NFL power rankings, built on results through September 14. The order is computed from results; the notes explain it.
Kansas City is 1-0 and sits first of 32 after one week of the season. Chicago and Jacksonville are 1-0 as well, so the top of the table belongs to three teams that have not lost. One game is one game, though; a single result does not settle what a team is.
1. Kansas City Chiefs — 1-0 (up 15)
Kansas City led Denver 14-7 at half and 24-10 through three quarters, then added the fourth quarter's only points. The defense gave up 10, second-fewest in the league, while the offense is scoring 31 a game, eighth-most. One game cannot settle a season, but a 31-10 win by more than almost anyone says plenty.
2. Chicago Bears — 1-0 (up 10)
Chicago put 59 points on Carolina, leading 45-31 after three quarters and taking the closing quarter 14-6. An offense that scores like that will win plenty of games. The 37 points allowed are the open question, and one week cannot answer it.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars — 1-0 (up 6)
Jacksonville buried Cleveland with a 24-0 halftime lead and led 34-3 after three quarters. The defense allowed just 10 points, second-fewest in the league, and the offense scored 34, sixth-most. One game can't settle everything, but that was a statement.
4. San Francisco 49ers — 1-0 (up 4)
San Francisco beat the Rams 27-7, turning a 10-7 halftime lead into a runaway with a 10-0 fourth quarter. The defense gave up seven points, fewest in the league, and the offense put up 27. One game cannot settle much, but that start places them 4th.
5. Baltimore Ravens — 1-0 (up 8)
Baltimore scored 31 by halftime and finished with 41 in a 41-23 win over Indianapolis. The scoring output is among the league's best; the 23 points allowed sit in the middle of the pack. One game cannot settle much, but that first half was a statement.
6. Minnesota Vikings — 1-0 (up 11)
Minnesota trailed 22-17 after three quarters and then put up 22 unanswered to beat Green Bay 39-22. The Vikings are scoring 39 a game, third-most in the league, and a fourth quarter like that says plenty. One game cannot settle everything, but that finish is why they sit 6th.
7. Las Vegas Raiders — 1-0 (up 24)
8. New York Jets — 1-0 (up 22)
The Jets led Tennessee 10-3 at half and 20-3 after three quarters, then closed out a 23-10 win. They are scoring 23 a game and allowing just 10, second-fewest in the league. One game cannot settle much, but that defensive control is why they sit eighth.
9. Arizona Cardinals — 1-0 (up 23)
Arizona led 13-7 at half and 16-14 after three quarters, then closed with 10 unanswered points to beat the Chargers 26-14. The Cardinals are scoring 26 a game and giving up 14, few enough that only eight teams allow fewer. That is one game, and one game is not a season.
10. New York Giants — 1-0 (up 15)
New York never trailed in Dallas, leading 14-7 at half and 21-14 after three before finishing a 28-20 win. Scoring in every quarter shows a steady hand, but one week cannot settle much. The Giants are averaging 28 points (12th) and allowing 20 (10th).
11. Pittsburgh Steelers — 1-0 (up 4)
Pittsburgh is 1-0 after beating Atlanta 20-13, a game it led 13-7 at half and 13-10 through three quarters before adding a fourth-quarter touchdown. The defense allowed just 13 points, sixth-fewest in the league, but the offense managed 20, 22nd, and the win stayed close throughout. That combination of a strong defense and a modest offense puts them 11th.
12. Cincinnati Bengals — 1-0 (up 7)
Cincinnati led 24-10 at half and 27-20 after three before holding off Tampa Bay 33-27. The offense scored 33 points, seventh-most in the league, but the defense allowed 27. One game is one game, but the Bengals showed they can build a lead and close.
13. Buffalo Bills — 1-0 (down 7)
Buffalo trailed early, then scored 21 in the second quarter to lead Houston 24-21 at half. They led 27-21 after three and held on as the Texans won the final quarter 10-9. The offense scored 36 points, fifth-most in the league, but the defense allowed 31, 23rd, and the win was close rather than comfortable.
14. Philadelphia Eagles — 1-0 (down 7)
Philadelphia fell behind early, then answered with 14 points before halftime and never trailed again in a 24-22 win over Washington. The Eagles are scoring 24 a game and allowing 22, and they had to sweat a late Commanders push. It was close, and one game cannot settle much.
15. Detroit Lions — 1-0 (down 4)
16. Seattle Seahawks — 1-0 (down 15)
Seattle was losing 10-3 after three quarters and then scored 10 unanswered to beat New England 13-10. The defense allowed only 10 points, second-fewest in the league, while the offense managed 13 a game, 25th. One game cannot settle much, but a fourth-quarter comeback like that is a real sign.
17. Denver Broncos — 0-1 (down 13)
Denver led 7-0 after one quarter, then Kansas City outscored the Broncos 31-3 the rest of the way. The Broncos scored 10 and allowed 31, a game that turned quickly and stayed turned. One week cannot define a team, but the offense going quiet after the opening quarter is why they sit 17th at 0-1.
18. Dallas Cowboys — 0-1 (up 2)
Dallas trailed from the start, down 7-14 at halftime and 14-21 after three quarters, and lost 20-28. The offense put up 20 points and the defense allowed 28. That is the whole of the evidence after one game, and it is not much.
19. Miami Dolphins — 0-1 (up 10)
Miami is 0-1 after losing 13-27 to the Las Vegas Raiders, trailing 6-17 at halftime and 13-27 through three quarters before a scoreless final period. The Dolphins are scoring 13 points a game, 25th of 32, and giving up 27. That leaves them 19th.
20. Green Bay Packers — 0-1 (down 10)
Green Bay led Minnesota 22-17 after three quarters, then gave up 22 unanswered points and lost 22-39. The Packers are scoring 22 a game and allowing 39, and a lead that late turning into a 17-point loss is the whole story of their week. One game is one game.
21. Washington Commanders — 0-1 (up 5)
Washington led early, trailed 14-9 at halftime, then fell behind 17-9 before a 13-point closing run made the final 24-22 Philadelphia. The rally fell short, and the Commanders are scoring 22 a game while giving up 24. One game shows a team that fights; it settles nothing else.
22. Los Angeles Chargers — 0-1 (down 8)
Los Angeles is 0-1 and 22nd after a 14-26 loss to Arizona. The Chargers were within two points after three quarters, then gave up the final 10. They scored 14 points, 24th in the league, and gave up 26. One week is one week, but a fourth quarter like that is why they sit here.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 0-1 (down 5)
Tampa Bay trailed Cincinnati 24-10 at halftime and clawed back to 27-20 after three quarters, but the final quarter still went to the Bengals 7-6. The offense put up 27 points, 13th in the league, while the defense allowed 33, 26th of 32. One game leaves both sides of that unresolved.
24. New Orleans Saints — 0-1
New Orleans trailed 21-14 after three quarters, then scored 10 unanswered to force overtime and lost 31-30 to Detroit. The Saints put up 30 points but gave up 31, and one game decided by a single point is all there is to go on.
25. Tennessee Titans — 0-1 (up 2)
Tennessee sits 25th after trailing the Jets 10-3 at halftime and 20-3 after three quarters, then scoring a late touchdown in a 23-10 loss. The offense managed 10 points, 28th in the league, and the defense allowed 23, 14th. One game cannot settle much, but the Titans spent the afternoon chasing.
26. Indianapolis Colts — 0-1 (down 4)
Indianapolis is 0-1 after a 41-23 loss to Baltimore in which the game was decided early: the Colts trailed 31-13 at halftime. They are scoring 23 points a game, 18th of 32, and allowing 41, 31st of 32. One game settles nothing, but on that afternoon the defence had no answer.
27. Atlanta Falcons — 0-1 (down 6)
Atlanta led Pittsburgh 7-3 after one quarter, then gave up ten straight points before halftime and never caught up, falling 13-20. The Falcons managed six points after the break and are scoring 13 a game. One game settles little, but that is the shape of this start.
28. Carolina Panthers — 0-1 (down 5)
Carolina scores 37 points, fourth-most in the league, and still loses by a wide margin. The Panthers are within seven at halftime, then allow 14 points in each of the last two quarters and give up 59 to Chicago, more than any other team. One game can't settle much, but that combination is why they sit 28th.
29. Cleveland Browns — 0-1 (down 1)
Cleveland fell behind 24-0 by halftime and trailed 34-3 after three quarters before scoring the game's final points in a 34-10 loss to Jacksonville. The Browns are scoring 10 points a game and giving up 34, and after one week that is the whole picture. One game says little yet, but this one was decided early.
30. Houston Texans — 0-1 (down 25)
Houston put up 31, eighth-most in the league, and was within three at halftime, but Buffalo's 21-point second quarter was the difference. The Texans allowed 36, 28th of 32, and a fourth-quarter rally only made the final score closer. One game can't settle much, but the defense is the early concern.
31. Los Angeles Rams — 0-1 (down 29)
Los Angeles is 0-1 after losing to San Francisco 27-7, a game that was still 10-7 at half before the 49ers scored 17 unanswered after the break. The Rams found one touchdown all afternoon and are scoring 7 points a game, fewest in the league. One week cannot settle much.
32. New England Patriots — 0-1 (down 29)
New England led Seattle 10-3 after three quarters and lost 13-10, giving up the final ten points without an answer. The defense allowed just 13, sixth-fewest in the league, but an offense averaging 10 points a game, 28th, could not close it out. One week is one week, and this was a three-point loss.
