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NFL Power Rankings: How all 32 teams stack up for Week 7, plus offensive issues - ESPN
From ESPN via USVI News: How does every NFL team stack up heading into Week 7? We made our 1-32 list and picked the biggest offensive problem for every team.
NFL Nation Oct 20, 2026, 06:05 AM ET
Close NFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.
Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season featured some troubling performances from offenses around the league. The Cardinals went 0-for-5 in the red zone, yet still defeated the Rams, who lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs twice. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had an interception for the sixth straight game, helping lead to a sixth straight loss. And Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was sacked five times against the Bears.
Why did these offenses struggle so much? In addition to our updated 1-32 rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick out the biggest offensive issue for each team. From ineffective run games to a lack of red zone efficiency, what is causing each team to falter this 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:
The Texans are slowly climbing up our list after a shocking 0-4 start to the season. After defeating the Titans in Week 5, Houston got another win over a divisional opponent in the Jaguars. The London matchup was also the Texans debut of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who had three receptions for 34 yards after being traded from the Cardinals last week.
The Rams are out of the top 10 in our rankings for the first time this season after their second straight loss Sunday. They are the fifth team in the past 50 seasons to enter a season as the outright Super Bowl favorite and lose at least four of their first six games, per ESPN Research. None of the previous four teams made the conference title game (2015 Seahawks, 2002 Rams, 1999 Vikings and 1987 Giants).
The NFC East is off to a rocky start, becoming the first division in NFL history to be winless in consecutive weeks in which every team in the division played a game, per ESPN Research. That struggle has been illustrated in our list. Compared with last week's rankings, the Cowboys are down six spots, the Eagles are down five, the Giants fell four and the Commanders were lowered one spot. Dallas is the only one of those teams to not play a backup QB this season.
Let's get into the full list, starting with the same No. 1 team from last week.
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
1. San Francisco 49ers (6-0)
Week 6 result: Beat the Commanders 23-17
Biggest issue on offense: Wide receiver injuries
The Niners haven't had many problems in terms of production, but they have had a significant amount of attrition at wideout. Ricky Pearsall ( knee ), De'Zhaun Stribling ( ankle ), Christian Kirk (calf) and Demarcus Robinson ( ankle ) were supposed to be four of the team's top five receivers and all landed on IR before Week 3. That doesn't account for Deebo Samuel Sr.'s multiweek hamstring injury or the various bumps and bruises Mike Evans played through before departing Monday night's game with Achilles tendinitis. The good news? Most of them are expected back this season, but the 49ers have had to scramble in the meantime. -- Nick Wagoner
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
Week 6 result: Beat the Chargers 22-6
Biggest issue on offense: Offensive tackle health
The Chiefs have done an admirable job protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially since left tackle Josh Simmons, their 2025 first-round pick, has been out because of a bulging disk in his lower back. Coach Andy Reid suggested Simmons won't be ready for Sunday's showdown against the Seahawks. Plus, right tackle Jaylon Moore sustained a concussion against the Chargers. Reid might have to continue altering the Chiefs' playbook if undrafted rookies Kahlil Benson (left tackle) and Joshua Ezeudu (right tackle) are the starters. -- Nate Taylor
Week 6 result: Beat the Raiders 33-30
Biggest issue on offense: Putting the ball on the ground
This article is republished through the USVI News affiliate desk. Reporting, analysis, and viewpoints are those of the original publisher and do not necessarily reflect USVI News.