2023 NFL Power Rankings, Week 6: 49ers Continue to Roll, Vikings Stumble Again, a Legendary Coach on the Hot Seat?
Week 5 of the NFL season has come and gone, and this week saw a number of the top teams in the league tumble down the NFL power rankings after losses.
As we approach the one-third mark of the NFL season, here is a look at the latest list of rankings heading into Week 6
The Super Bowl Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Week: 42-10 win vs. DAL
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/15 @ CLE
Another week, another blowout win for the 49ers. Through five weeks, San Francisco by far has the best point differential in the NFL at +99. The offense has scored the second-most points in the league, and their defense has allowed the fewest. This victory over Dallas only further solidified their spot at the top of the league.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Week: 27-20 win @ MIN
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/12 vs. DEN
Travis Kelce temporarily left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, but he was able to return later in the third quarter. If the tight end is on the field, this offense can hang with anybody in the league, and their secondary has been playing some terrific football.
3. Buffalo Bills
- Last Week: 20-25 loss vs. JAX
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/15 vs. NYG
Buffalo may have technically been the home team this week, but they were at a huge disadvantage coming in considering Jacksonville had already spent an entire week in London prior to the matchup. The Bills just looked lethargic across the board, but I don’t put too much stock into this loss. Buffalo is still a great team as we saw for three weeks prior to this game.
4. Miami Dolphins
- Last Week: 31-16 win vs. NYG
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 vs. CAR
As if the Dolphins passing offense wasn’t insane enough, they now have the best rushing offense in the league with De’Von Achane in the backfield. Sunday was Tua Tagovailoa’s worst game of the season, but it simply didn’t matter with Achane totaling over 150 yards on the ground. Miami will be without their rookie sensation for a few weeks because of injury, but this team still feels close to unstoppable.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Week: 23-14 win @ LAR
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 @ NYJ
Philly won this game by dominating the trenches. They ran the ball to the tune of 159 yards on the ground, and the Rams had just 54. The Eagles ferocious defensive front got to Matthew Stafford four times in this game as well. Had they just been able to punch the ball into the end zone rather than settle for field goals, this could have been a blowout.
6. Detroit Lions
- Last Week: 42-24 win vs. CAR
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 @ TB
It feels weird putting Detroit in the Super Bowl tier, but this team continues to impress. This offense has been on fire to begin the year, totaling at least 350 yards of offense in each of their first five games. Defensively, this team is much improved compared to 2022, especially against the run. If this continues, they can hang with anybody in the league.
Strong Playoff Teams
7. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Week: 10-42 loss @ SF
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/16 @ LAC
We’ve seen Dallas beat up on some of the bad teams in this league, such as the Giants, Jets, and Patriots. However, this was the first time we’ve seen them match up against a top group, and they fell flat on their faces. This might just be the same old Cowboys where we see some regular season success before a playoff disappointment.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Week: 25-20 win @ BUF
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 10/15 vs. IND
Jacksonville was the road team for this game, but they had all the advantage heading into it. They had spent an entire week in London already, and Trevor Lawrence played one of the best games of his young NFL career as a result.
9. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Week: 10-17 loss @ PIT
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/15 @ TEN
This was some pure-bred AFC North football on Sunday. Defenses reigned supreme throughout, but if Baltimore just didn’t have all sorts of drops, they probably would have pulled this game out.
10. Cleveland Browns
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 vs. SF
Cleveland spent the week resting up after their blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. Now, they face a very daunting task in playing against a red-hot 49ers squad.
11. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/15 @ CIN
Seattle also spent the week on their bye following a dominant victory over the New York Giants. They now get to travel to Cincinnati and play against a Bengals team that finally seems to be getting back on track offensively.
The “Swing” Teams
12. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/16 vs. DAL
The byes continue. Los Angeles captured their second victory of the season in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders. They get a date with an angry Dallas Cowboys squad that is coming off an embarrassing loss in Week 5.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 vs. DET
Did I plan on having all four bye teams in a row? No, not really, but here we are. Tampa Bay enjoyed their bye week after a Week 4 victory over the New Orleans Saints, and now, they play host to the Detroit Lions in Week 6.
14. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Week: 14-23 loss vs. PHI
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 10/15 vs. ARI
The good news for Los Angeles is that Cooper Kupp was able to make his return to the field on Sunday, and he looked as good as ever, catching 8 passes for 118 yards. However, the offensive line struggles remained apparent in this loss.
15. New Orleans Saints
- Last Week: 34-0 win @ NE
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 10/15 @ HOU
New Orleans cruised to a win in New England following their Week 4 disaster against Tampa Bay. Alvin Kamara bounced back in his second game of the season, totaling 97 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in the win.
16. Green Bay Packers
- Last Week: 13-17 loss @ LV
- Trending: -3
- This Week: Bye
This was a rough game for the Packers offense. Jordan Love had three interceptions, they struggled to establish much of a ground game, and Maxx Crosby wreaked havoc on the offensive line all night long. Green Bay now heads into their bye with plenty to think about.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Week: 17-10 win vs. BAL
- Trending: +1
- This Week: Bye
Pittsburgh’s defense remains one of the most fearsome units in the league, and their offense found the perfect time to strike as Kenny Pickett hit George Pickens for a 41-yard score in the final minutes of the game. The Steelers get to ride into their bye on a high note.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Week: 34-20 win @ ARI
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 10/15 vs. SEA
The Bengals are finally getting on track. This was the first time all season where Joe Burrow looked like his usual self, and it resulted in 15 receptions for 192 yards and 3 TDs going in the direction of Ja’Marr Chase. Cincinnati gets to play host to Seattle this week in a matchup that promises to be a shootout.
19. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Week: 23-16 win vs. TEN
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 @ JAX
Anthony Richardson left the game with injury again, but Gardner Minshew continues to prove that he can lead an NFL offense as well as any backup in the league. He completed 11 of his 14 passes for 155 yards, solidifying Indy’s victory over Tennessee.
20. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Week: 21-19 win vs. HOU
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 10/15 vs. WSH
After being held to single-digits in each of the past two weeks, Week 5 finally brought a bit of life to the Atlanta Falcons offense. With the Saints winning this week, they needed to beat Houston in order to keep pace, and Desmond Ridder came through in the end.
21. Houston Texans
- Last Week: 19-21 loss @ ATL
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/15 vs. NO
Houston snatched defeat from the jaws of victory this weekend. After C.J. Stroud led a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, it seemed like the Texans were going to get their third win of the season given how Atlanta’s offense had fared all afternoon. Unfortunately for them, Houston’s defense wasn’t able to get the job done.
On the Outside Looking In
22. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Week: 20-27 loss vs. KC
- Trending: -6
- This Week: 10/15 @ CHI
Until the Vikings prove that they can go a game without turning the ball over in silly ways, they cannot be considered a good football team. With Justin Jefferson heading to IR because of his hamstring injury, that only makes things even tougher in Minnesota.
23. Tennessee Titans
- Last Week: 16-23 loss @ IND
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 10/15 vs. BAL
Sunday was the latest dud for the Tennessee Titans offensively. DeAndre Hopkins played very well, but that was about it. Derrick Henry is yet to put back-to-back strong games together this season, and the Titans will need him to bounce back if they want any chance of beating the Ravens.
24. New York Jets
- Last Week: 31-21 win @ DEN
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 vs. PHI
Zach Wilson wasn’t nearly as effective this weekend as he was against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, but that didn’t matter with Breece Hall finally getting a full workload as RB1. The second-year back carried the ball 22 times and totaled 177 yards and a touchdown on the ground to lead New York to a victory.
25. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Week: 20-34 loss vs. CIN
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 10/15 @ LAR
Arizona once again remained competitive for much of this game, and it was a 24-20 score heading into the fourth quarter. However, this was the day where the Bengals offense finally caught fire, and when Joe Burrow is on, there are few teams in this league that can beat him.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Week: 17-13 win vs. GB
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 10/15 vs. NE
It’s still difficult to feel great about the Raiders offense, and a missed field goal nearly cost Las Vegas at the end. However, Josh Jacobs came to life a little bit in the second half, and the defense stepped up in a huge way.
27. New York Giants
- Last Week: 16-31 loss @ MIA
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/15 @ BUF
New York still hasn’t figured out much offensively, but there were moments of positivity for the Giants defense on Sunday. It was still a pretty ugly loss that could have been even worse if not for a 102-yard pick-six by Jason Pinnock, but things are turning slightly in the right direction for this team.
28. Chicago Bears
- Last Week: 40-20 win @ WSH
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 10/15 vs. MIN
Three of the past four halves of football have been fantastic for the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields had another 4-TD night on Thursday, leading Chicago to their first win of the season.
29. Washington Commanders
- Last Week: 20-40 loss vs. CHI
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/15 @ ATL
Washington had a golden opportunity to really put themselves in the playoff mix with a home win over a Bears team that had been stumbling throughout the season. Instead, they got blown out and now have a hole to dig themselves out of.
30. Carolina Panthers
- Last Week: 24-42 loss @ DET
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/15 @ MIA
Carolina is officially the final team in the league without a win. Bryce Young has been doing all he can, but this offensive line has not helped him at all. The defense has allowed 100 points over the past three games as well.
31. New England Patriots
- Last Week: 0-34 loss vs. NO
- Trending: -7
- This Week: 10/15 @ LV
The Saints hadn’t scored more than 20 points in a game through the first four weeks. New England allowed them to nearly double that total, and Bill Belichick’s worst two losses as head coach of the Patriots have come in back-to-back weeks. Is the legendary coach officially on the hot seat?
32. Denver Broncos
- Last Week: 21-31 loss vs. NYJ
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/12 @ KC
The Jets put this game right into Denver’s hands at the end, and they still weren’t able to snatch a victory. Outside of the second half against Chicago, this team has looked like a shell of their preseason potential. Making matters worse, they have a short week and have to travel to Arrowhead.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.