Week 3 usually brings a lot of surprise victories from desperate, bad teams and more disappointing results for teams that should be a lot better. That's just par for the course during the early feeling-out period in any given NFL season.
The 2024 results are no different.
With that unpredictability in play, here's how all the teams now stack up against each other coming out of a wild Week 3.
MORE: Week 4 NFL picks | Week 4 NFL picks against the spread
NFL Power Rankings Week 4
1. Kansas City Chiefs 3-0 (previous ranking: 1)
The Chiefs handled a tough road trip to Atlanta on Sunday night with aplomb. Patrick Mahomes' connection with Rashee Rice was buzzing with the running game shorthanded, and the defense seems as strong as ever. Kansas City gets tougher to beat on both sides with each passing week.
MORE: Raheem Morris carefully comments on controversial no-call vs. Kansas City
2. Pittsburgh Steelers 3-0 (4)
The Steelers aren't getting a ton of style points — or points, period — but when they control the action with a dedication to the run to complement their dominant defense, the burden of winning is easy. They won't mess with this formula much for Mike Tomlin, especially at QB.
MORE: Justin Fields ends any 'QB controversy' in Pittsburgh
3. Buffalo Bills 3-0 (3)
The Bills are enjoying their efficient, run-heavy offense to help a near-perfect Josh Allen, and the defense is finding renewed strength from the deep pass rush and rising secondary.
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4. Minnesota Vikings 3-0 (13)
The Vikings have built a strong resume by knocking off the 49ers and Texans back-to-back at home. Their offense is being operated well by Sam Darnold, and the defense is going gangbusters under DC Brian Flores. This fun can continue.
MORE: Will Seahawks, Vikings, & Steelers make playoffs? | Will Cowboys, 49ers, & Browns miss postseason?
5. Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (7)
The Eagles dug deep defensively to contain an explosive Saints offense and made the big play at the end. They also got more inventive around Jalen Hurts with some mounting injuries to the offense. That was a huge, much-needed road win.
MORE: C.J. Gardner-Johnson calls out Saints for dirty play | DeVonta Smith injury update
6. Detroit Lions 2-1 (8)
The Lions flexed more defensively when needed in Arizona to help a slumping Jared Goff, and they also re-established their dominance in the running game. That familiar formula for Dan Campbell helped Detroit look more like last year's NFC runner-up.
MORE: Lions execute perfect hook-and-ladder for key score
7. Houston Texans 2-1 (2)
The Texans are a bit all over the place offensively, and C.J. Stroud is facing a natural sophomore slump working with all of his weapons. The defense is also having trouble with consistency from week to week, sometimes giving up too many big plays when not making them.
8. Baltimore Ravens 1-2 (9)
The Ravens took it to the Cowboys with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the running game, and they had enough defense to avoid blowing another late lead in Dallas. They are slowly rounding into their 2023 form.
MORE: Derrick Henry makes Cowboys pay for not signing him in offseason
9. San Francisco 49ers 1-2 (6)
The 49ers are managing their offensive injuries well because of Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan's scheming, but their defense hasn't played up to its standard early in losses against the Vikings and Rams. They need some time to put it all together, and now they get a few get-well games.
MORE: How 49ers blew late lead vs. Rams
10. Green Bay Packers 2-1 (10)
The Packers keep showing off Matt LaFleur's offensive genius, adjusting to the opponent and QB situation well every week. They should be most pleased about getting a lot more from the defense with Jeff Hafley's attack scheme.
11. New York Jets 2-1 (11)
Aaron Rodgers threw it back to his MVP self with solid passing execution playing off a terrific, revamped running game. That's more than enough to produce a big win total with that defense.
MORE: Crowd chants Aaron Rodgers' name in first home win | 5 plays where Rodgers looked like vintage self
12. Seattle Seahawks 3-0 (15)
The Seahawks have gotten some great breaks in their early schedule, but they also have accelerated their development in their exciting new schemes under Mike Macdonald and Ryan Grubb. They'll get a good litmus test with the Lions up next.
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13. Los Angeles Chargers 2-1 (5)
Justin Herbert's injury woes have derailed the great momentum of Jim Harbaugh's offense, and Joey Bosa getting hurt had a similar effect on the defense in Pittsburgh. The timing is bad ahead of facing the Chiefs.
MORE: Justin Herbert injury update | Joey Bosa injury update
14. New Orleans Saints 2-1 (14)
The Saints crashed down to earth offensively, and Derek Carr couldn't finish the comeback after an off afternoon. At least Dennis Allen's defense keeps bringing it on every level to keep them in every game.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-1 (12)
What was that? The Buccaneers can put too much on Baker Mayfield and the passing game at times, and they weren't ready to be out-physicaled by the Broncos at home, having a letdown after beating the Lions on the road.
16. Washington Commanders 2-1 (26)
The Commanders have seen great flashes with Jayden Daniels and let him loose as a passer to match his running to awesome results in Cincinnati. They need to keep being more aggressive offensively because the defense needs that help every week.
17. Atlanta Falcons 1-2 (16)
The Falcons are status quo after pushing the Chiefs in prime time and beating the Eagles in Philadelphia under the lights. They might be a little bit up-and-down, but they remain right in position to take the NFC South.
MORE: Atlanta's Justin Simmons continues INT magic vs. Patrick Mahomes
18. Dallas Cowboys 1-2 (17)
The Cowboys cannot stop the run or run the ball, and they also can't consistently get chunk plays in the passing game with Dak Prescott The defense also misses former DC Dan Quinn badly. This simply isn't a good team at the moment.
MORE: Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have heated sideline exchange | Dak tells haters to 'jump off' bandwagon
19. Arizona Cardinals 1-2 (21)
The Cardinals have flashed some great offense with Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., and others, but it fell flat vs. the Lions. Jonathan Gannon's defense is doing a good job hanging in there with major issues, though.
MORE: Trey McBride injury update
20. Los Angeles Rams 1-2 (25)
The Rams remain dangerous in any given week with Sean McVay's play-calling working around their big injury hits at WR. He still runs the same pass plays for Matthew Stafford and can count on Kyren Williams and the run. The pass defense will remain a big bugaboo, though.
21. Miami Dolphins 1-2 (18)
The Dolphins cannot operate their offense the way Mike McDaniel wants without Tua Tagovailoa at QB. They need to find someone who can — quickly — because they also can't hold up well defensively.
MORE: Skylar Thompson injury update | Tim Boyle tops Dolphins QB depth chart after Thompson injury
22. Cincinnati Bengals 0-3 (20)
The Bengals shouldn't have lost to the Patriots in Week 1, but they found their fight and mojo in Kansas City vs. the Chiefs. They unleashed their dangerous passing game again vs. the Commanders on Monday night, but then forgot to play any kind of real defense.
MORE: Will Bengals fire Zac Taylor?
23. Denver Broncos 1-2 (31)
The Broncos saw from Bo Nix what made him their first-round draft pick: Toughness, athleticism, and uncanny playmaking, even in a compressed offense. The defense still is fine vs. the pass despite the run struggles.
24. Indianapolis Colts 1-2 (28)
The Colts got away with a dud from Anthony Richardson to get their first win, but their defense finally tightened up in key spots and Jonathan Taylor was there to run away to save the day.
MORE: Is Anthony Richardson on hot seat?
25. New York Giants 1-2 (30)
The Giants have simplified their offense for Daniel Jones, just having him feed Malik Nabers and Devin Singletary often to take pressure off his own passing and running. Brian Daboll got a much-needed reprieve after winning in Cleveland.
MORE: Malik Nabers sets rookie record | Devin Singletary angers fantasy owners, bettors with slide at 1-yard line
26. Chicago Bears 1-2 (19)
The Bears let Caleb Williams loose vs. Indianapolis, and while his stats were better, he was still plagued by mistakes and bad situational offense. The defense will keep giving Chicago chances to win, though.
MORE: Sacks, turnovers continue to mount for struggling Caleb Williams
27. Carolina Panthers 1-2 (32)
The Panthers made the QB change to Andy Dalton and got immediate downfield passing results, unlocking their upgraded receiving corps. They also rolled to sudden rushing success. It's a sign the team just was ready to respond to someone other than Bryce Young, sadly.
MORE: Andy Dalton tops Bryce Young's season in first half vs. Raiders | Best trade fits for Bryce Young
28. Cleveland Browns 1-2 (22)
The Browns are facing a QB crossroads (again) with Deshaun Watson. He's playing well short of expectations, and he now may need to do a lot more with Myles Garrett hurting.
MORE: Will Deshaun Watson be benched? Browns crowd chants for Jameis Winston
29. New England Patriots 1-2 (23)
The Patriots' real offense has reared its ugly head. They need to swap out Jacoby Brissett for Drake Maye for good soon.
MORE: When will Drake Maye start for Patriots?
30. Las Vegas Raiders 1-2 (24)
Gardner Minshew blew a great chance to keep the starting job vs. the Panthers' porous defense, and now the Raiders might be forced into making the choice they should have made with Aidan O'Connell.
MORE: Antonio Pierce calls out players making 'business decisions' vs. Panthers
31. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3 (27)
The Jaguars tied the Titans at 0-3 and fell further into the AFC South cellar. Their offense has been too much of a grind with Trevor Lawrence, not helping a defense with plenty of holes vs. the pass.
MORE: Will Jaguars fire Doug Pederson?
32. Tennessee Titans 0-3 (29)
The Titans need to consider a QB change with Will Levis in an absolute funk with his new personnel in the new offense. The new-look defense is doing its best to hold up but can wear down and give up too many big plays.
MORE: Has an 0-3 team ever made the playoffs?
