NFL Power Rankings 2026, Week 9

Rank	Team	Record	Pt diff	Rating	Why
1	Seattle Seahawks4-3, outscored opponents by 43, the rating is down 0.2 from the preseason number.	4-3	+43	+7.2	4-3, outscored opponents by 43, the rating is down 0.2 from the preseason number.
2	Jacksonville Jaguars4-2, outscored opponents by 50, the rating is up 1.6 from the preseason number.	4-2	+50	+6.9	4-2, outscored opponents by 50, the rating is up 1.6 from the preseason number.
3	San Francisco 49ers6-1, outscored opponents by 58, the rating is up 2.7 from the preseason number.	6-1	+58	+5.4	6-1, outscored opponents by 58, the rating is up 2.7 from the preseason number.
4	Buffalo Bills5-1, outscored opponents by 26, the rating is up 0.3 from the preseason number.	5-1	+26	+4.7	5-1, outscored opponents by 26, the rating is up 0.3 from the preseason number.
5	New England Patriots4-3, outscored opponents by 17, the rating is down 1.9 from the preseason number.	4-3	+17	+4.5	4-3, outscored opponents by 17, the rating is down 1.9 from the preseason number.
6	Minnesota Vikings6-0, outscored opponents by 51, the rating is up 4.0 from the preseason number.	6-0	+51	+4.3	6-0, outscored opponents by 51, the rating is up 4.0 from the preseason number.
7	Los Angeles Rams3-4, outscored opponents by 11, the rating is down 2.5 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	3-4	+11	+4.1	3-4, outscored opponents by 11, the rating is down 2.5 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
8	Kansas City Chiefs5-1, outscored opponents by 40, the rating is up 2.4 from the preseason number.	5-1	+40	+3.6	5-1, outscored opponents by 40, the rating is up 2.4 from the preseason number.
9	Chicago Bears5-2, outscored opponents by 37, the rating is up 2.2 from the preseason number.	5-2	+37	+3.3	5-2, outscored opponents by 37, the rating is up 2.2 from the preseason number.
10	Detroit Lions4-2, outscored opponents by 19, the rating is up 0.4 from the preseason number.	4-2	+19	+2.9	4-2, outscored opponents by 19, the rating is up 0.4 from the preseason number.
11	Denver Broncos5-2, outscored opponents by 3, the rating is down 1.2 from the preseason number.	5-2	+3	+2.0	5-2, outscored opponents by 3, the rating is down 1.2 from the preseason number.
12	Houston Texans2-5, outscored by 5, the rating is down 2.7 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	2-5	-5	+1.6	2-5, outscored by 5, the rating is down 2.7 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
13	Cincinnati Bengals4-2, outscored opponents by 41, the rating is up 4.5 from the preseason number.	4-2	+41	+1.6	4-2, outscored opponents by 41, the rating is up 4.5 from the preseason number.
14	Green Bay Packers5-3, outscored opponents by 7, the rating is down 0.2 from the preseason number.	5-3	+7	+1.1	5-3, outscored opponents by 7, the rating is down 0.2 from the preseason number.
15	Pittsburgh Steelers5-2, outscored opponents by 15, the rating is up 0.5 from the preseason number.	5-2	+15	+0.9	5-2, outscored opponents by 15, the rating is up 0.5 from the preseason number.
16	Baltimore Ravens4-3, outscored opponents by 2, the rating is down 0.3 from the preseason number.	4-3	+2	+0.5	4-3, outscored opponents by 2, the rating is down 0.3 from the preseason number.
17	Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-5, outscored opponents by 11, the rating is up 1.3 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	2-5	+11	+0.3	2-5, outscored opponents by 11, the rating is up 1.3 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
18	Dallas Cowboys3-4, outscored opponents by 9, the rating is up 1.4 from the preseason number.	3-4	+9	-0.1	3-4, outscored opponents by 9, the rating is up 1.4 from the preseason number.
19	Indianapolis Colts2-5, outscored by 26, the rating is down 2.8 from the preseason number.	2-5	-26	-0.6	2-5, outscored by 26, the rating is down 2.8 from the preseason number.
20	New York Giants4-2-1, outscored opponents by 2, the rating is up 1.2 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	4-2-1	+2	-0.9	4-2-1, outscored opponents by 2, the rating is up 1.2 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
21	Atlanta Falcons3-4, outscored by 2, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.	3-4	-2	-1.1	3-4, outscored by 2, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.
22	Carolina Panthers3-4, outscored by 15, the rating is up 0.5 from the preseason number.	3-4	-15	-2.2	3-4, outscored by 15, the rating is up 0.5 from the preseason number.
23	Philadelphia Eagles2-5, outscored by 48, the rating is down 4.7 from the preseason number.	2-5	-48	-2.6	2-5, outscored by 48, the rating is down 4.7 from the preseason number.
24	Cleveland Browns5-2, outscored by 13, the rating is up 0.9 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	5-2	-13	-3.0	5-2, outscored by 13, the rating is up 0.9 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
25	Los Angeles Chargers0-6, outscored by 61, the rating is down 5.1 from the preseason number.	0-6	-61	-4.1	0-6, outscored by 61, the rating is down 5.1 from the preseason number.
26	New Orleans Saints2-5, outscored by 32, the rating is down 1.0 from the preseason number.	2-5	-32	-4.1	2-5, outscored by 32, the rating is down 1.0 from the preseason number.
27	New York Jets2-5, outscored by 13, the rating is up 3.0 from the preseason number.	2-5	-13	-4.9	2-5, outscored by 13, the rating is up 3.0 from the preseason number.
28	Las Vegas Raiders3-4, outscored by 14, the rating is up 2.4 from the preseason number.	3-4	-14	-5.0	3-4, outscored by 14, the rating is up 2.4 from the preseason number.
29	Washington Commanders1-4-1, outscored by 40, the rating is down 1.3 from the preseason number.	1-4-1	-40	-5.1	1-4-1, outscored by 40, the rating is down 1.3 from the preseason number.
30	Miami Dolphins1-5, outscored by 59, the rating is down 3.4 from the preseason number.	1-5	-59	-6.3	1-5, outscored by 59, the rating is down 3.4 from the preseason number.
31	Arizona Cardinals2-5, outscored by 66, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.	2-5	-66	-7.3	2-5, outscored by 66, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.
32	Tennessee Titans1-6, outscored by 48, the rating is about where it started the season.	1-6	-48	-7.5	1-6, outscored by 48, the rating is about where it started the season.

How the rankings work

Every team starts the season with a number carried over from last year: its scoring margin and play-by-play quality per game, pulled 40 percent of the way back toward average, because rosters and luck both change. That preseason number counts for about eight games of evidence. Each week the games actually played are blended in at full weight, so by midseason the current year dominates and by December last year barely matters.

The number is a point spread against an average team on a neutral field. Two teams rated +4 and -3 are about seven points apart before home field. That is why a team can win and drop, or lose and climb: a three-point win over a bad team says less about you than a three-point loss to a good one. Our NFL record predictor uses these ratings to project the games nobody has picked yet.

Frequently asked questions

How often are these NFL power rankings updated?

Every week during the season. The ratings are rebuilt each night from the final scores, so by Tuesday morning the table reflects every game played through the latest week.

How are power rankings different from the standings?

Standings count wins. Power rankings measure how good a team is, which is not the same thing. A 1-0 team that squeaked past a bad opponent can sit below a 0-1 team that lost a close game to a contender, because the number is built from margins and play quality, not from the win column.

What does the rating number mean?

It is the expected margin, in points, against an average team on a neutral field. A +7.0 team should beat an average team by a touchdown. Subtract two ratings and you have a rough point spread before home field.