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NFL Nation
Multiple Authors
After four weeks of the 2026 NFL season, there are only three undefeated teams left: the 49ers, Chiefs and Vikings. And last season’s 14 playoff teams are off to a rocky start, with a combined record of 30-26 this season. That’s the lowest winning percentage through four weeks by the previous season’s playoff teams in the past 15 years, per ESPN Research.
So why are those teams struggling — and how are San Francisco, Kansas City and Minnesota still unbeaten? We’re stacking all 32 teams entering Week 5. And in addition to our 1-32 rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to reflect on the first month of the season. Which teams are meeting or exceeding expectations? Which teams are already in jeopardy of a failed season?
To form the list, our power panel of more than a dozen NFL analysts evaluates how all 32 teams stack up against one another. Here are a few highlights from this week’s rankings:
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The Jaguars secured their second straight win over an AFC opponent Sunday to move into the top five of our rankings. That was despite 125 penalty yards in Cincinnati, which marked their most in a single game since Week 7 of 2019, per ESPN Research. And the Jaguars saw some positive play from third-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who scored on his first red zone target this season.
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The Eagles are out of the top 10 after a shocking defeat to the Rams at home. According to ESPN Analytics, Philly had a 97.4% chance to win when it led by 10 with a third-and-goal with 8:17 left in the fourth quarter. The loss marked their second straight game with no points in the second half.
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The Browns climbed into the top 20 of our list after their third straight win — a 27-24 decision over the Steelers on Thursday night. Cleveland won three games as an underdog for the first time since 2021, per ESPN Research, and is tied with Baltimore for first place in the AFC North, though the Ravens could run into some trouble after QB Lamar Jackson injured his left ankle Sunday.
Let’s get into the full list, starting with a different No. 1 team from last week.
Previous rankings: Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Week 4 result: Beat the Broncos 24-14
Week 4 ranking: 2
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Not surviving but thriving.
The 49ers have again been hit by a slew of injuries. On the defensive line, star defensive end Nick Bosa is out because of a calf issue. At receiver, they’ve lost Ricky Pearsall (knee) for the season and promising rookie De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle) for 10 weeks. And yet the Niners are one of three undefeated teams. Quarterback Brock Purdy has emerged as an early MVP candidate, as the offense has done most of the heavy lifting. But Sunday’s win showed the Niners can lean on their defense and special teams when they aren’t lighting up the scoreboard. — Nick Wagoner
Week 4 result: Beat the Raiders 30-27
Week 4 ranking: 3
Four words to describe the first four weeks: In Walker we trust.
Coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy have no excuses to ever abandon the running game as long as running back Kenneth Walker III is healthy and on the field. Walker has completely transformed the Chiefs’ offense, allowing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to make more deep completions. Walker leads the NFL with 537 rushing yards and the team with six total touchdowns. The Chiefs should continue to rely on Walker following the bye week after injuries to receivers Tyquan Thornton (dislocated left ankle) and Rashee Rice (right hamstring). — Nate Taylor
Week 4 result: Beat the Chargers 30-23
Week 4 ranking: 4
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Eventful — not always positive.
Quarterback Sam Darnold sustained a glute injury on the season’s fifth play and missed most of the first two games. No. 1 running back Jadarian Price, Seattle’s first-round pick, lost fumbles in consecutive weeks and is now on IR because of a chest injury. The Seahawks won in Week 4 despite a franchise-record 150 penalty yards. Throw in coach Mike Macdonald’s interview mishap — which resulted in an apology to Broncos coach Sean Payton — and the reigning champions haven’t traveled the smoothest road so far. But the first month was also defined by some stellar performances, such as Drew Lock’s fill-in stint and Jaxon Smith-Njigba continuing to make his case as the league’s best receiver. — Brady Henderson
Week 4 result: Lost to the Patriots 29-26
Week 4 ranking: 1
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Might’ve established unsustainable expectations.
The Bills opened the season with 77 points and 855 yards in two weeks. Quarterback Josh Allen looked unstoppable against Houston and Detroit, two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. Now the Texans and Lions are a combined 2-6, and the Bills are coming back down to earth. Coach Joe Brady’s offense has been held to 25 points per game over the past two weeks and turned the ball over seven times. There’s no question the Bills can compete in the AFC. But the steamrollers who looked poised to break NFL scoring records seem like an artifact from the start of the season. — Nick Suss
Week 4 result: Beat the Bengals 22-17
Week 4 ranking: 10
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Defense is getting overlooked.
Heading into this season, there was plenty of hype around Year 2 of the Liam Coen offense. But defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has made a name for himself early in the season, which could lead to attention in next year’s head-coaching cycle. The Jaguars rank among the top eight in the NFL in sacks, run defense, turnovers, red zone efficiency and third-down defense. With a run defense ranked second in the NFL (74.3 yards per game), Jacksonville has given up just nine first-half points. — Michael DiRocco
Week 4 result: Beat the Titans 24-18
Week 4 ranking: 5
Four words to describe the first four weeks: First place but hurting.
The Ravens are meeting expectations with their best start in three seasons, which puts them in a first-place tie with the Browns atop the AFC North. But it has come at a cost. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is considered day-to-day after injuring his left ankle Sunday, and his offensive line isn’t faring much better. Injuries have left Baltimore with its No. 4 option at center (Olaivavega Ioane) and its third-string right guard (Emery Jones Jr.). “We’re not going to make excuses,” coach Jesse Minter said. “We’re going to figure out the guys that we have and put them out there and give ourselves the best chance to be successful.” — Jamison Hensley
Week 4 result: Beat the Eagles 24-20
Week 4 ranking: 7
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Not a superteam … yet.
The Rams came into the season with sky-high expectations after adding defensive end Myles Garrett, cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive tackle Aaron Donald to a team that already had the reigning MVP in quarterback Matthew Stafford. But Los Angeles needed an improbable comeback victory Sunday to avoid a 1-3 start. The Rams have been inconsistent and missed significant players because of injuries, including Garrett (three games), Donald (one) and wide receiver Puka Nacua (two). Los Angeles might not be playing like a Super Bowl contender right now, but it could be later in the season, especially once Garrett is back from knee surgery. — Sarah Barshop
Week 4 result: Beat the Jets 23-12
Week 4 ranking: 11
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Dominating with different QBs.
Caleb Williams (hamstring injury) led the Bears to a 59-point performance against the Panthers, Case Keenum beat the Eagles handedly, and Tyson Bagent enjoyed a thorough domination of the Jets. The Bears are No. 1 in total yards, first downs and time of possession, and they have the NFL’s best rushing offense (785 total yards). “It’s the cliché, next man up, certainly, but our guys, we know we have a lot of talent throughout this roster, from the front to the back end,” coach Ben Johnson said. “And so we always know we’re going to have a chance each and every week.” — Courtney Cronin
Week 4 result: Beat the Dolphins 15-10
Week 4 ranking: 9
Four words to describe the first four weeks: They’re undefeated, somehow, someway.
The Vikings are 2-0 in the NFC North, even though their offense has been one of the NFL’s worst. The explanation is clear: Minnesota’s defense ranks No. 1 in expected points added, and its special teams unit ranks No. 2. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has overwhelmed opponents with a 68% blitz rate, kicker Will Reichard has made all 12 field goal attempts and returner Myles Price is averaging 30.2 yards per kickoff return and 20.1 yards per punt return. The offense has scored only one touchdown since Week 1, but those other contributions have been enough for the Vikings to keep winning. — Kevin Seifert
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Week 4 result: Lost to the 49ers 24-14
Week 4 ranking: 6
Four words to describe the first four weeks: What’s up on offense?
The Broncos promoted Davis Webb to playcaller, traded for WR Jaylen Waddle and said it was a priority to re-sign RB J.K. Dobbins this offseason. On top of all that, they said QB Bo Nix was completely healthy after two ankle surgeries since January. And yet the high hopes for the offense have turned into a teeth-grinding affair with little pop. Denver is 29th in the league in explosive plays, has had no 100-yard rushers and just one 100-yard receiving game. After finishing near the bottom of the league in each of the previous two seasons in drives that end in a three-and-out, the Broncos haven’t made any improvements so far this season (26th). — Jeff Legwold
Week 4 result: Lost to the Chiefs 30-27
Week 4 ranking: 14
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Something special is brewing.
Even after the Raiders’ heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs, there’s a sense that first-time coach Klint Kubiak is building something special in Las Vegas. The Raiders were competitive for four quarters against Kansas City. They are better than expected and should be a competitive team each week, especially with quarterback Kirk Cousins playing at a high level. With the Chargers 0-4 and the Broncos 2-2, it’s not crazy to suggest Las Vegas can make a playoff run in Year 1 of the Kubiak era. — Ryan McFadden
Week 4 result: Beat the Texans 34-30
Week 4 ranking: 15
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Lots of work needed.
The Cowboys’ offense can score on anyone (at least 31 points in three of four games). Their defense is still a work in progress (at least 20 points allowed in all four games). Special teams has also had issues (two blocked field goals and poor end-of-game management against Baltimore). In other words, this start looks a lot like the up-and-down ride from 2025, when they went 7-9-1. Early in the season, winning in any manner is what matters most as long as there is improvement. With their next games versus winless Tampa Bay and struggling Green Bay, the Cowboys need to show some progress. — Todd Archer
Week 4 result: Lost to the Rams 24-20
Week 4 ranking: 8
Four words to describe the first four weeks: This offense has problems.
The Eagles have been outscored 31-0 in the second half of their past two games, the worst differential in any two-game span of the Nick Sirianni era. They went 0-for-12 on third down and netted just 68 passing yards against the Rams. Their offensive line is shorthanded and looks disjointed. Star players Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith have hamstring injuries. There is no identity, which is perplexing given Sean Mannion was brought in as offensive coordinator to deliver a scheme that seems to be used only sporadically. And QB Jalen Hurts has fallen off after a strong start. It’s a mess right now. — Tim McManus
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Rex Ryan: Eagles O-line is ‘hot garbage’
Week 4 result: Beat the Bills 29-26
Week 4 ranking: 16
Four words to describe the first four weeks: “Maye-day! Maye-day!”
Quarterback Drake Maye’s shaky decision-making in the first three games of the season contributed to a 1-2 start, sparking myriad questions leading into Sunday’s matchup in Buffalo. Maye answered them with his best performance of the season. Coach Mike Vrabel declared after the upset — led by Maye’s fourth-quarter performance — that the Patriots were “back in the race.” Maye said it was “relieving a little bit.” He still leads the NFL with nine turnovers. — Mike Reiss
Week 4 result: Lost to the Jaguars 22-17
Week 4 ranking: 12
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Back to .500 again.
For the second straight season, the Bengals ended the first month with an even record. Cincinnati had a flat performance against the Steelers in Week 3, then had some critical errors Sunday against the Jaguars. The numbers suggest Cincinnati has actually done a lot of good things; it ranks 10th in points per drive differential. But the Bengals must find a better offensive balance and clean things up defensively in order to maximize this season. — Ben Baby
Week 4 result: Lost to the Panthers 32-26
Week 4 ranking: 13
Four words to describe the first four weeks: “Are you not entertained?”
Like the famous line from the 2000 film “Gladiator,” you’re guaranteed some level of entertainment with this 2026 Lions team. Detroit scored at least 31 points in three of four games while also allowing 30 or more points in each. After their Week 3 win over the Jets, even coach Dan Campbell had to jokingly admit the Lions are worth the price of admission. “Tell you what, you’re coming to our games? You’re loving this now,” Campbell said. “I mean, these are exciting games. … Nobody’s leaving early. And that was the point. We’re not going to let anybody leave early this year.” — Eric Woodyard
Week 4 result: Beat the Cardinals 36-24
Week 4 ranking: 19
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Win is a win.
The Giants might not be blowing anyone away with their performance on the field. But does it really matter? This is a team that has played only five quarters with its starting quarterback after winning seven games over the past two seasons combined. The Giants are finding ways to win with new coach John Harbaugh and his culture leading the way. ESPN’s FPI has the Giants ranked 31st behind the winless Bucs, Texans and Chargers. You think those teams would rather have the Giants’ record than be ranked higher in the FPI? Not to mention: New York has a chance to build on its strong start with games against the Commanders, Saints and Texans over the next three weeks. — Jordan Raanan
Week 4 result: Beat the Lions 32-26
Week 4 ranking: 22
Four words to describe the first four weeks: The offense has evolved.
The Panthers went to bed Sunday night (or really, Monday morning) with the top passing offense in the NFL. Think about that for a minute: First-year playcaller Brad Idzik and much-maligned QB Bryce Young are running the top aerial attack, which averages 301.3 yards per game. The passing game has helped take the shade off an inconsistent rushing attack and up-and-down defensive performance. Injuries haven’t been kind to the defense, so coordinator Ejiro Evero needs to find solutions. — Mike Kaye
Week 4 result: Beat the Steelers 27-24
Week 4 ranking: 24
Four words to describe the first four weeks: A rebound beyond belief.
The first game of the Todd Monken era got off to an ominous start, with a 24-point road loss to the Jaguars. But instead of crumbling, the Browns responded with three consecutive victories, including a primetime win at home over the Steelers to put them atop the AFC North. Cleveland is back to playing its aggressive, man-to-man style of defense, and QB Deshaun Watson is playing his best football in a Browns uniform. He has led three straight winning drives. — Daniel Oyefusi
Week 4 result: Lost to the Browns 27-24
Week 4 ranking: 17
Four words to describe the first four weeks: A bit too “herky-jerky.”
Coach Mike McCarthy’s phrase of choice — “herky-jerky” — is an apt description for the Steelers through four weeks. Neither the offense nor defense has established an identity. Even special teams has struggled, as kicker Chris Boswell is 7-of-10 on field goal attempts. QB Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack have been inconsistent, and while the run game found a spark in Jaylen Warren, the playcalling has often put the ball in Rodgers’ hands. He has 167 dropbacks; the Steelers have run the ball just 86 times. The league’s highest-paid defense has allowed 24.7 points per game over the past three weeks. — Brooke Pryor
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‘Get Up’ crew divided over Aaron Rodgers’ angry exchange with Mike McCarthy
Week 4 result: Lost to the Falcons 45-24
Week 4 ranking: 18
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Sliding down the mountain.
The Saints had optimism going into Monday night’s game against the Falcons despite their 1-2 start. But the loss to Atlanta exposed holes all over. The Saints suffered a humiliating defeat in primetime and now have to figure out how to fix their defensive issues, their slow starts and their offensive line problems if they want to save their season. — Katherine Terrell
Week 4 result: Beat the Commanders 30-13
Week 4 ranking: 23
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Who are these guys?
The Colts have managed to get to .500 with consecutive wins, but there are so many questions about their viability as playoff contenders. The defense has played better but hasn’t faced a major test in the past two weeks after getting exposed in the opening two weeks. And on offense, only the Vikings are averaging fewer yards per play than the Colts (4.5). Sunday’s win somehow produced 30 points despite QB Daniel Jones posting his lowest passing total in a full game since joining the Colts last season (143). — Stephen Holder
Week 4 result: Beat the Buccaneers 17-14
Week 4 ranking: 20
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Help wanted: RBs apply.
Without Josh Jacobs and with an offensive line in flux, the Packers haven’t been able to run the ball. They’re last in the league in rushing yards per game (58), and they haven’t scored a rushing touchdown yet. There were some signs of life Sunday, but Chris Brooks left because of an ankle injury and both Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd fumbled. “I think a great teacher’s the bench,” coach Matt LaFleur said of the fumbles. “If guys don’t start holding on to the ball, they’re going to be sitting on the bench.” The problem is he doesn’t have any other options at this point. — Rob Demovsky
Week 4 result: Lost to the Cowboys 34-30
Week 4 ranking: 21
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Pass defense is struggling.
The Texans’ pass defense has fallen off a cliff in 2026. Last season, Houston was fifth in passing yards allowed (179 per game). So far in 2026, it’s 28th (260). For a team with three Pro Bowlers in the secondary, that’s inexcusable. There are a bunch of reasons, but a noteworthy one is that Houston hasn’t pressed as much as last season. The Texans have the second-lowest press rate (25%), per ESPN Research, compared to the 12th highest in 2025 (56%). That has been a little confusing, as All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Pro Bowl corner Kamari Lassiter are best when pressing. — DJ Bien-Aime
Week 4 result: Beat the Saints 45-24
Week 4 ranking: 29
Four words to describe the first four weeks: From worst to first.
The first two weeks of the season were absolutely disastrous. Tua Tagovailoa sustained an oblique injury, and Michael Penix Jr. was not ready to return from his ACL injury. Third-string quarterback Cooper Rush was thrust into the starting role — with back spasms to boot — and the Falcons’ offense was hideous. They had a league-low 16 combined points in the first two weeks, going 27 straight series without taking a snap in the red zone. The latter was tied for the second-longest skid in 45 years. But with Penix back, Atlanta’s offense has scored 80 combined points in two weeks, the most in the NFL in that span. — Marc Raimondi
Week 4 result: Lost to the Bears 23-12
Week 4 ranking: 25
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Better but not enough.
The Jets already look stronger than last season (3-14), but they’re still struggling to play complementary football and put together a complete game. Their point differential (minus-8) isn’t terrible, but their three-game losing streak is testing the patience of the fanbase. They improved the roster with some hits in the 2026 draft and free agency, but the results have yet to show up in the win column. Coach Aaron Glenn, who is 4-17 since taking the job, needs to spark a turnaround, pronto. — Rich Cimini
Week 4 result: Lost to the Colts 30-13
Week 4 ranking: 26
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Can’t ever stay healthy.
Injuries, once again, are the major storyline as Washington’s starters have missed a combined 20 games. More specifically, premium positions have taken a hit. The Commanders lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil (triceps) in camp; QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) has missed two games; top cornerback Trey Amos (ankle) remains on IR; receiver Terry McLaurin injured a hamstring during a light practice Friday; backup QB Marcus Mariota hurt his right knee in the first quarter Sunday. Washington has made personnel mistakes along the offensive line and secondary, and like last season (5-12), injuries have been a major issue. — John Keim
Week 4 result: Lost to the Seahawks 30-23
Week 4 ranking: 27
Four words to describe the first four weeks: An unmitigated offensive disaster.
The Chargers look like an offense that barely knows one another. They’ve racked up penalties and turnovers, struggling to move the ball under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. They rank 28th in points per game (16.8), and quarterback Justin Herbert looks worse than he ever has in his NFL career. He threw one of the most puzzling interceptions of his career directly to Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas on the first play of Sunday’s game. A quarter later, Herbert threw one just as bad to linebacker Ernest Jones IV. This offense looks helplessly lost, with few signs of it finding its way. — Kris Rhim
Week 4 result: Lost to the Giants 36-24
Week 4 ranking: 28
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Too many self-inflicted mistakes.
The Cardinals are still figuring out life under new coach Mike LaFleur. Following a convincing loss to the Seahawks in Week 2, Arizona has been close in its past two games but couldn’t overcome a litany of self-inflicted mistakes. Sunday’s matchup ended up with a pick-six thrown by QB Jacoby Brissett on fourth-and-goal. The hope in the locker room is that if the Cardinals can minimize those types of mistakes, they can fix the season. — Josh Weinfuss
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Adam Schefter’s players to watch at the trade deadline
Week 4 result: Lost to the Packers 17-14
Week 4 ranking: 30
Four words to describe the first four weeks: The offense is broken.
A four-letter word might be more appropriate than a four-word phrase here — that’s the brutally honest truth for a team that has completely failed. The Bucs’ offensive struggles from last season have worsened, both with and without injured quarterback Baker Mayfield (dislocated right thumb). Despite being a top-five defense in offensive points scored (seven touchdowns allowed in four games) and yardage (282.75), the Bucs have allowed 40 points off turnovers (most in the league). It’s all about those turnovers. — Jenna Laine
Week 4 result: Lost to the Ravens 24-18
Week 4 ranking: 31
Four words to describe the first four weeks: A work in progress.
The Titans’ four losses have presented different messages. The loss to the Jets was a major letdown for coach Robert Saleh in his debut, which happened to be against his former employer. Tennessee showed life against the Eagles and Giants, but both games were squandered late. The loss to the Ravens offered promise from QB Cam Ward, who finally surpassed 200 passing yards, and receiver Carnell Tate, whose 145 yards were the most by a Titans rookie in six years. “If you’re really objective and you’re just watching the tape, taking it play by play, you’ll see a lot of improvement from a lot of guys,” Saleh said. — Turron Davenport
Week 4 result: Lost to the Vikings 15-10
Week 4 ranking: 32
Four words to describe the first four weeks: Light bulb is flickering.
Through the first two weeks of the season, the Dolphins looked like they weren’t ready to compete. In Weeks 3 and 4, however, their defense pushed a pair of undefeated division leaders to the brink. On Sunday, the Dolphins recorded 17 pressures and four sacks — their first sacks of the season — while holding an admittedly struggling Minnesota offense out of the end zone. First-year coach Jeff Hafley said his team is “starting to believe.” Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez said the team is close to its first win: “The physicality and the want-to are there. … We’ve just got to learn how to win.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques
