Our weekly NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus the biggest defensive issue for each team — SkimNews
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- NFL teams are averaging 23.3 points per game in 2026, a scoring surge ESPN attributes to offenses consistently reaching scoring territory across the league.
- The 49ers hold the No. 1 ranking at 5-0 despite ranking just 20th in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert 40.8% of attempts and keeping their defense on the field for 31 minutes, 12 seconds per game.
- The Chiefs (No. 2, 4-0) have recorded zero sacks through their first four games, an anomaly that included 21 pressures on Raiders QB Kirk Cousins in Week 4 without putting him down.
- The Chargers, Titans and Dolphins are all 0-5, just the fifth time since the 1970 merger that three teams from the same conference have opened a season winless through five weeks.
- The Patriots jumped from 14th to 9th after Drake Maye led a 45-17 rout of the Raiders with 536 total yards — the team's highest offensive output in a game since 2021.
- The Bills have allowed opponents to complete 74.6% of passes for 558 yards and five touchdowns on second downs alone, exposing dwindling cornerback depth as starters Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III sat out.
- The Bengals lead the NFL with 21 carries of 10-plus yards allowed this season, 17 of those coming in the past three weeks despite Sunday's 31-24 win over the Dolphins.
Why it matters: The Chiefs are 4-0 despite zero sacks through a full month — the league's most striking defensive anomaly, and one that could determine whether their defense becomes a top unit or a liability in the second half. Three teams from one conference sitting at 0-5, only the fifth such occurrence since 1970, underscores how top-heavy the 2026 standings have become after just five weeks.
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