1 Miami Dolphins (3-0)
First-year head coach Mike McDaniel has breathed new life into the Miami Dolphins. A week after an emotional 21-point comeback win at the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins stunned the Buffalo Bills 21-19 to let the rest of the NFL know they have arrived.
2 Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)
Fans serenaded quarterback Jalen Hurts with “MVP” chants at the Washington Commanders’ FedEx Field, following the Eagles’ 24-8 win. Hurts has looked like an MVP with 916 passing yards, four touchdowns, and three rushing touchdowns.
3 Buffalo Bills (2-1)
Injuries and the South Florida heat halted the Buffalo Bills. Yet, the Bills’ lone defeat came by two points to another stout team in the Dolphins. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs will regroup and get back on track. But, another AFC heavyweight battle awaits against the Baltimore Ravens.
4 Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)
Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts was the first time Patrick Mahomes missed Tyreek Hill. Growing pains were expected. Still, there’s the confidence that Mahomes and his coach Andy Reid will get back on track, eventually. Maybe not next week though as they travel to Tampa Bay.
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
Tom Brady is missing not one, not two, but three of his favorite targets. Rob Gronkowski may not be coming back, but Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will. To be down three of his four wide receivers and have a chance to send Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers to overtime speaks volumes to Brady’s greatness.
6 Los Angeles Rams (2-1)
No one is truly talking about the Los Angeles Rams. That may be a good thing. How often is the defending Super Bowl champions considered a dark horse? Their Week 1 blowout loss to the Bills is still fresh, but the Rams have won two games with a less than 100-percent Matthew Stafford. Beware.
7 Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
Lamar Jackson is the best player in the National Football League, whether he’s a running back or quarterback. Unfortunately, he has to be Superman every week in order for his team to have a chance. Baltimore’s defense is the worst in the league, thanks largely to them yielding 353.3 passing yards per game.
8 Minnesota Vikings (2-1)
Kirk Cousins cannot win primetime games, but on Sunday afternoons, he’s Captain Kirk. More importantly, the Minnesota Vikings are 2-0 in the NFC North. Now the focus shifts to Dalvin Cook’s shoulder.
9 Green Bay Packers (2-1)
It’s Deja vu for the Green Bay Packers. Just like last year, the Packers got embarrassed in Week 1, but won back-to-back games, beating a very good team in Week 3. Let’s start listening to Aaron Rodgers and R-E-L-A-X at least until the playoffs.
10 Cleveland Browns (2-1)
Did the Cleveland Browns waste $230 million and three first-round draft picks on Deshaun Watson? The Browns are a miracle comeback by the New York Jets from being 3-0 on the season with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. That team rallying around Brissett as well. Could there be a controversy in Week 13?
11 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
The Jacksonville Jaguars feel like pretenders, but this team is more like sleepers. Doug Pederson’s arrival has raised the energy and football I.Q. in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence looks like an NFL QB now and how about those free agent signings, especially wide receiver Christian Kirk?
12 Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1)
The Indianapolis Colts are unbeaten when wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. plays this season. Pittman has 17 catches and 193 yards in two games, and the Colts have a win over the Chiefs in tow. That may matter come January.
13 Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
The Dallas Cowboys were on life support after Week 1’s loss to Tampa and the thumb injury to Dak Prescott. However, Cooper Rush along with the Cowboys’ suffocating defense has revived the Star’s hopes. Now they may get Prescott back in Week 4, Week 5 at the latest.
14 Detroit Lions (1-2)
The Detroit Lions have to win close games. Yet, they’re still a team to watch out for. Just think, their two losses were to the Eagles and Vikings, two of the three best NFC teams. The Lions offense is potent even with running back D’Andre Swift hobbled.
15 Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)
The jury is still out on the defending AFC champions. The Bengals’ only win is against the Jets. We will learn a lot more about Cincinnati on Thursday night against the Dolphins.
16 Los Angeles Chargers (1-2)
The Los Angeles Chargers hype may be collapsing before our eyes. They got blown out by the Jaguars in Week 3. Franchise quarterback Justin Herbert is dealing with a rib injury. Now, they’ve lost left tackle Rashawn Slater (biceps) and wide receiver Jalen Guyton (ACL) for the season.
17 Denver Broncos (2-1)
The Broncos have to be the most depressed 2-1 team in the league. Russell Wilson looks old. The offense looks unprepared. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett is in over his head. The fact that the winless Las Vegas Raiders pose a true test for the Broncos says a lot.
18 New York Giants (2-1)
Andrew Thomas was the Giants’ best offensive player in Monday night’s loss to the Cowboys. Yet, the Giants still allowed 24 pressures and five sacks on quarterback Daniel Jones.
19 Washington Commanders (1-2)
Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked nine times in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. Wentz accepted the blame for his role in those nine sacks. Good or bad, Wentz will expose offensive coordinator Scott Turner one way or another.
20 Carolina Panthers (1-2)
The Carolina Panthers upset the New Orleans Saints on Sunday with great defense and a run game. Carolina won despite quarterback Baker Mayfield. By the way, running back Christian McCaffrey is looking healthy for the first time since 2019.
21 New Orleans Saints (1-2)
Has Tom Brady broken the Saints? For the past two years, the Saints have predicated their seasons around beating Brady and the Buccaneers. They finally lost in the regular season to Tampa Bay in Week 2. Now the Saints look broken.
22 Tennessee Titans (1-2)
The Tennessee Titans got off the snide to get their first win of the season against the Raiders. But this team still looks bland, especially without AJ Brown. Their season is now on the back of running back Derrick Henry.
23 San Francisco 49ers (1-2)
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks angrier with every TV shot. And that anger could be directed at Jimmy Garoppolo, the quarterback Shanahan didn’t want but couldn’t get rid of, but needs now with the injured-Trey Lance out for the season.
24 Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
The Atlanta Falcons may be the most gritty team in the NFL. Arthur Smith’s team is giving their all until the final whistle through the first three weeks. As a result, Atlanta finally broke through with its first win of the season over the Seattle Seahawks.
25 Arizona Cardinals (1-2)
The Arizona Cardinals usually get off to a first start during the Kyler Murray era and fade later on. This year, the Cardinals opened the season with the Chiefs, Raiders, and Rams. Arizona is fortunate to be 1-2. However, they may catch a break in Week 4 as they travel to play the Panthers.
26 Chicago Bears (2-1)
The Chicago Bears are easily the worst 2-1 team. It’s hard to watch the Bears’ passing offense. It’s even harder to watch quarterback Justin Fields play. Chicago averages a net of 78.3 passing yards per game.
27 Seattle Seahawks (1-2)
Geno Smith had another strong performance in Week 3 with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns. However, the Seahawks have struggled to duplicate the urgency to win since Week 1 against their former QB Russell Wilson.
28 New England Patriots (1-2)
The Patriots’ drop into the bottom five of the league has a lot to do with the health of quarterback Mac Jones. Without Jones, this team doesn’t appear to have a shot. Head coach Bill Belichick must figure out the offensive play-calling in the meantime.
29 Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2)
Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers may not want to make a change to rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, but it’s time to move on from Mitchell Trubisky. Maybe give the reins to Mason Rudolph?
30 Las Vegas Raiders (0-3)
Josh McDaniels is getting his second chance as head coach. It’s looking a lot like his first run with the Broncos. A closed-door meeting with owner Mark Davis may be the beginning of the end for McDaniels as the Raiders’ head coach.
31 New York Jets (1-2)
The Jets failed to cash receipts in Week 3 for head coach Robert Saleh. Instead, star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was checking the receipts of his coaches on the sidelines. Maybe Williams grew frustrated with watching 37-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco throw 59 passes in a loss to the Bengals.
32 Houston Texans (0-2-1)
The Houston Texans could easily be 3-0. But bad teams find ways to lose. That’s been the team’s theme through the first three weeks. Either Bryce Young or CJ Stroud is destined to be a Texan this time next year.
