Sep 8, 2026 · 32 min
Rams lead Ross Tucker’s 2026 NFL preseason rankings
2026 NFL Week 1 Power Rankings
Ross Tucker’s ordering offers an early map of the league’s contenders, uncertainties, and teams positioned to beat low expectations before Week 1.
- 1The Rams open at No. 1, while the Seahawks, Broncos, and Bills complete Tucker’s top four.
- 2Quarterback decisions, injuries, coaching changes, and roster depth drive the rankings across all 32 teams.
- 3Tucker treats the list as a starting point, leaving room for lower-ranked teams to outperform expectations.
Don't miss
Ross reveals the Rams as his No. 1 team while clarifying that the ranking is not a Super Bowl prediction.
The brief
Ross Tucker opens by arguing that Cincinnati can return to the playoffs if its defense improves and its offense stays healthy.
The bottom half of the rankings turns on quarterback decisions, injuries, coaching changes, and which overlooked teams have enough roster quality to rise.
As the list reaches the middle, Tucker weighs divisional races, veteran quarterbacks, aging defenses, coordinator changes, and the cost of missing players.
The top tier brings sharper uncertainty: Philadelphia has defensive strength but offensive questions, while Houston pairs an elite defense with expected second-year improvement.
Tucker places the Rams first, ahead of the Seahawks, Broncos, and Bills, while stressing that No. 1 is a starting point rather than a Super Bowl prediction.
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers
Even Money: NFL Betting PodcastBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.