Rams Top NFL Week 1 Power Rankings as Patriots Jump 5 Spots to No. 6
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 8
Rams Top NFL Week 1 Power Rankings as Patriots Jump 5 Spots to No. 6
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 8
Summary
Los Angeles opens 2026 atop the Week 1 rankings, with the Rams holding No. 1 despite concerns about depth behind their star-heavy starting lineup.
Seattle stayed No. 2 and Denver No. 3, while Buffalo and Chicago rounded out the top five as the preseason hierarchy remained largely unchanged.
New England made the biggest rise in the upper tier, climbing from No. 11 to No. 6 after an offseason capped by Christian Gonzalez's completed extension.
Houston slid from No. 6 to No. 10 amid offensive injuries around C.J. Stroud, and Washington fell from No. 18 to No. 25 with coordinator turnover, line concerns and Laremy Tunsil sidelined.
At the bottom, Miami remained No. 32 with nearly $182 million in dead money, underscoring how roster health, offseason moves and schedule strength are shaping expectations before kickoff.