on the rise. The 49ers scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and look like they were underestimated in preseason Super Bowl odds and rankings. Brock Purdy and company could contend for the NFC title.
- NFL Week 2: Beat Miami Dolphins, 35-13 (Sept. 20)
- NFL Week 3: Arizona Cardinals (Sept. 27)
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL power rankings Week 3 see Raiders, Bengals, Vikings, Bills soar
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