2026 NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Are The Chiefs Back? Are The Bucs Broken?


Two weeks into the season, a third team sits atop the charts.

Honestly, after the Rams fell in Week 1 and the Ravens dropped in Week 2, it seems that the famed SI jinx and Madden curse have nothing on my Power Rankings. Things will get really unsettling if the new No. 1 loses at home to the 0-2 Los Angeles Chargers this weekend.

Until then, just cross your fingers, go outside, turn around three times and spit, so your favorite team doesn’t draw the wrath from high atop the thing as you read the updated rankings for Week 3.

*Super Bowl odds courtesy of DraftKings

Miami Dolphins

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 32

Super Bowl odds: +100000

If they keep working hard, maybe they’ll gain more than 285 yards in a single game this season. Hey, dare to dream! That’s the standard for this year’s Dolphins team.

Atlanta Falcons

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 28 

Super Bowl odds: +15000

Jack Strand, an undrafted rookie out of D-II Minnesota State-Moorhead, finished the game against the Panthers at QB for Atlanta. That sums up the Falcons’ early quarterback issues, I think.

Tennessee Titans

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 30

Super Bowl odds: +30000

The Titans fought hard, but let’s face it: two terrible interceptions by Eagles QB Jalen Hurts are what kept them in the game Sunday. Tennessee still got a long way to go before it’s truly competitive again.

Washington Commanders

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 26 

Super Bowl odds: +7400

The Commanders looked like they had some momentum before QB Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow late in the first half. Without him, though, it’s hard to see them coming back from an 0-2 start.

New York Jets

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 27 

Super Bowl odds: +20000

The Jets blew a 10-point lead to a bad Packers team in the final eight minutes and lost in overtime. New York will be in a lot of games because of its defense, but it’s still going to lose a lot of games this season.

Arizona Cardinals

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 25 

Super Bowl odds: +30000

That’s more like it – just 151 total yards of offense against the reigning-champion Seahawks. We all knew the Cardinals weren’t as good as they looked against the Chargers in Week 1.

Cleveland Browns

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 31 

Super Bowl odds: +25000

In the words of Browns coach Todd Monken: “Browns are gonna Browns? F— that!” Amen, Coach.

Los Angeles Chargers

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 20 

Super Bowl odds: +4500

The Chargers are 0-2. So, if you’re a fan, do yourself a favor and avoid looking at the next seven games on the schedule. It’s not farfetched to predict L.A. will soon be 0-9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 24

Super Bowl odds: +5500

Losing to the Browns to fall to 0-2 is one thing. Having to wait out a two-hour-plus lightning delay to blow it in the final two minutes? Priceless.

Indianapolis Colts

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 21 

Super Bowl odds: +6500

The Cotls have given up 1,023 total yards in two games. The offense is doing OK, but they’ve got some serious defensive problems that need to be fixed.

Las Vegas Raiders

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 29 

Super Bowl odds: +12500

I still think the Raiders would be smarter to play rookie QB Fernando Mendoza, but that was a heck of a game from Kirk Cousins. And who in Vegas would’ve bet on the Raiders starting 2-0? We’ll see if they can keep it up.

If the Raiders remain competitive, will Kirk Cousins be their starting QB for the entire season? (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 16 

Super Bowl odds: +5000

If that’s the way Aaron Rodgers is going to play, his last ride might be a short one. At some point, the Steelers may have to take a look at rookie Drew Allar.

Green Bay Packers

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 18 

Super Bowl odds: +2500

Yeah, OK, they came back and beat the Jets. But the Packers had just 199 yards of offense and looked terrible until the end when they finished their comeback. Green Bay doesn’t get any credit for a comeback win that look like a mess, as it did.

New York Giants

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 17 

Super Bowl odds: +7000

Losing to the Rams didn’t drop them in the rankings, but losing QB Jaxson Dart did. The Giants could be in a lot of trouble if he’s out for an extended period.

Houston Texans

Record: 0-2

Previous ranking: 14 

Super Bowl odds: +2200

How does a team generate six points of offense when its quarterback throws for 353 yards? When their running backs gain 18 yards on 14 carries. Yikes. That performance against the Bengals was not great and leaves the Texans windless through two games.

Dallas Cowboys

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 22 

Super Bowl odds: +2500

The Cowboys offense got on track, but their defense is still a problem. Dallas had no answer for quarterback Jayden Daniels before his injury, and the defense didn’t exactly shut down the Commanders after he got knocked out.

Carolina Panthers

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 23 

Super Bowl odds: +9000

A second straight three-touchdown performance for QB Bryce Young, who has thrown for 648 yards in those two games and only one interception. Maybe he’s finally arrived? If so, look out for the Panthers in the NFC South.

New Orleans Saints

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 19 

Super Bowl odds: +8000

OK, I’m a believer. The Saints pushed the Lions to overtime, then beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road. That’s enough to declare them legitimate. I believe QB Tyler Shough is legit, too. I just wonder if this early success is sustainable over the course of the entire season.

Detroit Lions

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 13 

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Remember when head coach Dan Campbell’s teams played defense? Me too. Good thing they can move the ball on anybody. Detroit is just in danger of losing a ton of high-scoring games.

Minnesota Vikings

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 15 

Super Bowl odds: +3000

How is this team 2-0? Thank defensive coordinator Brian Flores for that. Because they’re winning despite a bad offense and some terrible QB play. Kyler Murray’s potential Week 3 return will be a big boost to an offense that won last week despite scoring just nine points.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 11 

Super Bowl odds: +2500

I want to put the Jaguars in the top 10. I really do. Putting up an offensive dud against the Broncos while the defense wilted in the second half, though, hinders me from doing that.

New England Patriots

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 10 

Super Bowl odds: +2200

Take the win and thank old man Aaron Rodgers for that. For the second straight week, quarterback Drake Maye did not look good.

Chicago Bears

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 2 

Super Bowl odds: +3000

Three points? After scoring 59 the week before? What in the name of Ben Johnson was that? I’ll keep them in the top 10 for now, but they won’t be there for much longer without quarterback Caleb Williams.

Baltimore Ravens

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 1 

Super Bowl odds: +950

It was never going to be easy without wide receivers Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane, but that doesn’t explain how the defense gave up two long touchdown drives to the Saints in the fourth quarter. That was a tough loss that deserves a big drop in the rankings.

Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 12 

Super Bowl odds: +1300

They needed all of overtime to escape the Colts, but look at what Patrick Mahomes did with 382 yards and three touchdowns. There’s no more doubt: The Chiefs are back.

Patrick Mahomes looked like himself in Week 2 — and so did the Chiefs. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 9 

Super Bowl odds: +1600

This team still worries me, but quarterback Jalen Hurts showed he still has the “clutch” gene after throwing two interceptions against the Titans. He also has a good receiving corps and a fantastic No. 1 receiver in DeVonta Smith.

Denver Broncos

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 8 

Super Bowl odds: +2000

It looked like the Broncos were going to plummet in the rankings again. At the last moment, though, quarterback Bo Nix remembered how to play and offensive coordinator Davis Webb learned how to call plays. The Broncos looked like a different team in the second half against the Jaguars.

Los Angeles Rams

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 5

Super Bowl odds: +650

OK, so maybe it was the jet lag in Week 1. The Giants were no match after Jaxson Dart’s injury, but the Rams have at least started to flex their superteam muscles with an impressive performance on Monday night.

Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 6 

Super Bowl odds: +1700

Ja’Marr Chase is just ridiculous, and Joe Burrow hasn’t even gotten started yet. It’s the defense that really has me believing in Cincy, though, after two strong performances to open the season.

San Francisco 49ers

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 7 

Super Bowl odds: +1200

The 49ers might be the most complete team in football. A terrific QB, great running game, excellent receivers, strong line, tough defense and a brilliant coach. They’ve got it all.

Seattle Seahawks

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 3 

Super Bowl odds: +1000

You’re all correct. The defending champs probably should be No. 1. The truth is that they probably would be if their quarterback wasn’t Drew Lock for now.

Buffalo Bills

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 4 

Super Bowl odds: +780

Josh Allen has five passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns through two games. If he keeps playing anywhere close to this the rest of the way, there may be no stopping the Bills.



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