NFL Power Rankings 2026, Week 2

The ranking is one number per team: the margin we expect against an average team on a neutral field. It starts from last season's results, pulled part of the way back toward average, and then this season's games move it week by week. Updated every week, from results, not vibes.

Rank	Team	Record	Pt diff	Rating	Why
1	Jacksonville Jaguars1-0. Beat the Browns by 24 in week 1, the rating is up 2.1 from the preseason number.	1-0	+24	+7.3	Beat the Browns by 24 in week 1, the rating is up 2.1 from the preseason number.
2	Seattle Seahawks1-0. Beat the Patriots by 3 in week 1, the rating is down 0.5 from the preseason number.	1-0	+3	+7.0	Beat the Patriots by 3 in week 1, the rating is down 0.5 from the preseason number.
3	New England Patriots0-1. Lost to the Seahawks by 3 in week 1, the rating is down 1.0 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	0-1	-3	+5.4	Lost to the Seahawks by 3 in week 1, the rating is down 1.0 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
4	San Francisco 49ers1-0. Beat the Rams by 20 in week 1, the rating is up 1.9 from the preseason number.	1-0	+20	+4.6	Beat the Rams by 20 in week 1, the rating is up 1.9 from the preseason number.
5	Buffalo Bills1-0. Beat the Texans by 5 in week 1, the rating is up 0.1 from the preseason number.	1-0	+5	+4.5	Beat the Texans by 5 in week 1, the rating is up 0.1 from the preseason number.
6	Los Angeles Rams0-1. Lost to the 49ers by 20 in week 1, the rating is down 3.0 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	0-1	-20	+3.7	Lost to the 49ers by 20 in week 1, the rating is down 3.0 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
7	Kansas City Chiefs1-0. Beat the Broncos by 21 in week 1, the rating is up 2.2 from the preseason number.	1-0	+21	+3.5	Beat the Broncos by 21 in week 1, the rating is up 2.2 from the preseason number.
8	Chicago Bears1-0. Beat the Panthers by 22 in week 1, the rating is up 2.3 from the preseason number.	1-0	+22	+3.4	Beat the Panthers by 22 in week 1, the rating is up 2.3 from the preseason number.
9	Houston Texans0-1. Lost to the Bills by 5 in week 1, the rating is down 1.0 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	0-1	-5	+3.3	Lost to the Bills by 5 in week 1, the rating is down 1.0 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
10	Baltimore Ravens1-0. Beat the Colts by 18 in week 1, the rating is up 1.9 from the preseason number.	1-0	+18	+2.7	Beat the Colts by 18 in week 1, the rating is up 1.9 from the preseason number.
11	Detroit Lions1-0. Beat the Saints by 1 in week 1, the rating is down 0.2 from the preseason number.	1-0	+1	+2.3	Beat the Saints by 1 in week 1, the rating is down 0.2 from the preseason number.
12	Minnesota Vikings1-0. Beat the Packers by 17 in week 1, the rating is up 1.8 from the preseason number.	1-0	+17	+2.2	Beat the Packers by 17 in week 1, the rating is up 1.8 from the preseason number.
13	Philadelphia Eagles1-0. Beat the Commanders by 2 in week 1, the rating is about where it started the season.	1-0	+2	+2.1	Beat the Commanders by 2 in week 1, the rating is about where it started the season.
14	Pittsburgh Steelers1-0. Beat the Falcons by 7 in week 1, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.	1-0	+7	+1.1	Beat the Falcons by 7 in week 1, the rating is up 0.7 from the preseason number.
15	Denver Broncos0-1. Lost to the Chiefs by 21 in week 1, the rating is down 2.7 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.	0-1	-21	+0.6	Lost to the Chiefs by 21 in week 1, the rating is down 2.7 from the preseason number, still carried by last year's roster.
16	Indianapolis Colts0-1. Lost to the Ravens by 18 in week 1, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.	0-1	-18	-0.1	Lost to the Ravens by 18 in week 1, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.
17	Los Angeles Chargers0-1. Lost to the Cardinals by 12 in week 1, the rating is down 1.4 from the preseason number.	0-1	-12	-0.4	Lost to the Cardinals by 12 in week 1, the rating is down 1.4 from the preseason number.
18	Green Bay Packers0-1. Lost to the Vikings by 17 in week 1, the rating is down 2.0 from the preseason number.	0-1	-17	-0.7	Lost to the Vikings by 17 in week 1, the rating is down 2.0 from the preseason number.
19	New York Giants1-0. Beat the Cowboys by 8 in week 1, the rating is up 1.1 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	1-0	+8	-0.9	Beat the Cowboys by 8 in week 1, the rating is up 1.1 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers0-1. Lost to the Bengals by 6 in week 1, the rating is down 0.6 from the preseason number.	0-1	-6	-1.6	Lost to the Bengals by 6 in week 1, the rating is down 0.6 from the preseason number.
21	Cincinnati Bengals1-0. Beat the Buccaneers by 6 in week 1, the rating is up 1.0 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	1-0	+6	-2.0	Beat the Buccaneers by 6 in week 1, the rating is up 1.0 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
22	Dallas Cowboys0-1. Lost to the Giants by 8 in week 1, the rating is down 0.7 from the preseason number.	0-1	-8	-2.2	Lost to the Giants by 8 in week 1, the rating is down 0.7 from the preseason number.
23	Atlanta Falcons0-1. Lost to the Steelers by 7 in week 1, the rating is down 0.6 from the preseason number.	0-1	-7	-2.4	Lost to the Steelers by 7 in week 1, the rating is down 0.6 from the preseason number.
24	New Orleans Saints0-1. Lost to the Lions by 1 in week 1, the rating is up 0.2 from the preseason number.	0-1	-1	-2.9	Lost to the Lions by 1 in week 1, the rating is up 0.2 from the preseason number.
25	Arizona Cardinals1-0. Beat the Chargers by 12 in week 1, the rating is up 1.9 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	1-0	+12	-3.2	Beat the Chargers by 12 in week 1, the rating is up 1.9 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
26	Washington Commanders0-1. Lost to the Eagles by 2 in week 1, the rating is up 0.2 from the preseason number.	0-1	-2	-3.6	Lost to the Eagles by 2 in week 1, the rating is up 0.2 from the preseason number.
27	Miami Dolphins0-1. Lost to the Raiders by 14 in week 1, the rating is down 1.2 from the preseason number.	0-1	-14	-4.1	Lost to the Raiders by 14 in week 1, the rating is down 1.2 from the preseason number.
28	Carolina Panthers0-1. Lost to the Bears by 22 in week 1, the rating is down 2.1 from the preseason number.	0-1	-22	-4.8	Lost to the Bears by 22 in week 1, the rating is down 2.1 from the preseason number.
29	Las Vegas Raiders1-0. Beat the Dolphins by 14 in week 1, the rating is up 2.4 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	1-0	+14	-5.0	Beat the Dolphins by 14 in week 1, the rating is up 2.4 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
30	New York Jets1-0. Beat the Titans by 13 in week 1, the rating is up 2.3 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.	1-0	+13	-5.5	Beat the Titans by 13 in week 1, the rating is up 2.3 from the preseason number, still weighed down by last year's roster.
31	Cleveland Browns0-1. Lost to the Jaguars by 24 in week 1, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.	0-1	-24	-6.1	Lost to the Jaguars by 24 in week 1, the rating is down 2.2 from the preseason number.
32	Tennessee Titans0-1. Lost to the Jets by 13 in week 1, the rating is down 0.6 from the preseason number.	0-1	-13	-8.1	Lost to the Jets by 13 in week 1, the rating is down 0.6 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.