It’s that time of the year again.
You know the time. Leaves turning colorful and falling off trees. Temperatures are starting to drop. Miserable kids getting on the bus, still not adjusted to waking up early in the morning for school.
All of that means one thing: It’s football season.
High school rivalry games are already underway. College football is a few days away from truly kicking off. But perhaps most exciting is the beginning of the NFL season, kicking off on Thursday, Sept. 7, as the rising Detroit Lions enter Kansas City to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs.
With the NFL season looming, many staples of football season will enter our collective worlds. Heated rivalries reignited. Newly acquired players either flourishing or disappointing their new fans. National media becoming overzealous in their attempts to create heroes and villains, while regional media makes no efforts to hide biases towards their market.
Alongside all of these elements are NFL Power Rankings. An attempt to order each team in the league from best to worst. It’s an easy way to draw attention, create a buzz, and inform fans about the teams they may not be easily able to learn about.
That is why I have decided to see a format that creates a stir and steal it for my own amusement. Welcome to our NFL Power Rankings: Preseason Edition.
Rules and Format
The format here is relatively simple. List the teams from worst to best, in my view, along with some secondary item. For example, this week will have the rank along with my predictions for the team’s record.
Remember that this is all subjective, I’m sure I’ll have some takes that make you want to put your head through a wall, but it’s all in good fun in the end. Feeling passionately just means that you as a reader care as passionately as I do. All opinions listed are my own, with all names and rosters being taken from each team’s official website.
Another note: this list is in order of who I see as the best teams, not the best records. Some teams have inflated or deflated records because of their schedule and/or divisional strength.
The List
The Bottom Feeders
32. Arizona Cardinals
Expected Record: 2-15
This roster just doesn’t have anything that anyone would be likely to say “Wow, they’re good at that.” With Kyler Murray expected to be out for a large portion of the season thanks to an offseason surgery, the team has no decent quarterbacks to fill the role, something that is necessary to win at all in the modern NFL. When he does come back, is he actually “the guy?” Hell, are any players on this team “the guy?” Paris Johnson Jr, the offensive tackle who the Cardinals picked sixth in the 2023 draft, seems promising, but when he’s only protecting James Conner and Hollywood Brown, how much is that worth? The Cardinals are a team that are stuck in that miserable spot no team wants to be in: bad without something good to look forward to. Number one pick, here they come!
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Expected Record: 4-13
It’s funny how one offseason and one player can change so much about a team’s perception. The Bucs have learned what the Patriots already did: losing Tom Brady leads to a massive change in public perception. They have a bunch of weapons that can pull it off: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are great receivers, and Rachaad White is a young running back. Baker Mayfield seems to be suffering from the usual symptoms of being a Browns passer. That is to say, he’s not very good. And for a team that made the postseason last year at an 8-9 record thanks to a terrible division, that likely won’t cut it as the Saints and Panthers both make efforts to move up in the standings. The ship is seemingly going down. Now it’s just time to see who goes down with it and who jumps overboard.
30. Indianapolis Colts
Expected Record: 5-12
The Colts are in an interesting spot in that they aren’t really good at…well, anything, really. Not horrifically bad at anything, but just not good. The offensive line has Quenton Nelson and…others? Michael Pittman Jr. is a solid receiver, but I can’t see him being a major factor. Anthony Richardson is a great athlete, but needs time to develop into a proper pro-caliber quarterback. Defensively, it’s not much better. DeForest Buckner has shown talent, and Shaq Leonard might have a shot if he isn’t hurt all year. The saving grace could have been at running back, but Jonathan Taylor and owner Jim Irsay seemingly were at a standstill in negotiations until recently, as the former has been given permission to seek out a trade. If it weren’t for a weak division, I could definitely see a world where the Colts are the worst team in the sport. But speaking of that bad division…
29. Houston Texans
Expected Record: 5-12
Imagine, if you will, a green banana, not quite ready to be eaten. That banana is the Houston Texans. The pieces are all there. C.J. Stroud, Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, Dameon Pierce, Nico Collins, Will Anderson, and Derek Stingley to name a few.
But this process takes time, and patience is a virtue. While time is very much on the Texans’ side, being patient can be frustrating. As long as the management and the fans keep faith in their players, all should be well in Houston. But for right now they’re terrible.
Growing Pains
28. Atlanta Falcons
Expected Record: 6-11
The Falcons are a bit of an odd case. Drake London has shown flashes but no one can be 100% sure he won’t slump. Kyle Pitts has been decent, but not great, and is currently injured but expected to be back for week one. Bijan Robinson, the running back that the Falcons just drafted within the top 10, is listed at third on the depth chart. Desmond Ridder hasn’t had a large enough sample size or had a good enough supporting cast for anyone to call him a bust. And the defense has some solid players, but not enough to alleviate those anxieties. In particular, this could There’s too many question marks to reasonably say the Falcons can be a good team. This year will be spent searching for answers.
27. Washington Commanders
Expected Record: 5-12
Washington has already had the biggest win of their season: former owner Dan Snyder is out, Josh Harris is in. Long term, it is excellent news that can possibly lead the organization to a brighter future. In the short term, however, new ownership cannot change the years of mistakes in roster management thanks to Snyder’s meddling, an enigma of a coaching staff, or being in a division with Philadelphia and Dallas.
To some degree, the only real option for them right now is to ride the season out. They can probably pull off a surprise win or two that sends ESPN into a frenzy, but this is a time of change within the organization. It’s best to let the change happen.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
Expected Record: 7-10
There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly interesting for this Raiders squad. Facing the Chiefs and Chargers twice each is brutal. Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Renfrow will need to develop a connection with new quarterback Jimmy Garappolo from scratch for an organization that never seems willing to view losing as a path to winning. Maxx Crosby is the only particularly impactful player on defense, setting this team up to constantly be in shootout games.
Now I will give credit where it’s due: they did just bring in a quarterback that led the 49ers to a Super Bowl and nearly won the thing. If everything comes together, they could surprise some. But in the AFC of haves and have-nots the Raiders seem firmly entrenched in the latter category.
25. Green Bay Packers
Expected Record: 5-12
To say things have changed in Green Bay is the understatement of the century. It seems fitting, given that they’ve had back-to-back surefire Hall of Fame quarterbacks during this century. Aaron Rodgers is gone and no one has any idea what Jordan Love’s potential is. For all we know, the same could happen to him that happened to Rodgers: enter the league as a backup to a Hall of Famer for a few years, enter as the starter and immediately impress, win one Super Bowl and many MVPs before leaving for the Jets. Oh wait, that happened to Favre too. Weird. Regardless, lightning likely does not strike thrice, and the Packers finally fall pack to earth.
24. Carolina Panthers
Expected Record: 8-9
Am I a little high on the Panthers? Probably. Do I think their record benefits from playing in a division with the Buccaneers and Falcons? Absolutely. But there is little doubt that this team is better than at this point a year ago.
Let’s address the big detail: They have their guy. After trading up to select first in the 2023 Draft, the Panthers selected quarterback Bryce Young. And it’s not exactly like the Panthers haven’t given him the resources to succeed. Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, and Brian Burns are the highlights of a supporting cast that can hopefully make the transition to the NFL easier for Young. Despite these players, the Panthers will more than likely not be a Super Bowl contender this year. But maybe they’ll surprise and turn some heads.
23. Chicago Bears
Expected Record: 7-10
I feel like anyone talking about the Bears is beating a dead horse to some degree. We know, they aren’t that good. And yes, Justin Fields needs to get better for this team to do so. Khalil Herbert will run the ball decently. DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet are a receiving core that, while perfectly serviceable, will likely not change the outcome of a game. The offensive line is forgettable. The entire defense just screams a five or six out of 10. I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been said before.
Mediocre
22. Tennessee Titans
Expected Record: 7-10
The Titans are in the same situation as their division rivals in the Colts. The difference is that the Titans are not even in a position to have a good draft. As I’m writing this, I am staring at the depth chart, trying to figure out who exactly is even worth mentioning. The key piece of the roster is the quarterback battle, starring two young and unproven quarterbacks along with a starter quickly turning into a transitional piece for a transitioning team. If the Jaguars have some bad injury luck and/or underperform, the Titans could sneak into a playoff spot, likely to be quickly ousted by whatever team gets the fifth seed and is pissed about losing their division. Otherwise? Sorry Titans fans. Your team is debatably in a state worse than being bad; they’re just plain forgettable.
21. Denver Broncos
Expected Record: 7-10
Seems the Broncos have taken the approach of trying and trying again if at first you don’t succeed. I can’t say I blame the team for doing so; Russell Wilson is getting paid, and after the disappointment that was the 2022 campaign, he’s not going anywhere. In short, the offense is just mediocre. In short, the defense is just mediocre. The front office refuses to decide to lean one way or the other, choosing supplemental players to attempt to fix problems rather than overhauling the roster entirely. That road map sounds good when the GPS recites it to you, until you realize you’ve just been driving in circles the entire road trip. Time to make a turn.
20. New England Patriots
Expected Record: 7-10
While it doesn’t help that the other three teams in the AFC East are all likely fighting for a ticket to the postseason, the Patriots need to firmly look themselves in the mirror and figure out who they are. It seems like the theory is that the Bill Belichick scheme can still manage to revive struggling careers, such as those of Hunter Henry, JuJu Smith-Schuster, or Ezekiel Elliott. Unfortunately, the reality is that Tom Brady was the primary reason this organization was as good as it was, and perhaps not due to the coaching. Really, this team has been a mess since he left, with the one postseason appearance since being utter domination by the Bills. It might be time to call curtains on this era of Pats football.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Expected Record: 7-10
I feel like this team should be better. Two seasons ago they were celebrating a Super Bowl victory. They have pieces that should theoretically win. But it’s simply a matter of age for many. Matt Stafford and Aaron Donald in particular seem to be inching towards hanging up the cleats. Last year, their record plummeted, and nothing about this team suggests that they’ll rise back up to the same heights as the Super Bowl Champion Rams. The roster as a whole was very injured last year, and their spot in the standings should get a bump, but it would be a surprise to see this team making noise late in the year. Don’t forget that Super Bowl; it could be a while before the next one.
On The Bubble
18. Cleveland Browns
Expected Record: 8-9
As we enter into the AFC North teams, please keep in mind that I am a Steelers fan, and while I try not to be biased, those biases will likely show. Such is the case as I discuss the Browns, a team that seems to have an issue with identity. Are they trying to contend? It seems so, yet the roster seems to be held together with glue and crossed fingers. Deshaun Watson will have his first full season to prove himself in Cleveland, supported by Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Miles Garrett to name a few. However, I just don’t see a reality where the Browns can compete with the Ravens or Bengals.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Expected Record: 9-8
I wish I could write about how good this team is. But they’re just ok. It’s a developmental year for most of the offense, as Kenny Pickett and George Pickens look to establish immediate chemistry. The run defense will be solid as TJ Watt continues to try and make his case as the best defensive end in the league. Minkah Fitzpatrick is a top safety in the NFL, but it somewhat feels like there are too many holes on this roster to seriously consider them as a postseason contender. Najee Harris has struggled, the offensive line will seemingly never get better and the secondary is embarrassing. Like I said I wish I could write about how good this team is, but this isn’t their year.
16. New York Giants
Expected Record: 8-9
I am aware that the Giants had a better record last year, and that they upset the Vikings in the Wild Card Round. But the Giants seem to have an issue of every good part of their team being countered. Offensive tackles are great; interior leaves much to be desired. Saquon Barkley is elite; he cannot stay healthy. Both the quarterback and receivers have shown flashes of brilliance but also have moments of doubt. There are some big names on the defensive line alongside others who should not be starters. While I think the coaching can help them ascend past this point, there are too many question marks for me to strongly believe in the Giants.
Potential Playoff Teams
15. Seattle Seahawks
Expected Record: 9-8
The place I’m at with the Seahawks is just about the opposite of the Giants. There are plenty of questions to be had. Is Geno Smith a flash in the pan? Are his receivers good enough? Is the youth around the team an issue? At what point does Pete Carroll meet his expiration date as coach? And somehow, a combination of a better schedule, worse division, and just gut instinct tells me the Giants are out and the Seahawks are in. I’m fully prepared to be wrong on either of these points, but I like the Seahawks to survive and squeak into the postseason.
14. Miami Dolphins
Expected Record: 9-8
Imagine a world, if you would, where concussions no longer exist. A place where hitting your head is suddenly not an issue. You can stand up on two feet afterwards, no wobbling, no assistance needed. Unfortunately, this is likely what Tua hallucinates each time he gets knocked out cold due to his own concussion issues. There are plenty of great players on both sides of the ball, but with the offensive line being a weakness, there’s concern to be had for the Dolphins. It’s difficult to predict a record when you can’t know whether or not the next sack he takes will be his last. I hate to be that blunt, but it’s the unfortunate reality of the situation.
13. Detroit Lions
Expected Record: 10-7
This is a situation we’re not used to seeing. The Lions, as a top half team? Yes, my readers, we are entering a new age of Lions football. Thank the bad division with the Bears and Packers, or the weak NFC as a whole, but the reality is that the Detroit Lions might just be a good football team. Good quarterback, underrated receiving core, elite offensive tackle and center, young star of a defensive end, and a solid secondary. These are the elements of what makes a good team in today’s NFL. Sure, they might face a brutal reminder in the Wild Card Round that there’s still much to learn, but for right now, enjoy this Lions fans. You’ve more than earned it.
12. New Orleans Saints
Expected Record: 10-7
I have mentioned some teams benefiting from bad divisions in some of my prior team rankings. The Saints are the epitome of that factor. Playing the crumbling Bucs, lost Falcons, and rebooted Panthers gives them a decent shot at ending the season with a very inflated record. However, the roster is still nothing to scoff at. Cam Jordan and Marshon Lattimore are solid defensive cornerstones, and the weapons in Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, Jamaal Williams, and Alvin Kamara are all really good pieces if utilized properly. If Derek Carr can return to his old form as one of the most underrated quarterback’s in football, perhaps that record isn’t too much of a stretch. But the division helps.
Playoff Teams
11. Minnesota Vikings
Expected Record: 10-7
Predicting a Vikings season any year is about the stupidest thing anyone can do. They’re never horrid, usually a good team, occasionally mediocre and occasionally elite. Guessing which category they’ll fall into is anyone’s choice to make. 90% of the attention this team gets will either be the result of Kirk Cousins being on “Quarterback” or Justin Jefferson being a human highlight reel. It’s similar to the Blue Jays in baseball: teams that spend years being competitive without ever really contending with this year likely being the last chance to change that perception before age starts to wear the roster down.
10. New York Jets
Expected Record: 10-7
Congratulations, Jets fans! For the first time since Joe Namath you may actually have something to look forward to! Watch Aaron Rodgers dazzle and pray he does not continue the Brett Favre character arc! Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook can run the ball together to the end of the universe! Rookies of the Year Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner are ready to light the world on fire! Buy in, because this could finally be the time to turn this organization around! Only one issue, fans: you’re rooting for the New York Jets, the textbook example of Murphy’s Law. And with a roster this volatile and toxic, it’s time to cross your fingers and look to the higher deity of your choosing. Good luck, Jets fans! You’ll need it.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
Expected Record: 10-7
I feel like picking the Chargers to reach the teams’ expectations is not the smartest play here. As a football fan, I’ve learned three things: if my team catches the ball it’s good, my rivals are the scum of the earth, and the Chargers will always disappoint. That last point was proven in the Wild Card Round last year, as they blew a 28-0 lead to lose the game. Following that agonizing defeat many expected heads to roll. Perhaps the fact that the organization has chosen to stand pat has convinced me to believe in them. I am sure I will soon remember why the rule is to not have faith in this team.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Expected Record: 11-6
The Ravens are a team I think that perfectly encapsulates what this tier of teams is. They aren’t a Super Bowl contender, but there are plenty of pieces on this team that are some of the best in the league. Solid offensive line, great receiving options led by the seemingly reenergized OBJ, plenty of elite defensive pieces, a top coach and Lamar Jackson being so mobile that a lack of a solid running back shouldn’t matter. But I would predict that very few are listing the Ravens as a Super Bowl favorite. They’ll likely prove me wrong and make my life terrible as a result, but that’s football.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Expected Record: 11-6
Is this take hot or cold? Maybe lukewarm? It’s too soon to call them the best of the best, but this Jaguars team is certainly not to be overlooked. There are just so many options for this team at offensive skill positions. Run, pass, improvise;they have the pieces to do it all. The defense should be good enough to keep them in most games which may be all Jacksonville needs them to be. For a team that got hot down the stretch to squeak into the playoffs and embarrass the Chargers, the expectations are sky high this year. There’s a good reason for that, as well as to believe they can reach them or higher.
6. Dallas Cowboys
Expected Record: 11-6
Dallas is pretty easily the best team in this group. But I cannot in good conscience move them higher. Top tier defensive line? Check. Solid secondary? Check. Elite offensive line? Check again. Proven quarterback with great weapons to run or catch the ball? You know it. But there’s something about this team that just stops them from having any real postseason success. The regular season is easy enough: bad games are easily correctable with plenty of good ones. But when all the chips are on the table the Cowboys struggle to deliver. Maybe this is the year they end that narrative. I’m sure that would upset no one.
The Top Tier
5. San Francisco 49ers
Expected Record: 13-4
The 49ers are a team that will have their season go one of two ways: either everyone expects them to be elite and half the roster gets injured, going 9-8, or they are one of the best teams in the NFL. I’ll decide to pick the latter option given that they were dragged to the NFC Championship last year. Brock Purdy led them there, and though he may be hurt he’s still the starter. Offense: Aiyuk, Williams, Kittle, McCaffrey, Samuel. Defense: Armstead, Hargrave, Warner, Ward, Oliver. So long as the quarterback situation is resolved the 49ers should be one of the top teams and a definite contender for the Super Bowl.
4. Buffalo Bills
Expected Record: 12-5
The pressure is at the highest it has been since the 1990’s. This team is too good to waste away like they’re on track to do. The roster is too talented and the fanbase is too passionate to stay trapped in the Divisional Round. Stefon Diggs may want out if this doesn’t get better. Who’s to say Josh Allen won’t feel the same? On paper the Bills are probably a top 3 roster in football. But the fact that they cannot win when it matters is turning heads. Maybe I’m just still mad that I lost a bet that they would win the Super Bowl last year. But the time is right now for this team to make some serious noise come playoff time.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Expected Record: 13-4
Eagles fans, it’s time to stop complaining about the field conditions in Arizona. You still have an incredible team. The only real loss is your defensive coordinator who most of you were happy to see go. The defense is potentially all-time great, your receivers are both some of the best in the league, running back by committee combines well with debatably the league’s top offensive line, and Jalen Hurts looks to prove that he can continue to be an MVP-caliber quarterback. When the worst thing about your team is the punter I think it’s safe to say all is well for the Eagles.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
Expected Record: 13-4
I want my division rivals to suffer as much as the next guy. However I cannot deny that the Bengals are one of the best teams in football. What can be said about them that hasn’t been said? Back to back AFC championship games and a Super Bowl appearance. A game changer in Joe Burrow, passing to an elite talent in JaMarr Chase. Great support with Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon. This team is simply going to shoot their way to victory nearly every week. I hate to say it, but the Bengals’ time may be arriving.
1.Kansas City Chiefs
Expected Record: 13-4
Stop me if this sounds familiar: back to back AFC championship games and a Super Bowl appearance (although they won theirs). A game changer in Patrick Mahomes, passing to an elite talent in Travis Kelce. There’s a formula to winning in the modern NFL, and the Chiefs have perfected the recipe. Doesn’t hurt that they have one of the greatest to coach the game in Andy Reid, along with a large variety of defensive talents providing support to the one of the greatest duos to ever work together on the field. Simply put, the defending champions deserve to be seen as the defending champions.