NFL Week Five Power Rankings

Photo courtesy of vikings.com

Well, we made it through week four. It seemed uncertain for a minute after the Titans-Steelers game got postponed due to three Titans coming down with COVID-19. Then, it seemed more bleak when Cam Newton tested positive, and a Saints player (we thought) tested positive. 

But here we are on Tuesday morning, and it’s time to start talking about where each team falls going into week five. Like I’ve done every week thus far, the top fourteen teams of my rankings are who I consider playoff teams, and the remaining 18 are non-playoff teams.

Check week one’s rankings here

Check week two’s rankings here

Check week three’s rankings here

Check week four’s rankings here

The Playoff Contenders

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (pending MNF results)

Last Week: 26-10 win vs NE

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs LV

Bill Belichick and the Pats defense did a pretty decent job at slowing down the Kansas City offense, but the Chiefs benefited from two Jarrett Stidham interceptions, one being a pick-six, that Cam Newton probably doesn’t throw. That said, no one has been able to hold the Chiefs down for four quarters yet this season, so they remain the top dogs. 

  1. Baltimore Ravens

Last Week: 31-17 win @ WSH

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs CIN

The Ravens got right back on track this week against Washington with a dominating win. The defense swarmed the pocket and made Dwayne Haskins uncomfortable all game long. Lamar Jackson was back to his old tricks too, with two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

  1. Green Bay Packers (pending MNF results)

Last Week: 30-16 win vs ATL

Trending: ↑1

Next Week: Bye

Green Bay has continued their incredible offensive run with another 30 point outburst, this time by the hands of an undermanned Atlanta defense. Still, Atlanta’s offense is one of the more talented groups in the league, so holding them to 16 points is extremely impressive.

  1. Seattle Seahawks 

Last Week: 31-23 win @ MIA

Trending: ↓1

Next Week: 10/11 vs MIN

If Russell Wilson doesn’t take a sack on fourth down in the red zone, this game is probably not as close as it ended up being. That said, the Dolphins were always within striking distance even with two interceptions and no touchdowns from Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

  1. Buffalo Bills 

Last Week: 30-23 win @ LV

Trending:—

Next Week: 10/11 @ TEN

Another week, and another power ranking where the Bills land at the five spot. They are the one team that has not moved at all since week one, and I only know that because I checked after experiencing deja vu from writing “5. Buffalo Bills” for the fifth straight week. They got another solid win this week in Las Vegas, which is something that New Orleans, another playoff contender, cannot say. 

  1. New England Patriots (pending MNF)

Last Week: 10-26 loss @ KC

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs DEN

The Patriots missed Cam Newton this week. It’s still extremely impressive how well the defense handled the Chiefs offense. If it weren’t for the one big drive that was followed by a pick-six, they may have won this game, so I don’t feel comfortable moving them down for this game. 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers 

Last Week: Postponed (COVID)

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs PHI

Pittsburgh didn’t get to play this week, so I couldn’t really move them up at all, and the two teams immediately below them, Arizona and San Francisco, both lost this week. We’ll see how their team reacts to an unplanned bye week against Philadelphia. 

  1. New Orleans Saints

Last Week: 35-29 win @ DET

Trending: ↑2

Next Week: 10/12 vs LAC

The Saints bounced back from back-to-back ugly losses with a win in Detroit against a frisky Lions team. It started out very ugly, falling down 14-0, but they responded extremely well to the adversity by scoring 35 straight points. I don’t love that they allowed the Lions back into the game towards the end, but a win is a win in the NFL.

  1. Indianapolis Colts

Last Week: 19-11 win @ CHI

Trending: ↑2

Next Week: 10/11 @ CLE

The Colts have continued to prove to be a dominant defensive team, and with a dynamic offensive threat in Jonathan Taylor, they look like a tough out in January. Cleveland tore apart Dallas this week, so we’ll see how Indy handles this matchup. 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last Week: 38-31 win vs LAC

Trending: ↑2

Next Week: 10/8 @ CHI

I think I have to eat crow on my initial thoughts on this Tampa Bay team. I thought they’d end up 8-8, maybe 9-7. After a disappointing game against New Orleans, they’ve scored 28 points or more in every game, and their defense has been great other than this past week. They probably grab another win against Chicago. 

  1. Arizona Cardinals

Last Week: 21-31 loss @ CAR

Trending: ↓3

Next Week: 10/11 @ NYJ

Uh oh. The defense looked absolutely horrible against the Panthers this week. To be fair, the one thing Carolina has had going for it this season was its offense, but you’d think that Arizona would at least be able to put up points. Outside of Kyler Murray, the rushing game was nonexistent, and Murray couldn’t make a single big play through the air. A loss against the Jets this week officially extinguishes them from my playoff picture. 

  1. LA Rams

Last Week: 17-9 win vs NYG

Trending: ↑4

Next Week: 10/11 @ WSH

The Rams are another team that I underestimated going into the season. Their star power on defense is incredible to watch, and Jared Goff has been much better under center this season than he was last year. With the Niners injury troubles, it only makes sense for this team to replace them in the playoff picture.

  1. Tennessee Titans

Last Week: Postponed (COVID)

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs BUF

The Titans finally have zero positive COVID-19 tests as of Monday morning, and we’ll see how they look after not being able to practice for a week. With multiple players out with the virus, a big test against Buffalo is going to be quite the welcome back. 

  1. Dallas Cowboys

Last Week: 38-49 loss vs CLE

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs NYG

Look, are the Cowboys better than 80% of the NFL? Probably not. However, I refuse to believe that they are worse than any of the Eagles, Giants, or The Washington Football Team. Lucky for them, that means a playoff spot, no matter how atrocious this team looks when there is actual pressure on them to win a game. Just to keep a running tally, it is possible for an NFC East team to go 4-12 and still win the division. 

The Pretenders

  1. San Francisco 49ers 

Last Week: 20-25 loss vs PHI

Trending: ↓6

Next Week: 10/11 vs MIA

Did we really expect anything else? This team is just too beat up to justify them remaining in the playoff picture. I’d move them lower, but I really don’t trust a lot of teams in this range right now. Nick Mullens probably isn’t good enough to keep this offense running against any team that doesn’t play in New York, and their defense is not the same after losing their stars. 

This seemingly lost season may be a blessing in disguise if they get a high draft pick and come back hungry in 2021. Until then, a matchup with a sneaky tough Miami team does not look promising. 

  1. Chicago Bears

Last Week: 11-19 loss vs IND

Trending: ↓1

Next Week: 10/8 vs TB

So, Nick Foles does look like the answer for this offense. The Colts were never scared of the running game either as David Montgomery averaged an abysmal 2.7 yards per carry. Tampa Bay has looked at least as good as Indianapolis so far, so this could be a tough matchup coming off a short week. 

  1. Cleveland Browns

Last Week: 49-38 win @ DAL

Trending: ↑2

Next Week: 10/11 vs IND

Only in 2020, man. This is the most competent I’ve ever seen a Cleveland Browns team play, and I have to give them credit for that. Even in a game where they lost Nick Chubb, and Baker Mayfield didn’t play that well, their offense ran fluidly. 

It may be inflated due to just how bad Dallas’ defense is, but still, this team is 3-1 and must be taken seriously every week. If Tennessee starts losing games, they may have to jump into the playoff picture soon. 

  1. Detroit Lions

Last Week: 29-35 loss vs NO

Trending: —

Next Week: Bye

If the defense plays just a little better than terrible, the Lions might have been going into this bye week off a very good win. Giving up 35 straight points is a bad look, but the fact that they fought their way back into the game is still impressive nonetheless. Given the Lions really should be 2-2 right now if it weren’t for a dropped touchdown in week one, I’m not ready to condemn them to the NFL basement. They will be competitive every week.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers

Last Week: 31-38 loss @ TB

Trending: ↑1

Next Week: 10/12 @ NO

The Chargers look great offensively, and they might win against Tampa Bay if Austin Ekeler doesn’t go down with an injury. They jumped out to an early lead, but they weren’t able to develop a running attack in the second half to hold onto the ball. 

Because of that, Tom Brady was able to lead the comeback. The Saints defense has been suspect all season, and the Chargers should be able to keep this one close. 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders

Last Week: 23-30 loss vs BUF

Trending: ↑1

Next Week: 10/11 @ KC

The Raiders played an excellent game against Buffalo up until the fourth quarter. The game was 17-16 heading into the fourth, but the Bills scored two quick touchdowns, and essentially put the game away. Things don’t get any easier with a matchup in Kansas City, but if they keep this one close, it’ll be very impressive. 

  1. Carolina Panthers

Last Week: 31-21 win vs AZ

Trending: ↑3

Next Week: 10/11 @ ATL

The Panthers have gotten great wins in consecutive weeks, and a lot of it is due to defensive improvements. Teddy Bridgewater looks like a very viable quarterback under center, and the weapons he has at wide receiver in Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore have helped a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull off a third straight win in Atlanta. 

  1. Minnesota Vikings

Last Week: 31-23 win @ HOU

Trending: ↑5

Next Week: 10/11 @ SEA

The Vikings have unlocked rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and when they run their offense through Dalvin Cook like they did in Houston, they are a much better team. If they continue to do that this upcoming Sunday Night in Seattle, they could keep this game close given how bad Seattle’s defense has been. All that said, this team is most likely headed to 1-4. 

  1. Houston Texans

Last Week: 23-31 loss vs MIN

Trending: ↓6

Next Week: 10/11 vs JAX

The Texans are always going to be in games solely due to Deshaun Watson’s presence, but it’s time to admit it. This team is not going to be a playoff team. Their offensive line is just too bad, and their defense will let any offense score on them. They might have a chance against division rival Jacksonville at least. 

  1. Miami Dolphins

Last Week: 23-31 loss vs SEA

Trending: ↓2

Next Week: 10/11 @ SF

The Dolphins have been in every game they’ve played so far this season. They’re 1-3 only because they’ve had to play the Patriots, Bills, and Seahawks. They could end up at .500 in two weeks though with matchups against the Niners and then Denver. 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals

Last Week: 33-25 win vs JAX

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 @ BAL

Joe Burrow got his first career win in an entertaining matchup with the Jaguars. However, the defense is still atrocious, and the Baltimore defense might have a field day with this offensive line. If Joe Burrow escapes without an injury from getting sacked, consider that a win. 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Week: 25-33 loss @ CIN

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 @ HOU

After an impressive week one win against Indianapolis that’s beginning to look more like a fluke as the weeks go by, they have been unable to close out any other games. They’ve lost two of the last three by one possession, and while the offense has been good, the defense has given up 30-plus points in each of those losses. This game against Houston is going to be a shootout, but I expect Deshaun Watson to take over late and close it out. 

  1. Denver Broncos

Last Week: 37-28 win @ NYJ

Trending: ↓4

Next Week: 10/11 @ NE

If the Broncos were playing a team that wasn’t based in New York, this game is a blowout loss instead of a win. Brett Rypien threw three picks, and Sam Darnold ran all over the place, including the only offensive touchdown for the Jets. While it’s doubtful that Cam Newton will be ready in time for next week’s game, the Patriots are still a much better team than the Jets. 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles

Last Week: 25-20 win @ SF

Trending: ↑2

Next Week: 10/11 @ PIT

I said last week the Eagles should blow out San Francisco, but I expected them to lose. If Nick Mullens doesn’t throw a pick-six with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, we would be looking at an NFC East in which the Washington Football Team would be in first place at 1-3. 

Sure, I’ll give the Eagles a little credit for winning, but they nearly blew the lead as the Mullens-led offense drove down the field and nearly scored a game winning touchdown. The Eagles are going to lose in Pittsburgh this week. 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (pending MNF results)

Last Week: 16-30 loss @ GB

Trending: ↓1

Next Week: 10/11 vs CAR

I don’t think anyone expected anything more than Atlanta getting blown out in this game. The Green Bay offense continues its tour de force, and Atlanta remains miserable. The only difference between this week and previous ones is they didn’t even get a lead to blow this time. 

  1. Washington Football Team

Last Week: 17-31 loss vs BAL

Trending: ↓1

Next Week: 10/11 vs LAR

The Washington Football Team can barely call themselves a football team at this point. Dwayne Haskins is not good, and that was only amplified with his fourth down checkdown pass on the goal-line. Baltimore really didn’t play that well this week, it just looked like it because Washington is just as bad as their nickname. 

  1. New York Giants

Last Week: 9-17 loss @ LAR
Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 @ DAL

Again, the Rams really didn’t play that well, they just managed to score a touchdown while the Giants did not. Daniel Jones couldn’t get any offense going, and the only thing that kept them in this game was the fact that their running game managed to allow them to hold the ball for longer than the Rams. LA’s one defensive weakness this season has in fact been against the run so this isn’t that impressive to me. 

  1. Bye Week

Like I said last week, if Adam Gase is still the coach by the time the Jets reach their bye, I will consider it a loss. 

  1. New York Jets

Last Week: 28-37 loss vs DEN

Trending: —

Next Week: 10/11 vs AZ

I don’t even know what else to say about the Jets that I haven’t already said, so I’m just going to end this week’s power rankings here. Make sure to leave your thoughts and comments below!

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