Just like that, we’re six full weeks into the 2024 NFL regular season. Now that Week 6 is officially in the books, we polled the Pro Football Network staff to generate the latest version of our consensus NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 7.
Ranking the Best to Worst Teams in the NFL
1) Kansas City Chiefs (5-0; Last Week: 1)
There is no change at the top of the board with the two-time reigning NFL champions on bye. The Kansas City Chiefs are a perfect 5-0 for the first time since Patrick Mahomes’ first season as a full-time starter (2018) despite their second-worst point differential through five games over that stretch (+33).
They’ve outscored opponents 27-6 over the final 12 minutes of the regular season, a tightrope for most teams, but this team simply refuses to blink late in games. They come out of their bye with a pair of road games (San Francisco and Las Vegas) – we saw them win on the road last postseason, but that was in a year with a Week 10 bye.
This team will be playing each of the next 12 weeks and might be uniquely motivated to chase the AFC’s top seed despite what they accomplished a season ago.
2) Detroit Lions (4-1, Last Week: 2)
The Detroit Lions impressed with a run to the NFC title game last season, and their lone loss this year was to Tampa Bay. In that game, they had two drives get inside the Bucs’ 30-yard line, with an opportunity for the go-ahead score.
Detroit entered this season as the favorite in the NFC North and deserves to be considered as much, even with the Vikings’ undefeated start. We know this offense’s potential, especially with the continued breakout of Jameson Williams. With them ranking among the best on third down, the ceiling is the roof for this team.
That is, as long as Aidan Hutchinson is on the field. The NFL sack leader was injured during the win over the Cowboys, and a significant missed time could have altered the hierarchy of the NFC.
We are counting on the Lions to flex their muscles in Minnesota this weekend.
3) Minnesota Vikings (5-0, Last Week: 3)
The Minnesota Vikings went into their Week 6 bye with four straight wins over teams that entered 2024 with playoff hopes, and while this team feels a lot like the 2022 version that dominated in close games (11-0 in one-score games), some underlying metrics suggest this team could be a real threat for the long haul.
Kevin O’Connell has unlocked a version of Sam Darnold that we’ve yet to see, and with this aggressive defense leading the league in EPA, the offensive production doesn’t need to be elite for this team to compete at a high level.
After the Lions this week, Minnesota plays four straight, and they will have a great chance to win (Rams-Colts-Jaguars-Titans). Thanks to the red-hot start, if this team can simply win the games they are “supposed” to, the NFC North could be looking at three playoff participants.
4) Baltimore Ravens (4-2, Last Week: 4)
The Baltimore Ravens stumbled out of the gate, but with four straight wins, they deserve to be on the short list of Super Bowl favorites. The pass funnel defense is a major concern, especially with the offensive-minded Buccaneers up next on Monday night.
This is a team positioned to repeat its regular-season success from last season, but its postseason fate won’t be any different from years past if it can’t iron out the secondary.
5) Houston Texans (5-1, Last Week: 5)
The Houston Texans scored touchdowns on their first two drives in New England and never looked back. They’ve taken care of business throughout a light early season schedule, but the sledding gets a little more difficult in Lambeau this weekend.
The absence of Nico Collins was felt, even in a game in which the Texans scored 41 points (C.J. Stroud averaged just 6.2 yards per pass), but if this offensive line is going to open up the holes that they did against the Patriots, they should be able to produce at an above average rate while they wait for their alpha receiver to return.
If the defense can continue to be opportunistic, this is a team that can very much play late into January.
6) San Francisco 49ers (3-3, Last Week: 7)
Things got a little touch-and-go on Thursday night in Seattle, but the San Francisco 49ers ultimately survived, helping support the confidence with which we’ve been ranking them.
The divisional win was a step in the right direction, but this team can’t smell the roses as they host the Chiefs and Cowboys over the next two weeks.
Will Niners blow it again???
Per PFN Guru @KyleSoppePFN
When Entering Q4 Up 6+ Points, 2024
San Francisco 49ers: 2-2
Rest of NFL: 49-2— David Bearman (@DavidBearmanPFN) October 11, 2024
This remains a highly efficient team that excels at holding onto the ball, a style of play that we saw work for Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers of yesteryear. That style of play makes them a threat not only to trend up in the coming weeks but also to represent the NFC if they are healthy for the stretch run.
It sounds as if Week 10 is the target date for Christian McCaffrey, which gives this offense the potential to rank among the best in the game as we progress through December and into January (Weeks 15-18: Rams-Dolphins-Lions-Cardinals). We saw the 49ers use that formula last season (six straight wins following their Week 9 bye), and history could well repeat itself.
7) Buffalo Bills (4-2, Last Week: 6)
The Buffalo Bills overcame several obstacles on Monday night to escape with a 23-20 victory over the Jets in MetLife Stadium. Despite missing starting RB James Cook, Buffalo’s offense had their way with New York’s intimidating defense in Week 6.
While many questioned Buffalo’s strategy to move on from several talented offensive playmakers this offseason, Josh Allen continues to play at an elite level. Allen recorded three total touchdowns against the Jets as the Bills now have a two-game lead in the win column for first place in the AFC East.
8) Green Bay Packers (4-2, Last Week: 8)
The Green Bay Packers rolled over the Cardinals in Week 6 (34-13) and have now won four of five games after losing the season opener in Brazil. Jordan Love has thrown multiple touchdown passes in 10 straight games, which puts him in pretty rare air.
Quarterbacks in the history of the #NFL with multiple TD passes in 10 straight games (including playoffs) before turning 26 years old …
Patrick Mahomes
Dan Marino
Jordan Love— Kyle Soppe (@KyleSoppePFN) October 13, 2024
The potential of this team will ultimately come down to how sticky their turnover rate on defense is. One season after struggling to create extra possessions, they are the best in the business. If they can turn over opponents at an average level, this team has as good a shot as any to be the last one standing in the NFC.
9) Washington Commanders (4-2, Last Week: 9)
There’s no shame in a seven-point loss in Baltimore. This Jayden Daniels-led machine continues to impress, and while their defense comes with plenty of question marks, that flaw shouldn’t limit them from finding success over the next month with the Panthers, Bears, Giants, and Steelers up next.
The competitive nature of the NFC East makes this an interesting team to evaluate, as it is possible that consecutive games within the division (Week 11 at Philadelphia and Week 12 vs. Dallas) could dictate their fate. If this Washington Commanders offense is clicking (34.3 PPG over their past four), they have a legitimate chance to beat any team in this league.
10) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2, Last Week: 11)
With 114 points over the past three weeks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look a lot like the early-season Saints. Baker Mayfield is operating with the utmost confidence, and Chris Godwin has proven to be a stabilizing force since being moved back into a full-time slot role.
The pass defense is vastly improved from where they finished last season, though their run defense will be tested on Monday night with the Ravens coming to town. This division isn’t full of well-rounded teams – a consistently aggressive offense with even an average defense should be enough to get this team into the postseason.
11) Philadelphia Eagles (3-2, Last Week: 10)
The Philadelphia Eagles weren’t exactly sharp in their return from the bye, but they did just enough to get past Cleveland in Week 6 (20-16 win). Jalen Hurts looked comfortable with his two primary weapons back, and that gives this offense elite potential, with Saquon Barkley looking as good as any back in the league.
This defense has picked up its blitz rate (25.7% from 21.6% last season), and if it can be selectively aggressive in supporting its offense, this team has the potential to live up to the promise that it has shown in spurts over the past two seasons. With the Giants, Bengals, and Jaguars on its upcoming schedule, this team could be considered one of the best in the conference by this time next month.
12) Chicago Bears (4-2, Last Week: 17)
The Chicago Bears opened the season with four straight one-score games, but they’ve out-scored the Panthers and Jaguars 71-26 over the past two weeks as Caleb Williams has shown plenty of development in a short window.
.@CALEBcsw with the double fake and finds @ColeKmet for the touchdown in London ‼️
📺: #JAXvsCHI on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9Vky68cIuB— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024
In those games, the top overall pick in April has racked up 530 passing yards and six touchdowns on just 58 attempts, not to mention 90 yards on the ground. This defense has been a top-five unit across the statistical buffet since the mid-way point of last season and is looking a lot like a team that could make noise in the loaded NFC North (three straight divisional games from Weeks 11-13).
13) Atlanta Falcons (3-2, Last Week: 14)
The development of this Atlanta Falcons team is encouraging. We saw Kirk Cousins throw for 509 yards in Week 5, and in Week 6, they relied on the ground game. That level of offensive versatility was missing a season ago and fuels the optimism that this team can make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
The defense has been good enough, and if that continues to be the case, it’s not hard to see this team put together a nice regular season. If they can sustain their current momentum and show well over the next month, a double-digit win season is a possibility due to an easier finishing kick (they play the Raiders, Giants, and Panthers as a part of their final four games).
14) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2, Last Week: 12)
The Pittsburgh Steelers dictated tempo against the Raiders, and whenever that’s the case, this team is difficult to beat. That could well be the case over the next two weeks, with both New York teams on tap before their Week 9 bye.
Russell Wilson was available for the first time of the season on Sunday, but a quarterback controversy seems unlikely as long as this team succeeds. To make the playoffs, this team will have to stack wins before we get to the middle of December – Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs in Weeks 15-17.
15) Seattle Seahawks (3-3, Last Week: 13)
Has the clock struck midnight on the Seattle Seahawks?
They opened the season with wins over Bo Nix, Jacoby Brissett, and Skylar Thompson (allowed 14.3 PPG) but have now lost three straight against the likes of Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, and Brock Purdy (35.7 PPG).
I’d argue that this team doesn’t get another game against the bottom-rung of QBs in the NFL this season, making these recent struggles a major concern. Geno Smith has a pair of multi-interception games this season and that’s two more games in which he has multiple touchdown passes.
If this defense is as ordinary as it has looked over the past three weeks, the 13th ranking we assigned them entering Week 6 could prove to be their high watermark moving forward. Seattle travels to Atlanta next week before hosting the Bills, bringing a five-game skid very much into the picture.
16) Los Angeles Chargers (3-2, Last Week: 19)
The Los Angeles Chargers looked good coming off their bye and have a manageable schedule coming up (the struggling Cardinals before facing the Saints, Browns, and Titans). Jim Harbaugh has himself an old-school team that aims to keep games close and make plays late.
Is that a sustainable way to make a living, given this roster? That’s to be determined, but the defense is playing at a high level, and the ground game has been good enough.
This profile would be much more appealing if they had an alpha receiver to threaten defenses, but they don’t, and that means running away from opponents is going to be difficult (they led 23-0 entering the fourth quarter in Week 6 and had to hang on for dear life because they couldn’t land a knockout blow against the Broncos).
17) Dallas Cowboys (3-3, Last Week: 15)
The Dallas Cowboys have beaten three bad offenses on the road and lost to three reasonable offenses at home. At this point, it’s hard to label them as anything other than average until they show us something different.
America’s Team goes on bye this week and better use the week off wisely as they get the 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Commanders in the upcoming month. The defense has been inconsistent, creating the need for elite offensive upside, something that isn’t in the cards right now without a stable run game or a running option next to CeeDee Lamb.
18) New Orleans Saints (2-4, Last Week: 18)
I’m old enough to remember when the New Orleans Saints had 91 points through two weeks and were pushing for the “Greatest Show on Turf” nickname.
Since that hot start, they’ve lost four straight, the last two coming by a cumulative score of 77-40. Spencer Rattler didn’t look completely overwhelmed (22/40 for 243 yards against the Buccaneers). He won’t be pressured to put up big numbers for the rest of his time filling in for Derek Carr (we don’t know how long that will be, but New Orleans plays the Broncos, Chargers, and Panthers over the next three weeks).
This team can bounce back when at full strength, especially with a very manageable schedule over the next two months, but they’ve lost all benefit of the doubt from that scorching start.
19) New York Jets (2-4, Last Week: 22)
Although the New York Jets made a change at head coach this week, it wasn’t enough to defeat the Bills on Monday night. While New York’s offense looked considerably better with Todd Downing taking over as the team’s play-caller, the Jets were hamstrung by 11 penalties and two missed field goals.
Things aren’t going to get any easier for the Jets moving forward, as they are slated to visit the 4-2 Steelers next week before hosting the 5-1 Texans on Halloween. Considering that the Jets are currently sitting at 2-4 and 10th overall in the AFC, they need to bounce back against stiff competition to remain in the playoff hunt.
20) Cincinnati Bengals (2-4, Last Week: 20)
Heading into Week 6, the Cincinnati Bengals were one of the easiest teams to evaluate in the NFL. Cincinnati was a top-five offense and a bottom-five defense by EPA. While Joe Burrow failed to put up gaudy numbers against the Giants, Cincinnati was able to escape with a much-needed win to improve to 2-4.
Now the Bengals will look to carry their momentum into a divisional matchup against the lowly, one-win Cleveland Browns in Week 7 before drawing the Eagles in a big Week 8 matchup if they want to save their season.
21) Arizona Cardinals (2-4, Last Week: 16)
For the third time in six weeks, the Arizona Cardinals allowed 34+ points. Their offense has the potential to be explosive when healthy (Marvin Harrison Jr. is currently banged up), but this defense puts them in a position to need to be close to perfect, and that’s not a sustainable way of winning games.
That said, with the Chargers and Dolphins up next, this could be a .500 team in short order. This is a fun team, and without much in the way of potent offenses left on the schedule, this team could be more successful than our power ranking suggests.
22) Indianapolis Colts (3-3, Last Week: 23)
The Indianapolis Colts have won three of four games and have seen six or fewer points decide every game this season. Without an elite unit on either side, this team will have to show well in these hotly-contested games, and Joe Flacco has proved to be the more stable option under center for those spots.
Anthony Richardson was the emergency QB for Week 6 and seems more likely than not to assume the starting role next week against the Dolphins. With a struggling run defense, this defense will need to get better if they want to remain in the playoff mix.
After the Dolphins next week, they play the Texans, Vikings, and Bills in succession – if they can’t develop consistency on the defensive end, they won’t have to worry about continuing to win close games.
23) Denver Broncos (3-3, Last Week: 21)
Snapped is the Denver Broncos’ three-game winning streak, but they could rebound in short order with games against the Derek Carr-less Saints on Thursday and the Panthers the following Sunday.
The mission of this season is clear, and it’s to develop Bo Nix. If he shows enough to be considered the centerpiece of this rebuild, Sean Payton might be onto something. In the short term, the concussion to Patrick Surtain takes away from the primary strength of this team. This team is .500 through six weeks – they’d be fortunate to go .500 the rest of the way.
24) Los Angeles Rams (1-4, Last Week: 24)
The beat-up Los Angeles Rams should benefit from the early bye as much as anyone, and they are as good a bet as anyone to move up these power rankings in rather short order.
Cooper Kupp is expected to rejoin the team this week with the Raiders coming to town, their first five-game stretch that could see this team win four times (Raiders-Vikings-Seahawks-Dolphins-Patriots). The offense figures to trend up, but if the Aaron Donald-less defense doesn’t improve (dead last in total EPA), it may not matter.
The middle class of the NFC has proven to be ordinary up to this point, leaving the door open for a team like this if they can plug a few holes coming out of the bye.
25) Miami Dolphins (2-3, Last Week: 26)
The Miami Dolphins are attempting to stay afloat until Tua Tagovailoa can come back, and a win in New England before their Week 6 bye allowed them to do just that. This team is trying to shorten games with the league’s highest rush rate over expectation, but that will be a dangerous way to live with three explosive offenses on tap (Colts-Cardinals-Bills).
This team won 11 of its first 15 games last season and could close the season in style if at full strength. That said, the team it is currently fielding isn’t very competitive, and we have to account for the potential that this is the version of the Dolphins that plays the remainder of 2024.
26) New York Giants (2-4, Last Week: 25)
The New York Giants made things interesting against the Bengals in Week 6, yet New York just didn’t have enough firepower to win. While New York’s stout defensive front gave Joe Burrow and the Bengals plenty of problems, they eventually ran out of gas late in the fourth quarter.
New York’s comeback attempt was halted by kicker Greg Joseph, who missed two crucial field goals on Sunday night. Now the Giants will attempt to turn things around against the Eagles in a divisional matchup in Week 7, the start of a three-game stretch (Steelers and Commanders after that) that could position them for an early pick in April.
27) Las Vegas Raiders (2-4, Last Week: 27)
That Week 2 win in Baltimore might as well have been a decade ago, as the Las Vegas Raiders haven’t cleared 20 points since, losing three of four in the process.
Points will be hard to come by for this team, no matter who is under center. Over the next two months, they have two meetings with the Chiefs, one with the Bengals, Buccaneers, Falcons, and a Dolphins team that might have Tua Tagovailoa back (Week 11).
Maxx Crosby is great, but this team has very little support. It is likely to be picked in the top 10 in the draft this spring.
28) Tennessee Titans (1-4, Last Week: 29)
For the fourth time in five games, the Tennessee Titans failed to score more than 17 points. The hope was that offseason investments on the offensive side of the ball would lead to the acceleration of development for Will Levis, but that hasn’t been the case at all (Week 6 vs. IND: 27 passes for 95 yards).
The defense can keep this team competitive against average teams, but asking them to do the heavy lifting with the Bills and Lions up next is asking a lot.
29) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5, Last Week: 28)
The Jacksonville Jaguars orchestrated a 14-play drive to put points on the board, production sandwiched between a pair of three-and-outs from the Bears in London – and then everything went sideways.
After that strong start, Chicago found the end zone on five of six drives, and Jacksonville couldn’t muster any consistency. Sound familiar?
Their Week 7 performance reflects Doug Pederson’s tenure in the team, as the 2022 playoff berth feels like a lifetime ago. The Jags stay in London for one more week before returning to the starters for a brutal run of games that sees them play the Packers, Eagles, Vikings, and Lions. The biggest question is whether Doug Pederson will be fired in 2024.
The most intriguing part of this team right now is whether or not Pederson will make it to the Week 12 bye.
30) Cleveland Browns (1-5, Last Week: 30)
The offense isn’t everything, but in 2024, if you can’t get to 20 points (something the Cleveland Browns have yet to do), you’re trying to thread a very thin needle to win. Despite the pass-heavy game scripts, Deshaun Watson has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this season and has more sacks than rush attempts.
The defense has regressed across the board, and while they are still a viable group, they need to be elite for the current version of this team to succeed. They will be tasked with slowing down the Bengals and Ravens over the next two weeks – good luck with that.
31) New England Patriots (1-5, Last Week: 31)
Before Drake Maye completed his first pass of his first start, his New England Patriots were in a 14-point hole to the Texans. This is far from an optimal situation for a franchise quarterback to develop good habits, but live reps hold value, and he showed some promise in spurts against Houston (the 36-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas was well executed).
The playoffs were never a realistic dream for the 2024 Patriots, making this season a win if they can learn how to structure an offense around their 2024 first-round pick.
32) Carolina Panthers (1-4, Last Week: 32)
The Carolina Panthers have been 3-20 since the beginning of last season and have given up north of 30 points in three straight contests. The Andy Dalton spark was fun in Weeks 3-4, but it turns out that may have been more the result of matchups (Raiders and Bengals) than anything sustainable.
This team is simply void of talent across the board. They will have another chance to add to their rebuild with a high pick in April, but this team is at least a few seasons away from fielding a competitive team.
All stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.