The Eagles and Bills fell from the unbeaten ranks, while the Jaguars pulled of a stunner on Monday night. Heading into Week 6, a new top team appears.
The NFL season is through five weeks. There was a constant buzz that the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles were not playing 60 minutes of football. It had to come back to bite them. And did it ever at the Linc on Sunday as the Denver Broncos scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to leave Philly with a victory. Speaking of surprises, what about the New England Patriots going into Highmark Stadium and jolting the Bills? And then, on Monday night, the Jaguars dropped the Chiefs.
After a wild week, here's how all 32 teams stack up…
32. New York Jets (0-5)
Has any Jets coach other than Bill Belichick not won a game in their tenure? Aaron Glenn is trending in the wrong direction and now the team goes to London to play the Broncos.
31. Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
The Cardinals have lost their last three games, all on last-second field goals. The combined margin of the losses is five points. Jonathan Gannon should be on the hot seat. It is unfathomable to lose that many games on last-second field goals in a season -- more than one -- let alone three in a row.
30. Miami Dolphins (1-4)
Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins are the definition or horrible. Why would anyone punt as late in the fourth quarter as the coach did against the Panthers? Time to move on to the next head coach in South Beach.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
Will Tom Brady and the Raiders brass be patient or will they realize the sun should have set already on Pete Carroll's coaching career? Amazing how some franchises always are terrible and the Raiders are one of those.
28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
Will Zac Taylor survive the season—or after the season, if he makes it that far? The Bengals have been inept since Joe Burrow went out with an injury.
27. New York Giants (1-4)
The win over the Chargers in Jaxson Dart's debut not longer looks as surprising with the Bolts losing again. And the Giants went back to their usual losing ways against the previously winless Saints. There figures to be a scramble on the coaching carousel for talent. Don't be the last team on board.
26. Tennessee Titans (1-4)
There was the Music City Miracle years ago for the franchise. Now there is the Dazzler in the Desert. How could a team that has zero offense score 16 straight points in the fourth quarter? And how can Cam Ward throw a pick only to have it become a Tennessee touchdown? It feels like a mirage, but it was reality.
25. New Orleans Saints (1-4)
The Saints put it together against the Giants as Spencer Rattler delivered a solid game, and the defense made Dart look like a rookie making his second start. The division is awful, so Kellen Moore may find some more wins on the schedule.
24. Cleveland Browns (1-4)
The "Browns are gonna Browns" — always finding ways to lose a game. They might have found a quarterback as Dillon Gabriel delivered a solid performance in his NFL starting debut. That said, it is early.
23. Carolina Panthers (2-3)
Rico Dowdle rushed for more than 200 yards against Miami. What happens when Chuba Hubbard returns? Give the Panthers credit. They got down and didn't quit. They play well at home. Now, it's about figuring things out on the road.
22. Baltimore Ravens (1-4)
Something is extremely wrong with the Ravens. It is one thing to be challenged because Lamar Jackson and others are out. It is another to be completely destroyed at home by a Houston Texans team that came in with just one win.
21. Atlanta Falcons (2-2) Bye
20. Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1)
The Cowboys took advantage of a bad Jets team. They raced to a big lead and cruised. The offense was in sync and the defense pressured Justin Fields. Not quite sure what beating a winless team proves.
19. Chicago Bears (2-2) Bye
18. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)
Carson Wentz delivered a game-winning drive. Jordan Addison found his way back to the team after deciding to explore London and all he did was make the game-winning catch after being benched in the first quarter for his poor decision as a tourist.
17. Houston Texans (2-3)
So, were the Texans that good or the Ravens that injury-ravaged? Going with the latter, although Houston also took advantage of a weakened opponent. It is the first time the AFC South champs have shown some real muscle.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
The Chargers have reverted to the losing culture that plagued them before Jim Harbaugh arrived. What has happened in the last two weeks?
15. Los Angeles Rams (3-2)
The Rams got 389 passing yards from Matthew Stafford and managed to overcome a 14-0 deficit against a 49ers team ravaged by injuries. They still lost in overtime and if one wants to point fingers or hand the blame to one person in a team game, Kyren Williams gets it. He fumbled near the goal line and that wound up being beyond costly. His fumbleitis is a huge issue. This is a bad, bad habit.
14. Denver Broncos (3-2)
A huge effort in the fourth quarter as the Broncos scored 18 unanswered points. The defense was ferocious and harassed Jalen Hurts. Special mention to Sean Payton, who chose to go for two down 17-16 and put his team in the lead. Gutsy.
13. New England Patriots (3-2)
The question was whether the romp over the Panthers was for real by New England. The answer is that the Patriots, under Mike Vrabel, are for real. They went into Buffalo and beat the Bills. They more than held their own in all facets of football, and Stefon Diggs had quite the revenge game. Amazing what Vrabel has done in five regular-season games.
12. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
The Chiefs are not the dynasty team they used to be. That was evident late in the second quarter, the third quarter and the last drive by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It ruined a brilliant drive orchestrated by Patrick Mahomes. Shameful.
11. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
Nothing wrong with the Seahawks offense. The defense needs to improve ... fast. Can't get into shootouts. Amazing how this team has such a home-field crowd and keeps losing in Seattle.
10. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) Bye
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1)
The Jaguars could have easily packed it in after being blanked in the first half. They didn't and came back to take the lead on a huge pick-six by Devin Lloyd. Overall, the defense was strafed by Mahomes. Trevor Lawrence made a couple of great passes late and then was called for delay of game. Absolutely inexcusable. And then he scores the most mind-blowing TD to win the game after falling down. Stunning.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) Bye
7. Washington Commanders (3-2)
All the Commanders needed to get the offense in high gear was the return of Jayden Daniels. They throttled the Chargers and the offense ran smoothly with the quarterback returning.
6. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)
Who needs a full roster of players? Mac Jones, Christian McCaffrey, and Kendrick Bourne were enough for the 49ers to up their record by beating the Rams at SoFi. Ten days or so to get healthier than the current status. But, again, what's the best part of being 100% when your team has players who step up?
5. Indianapolis Colts (4-1)
Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and the Colts dismantled the Raiders. Indy is starting to feel like a real contender in the AFC and can no longer be taken as just having gotten off to a fast start.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
I hate to harp on it, but I warned that the Eagles do not play 60 minutes, or haven't in any game this season. They were bound to pay for it. However, losing at home to Denver -- actually, anyone-- better be looked at as a wake-up call.
3. Buffalo Bills (4-1)
The Bills looked invincible. No longer. The Patriots traveled to Western New York and defeated the Bills. Josh Allen wasn't fabulous. James Cook was ordinary. And now, no more unbeaten teams in the NFL.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
The Bucs won a classic shootout in Seattle. Baker Mayfield and the offense are close to unstoppable. If the defense can deliver some more big plays, this team could be big trouble for opponents.
1. Detroit Lions (4-1)
The loss to Green Bay in the opener appears to be a hiccup. The Lions are rolling and will be a team to reckon with as the season goes deeper. No surprise. Will they be able to continue growing and advance deeper in the playoffs?
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: A new top team emerges in NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 6
Category: General Sports
