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NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Browns Surge, Eagles Keep Falling

NFL Power Rankings Week 7: The unbeaten 49ers and Chiefs hold firm while the Browns, Bears and Texans rise and the Eagles lose their fourth straight.

October 20, 20262 minutes read
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FPC CONTRIBUTORIan GlendonOctober 20, 2026 · 2 mins read
Ian GlendonFPC Editor
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Six weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the league is beginning to separate into three very different neighborhoods: the teams that keep winning, the teams that are impossible to figure out and the teams already running out of explanations.

San Francisco survived a Monday-night rally by Washington to improve to 6-0. Kansas City is 5-0 after handling the Chargers, and Minnesota came out of its bye undefeated. Buffalo kept pace. But the real movement came below the elite: Cleveland beat Baltimore, Houston stunned Jacksonville in London, Chicago rebounded behind a returning Caleb Williams and Carolina sent Philadelphia to a fourth straight loss.

There are also new reasons for concern. Lamar Jackson’s ankle has kept him out of Baltimore’s last two games, Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve and San Francisco’s receiving depth is being tested. Last week’s hype isn’t enough; these rankings weigh the results, the quality of the opponent and the condition of each roster.

Movement is measured against our published Week 6 NFL Power Rankings. Here is the complete 1–32 board entering Week 7.

FULL PRESS COVERAGE · NFL

NFL Power Rankings

Week 7 · 2026

49ers and Chiefs remain unbeaten; the Browns and Bears rise, while the Eagles lose a fourth straight game.

2026 SEASON TRACKER7 connected editions · Team records at publication
32▼ 2

Los Angeles Chargers

0-6

Los Angeles was held to two field goals in a 22-6 loss to Kansas City, extending the franchise's worst start in decades. Justin Herbert faced relentless pressure, and the offense offered almost nothing in response. The Chargers are now the lone 0-6 team and belong at the bottom.

AVG 26.1BEST 15WORST 32WEEKS 7
31—

Miami Dolphins

0-5

Miami spent the week on its bye, which at least prevented another loss. The Dolphins still lack the consistent offense and defensive reliability needed to escape the bottom tier. Until they win, there is very little reason to reward them for inactivity.

AVG 31.6BEST 31WORST 32WEEKS 7
30▲ 2

Tennessee Titans

1-5

The Titans finally have a win after rallying from a 13-point deficit to beat Indianapolis 26-20. Tennessee's defense recorded six sacks, and Robert Saleh earned his first victory with the team. One result cannot fix five previous losses, but it moves the Titans above the winless teams.

AVG 29.7BEST 27WORST 32WEEKS 7
29▼ 2

Washington Commanders

1-4-1

Washington nearly erased a 20-3 halftime deficit before losing 23-17 to San Francisco. Jayden Daniels threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, but late chances went unfinished. Terry McLaurin's knee injury adds a worrying complication to an already difficult start.

AVG 25.6BEST 18WORST 30WEEKS 7
28▼ 6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1-5

Tampa Bay pushed Pittsburgh into overtime before falling 26-19, an encouraging effort that still left the Buccaneers with another loss. Rookie Jalon Daniels continues learning under difficult circumstances while Baker Mayfield recovers from his thumb injury. At 1-5, effort alone cannot justify a higher ranking.

AVG 24.6BEST 18WORST 31WEEKS 7
27▼ 3

New York Jets

2-4

New York hung around against New England but left with a 26-19 loss. Geno Smith moved the ball at times, yet the Jets settled for too many field goals and failed to finish drives. Their defense keeps games within reach; the offense keeps making those chances smaller.

AVG 26.3BEST 24WORST 29WEEKS 7
26▼ 1

Indianapolis Colts

2-4

Indianapolis squandered a 13-point halftime lead in a 26-20 loss to previously winless Tennessee. Daniel Jones threw two interceptions, and the Colts could not finish a game they appeared to control. Losing this matchup makes the recent optimism considerably harder to defend.

AVG 24.6BEST 21WORST 27WEEKS 7
25▼ 2

Dallas Cowboys

2-4

The Cowboys followed their home loss to Tampa Bay with a 23-13 defeat at Green Bay. Dallas managed only 48 rushing yards and continued to place too much of the offense on Dak Prescott. The Cowboys are drifting rather than building toward anything convincing.

AVG 17.9BEST 10WORST 25WEEKS 7
24▼ 6

Philadelphia Eagles

2-4

Philadelphia has now lost four straight, the latest a 25-14 home defeat against Carolina. Tanner McKee started with Jalen Hurts on injured reserve because of a blood clot, and the offense struggled badly. The roster still has talent, but the Eagles' outlook has become increasingly uncertain.

AVG 12.1BEST 4WORST 24WEEKS 7
23▼ 6

Atlanta Falcons

2-4

Atlanta fell behind Chicago by 24 points before mounting a late push in a 31-23 loss. Michael Penix Jr. and the offense showed life, but digging that kind of hole is not a sustainable strategy. Two consecutive defeats have erased much of the optimism from the Falcons' earlier surge.

AVG 22.1BEST 11WORST 31WEEKS 7
22▼ 6

Los Angeles Rams

2-4

The Rams followed their emotional overtime loss to Buffalo with an 18-16 defeat against Arizona. Another kicking setback complicated matters, but a talented offense should not need perfect special teams to score more than 16 points. Los Angeles keeps playing close games and keeps letting them escape.

AVG 12.9BEST 2WORST 22WEEKS 7
21▲ 8

Arizona Cardinals

2-4

Arizona won 18-16 at Los Angeles without scoring a touchdown, leaning instead on six Chad Ryland field goals. The defensive performance against the Rams deserves credit, even if the offense remains a serious limitation. A second road win gets the Cardinals moving in the right direction.

AVG 23.9BEST 17WORST 30WEEKS 7
20▲ 8

New Orleans Saints

2-4

The Saints snapped a three-game skid by beating the Giants 34-27 on the road. Tyler Shough accounted for four touchdowns and gave an offense that had looked stuck a welcome jolt. New Orleans still has plenty to prove, but this was the kind of result that can change a season's direction.

AVG 22.4BEST 15WORST 28WEEKS 7
19▼ 7

New York Giants

3-2-1

New York lost 34-27 at home to New Orleans after a messy game that included a quarterback change. J.J. McCarthy sparked a late comeback after replacing Jameis Winston, but the Giants could not erase their earlier mistakes. There is still promise here, along with growing instability.

AVG 17.4BEST 12WORST 22WEEKS 7
18▲ 8

Houston Texans

2-4

The Texans are finally producing the kind of offense they expected entering the season. C.J. Stroud threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 London win over Jacksonville, Houston's second straight victory. The 0-4 start still weighs heavily, but the arrow is finally pointing up.

AVG 20.1BEST 9WORST 29WEEKS 7
17▼ 3

Las Vegas Raiders

3-3

Las Vegas rebounded from its New England embarrassment with a far more competitive performance, but the Raiders still lost 33-30 to Buffalo. Kirk Cousins and the receiving corps created explosive plays, yet the defense could not finish the job. Consecutive defeats have cooled a once-red-hot start.

AVG 15.1BEST 4WORST 28WEEKS 7
16▼ 1

Cincinnati Bengals

3-2

Cincinnati comes out of its bye at 3-2 after stopping a two-game skid before the break. The Bengals' offensive ceiling remains high, but they have not yet stacked enough complete performances to regain early-season respect. A healthier and more efficient stretch could move them quickly.

AVG 11.9BEST 5WORST 20WEEKS 7
15▼ 7

Seattle Seahawks

3-3

The Seahawks fell 17-14 in overtime at Denver and have now lost three of their past four games. Close losses to good opponents are survivable, but Seattle's offense is not providing enough consistency to protect its defending-champion reputation. The ranking has to follow the recent results.

AVG 5.4BEST 1WORST 15WEEKS 7
14▼ 1

Detroit Lions

3-2

Detroit was off this week and retains some credit for its explosive 45-point performance against Arizona before the bye. The offense has proven it can overwhelm opponents, even if the defense remains inconsistent. The Lions hold near the top half until they supply new evidence.

AVG 15.4BEST 13WORST 21WEEKS 7
13▲ 6

Carolina Panthers

3-2

Carolina's 25-14 road win over Philadelphia gives the Panthers another impressive result alongside earlier victories over Atlanta and Detroit. Bryce Young made enough throws, and Chuba Hubbard provided the running game to control the afternoon. The Panthers have earned a place in the league's crowded middle class.

AVG 22.1BEST 13WORST 30WEEKS 7
12▲ 9

Chicago Bears

4-2

Caleb Williams returned from injury and immediately changed the tone of Chicago's offense, throwing for 305 yards in a 31-23 win at Atlanta. The Bears nearly let a big lead disappear, so the defensive concerns have not vanished. Still, this was a strong response to the embarrassment in Green Bay.

AVG 13.7BEST 9WORST 21WEEKS 7
11▼ 5

Baltimore Ravens

4-2

Baltimore's 13-10 loss to Cleveland is easier to explain with Lamar Jackson sidelined by an ankle injury, but it still counts. Backup Tyler Huntley could not generate enough offense to protect a narrow lead. The Ravens remain dangerous when healthy; right now, health is the central question.

AVG 7.0BEST 3WORST 11WEEKS 7
10▲ 10

Cleveland Browns

4-2

The Browns earned the week's biggest promotion by beating Baltimore 13-10 on a last-second field goal. Cleveland's defense again supplied the foundation, while Deshaun Watson delivered the late pass that set up the winner. The offense still has a ceiling, but a share of the AFC North lead deserves respect.

AVG 21.7BEST 10WORST 32WEEKS 7
9▲ 2

Pittsburgh Steelers

4-2

Pittsburgh rallied from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to beat Tampa Bay 26-19 in overtime. Aaron Rodgers made the decisive throws, and the defense came up with timely pressure when the game tightened. Two straight wins put the Steelers back in the AFC North fight.

AVG 16.0BEST 9WORST 23WEEKS 7
8▼ 3

Jacksonville Jaguars

4-2

Jacksonville's three-game winning streak ended in a 34-31 loss to Houston in London. Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdowns, but the defense could not close out a game it had every chance to win. The Jaguars retain a strong early résumé, even if their margin for error has narrowed.

AVG 8.9BEST 5WORST 12WEEKS 7
7▲ 2

Denver Broncos

4-2

Denver edged Seattle 17-14 in overtime to notch a meaningful win against the defending champions. The Broncos are not producing a consistently convincing offense, but their defense and situational execution keep putting them in position to win. At 4-2, the results now outweigh the style complaints.

AVG 9.4BEST 5WORST 14WEEKS 7
6▲ 4

Green Bay Packers

4-2

Green Bay followed its demolition of Chicago by beating Dallas 23-13. Jordan Love contributed through the air and on the ground, though the running game still needs work. Consecutive divisional and conference wins make the Packers one of the hottest teams beneath the undefeated trio.

AVG 16.0BEST 6WORST 23WEEKS 7
5▲ 2

New England Patriots

4-2

Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes in a 26-19 victory over the Jets, giving New England three straight wins. The Buffalo upset and Raiders blowout now look like the start of a genuine run rather than isolated good Sundays. The Patriots are back among the AFC's most credible threats.

AVG 8.0BEST 3WORST 16WEEKS 7
4—

Buffalo Bills

5-1

Buffalo escaped Las Vegas 33-30 behind Josh Allen and a crucial late touchdown run by James Cook. Back-to-back close victories show the Bills can survive difficult afternoons, but the defensive lapses continue to invite trouble. The talent and quarterback play keep Buffalo in the elite tier.

AVG 3.1BEST 1WORST 5WEEKS 7
3—

Minnesota Vikings

5-0

The Vikings return from their bye without a blemish on the record. An extra week of rest is welcome, and Minnesota's defense-first formula has held up against every opponent so far. It would take more than an idle Sunday to move them out of the top three.

AVG 8.0BEST 3WORST 19WEEKS 7
2—

Kansas City Chiefs

5-0

Kansas City handled the Chargers 22-6 and remains the AFC's only undefeated team. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns, giving Patrick Mahomes another path to victory. The Chiefs have a serious argument for No. 1, but San Francisco has an extra win.

AVG 4.6BEST 1WORST 12WEEKS 7
1—

San Francisco 49ers

6-0

The 49ers remain No. 1 after surviving Washington 23-17 on Monday night to reach 6-0. Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey did enough to build an early cushion, but the offense stalled late and Mike Evans left with an aggravated Achilles injury. San Francisco keeps winning despite mounting personnel concerns.

AVG 4.3BEST 1WORST 16WEEKS 7
POWER RANKINGSFULL PRESS COVERAGE

Biggest Risers

Cleveland Browns (20 to 10, up 10): Beating Baltimore gives Cleveland a share of the AFC North lead and the week’s biggest climb.

Chicago Bears (21 to 12, up 9): Caleb Williams returned, and Chicago promptly beat Atlanta to move to 4-2.

Houston Texans (26 to 18, up 8): The Texans followed their first victory with a London upset of Jacksonville.

New Orleans Saints (28 to 20, up 8) and Arizona Cardinals (29 to 21, up 8): Both delivered overdue wins against teams that had been ahead of them.

Biggest Fallers

Seattle Seahawks (8 to 15, down 7): Three losses in four games have changed the conversation around the defending champions.

New York Giants (12 to 19, down 7): A home loss to New Orleans and another quarterback change undo some of the September momentum.

Philadelphia Eagles (18 to 24, down 6): Four straight losses and the absence of Jalen Hurts make this far more than a temporary slump.

Los Angeles Rams (16 to 22, down 6), Atlanta Falcons (17 to 23, down 6), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (22 to 28, down 6): Each slipped as the crowded middle tier rearranged itself.

Final Thought

The contenders have not gone anywhere. San Francisco, Kansas City and Minnesota remain unbeaten, and Josh Allen keeps Buffalo within striking distance. The intrigue is happening beneath them: New England is steadily building credibility, Green Bay is finding its footing, and Cleveland and Houston have suddenly made their divisions more interesting.

The Eagles, Chargers and other struggling teams have a different challenge. October is no longer about the teams they hoped to become. It is about what they can still salvage.

Results and context: NFL Week 6 scores; Reuters Week 6 roundup; Reuters Monday-night recap.

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