Welcome to For The Win’s NFL power rankings. These might be a little different from the power rankings you’ll find elsewhere. Here’s our approach: Records don’t matter much. We’re basing this on which teams we feel are currently playing at the highest levels — whether or not the results show it so far.
With that out of the way, let’s power rank some teams…
1. Los Angeles Rams (6-0)
Result: 23-20 W at DEN
The passing game didn't quite show up in Denver, but the Rams proved they are still capable of winning a tough road game with a B performance.
2. New Orleans Saints (3-1)
Result: Bye
As the Saints come out of their bye, the defense seems to be getting better and the offense is rolling as expected. They are the clear favorites in the NFC South.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
Result: 43-40 L at NE
The defense is clearly a problem but it doesn't look like anyone is capable of slowing down Andy Reid's offense. Bill Belichick put out a great gameplan, and Kansas City still hit 40 on the scoreboard.
4. New England Patriots (4-2)
Result: 43-40 W vs. KC
Any early-season concerns about the offense have now been alleviated. As for the defense? Well, Belichick is still running things, so it's hard to imagine it not getting better.
5. Minnesota Vikings (3-2-1)
Result: 27-17 W vs. ARI
The Vikings have now strung two wins together, but there's just something off about this team. The defense isn't quite the same without Everson Griffen and while Kirk Cousins has played well, he's been too loose with the football. He turned it over twice against the Cardinals.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
Result: 38-14 W at CLE
Philip Rivers should be the MVP favorite after tearing up a good Cleveland defense on the road. Meanwhile, the Chargers defense is starting to play up to preseason expectations and is still awaiting the return of Joey Bosa.
7. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Result: 21-0
This Ravens defense is special. When it gets a consistent pass rush, as it did in Tennessee, it's downright dominant. As long as the run game keeps producing and opening up opportunities for Joe Flacco, Baltimore is a Super Bowl threat.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1)
Result: 28-21 W at CIN
Have Mike Tomlin and Keith Butler ironed out all of the issues we saw with the Steelers defense in September? It looks that way after a surprisingly competent performance in Cincinnati.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
Result: 28-21 L vs. PIT
We don't do ties here at the FTW Power Rankings, but if we did, the Bengals would be tied with the team that just beat them. Cincinnati beat itself with too many drops on both sides of the ball. A more opportunistic defense would have picked off Ben Roethlisberger at least three times.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)
Result: 34-13 W at NYG
Here come the Eagles! We're not ready to declare the Eagles back after beating up on a hapless Giants team, but the defending Super Bowl champs are on the right track.
11. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Result: 23-17 L at WSH
Serious question: Is Ron Rivera a good coach? His defense is routinely out-schemed and his offense is stuck in the 1990s with a run-first approach. Carolina's coaching staff gave the Washington game away, though the first-half turnovers did not help.
12. Washington Redskins (3-2)
Result: 23-17 W vs. CAR
We didn't bury the Redskins after an embarrassing effort in New Orleans and we're not going to elevate them after taking advantage of an underperforming Panthers team at home. We've now seen Bad Alex Smith two weeks in a row.
13. Green Bay Packers (3-2-1)
Result: 33-30 W vs. SF
Don't let Aaron Rodgers' late-game brilliance distract you from the fact that Green Bay's defense was shredded by C.J. Beathard. In its defense, Kyle Shanahan does that to a lot of teams.
14. Chicago Bears (3-3)
Result: 33-30 L at MIA
Mitchell Trubisky put up monster numbers, but he wasn't all that good in Miami. He continues to miss wide open throws and threw into coverage a few times. And all of a sudden, the defense is a question mark after letting Brock Osweiler and an unheralded receiving corps do whatever it wanted in the second half.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
Result: 40-7 L at DAL
The Jaguars defense is going to play better. There's too much talent across the depth chart for it not to. It's just going to take some adjustments to Todd Wash's scheme. The offense, on the other hand, is hopeless without Leonard Fournette. And even then, a running game can only take you so far in 2018.
16. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
Result: 34-29 W vs. TB
The Falcons' season is probably already over, but this is a good football team despite all of the injuries, which just keep piling up. Atlanta may not claw its way back into the playoff race, but it could play spoiler a few times this season.
17. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
Result: 27-3 W vs. OAK
Was that pass rush a sign that this defense is ready to take off or a sign the Raiders are ready to give up on this season? The defense looks good and the offense looks better. The Seahawks are getting better every week.
18. Cleveland Browns (2-3-1)
Result: 38-14 L vs. LAC
That was an ugly loss, but when you're relying on an aggressive defense and a rookie QB, there are going to be weeks like this. The Browns and Baker Mayfield will bounce back and continue to play solid football.
19. Detroit Lions (2-3)
Result: Bye
The Lions are an underrated team. We might be underrating them here. The defense gets better every week and the offense has too many weapons to not produce. This team is winning nine games.
20. Miami Dolphins (4-2)
Result: 33-30 W vs. CHI
What do we make of the Dolphins' win over the Bears? The defense did not play particularly well, and it's hard to believe this offense turned things around after the showings it produced in Cincinnati and New England. Next week's game against Detroit will tell us a lot.
21. Houston Texans (3-3)
Result: 20-13 W vs. BUF
The Texans might be the league's most frustrating team. There are times when they look unstoppable on both sides of the ball, and there are other times they look lost. That's a sign of bad coaching. Another sign? Needing Nathan Peterman to bail them out at home.
22. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Result: 40-7 W vs. JAX
The offense finally broke out against the Jags but this isn't necessarily a sign of things to come. Jacksonville's simplistic scheme is easy to gameplan for. We need to see Dallas' offense do this again before putting them any higher.
23. Tennessee Titans (3-3)
Result: 21-0 L vs. BAL
What was THAT?!?! This new offense hasn't turned Marcus Mariota into the guy we all expected him to be after escaping Mike Mularkey. It's time to start wondering if the Titans need a new QB.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)
Result: 34-29 L at ATL
Dirk Koetter finally came to his senses and parted ways with defensive coordinator Mike Smith. If he had only done it in the offseason, the Bucs might actually be a playoff contender. Alas.
25. New York Jets (3-3)
Result: 42-34 W vs. IND
An improving running game has allowed Sam Darnold to get comfortable. He's now stringing together good performances, which should provide hope for even pessimistic Jets fans. The defense took a step back, giving up 34 points to a one-dimensional Colts team, but did create turnovers.
26. New York Giants (1-5)
Result: 34-13 L vs. PHI
This team would be pretty good if it could go back in time to 2015 and decide to move on from Eli Manning. Outside of QB and offensive line, the Giants have a good roster.
27. Indianapolis Colts (1-5)
Result: 42-34
Offenses have figured out how to attack the Colts conservative zone defenses, so now it's Andrew Luck against the world again. He's on pace to set a new NFL record for passing attempts.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)
Result: 27-17 L at MIN
There's no shame in losing by 10 points in Minnesota. Josh Rosen continues to impress, but the Cardinals coaching staff HAS to do a better job of getting David Johnson in space.
29. Denver Broncos (2-4)
Result: 23-20 L vs. LAR
The Broncos continue to show they are a solid team in Denver. Unfortunately, they are one of the league's worst teams outside of Colorado.
30. San Francisco 49ers (1-5)
Result: 33-30 L at GB
We had the 49ers as the worst team in football last week. That was a mistake. The mistake was counting out Kyle Shanahan, whose genius can turn C.J. Beathard into a good quarterback.
31. Oakland Raiders (1-5)
Result: 27-3 L at SEA
Derek Carr is broken, the defense is terrible and the NFL world is laughing at Jon Gruden. Other than that, it's been a pretty good season in Oakland.
32. Buffalo Bills (2-4)
Result: 20-13 L at HOU
With Josh Allen, the Bills are not the worst team in football. The defense is just too good, and Allen provides the Bills with another threat on the ground. But with Allen out, the Peter Man will have to play. And we all know what happens when the Peter Man plays.
