NFL Week 6 Power Rankings

Another week down, and another one on the way, the NFL season is rolling along at its typical furious pace.

Now a third of the way through the regular season, teams are settling into their true identities. Some teams are finding an extra level, while others are slumping down even further.

Week 6 saw plenty of shifting, with a new team in the top five and a surprise team at number 10. Read on to see the rest of my NFL Week 6 Power Rankings.

1.       Arizona Cardinals (6-0) +1

The Cardinals are really rolling. They’re playing very physical football and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down no matter the opponent. It’s impressive how well they’re playing at every position - and how well they played without Kliff Kingsbury on Sunday. This team has an excellent vibe, and I expect to see them continue on this trajectory.

2.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) +1

The final score wasn’t as one-sided as the game called for. The offense was comfortably moving the ball, without a huge sense of urgency, and gave the impression they were in total control. Defensively they allowed a little rally late, but the result was never in doubt.

3.       Los Angeles Rams (5-1) +1

Speaking of never in doubt… The Rams disassembled the Giants. Cooper Kupp recorded his third(!) multi-touchdown catch game of the season as Matthew Stafford got back to slinging the ball almost wherever he wants. The Rams scored 28 in the second quarter and had the game in hand from then on.

4.       Baltimore Ravens (5-1) +4

Count me surprised. The Ravens stomped the LA Chargers in their most complete performance of the season. After the incredible highs of last week in regards to Lamar Jackson’s passing this week may look disappointing. However, the Ravens found their ground game, and the defense played incredibly well – they pressured Justin Herbert on 33 of his 42 dropbacks. The Ravens must now put away the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 to cement their position atop the AFC.

5.       Green Bay Packers (5-1) +1

The Packers don’t necessarily blow the doors off teams, but they controlled the game against the Chicago Bears this weekend. The Packers are finding ways to grind out results, and their duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon in the backfield is coming together very nicely. They already have a two-game lead in the NFC North, and, barring something disastrous, I don’t see that changing.

6.       Buffalo Bills (4-2) -5

After bulldozing weeks two through five, the Bills couldn’t overcome Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans. For much of the game the Bills held a lead and seemed in control enough to keep the Titans at bay, but in the fourth quarter they failed to put the game away and Henry made them pay.

7.       Dallas Cowboys (5-1) -2

The Cowboys had to battle in Week 6 to beat the New England Patriots. It wasn’t as convincing as expected but ultimately the Cowboys’ quality prevailed - with one of the coldest celebrations ever, no less. The Cowboys have a big two-game lead in the NFC East, and are seriously vying for the NFC’s top seed at this point.

8.       Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) -1

The Chargers were probably just as surprised as the rest of us at their performance and result on Sunday in Baltimore. They allowed the Ravens to jump out to an early lead and then couldn’t make sense of the Ravens defense. The Chargers are still one of the best teams in the AFC, but this loss will serve as a reminder of the levels they must reach to have playoff success.

9.       Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) +2

It wasn’t perfect, with too many simple mistakes, but the Chiefs are showing every week they still have the same ability to produce improbable plays and score lots of points. More importantly, the defense came out swinging in the second half. If the Chiefs are to climb back atop the AFC, they’ll need their defense to step up like they did in Week 6.

10.   Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) +3

The Bengals may be for real. Granted, a win over the Detroit Lions, no matter how convincing, is hardly a signal of that, but the signs through six weeks indicate they are simply a good team. They have multiple acsending stars on offense, and a competitive, tough defense. Ja’Marr Chase is already one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL, and I can only see him and Burrow’s play exponentially improving as they now thrive together. In Week 7 they face the Ravens, and with a win the Bengals will sit atop the AFC North.

11.   Tennessee Titans (4-2) +3

What a win for the Titans. They’ve had a tough start to the year and I didn’t give them much of a chance against the Bills, but behind Henry and Jeffery Simmons they produced a huge win. The victory puts them right in the mix atop the AFC, and comfortably in control of the AFC South.

12.   Cleveland Browns (3-3) -3

The Browns have lost two straight games and are slipping away from the leaders in the AFC. They took a physical beating from the Cardinals and now face the prospect of a Thursday Night Football game with a Case Keenum-led ailing roster. Kevin Stefanski has his hands full in Week 7 in a potentially consequential game. 

13.   New Orleans Saints (3-2) -3

New Orleans had a bye week, which hopefully serves to get Winston playing a bit more aggressively, and the defense playing a bit more consistently.

14.   Las Vegas Raiders (4-2) +2

In what was a nightmare week for the Raiders, the team turned in a huge performance against the Denver Broncos. With interim head coach Rick Bisaccia the Raiders had one of their most complete performances of the season. Derek Carr looked much better again, Henry Ruggs is showing more consistently why he was a first-round pick, and the defense was fierce.

15.   Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) +2

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the Steelers came up with an important win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The Steelers needed to win to keep pace with their division, and for the second-half it seemed they were blowing their chance to do that. They ultimately came through thanks to T.J. Watt’s heroics, and they’re showing signs of improvement offensively. The Steelers may be warming up.

16.   San Francisco 49ers (2-3) -4

The 49ers had a bye week. Try Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo are both working back from injuries, but Garoppolo was a participant on Monday and Lance wasn’t, so it appears Jimmy G is trending towards being the Week 7 starter.

17.   Indianapolis Colts (2-4) +3

The Colts only have one win to show for it, but over the last two weeks they have shown significant improvement. This week’s win was over the Texans, but it was not just due to the quality of the opponent. The team is starting to play very well, and the Colts are back fighting for the playoffs.

18.   Minnesota Vikings (3-3) +3

If not for the fourth quarter and OT, the Vikings’ win over the Carolina Panthers would have been one of the most forgettable games of the season. The Vikings could not put the game away and were forced to eke out a win out in OT. Kirk Cousins is playing well, and the Vikings are well in position to challenge for the playoffs.

19.   Carolina Panthers (3-3) -4

The real Sam Darnold has arrived. He is now regularly showing the issues he had in New York, turning the ball over far too much and making poor decisions. With Darnold at QB, and no Christian McCaffrey, this offense is just not good enough.

20.   Chicago Bears (3-3) -1

“I still own you!” - Aaron Rodgers, Soldier Field Endzone.

I’m sorry, Chicago Bears fans, but at least he’ll have to retire sometime. Penalties really hurt the Bears, and without them, the outcome truly could have been very different. It’s going to be a tough season in Chicago, and moments like Rodgers’ celebration this weekend only serve to make it more painful.

21.   New England Patriots (2-4) +1

As said on the Around the NFL podcast's Week 6 Recap, the Patriots are leading the season in moral victories. The Patriots are playing very tough football against some of the best in the NFL, they just aren’t getting the wins. There are plenty of signs of positivity in New England, they just now need to produce some results to stop this season getting away from them.

22.   Denver Broncos (3-3) -4

The Broncos’ promising start to the season has very much ended. They’ve now lost three straight, and there aren’t many signs of improvement. The health of this team is an issue, they aren't playing well, and the quarterback position is a problem. Teddy Bridgewater had his worst game yet, and his arch so far this season feels reminiscent of last season in Carolina.

23.   Seattle Seahawks (2-4)

For just a little bit, it looked as though Geno Smith was going to pull through and produce a big win for the Seahawks, with the help of Alex Collins, but it wasn’t to be. Smith instead became the latest victim of T.J. Watt as the ‘hawks slumped to 2-4. If only Jamal Adams had caught the ball rather than headbutt it… Seriously, though, how Adams didn’t intercept that pass is beyond me, and the Seahawks are entering a stretch which could unravel their already disappointing season.

24.   Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)

No team is better in garbage time than the Eagles. They were overmatched from kickoff, struggled to get off the field, and couldn’t move the ball until it was too late. I don’t know what to think of Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles should let other pieces of the offense do a little more before leaving it all for Hurts to do himself. *cough cough* Miles Sanders. 

25.   Washington Football Team (2-4) +1

At halftime it seemed Washington was in a position to get a surprise result against the Chiefs, but the second half further illustrated the gap between Washington and playoff teams. After halftime they stumbled to just 76 total yards of offense and no points, while giving up 224 yards and 21 points. Unfortunately for Washington, they’ll need a little more than a sub-.500 record to make the playoffs this year.

26.   Miami Dolphins (1-5) -1

Tua Tagovailoa returned to the lineup for the Dolphins as they traveled to London, and he played well. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Dolphins to win their first game since Week 1. This team just isn’t  playing well enough, and now reports are surfacing that the Dolphins could acquire Deshaun Watson within the next week – though I’m not sure even Watson could salvage their season now.

27.   Atlanta Falcons (2-3) +1

The Falcons had a bye after traveling to London last week. Despite the quality of their performances, at 2-3, the Falcons are very much within range of turning their season positive, we’ll see how they used their bye week to do that.

28.   New York Giants (1-5) -1

What a horrible week for the Giants. Injuries don’t help, but the team looked very poor against the Rams. Never was it more evident than on Cooper Kupp’s second touchdown, which saw less-than-ideal hustle from the defense as he snuck into the endzone. This team looks beaten, and they still have 11 games to play.

29.   Houston Texans (1-5) -2

It’s going to be a tough season in Houston. We already knew this, but their Week 6 blowout loss to the Colts further confirmed how far behind the Texans are. Davis Mills has flashed, but overall he is struggling, and this isn't the roster you want around a struggling rookie passer. 

30.   New York Jets (1-4)

The Jets had their bye after their loss to the Falcons in London. The hope has to be for Zach Wilson to find his best play more consistently now he’s had an extra week to digest the beginning of his career.

31.   Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) +1

At halftime it seemed the Jags were on their way to their 21^st straight loss, but on the back of Trevor Lawrence’s best performance, and a strong second-half defensive performance, they found a way to win. The celebrations signaled how much a relief the victory was, now they have a bye to hopefully gain some momentum.

32.   Detroit Lions (0-6) -1

There isn’t much more to say about the Lions. I don’t know what is worse, losing close games in agonizing ways, or being blown out by 23 points at home. The goal in Detroit simply has to be winning just one game, and that appears it will be a battle.