The Buffalo Bills claim the No. 1 spot in power rankings heading into Week 4, rising to the top after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers despite turning the ball over.
Updated Sept. 28, 2026, 11:24 p.m. ET Most NFL teams have now played three games this season. Even though it represents a limited sample regarding the full 17-game campaign, those initial trio of matches have provided three distinct opportunities to assess every single franchise. The results after NFL Week 3? A big shakeup in our NFL power rankings for Week 4 of the NFL season. We are no longer letting what a team did last season impact our NFL power rankings. Nor are preseason Super Bowl odds. This week’s edition of the NFL Week 4 power rankings bases its evaluation strictly on on-field performances through the first three games, resulting in a dramatic shift compared to last week’s order and particularly our NFL Week 1 power rankings; notably, the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars emerge as prominent positive surprises, whereas the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams rank among the most significant disappointments.
Week 3 Upsets and NFL Power Rankings Shakeup
Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the league’s power hierarchy has experienced a massive shakeup. Preseason Super Bowl expectations and last year’s records have been tossed aside in fewer games than usual to focus on a clean evaluation of how teams have actually performed on the field. Wow, Week 3 was a doozy. It all started on Thursday night when Atlanta upset Green Bay, but it didn’t stop there. Over Sunday’s slate, underdogs captured victories in six out of the 14 matchups, headlined by Washington (+8.5) pulling off the largest upset by defeating Seattle. There were upsets across the board, which means a big shake up in everybody’s power rankings. The top two teams in our rankings remain the same this week, but that’s about it. Almost every other club experienced movement of at least one or two positions, meaning we can now examine the standings as the league reaches the fourth week of the schedule.
Buffalo Bills Claim Top Spot Despite Turnovers While Minnesota Vikings Climb
Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings Week 4 Rankings
The Buffalo Bills moved up to the top spot of the power rankings after the Seattle Seahawks suffered a loss. Last Week’s Rank: 1. Week 3 Result: 24-16 win over LAC. Week 4 Opponent: vs NE. Ever since securing their opening-week triumph, the Buffalo franchise has occupied the No. 1 position, and they show no signs of relinquishing the peak spot anytime soon. This was a down week for them, but they still grinded out a tough win and held LAC to 16. Despite a performance marked by five turnovers, the Bills secured a victory. They now prepare to host a struggling New England Patriots team.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is a madman when it comes to calling defense. The philosophy is simple, really: Blitz, blitz, and blitz some more. He has taken defense and made it truly fun to watch. Depending on which analytics platform reviews the tracking data, the Vikings blitz on roughly 73% to 78% of all passing plays. That is by far the highest percentage in the league — and it’s not close. Operating as a zone-blitzing scheme, the defense presents numerous disguises that baffle offensive linemen and signal-callers, frequently causing quarterbacks to perceive ghosts even when direct pressure fails to materialize. Consequently, the Vikings pace the entire NFL with 14 sacks, rapidly evolving into an opponent that opposing signal-callers dread facing. During Sunday’s 23-16 triumph, they brought down Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield six times while thoroughly embarrassing the opposing offensive line. They also ran through backs and tight ends in pass protection, and Mayfield was jumpy all day. It looked like Minnesota was playing with 13 players on defense all day long. The Vikings are 3-0 because of that defense. Benefiting from that suffocating defensive unit, their own quarterbacks have not needed to exceed 168 passing yards in any contest. Minnesota is up to No. 4 in my Power Rankings as Flores continues to show off his impressive defensive mind.
Undefeated Contenders and Surprising Risers Through Three Games
Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks Standings
The Kansas City Chiefs move up to second place. The Kansas City offensive attack appears to be hitting all the right notes as they prepare for a critical AFC West showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Seattle Seahawks fall to third after suffering a loss to Washington. While their defense remains stout, the offense must elevate its performance. The San Francisco 49ers, despite a 3-0 start, land at fourth.
Disappointments and Roster Pressures Across the League
Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots Struggles
Several high-profile teams have stumbled out of the gate. The Los Angeles Rams sit at 1-2 after letting the Broncos hang around just long enough to steal it in a tight outcome. The Denver Broncos sit at 2-1 (No. 6 in previous rankings). The Rams need to flush Sunday night’s outcome quickly with the Eagles and Bills coming up. The New England Patriots prepare to visit the Bills after a rough opening stretch. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the No. 5 spot in certain evaluations, with expectations of seeing a lot of teal in L.A. during Super Bowl week. Other notable standings configurations feature the Cincinnati Bengals at 2-1 after failing to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh by repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot, the Baltimore Ravens at 2-1 knowing that great teams win games they feel destined to lose, and the Pittsburgh Steelers sitting at 2-1 (No. 18 previously) proving there’s some magic left in the post-Tomlin Steelers. The Detroit Lions stand at 2-1 (No. 16 previously) while acknowledging the defense still isn’t nearly good enough, and the Las Vegas Raiders ride high at 3-0 under Kirk-3-and-oh Chainz.