2026 NFL Power Rankings

[MadCardDisease]

NFL Power Rankings: Rams enter preseason on top; Seahawks at No. 3, Patriots outside top 10

Mike Macdonald and John Schneider just led Seattle to the franchise's second Super Bowl title, but the reigning champion Seahawks don't sit atop Nick Shook's NFL Power Rankings. With the preseason officially open, check out the full league pecking order, 1-32.

www.nfl.com

Cardinals open up higher than I expected.

 

[Zalixar]

NFL Power Rankings: Rams enter preseason on top; Seahawks at No. 3, Patriots outside top 10

Mike Macdonald and John Schneider just led Seattle to the franchise's second Super Bowl title, but the reigning champion Seahawks don't sit atop Nick Shook's NFL Power Rankings. With the preseason officially open, check out the full league pecking order, 1-32.

www.nfl.com

Cardinals open up higher than I expected.

Beck and MLF offense got everyone drunk

 

[Goodyear Card]

That sucks. There is no way we are getting a QB if we pick 6th.

 

[daves]

That sucks. There is no way we are getting a QB if we pick 6th.

(a) If teams were to draft in reverse order of this ranking, the Cardinals would pick 7th, not 6th.
(b) They can easily be the 26th-best team but still finish higher than 7th in the draft based on their brutal schedule.
(c) As long as all six teams ahead of them don't need a QB (e.g. the Giants and Raiders are ranked lower), they can move up.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

No way we should be that high

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[oaken1]

No way we should be that high

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Only a Cardinals fan......


31 other teams in the NFL and when power rankings come out their fans say ,"Man, there is no way we should be that low!!" and they proceed to pump up their team strengths and star players.

But not Cardinals fans.....
we proceed to point out how the crackhead national media guy has zero clue how bad we actually suck.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Cardinals start the season up one in the power rankings (#25):

NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Cowboys rising after defensive makeover; Bears drop out of top 10

Are the Cowboys poised to make serious noise with a remade defense under a hot new coordinator? Is the injury bug already devouring some would-be contenders? Before the 2026 season kicks off, Nick Shook provides the full league hierarchy, 1-32, in his Week 1 NFL Power Rankings.

www.nfl.com

 

[BirdGangThing]

Cardinals start the season up one in the power rankings (#25):

NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Cowboys rising after defensive makeover; Bears drop out of top 10

Are the Cowboys poised to make serious noise with a remade defense under a hot new coordinator? Is the injury bug already devouring some would-be contenders? Before the 2026 season kicks off, Nick Shook provides the full league hierarchy, 1-32, in his Week 1 NFL Power Rankings.

www.nfl.com

not predicted to win any games but ranked 25th - so purely schedule?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Not predicted to win any games but ranked 25th - so purely schedule?

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[Proximo]

not predicted to win any games but ranked 25th - so purely schedule?

25th seems just about right to me. Sad that even a mediocre defense would maybe push us up to average.

 

[oaken1]

25th seems just about right to me. Sad that even a mediocre defense would maybe push us up to average.

Right??

with what I am expecting from our offense...if our defense could be top 25 we probably make the playoffs...win in the playoffs if the D made top 15...
I really expect a top 10 offense,....and top 5 on the down low
we have the players at the skill positions...JB aint a game breaker but he can manage an offense...and coach flower should be bringing us an offense that is part Matt Stafford and part Brock Purdy, allowing all of our guys to flourish

but that damn defense... if they show out like last year they are going to hold us back

 

[Shane]

Right??

with what I am expecting from our offense...if our defense could be top 25 we probably make the playoffs...win in the playoffs if the D made top 15...
I really expect a top 10 offense,....and top 5 on the down low
we have the players at the skill positions...JB aint a game breaker but he can manage an offense...and coach flower should be bringing us an offense that is part Matt Stafford and part Brock Purdy, allowing all of our guys to flourish

but that damn defense... if they show out like last year they are going to hold us back

If??? Lol

 

[oaken1]

If??? Lol

yeah "if"...we got young guys...young guys usually get a bit better each year... then we had all those injuries last year..hopefullt we dont re live that experience again this season.

there is a world in which our defense, while not "good", is not bottom three in the league level bad


then there is always the chance that nicky rails calls a different sort of game just to reinforce that JG was responsible for last years debacle...and maybe that different sort of game allows a few of our young guys to flourish just a bit

 

[Proximo]

yeah "if"...we got young guys...young guys usually get a bit better each year... then we had all those injuries last year..hopefullt we dont re live that experience again this season.

there is a world in which our defense, while not "good", is not bottom three in the league level bad


then there is always the chance that nicky rails calls a different sort of game just to reinforce that JG was responsible for last years debacle...and maybe that different sort of game allows a few of our young guys to flourish just a bit

I don't think so.

Most of our young guys are now year 2 or 3 or 4. Usually they are producing at a high level in year two if they are ever going to.

Our D-line is a joke. We have Nolan and a bunch of backups. Our linebackers aren't much better, Sweat, Mack Wilson who is mediocre and the rest are just Joe's.

All the corners we have drafted have really not panned out - Garret Williams flashed for a bit, but now after injury I am not sure what we are going to get.

Basically I feel like we have 3 or 4 legit starting quality players on D.

 

[oaken1]

I don't think so.

Most of our young guys are now year 2 or 3 or 4. Usually they are producing at a high level in year two if they are ever going to.

Our D-line is a joke. We have Nolan and a bunch of backups. Our linebackers aren't much better, Sweat, Mack Wilson who is mediocre and the rest are just Joe's.

All the corners we have drafted have really not panned out - Garret Williams flashed for a bit, but now after injury I am not sure what we are going to get.

Basically I feel like we have 3 or 4 legit starting quality players on D.

That bolded part right there??
Thats just flat out wrong on every level.
Every historical data set in the NFL shows that the average player coming in starts hitting solid production by the end of year three...thats 3... there are a few exceptions for different circumstances but in general you can call it a rule.
exceptions come in for things like the age a guy was when he was drafted or if he had extended time out due to injury or something... but if a guy gets drafted right about 20 or so and stays healthy...he should hit his stride towards the end of his third season then continue to refine his game for a couple more seasons.
all the historical data sets back that up...its been that way for decades.

the problem is...the part thats bolded and italicized up there...Basically I feel like we have 3<<<<see that right there?? Primarily " I feel".... you sir, are a cardinals fan... things go poorly often for us...so getting caught up in "feelings" never goes well... there is just way too much doom and gloom, sky is falling, everybody suxx,...and when you get caught up in those feelings you overlook the basic facts as they are..because its just too easy to see everything rolling down hill and exploding in disaster every single season.
But basic facts as they are tell us we have several young players who should show out better this year than last year...or even the year before...
they also tell us some of those guys just dont have it... which is why Beej Ojulari is finally not using up one of our roster spots

 

[Proximo]

That bolded part right there??
Thats just flat out wrong on every level.
Every historical data set in the NFL shows that the average player coming in starts hitting solid production by the end of year three...thats 3... there are a few exceptions for different circumstances but in general you can call it a rule.
exceptions come in for things like the age a guy was when he was drafted or if he had extended time out due to injury or something... but if a guy gets drafted right about 20 or so and stays healthy...he should hit his stride towards the end of his third season then continue to refine his game for a couple more seasons.
all the historical data sets back that up...its been that way for decades.

the problem is...the part thats bolded and italicized up there...Basically I feel like we have 3<<<<see that right there?? Primarily " I feel".... you sir, are a cardinals fan... things go poorly often for us...so getting caught up in "feelings" never goes well... there is just way too much doom and gloom, sky is falling, everybody suxx,...and when you get caught up in those feelings you overlook the basic facts as they are..because its just too easy to see everything rolling down hill and exploding in disaster every single season.
But basic facts as they are tell us we have several young players who should show out better this year than last year...or even the year before...
they also tell us some of those guys just dont have it... which is why Beej Ojulari is finally not using up one of our roster spots

I shouldn't have said producing at a high level in year 2 - I should have said at a competent level.

What I mean is that for players like Robinson - when they look like dog crap in year 2 - they aren't going to improve except in very rare instances and I think it is more than fair to write them off.

For players that are marginal like Melton and Isiah Adams yeah they might improve in year 3, but they are not going to be stars if they haven't shown anything special by year 2 and the most likely scenario is they stay marginal.

I only see upside potential in a couple of last years picks - Will Johnson, and maybe Jordan Burch - but that one is a longshot.

So beyond Budda, Sweat, Mack Wilson, and Nolan who do you actually feel good about on this defense? Maybe I can see Will Johnson joining that group - maybe Garrett Williams, beyond that I don't see people I want starting.

I mean don't get me wrong I know not many teams have 11 defensive starters they are happy about, but I think most have more than 4.

 

[MadCardDisease]

NFL Power Rankings, Week 2: Seahawks leapfrog Broncos and Rams into No. 1 spot; Chiefs hit top 10

After a high-scoring and highly entertaining opening week of the 2026 NFL season, Nick Shook's Power Rankings see significant change, starting right at the top. Check out the full league hierarchy, 1-32, entering Week 2.

www.nfl.com

Cardinals make a six spot jump up to #19

 

[BullheadCardFan]

NFL Power Rankings, Week 2: Seahawks leapfrog Broncos and Rams into No. 1 spot; Chiefs hit top 10

After a high-scoring and highly entertaining opening week of the 2026 NFL season, Nick Shook's Power Rankings see significant change, starting right at the top. Check out the full league hierarchy, 1-32, entering Week 2.

www.nfl.com

Cardinals make a six spot jump up to #19

Hope they don't see this

Being over confident is something this team has no business doing, ever

 

[Totally_Red]

NFL Power Rankings, Week 2: Seahawks leapfrog Broncos and Rams into No. 1 spot; Chiefs hit top 10

After a high-scoring and highly entertaining opening week of the 2026 NFL season, Nick Shook's Power Rankings see significant change, starting right at the top. Check out the full league hierarchy, 1-32, entering Week 2.

www.nfl.com

Cardinals make a six spot jump up to #19

IF these guys beat the seachickens or have a chance to late, I will be impressed and so will the NFL, Drew Locke not withstanding.

 

[Adrian]

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[vince56]

I think Seattle takes a step back this year. The Darnold injury is going to linger, and losing Kenneth Walker III is going to hurt. That guy did to the AFC West last night what he did to the NFC West last year. They’re a worse team without him. I still think they are the odds-on favorites to win the division, but I see every team as competitive this year, which is how it should be. We’re getting some good games this year, it’s going to be fun.

 

[Adrian]

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[some dumb guy]

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Seahawks still ranked 1st JUST BECAUSE.....with Lock they should really be about the middle of the pack. It's gonna be fun this coming Sunday...
And I just rewatched the cards/chargers game...we still won, it wasn't a dream...and much more enjoyable without all the stress.....LOL

 

[Cardiac]

Great news Cards fans, tankathon has us winning the SB this season.

Talk about your overreaction to week 1 results.

 

[Adrian]

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