Week 3 was another unbelievable week of football, which was headlined by five blocked field goals, two of which decided games in the final seconds of regulation. As the league continues to take shape,
we’ll continue to rank each team each week. Heading into Week 4, here’s how we see the league so far.
1. Buffalo Bills (3-0) Previous Week: 2
Is there a more complete team in the league right now? I don’t believe so. Buffalo’s offense is firing on all cylinders, and its defense isn’t too far behind. With four very winnable games coming up over the next five weeks, there’s a real chance that Josh Allen and the Bills are (7-0) heading into their Week 9 matchup against Kansas City.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) Previous Week: 1
What looked like a sobering Sunday for the Eagles turned into a last-minute win that was capped off by a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown as time expired. Philadelphia’s offense has sputtered to start the season, but has the beast finally been awoken? We’ll soon find out!
3. Los Angeles Chargers (3-0) Previous Week: 4
It wasn’t always pretty against the Broncos, but in the end, the better team won. Quarterback Justin Herbert is playing the best football of his career, and the defense still looks dominant, even without Khalil Mack. For as much as I fought the narrative that 2025 was the year the Chiefs relinquished the West, the Chargers are in pole position after three weeks with a (2-0) division record.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) Previous Week: 10
As an outside spectator, the Buccaneers have been a lot of fun to watch each week, largely due to their ability to come back in the final seconds of a game. For most Bucs fans, I’m sure they’d prefer more decisive wins that didn’t raise their blood pressure through the roof. Either way, Tampa Bay is (3-0) with the lowest margin of victory in the modern era (after three weeks). They have been living right.
5. Green Bay Packers (2-1) Previous Week: 3
There wasn’t a more surprising outcome on Sunday than the Packers losing a 16-13 game in Cleveland to the lowly Browns. Despite the low score, Green Bay was in full control of that game until the final five minutes of regulation. For now, I’m going to chalk this up as a slip-up and nothing more, but Jordan Love and the offense have to be better than they were on Sunday.
6. Detroit Lions (2-1) Previous Week: 12
The Lions are all the way back, aren’t they? After an embarrassing showing in Week 1, they’ve reeled off a pair of impressive wins. Although their 28-point win against the Bears looked more impressive on paper, their ability to dominate the Ravens in the second half on the road was an eye-opener for the rest of the league. The offense is as explosive as ever, and frankly, the defense looks better than it did under Aaron Glenn. The NFC North appears to be a gauntlet once again.
7. Los Angeles Rams (2-1) Previous Week: 5
The Rams have one of the more well-rounded rosters in the league, and for the majority of Week 3, they looked like the class of the NFC. Then, they allowed Philly’s offense to get going. Despite giving up a big lead late in the game, kicker Josh Karty had a chance to win the game, if not for the blocked field goal that was returned by big Jordan Davis for a last-second touchdown. This one will leave a bad taste in their mouths for a while, but the Rams are still one of the best teams in the NFC until proven otherwise.
8. San Francisco 49ers (3-0) Previous Week: 12
Their margin of victory has been small (+10), but the 49ers are finding a way to get it done. With two of their three wins coming on the road, they’ve positioned themselves well for the remainder of the season. Losing Nick Bosa for the year is a blow, but assuming Brock Purdy returns soon, a return to the playoffs is likely.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) Previous Week: 8
The Chiefs were one of four teams to earn their first win in Week 3. Although it didn’t look pretty in the first half against an out-manned Giants squad, Kansas City’s offense finally started to click in the second half. Assuming they can continue to stay afloat until Rashee Rice’s return, the Chiefs will be just fine as the season presses on.
10. Washington Commanders (2-1) Previous Week: 11
No Jayden Daniels, no problem for the Commanders on Sunday. Despite missing the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year on Sunday, they were still able to hang 41 points against an inconsistent Raiders squad. Daniels is expected back soon, and the NFC East is shaping into a two-team race yet again. We’ll see if they have enough horses up front to make another playoff run.
11. Indianapolis Colts (3-0) Previous Week: 15
Has there been a more surprising team through three weeks of the season? I’d argue no. The Colts have punted just one time in three games. One time! Quarterback Daniel Jones has been outstanding. Although some may question why I don’t have the Colts higher, I simply need to see it for a few more weeks. Three of their next four games are against good teams. If they can make it out of that stretch at (5-2) or better, it’s time to buy stock.
12. Baltimore Ravens (1-2) Previous Week: 6
There’s no doubt that the Ravens are a good team, but they’ve given away two games in three weeks, which stings. Derrick Henry is a fantastic running back, but he’s the only player in the league to lose three fumbles this season. We’ll see how they rebound after being dominated in the second half, but it’s clear that they have some things to figure out. Nonetheless, I still fully expect them to win the AFC North when all is said and done.
13. Minnesota Vikings (2-1) Previous Week: 16
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s high ankle sprain seemingly came out of nowhere following their Sunday night Week 2 loss to the Falcons. Now, I’m not saying that this is a phantom injury, but it sure felt well-timed in terms of giving McCarthy a chance to catch his breath. In the meantime, veteran Carson Wentz will look to build on a quality performance, in which the defense dominated the Bengals. Up next: Back-to-back games in Europe.
14. Arizona Cardinals (2-1) Previous Week: 9
The Cardinals had every opportunity to win Sunday’s game, but in the end, they couldn’t stop a San Francisco offense that scored just one touchdown on the day. I’m still buying Arizona as a playoff contender, but losing running back James Conner for the year is a huge blow to the fabric of that offense. The pressure on Kyler Murray is going to ramp up, so we’ll see if he can deliver.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) Previous Week: 17
Following back-to-back uncharacteristic defensive performances that saw them give up a pair of 30-point games, the Steelers’ defense got back on track against one of the better young quarterbacks in the game. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has returned to earth after a strong season opener, but this is a well-rounded team with a capable head coach. With Joe Burrow’s injury, their chances of making the playoffs have jumped dramatically.
16. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) Previous Week: 19
Even if Seattle is a tough team to figure out, it’s clear that their defense is legit. Through three games, they’re giving up an average of 15.67 points per game. The bigger question is whether or not their offense can continue to take a step forward. They flat-out dominated the Saints on Sunday, including an explosive special teams performance. The NFC West is going to be a tight race, but the Seahawks are proving they can hang in there thus far.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) Previous Week: 22
When Liam Coen was brought in as the team’s new head coach, many believed that quarterback Trevor Lawrence would finally reach his potential. Through three weeks, his numbers are far more underwhelming than most would have expected (55.8% | 223.67 YPG | 4 TDs | 4 INTs | 70.3 rating). On the plus side, their defense has been legit. They’ll face the 49ers, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Rams over their next four games, which should be a great litmus test for how far they’ve come since a disastrous 2024 campaign.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) Previous Week: 13
Any time your star quarterback is lost for three-plus months, it’s always an issue. Even if the Bengals are somewhat accustomed to Joe Burrow being sidelined for extended periods, there has to be a high level of concern after a game and a half of Jake Browning’s play. The former Washington Husky has five interceptions in 59 passing attempts, and they looked completely overmatched on Sunday against the Vikings in a 48-10 blowout loss in Minnesota. Despite their first (2-0) start in the Zac Taylor era, their season feels in serious doubt moving forward without better play from Browning.
19. Denver Broncos (1-2) Previous Week: 14
In Denver’s two losses, they’ve lost by a combined four points. This is a team that was a few breaks away from a (3-0) start, but if we’re being honest, this doesn’t look like a team that has taken the next step… Yet. A big reason why is the continued underwhelming quarterback play from Bo Nix. Not only are his yards per game down, but he’s turning the ball over too much. If the Broncos are going to be considered contenders, they are going to need a lot more from their second-year quarterback, because the defense is one of the best in the league and should keep them in most games.
20. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) Previous Week: 18
Despite losing in the final seconds of Week 1, I was thoroughly impressed with how quarterback Michael Penix handled himself. Since that point, it hasn’t looked great, with Week 3 being a flat-out disaster. Similar to last year, the Falcons are just a maddeningly inconsistent team. It seems like it’s been the same story since Matt Ryan left, but at some point, things have to change. With the Commanders, Bills, and 49ers slated as their next three opponents over the next four weeks, we’ll have a pretty good idea of what this Falcons team is about heading into late October.
21. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) Previous Week: 20
Pete Carroll’s arrival brought plenty of optimism, and over time, it should pay off. In the short term, this is an inconsistent team with plenty of holes. They should be competitive in most games, but as we saw on Sunday, there are still going to be some growing pains. Considering how competitive the AFC West looks, it’s going to be a battle for the Raiders to keep their head above water in 2025.
22. Chicago Bears (1-2) Previous Week: 26
One week ago, it felt like the sky was falling in Chicago. They started (0-2), capped off by a 52-24 blowout loss to the Lions in Detroit. Head coach Ben Johnson publicly challenged his team last week, and it appeared to have worked. Last year’s top pick, Caleb Williams, had a career day, throwing for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Just as promising was the defense giving up just 14 points after having a 50-spot hung on them in Week 2. With an early Week 5 bye on the horizon, getting to .500 should be the top priority.
23. New England Patriots (1-2) Previous Week: 24
The overall results in the win/loss column haven’t been consistent, but quarterback Drake Maye has been awesome over his last two games. That alone should give Patriots fans plenty of hope for the future. Between Williams and Maye, the early returns on the pair of 2024 Top 3 picks have been enough to position this quarterback class up for potential greatness. For the Patriots, they just need to find a way to close out games. If they can, the wins will come. For now, they are a rebuilding team without most of their 2024 draft class, which is hard to fathom this early in the process.
24. Houston Texans (0-3) Previous Week: 21
During the offseason, it was easy to identify the flaws on the Texans’ roster, but in a weaker division, they still seemed like the favorites in the AFC South. Three games later, and many of those concerns over the last year-plus have come to a head. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has not rebounded from his sophomore slump, and the offensive line is still a dumpster fire. At this point, I’m not sure what the Texans can or will do, but this has been about as much of a “worst-case scenario” as any contending team could have to start the year.
25. Dallas Cowboys (1-2) Previous Week: 23
The Cowboys are a Brandon Aubrey miss away from being (0-3) on the season. Even so, it’s troubling that they came out and laid an egg against a team that was blown out by a score of 52-24 the week prior. Anyone with eyes knew the defense was going to be a disaster, but putting up just 14 points against the Bears’ defense was far more shocking. Dallas is stuck in no man’s land, and without some sort of revelation, this could escalate quickly.
26. Carolina Panthers (1-2) Previous Week: 30
Simply put, the Panthers looked atrocious over their first seven quarters of football. Since that point, they’ve looked like a completely different team. Quarterback Bryce Young has started playing with confidence again, and they bludgeoned the Falcons in a 30-0 victory at home. Their margin for error is small, but their next four games shape up well with the Patriots, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Jets all on the docket in succession. The Panthers’ season is far from over.
27. Cleveland Browns (1-2) Previous Week: 32
The biggest shock of the young season goes to the Browns and their thrilling 16-13 victory at home against the juggernaut Packers. No one saw that one coming, and even if it proves to be an anomaly, that win is going to stand out as a much stronger statement than most other teams’ contending for the No. 1 overall pick. We’ll see if Cleveland can build off Sunday, or if it was simply a fluke. My guess is on the latter, but we’ll soon find out!
28. Miami Dolphins (0-3) Previous Week: 31
Miami put forth a valiant effort on Thursday night against the Bills, but ultimately came up short. Frankly, their last two games have been drastic improvements over what we saw from them in their 33-8 blowout loss against the Colts. This entire regime is skating on thin ice, but with the Jets and Panthers over their next two games, the book hasn’t been written quite yet. It’s gut-check time for Mike McDaniel and crew.
29. New York Jets (0-3) Previous Week: 27
As expected for most rebuilding teams with a new regime, it’s been a mixed bag for the Jets to open up the season. Despite losing in Week 1, they exceeded early expectations. Then they were blown out last week, and didn’t look great until a final fourth-quarter push on Sunday. We’ll see if quarterback Justin Fields can return this week from his concussion. Their next two against the Dolphins and Cowboys are very winnable.
30. New York Giants (0-3) Previous Week: 25
For all of the goodwill that Russell Wilson bought in Week 2, it felt like it went straight out the window on Sunday night. Despite being overmatched in the talent department, the Giants had multiple paths to beat the Chiefs. Unfortunately for them, their offense couldn’t deliver. Even so, I’m still having trouble understanding what was going through Wilson’s mind during the goal-to-go situation at the end of the game. None of those throws were remotely competitive. Changes are coming in New York; it’s just a matter of when and who.
31. Tennessee Titans (0-3) Previous Week: 28
We’re only 20 games into the Bill Calahan era, and it’s fair to wonder how much longer he’ll continue with how poor of an in-game coach he has proven to be. The only thing worse for a quarterback’s development than swapping head coaches after Year 1 is continuing to allow the wrong coaches to hang around and ruin a young player’s confidence. Cam Ward has shown flashes, but it’s hard to see much good coming from this year unless things drastically change in the coming weeks.
32. New Orleans Saints (0-3) Previous Week: 29
Regression and the effects of a decade of poor cap management have fully caught up to the Saints. Quarterback Spencer Rattler has performed better than expected, but has yet to win an NFL game. Their first two games were competitive, but the wheels completely fell off in Seattle. It doesn’t get any easier this week when they head to Buffalo to take on the Bills. On the plus side, they’ll have some winnable games in October.
