- Vikings offense takes a step forward: The Vikings rolled to a dominant 38-point win at home over the Bengals, with both teams turning to backup quarterbacks. Any concerns about a drop-off from J.J. McCarthy to Carson Wentz were put to rest, as the change had no impact on Minnesota’s latest power rating update.
- Bills have a comfortable stretch ahead: The Bills will be a popular survivor pool pick this week, entering as 16.5-point favorites at home against the Saints with extra rest following Thursday Night Football. In Week 6, they’ll find themselves on the other side of that advantage when they travel to Atlanta. A bye week follows, offering a well-timed reset before they dive into the tougher stretch of their schedule.
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Every week of the NFL season delivers new market signals, and few tools are sharper than power ratings for cutting through the noise. PFF’s updated ratings don’t just show who’s playing well — they reveal where perception and reality may be drifting apart.
In this article, we highlight the three teams that gained the most ground after last week’s results. We’ll also examine schedule strength over the next four weeks, spotlighting the softest and toughest upcoming slates — a crucial lens for identifying potential overreactions in lines, totals, and futures.
The goal is to give bettors a forward-looking edge on who’s climbing, who’s facing headwinds, and where opportunity may still be hiding.
| Team | Power Rating | Weekly Adjustment | SoS YTD | SoS Remaining |
| ARZ | -0.1 | -0.4 | 32 | 14 |
| ATL | -0.3 | -1.5 | 21 | 28 |
| BLT | 6.1 | -0.7 | 5 | 20 |
| BUF | 6.0 | 0.4 | 20 | 31 |
| CAR | -5.1 | 1.5 | 22 | 26 |
| CHI | -1.7 | 0.8 | 9 | 7 |
| CIN | -3.0 | -0.9 | 27 | 9 |
| CLV | -5.1 | 0.8 | 1 | 19 |
| DAL | -1.7 | -0.8 | 17 | 4 |
| DEN | 1.0 | -0.7 | 23 | 12 |
| DET | 4.0 | 0.7 | 2 | 6 |
| GB | 5.8 | -0.8 | 13 | 13 |
| HST | -0.3 | -0.7 | 14 | 11 |
| IND | -0.2 | 0.7 | 25 | 17 |
| JAX | -0.7 | 0.8 | 24 | 22 |
| KC | 3.8 | 0.4 | 10 | 10 |
| LA | 2.9 | -0.2 | 12 | 15 |
| LAC | 3.0 | 0.7 | 6 | 21 |
| LV | -2.1 | -0.6 | 11 | 18 |
| MIA | -3.1 | -0.4 | 16 | 25 |
| MIN | -0.1 | 1.5 | 19 | 1 |
| NE | -2.5 | -0.4 | 26 | 32 |
| NO | -8.1 | -0.5 | 15 | 30 |
| NYG | -4.4 | -0.4 | 7 | 3 |
| NYJ | -4.9 | 0.0 | 3 | 29 |
| PHI | 6.0 | 0.2 | 4 | 5 |
| PIT | -1.0 | 0.4 | 30 | 2 |
| SEA | -0.4 | 0.5 | 29 | 16 |
| SF | 2.4 | 0.6 | 31 | 27 |
| TB | 1.3 | 0.3 | 28 | 24 |
| TEN | -5.9 | -0.7 | 8 | 23 |
| WAS | 1.8 | 1.0 | 18 | 8 |
Top 3 Risers
Carolina Panthers +1.5
Carolina’s offensive line was the story in Week 3, keeping Bryce Young clean and out of trouble in one of the week’s most surprising outcomes. The Panthers routed the Falcons, covering the spread by nearly 35 points as 4.5-point road underdogs. The defense deserves a nod as well, holding Michael Penix Jr. to a 29.7 PFF grade and pitching a shutout.
Minnesota Vikings +1.5
The Vikings rolled to a dominant 38-point win at home over the Bengals, with both teams turning to backup quarterbacks. Any concerns about a drop-off from J.J. McCarthy to Carson Wentz were put to rest, as the change had no impact on Minnesota’s latest power rating update. With McCarthy expected to miss at least a few weeks, Wentz will have more chances to prove himself. On the defensive side, Isaiah Rodgers delivered a perfect PFF grade in the blowout win.
Washington Commanders +1
Even without Jayden Daniels, the Commanders saw a notable boost in their power rating after a dominant defensive showing. Washington piled up 26 pressures against Geno Smith, overwhelming Seattle’s offense. Daniels is expected to return this week against Atlanta, but head coach Dan Quinn doesn’t need to rush him back—Marcus Mariota posted a stellar 93.3 PFF grade in relief.
Hardest Upcoming Schedules
Atlanta Falcons (Avg Opp PR of 3.4)
W4: WAS (1.8) | W5: BYE | W6: BUF (6) | W7: @SF (2.4)
Schedule notes: There are a few scheduling breaks to help ease the road ahead for the Falcons. After a two-game road stretch, they won’t have to travel again until Week 7 in San Francisco. They’ll also benefit from a Week 5 bye, giving them extra time to prepare for a tough matchup against the Bills.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Avg Opp PR of 3)
W4: PHI (6) | W5: @SEA (-.4) | W6: SF (2.4) | W7: @DET (4)
Schedule notes: The Buccaneers are set to begin their toughest four-game stretch of the season, starting with a home matchup against the Eagles in Week 4. Their most favorable game from a power ratings standpoint comes in Week 5 with a cross-country trip to face the Seahawks. That travel is offset the following week, as they return home to host the 49ers in an early body-clock game for San Francisco.
Cincinnati Bengals (Avg Opp PR of 2.4)
W4: @DEN (1) | W5: DET (4) | W6: @GB (5.8) | W7: PIT (-1)
Schedule notes: Things won’t get any easier for the Bengals following their 38-point loss in Minnesota. They now head to Denver before facing back-to-back matchups against two of the NFC North’s top teams — both currently rated among the league’s top five. A midseason reprieve may be coming, but for now, the road remains tough.
Easiest Upcoming Schedules
Buffalo Bills (Avg Opp PR of -3.6)
W4: NO (-8.1) | W5: NE (-2.5) | W6: @ATL (-.3) | W7: BYE
Schedule notes: The Bills will be a popular survivor pool pick this week, entering as 16.5-point favorites at home against the Saints with extra rest following Thursday Night Football. In Week 6, they’ll find themselves on the other side of that advantage when they travel to Atlanta. A bye week follows, offering a well-timed reset before they dive into the tougher stretch of their schedule.
New England Patriots (Avg Opp PR of -3.3)
W4: CAR (-5.1) | W5: @BUF (6) | W6: @NO (-8.1) | W7: @TEN (-5.9)
Schedule notes: From a power ratings perspective, this is a favorable stretch for the Patriots—aside from a Week 5 matchup with the Bills. However, the schedule is less forgiving in practice, as New England will be on the road for three straight games to close out this run.
Carolina Panthers (Avg Opp PR of -3.1)
W4: @NE (-2.5) | W5: MIA (-3.1) | W6: DAL (-1.7) | W7: @NYJ (-4.9)
Schedule notes: The Panthers will face Dallas in Week 6 while the Cowboys are on the back end of a two-game road trip. Beyond that, there are no major scheduling quirks of note for Carolina in the weeks ahead.
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