NFL power rankings Week 10: How did the trade deadline affect the pecking order?

Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save NFL power rankings entering Week 10 of the 2026 season (previous rank in parentheses): 1. San Francisco 49ers (1): If they wind up securing the NFC's No. 1 postseason seed, you can pretty much slot them into the NFC championship game. Including the playoffs and following Sunday's rout of the Las Vegas Raiders, the Niners are now 6-0 with an average margin of victory of 12.8 points coming off their past six bye weeks. Also? The last time DT DeForest Buckner was on the roster, San Francisco wound up in the Super Bowl ... and it only seems right that Kyle Shanahan and Co. should get at least one game at SoFi Stadium this season after their September trip to Australia denied them their annual visit. A team that's seen it's wideout corps ravaged this year also added Keenan Allen for a song at the trade deadline ... that kind of move further entrenches this team at No. 1 People are also reading… Whitehall woman pleads guilty to criminally negligent homicide VT man arrested in alleged attempted burglary in Washington County South Glens Falls student arrested after alleged water bottle assault Saratoga County man arraigned in child sexual abuse images case Corinth woman arrested after alleged identity theft last summer Saratoga County couple arrested on firearms and narcotics charges Meet Glens Falls' own Emmy-winning writer Man arrested after alleged burglary at Salem Art Works No criminal charges filed as phishing investigation closes Argyle senior named Adirondack League boys soccer Most Valuable Player Glens Falls pulls out five-set thriller to reach first Section II volleyball final since 1999 Queensbury trio headlines Section II Cross Country Championships on Saturday Lighting up South Glens Falls' Main Street Pharmaceutical testing lab to replace Angio at Glens Falls site Glens Falls scores early and often in Class B semifinal football victory over Gloversville 2. Chicago Bears (2): If they're going to win games on nights when QB Caleb Williams throws four picks, whether or not they're his fault, look out for these guys, especially with RB Kyle Monangai likely back on the other side of the bye week. 3. Buffalo Bills (6): The last three times they started 7-1, the Bills went to the Super Bowl in each instance. 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4): As if they weren't already playing dominant football, now GM James Gladstone is furiously reloading his defense ahead of the trade deadline. The Super Bowl window is decidedly open here … just hard to say for how long given how much of their future the Jags are already mortgaging. 5. Denver Broncos (3): The transformation of the offense since Sean Payton resumed calling the plays has been truly unbelievable. 6. Detroit Lions (7): WR Amon-Ra St. Brown hasn't scored since September and only has two 100-yard receiving games this season. Think the German-American star might break out Sunday in Munich — especially given how the New England Patriots secondary just got shredded? 7. Minnesota Vikings (8): At the risk of wasting one of the better defenses we've seen this century, they went out and obtained old friend Kirk Cousins, for a third-round pick, in the aftermath of Monday night's disastrous performance. 8. Green Bay Packers (11): Just when it seems like it's all coming together — OLB Micah Parsons nearing his return, the running game nearing its return — RB Josh Jacobs is going back on the shelf for a group that's won six of seven. But if mad bomber Jordan Love keeps launching precision munitions, the rest may not matter. 9. Seattle Seahawks (9): Just when it seems like it's all coming together — the running game restored and the schedule seeming to ease — Seattle can't keep its quarterbacks healthy. But if the "Dark Side" D, which has allowed three points in two of the past three games, continues to dial in, the rest may not matter. 10. Kansas City Chiefs (10): It's easy to miss, but coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense is starting to find a groove — allowing more than 300 yards just once since the Week 5 bye and surrendering more than 20 points just once over the same period. 11. New England Patriots (5): No Patriots team had ever allowed 45 points at Gillette Stadium. No Patriots team had ever allowed 45 points at home … since 1970. And these guys are supposed to be known for their defense. 12. Los Angeles Rams (12): Who's their top wideout for however long Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are out? Try Konata Mumpfield … who has all of 11 catches this season. 13. Pittsburgh Steelers (13): First place in the AFC North will be on the line Sunday night in Cincinnati. And the defense has gotten increasingly stingy for a group riding a four-game heater. Should be a fun one. 14. Cincinnati Bengals (14): First place in the AFC North will be on the line Sunday night in Cincinnati. And the offense has gotten increasingly explosive for a group riding a four-game heater. Should be a fun one. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack 15. Cleveland Browns (16): While the Bengals and Steelers prepare to beat one another up, the Browns, regardless of who their QB1 is, need to take advantage of their upcoming stretch of games — none that will require them to leave Cleveland before Dec. 20. 16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17): Truly a shame that coach Todd Bowles didn't take the opportunity to channel Dennis Green after Sunday night's loss in Chicago. "The Bears are who we thought they were! That's why we took the damn field. Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook!" 17. Las Vegas Raiders (15): They've rushed for more than 100 yards twice this season and had a season-low 24 on Sunday. They've allowed fewer than 100 yards once this season and permitted 190 on Sunday. Not a conducive formula for success … or one to inject a rookie quarterback into. 18. Atlanta Falcons (18): Despite being a half-game out of first place, they took Jacksonville's Godfather offer, which included a second-round pick, for defensive captain Jessie Bates III on Monday morning. Maybe recently reinstated OLB James Pearce Jr. can offset Bates' departure, at least in terms of defensive impact. 19. New Orleans Saints (19): Is Audric Estime the guy to energize a 26th-ranked run game? Sunday's 72-yard effort was the second best of his three-year career — and came six days after the Saints brought him back via a successful waiver claim. 20. New York Giants (20): Is someone currently not on the roster the guy to energize an 18th-ranked run game? RB Devin Singletary carried 21 times for 31 yards Sunday at Philadelphia in a game the Giants won despite averaging 2.6 yards per rush. 21. Dallas Cowboys (25): They outgained the Colts by 237 yards in what was easily their best defensive performance of the season — yes, that's a very low bar — and still barely beat a team taking its roster down to the studs. 22. Houston Texans (26): Their 3-5 start has been anything but pretty. But the upcoming schedule very much suggests the Texans could be above .500 by the time December arrives. 23. Carolina Panthers (22): With two of their next three games against divisional foes and no games against opponents with winning records for the rest of the month, it's time to get right. 24. Washington Commanders (21): Is Dan Quinn again coaching for his job after the Commanders' latest end-of-game play-calling misadventure? 25. Baltimore Ravens (24): They sure could use Jacoby Brissett about now — and presumably will debut the recently acquired QB on Monday night against the winless Bolts. And not a moment too soon considering the Ravens have lost three consecutive games by at least 20 points for the first time in franchise history. 26. Arizona Cardinals (23): They sure could use Ja