NFL power rankings entering Week 10 of the 2026 season (previous rank in parentheses):
[Editor's note: These rankings will be updated throughout the day as deals ahead of the league's 4 p.m. trade deadline potentially change the landscape.]
1. San Francisco 49ers (1): If they wind up securing the NFC's No. 1 postseason seed, you can pretty much slot them into the NFC championship game. Including the playoffs and following Sunday's rout of the former Bay Area rival Raiders, the Niners are now 6-0 with an average margin of victory of 12.8 points coming off their past six bye weeks. Also? The last time DT DeForest Buckner was on the roster, San Francisco wound up in the Super Bowl. And it only seems right that Kyle Shanahan and Co. should get at least
one game at SoFi Stadium after their September trip to Australia denied them their annual visit.
99 problems and he's all ours 😤
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 8, 2026
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/MJPePQTLQH
2. Chicago Bears (2): If they're going to win games on nights when CB Caleb Williams throws four picks, whether or not they're his fault? Look out for these guys, especially with RB Kyle Monangai likely back on the other side of the bye week.
Caleb Williams is the 3rd Bears QB to throw 4 INT in a win in the Super Bowl era (Todd Collins in 2010 and Rex Gorssman in 2006).
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) November 9, 2026
The Bucs scored just 3 points and allowed a defensive score on the drives following his INTs:
Turnover on Downs, Punt, FG and Pick-Six pic.twitter.com/fz9w9QhXUr
3. Buffalo Bills (6): The last three times they started 7-1, the Bills went to the Super Bowl each time.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4): As if they weren't already playing dominant football, now GM James Gladstone is furiously reloading his defense ahead of the trade deadline. The Super Bowl window is decidedly open here … just hard to say for how long given how much of their future the Jags are already mortgaging.
Most wins by 20+ points this season:
— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) November 6, 2026
1. Jaguars - 4 (including tonight)
2. 49ers, Falcons, Bears - 2
Most wins by 20+ points since 2025:
1. Jaguars - 8
2. Seahawks - 6
3. Rams - 5
5. Denver Broncos (3): The transformation of the offense since Sean Payton resumed calling the plays has been truly unbelievable.
Wow: Broncos RB Jonah Coleman has gone viral for his INSANE 8-week body transformation. pic.twitter.com/sC71zCAOTj
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 8, 2026
6. Detroit Lions (7): WR Amon-Ra St. Brown hasn't scored since September and only has two 100-yard receiving games this season. Think the German-American star might break out Sunday in Munich -- especially given how the Pats secondary just got shredded?
7. Green Bay Packers (11): Just when it seems like it's all coming together -- OLB Micah Parsons nearing his return, the running game nearing its return -- RB Josh Jacobs is going back on the shelf for a group that's won six of seven. But if mad bomber Jordan Love keeps launching precision munitions, the rest may not matter.
8. Seattle Seahawks (9): Just when it seems like it's all coming together -- the running game restored and the schedule seeming to ease -- Seattle can't keep its quarterbacks healthy. But if the "Dark Side" D, which has allowed three points in two of the past three games continues to dial in, the rest may not matter.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (10): It's easy to miss, but coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense is starting to find a groove -- allowing more than 300 yards just once since the Week 5 bye and surrendering more than 20 points just once over the same period.
10. New England Patriots (5): No Patriots had ever allowed 45 points at Gillette Stadium. No Patriots team had ever allowed 45 points at home … since 1970. And these guys are supposed to be known for their defense.
11. Minnesota Vikings (8): This feels too high. But here's hoping they don't waste one of the better defenses we've seen this century … while also hoping that unit doesn't wind up sparking a locker room uprising.
12. Los Angeles Rams (12): Who's their top wideout for however long Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are out? Try Konata Mumpfield … who has all of 11 catches this season.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (13): First place in the AFC North will be on the line Sunday night in Cincinnati. And the defense has gotten increasingly stingy for a group riding a four-game heater. Should be a fun one.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (14): First place in the AFC North will be on the line Sunday night in Cincinnati. And the offense has gotten increasingly explosive for a group riding a four-game heater. Should be a fun one.
15. Cleveland Browns (16): While the Bengals and Steelers prepare to beat one another up, the Browns, regardless of who their QB1 is, need to take advantage of their upcoming stretch of games -- none that will require them to leave Cleveland before Dec. 20.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17): Truly a shame that coach Todd Bowles didn't take the opportunity to channel Dennis Green after Sunday night's loss in Chicago. "The Bears are who we thought they were! That's why we took the damn field. Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook!"
17. Las Vegas Raiders (15): They've rushed for more than 100 yards twice this season and had a season-low 24 on Sunday. They've allowed fewer than 100 yards once this season and permitted 190 on Sunday. Not a conducive formula for success … or one to inject a rookie quarterback into.
18. Atlanta Falcons (18): Despite being a half-game out of first place, they took Jacksonville's Godfather offer, which included a second-round pick, for defensive captain Jessie Bates III on Monday morning. Maybe recently reinstated OLB James Pearce Jr. can offset Bates' departure, at least in terms of defensive impact.
19. New Orleans Saints (19): Is Audric Estime the guy to energize a 26th-ranked run game? Sunday's 72-yard effort was the second best of his three-year career -- and came six days after the Saints brought him back via a successful waiver claim.
20. New York Giants (20): Is someone currently not on the roster the guy to energize an 18th-ranked run game? RB Devin Singletary carried 21 times for 31 yards Sunday at Philadelphia in a game the Giants won despite averaging 2.6 yards per rush.
21. Dallas Cowboys (25): They outgained the Colts by 237 yards in what was easily their best defensive performance of the season -- very low bar -- and still barely beat a team taking its roster down to the studs.
22. Houston Texans (26): Their 3-5 start has been anything but pretty. But the upcoming schedule very much suggests the Texans could be above .500 by the time December arrives.
23. Carolina Panthers (22): With two of their next three against divisional foes and no games against opponents with winning records for the rest of the month, it's time to get right.
24. Washington Commanders (21): With their next game on Thursday night in New York, is Dan Quinn again coaching for his job after the Commanders' latest end-of-game play-calling debacle?
25. Baltimore Ravens (24): They sure could use Jacoby Brissett about now -- and presumably will debut the recently acquired QB on Monday night against the winless Bolts. And not a moment too soon considering the Ravens have lost three consecutive games by at least 20 points for the first time in franchise history.
26. Arizona Cardinals (23): They sure could use Jacoby Brissett about now -- but let him go to Baltimore days before Gardner Minshew II was lost for the season. The Cards might also (kinda) want Marvin Harrison Jr. back after WR1 Michael Wilson suffered a season-ending neck injury.
27. Miami Dolphins (27): After a couple encouraging performances, the offense has tailed off significantly in recently weeks. A trip to Indianapolis could be a cure-all.
28. New York Jets (28): They might be able to get a first-round pick for Geno Smith … if they shop him as a linebacker.
Jets cough it up leading to a GENO SMITH HIT STICK. pic.twitter.com/OGfGYMdoOe
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 8, 2026
29. Tennessee Titans (29): There's a very good chance this team will get outgained by 2,000 yards by the time this season is over.
30. Philadelphia Eagles (30): They're now on the verge of losing eight in a row. The last time that happened, in 2012, Andy Reid got fired. Watch your back, Sirianni.
31. Indianapolis Colts (31): Make a bid for rookie RB Seth McGowan in your fantasy league, assuming he's still available.
32. Los Angeles Chargers (32): Albert Einstein did not, in fact, say, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." However he would surely agree with the sentiment, unlike the Bolts' brain trust, apparently.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL power rankings Week 10: How will trade deadline affect pecking order?
