NFL power rankings entering Week 6 of the 2026 season (previous rank in parentheses):
1. San Francisco 49ers (1): They're seeking their second 6-0 start (2019) under Kyle Shanahan and certainly hope this 5-0 beginning tracks closely to the other two under the HC, who's seeking his third Super Bowl trip and first Lombardi Trophy. Perhaps the most impressive traits already displayed by these Niners is the ability to − again − overcome their injuries while also sweeping up during their first pass through the brutal NFC West. And they've already beaten three teams that had at least 12 regular-season victories in 2025. But, hey, QB Brock Purdy was sacked for the first time this season on Sunday − bagged three times and hit nine by Seattle − so better
not get him hurt, too.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (2): Coming out of their bye week, K.C. goes into its Chargers bye week before the schedule really picks up and tougher tests come. But there is help on the way at wideout … just not Tyreek Hill (yet). For now, steady hand(s) Justin Watson is returning to the practice squad.
3. Seattle Seahawks (3): Too high you say? Sam Darnold threw two more picks on Sunday, their depleted group of running backs fumbled two more times, and even Jaxon Smith-Njigba is dropping a key pass while running wide open and free. Oh, and LB Ernest Jones IV is once again defending Darnold − literally this time. You know the champs are quality. But Sunday's loss feels similar to last year's in L.A., which set off a 12-game winning streak that only ended two weeks ago. Don't be surprised if these 'Hawks take flight soon.
4. Denver Broncos (4): Would have liked to see the offense show a bit more life in Sean Payton's first week back in the play-calling saddle. But at least the defense finally seems to be coming back around for another team that seems very well positioned to take off anew.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (6): Among AFC QBs, only Lamar Jackson has a better passer rating than Trevor Lawrence, whose connection with WR Parker Washington has become sublime. But the defense might be the real story here, the Vikings the only team stingier on the scoreboard than the Jags.
6. New England Patriots (7): QB Drake Maye has seemingly captured his MVP-caliber form the past two weeks after a very rough September. Might he even go to another level given WR A.J. Brown could be back as soon as Sunday against the Jets?
7. Buffalo Bills (8): QB Josh Allen has proven he can win in overtime. Does that mean he can win in overtime in January? Maybe even February? Monday night's rousing defeat of the Rams feels like one that could count for a lot more than just a mere Week 5 victory.
8. Los Angeles Rams (5): Still just good enough to get beaten by their defense and special teams. But Myles Garrett will be back at some point, and maybe that will be the point when this team isn't having to scrap for wins in the final minutes. But they need to get out of the ditch soon − if the season ended today (it doesn't) the Rams wouldn't qualify for the playoffs.
9. Minnesota Vikings (9): They're allowing the fewest points per game, the lowest EPA per play, the best turnover differential (+6), the third-most pressures (87) and are tied for the third-most sacks (17). And now QB Kyler Murray is showing signs of a reversion to his old Pro Bowl form. Beware this team, though the bye arrived at the wrong time.
10. Chicago Bears (10): Just throw out Sunday's Lambeau sleep. Injured QB Caleb Williams appears on the verge of returning for a team that generally held up well without him.
11. Carolina Panthers (13): Maybe you realized they come out of their bye week with the league's top-ranked passing offense. But did you know how diverse it was, WR Tetairoa McMillan headlining a quintet of Panthers who already have double-digit receptions?
12. Detroit Lions (15): QB Jared Goff has accounted for 13 TDs and nary a turnover through five weeks. If that's not MVP-caliber, then what is?
13. Baltimore Ravens (17): HC Jesse Minter on rookie Vega Ioane, who was drafted to be a guard but has already started twice at center due to the Ravens' rampant injuries there: "I don't know who votes for rookie of the year and all that stuff. … But he's a very, very impactful rookie for our team that's done things that I don't know that any rookie's ever done." Don't worry, Coach, we're impressed and will continue to watch closely.
14. Atlanta Falcons (14): LT Jake Matthews started his 200th consecutive game Sunday night. The 13th-year vet also failed to corral his first career reception, which would have been a touchdown, much to his team's detriment in an overtime loss − a complete stain on the Matthews legacy. We kid, Jake. Next time.
Bruce Matthews knew his son Jake was THAT close to a TD 😅 pic.twitter.com/SZvCXpLgFX
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2026
15. Las Vegas Raiders (11): The 3-0 start was cute. But they're fai\lling fast now that they've hit the brutally legitimate stretch of their schedule − don't be surprised if the Silver and Black is 4-8 when they hit their Week 13 bye … which could mean a lot more Fernando Mendoza cameos.
16. Cleveland Browns (12): Rookie WR Denzel Boston is leading the league with 20.6 yards per reception out of the gate − his three TD catches averaging 43.3 yards in length.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (19): Maybe they need to rethink the timeshare approach with RB Jaylen Warren, who's produced 490 yards from scrimmage on 61 touches over the past three weeks as the primary backfield option.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (20): Given what they're getting from RB Chase Brown, 74 yards per game from scrimmage and 3.9 per touch, this is probably a team that should be inquiring about the availability of, say, Titans RB Tony Pollard.
19. Green Bay Packers (26): Blasting the (temporarily) crippled Bears marked the Pack's best showing of the season. Now, back to reality. OLB Micah Parsons won't be back for Sunday night's battle with the Cowboys, and NT Javon Hargrave joins LB Edgerrin Cooper as the second defensive starter to tear an Achilles in the past two weeks.
20. New Orleans Saints (16): For some reason, they stink at the Superdome, now 0-3 at home. Fortunately, they won't be back for a month, hitting the road for New York and Paris, where they could use a visit from the Pope − though Leo doesn't use the #Saints hashtag in social media posts, which Pope Francis mistakenly did.
21. New York Jets (28): OLB David Bailey is real, and he's spectacular … even if No. 31 is a really weird choice for a pass rusher.
David Bailey is having his breakout game.@CLEvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+
— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/idnc58I239
22. New York Giants (21): With WR Malik Nabers and TE Isaiah Likely combining for 33 targets (and 22 receptions) Sunday, defenses need not worry much that QB Jameis Winston is getting to his third read.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31): Look who's only 1 1/2 games out of first place in their perennially middling division … and maybe figured out feeding RB Bucky Irving is the way to go?
24. Dallas Cowboys (18): At least they won't have to suffer the ignominy of facing their Parsons mistake up close and personal − between the lines anyway − for a second straight season.
25. Indianapolis Colts (23): They've allowed 710 yards this season … after the catch, worst in the NFL.
26. Houston Texans (27): Just noting DE Will Anderson Jr. is on pace for 25 1/2 sacks, which would break Myles Garrett's nine-month-old record. Of course, Anderson couldn't have expected his Texans to be as bad as Garrett's Browns were.
27. Philadelphia Eagles (22): Maybe it wouldn't feel like the clock was running out on their season … if they knew what to do when the clock was running out on the field.
28. Washington Commanders (24): Maybe it wouldn't feel like the clock was running out on their season … if they knew what to do when the clock was running out on the field.
29. Arizona Cardinals (25): Props to GM Monti Ossenfort for getting a second-round pick back for WR Marvin Harrison Jr. … maybe a very high Round 2 selection given the way Houston has been playing.
30. Los Angeles Chargers (29): Thirteen turnovers − a league high − in five games is going to get you beat every time. Literally. Every time.
31. Miami Dolphins (32): They're terrible and will remain that way for the duration of this season. But give them credit for fighting for first-year coach Jeff Hafley, which (unexpectedly) gets them out of the power rankings basement.
32. Tennessee Titans (30): They're terrible and will apparently remain that way for the duration of this season. And while they deserve credit for fighting for first-year coach Robert Saleh in recent weeks … the faux Oilers mailed it in against Houston on Sunday.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL power rankings Week 6: What does wild overtime win mean for Bills, Rams?
