With the conclusion of Week 7, we are quickly inching closer to the midpoint of the season. While there’s still plenty of season left to be played, certain teams have separated themselves, while others are experiencing plenty of adversity through the way of injuries. The playoff picture has yet to take shape, but with the trade deadline just weeks away, the league’s dynamics will start to shift in the coming days/weeks. Before we turn the page ahead to Week 8, let’s dive into our updated Week 8 WCG
NFL Power Rankings, reflecting on the week that was, headlined by each team’s quarterback play through seven weeks.
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Quarterback Progress Report: Josh Allen (A)
Josh Allen is an alien, and even when things aren’t perfect around him, there might not be a better quarterback in the league. Although his numbers aren’t otherworldly so far, he’s the primary reason why the Bills are sitting at 5-1 after their bye week. Assuming receiver D.J. Moore gets back healthy at some point soon, his numbers should increase. Either way, the Bills are one of the best teams in the AFC yet again; we’ll see if their defense can hold up their end of the bargain this season.
2. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
Quarterback Progress Report: Brock Purdy (A)
By the numbers, Purdy should be considered a front-runner in the MVP race so far this season. His hot start has been impressive, although I would argue that his last three games have been a bit of a “come back to earth” type of situation. That’s not meant to take away from what he’s done, but the decision-making is becoming shaky, and it needs to be mentioned. Overall, he’s playing at a high level, but he needs to course-correct a little bit for the 49ers to maintain their high level of play.
3. Minnesota Vikings (6-0)
Quarterback Progress Report: Kyler Murray (C-)
Quarterback play was a big issue for the Vikings last season, but all of that bad luck they experienced in 2025 seems to be overcorrecting so far this season. What’s funny about this situation is that the quarterback play hasn’t been noticeably better, whether that’s Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz. Then again, does it really matter with this defense? Murray has been OK, but he’s also left a lot to be desired. We’ll see what shakes out over the final 11 games of the season, but so far, he’s been “good enough” but nothing more.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
Quarterback Progress Report: Patrick Mahomes (A)
Overall, there was a rush to judgment about the Chiefs’ 2025 season. Even if Mahomes hasn’t been playing at the MVP level lately, the way he’s come back from a torn ACL (among other issues) in such a short time is nothing short of impressive. The numbers haven’t been gaudy, but looking at the offensive depth chart, I’d say he’s playing well above what he should. The Chiefs appear to be back, and so does Mahomes. Considering the injury he suffered at the end of last season, his “comeback” has been extremely impressive.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Trevor Lawrence (A)
The resurgence of the former No. 1 overall pick in 2021 has been quite the sight to see. Head coach Liam Coen has unlocked a level of consistency we haven’t seen since Lawrence entered the league. The offensive line has outplayed expectations, and even without Brian Thomas Jr. being a factor, this offense is humming. While I’m not sure I would categorize Coen’s hiring as a “career-saving” move, it was pretty damn close.
6. Detroit Lions (4-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Jared Goff (A+)
No matter who the offensive coordinator has been in Detroit, it hasn’t seemed to matter a whole lot for Goff. Under Drew Petzing, Goff has been damn-near perfect, especially in the touchdown-to-interception ratio at an impressive 14-0 through six games. His completion percentage is slightly down from the 70% he posted in 2024, but it’s right on par with what it was last year. He’s targeting the middle of the field and going deep often, and still doesn’t have an interception. That’s about as good as you can ask for, and it’s probably about time for him to be included in the MVP conversation.
7. Chicago Bears (5-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Caleb Williams (A)
The marriage between head coach Ben Johnson and Williams has gone about as well as hoped through a season and a half. In Year 1, Williams made plenty of big leaps, but through four starts in Year 2, he looks like a Top 5-7 quarterback. He’s continued to limit turnovers while taking more of what the defense gives him. That has led to a completion rate over 70%, yet he’s still taking plenty of accurate shots downfield. There’s still growth to be had, but he’s been night and day from what we saw in his rookie campaign.
8. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Quarterback Progress Report: Sam Darnold (D-)
Little did we know that when Darnold went down in Week 1, it wouldn’t be a season-ending injury, but instead an eye-opening experience in which backup quarterback Drew Lock has severely outplayed Darnold this season. This has kind of been the story of Darnold’s career, but he’s put enough good football on tape to make many believe he can bounce back. That said, if he doesn’t soon, they might need to change the quarterback to salvage the season. Either way, Darnold has been brutal, and it’s simply not something Seattle can afford to live with.
9. Denver Broncos (5-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Bo Nix (D-)
Broncos fans will hope Sunday’s blowout win over the Cardinals was a “get right” game for Nix and this offense. So far, it’s been a jumbled mess, and no matter who the play caller is, Nix has struggled coming back from his ankle surgery. Mobility is a big part of his game, but the continued peppering at or behind the line of scrimmage on throws has been a big red flag. Denver is a very good team, but they’ll need their offense to do its part if they hope to contend for a Super Bowl again in January.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Joe Burrow (A-)
The Bengals have been relatively inconsistent through the first seven weeks of the season, including on Sunday when they trailed 13-0 heading into the half against the Ravens. Then they figured it out and scored 35 unanswered en route to a convincing victory to overtake Baltimore in the division. Joe Burrow was responsible for four touchdowns, bringing his total to 15 on the year through six games. If the defense continues to play as they did in the second half, this will be a tough team to beat down the stretch.
11. New England Patriots (4-3)
Quarterback Progress Report: Drake Maye (B+)
It’s clear that Maye is bordering on elite territory, but a slow start to the season has kept his grade down for the season. Thursday night’s showdown with Williams was a great glimpse into two of the top drafted quarterbacks from the 2024 class, and the matchup did not disappoint. As A.J. Brown and the offensive line get healthier, Maye’s play should improve. He’s unlikely to be as high in the MVP conversation this year, but it’s clear that his yips are out of the way, and he is indeed a very good quarterback with plenty of ceiling still to chase.
12. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
Quarterback Progress Report: Jordan Love (A)
For the first time in his career, his offensive line has not been ideal. While it has improved in recent weeks, several reserves have been taking real snaps, creating issues. Add in a non-existent run game, and Love has been set up to fail. The start of the season wasn’t great, but over the last month, he’s been a completely different quarterback. Although his completion percentage has dipped and his interceptions have risen a bit, he’s taking way more deep shots and, overall, looks like a big-play hunter. All things considered, he’s had a helluva year so far.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Aaron Rodgers (B)
All things considered, Rodgers, in his age 43 season, has been pretty dang good. He’s shown signs of looking his age, but as of late, he’s been playing a lot better. There are still a lot of questions about this team’s overall ceiling, but the offense has been playing better, and a lot of that is because of Rodgers. The key to his and this offense’s success is establishing the quick game, but ultimately, he cannot be afraid to take shots downfield.
14. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
Quarterback Progress Report: Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley (B)
When Lamar is on the field, the Ravens are a dangerous team. The bigger issue is that he’s missed a bulk of games three or more games in four of his last six seasons. Huntley has done a good job in relief, but for the Ravens to reach their ceiling, Jackson needs to be healthy and playing. The biggest concern for this team is its defense, but hopefully a more productive offense will help balance it out.
15. Cleveland Browns (5-2)
Quarterback Progress Report: Deshaun Watson (B)
Watson has played considerably better than anyone could have expected coming off back-to-back torn Achilles. Frankly, his improved play has been a big reason why the Browns found themselves in first place heading into Week 7. That said, there are still plenty of bad stretches, and that’s probably to be expected. The Browns are firmly in that spot where they can beat most teams, but they can still lose to just about everybody. With a pair of first-rounders in April, it will be interesting to see what they choose to do at the conclusion of the regular season.
16. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Quarterback Progress Report: Matthew Stafford (C-)
Last year’s MVP, much like the rest of the offense, is off to a slow start in 2026. Yet, somehow they are still surviving, and I don’t think you’ll find anyone ready to count them out, despite their injuries. Stafford’s seven interceptions are just one short of how many he threw in both 2024 and 2025. The touchdown production is still there, but overall, things just haven’t looked the same. As the team gets healthier, it’s fair to expect the offense and Stafford to get better, but this has been an uncharacteristically slow start so far.
17. New York Giants (4-2-1)
Quarterback Progress Report: Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston, and J.J. McCarthy (B+)
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was passed over for multiple head coaching jobs last offseason, including Tennessee. Despite major adversity from quarterback injuries, all three quarterbacks have flashed impressively. Dart looked good before going down with a season-ending knee injury, Winston had flashes, and McCarthy has looked like a new quarterback during his two games so far in New York. The Giants are in a weird but nice spot with a horrible division. They started hot, and despite their injuries, they are in prime position to win the NFC East.
18. Carolina Panthers (3-3)
Quarterback Progress Report: Bryce Young (A+)
Every quarterback is allowed to have a bad game, which includes Young. Let’s be real here- nobody, and I mean nobody, had Young reviving his career quite the way he has. The Panthers are an inconsistent team that will be prone to some bad days at the office like they had on Sunday, but Young has made a huge leap in Year 4, which should make the front office and fans alike feel like they have a franchise quarterback. There are some limitations to his game, but those haven’t shown up much this season. Coaching matters, but Young deserves a lot of credit for an almost unheard-of turnaround.
19. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
Quarterback Progress Report: Michael Penix (A-)
Atlanta looked like a complete disaster at the start of the season, when they started 0-2 and didn’t reach the red zone. Then Penix returned from his third torn ACL, and the offense has looked like a completely different unit ever since. Although he has clear flaws to his game, his arm talent is impossible to deny. The same could be said about his overall impact on the offense and the overall team. Despite the slow start, the Falcons are far from out of it, and with the talent they have on offense, Penix could be the difference-maker.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4)
Quarterback Progress Report: Kirk Cousins (B)
The Raiders’ impressive 3-0 start is no more, and despite a few close games to contenders, it feels like the bottom might have fallen out. Cousins has been much better than expected, but it’s also worth wondering if maybe it’s time to give this year’s No. 1 overall pick to the offense. Fernando Mendoza will start at some point, and most of that will be circumstantial. Cousins has shown he still has some juice left, but the Raiders’ offense was always going to be a project.
21. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
Quarterback Progress Report: Dak Prescott (C-)
Since 2020, Prescott’s even-year experience hasn’t been good, and so far in 2026, it’s been more of the same. That’s not to say that Dak has been bad by any means, but he’s not nearly as effective as he was last year, despite having similar problems on the defensive side of the ball. Even with a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, the offense just has not looked the same most of the season, despite having some elite weapons at his disposal. Sometimes you have to grade players on a curve, and because we know how good Prescott can be, he’s being graded with that in mind.
22. Houston Texans (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: C.J. Stroud (A+)
The start of 2026 has been a nightmare start for the Texans, but there’s no way you can include Stroud in that conversation. Not only is he avoiding those mistakes that plagued him in the playoffs last year, but he’s showing athleticism to extend plays that we haven’t seen from him at the NFL level. Simply put, he’s more than proven he’s “worth” a high-dollar extension. Now we’ll see how they finish out the season, because things look grim, even after digging themselves out of a 0-4 hole.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Baker Mayfield (D-)
The start of the season has not gone as expected, but following Sunday’s 43-13 victory against the Panthers, the Buccaneers find themselves hanging onto their season for dear life. Mayfield’s injury has hurt, but frankly, the drop-off in play between him and Jaylon Daniels wasn’t that big. Mayfield’s return wasn’t anything to write home about, but a win is a win. That’s what happens when a team forces four takeaways. Mayfield has plenty to prove, even though he was recently extended. We’ll see if he can get on track over the final 10 games of the season.
24. New Orleans Saints (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Tyler Shough (B-)
The Saints are off to a disappointing start, and owner Gayle Benson has put the heat on their second-year coaching staff. Typically, switching coaching staffs after two years doesn’t exactly serve a quarterback well, but Shough has proven to be an above-average quarterback with enough ceiling to build around. He’s been atop the league in yards and touchdowns, but interceptions have been an issue. Considering where he was drafted, this can be classified as nothing short of a success story, but things just haven’t clicked in Year 2 like most expected for this team.
25. Indianapolis Colts (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Daniel Jones (F)
In some ways, I get it. When you don’t have a quarterback, you’ll do anything you can to “find” one, even if it’s forcing the situation. Couple that with missing badly on a No. 3 overall pick, and it’s a dire situation. The issue is that the Colts didn’t learn from the Giants’ mistake and did it all over again, which led to general manager Chris Ballard being fired this past week. Jones had a nice stretch last year, but even before his injury, he was coming back down to earth. This year has been nothing short of a disaster so far. We’ll see what Indy does this offseason, but it’s hard to envision many scenarios where Jones is on stable ground heading into 2027.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Jalen Hurts (INC)
When healthy, Hurts is a quality quarterback, even if he has struggled to get this offense over the hump the past two seasons. Simply put, the minute he was placed on Injured Reserve due to the blood clots in his lungs was the minute the Eagles’ season ended. Obviously, the primary focus is on Hurts’ long-term health, and all reports are good on that front. Without a complete picture, it’s almost impossible to give Hurts or the Eagles a grade. Again, the most important thing is that Hurts appears to be going to be OK. The rest comes secondary, even in a lost season.
27. New York Jets (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Geno Smith (B+)
The Jets are a better team than they were a year ago, and a big reason why is that they finally have some certainty at the quarterback position. Things might not have gone well in Geno’s first stint in New York, but it’s been much better this time around. The bigger issue is that the Jets still lack talent, and even though Smith is a much better quarterback in Round 2, he’s on the tail end of his career. Losing to the Dolphins is going to sting, but this is a rebuilding team in need of another offseason or two.
28. Washington Commanders (1-4-1)
Quarterback Progress Report: Jayden Daniels (B)
It’s funny to wind back to 2024 when RGIII said the Bears were in danger of ruining Williams’ development because of the support system around him. While he wasn’t wrong about some of that, Daniels simply hasn’t been the same since his breakout rookie season. So far this season, he has looked pretty good, but the support system around him has been an issue. On top of that, first-year offensive coordinator David Blough’s inability to force Daniels under center continues to be a big issue in his development. Durability will always be a concern, but Daniels’ ceiling as an NFL quarterback will be limited unless a play-caller can force him to play a more versatile style.
29. Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Jacoby Brissett (D)
To nobody’s surprise, Brissett has been nothing short of replaceable after getting a bump in pay during the preseason. The good news for Arizona is that they’ve never seen the veteran as a long-term option. The bigger issue is that they are two wins ahead of the Chargers, and one ahead of the Titans. Finding a quarterback isn’t easy, but the result of this season needs to be getting them into a position to be able to draft their long-term answer.
30. Los Angeles Chargers (0-6)
Quarterback Progress Report: Justin Herbert (F)
I know everyone wants to keep making excuses for Herbert, and to a certain extent, some are valid. The offensive line has been a disaster since Jim Harbaugh’s first year, but it’s impossible to ignore how bad he’s been late in games. Things can change from preseason expectations, but this was a front-runner for MVP coming into the regular season. Having more interceptions than touchdowns is never acceptable for a veteran quarterback, so maybe it’s time to stop moving goalposts here. Simply put, they need a helluva lot more from Herbert than they’ve gotten.
31. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Quarterback Progress Report: Cam Ward (D-)
In my preseason quarterback rankings, I ranked Ward much higher than the consensus. Even though I was skeptical of hiring a defensive-minded head coach, I thought Ward had the talent and mental makeup to overcome it. Clearly, I was wrong. The start of his second season has been nothing short of a disaster, and even though head coach Robert Saleh has been against benching him, they might need to revisit that conversation soon. It’s been a disaster season so far in Tennessee, which is a shame.
32. Miami Dolphins (1-5)
Quarterback Progress Report: Malik Willis (D)
Up until the first quarter of Sunday’s game, the Dolphins had not led in a game this season. Miami is in the early stages of a rebuild, which has produced one of the league’s worst receiving corps, but Willis still has a lot to do. He’s averaging well under 200 passing yards per game, and came into Sunday with more interceptions than touchdowns. That last part has since evened out, but this was always an upside gamble with a low floor. All things considered, it’s trending toward the Dolphins using that first-round pick for a quarterback in April.
