Rich Reveals His Brand-New NFL Power Rankings Heading into Week 1

Rich's week one power rankings came with a disclaimer built in. These are not his end-of-season predictions. They are his read on track record and roster right now, which is why some of the teams he expects to win divisions aren't on the list and some teams he doesn't expect to win them are.

**10. Chicago Bears**

Rich has the Lions eventually winning the NFC North, "but that day might not come." Right now the Bears are coming off an incredible season with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, and he wonders how deep they are, but they start at 10.

**9. Houston Texans**

Same idea. Rich has Jacksonville winning the AFC South, but "the Texans defense is too good to leave off this list."

**8. Los Angeles Chargers**

"I can't quit them," Rich said. He knows the Texans have punked the Chargers, but he believes Mike McDaniel plus Jim Harbaugh "equals a much better offense than we've seen in Los Angeles." Losing Jesse Minter on defense might counteract some of that. Someone on set noted Rich had the Chargers second in his way too early rankings in the spring and fifth a month ago. Rich's reply: "It's now rubber meeting the road time."

**7. Philadelphia Eagles**

Everyone who has laid eyes on them says they are the biggest team they have seen at every position. And to Jalen Hurts: "Let's see what you got, sir."

**6. New England Patriots**

The Patriots and AJ Brown sit just above Philadelphia, but Rich flagged a brutal opening stretch: Seattle on opening night, Pittsburgh at home, then at Jacksonville and at Buffalo. "I don't know if they're going to be in my power rankings much longer," he said. Someone called that disrespectful. Rich disagreed. "A one and three start, I can't keep you in my top 10."

From the room came the response: "One and three start, I'll eat Del Tufo's hat." Mike Del Tufo was not thrilled. "I like my hat. It's a Rams hat."

**5. Buffalo Bills**

Rich has the Bills winning the AFC, so he couldn't leave them off. "I've come around on it. Josh Allen's my MVP choice." He likes the new set of eyes with Joe Brady, even if it's a familiar voice in Allen's ear.

**4. Dallas Cowboys**

Rich remains high on Dak Prescott and an offense running it back, with a better defense. If the offense is top five and the defense is top 16, "dare I even say top 10," that's a contender. Someone called going from last to top 10 a big jump. Rich doubled down. "They've made the smart bets. The table's wired. Just roll the dice, hit the point. Collect the cash."

**3. Denver Broncos**

Yes, Rich has Buffalo making the Super Bowl and Denver ranked higher. He's ranking what the teams are right now. The Broncos are "so great offensively," they added Jaylen Waddle, Bo Nix is coming back, Sean Payton is as intense as they come, and "the defense could come up with 70 sacks."

**2. Seattle Seahawks**

Rich knows Seahawks fans will be angry about their title defense starting at two.

**1. Los Angeles Rams**

"That's just the way it is, man," Rich said. The Rams almost beat Seattle to the Super Bowl last year, and since then they added Trent McDuffie, and they added Aaron Donald because Myles Garrett was added.

**The ones who just missed**

Rich listed plenty of teams that could crack the top 10: the Bengals, Ravens, Vikings, Packers and Buccaneers. "There's always going to be a surprise team you're not seeing coming." The Chiefs are not on the list, he said, because they are not a top 10 team right now.

The pushback came fast. One suggestion was that Jacksonville belongs on the list, maybe over the Bears or Chargers. The louder complaint was about Dallas. "Dallas should not be ahead of New England."

Dallas had its defenders on set, and they came right back. "I think they play right now, I think the Cowboys beat you."

"Oh, no chance."

The only thing everyone agreed on was the timing. We shall see, and it starts tonight.