NFL Power Rankings Week 5

After a wild week four, there were no changes at the top, with Buffalo, Philly, and Detroit holding firm in the top three. Preseason Super Bowl contenders are dropping like flies, and we’re gonna sort through all the chaos. Check out the NFL Power Rankings Week 5!

1. BUFFALO BILLS (4-0): The best team in football through the first month. The run defense has to be better (allowing 164 yards per game, 31st in the NFL). James Cook continues to shine.
2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-0): This team keeps winning, but 150 yards passing per game (good for last) ain’t gonna cut it long term. The defense has been mostly average thus far. Is A.J. Brown going to be a problem?
3. DETROIT LIONS (3-1): After a scary week one loss, the offense is humming again. The Gibbs/St. Brown/Goff led offense is scoring over 34 points per game (most in the league). Might be the best team in the NFC.
4. GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-1-1): The offense showed up in a big way (489 total yards and 40 points scored), but the defense was nowhere to be seen. Nobody likes seeing football games end in a tie. We need a winner; this ain’t hockey or soccer.
5. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-1): The pass defense (89 passing yards allowed) and rushing attack (152 yards) did their part, but committing 14 penalties and Herbert throwing picks won’t win many games.
6. LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-1): Stafford turned the clock back for this one, throwing for 375 yards and three touchdowns. Is Puka Nacua the best wide receiver in the NFL?
7. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-1): QB Sam Darnold was efficient, and the defense was great. Seattle has been great against the run this season, and are the only team in the NFL to have not allowed a rushing touchdown.
8. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-2): The offense finally woke up, scoring on their first four drives of the game. Mahomes was great, but they still can’t run the ball. Kareem Hunt ain’t it.
9. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-1): Despite the three turnovers and Adonai Mitchell costing the Colts two touchdowns, they had a chance to win the game late. The pass defense was non-existent.
10. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1): Baker Mayfield tried to be a hero, but fell short. Hopefully Bucky Irving isn’t going to miss much time after leaving the game with an ankle/foot injury. No penalty for losing a close game against an undefeated team.
11. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-2): The offense was missing something (or someone), and the defense couldn’t stop a nose bleed. This team needs QB Jayden Daniels and Scary Terry to come back from injury sooner than later. Give Bill the rock more – Chris Rodriguez Jr. had 11 yards on six carries outside of his 48 yard run and offers nothing in the passing game.
12. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-1): The Jaguars shut down the run, and forced Brock Purdy to beat them. He threw for over 300 yards, but committed three turnovers (including two picks). This receiving corp needs to get healthy ASAP.
13. DENVER BRONCOS (2-2): Denver’s studly defense allowed only 159 total yards, and made Jake Browning look like the backup he is. Bo Nix had a season high 326 yards, and running back J.K. Dobbins hit the century mark (101 yards, 6.3 yards a pop). Tough game at Philadelphia next week.
14. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-1): Kenneth Gainwell started for the injured Jaylen Warren at running back and had a career day (134 total yards and two touchdowns). Other than allowing Carson Wentz to throw for 350 yards, the defense played well – six sacks, held Minnesota to 3.5 yards per carry, and forced two interceptions.
15. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-1): Jacksonville took a 14-3 lead late in the 2nd quarter and never looked back. Travis Etienne Jr. had another good game, and the defense looks good (four turnovers forced). Defensive lineman Arik Armstead got revenge on his old team with his game-sealing sack fumble with under three minutes to play.
16. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-2): Wentz looked good outside of two interceptions. Minnesota almost came all the way back with two touchdowns late in the 4th quarter. With Cleveland likely starting Dillon Gabriel, Minnesota’s defense has a chance to bounce back this week.
17. ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2): The offense was humming against Washington. Michael Penix had a career high 313 passing yards, and Bijan Robinson had a career high 181 total yards. The defense held Washington to just 1/8 on third down.
18. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-2): Drake Maye and the Patriot offense were very efficient against the Panthers. The team committed no turnovers and went 4/4 in the red zone. Welcome back Christian Gonzalez!
19. ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-2): The ground game was a non-factor for the 2nd straight game, and the passing game struggled until late in the 4th quarter. Kyler Murray has to be better – he threw two interceptions, and took six sacks.
20. BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-3): Baltimore has maybe the worst defense in the NFL (last in points allowed, 31st in total yards). Lamar Jackson left the game late in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury that may keep him out for a couple of weeks. Why did Derrick Henry only have eight carries?
21. CHICAGO BEARS (2-2): The Bears’ defense gave up a ton of yards, but forced four turnovers, and the kicker was money. Caleb Williams and the offense had a long final drive to get the g0-ahead touchdown, but there’s still plenty of work to be done.
22. DALLAS COWBOYS (1-2-1): A tie? Gross. The Cowboys defense? Even grosser. The Cowboys have arguably the worst defense in the NFL – dead last in total and passing yards allowed, and 31st in points allowed. Having an elite offense is great, but you’re not going to win many games giving up 33 points per game.
23. HOUSTON TEXANS (1-3): C.J. Stroud looked great, and had his best game of the season. The defense continues to impress, getting its first shutout since 2010. The Titans were held to 175 total offensive yards, and rookie QB Cam Ward struggled mightily. Houston plays a reeling and wounded Baltimore Ravens team that might be without Lamar Jackson next week.
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-2): Cincinnati was just bad on every front against Denver. Browning was mediocre, Chase Brown’s butt, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase combined for 55 receiving yards, and the defense didn’t show up (allowed 512 total yards). When will this organization move on from Zac Taylor?
25. NEW YORK GIANTS (1-3): Roller coaster game in Jaxson Dart’s first NFL regular season start. The defense played well against the pass (56% completion percentage allowed, two interceptions), but let Omarion Hampton run wild (128 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries). The Giants beat one of the best teams in the AFC, but lost Malik Nabers for the year (torn ACL).
26. MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-3): Miami never trailed against the Jets, scoring on their first drive and never looking back. The defense wasn’t good, but they recovered two fumbles, and the kickoff unit got one too on the opening kickoff of the 2nd half. Tyreek Hill will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his knee and tearing multiple ligaments.
27. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-3): Carolina followed up an impressive shutout victory against Atlanta by getting blown out by New England. Bryce Young looked underwhelming again, and was replaced by Andy Dalton. Carolina won time of possession, but did nothing with it.
28. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-3): Ashton Jeanty finally had a breakout game, rushing for 138 yards and scoring three touchdowns (two receiving). Despite Geno Smith continuing to throw picks (a league leading seven), the Raiders had a chance to win the game (54 yard field goal was blocked). Oh, and now that offensive tackle Kolton Miller is hurt, a terrible offensive line gets worse.
29. NEW YORK JETS (0-4): The offense did its part, rushing for almost 200 yards and having over 100 more yards than Miami. It didn’t matter though, as the Jets lost three fumbles, and committed 13 penalties en route to their fourth loss in four games. Justin Fields played well coming off of a concussion.
30. CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-3): Another game, another terrible Joe Flacco performance. He threw two more interceptions against Detroit, and completed only 47% of his passes. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins is a stud. The defense is legit – it just keeps getting put in bad spots by the offense. It sounds like rookie QB Dillon Gabriel is starting against Minnesota.
31. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-4): Made it interesting against the top team in the league, but this just isn’t a good team right now. Spencer Rattler hasn’t been awful, but he hasn’t been a difference maker (0-10 as a starter). When will rookie Tyler Shough take over?
32. TENNESSEE TITANS (0-4): Brian Callahan is on the short list of head coaches to get fired first. Cam Ward had his worst game thus far, and the defense let C.J. Stroud look like he did in his rookie season. This was Tennessee’s first shutout since 2019. The offense didn’t even reach the red zone one time against Houston. Yuck.