2023 NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: Vikings Get Back on Track, Blowouts Cause More Confusion
Josh Frey
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Week 4 of the NFL season brought even more shocking results, including a few blowouts that drastically changed how the league stands.
As we head into Week 5, here is a look at the updated list of 2023 NFL power rankings.
The Super Bowl Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Week: 35-16 win vs. ARI
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/8 vs. DAL
If they really wanted to, the 49ers probably could have put up 70 points this week against the Cardinals. Brock Purdy threw exactly one incompletion on the day, and Christian McCaffrey got whatever he wanted on the ground, totaling four TDs.
2. Buffalo Bills
- Last Week: 48-20 win vs. MIA
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/8 vs. JAX
Buffalo saw all the hype around the Miami Dolphins to start the season, and they took it personally. Josh Allen may be the new MVP front-runner after his five-TD day en route to a blowout win.
3. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Week: 38-3 win vs. NE
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 10/8 @ SF
Dallas got back on track this weekend after their embarrassing loss in roaring fashion by demolishing the Patriots in all facets of the game. Dallas allowed only 10 first downs in the entire game, and they forced three turnovers. This defense is legitimate, and they will get a chance to prove that even further against San Francisco this weekend.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Week: 23-20 win @ NYJ
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 10/8 @ MIN
Week 4 was one of Patrick Mahomes’ worst games as an NFL player, passing for just 203 yards and throwing a pair of interceptions. It ultimately didn’t matter that much as Kansas City still won the game, but they will need to do much better against Minnesota.
5. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Week: 28-3 win @ CLE
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/8 @ PIT
Baltimore’s defense had Browns rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson in way over his head on Sunday. The Ravens forced three turnovers, and Lamar Jackson put together another strong game with four total TDs.
6. Miami Dolphins
- Last Week: 20-48 loss @ BUF
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 10/8 vs. NYG
Questions abound regarding the Dolphins offensive line after this weekend. Terron Armstead left the game with an injury, and Tua Tagovailoa faced constant pressure with four sacks. The Dolphins are still a very good football team, but we may need to pump the brakes on them being an unstoppable force.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Week: 34-31 win vs. WSH
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 10/8 @ LAR
It took overtime, but the Eagles eventually got the job done against the Commanders. Washington has always played Philadelphia very tough, so this outcome isn’t all that surprising.
Strong Playoff Teams
8. Detroit Lions
- Last Week: 34-20 win @ GB
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/8 vs. CAR
Detroit has now won back-to-back games in Lambeau Field, and they got this week’s victory by absolutely dominating the trenches. David Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and 3 TDs while the Packers only managed 27 yards on the ground. The Lions have backed up all the preseason hype through four weeks.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Week: 23-7 win vs. JAX
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/8 @ BUF
The Jaguars got back on track in London this weekend behind a strong game from Trevor Lawrence. While their defense struggled to contain Bijan Robinson, the pass coverage remained strong throughout the game. Jacksonville now has a big matchup against the Bills in Week 5.
10. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Week: 24-3 win @ NYG
- Trending: +2
- This Week: Bye
Devon Witherspoon left his fingerprints all over this game for Seattle. The rookie cornerback had a pair of sacks (part of an 11-sack night for the Seahawks) and a 97-yard pick-six on Monday night. It was a good thing that the defense showed up to play because the offense couldn’t generate much of anything, especially in the passing game.
11. Cleveland Browns
- Last Week: 3-28 loss vs. BAL
- Trending: -2
- This Week: Bye
This loss for Cleveland comes with the caveat that Deshaun Watson didn’t play. Dorian Thompson-Robinson made his first career start as a game-time decision, and he struggled mightily against a terrific Ravens defense.
The “Swing” Teams
12. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Week: 29-23 win @ IND
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 10/8 vs. PHI
The Rams just continue to pull playmakers out of the woodwork. Puka Nacua is off to one of the greatest starts in NFL history as a receiver, and now, Kyren Williams (a 2022 fifth-round pick) put up 100 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns as the starting RB.
13. Green Bay Packers
- Last Week: 20-34 loss vs. DET
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/9 @ LV
Green Bay desperately needs to get some sort of production out of their running game. Jordan Love is a solid QB, but he is not an Aaron Rodgers-esque player who can carry an offense by himself. The Packers are still a good team, but they won’t be competing for the NFC North title if this continues.
14. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Week: 24-17 win vs. LV
- Trending: +4
- This Week: Bye
The Chargers jumped out to a big lead in the first half of this game, but Khalil Mack saved them in the end. The linebacker wreaked havoc on the Raiders offensive line by totaling six sacks. Nine of his 14 sacks since joining the Chargers have come against the team that selected him in the 2014 NFL Draft.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Week: 26-9 win @ NO
- Trending: +9
- This Week: Bye
The New Orleans Saints have famously never taken their rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seriously, and it certainly looked that way on Sunday. The Buccaneers dominated this matchup across the board, and now, New Orleans has fallen behind the 8-ball in the NFC South.
16. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Week: 21-13 win @ CAR
- Trending: +5
- This Week: 10/8 vs. KC
The Vikings defense stepped up in a huge way on Sunday. It was entirely needed too because this was yet another game filled with silly turnovers from the offense. Cam Akers looks like a solid addition to the running game, but Minnesota needs to take care of the ball to have any chance against Kansas City.
17. Houston Texans
- Last Week: 30-6 win vs. PIT
- Trending: +10
- This Week: 10/8 @ ATL
C.J. Stroud might be the guy. He still hasn’t thrown an interception through four games of his NFL career, and Houston was able to move the ball up and down the field throughout the entire afternoon. I don’t hand out double-digit jumps very often, but it feels warranted after this victory. Naturally, this probably means they’ll lose by 30 next week.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Week: 6-30 loss @ HOU
- Trending: -8
- This Week: 10/8 vs. BAL
The Steelers offense has been bad for years, but this is a new level. They have surpassed 300 yards of total offense just once through four games, and Kenny Pickett was unable to move the ball at all.
19. New Orleans Saints
- Last Week: 9-26 loss vs. TB
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/8 @ NE
New Orleans is averaging 15.5 points per game through four weeks, which is not going to win them too many games regardless of the talent on their defense. They kicked field goals on both of their red zone drives while Baker Mayfield tore apart a tired secondary down the stretch of both halves.
20. Tennessee Titans
- Last Week: 27-3 win vs. CIN
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/8 @ IND
The Titans make no sense. Tennessee came off a game against Cleveland where they mustered fewer than 100 yards of offense and tore apart Cincinnati’s defense to the tune of 400 yards. If they can string a few games together at any point this season, they will be tough to beat.
21. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Week: 23-29 loss vs. LAR
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/8 vs. TEN
Anthony Richardson returned to the lineup this week, but it was a tough day for the rookie QB as he completed just 11 of his 25 passes. They fell down 23-0 early on, so it’s impressive in and of itself that they bounced back enough to force overtime.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Week: 3-27 loss @ TEN
- Trending: -8
- This Week: 10/8 @ ARI
The Bengals are in trouble. They finally broke into the win column last week, but they followed that performance up by laying a dud in Week 4. Joe Burrow doesn’t look healthy in the pocket right now, so that is a big problem for Cincinnati over the next two weeks before their bye.
On the Outside Looking In
23. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Week: 7-23 loss @ JAX
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 10/8 vs. HOU
The Falcons have a stud in Bijan Robinson, but it really doesn’t feel like Desmond Ridder is going to be able to beat some of the better teams in the NFL. After Atlanta fell down to a 17-0 deficit, he was forced to make some throws and simply wasn’t able to get it done. Also, can we get Kyle Pitts some targets, please?
24. New England Patriots
- Last Week: 3-38 loss @ DAL
- Trending: -7
- This Week: 10/8 vs. NO
Fun fact: this was the first time the New England Patriots lost by 35+ points since 1993. It was almost 30 years to the date as that 1993 loss to the New York Jets also occurred during Week 4. It also means it was the worst loss during Bill Belichick’s coaching tenure in New England.
25. Washington Commanders
- Last Week: 31-34 loss vs. PHI
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/5 vs. CHI
Folks, the Commanders might be an okay football team. I’m not saying they’re going to make the playoffs, but they certainly can compete with some of the better teams in the league. They may have lost this game, but Sam Howell made some great throws throughout the day and led a flawless two-minute to force overtime. They should have gone for two at the end of regulation, though.
26. New York Jets
- Last Week: 20-23 loss vs. KC
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 10/8 @ DEN
While Patrick Mahomes had arguably his worst game of his NFL career, Zach Wilson might have had his best game. It still wasn’t enough, though.
27. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Week: 17-24 loss @ LAC
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 10/9 vs. GB
Aidan O’Connell got the start for Las Vegas, and early on, it was very apparent that he was making his first career NFL start. The Raiders fell into a 24-7 hole during the first half, and as a result, their second half push to get into this game fell just short. Can someone block Khalil Mack, though?
28. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Week: 16-35 loss @ SF
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 10/8 vs. CIN
Josh Dobbs dragged the Cardinals offense as much as he could, but their defense stood no chance against the 49ers on Sunday. Arizona is still feisty, though, so they could pull off an upset against the Bengals if Cincinnati continues to look as lethargic as they have through four weeks.
29. New York Giants
- Last Week: 3-24 loss vs. SEA
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 10/8 @ MIA
The New York Giants have the worst scoring offense in the NFL through four weeks, and the offensive line has been abysmal in pass protection. New York now heads on the road for a matchup against the high-flying Dolphins who could come into this game with some extra heat after their loss to Buffalo.
30. Carolina Panthers
- Last Week: 13-21 loss vs. MIN
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/8 @ DET
The Panthers offensive line is a major problem. Minnesota’s pass-rush had been lethargic all year until they met Carolina. Bryce Young is going to be a good QB in the NFL, but they need to get some protection in place for the rookie.
31. Denver Broncos
- Last Week: 31-28 win @ CHI
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/8 vs. NYJ
Denver’s defense was once the strong suit of this team, but that is no longer the case. They allowed Justin Fields to have his first 300-yard passing game of his career as well as his first 4-TD game. Luckily, Chicago’s defense was even worse in the second half.
32. Chicago Bears
- Last Week: 28-31 loss vs. DEN
- Trending: —
- This Week: 10/5 @ WSH
Justin Fields was the man on Sunday, until he wasn’t. The Bears offense completely fell apart in the second half against Denver, and making matters worse, their defense couldn’t get a stop. Chicago remains the worst team in the NFL until further notice.
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.