Putting together NFL Power Rankings is an intriguing part of analyzing the league. Judging which performances we can trust and which are potential red herrings is tricky in real-time. It can take five to six weeks for us to really get an understanding of what a team may actually look like, and even then, there are plenty of unknowns.
Therefore, here at PFN, we have tried to take the judgment element out of the process by creating our PFN Power Ranking+ (PFN PR+) metric. This metric combines our internal Offense+ and Defense+ metrics, sprinkles in some special teams, and then applies a level of correction for the strength of schedule a team has played. Those are the top-level ingredients, but there’s much more depth that goes into creating the PFN PR+ numbers.
Is this system perfect? Absolutely not, and as we continue to research, we will be continually tinkering with the elements that make up the PFN PR+. That may be at the Offense+ or Defense+ level, or it may be adding a fifth element that our analysis determines should be included in the overall rankings.
As things stand, this is the recipe that we are comfortable with entering Week 7, and accordingly, we have created our first official set of the PFN PR+ for the 2024 season.
1) Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
The Minnesota Vikings have been the surprise package of the 2024 NFL season. We did not expect much from their offense with Sam Darnold at quarterback, and while sitting 17th in terms of their Offense+ is not all that exciting, it’s what this offense has needed to do to support the defense.
Where Minnesota has excelled has been preventing pressure and then finding the end zone once they get into the red zone (68.8% conversion rate).
The Vikings’ defense has been the star, ranking second overall in Defense+. We’ve seen them cause major issues for the likes of Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud, Brock Purdy, and Aaron Rodgers. That is an impressive group to have bamboozled, and Minnesota’s metrics are top 10 in essentially every ingredient that makes up our Offense+ metric.
The added element that makes this start even more impressive is that the Vikings have played the fourth-hardest schedule to this point. This 5-0 start is not a product of an easy schedule. They’ve beaten four good teams and have positioned themselves beautifully coming out of their bye.
Minnesota’s next big test comes against the Detroit Lions, who sit second in our PR+ rankings.
2) Detroit Lions (4-1)
The Lions are mere inches behind the Vikings in our PR+ score, which makes this weekend fascinating when the two face off for the first time in 2024. Detroit has been superb in the last couple of games, and after six weeks, they currently have the third-best offense in the NFL.
Their defense isn’t letting them down either, ranking ninth, which matches where their special teams sit as well.
Every NFL team broken down into tiers based on offensive and defensive performance heading into Week 7 📊 pic.twitter.com/D4SUPbhhmg
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
The only thing stopping the Lions from being No. 1 in our power rankings is that their schedule has ranked second-easiest to this point. That leaves them with one of the hardest remaining schedules and could well prove to be the difference when it comes to winning an ultra-competitive NFC North.
3) Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
It was a slow start for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, but they have largely recovered nicely, with the offense leading the way. Baltimore sits comfortably atop the league in Offense+, ranking in the top two in most statistics.
What makes their offensive performance to this point even more impressive is that they’ve been doing it despite allowing a lot of pressure against four or fewer rushers.
The defense has struggled, ranking 22nd in the NFL, with their pass defense being the real Achilles heel. Baltimore’s been good against the run, but that is a very small part of the modern NFL, and they’re allowing a 24th-ranked 2.26 points per drive. The Ravens have also struggled in special teams, ranking 31st in the league.
The positive news for the Ravens is that they have navigated the 10th-toughest schedule to date. At 4-2, putting in strong offensive performances against a relatively hard schedule is promising for the remainder of the season.
4) Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
Rightly, you may question how the defending Super Bowl champions can be 5-0 and not atop any power ranking. However, the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t generally put together a great set of performances to this point.
The Chiefs are still fourth in PR+ and inside the top 10 when we isolate both offensive and defensive performances, yet it hasn’t been the most convincing 5-0 start.
Part of the reason for that is that the Chiefs have faced the third-toughest schedule to this point of the season. They’ve beaten good teams to get here, with all of their opponents to date profiling as potential playoff teams at the start of the season.
If things start clicking, with an easier remaining schedule, Kansas City will once again be a real force in 2024.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
Entering the season, there was much talk that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a regression candidate with Dave Canales’ departure. However, new offensive coordinator Liam Coen has done an excellent job. Under his guidance, Baker Mayfield has continued to produce at a high level, and the team is in the top 10 offensively, scoring well in most games.
The defense hasn’t been as strong as the offense through the first six weeks, but they remain right around league average, despite dealing with some unfortunate injuries in that stretch.
Tampa Bay’s defense doesn’t have any major concerns, but just a slight improvement across the board would be very welcoming to support its offense. In the Buccaneers’ two losses, we’ve seen those struggles bite them.
Tampa Bay has also played the seventh-hardest schedule to this point, which is a great credit to them when you consider they are right in the NFC mix. For now, they are behind the Atlanta Falcons due to their overtime loss, but the Buccaneers appear to be the team with more chance of sustaining their start.
6) San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
The San Francisco 49ers’ start to the 2024 season has been strange. They have looked good both offensively and defensively, but two fourth-quarter collapses have cost them wins.
If we were looking at this team at 4-2 or 5-1, no one would bat an eyelid. Offensively, the 49ers rank second in the league, while the defense sits 14th. San Francisco’s special teams, though, have been a concern, ranking 32nd to this point.
The other element that will likely quietly concern Kyle Shanahan is that the schedule San Francisco has played hasn’t been all that tough. The Vikings are by far the best team they’ve played this year, and losses to bottom-half teams like the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals will be a sore spot.
Overall, the 49ers’ SOS to date ranks 28th, and there are much harder tests to come.
A win over the Chiefs this week, however, would put those concerns to bed. This is not a situation where the 49ers are being outmatched by good teams. They were competitive in all of their losses, while their three wins have been fairly comfortable.
7) Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Week 6 saw the Buffalo Bills stop a wobble that had seen them lose two straight games — it also gave them a little breathing room atop the AFC East.
Nevertheless, this is not the excellent Bills team we have become accustomed to. They’re still fourth in our Offense+ rankings, but the performances have not been consistently strong. Adding Amari Cooper this week should help the passing side of those numbers.
Buffalo is then also a mid-tier team in terms of its defense. They’ve been better against the run than the pass and have done a solid job of preventing teams from scoring touchdowns when inside the red zone. That has helped them to keep teams to 23 points or less in four of their last five. With a top-10 offense, a bend-but-don’t-break defense is a helpful complementary style.
8) Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
It has been a season of two halves for the Seattle Seahawks through the first six weeks, dominating their first three games and then losing three straight. When you isolate Seattle’s Offense+ and Defense+ at 13th and 17th, respectively, it seems odds that they are eighth in our PR+. However, that is telling in terms of how tightly packed things are once we get into this mid-tier region of the rankings.
The Seahawks have also benefited from playing the 11th-easiest schedule to date. The win over the Denver Broncos looks more impressive by the week, but the loss to the New York Giants counter-balances that a little.
Seattle’s defense has been excellent at forcing pressure, and the offense has been good at resisting it. That combination should help them stay in games and in the NFC playoff race.
9) New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Seeing the New Orleans Saints inside the top 10 of our PR+ after six weeks is intriguing, especially since they’re on a four-game losing streak. However, this ranking doesn’t really reflect what we are seeing from the Saints right now because they are without Derek Carr, leaving Spencer Rattler to be New Orleans’ starter.
As things stand, entering Week 7, the Saints have a top-10 offense and defense, and the performances have largely reflected that. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles and Falcons by a combined five points and were in the game with the Chiefs until Carr got hurt.
The blowout in Week 6 was messy, but it came against a top-five team in our PR+ rankings, with a rookie QB making his first start.
There’s a chance we see the Saints drop another five or six spots in these rankings over the next month. Much of it depends on when they can get Carr back on the field, as that will have a major impact on their offense and, consequently, on the situations their defense is put in.
Carr is doubtful for Week 7, presenting a slim chance he’ll be back in Week 8 with 10 days to prepare.
10) New York Jets (2-4)
What a whirlwind the last two weeks have been for the New York Jets. They fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday of Week 6 and then traded for Davante Adams this past Tuesday.
It’s interesting to see where that actually leaves the Jets in terms of how they look going forward; We may not get a full reflection for another week or two.
Who stops the Jets' new offense? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tWXt1FTbT9
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
As things stand, New York is a surprising 10th in our PR+ standings. A lot of that comes from having the best defense in the league to this point, although we saw the Jets take a slight step back in Week 6 against the Bills. The offense is 23rd, but we expect that to climb significantly with another high-profile weapon added this week.
A final element to consider with the Jets is that they have had a tough schedule thus far. Three of their losses have come against top-seven teams in our PR+. The loss to the Broncos was a little bizarre but perhaps not as disastrous as it first appeared.
The remaining SOS is one of the easiest, so New York making a run for the playoffs should not be discounted.
11) Houston Texans (5-1)
Houston Texans fans may feel a little aggrieved by this position in our PR+. Houston is 5-1, but the schedule has been fairly friendly, and the performances haven’t been that dominant.
The best win to this point is over Buffalo, and that was somewhat handed to the Texans by questionable clock management from Sean McDermott and his staff. Houston’s lone loss was a shellacking by Minnesota in a largely humiliating game.
The Texans rank 18th in offense and 10th in defense. Their special teams have been among the worst in the league, which they will need to address, and their schedule has been on the easier side. They should cruise to the AFC South title, but current performances suggest that they will struggle when they face the Chiefs or Ravens in the playoffs.
We will get a good idea of where this team is entering the playoffs, as they have a four-week stretch after their bye that will include a Miami Dolphins team that should have Tua Tagovailoa, the Chiefs, and the Ravens in a three-week stretch.
12) Denver Broncos (3-3)
Watching the Broncos this season has not been a pretty experience, especially when the offense has been on the field. Yet, the defense has been incredible, ranking fourth in Defense+. Along with their fifth-ranked special teams, they’ve remained competitive in every game. The offense may rank fourth from the bottom, but so far, Denver has managed to overcome it.
The Broncos’ losses looked ugly, but the games have been tight. They lost to the Seahawks by six points in Bo Nix’s first start and by seven to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a defensive struggle in Week 2.
Denver then lost by just seven again last week after overcoming a slow start and the loss of CB Patrick Surtain II to a concussion. All three losses have been by seven points or less, to go along with two comfortable wins.
Whether the Broncos can sustain a challenge in the AFC is a major question, but they’re doing several things right, and it reflects in their PR+ position. The defense doesn’t give up many points (leading the league in red-zone efficiency and third in points per drive), and the offense is stepping up when needed in certain spots.
13) Washington Commanders (4-2)
After a relatively poor performance in Week 1, the Washington Commanders have had a lot to be positive about. Jayden Daniels is producing some of the best numbers in the NFL at his position as a rookie, which has helped lead the offense to a top-five performance through six weeks.
Washington is first in points per drive and EPA (expected points added) per play, along with a number of other statistics. Unfortunately, for the Commanders, success is more than just having a good offense.
Washington’s defense is struggling badly, ranking 30th after six weeks. Key among that is sitting fourth from last in points per drive and yards per play. They’ve shown moments of upside but have allowed more than 30 points on three occasions, which piles the pressure on the Commanders’ offense to be close to perfect.
Strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams from Week 7 through the rest of the season 📊
*Ranked hardest to easiest* pic.twitter.com/OqJGdyl8ax
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
Furthering the potential concerns is that they have played the eighth-easiest schedule to this point. That could indicate that there is some regression to come over the rest of the season.
However, while Washington does face a tougher remaining schedule on average than what we’ve seen so far, they still have a remaining SOS that is inside the 12 easiest. Just maybe we could see the Commanders in the playoffs this season.
14) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
On some level, it seems crazy that the Steelers are contemplating a move away from Justin Fields when they’re 4-2 and in the top half of our PR+ standings. However, it has been the defense driving their success, ranking eighth this season and inside the top five in points per drive. That has hidden an offense that ranks 23rd, scoring just 1.97 points per drive (18th).
Pittsburgh has also played a schedule that is the ninth-easiest, which raises the question of whether Fields has been good in leading to this record or just a touch fortunate. If the change to Russell Wilson works in their favor, the Steelers have top-10 upside and could play spoiler in the playoffs with a strong defense.
If it doesn’t work, they can go back to Fields and already know what that looks like.
15) Green Bay Packers (4-2)
It may seem a little harsh on the Green Bay Packers that they are only marginally above an average team. However, they haven’t excelled at anything this year, ranking ninth on offense and 20th on defense. Additionally, they’ve played the seventh-easiest schedule to date, with wins coming over the 20th, 21st, 25th, and 26th-placed teams in our PR+.
There’s a bit of an unknown here because the Packers’ offense hasn’t had much rhythm to this point. They looked good in Week 1, scoring 29 points before Jordan Love got hurt. They then had two games with Malik Willis where they were efficient without being excellent.
Love has then played through the remainder of his recovery, and the points have been good. However, the metrics behind them haven’t always matched that.
There is plenty of potential for Green Bay, with Love seemingly back at full strength. This week’s game against the Texans should give us an idea of how competitive they can be against top-12 opposition in 2024.
16) Chicago Bears (4-2)
The Chicago Bears have put together two impressive performances across all units in the past two weeks. Their defense ranks fifth in the NFL and has been superb all season, but the offense has been playing catch-up.
Chicago’s offensive unit currently ranks 19th in the league but appears to have figured some things out, scoring 71 total points in the last two games.
The problem for the Bears is that they have played a very soft stretch of their schedule. Only the Texans rank above 20th in our PR+ at this stage, and things are about to get much tougher.
Chicago has the hardest remaining schedule the rest of the way, so they need to continue improving on offense while remaining close to elite on defense.
17) Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
The Eagles continue to be somewhat of a mystery after six weeks of the 2024 season. After their 2023 season ended with an ugly run of games, a group of strong performances was necessary to settle any nerves. We haven’t seen that in their 3-2 start, however, with all three wins coming by a total of 12 points.
It has all been very much middling for the Eagles to this point in the season. They’re 12th offensively, 23rd defensively, and 21st on special teams. They’ve also played the 14th-hardest schedule to this point.
All of that points to uncertainty around how the Eagles stand at this point. They are still very much in the NFC East race, and both the Giants and Dallas Cowboys look to be in poor shape.
This season could shape up to be a scrap for the division between Philadelphia and Washington. They still have to play twice, and they’ll likely be decisive. Right now, our PR+ gives the edge to the Commanders, but the Eagles have one of the easiest remaining SOS, putting them in a position to capitalize.
18) Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
The Falcons have shown a ton of promise through the first six weeks. Kirk Cousins understandably looked unstable on his feet at times in Week 1 but has settled in nicely.
Atlanta’s offense ranks 11th to this point and is trending up. The Falcons are currently ninth in points per drive (2.37) and have been excellent at avoiding third-down situations. All of that is very promising, given the slow start against the Steelers.
The problem for Atlanta going forward will be that the defense is really struggling. They are 25th in Defense+ and are allowing 2.33 points per drive. Three of the Falcons’ four wins have accordingly come by just one score and a total of nine points. Even their win against the Carolina Panthers (which was by 18 points) saw the defense struggle against a mediocre at best offense.
19) Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
It was always going to be a bit of a “feeling out” process with the Los Angeles Chargers to start 2024. Jim Harbaugh’s arrival brought a fairly big shift in offensive philosophy, with Greg Roman and his run-heavy offense accompanying him.
The offense has not clicked, averaging just 1.63 points per drive and ranking 24th on the season so far. However, Justin Herbert has been hampered by an injury for three of those games.
The defense has been predictably strong. Despite Harbaugh’s roots in the offensive side of the ball, his teams are generally centered around strong defensive performances. That has been the case again this year, with the defense ranking sixth overall and the best in the NFL in points allowed per drive (1.2). They have been particularly excellent against the run.
These teams have been the best at defending the run this season. 😤 pic.twitter.com/DaDD9GAFIP
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
One concern here will be that the Chargers have played the 10th-easiest schedule, and it hasn’t always looked the most convincing. That said, they were very competitive with the Chiefs and have won two games by more than 10 points. A playoff spot is not out of the question, but the offense needs to improve considerably.
20) Tennessee Titans (1-4)
It is certainly a surprise to see the Tennessee Titans this high in the rankings, given they are 1-4 and have an offense that has looked stuck in the mud. Accordingly, that offense ranks 26th in the league, averaging just 1.59 points per drive.
Tennessee hopes that will improve as Will Levis gets more games under his belt, but for now, it’s an anchor weighing the team down.
The defense, meanwhile, has been very impressive, ranking 12th and keeping the Titans in games. They allow a seventh-best 1.63 points per drive, which is the primary reason why they’ve lost three games by seven points or less.
Also, giving Tennessee a boost in these rankings is that their SOS to date has been the 11th-hardest. Nevertheless, they still have one of the hardest remaining schedules, so any hope that they can turn this 20th-placed PR+ into a playoff spot should be quickly dismissed.
21) Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
The Cardinals have been one of the more difficult teams to judge this season. They looked excellent through the first two weeks and in their comeback win over the 49ers. However, they’ve also lost two games by 20+ points and failed to score above 14 in three games.
Still, there is some reason for optimism.
When we look at why the Cardinals rank 21st, there’s a lot to digest. Arizona ranks 15th in terms of its offense and 32nd defensively. The special-teams play has also been above average, but the big key has been that they have played the second-hardest schedule to date.
22) Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
The Cincinnati Bengals have had a strange start to the season, and they need to improve quickly or find themselves with a mountain to climb.
Cincinnati’s schedule has been a strange one because while they have played the Chiefs, Ravens, and Commanders, they’ve also had the New England Patriots, Panthers, and Giants, who all rank below them. The upshot is that the Bengals have had the sixth-easiest schedule to this point.
That makes Cincinnati’s 22nd-placed PR+ a bit concerning since they’ve struggled despite the relatively soft schedule overall. The good news is that the Bengals’ remaining schedule still profiles as one of the easiest, so there is plenty of opportunity to recover.
Offensively, the Bengals rank sixth on the season, but they are down in 28th defensively. There were signs last time out that the defense was tightening up, but it needs to be done more consistently going forward.
Cincinnati has an uphill struggle to reach the postseason, but they are certainly not out of the playoff picture.
23) New York Giants (2-4)
To this point of the season, we’ve seen almost exactly what we expected from the Giants. They surprised a couple of teams, but generally, they have fallen short in crucial moments.
New York’s only truly bad loss came in Week 1, and two of its four losses have been by five points or less. The Giants are in games, but they just don’t have the talent upside in key spots to consistently win those close games.
New York is just below average in general, with its defense ranking 18th in Defense+ and the offense down in 30th in Offense+. We saw that play out on Sunday Night Football, with a 17-7 loss to the Bengals, where the defense was good without being spectacular, and the offense was poor.
It’s difficult to see how the Giants mount a sustained challenge for the playoffs without considerable improvement from Daniel Jones. History has shown us that Jones is what he is, and consistent improvement is unlikely to come at this point.
24) Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
The Cowboys have perhaps been the biggest disappointment of the season so far. The defense ranking 22nd is kind of what we expected, but the offense being at best league average and trending toward below average is a surprise.
Dak Prescott is putting together one of his worst seasons (if not the worst). Without him improving, Dallas is in major trouble.
QB Grades for every Week 6 NFL starter 🍎 pic.twitter.com/oQwNyi6s5b
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
To provide some optimism, the Cowboys have played the fifth-hardest schedule thus far, which explains some of their struggles. Unfortunately, that optimism is largely tainted by the fact that they have the sixth-hardest remaining schedule this season.
For a team that ranks 27th in points allowed per drive (2.58) and 20th in points scored per drive (1.86), this is a worrying situation to be in.
25) Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
The Indianapolis Colts are another team that needs to see significant improvement from their starting quarterback. Anthony Richardson was always likely to be a bit of a project, but if the Colts want to make the playoffs in 2024, they need those improvements to start coming.
Richardson and Joe Flacco have combined to lead Indianapolis to a 3-3 record, but it hasn’t been pretty.
The offensive statistics are hard to read too much into because of how different Flacco and Richardson are in their styles. Ultimately, the Colts rank 19th on offense, which would be acceptable if their defense didn’t rank 26th and their special teams 20th.
Something needs to change. Richardson was drafted to be that high-upside X-factor, so they need it to start paying off.
26) Los Angeles Rams (1-4)
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Rams to start the season. They’ve dealt with injuries to both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, among other key players, and have faced the hardest schedule across the first six weeks.
The one saving grace of it all may well be that they are 1-4 and not 0-5, which they easily could be if things had broken a little differently.
Despite the injuries, LA’s offense is still ranked 14th overall and scoring 1.88 points per drive. The problem is that the defense is ranked 29th and allowing 2.78 points per drive.
That is a big points differential to overcome, and the defense is a major concern because only one offense in the entire league is averaging more points per drive than the Rams are allowing.
Losing Aaron Donald and Raheem Morris was always going to hurt, but the Rams’ defense has been even worse than we expected. The schedule gets a little easier from here, but not by enough if Los Angeles continues performing as it has to start the year.
27) Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
The Las Vegas Raiders appear to have abandoned any hopes of being competitive in 2024. Between giving Aidan O’Connell the starting role and trading away Davante Adams, the Raiders appear to have accepted this is another rebuilding year.
It’s hardly like Vegas’ 25th-ranked offense was lighting it up before, but things could get worse from here.
The other issue is that the Raiders’ defense is also bad (ranked 21st). Their metrics on defense are not as ugly as on offense, but they’re not good enough to carry a team through a rough stage, as we have seen with other units around the league.
The focus for the Raiders now needs to be on who will be their quarterback in Week 1 of 2025 and 2026.
28) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
Speaking of quarterback questions, we get to the Jacksonville Jaguars and their Trevor Lawrence-led offense. The Jaguars gave their QB a shiny new contract, and all they have to show for it is a 21st-ranked offense that has proven capable against bad defenses and largely inept against average or better ones.
That is a major concern for a team that has locked themselves into a quarterback who has been below average.
The defense isn’t helping the situation, either. They rank 27th overall and just made the Bears’ offense look like a juggernaut.
The only upside for Jacksonville is that it has played the eighth-hardest schedule to date, and things should get easier from here. However, if they lose to the Patriots this week in London, alarm bells will really start ringing.
29) Cleveland Browns (1-5)
The situation around the Cleveland Browns is a bit chaotic right now. The statistics tell us that Deshaun Watson is putting together one of the worst performances we have seen by a QB since 2019, and yet, there appears to be no desire to try something different.
Given that Cleveland’s offense ranks 31st and could be dead last here shortly, that is a pretty concerning situation to be in.
The defense has at least been competent. They rank third right now but are trending down over the course of the season. When things settle out, it’s likely they will be closer to 10th than they will be to first.
Making this all worse is that the Browns have had the third-easiest schedule so far and face the fifth-toughest remaining schedule. Getting to four wins might be an achievement at this point.
30) Miami Dolphins (2-3)
This ranking of the Dolphins is probably the only one you can completely ignore at this stage. The offense has been horrible without Tua Tagovailoa, but they should be getting him back in the next month. With Tua under center, this team is potentially a top-15 team, if not top 10.
The defense has been good, ranking 11th until now, so if the offense picks up, this is a team that can compete. The biggest downside is that Miami has faced just the fourth-hardest schedule to this point, but that may help explain why they are not 1-4 or 0-5. The good news is that they still have the 10th-easiest remaining schedule.
The Dolphins’ season is not over, and they could easily still be a playoff team come January.
31) New England Patriots (1-5)
The Patriots hope that their offensive statistics to this point become a footnote on a season of encouraging improvement. As we stand now, they are last in our offensive rankings, but there were signs of life with Drake Maye under center. They have a long way to go, but if they can get even close to the league average, that will be a successful transition.
New England’s defense is a bigger concern. For a long time, it has been the strength of the team; it should be a point of shame for Jerod Mayo that his defense is 24th in the league.
Offensive improvements will take the pressure off the Patriots somewhat, as will a significant easing in their schedule, but they’re in a dark place all around right now.
32) Carolina Panthers (1-5)
No one expected the Panthers to suddenly challenge the NFC South this year, but they were expected to be more competitive. The switch from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton has helped lift their offense to the 29th-ranked unit this year, and they are trending to move a little higher than that. Even so, Carolina is only averaging 1.49 points per drive.
The defense has perhaps been a bigger headache, allowing 2.99 points per drive and trending to be the worst in the league in Defense+. The schedule they will face the rest of the way is the 10th hardest, and there is very little reason for optimism with the Panthers’ situation.
Stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.
