Bills, Lions sit atop the league. Falcons break into top-20 with revamped defense.

Tori McElhaney

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The 2025 season has arrived, and with it, the return of power rankings.

Every Tuesday, we will return to this story series, tracking the outcomes of games across the league and how they manifest change as teams attempt to climb their way to the top. With no games having yet played, consider this ranking the first ranking your control.

Variables whether it be games won, games lost, injuries sustained, whatever the season may throw will enter the fold, causing change to come swiftly. And we will be here to track it all in real time. So, let's get into Week 1's ranking, with the understanding this ranking will change and change quickly once the first plays of the 2025 season are ran later this week.

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1

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are built to win, and sooner or later I feel like they have to in the Josh Allen era. That time could be now.

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2

Detroit Lions

Despite the fact the Lions' defense was decimated by injuries in 2024, they were a fun, electric and competitive team. If they get healthy and stay healthy in 2025 they'll be dangerous.

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3

Baltimore Ravens

There is no reason why the Ravens shouldn't be a top-3 team. There is no reason we shouldn't be talking about them all season long... in a good way, mind you.

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4

Philadelphia Eagles

The reigning Super Bowl champions still have one heck of an offense, but they lost a good chunk of fire power on defense. How they evolve in 2025 will be something to watch.

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5

Kansas City Chiefs

As long as Patrick Mahomes is quarterbacking this team, he gives them a shot to win every game. It's why they can hardly ever fall out of the top five.

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6

Minnesota Vikings

I would argue the Vikings have just about everything they need to be a significant postseason contender. However, the biggest question of all: Do they have a quarterback? We finally get to see if they do in J.J. McCarthy.

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7

Washington Commanders

There are some who are tagging the Commanders as a one-hit wonder; a team that got hot at the right time in 2024. But I am still drinking the kool-aid. This is a dang good team.

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8

Denver Broncos

The Broncos were a bottom quartile team at the start of last year (in my opinion), but by the year's end, they were a bunch to be reckoned with. I am not making the same mistake twice ranking them so low to start a season.

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9

Green Bay Packers

I mean... they have Micah Parsons now.

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10

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams could be a sleeper pick to make the top-10, but I can't help but think they have a complete roster that can be competitive against whoever they line up against.

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11

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Despite the defense aging in Tampa Bay, the fire power this offense has around Baker Mayfield is one of the best in the league. They have solidified their place atop the NFC South, and until someone can come along and usurp them, they will continue to be ranked high.

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12

Cincinnati Bengals

It's hard to believe arguably the best QB/WR/WR trio in the league has missed the playoffs the last two years. But here we are. Can their luck change in 2025?

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13

Los Angeles Chargers

I do worry about the Chargers defense holding up its end of the bargain, but I tend to think Justin Herbert is a good enough QB to make up for some deficiencies elsewhere. And hey, if he can lead a high-scoring offense, maybe the defensive weaknesses don't show too much.

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14

Pittsburgh Steelers

What does this offense look like with Aaron Rodgers at the helm? I know I would like to know, and I guess we will soon enough.

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15

Houston Texans

The Texans are the clear favorite and frontrunner of their division. As long as they take care of business there, we should be talking about a postseason berth in the future.

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16

Chicago Bears

Of any team in the league, the Bears feel like the biggest enigma. What will they get out of Caleb Williams in his second season? How does the defense change the scope of what the Bears are? Are the Bears back? It's too early to know but its something everyone is wondering.

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17

San Francisco 49ers

There are some who wouldn't have ranked the 49ers so high going into the season, but between Kyle Shanahan calling plays for the offense and Robert Saleh taking over those responsibilities for the defense, even if it takes a minute, they'll find their way.

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18

Arizona Cardinals

Like the Bears, the Cardinals are another team I had a hard time placing in this ranking. I don't think that is a bad thing, though.

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19

Atlanta Falcons

The expectations in Atlanta are high, which is why they break into the top-20 to open the season. However, until they prove those expectations right, it'll be difficult for them to rise.

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20

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks revamped their offense this offseason with the additions of Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Kenneth Walker III what does that do for the team's wins and losses? Unsure at this point.

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21

Indianapolis Colts

Another team with a new-to-them quarterback. Can the Colts get what they need out of Daniel Jones?

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22

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have made headlines this offseason for reasons that don't necessarily boast confidence in the organization's future. Still, they're always a team we're talking about ... for better or for worse.

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23

New England Patriots

This is a team I actually thought about moving up higher in the Week 1 ranking. I have a lot of respect for the moves this organization made this offseason to put a better roster on the field in 2025. I think they are better, but just how much I am not willing to bet the house on just yet.

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24

New York Jets

It felt like the Jets were the team of 2024... until they weren't. It felt like last year was their year. This year? It just feels like too little too late despite the fact they have made some moves to make them interesting.

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25

Carolina Panthers

A lot of power rankings across the league media aren't as high on the Panthers as I am. They have them in the bottom three of the league. But I think this is a much more talented roster in 2025 than in any previous year in the last five years. Carolina could be a sleeper.

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26

Miami Dolphins

I didn't begin this ranking thinking the Dolphins would fall so far. But I couldn't really talk myself into getting them much higher. This is a team that should have been in the conversation more than they have been in the last two seasons. However, they keep getting further and further away.

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27

Jacksonville Jaguars

I think the Jaguars will be fine. But "fine" doesn't really cut it in the NFL, does it?

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28

New York Giants

Which Russell Wilson are the Giants getting? And how long before they give Jaxson Dart a look? These are the questions we'll be asking New York throughout the first month of the season for sure.

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29

Tennessee Titans

The Titans may have had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the issues and imbalances facing this team run deeper than one quarterback can fix. This is a building blocks year for the Titans.

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30

Las Vegas Raiders

Ashton Jeanty is a special player who you can build an offense around. But like the Titans, it's going to take more than one central piece of the puzzle. The Raiders need more from other areas on the offense AND defense, too.

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31

Cleveland Browns

Outside of Myles Garrett, can we really say much about the Browns right now? Until they show otherwise, no.

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32

New Orleans Saints

Everything is shaky in New Orleans right now: The quarterback position, injuries sustained to key playmakers and a secondary that has some glaring issues.

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