RADIO
Ryan Kirksey ranks all 32 NFL teams after six weeks of the 2023 season based on how well they have played through their first six games.
As we head into the second month of the NFL season, we are starting to get a better sense of who these 32 teams are. Injuries, inefficiencies, and mega-popstar distractions have impacted NFL teams in different ways through the league's first six weeks. On the other hand, there have been some major positive surprises and stellar play from unexpected sources.
Teams like the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all moved drastically since our Preseason Power Rankings from early August. It's just further proof that the landscape of the NFL can change on a dime after any given Sunday. Just ask Jalen Hurts and his fourth-quarter throws.
So what do the NFL power rankings look like seven weeks into the regular season? Here is our ranking of all 32 NFL teams.
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Super Bowl In Their Sights
1. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)
The temptation to move San Francisco down after a loss is there, but consider the facts in that Cleveland game: cross-country travel, bad weather, Deebo Samuel hurt, Christian McCaffrey hurt, Trent Williams hurt, Cleveland is one of the best defenses in the league. I think we will err on the side of the larger sample for now.
2. Miami Dolphins (5-1)
This team (which opened the game as 14.5-point favorites) fell down by 14 points early to Carolina and still managed to cover the spread and several adjusted spreads as well (Miami won 42-21). Only four teams since 1990 have scored more points in a team's first six games than the Dolphins' 223 this year. Three of those teams played in the Super Bowl.
3. Detroit Lions (5-1)
In 2021, Jared Goff came over to the Lions and led them to a 3-10-1 record with 19 touchdowns and a 39.5 Quarterback Rating (QBR). Today they are 5-1, heavy favorites to win the division, and Goff already has 11 touchdowns and a 73.3 QBR.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
The offense may look quite a bit out of sync these days (could Mecole Hardman Jr. actually be the answer? Haha, no.) but the defense looks impenetrable and ranks sixth in success rate and expected points added. The real test comes in back-to-back games against the Dolphins and Eagles beginning November 5.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)
They lose a spot or two in the Power Rankings because of this throw against the Jets.
6. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
They should not have struggled this much against the truly horrific Giants, but they pulled out a win. Read more about why the so-called defensive pass interference on Darren Waller at the end of the game was 100% the right thing to do (and do an infinite number of times).
7. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
Dak Prescott surprised us all with 40 rushing yards and a score on the ground Monday night. Those 40 yards were six fewer than he had the rest of the entire season and it was just his second rushing touchdown since November of 2021.
Playoff Bound Or Their Fans Revolt
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
We know Travis Etienne is elite, but it's hard to tell if this Jaguars team is actually good or if they benefit from playing in a mediocre division and catching two teams asleep from jet lag in London. They are battling a lot of potential injuries right now as well as up-and-down play from Calvin Ridley, but they clearly have the talent to win this division without too much difficulty.
9. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
The Ravens are excelling right now, and it's plays like the one below that show why. Lamar Jackson is improving every week as a passer and a decision-maker and Zay Flowers is a true stud in the making.
10. Cleveland Browns (3-2)
That was a season-defining win on Sunday against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, but questions still linger about what is happening with Deshaun Watson. It looks as though he will try and suit up on Sunday, but it has become increasingly clear with Watson struggling and Nick Chubb out that this team will only go as far as the defense will take them.
11. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
Remember that highly-touted rookie the Seahawks drafted in the first round? He is making a huge impact in every game he plays and looks like a future star. Oh, you thought I meant Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Nope, I meant...
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
Baker Mayfield trying to force downfield bombs to Trey Palmer all game is not exactly the recipe for success the Buccaneers are looking for. They lost to the Lions on Sunday because they couldn't sustain drives. Never, and I mean never, should Palmer have more air yards and an equal target share to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
13. New Orleans Saints (3-3)
Pray to the football gods that we get something even close to this exciting for Thursday Night Football. Football fans deserve it.
14. New York Jets (3-3)
If you sat Robert Saleh down and pumped him full of truth serum, do you think he would have expected the Jets to be better than 3-3 WITH Aaron Rodgers considering the gauntlet of a schedule they had to start the year? Is it possible he might be right to stick with Zach Wilson?
Stuck In The Middle With You
15. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
It only took like three years, but Drake London and Kyle Pitts are both starting to live up to the potential all football fans knew they had. After ranking 31st in pass play percentage in 2022 (44.7%), they are 13th in the NFL over the last three weeks (58.6%).
16. Houston Texans (3-3)
Is it possible C.J. Stroud is the Chosen One? Even his first NFL interception doesn't end with a turnover?
17. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
If this was the Momentum Rankings, Joe Burrow and the Bengals might just take the top spot this week. With two straight wins after a 1-3 start, they are in a great position to now challenge the Ravens and Browns for the division crown.
18. Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)
"Guys, what is the next game we are going to lose in dramatic fashion?"
19. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
Gardner Minshew Mania looked more like Minshew Massacre after four turnovers in his first official start as QB1 for the rest of the season. Get healthy for next year, Anthony Richardson!
20. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
The Rams were as high as +300 in some sportsbooks to make the playoffs in the preseason, and now are as low as +140 on some sites. The power of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Diontae Johnson comes back in Week 7 and now Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris are getting equal playing time. If they are going to make a move in the division, now is the time to make it happen.
22. Washington Commanders (3-3)
Sam Howell is legitimately a good quarterback (seventh in true completion percentage this year) and has made some spectacular throws since he became the starter at the end of last season. Please, for the love of God, someone step up and protect him from being decapitated on the field.
"Our Backup Can't Be Worse Than What We've Had"
23. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)
Brian Hoyer, ladies and gentlemen:
24. Tennessee Titans (2-4)
And Malik Willis, ladies and gentlemen:
Already Starting to Check January Vacation Spots
25. Green Bay Packers (2-3)
What a coincidence, Jordan! That's exactly how the Packers' fans feel after going from 15 years of Aaron Rodgers to your 33rd-ranked true completion percentage this year!
26. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)
The Vikings are 2-4 to start the year and still have two games left against Detroit, plus matchups against San Francisco, Cincinnati, New Orleans, and the Falcons. Nothing can take away those victories against the Bears and Panthers, however.
27. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)
Kyler Murray is practicing again which I don't quite understand. Aren't they tanking? The Cardinals currently hold the third pick in the draft and could easily move up if the Bears or Panthers win a couple of games. They may not want to have to deal with the Caleb Williams - Kyler Murray drama, but imagine a Kyler Murray team with Marquise Brown and Marvin Harrison Jr. Be still my beating heart.
28. Denver Broncos (1-5)
Back in the summer, Sean Payton got in hot water for saying things like, "Everything I heard about last season, we are doing the opposite." If by "opposite" he means a defense that's in the bottom of the basement instead of middle-of-the-pack, then he is spot on!
We Fall Asleep To Tape Of Caleb Williams
29. Chicago Bears (1-5)
Tyson Bagent is an actual NFL player who is going to start a game that counts in the standings. I can prove it to you.
30. New England Patriots (1-5)
Rhamondre Stevenson was supposed to be the engine of this offense while Mac Jones continued to mature. Stevenson's ranks among running backs in several key stats:
Red Zone touches: 31st
Rushing Yards: 28th
Yards Per Touch: 46th
Expected Points Added: 132nd: At -34.1 EPA on the year, they would have been better off with a folding chair in the backfield getting 0.0 EPA.
31. New York Giants (1-5)
You see, the problem is the Giants are likely going to CHOOSE to go BACK to Daniel Jones over Tyrod Taylor when Jones is healthy.
32. Carolina Panthers (0-6)
"Bryce, I know it's rough right now. Listen. I'm going to talk to my agent and we are going to cook up some story that will make the Panthers want to trade you. I'm going to help you get out of there. Just keep throwing to Adam Thielen because he's the only one with any ability over there, and we will work on the exit strategy. I got you."
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