NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.
This week, we identify someone on the hot seat from every team.
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1. San Francisco 49ers (6-0)
Previous rank: 1
Mykel Williams: The sophomore only has 11 career games under his belt, but the 49ers are counting on him to reinforce their defensive line. If there's one concern with San Francisco so far, it's a pass rush that's relying on unproven players. Nick Bosa will eventually return and anchor the pass rush, but Williams has to pitch in too. A first-round pick last year, Williams recorded just one sack as a rookie but got the second of his career Monday night against Washington.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
Previous rank: 2
Josh Simmons: If the best ability is availability, Simmons is flunking out in Kansas City. The 2025 first-round pick has only played in eight career games, and the nature of his absences often feels a bit peculiar. For example, the promising left tackle missed the first six games this year because of a back issue, yet the Chiefs didn't place him on injured reserve, which suggests that they expected him back within the first four weeks.
3. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Previous rank: 4
Jim Leonhard: The transition to a new defensive coordinator hasn't gone great for the Bills, who've given up 30-plus points four times - and 29 once. Moreover, the Texans, Rams (more excusable), and Raiders all scored 30 or more against Buffalo when their offenses were struggling. It will be hard to get over the hump in the playoffs if Leonhard can't stop the bleeding.
4. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
Previous rank: 6
Jauan Jennings: Jennings has been virtually nonexistent, posting just two receptions for nine yards after coming over from the 49ers in the offseason. In San Francisco, he was known as a physical, big-bodied receiver with a knack for making big plays, but those traits haven't shown in Minnesota. The Vikings still lack a slot presence as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison remain stapled to the perimeter.
5. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Previous rank: 3
Mark Andrews: Once an incredibly reliable tight end, Andrews has fallen off precipitously. He enters Week 7 with only 181 yards and a touchdown, plus a handful of drops, after signing a three-year, $39.3-million extension last December. Meanwhile, Isaiah Likely, who left Baltimore as a free agent in the offseason, already has 383 yards and five touchdowns for the Giants.
6. Chicago Bears (4-2)
Previous rank: 9
Jaylon Johnson: The Bears' top cornerback has taken a huge step back this year. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 73% of their passes when targeting Johnson, and he's been burned for 332 yards in coverage, per PFF. Those numbers make him one of the least effective cover corners in the league.
7. Denver Broncos (4-2)
Previous rank: 8
Bo Nix: Neither Davis Webb nor Sean Payton have been able to get the Broncos' offense into a groove, putting scrutiny on their third-year quarterback. Nix is coming off a particularly bad showing on Thursday Night Football against the Seahawks. Could the Broncos consider benching him if the issues persist much longer?
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
Previous rank: 5
Brian Thomas Jr.: Thomas' sophomore slump last year is nothing compared to what his third campaign has been. Thomas, who's produced just 105 yards and a touchdown, is the Jaguars' sixth-leading pass-catcher behind Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brenton Strange (TE), Bhayshul Tuten (RB), and Josh Cameron. Heck, Travis Hunter barely plays on offense and he's only 29 yards behind Thomas.
9. New England Patriots (4-2)
Previous rank: 10
A.J. Brown: Brown dropped three passes in his return from injury Sunday against the Jets and finished with only three receptions on 10 targets. That isn't the type of production the Patriots had in mind when they traded for him. After all the noise Brown made in Philadelphia when the offense labored, he's now the one who's struggling to make the most of his opportunities.
10. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
Previous rank: 7
Sam Darnold: A Super Bowl victory should buy you time, but this is the ultimate "What have you done for me lately?" league. And lately, Darnold has been turning over the ball at an alarming rate, recording seven interceptions in his last four games. Darnold figures to have some leash, but head coach Mike Macdonald can only let Seattle's turnover problems go on for so long.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Previous rank: 13
Chris Boswell: Boswell was one of the NFL's most consistent kickers for the past decade, but he's been atypically shaky this season. He's already missed four field goals, including two inside the 50-yard line, and even some of his makes have been close calls. A Steelers team that isn't dominant in any phase can't afford to leave points on the table.
12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
Previous rank: 12
Shemar Stewart: The Bengals are practically begging for someone to solidify the edge position opposite Boye Mafe. Stewart, a 2025 first-rounder whose rookie campaign went sideways before it even began, has played just 17 snaps this season. With Stewart struggling to climb the depth chart, the unproductive duo of Myles Murphy and Cashius Howell has been seeing the field instead.
13. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Previous rank: 17
Rasheed Walker: The newcomer has started all five games at left tackle, but his 21 quarterback pressures allowed could force him to the bench. In fact, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that he's assessing various combinations up front as impressive rookie Monroe Freeling nears a return from injury and veteran Taylor Moton settles back in at right tackle.
14. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
Previous rank: 19
Tucker Kraft: While an offensive renaissance has lowered the noise in Green Bay, the Packers need more from Kraft. The fourth-year tight end was on his way to 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns last season before tearing his ACL, but he's tracking toward roughly 700 yards and three touchdowns in 2026. Considering Kraft inked a four-year, $92-million extension before the season, it's fair to expect him to be featured more consistently.
15. Detroit Lions (3-2)
Previous rank: 18
Kelvin Sheppard: The Lions rank last in yards allowed per game, and their average of 29.6 points allowed is only 0.1 ahead of last place in that category too. Poor defense has cost Detroit dearly last season, and the unit's only gotten worse in Sheppard's second season as the coordinator.
16. Cleveland Browns (4-2)
Previous rank: 22
Deshaun Watson: A pleasant 4-2 start has diverted attention from the mediocre quarterback play in Cleveland. To be fair, Watson has made some big plays in the fourth quarters of the Browns' wins, but he still doesn't look like the long-term answer. He'll keep starting as long as Cleveland keeps winning, but Shedeur Sanders may want to stay ready.
17. Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
Previous rank: 11
The kicker, whoever it may be: The Rams have ripped through kickers in recent years, and they've shown no signs of stopping. Harrison Mevis received his walking papers after failing to get the job done against the Bills two weeks ago, then Blake Grupe injured himself and left L.A. without a kicker for most of its loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. Those outcomes are the difference between the Rams being 4-2 and 2-4.
18. New York Giants (3-2-1)
Previous rank: 14
Cam Skattebo: Skattebo looked like a future building block for the Giants at this time last year, but now he's suddenly battling to stay in the backfield rotation. Skattebo didn't receive a single touch in Sunday's loss to the Saints, and head coach John Harbaugh said afterward that he's waiting for any Giants running back to seize the lead role.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)
Previous rank: 16
Kirk Cousins: Even though he's exceeded expectations, Cousins is still on borrowed time with No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza lurking in the shadows. The Raiders have lost three in a row, and the longer the streak continues, the closer Mendoza gets to taking over as the starting quarterback.
20. Houston Texans (2-4)
Previous rank: 24
Marvin Harrison Jr.: After fizzling out in Arizona, Harrison has a fresh start with the Texans. But make no mistake: There are no excuses this time. The 2024 fourth overall pick needs to deliver on his potential or else he'll quickly start bouncing around the league. Harrison caught three passes for 34 yards in his Texans debut, a win over the Jaguars.
21. Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
Previous rank: 20
Christian Parker: The fact that the Cowboys recently added veteran coach Mike Pettine to the defensive staff signals a belief that their first-year coordinator is struggling. And considering they're near the bottom of the league in most major defensive categories, that assessment would be accurate.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
Previous rank: 15
Nick Sirianni: It's hard to attribute the Eagles' four-game skid to injuries when their struggles - especially on offense - go all the way back to last season. Sirianni has never missed the playoffs, yet this is the third time in four years in which the product on the field appears vastly inferior to the talent in the locker room.
23. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
Previous rank: 23
Kyle Pitts: A two-touchdown effort in Sunday's loss to the Bears was a step in the right direction in what's otherwise been a terrible year for Pitts. The 26-year-old had 928 receiving yards last season, shaking off three dismal campaigns before that, but he's now mired in the worst season of his career. Pitts got paid in the offseason; it's time to produce.
24. New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Previous rank: 27
Kellen Moore: Saints owner Gayle Benson recently threatened action amid the team's disappointing start, which puts Moore under immense pressure to succeed. Benson isn't going to personally make roster changes, and she's far more likely to pull the plug on Moore than longtime GM Mickey Loomis.
25. New York Jets (2-4)
Previous rank: 25
Aaron Glenn: This is a bit harsh because he's delivered on the defensive side, but questionable in-game decisions and bad situational football continue to haunt Glenn and the Jets. The second-year coach is also 0-7 in the AFC East following Sunday's loss to the Patriots. It's too early to call him a sitting duck, but Glenn's seat is certainly heating up.
26. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
Previous rank: 29
Monti Ossenfort: A GM with a rebuilding team can afford losses, but those growing pains should lead to a strong nucleus of young talent via the draft. That's where Ossenfort has problems. His first-round picks (Jeremiyah Love, Walter Nolen, Marvin Harrison Jr., Darius Robinson, and Paris Johnson Jr.) have mostly fallen flat, and Harrison is already off the team.
27. Washington Commanders (1-4-1)
Previous rank: 26
Dan Quinn: It's going to be really hard for Quinn to erase the stench of that overtime debacle against the Giants when the Commanders accidentally let the clock expire and had to settle for a tie. And it doesn't help that he's a defensive coach with a porous defense and a record of 6-16-1 over the last two seasons.
28. Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Previous rank: 31
Cam Ward: This isn't the 1990s, when quarterbacks got three full seasons before teams started evaluating them. Ward has shown minimal progress since being drafted first overall two years ago, and the Titans look like they're heading for another top-five selection in 2027. Ward will be under the microscope from here on out.
29. Indianapolis Colts (2-4)
Previous rank: 21
Shane Steichen: Indianapolis' 2-4 start cost GM Chris Ballard his job, and it's a matter of time before his coach follows him out the door. There are plenty of issues with the Colts' roster, but Steichen should be able to do better than what we've seen in 2026, the latest example being a home loss to the bottom-feeding Titans.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)
Previous rank: 28
Todd Bowles: At this rate, it will take a miracle for Bowles to save his job. The Buccaneers have followed last year's late-season collapse with five losses in six games, putting them on track to miss the playoffs again. Bowles seems to be out of ideas in attempting to right the ship.
31. Los Angeles Chargers (0-6)
Previous rank: 30
Jim Harbaugh: While he possesses a track record of success, Harbaugh also has a history of wearing out his welcomes. And unless Justin Herbert gets going and the Chargers start to turn their season around, the eccentric coach might have the rug pulled out from underneath him after three seasons.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-5)
Previous rank: 32
Malik Willis: It's not fair to evaluate any quarterback in a situation this bleak, but Willis is easiest person for the Dolphins to scapegoat, considering their GM and coach are both in their first seasons. Willis has thrown just two touchdowns in six games, and Miami hasn't held a lead at any point in any contest.
