The first NFL power rankings of 2026 come with a fresh slate for every team, but they also come with a clear message from BetMGM Sportsbook: some clubs are entering Week 1 with a much better outlook than others.
At the top of this opening list sit the Los Angeles Rams, who claim the No. 1 spot. Just behind them are the Buffalo Bills at No. 2, while the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens share No.
- The Kansas City Chiefs follow at No. 5, then the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers are tied at No.
That upper tier sets the tone for the rankings as a whole, which are built around BetMGM’s Super Bowl odds rather than Week 1 results. It’s a snapshot of how one sportsbook sees the 2026 regular season before the first games are even played. After Week 1, these rankings will shift to reflect what happens on the field, and the next version could look very different.
The Seahawks open with the New England Patriots on Sept. 9, while the Ravens begin at the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 13.
Buffalo starts at the Houston Texans on Sept. 13, and the Rams face the 49ers on Sept. 10 in Australia. Kansas City gets Denver on Sept. 14, and the Chargers draw Arizona on Sept.
Just below that top group, the Eagles, Lions and Broncos are tied at No. 8, all listed at +1800. The Patriots, Texans and Packers are bunched together at No. 11 with +2000 odds, while the Bengals sit at No. 14 with +2200.
The middle of the board is crowded. The Cowboys and Bears are tied at No. 15, followed by the Jaguars at No.
- The Buccaneers and Vikings share No. 18, and then the Commanders, Giants and Colts are all grouped at No.
- The Steelers come in at No. 23, with the Saints at No.
Further down, the Falcons and Panthers are tied at No. 25, the Raiders are No. 27, and a trio of teams - the Titans, Jets and Browns - are all listed at No. 28. The Dolphins are No. 31, and the Cardinals are also near the bottom of the board in the opening rankings.
Week 1 matchups are already lined up across the league, including the Jets at the Titans on Sept. 13, the Browns at the Jaguars on Sept. 13, the Dolphins at the Raiders on Sept. 13, the Panthers against the Bears on Sept. 13, the Falcons at the Steelers on Sept. 13, and the Giants against the Cowboys on Sept. 13.
The Commanders travel to the Eagles, the Colts visit the Ravens, and the Saints go to the Lions, all on Sept. 13.
The league’s first real answers arrive once the games begin. Until then, these rankings offer the opening read on where every team stands heading into NFL Week 1.
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Arizonas cornerback room has been stretched a bit, with five players on the active roster and one starter currently injured. That made the workout worth watching, and Jamisons quick landing spot suggests the Cardinals were looking for someone who could help right away while adding another layer of insurance to a thin position group. [Read more 🡒]
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Cardinals Face A Week 1 O-Line Question They Cant Ignore
The Cardinals have spent most of August trying to settle the details along their offensive line, and Isaiah Adams knee injury has now pushed one of the biggest questions right to the front. Adams, the projected starter at right guard, got hurt before a preseason game, leaving his status for Week 1 against the Chargers up in the air at a spot where continuity matters and the margin for error is thin.
Mike LaFleur said Adams is progressing and doing well, but next weeks practice work will be the real test of whether he is ready to go. In the meantime, Jon Gaines has stepped in at right guard, and Arizonas options beyond him are limited because of other injuries, which makes this one of those early-season situations the Cardinals cannot afford to let drift too long. [Read more 🡒]