2025 NFL Week 3 Power Rankings
NFL POWER RANKINGS
After an action-packed weekend highlighted by the Giants-Cowboys, Broncos-Colts, and Jags-Bengals, it's time to see where your team stands in this week's power rankings.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (0)
The Eagles continue to look the part after an impressive road win in Kansas City. If Jalen Hurts continues to make enough winning plays paired with their tenacious defense, Philly will remain a force to be reckoned with.
2. Buffalo Bills (0)
The Bills' dominant 30-10 win against the Jets reminds the league that they can beat teams in a variety of ways, and the tandem of James Cook and Josh Allen may be even more dangerous than last year.
3. Baltimore Ravens (+4)
The Ravens looked far more like themselves in a convincing 41-17 win against Cleveland. Dominating all three phases of the game against the Browns serves as a reminder that they remain one of the most well-coached and dynamic teams in the league, even when they blow massive fourth-quarter leads.
4. Green Bay Packers (0)
It is not sustainable for the Packers to have Tucker Craft pace the team in receptions and touchdowns. The Packers must solidify a WR-1 to complement Jordan Love, which the broken collarbone of Jayden Reed has not aided.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (-2)
The underrated Chargers defense took the next step against the Raiders in a 20-9 rock fight that had Geno Smith fighting for his life most of the contest. As long as the Chargers have Derwin James anchoring the defense, Justin Herbert may be poised for his first deep postseason run.
6. Detroit Lions (+2)
The Lions seem to exercise their demons, particularly offensively, in a 52-21 trashing of Ben Johnson's Bears. After an unusually underwhelming output in Green Bay, the Lions appear to be right back in the thick of things in the NFC North.
7. Los Angeles Rams (-2)
The Rams have yet to prove much, with two wins coming against winless opponents to open the season. Given the team's high ceiling, a 33-19 victory over Tennessee is expected, and they remain the clear favorite in the NFC West.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (-2)
Too much is being made of Kansas City's 0-2 start, where an endzone bobble by Travis Kelce proved to be the difference in a 20-17 defeat to the Eagles. The returns of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice will only bolster the Chiefs' offense, and the defense seems to be playing at a Super-Bowl-contending level that will keep the Chiefs in the thick of AFC title contention.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+5)
Baker Mayfield’s gutsy MNF 20-19 win against the Texans signifies his value and importance to Tampa Bay's early-season success. If he continues to make opposing defenses pay with his scrambling ability, Tampa Bay could talk itself into a deep postseason run.
10. Washington Commanders (0)
The Jayden Daniels sophomore slump appears to be underway in our Nation’s Capital after a 27-18 loss to Green Bay. His completion percentage has dropped from 69% to 59.7%, which may forecast regression for Daniels and the 2025 Commanders.
11. San Francisco 49ers (+5)
The 49ers feel like a team that could win games but not amount to anything meaningful due to a limited ceiling. A closed window in Santa Clara does not re-open after narrowly defeating Spencer Rattler and what could be the worst team in football.
12. Indianapolis Colts (+7)
Indiana Jones has arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium. A new start for Danny Dimes has taken the Colts offense and team morale to new heights, including a 29-28 last-second victory they snatched from the jaws of defeat against Denver last week.
13. Denver Broncos (+2)
The Broncos could be the worst 1-1 team in football. A hard-fought home-opener against Tennessee and an egregious leveraging call against the Colts have Broncos Nation wondering if last year was merely a fluke.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (-1)
Jake Browning is a capable backup who can keep Cincinnati competitive in Joe Burrow's three-month absence. The challenge for Browning and the Bengals is that the NFC North is shaping up to be a bloodbath that will likely leave the Bengals firmly behind Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
15. Arizona Cardinals (+5)
The Cardinals are the quietest 2-0 team in football. The lack of attention is warranted, as a narrow victory against the Panthers does not indicate this Cardinals team has taken the next step, yet.
16. Houston Texans (-5)
Texans fans should be among the most frustrated in the NFL after C.J. Stroud's quarterback play over the past two weeks. With the emergence of Indianapolis and the improvement of Jacksonville in the AFC South, the Texans' window may also be closing.
17. Atlanta Falcons (+5)
The young Michael Penix showing up to play in an electric 22-6 Sunday Night Football road win against Minnesota should galvanize Falcons fans. While it's early, the growth of Penix and the improvement of Atlanta's defense may translate to more wins in 2025.
18. Dallas Cowboys (+6)
Dallas fans should be greatly concerned regarding the secondary getting gashed by the Giants in a 40-37 barn-burner. The Giants may be improving, but the better receiving rooms in the NFL will feast on their defense and rapidly propel the Cowboys to a losing season if that secondary doesn't drastically improve.
19. Seattle Seahawks (-1)
The Seahawks scream 8-9 to me in the worst fashion; they surprise fans every few weeks with an outlier road win and post mediocre results everywhere in between. Sure, the Seahawks looked great against 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, but that will not translate to sustained success.
20. Minnesota Vikings (-11)
J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings' offense were abysmal in a 22-6 drubbing against the Falcons. Vikings fans should not read too much into McCarthy's struggles; rookie QBs will falter, and his career is too young to overanalyze one bad game.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (-9)
Pittsburgh is allergic to a good quarterback. Aaron Rodgers' struggles against a modest Seattle secondary suggest the Steel City is destined for another 9-8 season, barring a miracle.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (-5)
Jaguars are still too young, and that youth (for better or for worse) was on full display in a nail-biting 31-27 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. The AFC South lacks a clear favorite, and the Texans' regression gives Jacksonville an extra nudge to hang around longer than many assume.
23. New England Patriots (+3)
The Drake Maye Project in New England appears to be moving along. In a 33-27 back-and-forth win against Miami, the young gunslinger continued to improve. Look for him to continue to improve in his next matchup against the Steelers.
24. Las Vegas Raiders (-3)
The Raiders are not winning many games with Geno Smith throwing 3+ INTs and the offensive line providing no pass-protection. Las Vegas' 20-9 defeat to the Chargers underscores the need for far greater offensive and quarterback play, starting with the Commanders Sunday.
25. New York Jets (0)
The Jets will need Justin Fields to play much better football than he displayed in a 30-10 home loss that forced Fields into concussion protocol. His health and improved accuracy moving forward are paramount to any efforts to salvage the Jets' season.
27. Tennessee Titans (0)
The Titans are playing much better football than their 0-2 start indicates. Two losses against playoff teams should not lead to gross overreactions about what Cam Ward can be with an enhanced roster.
28. New York Giants (0)
Russell Wilson played elite football, throwing for 450 yards in a devastating 40-37 loss to the Cowboys. The Giants' issue so far is that the vaunted defensive front has not been generating any pass rush.
29. Miami Dolphins (+1)
Mike McDaniels may not make it to the Nov. 5 trade deadline at this rate. The Dolphins cannot rely on Tua to exclusively generate offense and will need their run game to begin to take shape.
30. Cleveland Browns (-1)
Very little looked good in the Browns' lopsided 41-17 defeat to the Ravens. Considering Dillion Gabriel saw action in that game, it is not outside the realm of possibility that Browns fans will see Shedeur Sanders in what is evidently another lost season in Cleveland.
31. Carolina Panthers (-4)
Bryce Young nearly led the Panthers to a remarkable comeback against the Cardinals; however, sloppy play from the embattled QB raises questions about his long-term viability and the Panthers' overall competitiveness.
32. New Orleans Saints (0)
I still believe in Spencer Rattler, no matter how poor the roster around him is in NOLA. Whether the Saints win three games or eight games, this season needs to be dedicated to establishing a future franchise quarterback or finding one through the draft.