The third week of the 2025 NFL season had an electric slate that saw some truly shocking results. From the Cincinnati Bengals getting blown to smithereens to the double field goal blocks that allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to remain undefeated, we saw some instant classics as well as plenty of movement in our PFSN power rankings. Here’s how the league is shaping up three weeks into the season.
32) Tennessee TitansLast Week’s Ranking: 31Offense Rank: 32Defense Rank: 16Playoff Odds: 5.50%
Things didn’t get better for the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 as they had an all-around brutal showing that led to an 0-3 start with their potential franchise quarterback at the helm in Cam Ward.
The rookie QB has now completed just 54.5% of his passes so far this season, but we’ve seen flashes of brilliance through some of the highlight-worthy passes he’s made. Tennessee still has a lot of holes, but perhaps they can land another top pick in the NFL Draft that helps their rebuild.
31) Las Vegas RaidersLast Week’s Ranking: 29Offense Rank: 29Defense Rank: 9Playoff Odds: 14.30%
After the offense put up just nine points against the Los Angeles Chargers, including three interceptions from Geno Smith, the Las Vegas Raiders got a boon in the form of a Washington Commanders team playing without quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize at all, with the running game for the Commanders proving to be unstoppable against the Raiders. Washington’s offense going off for 201 yards and three touchdowns, plus a shoddy effort by Las Vegas’ special teams unit, led to a brutal 41-24 loss.
30) New York GiantsLast Week’s Ranking: 30Offense Rank: 26Defense Rank: 30Number 1 Pick Odds: 2.20%
The New York Giants had the silver lining of an explosive offensive performance to hold on to after their loss against the Dallas Cowboys. However, scoring just nine points against the Chiefs put those ideas to rest. Russell Wilson, after throwing for over 450 yards against Dallas, had fewer passing yards against Kansas City in the game (160) than he did against the Cowboys in the first half (235).
Add in the two interceptions, and it was a night that might reignite the rumors of Jaxson Dart taking over as the starting quarterback in New York, with the offense having very little to take away from the game. The lone bright spot for the franchise was the work from rookie Cam Skattebo, who finished with 60 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while adding 61 yards through the air as well.
29) Miami DolphinsLast Week’s Ranking: 25Offense Rank: 15Defense Rank: 32Playoff Odds: 6.70%
The Miami Dolphins held their own for 55 minutes against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. But ultimately, it wasn’t enough, as they dropped to 0-3 on the season as a direct result of a Tua Tagovailoa fourth-quarter interception. They have yet to win a game this season, with the ceiling collapsing on their heads in a hurry. It remains to be seen if head coach Mike McDaniel will make it through the remainder of the season.
28) New Orleans SaintsLast Week’s Ranking: 24Offense Rank: 13Defense Rank: 24Playoff Odds: 6.00%
The New Orleans are now 0-3, but their first two losses provided some hope because they came by one possession, leading many to believe there was something for the franchise to be optimistic about.
Those dreams were shattered in a hurry in Week 3 when they faced off against the Seattle Seahawks. A 21-0 first quarter in favor of the Seahawks perfectly summed up the kind of game it was going to be for New Orleans. They were unable to recover at any point in time, losing 44-13.
27) Cincinnati BengalsLast Week’s Ranking: 20Offense Rank: 31Defense Rank: 19Playoff Odds: 33.60%
The loss of Joe Burrow was always going to be a big factor for the Cincinnati Bengals, and the results were on full display against the Minnesota Vikings. Jake Browning threw two interceptions, as the Bengals were blown out in brutal fashion, losing 48-10.
The stellar offensive unit for Cincinnati was nowhere to be found, as the team totaled under 200 yards of offense. On the other hand, the defense took a step back as well, as Carson Wentz and the Vikings’ offense exploded for four touchdowns.
26) Carolina PanthersLast Week’s Ranking: 32Offense Rank: 23Defense Rank: 26Playoff Odds: 14.30%
After a 13-point rally in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals provided some hope to the Carolina Panthers, they followed it up by shutting out the Atlanta Falcons 30-0. They registered their first win of the year, which finally elevated them out of the last-place spot they had held over the previous two power rankings.
Bryce Young had a slow outing, but it was the defense that truly shone for Carolina, holding the Falcons to zero points while recording a pick-six as well.
25) Cleveland BrownsLast Week’s Ranking: 26Offense Rank: 28Defense Rank: 10Playoff Odds: 20.90%
After getting blown out by the Baltimore Ravens, it seemed like the Cleveland Browns would follow a similar slate with the Green Bay Packers. Through three quarters, that seemed to be the case, as the Browns had yet to register a single point.
However, a furious rally in the fourth quarter paved the way for Cleveland to register its first win of the season on a last-second field goal. Suddenly, a despondent 0-3 picture has turned into a missed field goal away from being 2-1. This was a terrific win against a Packers team that looks like a legitimate contender.
24) New York JetsLast Week’s Ranking: 27Offense Rank: 24Defense Rank: 27Playoff Odds: 14.90%
Despite entering Week 3 without Justin Fields, the New York Jets more than held their own against a similarly injury-ravaged Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad.
A blocked field goal turned into a touchdown late in the game, giving them a chance to win. However, the defense didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, leading to a 29-27 loss. New York will try to bounce back next week with Fields hopefully back under center.
23) Atlanta FalconsLast Week’s Ranking: 21Offense Rank: 26Defense Rank: 4Playoff Odds: 16.80%
The honeymoon phase lasted just two weeks for the Atlanta Falcons, who were decimated in Week 3 by the Panthers. Atlanta lost 30-0 to their division rival, with Michael Penix Jr. throwing for just 176 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six early in the third quarter.
After such a brutal loss, why didn’t the Falcons slide in our power rankings? Well, that’s because there’s a huge gap between Atlanta and the teams ranked below them through the first three weeks of the season.
22) Chicago BearsLast Week’s Ranking: 28Offense Rank: 12Defense Rank: 31Playoff Odds: 12.90%
Throwing four passing touchdowns on the night without a pick, Caleb Williams marked the third instance of such a game from a Bears quarterback in the last 10 years. The previous two? Justin Fields in 2023 against the Commanders and Mitchell Trubisky in 2018 versus the Buccaneers.
On the night, he averaged 0.64 EPA per dropback on Sunday. That’s the fourth-best game by a Bears QB this century with 30+ dropbacks. The games ahead of him:
2018 Mitchell Trubisky vs Buccaneers (0.89)2013 Josh McCown vs Cowboys (0.86)2010 Jay Cutler vs Eagles (0.67)
More importantly for a struggling unit, the Bears’ defense was able to minimize an explosive Dallas offense, holding them to just 14 points and forcing four turnovers, with Tremaine Edmunds becoming the first linebacker to record two interceptions in a game since Week 14 of the 2019 NFL season (Shaquille Leonard for IND, vs. TB).
21) New England PatriotsLast Week’s Ranking: 23Offense Rank: 14Defense Rank: 22Playoff Odds: 36.00%
It was a tough night for Drake Maye in front of his idol, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, and the New England Patriots dropped to 1-2 on the season.
Maye, by all metrics, outdueled Rodgers in their clash, but five turnovers, including four lost fumbles, proved to be the difference as the Steelers pulled out a 21-14 victory.
20) Houston TexansLast Week’s Ranking: 19Offense Rank: 30Defense Rank: 17Playoff Odds: 14.90%
The last team to make the playoffs after going 0-3 was the Houston Texans in 2018. It remains to be seen if they have another magical turnaround in them. But for the time being, the situation is getting worse for the Texans by the minute. Their gamble on the offensive line hasn’t paid off one bit.
As a result, for the third-straight week, the offense failed to crack 20 points. Defensively, they could not hold on either, giving up a touchdown in the final two minutes for the second consecutive week. To make matters worse, with a 3rd and 1 at the 28-yard line, C.J. Stroud threw an interception that effectively ended the game. Houston, you surely do have a problem.
19) Pittsburgh SteelersLast Week’s Ranking: 22Offense Rank: 21Defense Rank: 29Playoff Odds: 50.40%
They might have gotten the win, but it was by no means an easy feat for the Steelers. Despite five takeaways (an interception and four fumble recoveries), they could only manage a 21-14 victory. Thoroughly outplayed at virtually every level, it was the turnovers that saved the day for Pittsburgh.
But after losing to Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, getting back on the win column was a positive nonetheless for a Steelers team competing in a suddenly wide-open AFC North.
18) Dallas CowboysLast Week’s Ranking: 15Offense Rank: 4Defense Rank: 30Playoff Odds: 19.60%
After it looked like the Dallas Cowboys could be a legitimate contender in the NFC, their Week 3 performance may have put all those notions to rest. Going against a Bears team that gave up 21 points to J.J. McCarthy in a quarter and had Detroit drop 52 on it last week, the Cowboys could not manage more than 14 points on the night.
Turning the ball over four times, the offense found no consistency. Simultaneously, their defense had no answers for a career night from Caleb Williams, as the Bears dominated en route to a 31-14 victory. The biggest loss, though, for Dallas was the injury to CeeDee Lamb that took him out of the game in the first quarter.
17) Jacksonville JaguarsLast Week’s Ranking: 18Offense Rank: 10Defense Rank: 13Playoff Odds: 60%
An embarrassing loss in Week 2 meant that the Jacksonville Jaguars needed to put their best foot forward against the Texans. Leading for most of the game, they were able to survive a scare in the fourth quarter when the Texans tied it up at 10 apiece.
Going the length of the field, they scored a touchdown with 1:48 minutes left on the clock, before intercepting Stroud with 36 seconds left to put the game away for good. Most importantly for the Jaguars, though, the game finally saw Brian Thomas Jr. come alive with a 46-yard reception that set up the fourth-quarter score.
16) Arizona CardinalsLast Week’s Ranking: 12Offense Rank: 16Defense Rank: 15Playoff Odds: 41.00%
In addition to suffering their first loss of the season, the Arizona Cardinals will be haunted by one of the most horrific images on the football field as running back James Conner was gang tackled by Jordan Elliott and Marques Sigle, twisting awkwardly to the ground as his right leg bent in a gruesome, unnatural direction.
He was carted off the field as the players and fans were left in shock at the scary image. It was so bad that the broadcast refused to show a replay, and early indications are that he’s out for the season. The game as a whole, though, wasn’t one to write home about for the Cardinals, who mustered just 260 yards of total offense, with Kyler Murray posting an underwhelming 159 yards and one touchdown on 22 completions.
15) San Francisco 49ersLast Week’s Ranking: 17Offense Rank: 7Defense Rank: 8Playoff Odds: 72.70%
The second start for Mac Jones as the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers wasn’t as smooth an outing as his effort in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. While he completed 26 of 39 passes again, he threw for just 264 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. However, that turned out to be enough, as a last-second field goal was enough to give the Niners a 3-0 start.
With Brock Purdy likely returning next week against the Jaguars, Jones was able to give San Francisco the best possible result they could have hoped for in their franchise quarterback’s absence. This is the third time this century the 49ers have started 3-0. The other two seasons were 2023 and 2019, which both ended in Super Bowl losses to the Kansas City Chiefs.
14) Denver BroncosLast Week’s Ranking: 11Offense Rank: 20Defense Rank: 3Playoff Odds: 47.80%
After losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver Broncos had the perfect chance to right the ship against the Chargers and take a leg up in the division. However, they weren’t able to capitalize on a 20-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, giving up 10 points in under three minutes to go down 1-2.
The biggest critique for the game was against the offense, which totaled 0 yards with the ball in their hands over the final 2:37 of the game. Bo Nix finished with 153 yards and a touchdown, as he threw the ball just 25 times, completing 14 attempts.
13) Kansas City ChiefsLast Week’s Ranking: 9Offense Rank: 18Defense Rank: 13Playoff Odds: 41.30%
With their backs against the wall, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to turn back the clock and deliver a performance more in line with their standards as they registered their first win of the season against the Giants. Dominating on both sides of the football, the Chiefs won 21-9, holding an electric New York offense to just nine points.
A big sigh of relief for the fan base will be the offense, which, despite still not having Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, or Jalen Royals, looked far more comfortable with Mahomes going for 224 passing yards and a touchdown, and limiting his rushing attempts that had become a necessity in the first two weeks. A win in Week 4 over Baltimore and they could be right back in the mix with the elites of the AFC.
12) Seattle SeahawksLast Week’s Ranking: 22Offense Rank: 5Defense Rank: 11Playoff Odds: 49.20%
After an impressive road win against the Steelers in Week 2, the Seahawks kicked it up a notch in Week 3, dominating the Saints to the tune of 44-13. They dominated through the air and on the ground, with the return team also joining in on the fun.
Kenneth Walker III followed up last week’s dominant outing with another solid game, scoring twice against New Orleans. The Seahawks are now 2-1 on the season, with their lone loss coming in Week 1 against San Francisco.
11) Indianapolis ColtsLast Week’s Ranking: 16Offense Rank: 1Defense Rank: 25Playoff Odds: 88.20%
After squeaking out a lucky win against the Broncos last week, the Indianapolis Colts wanted to prove that they weren’t a rerun of the 2024 New Orleans Saints. As it turned out, a dominant showing against the Tennessee Titans was just what the doctor ordered. Jonathan Taylor continues to look like the best RB in the NFL, finishing with 102 yards and three touchdowns.
Taylor went for over 100 yards and three TDs in a game for the third time in his career. Only Derrick Henry (four) has more since he entered the league in 2020. Since 2000, only eight running backs have more than three games with 100+ yards and three or more TDs:
Larry Johnson (4)Edgerrin James (4)Adrian Peterson (5)Marshall Faulk (5)Derrick Henry (6)Shaun Alexander (6)Priest Holmes (6)LaDainian Tomlinson (10)
These are who he’s tied with:
Alvin Kamara (3)LeSean McCoy (3)Michael Turner (3)Clinton Portis (3)
The Colts had a pick-six just three plays into the game and never looked back. Their best start since 2009 has rekindled the fan base and validated the organization’s decision to give Daniel Jones the starting quarterback job.
10) Washington CommandersLast Week’s Ranking: 10Offense Rank: 9Defense Rank: 6Playoff Odds: 55.40%
Despite missing Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders held their own against the Las Vegas Raiders with Marcus Mariota as the man behind center. Cruising to a 41-24 victory, it was the ground game that truly set them apart, with 201 yards on 32 carries at an average of 6.3 yards per carry.
Even though the defense had a less-than-stellar outing, it was enough. They also got some strong contributions from the special teams unit, led by a 90-yard Jaylin Lane punt return touchdown.
9) Los Angeles RamsLast Week’s Ranking: 8Offense Rank: 11Defense Rank: 2Playoff Odds: 55.20%
The Los Angeles Rams were well on their way to taking a meteoric step forward, leading 27-6 at one point against the reigning Super Bowl champions. However, from there, a historic collapse began, as the Eagles scored 26 unanswered points, with two blocked field goals ending the night for the Rams.
It exposed a major hole in the special teams unit for Los Angeles and gave them their first loss of the season. Kicker Joshua Karty was public enemy number one in LA, and understandably so. However, the defense had a strong outing for most of the night, particularly against Saquon Barkley, holding him to just 46 yards.
8) Tampa Bay BuccaneersLast Week’s Ranking: 7Offense Rank: 17Defense Rank: 12Playoff Odds: 87.50%
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the 2025 season as the favorites in the NFC South, and they’ve lived up to that moniker so far. While they dominated the Jets for most of Sunday’s contest, they let New York back into the game and demonstrated their resilience in the 29-27 victory.
Tampa Bay didn’t have key contributors like Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan,Luke Goedeke, and Calijah Kancey before losing Mike Evans midway through the contest. However, for the third consecutive week, Baker Mayfield was able to lead them down the field and register a victory in the waning minutes of the matchup. With Wirfs and Godwin expected back next week, reinforcements are on the way.
7) Minnesota VikingsLast Week’s Ranking: 14Offense Rank: 27Defense Rank: 5Playoff Odds: 53.90%
The Minnesota Vikings have been a roller coaster ride through three weeks, going from eighth to 14th and back up to seventh in these power rankings. The offense, which was led by J.J. McCarthy for the first two weeks, found stability with Carson Wentz under center. Going up against the Cincinnati Bengals without Joe Burrow, the Vikings thoroughly dominated.
While it was a strong showing from the offense, it was the defense that was the true hero of the night, forcing five turnovers, including two defensive touchdowns for Minnesota by Isaiah Rodgers.
6) Philadelphia EaglesLast Week’s Ranking: 3Offense Rank: 18Defense Rank: 18Playoff Odds: 81.50%
All three of the Eagles’ wins have been by the skin of their teeth, but Philadelphia has started off the 2025 NFL season with a 3-0 record. That’s something worth celebrating, especially after stacking up wins against other contenders like the Chiefs and Rams.
Through the first half, it seemed like the Eagles were on their way to being blown out, falling down as much as 26-7 early in the third quarter. However, from there, they led a furious rally to score 26 unanswered points and secure a 33-26 victory.
Philadelphia blocked two field goals against the Rams, only the 20th time a team has recorded two field goal blocks in a single game since 2000. The last time a team had two fields goal blocked in one game was 2021 (Denver blocked two against Washington in Week 8).
The Eagles’ 19-point comeback is the ninth-largest in franchise history, and their second-largest since 2000. The only larger comeback was the famous DeSean Jackson walk-off punt return TD against the Giants in 2010 (a 21-point comeback).
5) Green Bay PackersLast Week’s Ranking: 2Offense Rank: 19Defense Rank: 1Playoff Odds: 69.10%
The Green Bay Packers looked like an NFC juggernaut through the first two weeks of the season. But they still have some truly abysmal performances in them, highlighted by their effort against the 0-2 Cleveland Browns with Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback.
Leading 10-0, the sky fell on the Packers in quick succession, as they gave up 13 points in under four minutes. Giving up four sacks and throwing an interception, it wasn’t a strong showing from Jordan Love, whose slow start has flown under the radar of Green Bay’s excellent defense.
4) Los Angeles ChargersLast Week’s Ranking: 6Offense Rank: 8Defense Rank: 7Playoff Odds: 94.90%
Their game against the Denver Broncos might have been the closest encounter of the season so far. But the Justin Herbert-led Los Angeles Chargers proved that the team was ready to ascend to the upper echelons of the AFC. Down 20-13 early in the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored 10 unanswered points in under three minutes to pull out the victory.
The Chargers are 3-0 for the first time since 2002. Only the Browns had a longer streak of not starting a season 3-0. Behind a spectacular performance from Herbert, who had 300 yards and a touchdown against one interception while completing 28 of his 47 passing attempts, Los Angeles has a vice grip on the AFC West. Now, his MVP case is getting stronger by the week.
3) Baltimore RavensLast Week’s Ranking: 5Offense Rank: 6Defense Rank: 23Playoff Odds: 81.40%
The Baltimore Ravens won in Week 2 despite their worst rushing performance of the Lamar Jackson era. Baltimore had just 45 rushing yards on 2.1 yards per rush against the Browns, both their worst in Jackson’s 96 career starts.
The good news is that Jackson has already thrown six passing touchdowns to wide receivers this season, more than a third of the way to his total of 17 from all of last season. Some inconsistency in the run game is a concern, but the Ravens still scored 41 points and are very clearly a top team in the NFL right now.
2) Detroit LionsLast Week’s Ranking: 4Offense Rank: 3Defense Rank: 20Playoff Odds: 61.40%
Since he debuted in 2016, Jared Goff has had four games with five passing touchdowns and no interceptions, including his stellar play in the Detroit Lions’ blowout win over the Bears. That’s tied with Patrick Mahomes for the second-most in the NFL over that span and trails only Lamar Jackson, who has six.
Any time your offense scores 52 points, you have to feel pretty good about your team’s performance. After a slow start to the year in their loss to the Packers in Week 1, the Lions bounced back in a major way on Sunday and looked like the powerhouse they’ve been the last few seasons.
1) Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills’ defense allowed 40 points in the season opener and then gave up 21 to the Miami Dolphins. If not for a careless Tua Tagovailoa interception, the game against the Dolphins could have truly gone down to the wire. However, they were able to pull out the win anyway, becoming the first AFC team to reach 3-0 this season.
Josh Allen continued his excellent start to the season, throwing for 213 yards and three touchdowns. However, special mention goes out to James Cook, who, after demanding an extension, has fully lived up to his pay scale, tallying 284 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries through three games, all marks that rank as the best in the league.