A four-analyst panel of Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Maurice Moton and Kris Knox left its top four untouched in the Week 7 power rankings, with the San Francisco 49ers still first, but the Houston Texans made the biggest climb of the week, seven places to 19th, while the Los Angeles Rams slid seven to 17th.
The panel finished its list before Monday night, so the 49ers and the Washington Commanders carry their records into their meeting in Santa Clara. Behind San Francisco sit the Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills, in the same order as a week ago.
The full Week 7 order
| Rank | Team | Record | Last week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0* | 1 | No change |
| 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 5-0 | 2 | No change |
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | 3 | No change |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills | 5-1 | 4 | No change |
| 5 | New England Patriots | 4-2 | 9 | +4 |
| 6 | Denver Broncos | 4-2 | 8 | +2 |
| 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-2 | 5 | -2 |
| 8 | Chicago Bears | 4-2 | 11 | +3 |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks | 3-3 | 6 | -3 |
| 10 | Baltimore Ravens | 4-2 | 7 | -3 |
| 11 | Carolina Panthers | 3-2 | 13 | +2 |
| 12 | Green Bay Packers | 4-2 | 12 | No change |
| 13 | Cleveland Browns | 4-2 | 17 | +4 |
| 14 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-2 | 17 | +3 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-2 | 14 | -1 |
| 16 | Detroit Lions | 3-2 | 16 | No change |
| 17 | Los Angeles Rams | 2-4 | 10 | -7 |
| 18 | Las Vegas Raiders | 3-3 | 18 | No change |
| 19 | Houston Texans | 2-4 | 26 | +7 |
| 20 | New York Giants | 3-2-1 | 19 | -1 |
| 21 | Atlanta Falcons | 2-4 | 21 | No change |
| 22 | Dallas Cowboys | 2-4 | 17 | -5 |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2-4 | 20 | -3 |
| 24 | New Orleans Saints | 2-4 | 25 | +1 |
| 25 | New York Jets | 2-4 | 24 | -1 |
| 26 | Arizona Cardinals | 2-4 | 29 | +3 |
| 27 | Indianapolis Colts | 2-4 | 23 | -4 |
| 28 | Washington Commanders | 1-3-1* | 27 | -1 |
| 29 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-5 | 28 | -1 |
| 30 | Tennessee Titans | 1-5 | 31 | +1 |
| 31 | Los Angeles Chargers | 0-6 | 29 | -2 |
| 32 | Miami Dolphins | 0-5 | 32 | No change |
Records through Sunday, October 18. *The 49ers and Commanders play Monday night. “Last week” is the place the panel gave each team in its previous list; that list had three teams at 17th and two at 29th, so a few changes are measured from shared spots.
Why the top four stayed put
Knox kept San Francisco on top for a defense he rates as good enough for January, a running game inside the league’s top 10 and a Brock Purdy he places in the MVP conversation. His worry is health: Deebo Samuel is expected to miss several weeks with a hamstring problem, and the Niners were worn down by injuries a year ago.
Davenport made the case for Kansas City through Kenneth Walker III, who had 139 yards and two touchdowns on 21 touches in the 22-6 win over the Chargers. In his reading, Walker’s 655 rushing yards are the most any player has gained in his first five games with a new club, and he called the signing perhaps the most important of the spring. The next two weeks, at Seattle and at Denver, are the test he flagged.
Minnesota stayed third during its bye. Davenport conceded the schedule has been soft but argued the defense is the real thing: first in points allowed and second in yards allowed. Buffalo held fourth, with Moton saying defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has work to do during the Week 7 off week.
Who climbed
Houston’s jump follows two straight wins, the latest a 34-31 thriller over Jacksonville in London. Knox said C.J. Stroud is playing like a Pro Bowl quarterback and pointed out that the Texans dug out of a 2-4 start last year and reached the divisional round.
Texans strike first in London!!
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/y9TVHAqXzr
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 18, 2026
The New England Patriots rose four places to fifth after a third straight win, 26-19 over the New York Jets. Moton counted 10 touchdown passes and one interception for Drake Maye across that run, though he still sees timing to build with A.J. Brown before Thursday’s trip to Chicago. The Chicago Bears went up three to eighth after Caleb Williams returned and led a 31-23 win in Atlanta that had been 31-7.
The Cleveland Browns gained four to 13th after a 13-10 win over Baltimore gave them a share of first place in the AFC North. Sobleski was the most skeptical voice here: he described a team that leans on its defense for three quarters and then asks Deshaun Watson for one late play, a recipe he doubts will hold up against better opponents. He added that the schedule helps, with one opponent above .500 before December.
ELECTRIC ANDRE SZMYT#BALvsCLE on Fox pic.twitter.com/j2so7EjRD9
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 18, 2026
Who fell
The Rams’ 18-16 home loss to Arizona left them 2-4 and last in the NFC West. Knox listed a porous defense and poor special teams, raised concern about the injury Davante Adams suffered late, and called next Sunday’s trip to Las Vegas close to a must-win game in October.
The Dallas Cowboys lost five places to 22nd after scoring 13 points at Green Bay. Sobleski noted that Dallas managed one explosive pass and no explosive runs, the second straight week it was held to 16 points or fewer after three games of 30 or more. The Indianapolis Colts dropped four to 27th for losing a 13-0 halftime lead to Tennessee, and both the Seattle Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens slipped three, Seattle after seven interceptions from Sam Darnold and Baltimore after a missed field goal and a Derrick Henry fumble let Cleveland back in.
What comes next
Week 7 opens Thursday with the Patriots at the Bears. The Vikings host the Colts, the Rams go to Las Vegas, the Chiefs visit Seattle on Sunday night and the Bills are on their bye.
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