NFL Power Rankings 2026, Week 5

Rank	Team	Record	Pt diff	Rating	Why
1	Jacksonville Jaguars3-1, outscored opponents by 51, the rating is up 3.2 from the preseason number.	3-1	+51	+8.4	3-1, outscored opponents by 51, the rating is up 3.2 from the preseason number.
2	Seattle Seahawks3-1, outscored opponents by 32, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.	3-1	+32	+8.1	3-1, outscored opponents by 32, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.
3	San Francisco 49ers4-0, outscored opponents by 58, the rating is up 4.5 from the preseason number.	4-0	+58	+7.1	4-0, outscored opponents by 58, the rating is up 4.5 from the preseason number.
4	Buffalo Bills3-1, outscored opponents by 20, the rating is up 0.8 from the preseason number.	3-1	+20	+5.2	3-1, outscored opponents by 20, the rating is up 0.8 from the preseason number.
5	Chicago Bears3-1, outscored opponents by 47, the rating is up 3.9 from the preseason number.	3-1	+47	+5.0	3-1, outscored opponents by 47, the rating is up 3.9 from the preseason number.
6	Kansas City Chiefs4-0, outscored opponents by 41, the rating is up 3.5 from the preseason number.	4-0	+41	+4.8	4-0, outscored opponents by 41, the rating is up 3.5 from the preseason number.
7	Los Angeles Rams2-2, outscored opponents by 2, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.	2-2	+2	+4.4	2-2, outscored opponents by 2, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.
8	Minnesota Vikings4-0, outscored opponents by 35, the rating is up 3.3 from the preseason number.	4-0	+35	+3.7	4-0, outscored opponents by 35, the rating is up 3.3 from the preseason number.
9	New England Patriots2-2, outscored by 12, the rating is down 3.4 from the preseason number.	2-2	-12	+3.0	2-2, outscored by 12, the rating is down 3.4 from the preseason number.
10	Baltimore Ravens3-1, outscored opponents by 20, the rating is up 1.5 from the preseason number.	3-1	+20	+2.3	3-1, outscored opponents by 20, the rating is up 1.5 from the preseason number.
11	Detroit Lions2-2, outscored by 8, the rating is down 1.4 from the preseason number.	2-2	-8	+1.1	2-2, outscored by 8, the rating is down 1.4 from the preseason number.
12	Denver Broncos2-2, outscored by 20, the rating is down 2.7 from the preseason number.	2-2	-20	+0.6	2-2, outscored by 20, the rating is down 2.7 from the preseason number.
13	Indianapolis Colts2-2, outscored by 2, the rating is down 1.9 from the preseason number.	2-2	-2	+0.3	2-2, outscored by 2, the rating is down 1.9 from the preseason number.
14	Houston Texans0-4, outscored by 25, the rating is down 4.2 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	0-4	-25	+0.2	0-4, outscored by 25, the rating is down 4.2 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
15	Dallas Cowboys2-2, outscored opponents by 10, the rating is up 1.3 from the preseason number.	2-2	+10	-0.2	2-2, outscored opponents by 10, the rating is up 1.3 from the preseason number.
16	Philadelphia Eagles2-2, outscored by 18, the rating is down 2.4 from the preseason number.	2-2	-18	-0.3	2-2, outscored by 18, the rating is down 2.4 from the preseason number.
17	Cincinnati Bengals2-2, outscored opponents by 12, the rating is up 2.6 from the preseason number.	2-2	+12	-0.3	2-2, outscored opponents by 12, the rating is up 2.6 from the preseason number.
18	Carolina Panthers2-2, outscored opponents by 12, the rating is up 2.0 from the preseason number.	2-2	+12	-0.7	2-2, outscored opponents by 12, the rating is up 2.0 from the preseason number.
19	Pittsburgh Steelers2-2, outscored by 10, the rating is down 1.2 from the preseason number.	2-2	-10	-0.8	2-2, outscored by 10, the rating is down 1.2 from the preseason number.
20	Las Vegas Raiders3-1, outscored opponents by 31, the rating is up 6.2 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	3-1	+31	-1.2	3-1, outscored opponents by 31, the rating is up 6.2 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
21	New York Giants3-1, outscored opponents by 3, the rating is up 0.2 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	3-1	+3	-1.9	3-1, outscored opponents by 3, the rating is up 0.2 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
22	New Orleans Saints1-2, outscored by 2, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.	1-2	-2	-2.4	1-2, outscored by 2, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.
23	Green Bay Packers2-2, outscored by 32, the rating is down 3.9 from the preseason number.	2-2	-32	-2.5	2-2, outscored by 32, the rating is down 3.9 from the preseason number.
24	Tampa Bay Buccaneers0-4, outscored by 20, the rating is down 1.7 from the preseason number.	0-4	-20	-2.8	0-4, outscored by 20, the rating is down 1.7 from the preseason number.
25	Atlanta Falcons1-2, outscored by 17, the rating is down 1.1 from the preseason number.	1-2	-17	-3.0	1-2, outscored by 17, the rating is down 1.1 from the preseason number.
26	Los Angeles Chargers0-4, outscored by 39, the rating is down 4.1 from the preseason number.	0-4	-39	-3.1	0-4, outscored by 39, the rating is down 4.1 from the preseason number.
27	Cleveland Browns3-1, outscored by 14, the rating is down 0.3 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	3-1	-14	-4.2	3-1, outscored by 14, the rating is down 0.3 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
28	Washington Commanders1-3, outscored by 34, the rating is down 1.1 from the preseason number.	1-3	-34	-4.9	1-3, outscored by 34, the rating is down 1.1 from the preseason number.
29	New York Jets1-3, outscored by 8, the rating is up 2.6 from the preseason number.	1-3	-8	-5.2	1-3, outscored by 8, the rating is up 2.6 from the preseason number.
30	Arizona Cardinals1-3, outscored by 30, the rating is down 0.4 from the preseason number.	1-3	-30	-5.5	1-3, outscored by 30, the rating is down 0.4 from the preseason number.
31	Miami Dolphins0-4, outscored by 55, the rating is down 4.5 from the preseason number.	0-4	-55	-7.4	0-4, outscored by 55, the rating is down 4.5 from the preseason number.
32	Tennessee Titans0-4, outscored by 28, the rating is down 0.3 from the preseason number.	0-4	-28	-7.8	0-4, outscored by 28, the rating is down 0.3 from the preseason number.

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. The Playoff Machine 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.