The San Francisco 49ers hold the top spot in the NFL’s midseason power rankings after eight weeks, carrying a 6-1 record that no other team in the league currently matches on the win column, Caucus Football reported. The Buffalo Bills sit right alongside them at 6-1, giving the league two co-leaders at the halfway point of the 2026 season and setting up a race at the top that already looks tight.
Halfway through the campaign, the picture at the top of the standings is sharpening: a handful of teams have separated themselves as genuine Super Bowl contenders, while a larger group is already recalculating its ambitions. The ranking after eight weeks places the 49ers first and the Bills second, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears also among the upper teams.
The 49ers and Bills Set the Pace at 6-1
San Francisco’s six victories against a single defeat have been the most convincing body of work in the league through eight weeks, according to the Caucus Football ranking. The 49ers’ consistency has placed them above every other club, including Buffalo, which matches their record but trails in the ordering.
The Bills’ 6-1 start has been powered in large part by quarterback Josh Allen, whose performances have kept Buffalo level with the 49ers at the top of the table. Caucus Football noted that Allen’s play is a central reason the Bills remain within striking distance of the No. 1 position.
Chicago Bears Secure Standout Midseason Victory
Jacksonville, at 5-2, rounds out the top tier alongside the two 6-1 leaders, while the Chicago Bears have drawn particular attention at 6-2 after signing an important victory against the reigning champions, Caucus Football reported. That win over the defending titleholders gave Chicago a signature result and lifted the Bears into the group of teams turning heads at midseason.
The Denver Broncos, at 6-2, have shown they have the resources to compete with the best, and the Kansas City Chiefs sit sixth at 5-2. Despite suffering two consecutive losses, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs remain a team to watch, the ranking notes.
Full 32-Team Midseason Ranking After Eight Weeks
Caucus Football published the complete ordering of all 32 clubs. The table below reproduces the standings as reported:
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco 49ers | 6-1 |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills | 6-1 |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5-2 |
| 4 | Chicago Bears | 6-2 |
| 5 | Denver Broncos | 6-2 |
| 6 | Kansas City Chiefs | 5-2 |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | 5-2 |
Teams Falling Short of Expectations
The second half of the season will be especially important for clubs that have underperformed, Caucus Football reported. The Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles in particular are well below preseason expectations, with injuries and offensive problems complicating their situations. The Rams and Ravens at 4-4 and the Eagles at 2-6 are far from initial expectations and must change their approach to reach the postseason.
At the Bottom: Rebuilding Mode
At the other end of the table, the New York Jets (2-6), Miami Dolphins (1-6) and Tennessee Titans (1-7) will mostly focus on rebuilding and preparing for the future. The Los Angeles Chargers occupy the last place at 0-7 after eight weeks, the only winless team in the league.
What the Midseason Picture Means for the Playoff Race
With several weeks still to play, the standings could shift significantly before the postseason begins, Caucus Football cautioned. Several teams will need to change their approach in the second half simply to stay in the playoff conversation. The gap between the 6-1 leaders and the crowded middle of the table is small enough that wins and losses over the remaining nine weeks could reorder the hierarchy multiple times.
For the contenders, the race for seeding — and the bye week that comes with the top seed — is now the central subplot. San Francisco and Buffalo, tied on record but ordered apart in the power poll, will be watched closely to see which one claims the top line as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Chicago’s 6-2 mark and its win over the reigning champions give the Bears a case as the hottest team in football, even if the raw win total trails the leaders.
Questions Readers Are Asking About the Midseason Rankings
Why are the 49ers ranked first if the Bills have the same record? Caucus Football placed San Francisco at No. 1 and Buffalo at No. 2 despite both sitting at 6-1. The ranking reflects the voters’ judgment of the 49ers’ body of work rather than record alone, with Buffalo’s case built heavily on Josh Allen’s play.
Which teams are the biggest surprises? The Jaguars at 5-2 and the Bears at 6-2 headline the surprises, with Chicago’s victory over the defending champions the signature result. Denver at 6-2 also belongs in that conversation.
Who is in the most trouble?
Can the standings still change a lot? Yes. Caucus Football noted that with several weeks remaining, the rankings could undergo major changes before the playoffs, so the current order should be read as a snapshot, not a final verdict.
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