NFL Power Rankings After Week 3: Eagles Back on Top, Bengals and Falcons Slide

Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season was polarizing to say the least. While there were a good deal of boring, blowout games this week, there were also plenty of games that provided the entertainment and nail-biting outcomes that so many NFL fans turn their TV on to see every Sunday. Here is how I would rank all 32 teams in the league after Week 3:

32. New Orleans Saints (0-3)

Weekly Change: Neutral

After being somewhat competitive the first two weeks of the season, the Saints completely bottomed out this week against Seattle. The game was over at halftime, with Seattle up 38-6. Unfortunately for the Saints, a well-rested Buffalo team is waiting for them next week. A blowout en route to a 0-4 start is a likely outcome. 

31. Tennessee Titans (0-3)

Weekly Change: -4

Much like the aforementioned Saints, the Titans got blown out this week after being a competitive team the first two weeks of the season. Head Coach Brian Callahan’s seat is getting hot and it is getting harder and harder to see a reality where he is this team’s head coach in 2026. 

30. New York Jets (0-3)

Weekly Change: -2

Despite losing on a last-second field goal, the Jets were largely uncompetitive for most of the game against a battered Tampa Bay team. Before the miraculous comeback, which included a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, the Jets were down 23-6. Aaron Glenn’s defense has to start showing some signs of progression if he wants to be taken seriously as a new head coach. 

29. New York Giants (0-3)

Weekly Change: -3

After three weeks, Giants fans are already clamoring to see rookie QB Jaxson Dart, and understandably so. Russell Wilson regressed back to his normal self after his highly productive game against the Cowboys last week, throwing for a putrid 160 yards and two interceptions with zero touchdowns against the Chiefs this week. 

28 Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)

Weekly Change: -7

The first week without Joe Burrow went worse than even Bengals fans imagined. A 48-10 blowout loss to the Vikings and their backup QB Carson Wentz is a tough pill to swallow for the Bengals. This team will continue to spiral down the rankings if the offense is gonna be this poor without Burrow. 

27. Cleveland Browns (1-2)

Weekly Change: +4

After being ranked 31st in last weeks rankings, the Browns responded in a big way this week with a close win over the heavily favored Packers. This defense is really shaping up, with Myles Garrett and co. continuing to pressure the QB at an impressive rate. Joe Flacco’s offense is leaving a lot to be desired, which is what is ultimately holding this Browns team from being ranked higher. 

26. Miami Dolphins (0-3)

Weekly Change: +3

Despite losing on Thursday Night Football against the Bills, the Dolphins find themselves rising up three spots in this weeks rankings. Miami’s offense has shaped up the past two weeks and the team as a whole has been much more respectable following a tumultuous Week 1 against the Colts. 

25. New England Patriots (1-2)

Weekly Change: -2

New England was just okay this week. A competitive loss against a superior Steelers team is nothing to worry about, but there is also not much to really takeaway from this week other than QB Drake Maye playing well. As long as Maye is performing, I think the Patriots will be okay going forward.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)

Weekly Change: -1

The past two weeks have been concerning for the Raiders, particularly defensively. Playing Commanders’ backup QB Marcus Mariota, the Raiders defense allowed 34 points (7 points came from a punt return) and 400 yards. The Raiders will continue to drop if their defense continues to play poorly. 

23. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

Weekly Change: -9

After an encouraging win on the road against the Vikings last week, the Falcons legitimately looked like the worst team in the NFL this week. A 30-0 loss to the Panthers is incomprehensible. Furthermore, young QB Michael Penix Jr. has not yet taken the leap that many Falcons expected him to. There is still time, but it is not looking good for Penix as of right now. 

22. Carolina Panthers (1-2)

Weekly Change: +8

Speaking of the Panthers, here they are at the 22 spot. This Panthers defense has been surprisingly good to start the season. Players like Derrick Brown, Chau Smith-Wade and rookie defensive end Nic Scourton have really stood out early on. Offensively, the Panthers are still figuring things out, but that is just fine as long as this defense continues to impress. 

21. Dallas Cowboys (1-2)

Weekly Change: -3

The Cowboys defense has been nothing short of horrible this year. After allowing a bad Giants offense to score 37 points last week, the Cowboys defense came back this week and gave up 31 points to a good but not great Bears offense. It is going to be near impossible for the Cowboys to win games if the defense to continues to play this poor. 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

Weekly Change: Neutral

It was good to see the Steelers’ defense respond from a couple of poor weeks and come out and hold New England to 14 points. The Steelers will need more defensive performances like that if they want to seriously contend this year. 

19. Houston Texans (0-3)

Weekly Change: -2

This season is already becoming a disaster for the Texans.An 0-3 start is difficult to rebound from, but I think this Texans team is capable given the lack of quality in their division. Going forward, this Texans offense has to protect C.J. Stroud. The Texans defense will continue to keep the team in games, but the offense has to start putting points on the board. 

18. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)

Weekly Change: +4

I have not been overly impressed with this Jags team, but they have been solid on both offense and defense this year. The only definitive takeaways from the Jags so far this season are that Travis Hunter needs to become more involved offensively and Trevor Lawrence has to be more consistent. If both of those things occur, this Jags offense could start to cook. 

17. Chicago Bears (1-2)

Weekly Change: +8

This past week against the Cowboys is what Bears fans everywhere assumed their offense would look like coming into the season. Caleb Williams might have played his best game as a pro, totaling 298 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. After a rough two weeks to start the season, the Bears looked like they have gotten back on track. 

16. Arizona Cardinals (2-1)

Weekly Change: -1

Despite the close loss to the 49ers this week, my thoughts on the Cardinals have not changed much. Their defense continued to play well, and the offense continued to be just okay. I need to see better play from Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. before I can consider the Cardinals a serious playoff contender. 

15. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)

Weekly Change: -3

Despite injuries to seemingly all of their star players, the 49ers continue to find ways to win–and they will have to keep finding ways to win with star defensive end Nick Bosa suffering an injury that will keep him out the rest of the year. At some point, these injuries will catch up with the 49ers. Luckily, Brock Purdy should be back soon. 

Seattle simply took care of a bad Saints team this week. Sam Darnold has continued his high level of play from last year, and the defense is nearing elite status. After a shaky start to the year, Seattle has really impressed. 

14. Minnesota Vikings (2-1)

Weekly Change: +2

After a disappointing loss last week, a blowout win like this is just what the doctor ordered for the Vikings. Carson Wentz played well, and the defense scored two touchdowns of their own. If Carson Wentz continues to play well, it will be interesting to see whether or not the Vikings turn back to young QB J.J. McCarthy. 

13. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)

Weekly Change: +6

 Seattle simply took care of a bad Saints team this week. Sam Darnold has continued his high level of play from last year, and the defense is nearing elite status. After a shaky start to the year, Seattle has really impressed. 

12. Denver Broncos (1-2

Weekly Change: -1

A lot of people may be fading the Broncos but not me. Two losses on game-winning field goals is not enough for me to say that this team is not a playoff contender. I fully expect this team to bounce back next week against the Joe Burrow-less Bengals. 

11. Indianapolis Colts: (3-0)

Weekly Change: +2

Daniel Jones looks like a completely different QB under Shane Steichen. This Colts team has untapped potential if Daniel Jones continues to play like this. This Colts team could very well enter the top 10 with a win against a good Rams team next week. 

10. Washington Commanders (2-1)

Weekly Change: Neutral

Even with backup QB Marcus Mariota at the helm, the Commanders took care of business against the Raiders this week. The Commanders should be getting Jayden Daniels back this week against the Falcons with a chance to go 3-1. 

9. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)

Weekly Change: Neutral 

Kansas City managed to get in the win column this week against the lowly Giants, but in a sloppy, almost unwatchable game. The defense remained solid and the offense showed some signs of life against a talented Giants front. A big matchup with Ravens awaits. 

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0)

Weekly Change: Neutral 

Much like the 49ers, the Buccaneers keep winning games despite being an immensely battered team. Unlike the 49ers, the Buccaneers have their starting QB and are getting healthy soon, with Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs nearing a return to play. 

7. Los Angeles Chargers (3-0)

Weekly Change: Neutral

More of the same for LA: another divisional win where Justin Herbert played out of his mind. This teams just seems destined for a special season, led by the aforementioned Herbert and head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

6. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)

Weekly Change: Neutral

The Rams were ever so close to dethroning the Eagles but a blocked game-winning field goal kick proved the difference. This team is still a force and should be just fine going forward. 

5. Baltimore Ravens (1-2)

Weekly Change: -2

Despite the 1-2 start, I still have this Ravens team cracking the top five. Two close losses to the Bills and Lions does not scare me into lowering this team. An interesting matchup with fellow 1-2 team Kansas City awaits. 

4. Detroit Lions (2-1)

Weekly Change +1

The Packers’ destruction of the Lions a mere two weeks ago feels like a distant memory. Since that point, the Lions have put up 90 points in two dominant wins. The Lions of the past few years are officially back. 

3. Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Weekly Change: -2

Even after a shocking loss to a bad Browns team, I am still not worried about this Packers team. This defense still dominated, and the offense ran into an absolute beast of a defensive line in Cleveland. I expect a big bounce back in Dallas on Sunday night. 

2. Buffalo Bills (3-0)

Weekly Change: +2

Albeit closer than expected, the Bills took care of business at home against a scrappy Dolphins team. This team looks like the AFC’s best three weeks in.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)

Weekly Change: +1

Perhaps I was too hasty in lowering the Eagles from the top spot in last week’s rankings. Despite a horrific start against the Rams, the Eagles found a way to get a win. The offense looked like its usual self this week, and the defense put the clamps on a great Rams offense in the second half. The Eagles have another tough test against Tampa Bay next week.  

Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop