NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

Week 5 of the NFL season is officially in the books and plenty has changed over the last week.

Now just two teams remain undefeated, the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers, and four teams, the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins, remain winless.

There was plenty of movement in my Power Rankings thanks to a number of upsets and sparkling performances. The Oakland Raiders and Indianapolis Colts are the biggest risers, each going up six spots, while the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans each dropped five spots.

So, here is the rest of my Power Ranking:

1. New England Patriots (5-0)

Once again the Patriots did not look their best, at least offensively. Tom Brady was under a lot of pressure, missed some throws, and saw a few too many balls hit his receivers’ hands only to be dropped. However, the defense is playing so well it doesn’t really matter.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)

For the first time in 25 games, the Chiefs failed to score 25 points. Against an injury-ravaged Colts team they were simply outplayed. The Chiefs saw several players go down injured, which is alarming, but it is no reason to be too concerned unless it triggers a spiral.

3. New Orleans Saints (4-1)

In the same week as Drew Brees posted a video of him throwing footballs, way ahead of schedule, his team moved to 4-1. The Saints have found a recipe to win with Teddy Bridgewater and are now set to tear through the rest of their schedule once Drew Brees returns.

4. Green Bay Packers (4-1)

The Packers won in a statement game against the Cowboys in Jerry World. As always, seemingly, they started the game very hot and fizzled out a little. Their struggles to score as the game goes on is a tad concerning, but Aaron Jones is playing like one of the league’s best, and Aaron Rodgers reminded everyone that Patrick Mahomes isn’t in a league by himself.

5. Seattle Seahawks (4-1) +1

While I’m talking of a QBs reminding people of their talent, Russell Wilson is honestly not all that far behind Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Sure, he doesn’t have the arm strength, but his escape-ability and improvisation, along with his accuracy, put him right up there with the best. This team is rolling right now.

6. San Francisco 49ers (4-0) +2

Some part of the 49ers’ big win comes down to the Browns playing poorly, but this team put the rest of the NFL on notice. The offense is very fast, well-coached, and incredibly creative. Meanwhile, the defense, powered by a very talented defensive line, is swarming, fast and opportunistic. I like this team. A lot.

7. Houston Texans (3-2) +4

The Texans more than answered any questions about their offense with this week’s performance. Deshaun Watson looked unstoppable and the game showed the worth of their other weapons. Most importantly, though, Watson wasn’t sacked. If this offensive line continues that level of play, this team is the clear number three team in the AFC.

8. Los Angeles Rams (3-2) -1

The Rams have a lot of issues. Their offensive line has dropped off massively and it is seriously harming this offense. Goff showed on Thursday why he got paid what he did, he is very talented, but he needs protection. Defensively I’m not sure what is happening but this team is seriously under-performing. They need to straighten it out or they could be looking up at a big group of teams in the NFC.

9. Dallas Cowboys (3-2) -4

After the Cowboys first two big tests they have fallen back down to earth, quickly. The first half and much of the third quarter was so poor. The defense did a very good job of standing up, and the offense looked decent in the fourth quarter, but they severely miss Tyron Smith and that could really hamper this team.

10. Buffalo Bills (4-1)

There was never a scenario I saw the Bills being 4-1 and tied for the second best team in the AFC. The defense is playing incredible football, and for the most part the offense is doing enough. They need to do more, but this team is for real.

11. Indianapolis Colts (3-2) +6

Sunday night’s win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead was a glimpse of this team’s upside, at least defensively. Missing three key starters this defense shut down the Chiefs, Andy Reid and Mahomes had no answers. Offensively, they have best line in football and Marlon Mack is an excellent running back.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) +2

It may have been the Jets, but Sunday’s win was great for this team. They got the job done, convincingly, which should boost this team’s confidence even more as they find themselves tied atop the NFC East.

13. Detroit Lions (2-1-1) -1

The Lions enjoyed a bye week as they prepare for the Green Bay Packers, a huge game to test this team’s metal.

14. Chicago Bears (3-2) -5

Sunday proved that however great a defense is, you need some help from the offense. The Bears are going to struggle on offense all year with Chase Daniel or Mitch Trubisky, and the defense is going to be beaten occasionally, and the Raiders found the right recipe. This offense is wasting a generational defense.

15. Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)

The Chargers cannot get out of their own way and it is concerning. The defense started poorly but proceeded to give the offense chance after chance to get the team back in the game, but the offense couldn’t do anything with it. This team has no excuse to be 2-3 right now, and they need to straighten it out, fast.

16. Baltimore Ravens (3-2) -3

The Ravens may have won in Pittsburgh, and thanks to the Browns are now back in the lead in the AFC North, but Sunday only revealed or created more issues for this team. Tony Jefferson’s injury is a huge loss and the offense couldn’t get out of its own way. Rumors are the Ravens will be aggressive at the trade deadline, but they are going to have to do A LOT to get near the top of the AFC.

17. Oakland Raiders (3-2) +6

Maybe the Raiders really are good? They have certainly found an identity, I saw excellently labelled as ‘Bully Ball’ on Twitter. That phrase is fitting and this team is dangerous under that identity. With the Chargers faltering the Raiders are in a great position.

18. Carolina Panthers (3-2) +3

The Panthers are 3-0 with Kyle Allen, though really it’s Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is on pace for the greatest non-QB offensive season ever. Can he sustain it? We’ll see. The Panthers have to hope he can because I’m not sure what this offense will look like when it can’t lean on him.

19. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)

A win is a win, but against the Giants it doesn’t tell me much. When this team has a ground game the offense plays well, and the defense is stingy as always, but they need to do it against a really good team before I can take this team seriously.

20. Cleveland Browns (2-2) -4

The Browns couldn’t have looked much worse after such a promising victory. Admittedly, Baker Mayfield’s second interception was not on him and possibly completely killed any Browns momentum, but it was an all-round poor performance.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3) -1

This weekend’s result against the Saints was not all too surprising. The Buccaneers are improving and have reason to be optimistic, but they just couldn’t hang with the Saints. Shaq Barrett was a non-factor, as was Mike Evans. Chris Godwin has been excellent but Mike Evans has to be more involved.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

As I said in my Week 5 observations, I’m fully bought in on Gardner Minshew II. Their defense had a day to forget, and they need to find a way to get Jalen Ramsey on the field and contributing. However, with Minshew II at the helm, Leonard Fournette has gotten going and DJ Chark Jr. is breaking out.

23. Tennessee Titans (2-3) -5

The Titans defense isn’t an issue, but their offensive inconsistency is disastrous. Four missed field goals don’t help, which would have won the game, and Cairo Santos has lost his job as a result. Nevertheless, a loss is a loss and with it the Titans are falling back in the pack.

24. New York Giants (2-3) +2

This year is not going to be the year the Giants turn things around, but it is looking positive. Sterling Shepard getting his second concussion of the season is a serious worry for him and for the team. Fortunately for them they should get Saquon Barkley back soon.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)

Sunday’s defeat to the Ravens will have been painful for the Steelers in many ways. Just as Ravens fans, they can complain about the officials, but they also saw a win fumbled away and their starting QB go down in a horrifying manner. The season feels lost but that seems secondary to Mason Rudolph right now.

26. Atlanta Falcons (1-4) -2

Oh dear, Atlanta. Sunday was about as poor a response from last week’s loss as you could get. Dan Quinn really doesn’t seem long for this job at this point and that is probably best for this team right now. The defense was embarrassing and the offense just couldn’t keep up despite a plethora of weapons.

27. Denver Broncos (1-4)

I was very surprised to see the Broncos performance on Sunday, but it doesn’t do much to move them up. It did come against a talented team but there’s too much of a gap between them, the Chiefs and alike.

28. Arizona Cardinals (1-3-1)

Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury got their first NFL win, despite their best efforts letting the Bengals get back into the game. Murray got his first game winning drive, too, and he looked good. He has shown the talent that made him the number one overall pick all year, he just needs to become more consistent and the team around him needs to get way better.

29. Washington Redskins (0-5) +1

The Redskins got bumped up purely because they have a little more talent on their team than those below them, and by moving on from Jay Gruden they can move in a new direction and maybe get a little more out of that talent. In case being 0-5 without a head coach wasn’t bad enough, at one point their offensive staff included Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel – the current mastermind behind the 49ers ground game.

30. Cincinnati Bengals (0-5) -1

This season could not have gone any worse for the Bengals and Zac Taylor. Zac Taylor may be the guy, but the Bengals have an awful lot to fix before they’re any kind of relevant.

31. New York Jets (0-4)

Luke Falk is far from being a starting caliber NFL QB, but he isn’t being helped by his head coach. Adam Gase didn’t give him the opportunity to prepare in the latest peculiar move of his coaching career following his tenure in Miami.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-4)

The Dolphins had a bye week, but they do have legitimate competition for the number one overall pick in the 2020 draft.

What do you think? Did I get it right or am I way off? Let me know in the comments!