San Francisco 49ers remain No. 1
The San Francisco 49ers retained the No. 1 position in Pete Prisco’s CBS Sports power rankings published October 13, 2026. They improved to 5-0 by defeating Seattle 32-29.
The October 11 victory at Lumen Field was San Francisco’s fifth consecutive win to open the season. Against the defending Super Bowl champions, the 49ers forced 4 turnovers and recorded 5 sacks.
Kansas City Chiefs hold second place
The Kansas City Chiefs ranked No. 2 in Prisco’s October 13 power rankings with a 4-0 record. They had their bye in Week 5 and are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Chargers on October 18.
Prisco identified receiver injuries and a stretch of 3 consecutive games without a sack as concerns for Kansas City heading into the matchup.
Minnesota Vikings climb to third
The Minnesota Vikings remained No. 3 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings, behind San Francisco and Kansas City. Minnesota improved to 5-0 by defeating New Orleans.
The Vikings held the Saints to 142 total yards. Kyler Murray passed for 229 yards as Minnesota maintained its unbeaten start heading into its bye.
Jacksonville Jaguars reach fourth place
The Jacksonville Jaguars rose 1 position to No. 4 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings. They improved to 4-1 by defeating Philadelphia 19-17 in London during Week 5.
Cam Little made a 57-yard field goal on the final play to secure the victory. Prisco nevertheless questioned the sustainability of Jacksonville’s performance.
Buffalo Bills settle into fifth place
The Buffalo Bills rank No. 5 after moving up 1 position in the October 13 rankings. Buffalo improved to 4 and 1 by defeating the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, according to Prisco’s latest assessment.
The victory strengthened Buffalo’s record, but Prisco identified defensive performance and running back James Cook’s ball security as areas requiring attention. Cook’s fumbles could create avoidable problems for a team competing with several strong AFC contenders.
Fun fact: The San Francisco 49ers have won 5 Super Bowl championships, with their most recent title coming after the 1994 season in Super Bowl XXIX.
Baltimore Ravens move into sixth place
The Baltimore Ravens rose 1 position to No. 6 in Prisco’s latest rankings after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 30 to 23 in overtime on October 11. Baltimore improved its season record to 4-1.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley started in place of Lamar Jackson and helped Baltimore secure the road victory. Prisco viewed the comeback as a positive sign for the Ravens, whose ability to win without their regular starter demonstrated useful depth on the roster.
Seattle Seahawks fall to seventh
The Seattle Seahawks dropped 3 positions to No. 7 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings after losing 32-29 to San Francisco. Sam Darnold finished that game with 195 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.
Seattle was 3-2 when the rankings were published. The Seahawks subsequently lost 17-14 in overtime at Denver on October 15, dropping to 3-3.
Denver Broncos rise to eighth
The Denver Broncos rose 3 positions to No. 8 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17. The Week 5 divisional victory improved Denver to 3-2.
The Broncos then defeated Seattle 17-14 in overtime on October 15, improving to 4-2. Their No. 8 position reflects the rankings published before that Thursday-night victory.
Cincinnati Bengals rise into ninth place
The Cincinnati Bengals climbed 5 positions to No. 9 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings. Cincinnati entered its bye week with a 3 and 2 record after defeating the Miami Dolphins 31 to 24 on October 11.
The Bengals’ defensive improvement stands out in their latest ranking. Prisco noted that Cincinnati ranked 11th in scoring defense, showing progress compared with last season and giving the team a stronger foundation for upcoming games.
New England Patriots climb to 11th
The New England Patriots moved up 4 positions to No. 11 in Prisco’s rankings after improving to 3 and 2. New England defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 45 to 17 on October 11, delivering one of Week 5’s largest victories.
Quarterback Drake Maye received credit for helping revive New England’s season. Prisco highlighted Maye’s recent performances as a major reason for the Patriots’ improved outlook, with the team showing stronger results over the previous 2 weeks.
Detroit Lions gain eight positions
The Detroit Lions climbed 8 places to No. 12 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings after defeating the Arizona Cardinals 45-21. The victory improved Detroit to 3-2.
The Lions recorded 5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits against Arizona. Their defensive pressure complemented an offense that scored 45 points.
Pittsburgh Steelers improve to 13th
The Pittsburgh Steelers rose 8 positions to No. 13 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings after defeating Indianapolis 34-22. The victory improved Pittsburgh to 3-2.
Jaylen Warren contributed 101 rushing yards and 87 receiving yards. His 50-yard rushing touchdown and 80-yard receiving touchdown helped power the Steelers’ offense.
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Green Bay Packers make the biggest jump
The Green Bay Packers climbed 10 positions to No. 14 in Prisco’s October 13 rankings. They improved to 3-2 by defeating Chicago 31-7, earning the largest upward move in that edition.
Jordan Love and Green Bay’s passing attack helped turn the divisional matchup into a comfortable victory. The result provided a stronger foundation for the Packers heading into Week 6.
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Do you think the Packers can bounce back from their 35-14 loss to the Falcons? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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