NFL Power Rankings Week Five: A Quarter In The Wishing Well

NFL week five is the beginning of the separation process for most of the divisions. Over the next eight weeks (or so), teams will solidify their dominance or show their overall futility.

With playoff spots and division titles on the line, the time is now to start making a push towards the post-season. You could say there’s a ton of football left to play but this year should’ve already taught you not to expect anything normal.

 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
The Chief’s quick strike offense stings yet another team with a great game plan. The defense continues to make its share of plays. The rest of the league hasn’t figured out how to do anything remotely close to stopping them.

2. Green Bay Packers (4-0)
The Packers are making these games look laughable by the end. Every week they improve on something they weren’t good at the week before, which is very scary for the rest of their opponents this season.

3. Seattle Seahawks (4-0)
Seattle continues its trend of gaining yards, scoring points, and letting teams move the ball upfield on them. Their saving grace on defense is the fact that they rank second in forced turnovers.

4. Buffalo Bills (4-0)
The vaunted Bills’ offense has scored a total of 123 points in four games. They’ve scored 16 offensive touchdowns and have turned the ball over five times.

5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Baltimore has scored 30 or more points in three out of their four games this season. The only time they didn’t, they lost the game.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0)
After an impromptu bye week, the Steelers will host the Eagles and then the Browns, before a showdown with the Ravens.

7. Tennessee Titans (3-0)
The Titans will host Buffalo and then the woeful Texans in their next two contests.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
Tom Brady had one of his usual stellar performances, throwing for 369 yards and five touchdowns. That’s three straight wins for the division leading Buccaneers.

9. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
The Rams have a pretty good rushing attack, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and scoring seven touchdowns on the ground. They’ve scored ten touchdowns overall in their 16 red zone visits.

10. Indianapolis Colts (3-1)
The Colts have given up a total of 29 points during their three game winning streak. They have forced seven turnovers in that same stretch.

11. Cleveland Browns (3-1)
The Browns have scored a (staggering) total of 118 points during their three game winning streak. Their next two opponents have combined record of 6-1, so let’s see if they can keep it going.

12. Chicago Bears (3-1)
Chicago came crashing down to earth and Nick Foles looked as ineffective as Mitchell Trubisky did in previous weeks. Could you imagine if they actually went back to Trubisky because Foles couldn’t move the ball? (I’m laughing to myself writing that.)

13. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
The Saints made their way back to the .500 mark by coming back to mop up Detroit on Sunday. Funny enough, they’ve scored 123 points and given up the exact same 123 points this season.

14. New England Patriots (2-2)
The Patriots did everything to stifle the Chiefs on Monday night. It’s pretty hard to seal the deal when you have Brian Hoyer starting at quarterback instead of Cam Newton.

15. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)
Arizona has struggled to move the ball in two straight losses. The four turnovers in those defeats have not helped the offense.

16. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)
The 49ers have allowed over 20 points only twice this season and they’ve allowed over 300 yards only once this season. They are ranked third in both points and yards allowed.

17. Las Vegas Raiders (2-2)
The Raiders are on a two game losing streak, getting outscored 66-43 during that stretch. Just in time to play the high powered Chiefs before their bye week and the Buccaneers right after the bye.

18. Carolina Panthers (2-2)
Carolina has won two in a row, outscoring their opponents 52-37. They have forced five turnovers during that stretch.

19. Los Angeles Chargers (1-3)
Young Justin Herbert is averaging 310.3 passing yards per game and giving the Chargers something to to cheer about. Their record could be better if they didn’t have the turnovers and if they could convert more touchdowns.

20. Miami Dolphins (1-3)
Miami had another game where they could’ve pulled it out but turnovers and the occasional bad call derailed another effort. It might be time for them to let Tua Tagovailoa start playing.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
The Jaguars are on a three game losing streak, turning the ball over seven times during that stretch.

22. Washington Football Team (1-3)
Washington is ranked 30th in the NFL in points scored and yards gained. The good news is they play in the NFC East, where all the teams have a losing record.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2-1)
Joe Mixon had his best game of the season, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals are undefeated in their last two games, scoring a total of 56 points in that stretch.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2-1)
The Eagles don’t do anything particularly well on offense or defense. That still hasn’t hindered them from claiming the top spot in their (terrible) division.

25. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
Sunday marked the first time the Vikings did not turn the ball over on offense and lo and behold they won their first game.

26. Dallas Cowboys (1-3)
It’s very difficult to lose two games where your team scores a combined 69 points but the Cowboys have pulled it off successfully.

27. Detroit Lions (1-3)
Detroit heads into the bye week splitting their last two games. Their next two opponents coming out of the bye week have a combined 1-7 record.

28. Denver Broncos (1-3)
The Broncos had a great formula for winning their first game of the season. It was actually very simple, they played a team that was much worse than they are.

29. Atlanta Falcons (0-4)
Well at least they didn’t blow a lead on Monday night. Dan Quinn has to be hearing the roars from fans calling for his job but will Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank ever listen?

30. Houston Texans (0-4)
The Texans fired Bill O’Brien but it’s too little too late. Not only has he traded away their best offensive weapon, he also traded away their first and second round picks in the upcoming draft.

31. New York Giants (0-4)
The Giants defense has played well despite their winless record. The offense is right at the bottom of the league, with seemingly no improvement in sight.

32. New York Jets (0-4)
The Jets aren’t very good and the reason behind why is the biggest question. Is it the offensive genius head coach or the highly drafted quarterback? Is it the lack of offensive weapons or the lack of defensive stoppers?