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The first NFL game is less than two weeks away. It’s the Hall of Fame Game, but still, you know you’re going to watch. It’s football season. That means it’s time for our preseason NFL Power Rankings. We start where we left off with the Eagles coming off a dominant Super Bowl win and sitting atop the list. The question marks start right after that. Can the Ravens finally break through this year? Will the Bills’ defensive line overhaul be a key difference-maker? How long can the Patrick Mahomeses (also known as the Chiefs) keep doing this?

1. Philadelphia Eagles

Last ranking: 1

The big names on offense are all back, a good thing because a defense that lost Milton Williams, Darius Slay Jr., C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham might have a tough time matching last season, when the Eagles finished second in scoring defense (17.8 ppg). The two biggest offensive questions: Can Jalen Hurts match a career-best season (.25 EPA per attempt) and how does Saquon Barkley respond after a 378-touch season, the fifth-highest workload in the last five seasons?

2. Baltimore Ravens

Last ranking: 4

In the second half of the 2024 season, Baltimore was third in scoring (30 ppg) and second in scoring defense (18 ppg allowed). Lamar Jackson is coming off maybe the most spectacular non-MVP season in league history (41 TDs versus four interceptions, 915 rushing yards and the best EPA per dropback of anyone in the last five seasons, according to TruMedia). Now, it’s just a matter of snapping a streak of three straight one-score losses in playoff matchups. The only thing keeping the Ravens from the top of this list is that they lost 15 free agents in the offseason.

3. Buffalo Bills

Last ranking: 3

Josh Allen, coming off his first MVP season, gets all the credit in Buffalo, but the Bills’ ultimate destiny this season will be determined by their lines of scrimmage. Buffalo was eighth in pressure percentage allowed (31.9) and fourth in rushing EPA (.06 per carry) last season and returns all its starters on the offensive front. Defensively, the Bills added Joey Bosa, Larry Ogunjobi, Michael Hoecht and three rookies to the line of scrimmage.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Last ranking: 2

Since Patrick Mahomes became the full-time starter in 2018, the Chiefs have played nine more games than any other team (137) because they have advanced to at least the AFC title game each of the last seven seasons. Last year’s team looked exhausted by the end, though, and the offense struggled by its standards (10th in EPA per play, 12th in scoring). Wide receivers Rashee Rice (pending suspension news) and Hollywood Brown, who played a combined six games last year because of injury, should provide a boost this season.

5. Green Bay Packers

Last ranking: 7

The Packers have drafted six wide receivers in the first five rounds in the last four years, and they were second last season in yards per completion (12.8). Now, it’s up to quarterback Jordan Love to smooth out the rough spots in his game. Love was 22nd last year in EPA per attempt (.13) and 30th in interceptions per attempt (2.6 percent). He’s thrown 27 interceptions in the last two seasons, including five in the playoffs, which is two more than any other NFL quarterback in that span.

6. Washington Commanders

Last ranking: 6

The Commanders added two offensive linemen — trading for Laremy Tunsil and drafting rookie first-rounder Josh Conerly Jr. — to protect the franchise’s most important asset — second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. After a dynamic rookie season, Daniels is going to have to be great again. The Commanders finished in the bottom half of the league in almost every defensive category, lost defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and didn’t make any serious personnel upgrades on that side of the ball.

Can coach Dan Campbell keep the Lions on track after a host of offseason changes? (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)7. Detroit Lions

Last ranking: 5

The Lions had to replace offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and two of his assistants along with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and one of his assistants. They also lost cornerback Carlton Davis, edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, guard Kevin Zeitler and center Frank Ragnow. They also must bounce back from a shocking 45-31 loss to the Commanders in the playoffs last season. Coach Dan Campbell is 37-11 in his last 48 games, but this will be his toughest test in a while.

8. Houston Texans

Last ranking: 10

C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, more than anyone other than Caleb Williams. More than 10 percent of his dropbacks ended in a sack or interception, and Houston’s offensive line lost Laremy Tunsil. The defense might be good enough, though, to keep the Texans near the top of this list while the offense tries to regain its footing. Houston was second in defensive success rate (61.1 percent) and fifth in defensive EPA per snap (6.9) last year and added free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

9. Los Angeles Rams

Last ranking: 8

Despite defensive lineman Jared Verse’s game-wrecking rookie season, the Rams were 28th last season in pass defense (minus-.28 EPA per dropback), and while they bolstered their defensive line with Poona Ford, they didn’t make any significant additions to the secondary. They got a lot of attention for pushing the Eagles in the playoffs, but the Rams were the only playoff team with a negative point differential in the regular season and averaged 19.7 points in their last six games.

10. Minnesota Vikings

Last ranking: 9

In 2023, Kirk Cousins was second in passing yards per game and Minnesota let him leave. In 2024, Sam Darnold was seventh in passing yards per game and Minnesota let him leave. Now, it’s J.J. McCarthy’s turn. The No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft sat out his rookie season after tearing his meniscus and hasn’t thrown a professional pass. The backup plan is Sam Howell, so the Vikings are banking on McCarthy to be very good.

11. Los Angeles Chargers

Last ranking: 11

The Chargers were 17th in rushing yards per game (110.7), 24th in success rate (36.6 percent) and yards per carry (4.1) and 27th in yards per carry after contact (2.67). Jim Harbaugh responded by jettisoning J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and adding Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton. Justin Herbert is entering his sixth season and is getting expensive now. His average cap hit for the next five seasons will be $54.5 million. It’s probably time for his first playoff win.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who is seeking a new contract, is the player to watch in Bengals camp. (Sam Greene / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)12. Cincinnati Bengals

Last ranking: 13

Joe Burrow and company were the 10th-highest scoring team since at least 2000 to miss the playoffs. The Bengals scored 27.8 points per game and have now locked up Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (for at least two years, it seems) to keep the offense humming. Now the question is whether Trey Hendrickson will get a new deal and show up for camp and how much difference that would even make for a unit that finished 29th in defensive EPA (minus-5.0 per 100 snaps) and 25th in points allowed (25.5).

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last ranking: 15

An offseason review: The Steelers made T.J. Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history, signed Aaron Rodgers and Darius Slay in free agency, traded for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, drafted defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black and traded George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick. This team seems very determined to win its first playoff game since the 2016 season.

14. Denver Broncos

Last ranking: 14

Over the course of last season, the Broncos had the league’s best defense. Denver finished first in defensive EPA (10.5), first in sack percentage (9.4 percent) and second in yards per carry allowed (3.9). Things got a little shaky at the end of the season, though. The Broncos gave up more than 30 points in four of their last six games, and the other two games were against the Colts and a resting Chiefs team. In the offseason, the Broncos drafted cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round and signed safety Talanoa Hufanga.

15. San Francisco 49ers

Last ranking: 22

Robert Saleh is back as the defensive coordinator and has a much younger front seven. Quarterback Brock Purdy is locked up with a long-term contract, but only one question really matters in San Francisco. Is running back Christian McCaffrey healthy? Achilles and knee injuries limited him to four games last year, but he looked good in OTAs. If McCaffrey returns to form, the Niners might, too. They won six games last season after three straight years of at least making the NFC title game.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last ranking: 12

Nobody has thrown more touchdowns than Baker Mayfield in the last two years (69). Dave Canales and Liam Coen are now head coaches because of it. Josh Grizzard is the new Tampa Bay offensive coordinator, and he has plenty of weapons with first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka joining Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and running back Bucky Irving. The Bucs, who had the second-most efficient run game last season (.06 EPA per carry), probably will be without tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) to start the season, though.

17. Dallas Cowboys

Last ranking: 16

Dak Prescott missed nine games last year because of a hamstring injury. He wasn’t good in the eight he played. The 10th-year pro had his worst career passer rating (86) and EPA per dropback (minus-.05) and second-worst interception percentage (2.8). Dallas traded for wide receiver George Pickens and drafted guard Tyler Booker to replace the retired Zack Martin. Pickens, one of the game’s most dynamic deep threats, might be the perfect complement to CeeDee Lamb. Or his antics might drive everyone in Dallas crazy.

Former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is now with the Seahawks. How the offense fares with Darnold and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is the big preseason storyline in Seattle. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)18. Seattle Seahawks

Last ranking: 17

Sam Darnold is a top-10 quarterback in the last three seasons. He’s eighth in EPA per attempt (.20) in that span, which is one spot higher than Patrick Mahomes. Pairing Darnold with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s run-heavy scheme makes sense for both him and the Seahawks. If that works and Seattle continues to build on last year’s strong defensive finish (the Seahawks were third in points allowed per drive, 1.61, after Week 10), the Seahawks could be playoff contenders.

19. Las Vegas Raiders

Last ranking: 18

Seven quarterbacks have started for Las Vegas in the last three seasons. None of them have been good. The Raiders have tried to stop the bleeding by trading for veteran Geno Smith to highlight an offensive overhaul that included drafting running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick and signing guard Alex Cappa in free agency. It had better work because the defense was 25th in points allowed (25.5 ppg) and didn’t make any marquee additions.

20. Miami Dolphins

Last ranking: 21

Mike McDaniels is 28-23 in three seasons in charge but hasn’t won a playoff game in Miami. The Dolphins pulled tight end Darren Waller out of retirement to add to the league’s fastest offense. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane all return to a team that won six of its final nine games in 2024 but missed the playoffs.

21. Chicago Bears

Last ranking: 19

Chicago hired head coach Ben Johnson, added three starting offensive linemen and drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the first round this offseason, all to help revive quarterback Caleb Williams. They have a big job. Williams took 68 sacks last season, the second most of any quarterback since at least 2000. His EPA per dropback ranked 733rd out of all qualifying quarterbacks since 2000.

22. Arizona Cardinals

Last ranking: 20

The Cardinals are rolling out basically the same offense that finished 12th in scoring last season (23.53), but they have tried to rebuild the defense, adding Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Josh Sweat, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Walter Nolen III to the front seven. The Cardinals have gone nine seasons without winning a playoff game, and it’s hard to imagine that changing this season.

The Patriots have added to the offense around quarterback Drake Maye, who showed flashes of brilliance last season. (Winslow Townson / Getty Images)23. New England Patriots

Last ranking: 23

From the time Drake Maye took over as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Week 6 through the end of the season, the rookie was fourth among quarterbacks in rushing yards (409). He showed flashes from the pocket, too, despite being sacked on 9.1 percent of his dropbacks, the eighth-worst mark in the league. New England added first-round pick Will Campbell and free agents Garrett Bradbury and Morgan Moses to the offensive line to help with that.

24. Atlanta Falcons

Last ranking: 24

Michael Penix Jr. starts his fourth career game in Week 1, but the Falcons’ confidence in him belies his inexperience. Atlanta was sixth in the league in scoring (32 ppg) after Penix took over from Kirk Cousins in Week 16, but those games were against bottom-half defenses (Giants, Commanders, Panthers), and the rookie completed only 58.1 percent of his passes, which ranked 44th among qualifying quarterbacks in that span.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last ranking: 30

Football nerds’ favorite pairing of the offseason is Jags head coach Liam Coen with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. (Please don’t take the last sentence as a slight. This is a football-nerd-celebrating space.) Lawrence was picked first in 2021. Since then, he’s 28th in EPA per dropback (minus-.01), and Jacksonville has made the playoffs once. In the same time, Coen has changed jobs five times. He’s been good in all of them, and if he can turn Lawrence’s trajectory around, he’ll cement his reputation as an offensive guru.

26. New York Jets

Last ranking: 26

The most underrated interesting figure of the offseason is Tanner Engstrand, who was hired away from Detroit to be the Jets’ offensive coordinator after the Lions went outside the building to hire John Morton to replace Ben Johnson instead of promoting Engstrand. The 43-year-old Engstrand has a big challenge in New York — building an offense around quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears and Steelers already tried it. If Engstrand can do it, the Lions might get second-guessed here.

27. Indianapolis Colts

Last ranking: 25

The Colts were 17th in scoring (22.18 ppg) and 21st in offensive efficiency (minus-.04 EPA) last season, and their only significant offensive additions were first-round tight end Tyler Warren and quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones ranks 49th in EPA per dropback (minus-.05) since being drafted sixth by the Giants in 2019, and he’ll enter training camp working as the starter as Anthony Richardson recovers from a shoulder injury. A running game that was eighth in yards per carry (4.8) will have to carry a lot of weight.

28. Carolina Panthers

Last ranking: 28

Only two teams in the last five years have had a worse defensive success rate than the 2024 Panthers (52.3 percent), and only one had a worse defensive EPA (minus-12.5 per 100 snaps). However, Carolina gets monster defensive tackle Derrick Brown back from injury, drafted three front-seven defenders and added four starters to that side of the ball through free agency, headlined by tackle Tershawn Wharton.

29. New Orleans Saints

Last ranking: 27

In the last five seasons, only Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs have had more offensive touches than Alvin Kamara’s 1,388, and the 29-year-old is going to have to carry a big load again. The Saints are expected to start rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, a second-round pick who played seven years of college football at three schools. First-time head coach Kellen Moore, a veteran offensive coordinator, has a challenge out of the gate.

30. New York Giants

Last ranking: 31

New York has gone from nine wins to six wins to three wins in Brian Daboll’s three seasons. If the trend continues and the Giants go winless this season, it’ll be his last. New York has added quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart, and hopes to boost an offense that was 31st in scoring last year (16.1 ppg).

31. Tennessee Titans

Last ranking: 29

The Titans’ two-deep offensive depth chart is almost unrecognizable from a year ago. The most striking difference is No. 1 pick Cam Ward taking over at quarterback for Will Levis, who is out for the season. But the most important difference may be on the offensive line, where free agents Dan Moore and Kevin Zeitler enter the starting lineup and Lloyd Cushenberry returns after missing the final nine games last season because of injury. Tennessee, which had the third-worst point differential in the league (minus-149) last season, was due for a makeover.

32. Cleveland Browns

Last ranking: 32

Cleveland had the worst offense in the league last season (15.2 ppg), its most notable offensive moves were signing Joe Flacco, trading for Kenny Pickett, drafting two late-round quarterbacks and signing wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who wore out his welcome with three teams last year. It soon will be time to add another name to the list of the Browns’ starting quarterbacks — Arch Manning.

(Top photo of Jalen Hurts: Cooper Neill / Getty)