NFL Power Rankings After Week 3: Bills, 49ers Lead the Pack as Raiders Make Massive Jump
By Brian Hradsky
Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the league already looks considerably different than it did on opening weekend. Five teams remain undefeated, several preseason contenders have stumbled out of the gate, and a handful of teams that entered September with major questions have quickly emerged as legitimate threats.
Week 3 provided one of the wildest Sundays of the young season. Twelve games were decided by eight points or fewer, while defending champion Seattle suffered its first loss and Las Vegas continued one of the NFL’s biggest early-season surprises. The AFC North may be the most competitive division in football, with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland all sitting at 2-1.
Power rankings are not simply standings. Record matters, but so do quality of competition, quarterback play, injuries, offensive and defensive performance and what each team has shown through the first three weeks.
Here are the Maryland Sports Blog NFL Power Rankings after Week 3.
1. Buffalo Bills (3-0)
Buffalo remains at the top after surviving an extremely sloppy performance against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bills turned the football over five times but still rallied for a 24-16 victory, with Josh Allen scoring two rushing touchdowns.
That performance exposed some problems, but it also showed why Buffalo belongs near the top. Good teams occasionally win games they probably should lose, and Buffalo overcame its own mistakes rather than allowing them to become its first defeat.
The Bills have scored 101 points through three games while allowing 78. At 3-0, Buffalo has already established early control of the AFC East.
2. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
San Francisco keeps finding ways to win.
Brock Purdy threw for 297 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-30 victory over Arizona. George Kittle caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, while Christian McCaffrey added 75 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The 49ers built a 17-point third-quarter advantage before Arizona made things uncomfortable. San Francisco ultimately survived and moved to 3-0.
Through three weeks, the 49ers look like one of the NFC’s most complete teams.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)
Kansas City quietly continues doing what Kansas City usually does: win.
The Chiefs defeated Miami 24-10 to move to 3-0. Patrick Mahomes accounted for two touchdowns as Kansas City controlled an opponent that desperately needed a victory.
Kansas City has not necessarily looked unbeatable, but that should concern the rest of the AFC. The Chiefs continue accumulating victories while still appearing capable of playing considerably better football.
4. Minnesota Vikings (3-0)
Minnesota deserves considerably more attention.
The Vikings went on the road and defeated Tampa Bay 23-16, keeping their undefeated start intact. Minnesota is now one of only two undefeated NFC teams alongside San Francisco.
Three weeks are not enough to declare Minnesota an NFC favorite, but they are no longer simply an interesting early-season story. A 3-0 start earns them a spot among the league’s top teams.
5. Las Vegas Raiders (3-0)
Yes, the Raiders are fifth.
Las Vegas may be the biggest surprise in football after improving to 3-0 with a 35-27 victory over New Orleans. Kirk Cousins threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, while Brock Bowers returned from his knee injury and immediately produced 10 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders even overcame an 11-point second-half deficit.
There is still plenty for Las Vegas to prove, particularly in an AFC West containing Kansas City and Denver, but three victories cannot be dismissed.
6. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
The Ravens produced their most important victory of the young season Sunday in Brazil.
Baltimore defeated Dallas 34-31 after Tyler Loop drilled a 56-yard field goal as time expired. Lamar Jackson completed 15 of 20 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 50 yards on the ground. Derrick Henry rushed for 89 yards and scored twice.
What made the victory impressive was how Baltimore responded late. After Dallas tied the game late, Jackson connected with Zay Flowers for 27 yards with only seconds remaining, putting Loop in position to win it.
The Ravens still have issues to clean up, especially after their Week 2 loss to New Orleans, but Baltimore showed Sunday that its ceiling remains extremely high.
7. Denver Broncos (2-1)
Denver’s 30-26 victory over the Los Angeles Rams was one of Week 3’s more significant results.
The Broncos had entered the season with substantial expectations and now have an early quality victory to support them.
Denver sits behind undefeated Kansas City and Las Vegas in the AFC West standings, but the Broncos remain very much in the divisional race.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
Jacksonville made one of the loudest statements of Week 3.
The Jaguars destroyed New England 35-6, with Trevor Lawrence throwing three touchdown passes.
Jacksonville’s first three weeks suggest this team deserves to be taken seriously in the AFC South. The Jaguars have a quarterback capable of producing explosive offense and now have a dominant victory on their résumé.
9. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Seattle takes a significant fall following its first loss.
The defending champions went into Washington and lost 33-31 despite having opportunities to escape with another victory. Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes for Washington, which managed to upset Seattle without Jayden Daniels.
One road loss does not erase Seattle’s first two weeks. It does, however, expose enough concerns to move the Seahawks below the undefeated teams and several surging AFC contenders.
10. Detroit Lions (2-1)
Detroit’s offense continues to look dangerous.
Jahmyr Gibbs produced 164 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns as Detroit defeated the Jets 31-24. Gibbs rushed for 99 yards and two scores while adding seven receptions for 65 yards and another touchdown.
Detroit has now scored at least 30 points in each of its first three games.
The Lions remain one of the NFC’s most explosive teams.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
Pittsburgh’s 30-27 victory over Cincinnati moves the Steelers substantially upward.
Chris Boswell delivered the winning field goal and Pittsburgh’s defense came through with another late stop. The victory also created a remarkable situation in the AFC North, where every team is 2-1.
The Steelers continue to find ways to survive close games, and that ability matters in this division.
12. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Cincinnati drops after losing 30-27 at Pittsburgh.
The Bengals remain dangerous and have enough offensive talent to beat almost anybody, but divisional road losses matter.
There is little separation between Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore right now.
13. Chicago Bears (2-1)
Chicago delivered one of Week 3’s biggest surprises by dominating Philadelphia 27-7 on Monday night.
That victory changes the perception of the Bears considerably. Beating Philadelphia would have been impressive enough. Holding the Eagles to seven points makes it even more noteworthy.
Chicago is suddenly 2-1 and right in the NFC North race.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
Philadelphia takes one of the biggest drops this week.
The Eagles’ 27-7 loss to Chicago was not simply a close road defeat. Philadelphia was thoroughly outplayed.
There is far too much talent on this roster to panic after one loss, but the Eagles need a response in Week 4.
15. Washington Commanders (1-2)
Washington may have only one victory, but that victory dramatically changes its outlook.
Marcus Mariota led the Commanders past defending champion Seattle 33-31, completing 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Washington also received the decisive defensive score from Kain Medrano.
The Commanders have survived without Jayden Daniels and proved they can defeat one of the NFC’s strongest teams with their backup quarterback.
That earns a major move upward.
16. Indianapolis Professional Football Team (1-2)
Indianapolis finally got into the win column with a dramatic 19-17 victory over Houston.
Spencer Shrader hit a 53-yard field goal late to deliver the victory.
The record is not impressive, but Indianapolis showed some resilience in a divisional game and remains very much alive in an AFC South that has not separated itself outside Jacksonville.
17. Los Angeles Rams (1-2)
The Rams are difficult to evaluate.
Los Angeles has enough talent to compete with quality opponents but fell 30-26 to Denver on Sunday night.
At some point, close losses have to become victories. The Rams’ talent keeps them in the middle of these rankings, but a 1-2 record prevents them from remaining among the league’s elite.
18. Cleveland Browns (2-1)
Cleveland is quietly 2-1.
The Browns rallied to defeat Carolina 21-18, with Deshaun Watson helping Cleveland complete the comeback.
The Browns may not be receiving the same attention as Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, but the standings say something remarkable: every AFC North team is currently 2-1.
19. Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
Dallas was seconds away from forcing overtime against Baltimore.
Dak Prescott threw for 276 yards, while Javonte Williams rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys managed to tie the game late before Jackson’s completion to Flowers allowed Loop to win it from 56 yards.
Dallas is better than its record suggests, but the Cowboys are still 1-2.
Eventually, close performances have to become wins.
20. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
Atlanta delivered one of Week 3’s biggest shockers by hammering Green Bay 35-14 on Thursday night.
That performance keeps the Falcons from sliding toward the bottom despite their losing record.
If Atlanta can reproduce that level of football consistently, the Falcons could climb quickly.
21. New York Giants (2-1)
The Giants are 2-1 after defeating Tennessee 12-7.
It was hardly an offensive masterpiece, but wins matter.
New York has positioned itself surprisingly well through three weeks and currently sits level with Philadelphia in the NFC East standings.
22. Green Bay Packers (1-2)
Green Bay is heading in the wrong direction.
The Packers were blown out 35-14 by Atlanta and have now fallen to 1-2.
Green Bay entered the season with considerably higher expectations. The Packers need to stabilize quickly before Minnesota and Detroit begin creating separation in the NFC North.
23. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
New Orleans looked capable of building on its Week 2 victory over Baltimore before letting an 11-point second-half advantage disappear against Las Vegas.
The Saints eventually lost 35-27.
Tyler Shough threw four touchdown passes but also committed two costly second-half turnovers.
There are encouraging pieces here, but New Orleans needs greater consistency.
24. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)
Arizona deserves some credit for making San Francisco work.
The Cardinals rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit before ultimately losing 36-30. Jacoby Brissett threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie Jeremiyah Love rushed for 90 yards.
Arizona has now lost two consecutive games after winning its opener.
25. New York Jets (1-2)
The Jets pushed Detroit but could not finish.
Geno Smith threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns, and Garrett Wilson finished with 10 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. However, Smith’s late fumble ended New York’s final opportunity in the 31-24 loss.
The Jets are competitive, but competitive losses still count as losses.
26. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
Carolina had an opportunity to move to .500 and let it disappear.
The Panthers lost 21-18 to Cleveland after the Browns mounted a late comeback.
Carolina has shown enough through three weeks to remain out of the bottom tier, but the Panthers need to learn how to finish games.
27. Houston Texans (0-3)
Houston may be the league’s most disappointing winless team.
The Texans fell 19-17 against Indianapolis and now sit 0-3 despite entering the season with expectations of competing in the AFC South.
There is enough talent here to recover, but the hole is getting deep quickly.
28. Los Angeles Chargers (0-3)
The Chargers are another major disappointment.
Los Angeles actually forced Buffalo into five turnovers and built an early advantage Sunday. The Chargers still lost 24-16.
Los Angeles has scored fewer than 20 points in six consecutive games dating back to last season’s playoffs.
An 0-3 start in a division where Kansas City and Las Vegas are both 3-0 puts the Chargers in serious early trouble.
29. New England Patriots (1-2)
Few teams had a worse Week 3 than New England.
Jacksonville destroyed the Patriots 35-6.
New England has scored only 36 points through three games.
The Patriots need offensive answers quickly.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)
Tampa Bay’s nightmare start continued with a 23-16 home loss to Minnesota.
The Buccaneers are the only winless team in the NFC South and have quickly fallen behind in a division where nobody has otherwise established control.
At 0-3, Tampa Bay has very little room for error.
31. Tennessee Titans (0-3)
Tennessee managed only seven points in a 12-7 loss to the Giants.
The defense did enough to keep the Titans in the game, but the offense could not capitalize.
Tennessee remains winless and has major offensive questions entering Week 4.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-3)
Miami owns the bottom spot.
The Dolphins lost 24-10 to Kansas City and have now been outscored 86-36 through three games, a minus-50 scoring differential.
Miami is not simply 0-3. The Dolphins have consistently struggled to remain competitive.
Through three weeks, no team has provided a stronger case for No. 32.
Biggest Risers
Las Vegas Raiders: A 3-0 record can no longer be dismissed as a fluke. The return of Brock Bowers makes the Raiders even more dangerous.
Chicago Bears: Beating Philadelphia 27-7 immediately changes the conversation surrounding Chicago.
Washington Commanders: Defeating the defending champions without Jayden Daniels represents a significant accomplishment.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A 35-6 destruction of New England gives Jacksonville one of Week 3’s most convincing victories.
Biggest Fallers
Philadelphia Eagles: Losing happens. Losing 27-7 to Chicago forces a major adjustment.
Green Bay Packers: A 35-14 loss to Atlanta sends Green Bay tumbling.
New England Patriots: Jacksonville exposed New England in nearly every phase.
Los Angeles Chargers: An 0-3 start cannot be ignored, particularly with Kansas City and Las Vegas already three games ahead in the win column.
MSB Take
Three weeks have created far more questions than answers, but Buffalo and San Francisco have done enough to earn the top two spots in the Maryland Sports Blog rankings. Kansas City remains Kansas City, Minnesota continues winning, and Las Vegas has officially gone from September curiosity to one of the NFL’s most interesting stories.
For Maryland fans, Baltimore’s victory over Dallas was enormous. The Ravens did not dominate, and there are still issues that need to be corrected, but they won the type of chaotic, late-game battle that has slipped away from them too many times in recent seasons. At 2-1 with the entire AFC North holding the same record, every divisional game is going to matter.
Washington’s record tells a different story than its Week 3 performance. The Commanders are only 1-2, but beating the defending champion Seahawks with Mariota at quarterback gives Washington something to build around while waiting for Daniels.
Three weeks also remind us why September power rankings can change so dramatically. Las Vegas is 3-0. The Chargers, Texans and Dolphins are 0-3. Every AFC North team is 2-1, and the defending champions just lost to a backup quarterback.
Welcome to the NFL.
