Week 3 of the NFL season is in the books, and we’re starting to get a clearer picture of each team. Preseason hype is either coming to fruition or fading with each passing week. While the sample size remains small, we’ve seen enough to start forming opinions on which teams are legitimate and which may be fool’s gold. Let’s dive into my NFL power rankings ahead of Week 4, 32-22.
Week 4 NFL Power Rankings
32. Miami Dolphins, 0-3
The Miami Dolphins are off to a slow but expected start to its 2026 campaign. The Dolphins entered the season with a win total of just 4.5, and even that is starting to look generous. Miami reshaped its franchise in the offseason, and the growing pains have been evident on the field.
The Dolphins opened the season with a 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders before falling 35-13 to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. Miami showed more fight in Week 3 but still suffered a 24-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, marking its third consecutive defeat by at least 14 points. Malik Willis and company could be in for a long season.
31. Tennessee Titans, 0-3
The Tennessee Titans have been a major disappointment through three weeks, especially offensively. Tennessee’s offense, led by former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll, has scored just 37 points through three games, including two games of 10 points or fewer.
The Titans opened the season with a 23-10 loss to the New York Jets before showing some promise in a 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. Any optimism quickly disappeared in Week 3, when Tennessee managed just seven points in a 12-7 loss to Jameis Winston and the Giants. For a team expected to take a significant step forward this season, the early returns have been disastrous.
30. Arizona Cardinals, 1-2
The Arizona Cardinals opened the season with one of Week 1’s biggest upsets, knocking off the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they play in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions and followed that win with losses to the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
Mike LaFleur’s offense hasn’t been the problem, scoring at least 26 points in two of three games. The bigger concern is a lack of talent defensively, especially after Will Johnson suffered a significant injury in Week 1. Budda Baker has also shown signs of regression in recent seasons. If the offense remains consistent, Arizona can stay competitive, but the talent gap on defense may be too much to overcome.
29. New York Giants, 2-1
You may be surprised to see the Giants this low after a 2-1 start that has them tied for the division lead, but context matters with this team. Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the season after suffering a knee injury on the opening drive of Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Since Jameis Winston took over, New York’s offense has scored just 12 and 10 points. The Giants escaped Week 3 with a win thanks in large part to a struggling Titans offense that managed only seven points. A recent trade for J.J. McCarthy could provide some hope, but until the offense shows more, New York’s record may be better than its play suggests.
28. Cleveland Browns, 2-1
Another 2-1 team near the bottom of the rankings is the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are coming off back-to-back wins over NFC South opponents, the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ahead of their Week 4 matchup with division rival, Pittsburgh Steelers. Deshaun Watson has looked healthy and played some of his best football since joining Cleveland, and rookie Denzel Boston is looking like a second-round steal so far.
The question is whether that level of play is sustainable. The entire AFC North sits at 2-1, and Cleveland still has plenty to prove against a competitive division. Despite the strong start, the Browns’ early success feels difficult to sustain.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0-3
The Buccaneers are off to a nightmare start in 2026, dropping three consecutive one-score games to the Cincinnati Bengals, Browns, and Minnesota Vikings. Emeka Egbuka has yet to shine in his new role as the No. 1 receiver, and matters only got worse with Baker Mayfield expected to miss multiple weeks with a thumb injury.
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels now steps in as the de facto starter. Defensively, Tampa Bay’s revamped pass rush has shown little improvement, and asking Daniels to keep the Buccaneers afloat could be a recipe for disaster.
26. New York Jets, 1-2
New York has been a pleasant surprise through three weeks, competing in every game. A team that looked destined for the bottom of the league entering the season has already taken a noticeable step forward.
Aaron Glenn‘s defense has made significant strides after a rough 2025 season, while the offense, led by former Indianapolis Colts and Panthers coach Frank Reich, has shown encouraging flashes. If the Jets can build on their strong start and continue turning in competitive performances, expect them to climb even higher.
25. Los Angeles Chargers, 0-3
Justin Herbert and the Chargers have been one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Los Angeles opened with favorable matchups against the Cardinals and Raiders but lost both games 26-14. Things only got worse in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills.
The Chargers forced five turnovers and still trailed by 11 late in the fourth quarter before falling 24-16. Mike McDaniel’s offense has been a disaster through three weeks, while Herbert has shown concerning signs of regression. With 10 games against 2025 playoff teams remaining, Los Angeles’ road ahead won’t get any easier.
24. Washington Commanders, 1-2
The Washington Commanders are coming off a statement 33-31 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. First-year offensive coordinator David Blough called his best game of the season, and he did it without star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Marcus Mariota, who started eight games for Washington last season, stepped in and helped take down one of the league’s top defenses. With Daniels expected to miss time, Mariota showed he can keep the Commanders competitive in his absence. Once Daniels returns, Washington has the pieces to emerge as a serious contender in the NFC East.
23. Green Bay Packers, 1-2
Green Bay’s loss in Week 3 was easy to predict, and the Atlanta Falcons noticed it too. Winning in the trenches was the main decider in the Packers’ first two games, and Atlanta put them on blast. The warning signs were already there. Carson Wentz and the Vikings pulled away from the Packers late in Week 1, and Green Bay needed a Jets collapse to escape with an overtime win the following week.
Then, as a heavy favorite against Atlanta in prime time, the Packers were dominated in the trenches. Until the offensive and defensive lines improve, Green Bay will have a difficult time competing consistently.
22. Las Vegas Raiders, 3-0
Kirk Cousins and the Raiders are 3-0 to start 2026. I certainly didn’t have that on my preseason bingo card, but Las Vegas has earned it. The Raiders opened with a two-score win over Miami before dominating the Chargers and upsetting the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
The roster’s lack of talent still shows at times, particularly on defense, but Klint Kubiak has the offense thriving. The offensive line looks noticeably improved with its offseason additions and a healthy Kolton Miller anchoring Cousins’ blind side. Regression may eventually come, but Raiders fans should be more than pleased with the start to 2026.
The bottom of the league is loaded with potential waiting to break through. When things click, some of these teams can be surprisingly competitive. But what separates good teams from great ones is consistently putting high-level play on film, regardless of the competition. Stay tuned for parts two and three.
Main Image: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
