by Wayne Root
Friday, Oct 03, 2025There is only one undefeated team left in the AFC. It's the best team in the AFC and the only one that can feel like September was just about perfect.
September could not have gone better for the Bills. They're No. 1 in the NFL Power Rankings. It's possible they never give up that spot this season.
1. Buffalo Bills (4-0)
It wasn’t the cleanest game in the world for the Bills, who turned the ball over for the first time this season and were assessed 11 penalties in their 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints, but they remain undefeated. James Cook continues to be on a tear. The Bills didn’t blow out the Dolphins or Saints, but worrying about that is a stretch. It’s tough to get up for each game in a long season. The Bills won both games by double digits. There’s no need to drum up unnecessary drama; the Bills are the best team in the NFL.
2. Detroit Lions (3-1)
Every year we see a Week 1 result that looks baffling by the end of the season. Was this season’s weird result the Lions’ blowout loss at Green Bay? The Lions look like the better team since then. The Nov. 27 rematch will be very interesting. The Lions are rolling through four weeks, and look every bit as good as one could have hoped following the loss of Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. On paper, the Browns shouldn’t have provided much of a problem, but their defense has been one of the best in the NFL through the first month of the season.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (4-0)
The Eagles didn’t complete a pass in the second half, but were so good in the first half that they still won. The Eagles remain undefeated following a huge 31-25 win on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but once again, it was a disjointed performance from the offense. Philadelphia is a strange team so far. The Eagles are undefeated, yet have had long stretches in each game in which they did not look good. But they have three quality wins, with room to grow.
4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
The Rams made amends for the loss to the Eagles a week ago with a 27-20 win against the Colts in Week 4. Luck was on the Rams' side in the victory, as the Colts had two touchdowns called back, but also on the Rams' side is Puka Nacua. If non-quarterbacks were still considered for MVP, Puka Nacua might build an interesting case. He does everything for the Rams. On Sunday he had 170 yards and a touchdown on 13 catches. He’ll be a frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year.
5. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
The Seahawks’ hot start isn’t too much of a surprise; the defense was expected to be one of the top units in the NFL, and is currently a top-10 unit in EPA per play allowed. However, no one anticipated Sam Darnold to be the highest-graded quarterback in the NFL. The Seahawks are going to be good. They let down a bit in the fourth quarter and made a win against Arizona interesting, but through three quarters it was an impressive performance. It’s a tough NFC West but don’t sleep on the Seahawks as a potential division winner.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)
Just when we think the Chargers are ready to take the next step, they go and lose to the Giants and a rookie quarterback making his first career start. Justin Herbert was pressured on 45.5% of his dropbacks, as the Chargers were without three starting offensive linemen after losing Joe Alt early on. Chargers fans will hope that this is a one-game blip, but a tough game against the Commanders in Week 5 awaits. The Chargers losing an early start on the East Coast against a Giants team rallying around a rookie quarterback making his first start isn’t the end of the world. And seeing Tuli Tuipulotu (four sacks) and Omarion Hampton (165 total yards) have monster games is a good sign.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)
The Chiefs got themselves back on track on Sunday, defeating the Ravens 37-20 at Arrowhead Stadium in an established performance. This was as good as we’ve seen the Chiefs offense all season — and the return of Xavier Worthy certainly helped. With Rashee Rice’s return on the horizon, is this a sign of things to come? Worthy makes a big difference. KC's offense finally had a playmaker and it showed. Now imagine the Chiefs with Worthy and Rashee Rice for the second half of the season. Winning on Sunday, along with the Chargers’ upset loss, means the Chiefs aren’t in that bad of shape coming out of September.
8. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
The Packers have oscillated between a good team that beats good squads and a good team that can’t beat bad franchises this season, demonstrated by their thrilling 40-40 tie with the Cowboys on Sunday night. If the NFL were a game of “should’ve, would’ve, could’ve,” the Packers would be sitting at 4-0 and looking like a potential juggernaut. Through two games and 56 minutes of the third game, the Packers looked like one of the best teams in football. Then they collapsed against the Browns and barely got a tie against the Cowboys. It’s hard to know what to make of the Packers now, but a lot of the shine is definitely off.
9. Indianapolis Colts (3-1)
The Colts are some egregious mental mistakes away from starting the season 4-0. They were penalized 11 times against the Rams, and had two touchdowns called back — one when Adonai Mitchell fumbled the ball, celebrating heading to the end zone, and another on a long Jonathan Taylor run — while turning the ball over three times. Losing at the Rams isn’t bad, but the way the Colts lost is inexcusable. Adonai Mitchell simply dropped the ball before scoring, he took a massive holding penalty that wiped out a Jonathan Taylor touchdown, then there were only 10 men on the field for the Rams’ winning 88-yard TD. None of that should happen.
10. Denver Broncos (2-2)
Denver’s rushing attack looked as good as it has all season, rushing for 186 yards, and that allowed the passing game to flourish. J.K. Dobbins has been one of the better free agency additions, as his 73.9 overall PFF grade is 13th among running backs in the NFL. As predicted, the defense is still one of the best in the NFL, placing in EPA per play allowed. Nik Bonitto is on fire to start the season. Bonitto, who turned 26 years old last week, has four sacks in four games and has been one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. His four-year, $106 million extension signed before the season might be a bargain.
September could not have gone better for the Bills. They're No. 1 in the NFL Power Rankings. It's possible they never give up that spot this season.
1. Buffalo Bills (4-0)
It wasn’t the cleanest game in the world for the Bills, who turned the ball over for the first time this season and were assessed 11 penalties in their 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints, but they remain undefeated. James Cook continues to be on a tear. The Bills didn’t blow out the Dolphins or Saints, but worrying about that is a stretch. It’s tough to get up for each game in a long season. The Bills won both games by double digits. There’s no need to drum up unnecessary drama; the Bills are the best team in the NFL.
2. Detroit Lions (3-1)
Every year we see a Week 1 result that looks baffling by the end of the season. Was this season’s weird result the Lions’ blowout loss at Green Bay? The Lions look like the better team since then. The Nov. 27 rematch will be very interesting. The Lions are rolling through four weeks, and look every bit as good as one could have hoped following the loss of Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. On paper, the Browns shouldn’t have provided much of a problem, but their defense has been one of the best in the NFL through the first month of the season.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (4-0)
The Eagles didn’t complete a pass in the second half, but were so good in the first half that they still won. The Eagles remain undefeated following a huge 31-25 win on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but once again, it was a disjointed performance from the offense. Philadelphia is a strange team so far. The Eagles are undefeated, yet have had long stretches in each game in which they did not look good. But they have three quality wins, with room to grow.
4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
The Rams made amends for the loss to the Eagles a week ago with a 27-20 win against the Colts in Week 4. Luck was on the Rams' side in the victory, as the Colts had two touchdowns called back, but also on the Rams' side is Puka Nacua. If non-quarterbacks were still considered for MVP, Puka Nacua might build an interesting case. He does everything for the Rams. On Sunday he had 170 yards and a touchdown on 13 catches. He’ll be a frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year.
5. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
The Seahawks’ hot start isn’t too much of a surprise; the defense was expected to be one of the top units in the NFL, and is currently a top-10 unit in EPA per play allowed. However, no one anticipated Sam Darnold to be the highest-graded quarterback in the NFL. The Seahawks are going to be good. They let down a bit in the fourth quarter and made a win against Arizona interesting, but through three quarters it was an impressive performance. It’s a tough NFC West but don’t sleep on the Seahawks as a potential division winner.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)
Just when we think the Chargers are ready to take the next step, they go and lose to the Giants and a rookie quarterback making his first career start. Justin Herbert was pressured on 45.5% of his dropbacks, as the Chargers were without three starting offensive linemen after losing Joe Alt early on. Chargers fans will hope that this is a one-game blip, but a tough game against the Commanders in Week 5 awaits. The Chargers losing an early start on the East Coast against a Giants team rallying around a rookie quarterback making his first start isn’t the end of the world. And seeing Tuli Tuipulotu (four sacks) and Omarion Hampton (165 total yards) have monster games is a good sign.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)
The Chiefs got themselves back on track on Sunday, defeating the Ravens 37-20 at Arrowhead Stadium in an established performance. This was as good as we’ve seen the Chiefs offense all season — and the return of Xavier Worthy certainly helped. With Rashee Rice’s return on the horizon, is this a sign of things to come? Worthy makes a big difference. KC's offense finally had a playmaker and it showed. Now imagine the Chiefs with Worthy and Rashee Rice for the second half of the season. Winning on Sunday, along with the Chargers’ upset loss, means the Chiefs aren’t in that bad of shape coming out of September.
8. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
The Packers have oscillated between a good team that beats good squads and a good team that can’t beat bad franchises this season, demonstrated by their thrilling 40-40 tie with the Cowboys on Sunday night. If the NFL were a game of “should’ve, would’ve, could’ve,” the Packers would be sitting at 4-0 and looking like a potential juggernaut. Through two games and 56 minutes of the third game, the Packers looked like one of the best teams in football. Then they collapsed against the Browns and barely got a tie against the Cowboys. It’s hard to know what to make of the Packers now, but a lot of the shine is definitely off.
9. Indianapolis Colts (3-1)
The Colts are some egregious mental mistakes away from starting the season 4-0. They were penalized 11 times against the Rams, and had two touchdowns called back — one when Adonai Mitchell fumbled the ball, celebrating heading to the end zone, and another on a long Jonathan Taylor run — while turning the ball over three times. Losing at the Rams isn’t bad, but the way the Colts lost is inexcusable. Adonai Mitchell simply dropped the ball before scoring, he took a massive holding penalty that wiped out a Jonathan Taylor touchdown, then there were only 10 men on the field for the Rams’ winning 88-yard TD. None of that should happen.
10. Denver Broncos (2-2)
Denver’s rushing attack looked as good as it has all season, rushing for 186 yards, and that allowed the passing game to flourish. J.K. Dobbins has been one of the better free agency additions, as his 73.9 overall PFF grade is 13th among running backs in the NFL. As predicted, the defense is still one of the best in the NFL, placing in EPA per play allowed. Nik Bonitto is on fire to start the season. Bonitto, who turned 26 years old last week, has four sacks in four games and has been one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. His four-year, $106 million extension signed before the season might be a bargain.
