NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

After an extra day and one postponed game, Week 5 is over and it certainly didn’t lack drama. 

From upsets in Kansas City and Santa Clara, to statements in Tennessee and Seattle, there is an awful lot to talk about in the NFL as the power landscape continues to shift. Many teams made big jumps this week, like the Tennessee Titans rising five spots, while others slid way down, like the San Francisco 49ers dropping eight places, and we have a new team at the top.

Here are my Week 5 Power Rankings.

1. Seattle Seahawks (5-0) +2

Is there a better player in the NFL right now than Russell Wilson? The answer is no. The team around him has shortcomings, particularly defensively when Jamal Adams is out of the lineup, but it just doesn’t matter. With Wilson in his current form, the Seahawks are equipped to overcome all issues better than any other team. That’s why they’re now number one. What’s more, DK Metcalf is well on his way to becoming the most dominant receiver in football.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) -1

The Chiefs just got beat. There isn’t much else to it. It happens, it is the NFL, every team is professional so it shouldn’t be all that surprising. The Chiefs’ loss to the Las Vegas Raiders was a reminder that this team, and Patrick Mahomes, are human and have weaknesses.

3. Green Bay Packers (4-0) +4

The Packers had a bye week, but by virtue of the teams around them they get a nice boost.

4. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)

Baltimore’s blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday was even more one sided than the score suggests, at least on one side of the ball. The defense is so stifling and physical it will be hard for most offenses to cope. There is reason for concern offensively though. The ground game isn’t as effective and the passing attack is very worrisome when it is all the team has to rely on.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0) +1

The Steelers are arguably the biggest threat to the Chiefs in the AFC. Sitting in the Ravens’ shadow, not enough attention has been paid to quite how good this defense can be, and how solid the offense is. Ben Roethlisberger may not be slinging the ball around like he has in the past, but this offense is dangerous, and I trust Big Ben with his weapons in the big moments when they have to lean on him.

6. Tennessee Titans (4-0) +5

Tuesday Night Football, baby! Can this always be a thing? On the debut of TuNF, the Titans sent a loud message of how good they really can be. They bullied the Buffalo Bills having had virtually no legitimate practice for two weeks. This team really is a TEAM, and they’re very dangerous.

7. Buffalo Bills (4-1) -5

TuNF was not pretty. Josh Allen had a very poor game and the entire offense was nullified as a result. What’s more, the defense was manhandled to the tune of six touchdowns. This team is still very good, but they have to get back on track and correct the issues revealed by the Titans.

8. New England Patriots (2-2)

Due to another positive COVID tests the Patriots’ game against the Denver Broncos was postponed, but with a Cam Newton in the lineup this team is a legit contender.

9. New Orleans Saints (3-2) +1

The Saints may have gotten another mark in the win column, but it wasn’t a flattering victory by any means. They punished the LA Chargers for their mistakes, but they still got very lucky. Drew Brees is not the same passer when looking beyond the sticks, and the defense must perform at the level their talent dictates on a regular basis to avoid another bitterly disappointing season.

10. Los Angeles Rams (4-1) +2

Despite being, perhaps, a lot of people’s fourth pick in the NFC West, the Rams are among the leaders in the NFC. The offense is good, getting a lot out of its pieces with Jared Goff performing better, but the defense will take the headlines. They held Washington to just 108 yards on 52 plays, with eight sacks for good measure.

11. Cleveland Browns (4-1) +3

For the first time since 1994(!), the Browns are 4-1. The defense may be leaky but they’re coming up with big plays and have shown a good amount of upside. Meanwhile, the offense really looks like it is going to be consistently dangerous. Baker Mayfield is getting in sync with his weapons and even without Nick Chubb the ground game is a threat. The Browns are legit, folks. Strap in.

12. Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) +3

You know who else is legit? The Raiders. Jon Gruden had his team dismantle the reigning Super Bowl champs. Derek Carr has been revitalized with his new weapons and is playing excellent, aggressive football. The defense is also doing its part.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) -8

If not for one of the most undisciplined performances I remember, the Bucs would be 4-1, atop the NFC South, and among the upper echelon of NFL teams. However, if they cannot keep their composure this will be a wasted year. They should not have been in a position to lose on Thursday night, but they did, and this may sum up their year.

14. Indianapolis Colts (3-2) -5

The Colts’ loss to the Browns was concerning. Admittedly, they were missing multiple pieces, but that wasn’t the issue. The issue is Philip Rivers. He does not seem to be the right fit for this team. They are built to play mistake-free, fundamentally sound football, which much of the roster is doing, but Rivers’ erratic style is costing them. His pick-six on Sunday was horrible, but if the last few years are anything to go by, this is what we should expect from him.

15. Carolina Panthers (3-2) +1

Unsurprisingly, Matt Rhule has this team playing solid football. They’re taking care of business and each player seems to be getting more and more comfortable. Bridgewater looks better than I thought he would, and Mike Davis is doing everything Christian McCaffrey did in this offense. Once McCaffrey is back this team could turn even more heads.

16. Arizona Cardinals (3-2) +1

The Cards took care of business comfortably in New York. It came against the New York Jets, but they still did what they had to. Murray still has to improve his decision making, but this team will make noise in the NFC West this year.

17. Chicago Bears (4-1) +1

I may still be too low on the Bears, and credit where credit is due, they did what they had to for the win. Nevertheless, they just didn’t look very good doing it. If not for careless penalties the Bucs surely would have had far more points, and the Bears wouldn’t have caught up. Their next six games should all be stiff tests, so we’ll check back after those.

18. Minnesota Vikings (1-4) +1

While the Bears have the most fortunate 4-1 record, the Vikings may have the harshest 1-4 record. They played an excellent game for roughly 50 minutes against the Seahawks on Sunday night, but ultimately fell victim to a peak-Wilson drive. Their postseason chances are very slim, but I wouldn’t be totally surprised to see them come back to be a contender.

19. Los Angeles Chargers (1-4) +3

Could Monday night’s game have been more Chargers? I don’t think so. Justin Herbert is playing excellent football. He is leading this team with huge plays and absolutely belongs. He is also getting a lot from multiple pieces in the offense. The issue is the defense not performing and, in typical Chargers fashion, kicker problems. If not for a missed extra-point, his drive into field goal range wouldn’t have been necessary. He still put it together, though, only for his kicker to miss. Brutal.

20. San Francisco 49ers (2-3) -7

Yikes. There is virtually nothing to be said to excuse the 49ers' performance on Sunday. At home, they were embarrassed by the Miami Dolphins. The defense was shredded and Jimmy Garoppolo was positively awful. So bad he was benched for C.J. Beathard. He didn’t look ready to return, but he must play so much better to have this team back on track.

21. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1) -1

Perhaps last Sunday night’s win in San Francisco was a turning point for Carson Wentz. Yes, the Eagles lost the Steelers, but Wentz looked a lot more like the 2018 version of himself. A lot more has to be done for the Eagles to be a legitimate contender outside of their division, but Sunday finally showed reason to be hopeful.

22. Houston Texans (1-4) +2

The Texans finally got a win! It may have been against the Jaguars, but it is a sign this team hasn’t completely lost its mojo. Deshaun Watson does have to play better and with fewer silly mistakes, but I expect this team to be competitive for the remainder of the season.

23. Miami Dolphins (2-3) +4

FITZMAGIC, BABY! What a time to be alive. Fitzpatrick never fails to amaze, and Sunday was another signature performance by the man from Harvard (did you know he went to Harvard?). This team is not the most talented, but Brian Flores has them playing well, and players like DeVante Parker and Myles Gaskin are starting to thrive. This team seems to have a bright future.

24. Dallas Cowboys (2-3) -3

Despite the win, Sunday was an incredibly bleak day for the Cowboys. Dak Prescott’s injury was horrible, and the outpouring of support from across the league speaks volumes to the presence Prescott has in the league, let alone the team. However, this is why the team invested in Andy Dalton. He isn’t the player Dak is, obviously, but the Red Rifle should be good enough to guide this offense to the NFC East crown. The less said about the defense the better.

25. Denver Broncos (1-3) +4

The Broncos ended up having a bye this week due to the Patriots’ struggles with COVID-19, but the week of rest gives them a much needed chance to get key players like Noah Fant, Drew Lock, and A.J. Bouye back.

26. Detroit Lions (1-3) -3

The Lions are falling apart. They had a bye this week, but Matt Patricia’s comments last week paint a very bleak picture of the organization, and they seem destined for a total rebuild.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1) -1

The Bengals ran into a buzz saw on Sunday. An offensive line that seemed to be becoming serviceable imploded, and a frazzled Joe Burrow couldn’t do anything but hold onto the ball and get beaten into the ground. This season must be about making sure Burrow doesn’t follow the same path as David Carr did with Houston.  

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)

Nobody expected the Jaguars to be good this year and they’re meeting those expectations. They have reasons to be optimistic about their distant future, but not much to look forward for this year.

29. Washington Football Team (1-4) -4

Instead of focusing on a putrid display of offense, in which Washington managed just two yards per play, I’m going to focus on Alex Smith’s return to football. The fact he had to see his first action in this game, against Aaron Donald of all people, is cruel, but if it was truly special to see him back on the field. The team is a mess, though, and their decisions at QB over the last week have been perplexing at best.

30. Atlanta Falcons (0-5)

Firing Dan Quinn was the right move. Will it impact this season? Not significantly. But with the talent on this team, the Falcons job will be highly sought after come this offseason.

31. New York Giants (0-5)

The Giants built leads on a horrible Cowboys defense, only to watch it slip away to Andy Dalton. Need I say more?

32. New York Jets (0-5)

Yuck.