NFL teams are averaging 23.3 points in the 2026 season, and offenses are reaching scoring territory often. So why are defenses struggling so much? ESPN's NFL Nation reporters identified the biggest defensive issue for each team in this week's 1-32 power rankings.
The Patriots have returned to the top 10 after back-to-back wins over the Bills and Raiders. Quarterback Drake Maye led the team to its most points (45) and yards (536) in a game since 2021. New England could keep its hot streak going with matchups against the Jets and Dolphins in two of the next three weeks.
The Packers are also climbing after two losses in their first three games. Green Bay, a 1.5-point underdog, dominated Chicago to avenge last season's wild-card loss. Quarterback Jordan Love's 367 passing yards were the second most by any QB in Bears-Packers series history, per ESPN Research.
At the bottom, the Chargers, Titans and Dolphins are all 0-5. It is the fifth time since the 1970 merger that three teams from the same conference have started a season with that record. Los Angeles had the most painful loss of the group, blowing a seven-point lead with nine minutes left against the Broncos.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing