Updated NFL Power Rankings: Where do the final three undefeated teams stand after four weeks? — SkimNews
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- The 49ers (4-0) jumped to No. 1 despite losing receiver Ricky Pearsall for the season (knee) and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling for 10 weeks (ankle), with Brock Purdy emerging as an early MVP candidate as the offense carried a defense missing Nick Bosa.
- The Chiefs (4-0) climbed to No. 2 thanks to running back Kenneth Walker III, who leads the NFL with 537 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, allowing Patrick Mahomes more deep completions ahead of a bye week marred by injuries to Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice.
- The Jaguars (3-1) surged into the top five after a second straight AFC win over the Bengals, even as they committed 125 penalty yards — their most in a single game since Week 7 of 2019 — with Brian Thomas Jr. scoring on his first red zone target this season.
- The Eagles dropped out of the top 10 after a 24-20 home loss to the Rams despite holding a 97.4% win probability with a 10-point lead and third-and-goal at 8:17 in the fourth quarter, marking their second straight game scoreless in the second half.
- The Browns (3-1) climbed into the top 20 after a 27-24 win over the Steelers — their third straight as an underdog, a first since 2021 — tying Baltimore atop the AFC North, though Lamar Jackson's ankle injury clouds the Ravens' outlook.
- The Vikings (4-0) stayed at No. 9 despite an offense that has scored only one touchdown since Week 1, leaning on the NFL's No. 1 defense in expected points added (EPA) under coordinator Brian Flores's 68% blitz rate and a perfect 12-for-12 from kicker Will Reichard.
- The Broncos (2-2) slid to No. 10 as their offense — 29th in explosive plays with no 100-yard rushers and just one 100-yard receiving game — failed to deliver on offseason moves including trading for Jaylen Waddle and promoting Davis Webb to playcaller.
Why it matters: With the defending-champion Seahawks (3-1) holding the No. 3 spot and last season's 14 playoff teams combining for the worst .536 winning percentage through four weeks in 15 years, the early hierarchy belongs to squads overcoming them rather than replicating them. The 49ers' No. 1 ranking despite season-altering injuries, and the Vikings' top-10 placement built on defense and special teams rather than scoring, mark the sharpest departures from the playoff-template that defined last year.
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