The 2025 NFL season has been incredibly topsy-turvy to this point, and that extends to the Week 7 power rankings with plenty of shuffling and a surprise at No. 1.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) | Last week: 9 (+8)
If the NFL postseason started today, the Chiefs wouldn’t even be in the field. So, why are they at No. 1 in the power rankings? The return of star receiver Rashee Rice from a six-game suspension has a lot to do with it. I think Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have the most firepower to work with in the AFC, and that’s paired with a defense that’s been elite.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) | Last week: 3 (+1)
Of course, you could make a case for the Bucs at No. 1, as their top-notch roster is shining with the way guys are stepping up with injuries—including rookie receiver Tez Johnson catching a long touchdown from Baker Mayfield in the win against the 49ers. The Week 6 victory was finally by more than one possession, and Monday night at Detroit is another great test.
3. Detroit Lions (4-2) | Last week: 1 (-2)
It probably wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but I thought officiating was very bad against the Lions last week—and it’s incredibly difficult to win at Kansas City if that’s the case. The four points taken off the board on what looked like a Jared Goff touchdown catch plus the uncharacteristic fourth-down drop by Amon-Ra St. Brown were big momentum swings. Overall, Detroit seemingly can’t play their preferred aggressive man defense without their top corners right now.
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-1) | Last week: 5 (+1)
The rise for the Colts continues, as they keep winning games and currently sit as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Not getting off the field defensively versus the banged-up Cardinals is a concern, but we’ll see if the unit can bounce back for an intriguing matchup with the Chargers.
5. Denver Broncos (4-2) | Last week: 7 (+2)
The dynamic Broncos defense got home for nine sacks versus the Jets, spearheading a tighter-than-expected win in London. The offense obviously must be better and more consistent, but it’s a group that can take off when they get in a rhythm.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) | Last week: 2 (-4)
The Bills are another candidate, but the worst performance of Week 6 clearly belonged to the Eagles, who not just lost but were blown out by the Giants last Thursday night. The defense (though dealing with injuries) was dreadful to be blunt, and Jalen Hurts had one of his worst games ever at quarterback in Philadelphia’s second consecutive loss.
7. Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) | Last week: 10 (+3)
While the Green Bay defense was clearly looking and hoping to more damage against the Bengals, the offense rode Josh Jacobs (160 total yards, two touchdowns) and took care of the ball to help get a win off the bye.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) | Last week: 13 (+5)
The Steelers are currently in total command of the AFC North, and a case can be made for them being higher than this in the power rankings. The run defense now looks excellent after a slow start to the season, and Jalen Ramsey had two sacks for the Pittsburgh defense in a comfortable win versus the Browns.
9. San Francisco 49ers (4-2) | Last week: 6 (-3)
I like the fight the 49ers showed at Tampa Bay, but losing All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner for the year due to an ankle injury is yet another horrible blow to Kyle Shanahan’s squad. Still, there’s a winning DNA there, and star tight end George Kittle (hamstring) looks set to return this weekend.
10. Buffalo Bills (4-2) | Last week: 4 (-6)
This might not be low enough for the Bills based on the past two weeks. Not having Dalton Kincaid (oblique) in the lineup on Monday night hurt—and it was interesting that the Monday Night Football crew revealed that offensive coordinator Joe Brady says he had a playcall sheet with Kincaid and without Kincaid, showing his importance—but the defense continues to get gashed for big plays. Offensively, the frustration on the face of Josh Allen is evident, with guys not getting much separation.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) | Last week: 11
They cut it close, needing a tremendous play from Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, and the offense to set up a game-winning field goal by Cameron Dicker, but the Chargers bounced back from a two-game losing streak to beat the Dolphins and get to 4-2. McConkey has looked more like himself as of late, and hopefully receiver Quentin Johnston (hamstring) can return after he was just out.
12. Los Angeles Rams (4-2) | Last week: 12
Offensive fireworks weren’t there, and Puka Nacua (ankle) left the game and looks uncertain for Week 7 in London, but the Rams won a sloppy game at Baltimore to get to 4-2 along with San Francisco and Seattle in the NFC West. It’s concerning that they were run on by the Ravens—but they did give up just three points.
13. Seattle Seahawks (4-2) | Last week: 15 (+2)
The connection between Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba—highlighted by a 61-yard dot on a deep ball—again looks like one of the best in football, and Darnold was on fire on chunk throws while the run game struggled to get much going at Jacksonville.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) | Last week: 8 (-6)
The loss to the Seahawks was a gritty type of game, and the Jags couldn’t move the ball much on the ground, either. As an encouraging sign, Brian Thomas Jr. (8/90/1) looked more like his usual self after a relatively quiet first five games.
15. Atlanta Falcons (3-2) | Last week: 16 (+1)
The Falcons have responded exactly the right way from their Week 3 loss to the Falcons, defending homefield against the Commanders a couple of weeks ago before utilizing the bye to get ready for a huge win versus the Bills. Bijan Robinson starred with a career-high 238 total yards and a touchdown on Monday night.
16. New England Patriots (4-2) | Last week: 19 (+3)
The Patriots are another squad that can be much higher than this (and arguably up over the Bills, given their win at Buffalo and just looking like a better team as of late). Drake Maye’s big arm is connecting with all his weapons down the field, and he’s playing very efficiently since Week 1. Plus, New England will be heavy favorites the next two games at Tennessee and hosting Cleveland—so 6-2 is in their sights.
17. Houston Texans (2-3) | Last week: 17
The bye week came during a two-game winning streak for the Texans, so they’ll look to pick up where they left off for a late Monday night matchup with the Seahawks.
18. Chicago Bears (3-2) | Last week: 22 (+4)
Now riding a three-game winning streak after an 0-2 start, the buy-in under first-year head coach Ben Johnson is clear—and the players exorcised some demons by winning at the site of last year’s Hail Mary loss to the Commanders. It was cool to see kicker Jake Moody come through for his new team with the game-winner in wet conditions.
19. Washington Commanders (3-3) | Last week: 14 (-5)
Meanwhile, the Commanders couldn’t overcome three turnovers, and both sides of the ball have been up and down amidst their .500 start. The next four weeks are at Dallas and at Kansas City before hosting the Seahawks and Lions.
20. Minnesota Vikings (3-2) | Last week: 20
The bye week came at an interesting time for Minnesota, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy having a shot to return against the Eagles—but uncertainty over whether he or Carson Wentz is under center.
21. Carolina Panthers (3-3) | Last week: 24 (+4)
When you can control the line of scrimmage and run the ball the way the Panthers have the past two weeks with Rico Dowdle (totaling over 200 yards in each game), you can compete. The Panthers have looked bad at times, but Bryce Young knows how to win close games, and Carolina sits at 3-3 ahead of a matchup with the Jets.
22. Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1) | Last week: 18 (-4)
The Cowboys defense had a strong showing in Week 5’s win over the Jets, but the struggles continued in the shootout loss to Carolina. However, the offense has been phenomenal, and it sounds like wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, returner/receiver KaVontae Turpin, and guard Tyler Booker will all be back for Sunday against Washington.
23. Baltimore Ravens (1-5) | Last week: 21 (-2)
The Ravens dropped to 1-5, but I was actually encouraged by their performance in the loss to the Rams; the defense was much better, and they were finally able to run the ball as expected with Derrick Henry. There’s little margin for error for Baltimore, but Lamar Jackson and Roquan Smith are expected back after the bye week.
24. Arizona Cardinals (2-4) | Last week: 23 (-1)
Despite the loss, the Cardinals are another team I was took some positives from for Week 6. They responded well and played hard after the controversy of the previous loss to the Titans, and the offense operated well with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.
25. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) | Last week: 24 (-1)
Joe Flacco took care of the ball and got rid of it quick in his first action with the Bengals less than a week after joining the squad, and now Cincinnati will look to upset the Steelers on TNF to stay within striking distance in the division.
26. New York Giants (2-4) | Last week: 29 (+3)
I mentioned the Eagles not playing well at all, but the Giants deserve credit for playing a much better game led by rookie running back Cam Skattebo’s three touchdowns. Running the ball takes a lot of pressure off Jaxson Dart and a thin receiving group.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) | Last week: 30 (+3)
The Raiders were in desperate need of a win versus the Titans, so it was good to see them come through—but Geno Smith still must cut down on mistakes. Defensively, linebacker Devin White was one of the best players around the league last week, with a forced fumble on a sack and an interception.
28. New Orleans Saints (1-5) | Last week: 27 (-1)
The Saints were in another tight game, and they have reason to be upset over what looked like a bad call on a Juwan Johnson fumble in the fourth quarter against the Pats. The New Orleans defense has shown good toughness, but there were far too many lapses in coverage in the loss.
29. Miami Dolphins (1-5) | Last week: 28 (-1)
Frustration is mounting for the Dolphins after letting another potential victory slip, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa publicly calling out teammates for missing players-only meetings, which many including head coach Mike McDaniel did not like—though it is a bad sign that too many players seemingly don’t care enough to get things turned around. The run defense must show up against Cleveland this week.
30. Cleveland Browns (1-5) | Last week: 26 (-4)
If the Browns run the ball, that is. Starting the game throwing the ball from an empty formation and rookie Dillon Gabriel eventually throwing 52 times in the loss to the Steelers just seems crazy with the way Quinshon Judkins has looked. And then Mike Tomlin called out the front office for trading away Joe Flacco.
31. Tennessee Titans (1-5) | Last week: 31
The offense has been a mess for the Titans, and the organization fired head coach Brian Callahan—leading to longtime offensive line coach guru Bill Callahan retiring. Things might not get easier given that Tennessee has at least shown flashes of being able to run the ball under Callahan.
32. New York Jets (0-6) | Last week: 32
But the Jets remain at the bottom of the power rankings given their status of the NFL’s lone winless team. The passing offense was “nonexistent,” as head coach Aaron Glenn said. New York will look to build on the stout defense they played, though—and the Panthers run game will challenge them this Sunday.