Zak Drapeau's Updated NFL Power Rankings and Tier List
- Zak Drapeau
- 4 minutes ago
- 10 min read
by Zak Drapeau 10/28/2025 Sportz Nation
Tier 1:
Super Bowl or Bust
1. Detroit Lions --
5-2 (Won 5 of Last 6)
Last Week: BYE Week
What else is there to say besides the Lions are the CLEAR best team in the league to this point. Jared Goff should get some MVP votes, Dan Campbell has been one of the best Head Coaches of the last half-decade and they've only lost on the road to the Packers and Chiefs.
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2. Green Bay Packers --
5-1-1 (Won 3 in a Row)
Last Week: 35-25 Win at PIT
The Packers have a Top-5 roster in the sport and now Jordan Love is looking like he wants to make noise in the MVP-discussion. Whether the Steelers' defense isn't as good as we thought it was or the Packers' offense made a statement, they looked as good as ever this week.
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3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers --
6-2 (Won 3 of Last 4)
Last Week: 23-3 Win at NO
Handling their business exactly how they should've their divisional rivalry in New Orleans was never even close. This team as a whole is still sorely going to miss Mike Evans but with Chris Godwin scheduled to come back after this week's BYE, I'm still very comfortable in including Tampa in my Top-3.
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Tier 2:
Someone Will Win the AFC
4. Indianapolis Colts --
7-1 (Won 3 of Last 4)
Last Week: 38-14 Win vs TEN
Alright, Part 1 of my "I really have no idea how good this team actually is", (Part 2 coming soon) and the Colts are the best example. As good of an offense as their is this season, the Colts are pretty good on defense as well but I'm dying to see them have good competition. A matchup in Pittsburgh is a step in the right direction but still not an elite matchup. Still, this week should tell us a lot more about Indy.
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5. Buffalo Bills --
5-2 (Won 1 of Last 3)
Last Week: 40-9 Win at CAR
After 2 straight, embarrassing losses before their BYE, this was EXACTLY what the Bills needed to do. Dominating a team like Carolina (who's been better than expected) in their home stadium is how Josh Allen's Bills make their mark. I will be very interested to see how their defense continues throughout the season but for now, it's a good sign.
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6. Kansas City Chiefs /\1
5-3 (Won (4 of their last 5)
Last Week: 28-7 Win vs WAS
Wining 4 of their last 5, the Chiefs may be home field-merchants but they've done so in style. The Chiefs are also obviously... the Chiefs so at this point in the season it would be criminal not to keep them this high if not higher.
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Tier 3:
Best of the Rest
7. Philadelphia Eagles \/1
6-2 (Won 2 in a Row)
Last Week: 38-20 Win vs NYG
The Eagles are just shy of my Super Bowl contenders and while the defending champs still have a shot to make it out of the NFC, their offense just isn't what it was last year and they will run in to too many elite teams come the Playoffs. Still though, I don't mean to make light of one of the definitive Top-10 teams in the league.
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8. Denver Broncos --
6-2 (Won 5 in a Row)
Last Week: 44-24 Win vs DAL
The Broncos started the year off slow but have really turned it on winning 5 in a row. Bo Nix has started playing at a Pro Bowl level and their defense is finding their groove. Still with room to improve in my opinion, the current AFC West leaders could find themselves climbing this list just when it matters most.
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9. Los Angeles Rams --
5-2 (Won 3 of Last 4)
Last Week: BYE Week
The Rams may not have the #1 team-potential they had three years ago but they might be more well-rounded then ever. The Rams' defense has been the #3 in terms of allowing points and their young core of Front-7 players behind Jared Verse is only getting better. Can they compete in the Playoffs with the top teams of the NFC? Yes, but I believe they would come up just short.
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10. Seattle Seahawks --
5-2 (Won 5 of Last 6)
Last Week: BYE Week
I can see someone making an argument for the Seahawks being Top-5 and it wouldn't be a bad argument to make. The Seahawks have a Top-5ish defense especially under Mike Macdonald and Sam Darnold has been playing well enough to make their offense Top-10ish too. My problem is, Darnold can't keep this up and if they were to play a road playoff game against anyone above them, I'd have to pick against them.
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Tier 4:
Looking for a Playoff Win
11. New England Patriots --
6-2 (Won 5 in a Row)
Last Week: 32-13 Win vs CLE
Welcome to Part 2 of my "I really have no idea how good this team actually is" series with the New England Patriots. Drake Maye is playing good smart football without setting the world on fire and even though their MASSIVE SNF win in Buffalo was huge, the rest of their win streak is against the Browns, Panthers, Titans and Saints. This team is without question Top-10ish but they could just as easily be #15 or #5.
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12. Jacksonville Jaguars /\3
4-3 (Lost 2 in a Row before BYE)
Last Week: BYE Week
Probably the biggest rise of any team in it's BYE Week, the Jaguars benefit from so many team's in last week's #10 - #20 losing. Jacksonville could have a Top-5 potential under Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence but man do they seem like a team who will disappoint again and again.
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13. Los Angeles Chargers /\4
5-3 (Won 2 of Last 3)
Last Week: 37-10 Win vs MIN
The Chargers have been #3 on my rankings this season and they've also been #17. After their dominant win vs Minnesota, things look like they could return to good in LA. At full strength this team is solidified Top-10 and with their O-line getting better, I can see them climbing even if their top end-potential isn't elite.
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14. Houston Texans /\8
3-4 (Won 3 of Last 4)
Last Week: 26-15 Win vs SF
The Texans are starting to get things together after their tough start to the season. Not many people realize that their 0-3 start was at the Rams and Jaguars (divisional road game) and a close loss to the Buccs. Now that they're getting momentum, the Texans are really grooving on both sides of the ball especially on defense which is easily the best in the league.
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15. San Francisco 49ers \/3
5-3 (Lost 2 of Last 3)
Last Week: 26-15 Loss at HOU
The 49ers should be a lot lower on this list due to being the MOST injured team in the league and the fact they're not is a testament to Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh. Mac Jones was fun for a few weeks but now has been less than average and with this team starting backups for more than half of the team's positions, this team will need Brock Purdy to come back if they want to stay competitive.
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16. Atlanta Falcons \/3
3-4 (Lost 2 in a Row)
Last Week: 34-10 Loss vs MIA
The MOST inconsistent team in the NFL has to be the Atlanta Falcons. Just two weeks after beating the Bills they get WHOOPED by the Dolphins at home. Michael Penix's injury would just be an excuse and is no reason why one of the best defenses doesn't even show up this week.
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17. Chicago Bears \/3
4-3 (won 4 in a Row Before Last Week)
Last Week: 30-16 Loss at BAL
The Bears have a solid base as a team but have been worrisome on the road. A decent offense with high potential but losing games they should have won like a 14 point halftime lead at home vs Minnesota and a matchup with the Lamar-less Ravens gives them a pretty medium-ceiling if you ask me... at least for this season.
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18. Pittsburgh Steelers /\1
4-3 (Lost 2 in a Row)
Last Week: 35-25 Loss vs GB
I never thought I'd say this but... I think the Steelers' offense is better than it's defense this year. Everything just seems off from TJ Watt's off year to Jalen Ramsey being a non-factor more times than not. As it stands the Steelers seem destined to go 9-8 again but just food for thought... if they do get their defense going they could REALLY jump up in the rankings.
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19. Carolina Panthers \/3
4-4 (Won 3 in a Row Before Last Week)
Last Week: 40-9 Loss vs BUF
I may have jumped to conclusions too much when I put Carolina at #16 last week but after winning 3 in a row, losing to the Bills is almost never a haunting loss. Without Bryce Young as well who has been playing good over their 3-game streak, this team should be able to bounce back and maintain around a .500 record for most of the season as long as their defense keeps playing good.
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20. Baltimore Ravens /\5
2-5 (Lost 4 in a Row Before Last Week)
Last Week: 30-16 Win vs CHI
Finally winning a game without Lamar who is expected to be back on Thursday Night Football, the Ravens are getting healthier. If they get to full health and they start winning games I will have no problem rocketing them to Top-10 status and potentially a little higher. Even if they're #20 on this rank, they are still Super Bowl contenders in my eyes.
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21. Washington Commanders --
3-5 (Lost 3 in a Row)
Last Week: 28-7 Loss at KC
Similarly to the Ravens, once the Commanders get their star-QB back they will rise up these ranks too. Different form the Ravens is their ceiling though as they definitely aren't likely to get back to the NFC Championship this season.
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Tier 5:
Could Still Get Some Wins
22. Minnesota Vikings \/4
3-4 (Lost 3 of Last 4)
Last Week: 37-10 Loss at LAC
The Vikings could legitimately be a Top-10 team if they had a good Quarterback but unfortunately for them, neither of their QBs are very good and both are injured. Their defense is solid enough to get them to the playoffs but with a very injured O-line and bad-QB play, they'll be lucky to go over .500 on the season.
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23. Dallas Cowboys \/3
3-5 (Lost 2 of Last 3)
Last Week: 44-24 Loss at DEN
I know this isn't saying much but the Cowboys' offense scoring 24 in Denver should be looked at as a win. Probably having the worst defense in the league will hurt thought and so far it has for the Cowboys. I don't want to say I told you so from when the Cowboys' promoted an unfit OC to be their Head Coach this offseason but it really shows so far this year.
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24. New York Giants \/1
2-6 (Lost 3 of Last 4)
Last Week: 38-20 Loss at PHI
Ah man the Giants were just getting exciting. It's too early to tell how much the Cam Skattebo-injury will cloud the Giants' locker room but for right now it seems like the rest of the Giants' season will rest on Jaxson Dart's shoulders. The rookie does look great but that's way too much of a burden to bear for the rookie especially on a franchise that's had one winning season since 2016.
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25. Cincinnati Bengals \/1
3-5 (Lost 5 of Last 6)
Last Week: 39-29 Loss vs NYJ
Well the Joe Flacco-hype died pretty quick once people remembered how terrible the Bengals' defense is. In actuality Flacco has given this team life that it didn't have in weeks following Burrow's injury and with Joe Cool being gone for probably another month and a half, this team will need to get their defense right if they want any shot of sniffing the playoffs.
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Tier 6:
Fighting For Coaches' Job
26. Miami Dolphins /\3
2-6 (Lost 3 In a Row Before Last Week)
Last Week: 34-10 Win at ATL
What an OUT of NOWHERE win this week in Atlanta as the Dolphins and more importantly Tua looked better than they have in the past two seasons. Going to Atlanta and putting up points has been one of the hardest tasks for an NFL team this season and they looked terrific. Is this a sign of things to come? Probably not but it did at least buy McDaniel another week or two of his job.
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27. Arizona Cardinals --
2-5 (Lost 5 in a Row)
Last Week: BYE Week
The Cardinals have the longest losing streak in the NFL this season. Their offense is scoring points around the average of the league and their defense isn't terrible; the Cardinals problem is the 4th Quarter and the fact they don't know how to win close games. In their 5-game losing streak the Cardinals are being outscored 60-29 in the 4th Quarter and 76-29 for the season... and that comes down to coaching.
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28. Cleveland Browns \/2
2-6 (Lost 4 of Last 5)
Last Week: 32-13 Loss at NE
The Browns continue to struggle on offense and this week in New England they weren't much better on defense. Even with Myles Garrett's career, 5-sack game couldn't help the Browns who are just above the final tier on this list thanks to theie D.
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Tier 7:
Time To Tank
29. New Orleans Saints \/1
1-7 (Lost 2 in a Row)
Last Week: 23-3 Loss vs TB
I was a fan of the idea that the Saints could win some games this year early on in the season but now I see they are just not good enough. The team has some good peices and I do believe Kellen Moore could lead them somewhere but for now it's better to plan for the future and look to a draft pick. Maybe even give their 2nd round QB Tyler Shough some snaps to see what they have in him.
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30. New York Jets /\2
1-7 (Won First Game Last Week)
Last Week: 39-38 Win at CIN
A 23-point 4th Quarter later and the Jets have their first win on the season. Whether the team rallied around something or the Bengals' defense is just trash it doesn't matter because Aaron Glenn finally has a win as a Head Coach and now they can feel better about losing out on the season.
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31. Las Vegas Raiders \/1
2-5 (Lost 4 of Last 5)
Last Week: BYE Week
The Raiders look lost on offense and anything that will help them become better is not likely to happen this year. The team should tank and try to get a top-end QB in the 2026 Draft that will start the turnaround for this currently pitiful offense.
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32. Tennessee Titans \/1
1-7 (Lost 3 in a Row)
Last Week: 38-14 Loss at IND
Cam Ward could be special and some of the young weapons around him have a little potential as well. Besides them, everything from the Secondary to the O-line to the coaching to their home stadiums' parking attendants needs an overhaul. This offseason a new HC will be brought in to start the herculean task of rebuilding this franchise and he will be fortunate enough to probably have another #1 pick to help him do so, (Which he should trade away for more picks).
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-Z.D.