This week finally knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion, and left no undefeated teams in the league; also claiming the Bills on Sunday night. On Monday, Patrick Mahomes couldn’t stop Trevor Lawrence and the fast-charging Jaguars. It’s almost unthinkable that on the same weekend, the defending MVP and the two Super Bowl QBs all lost. And it has completely reframed the NFL season — and this week’s rankings.
Here they are:
1. Detroit Lions:
The Lions are now one of five one-loss teams and are atop this list. The offense looks unstoppable once again, and the defense is forcing turnovers.
2. San Francisco 49ers:
The Niners also only have one loss…thanks to journeyman QB Mac Jones, who’s 3-0 as a starter. Could a QB competition be brewing?
3. Philadelphia Eagles:
On Sunday, both Tom Brady and Cris Collinsworth stole what I’ve been writing for five weeks…” To Be The Man, You Have To Beat The Man”. On Sunday, Denver beat “The Man”, knocking the Eagles off the top spot on this list.
4. Buffalo Bills:
A home win Sunday night against a mediocre Patriots team would have vaulted the Bills to the No. 1 spot. The loss dropped them two spots.
5. Indianapolis Colts:
Diamond Daniel Jones is still at it. The Colts are now 4-1, tied with the upstart Jaguars. Jones was an efficient 20-29, for 212 yds and two TDs.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The Bucs keep on chugging along. This week, they headed to the Pacific Northwest and handled a solid Seahawks team that has been struggling at home of late. Baker Mayfield has put himself squarely into the MVP discussion. He finished the day 29-33, for 379 yds and two TDs.
7. Los Angeles Rams:
On Thursday, the 3-1 Rams faced the 3-1 49ers. A tough overtime loss propelled the Niners to 4-1 and first place. The Rams now sit at 3-2, needing a win this week in Baltimore.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars:
This come-from-behind win against the Chiefs is Trevor Lawrence’s biggest game of his career. The Jags are now 4-1 and are tied for first place in the AFC South.
9. Los Angeles Chargers:
After an impressive 3-0 start, the Chargers are now 3-2. It looked like Justin Herbert was turning the corner, but Charger fans may need to wait another year.
10. Denver Broncos:
The Broncos knocked off the defending champs in their home building. Whether the Eagles are playing well at the moment, or dealing with some internal strife, is irrelevant…this was an impressive win for Bo Nix and Sean Payton.
You can check out the week 5 power rankings: NFL Week 5 Power Rankings
11. Washington Commanders:
This was just another of the double-digit comebacks this week. The Chargers were home and started the day with a 10-0 lead. The Commanders came back with 27 unanswered pts, and are now suddenly one game behind the Eagles.
12. Kansas City Chiefs:
The Chiefs have been the most volatile team on this list through five weeks. They started no.2 behind the Eagles, and proceeded to lose two games, which dropped them out of the top 10. They then won two in a row and had a two-touchdown lead against the Jaguars. They couldn’t hold the lead and now find themselves below .500 again and out of the top 10.
13. Seattle Seahawks:
In an ultimate shootout against the Buccaneers, the Seahawks found themselves on the losing end, 38-35.
14. Green Bay Packers:
The Packers are coming off their bye, with a soft opponent at home, facing the Bengals and their newly minted QB, Joe Flacco.
15. Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikings managed to split their two games overseas and are still undefeated in London.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers find themselves coming off their bye week in first place and at home against the Browns.
17. Houston Texans:
The Texans won a statement game against a depleted Ravens team. It was important to get their second win, keeping them two games behind the Colts and Jaguars.
18. New England Patriots:
After an impressive win in Buffalo, the Pats must back it up with a win in New Orleans this week. That would take them to 4-2 and a real playoff threat.
19. Baltimore Ravens:
Any other 1-4 team would be in the 20s or lower on this list. It’s getting late, awfully early, for the Ravens. They face a tough Rams team this week at home.
20. Dallas Cowboys:
The Cowboys finally found a team they could easily dispatch…the 0-5 Jets. At 2-2-1 they are currently on the outside, looking in at the playoffs.
21. Chicago Bears:
The Bears come out of their bye week with a 2-2 record, facing a tough Commanders opponent in DC on Monday night.
22. Arizona Cardinals:
I’ve been trying to support and believe in this team all season. I’m out; off the bandwagon. At 2-3 and two games behind the 49ers, it’s another lost season for the Cardinals. Kyler Murray is just not good enough.
23. Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals have now lost three in a row, and traded for 40-year-old QB Joe Flacco…not sure he’ll be enough to turn the tide.
24. Carolina Panthers:
The Panthers defeated the Dolphins, and somehow find themselves with the same record as the Chiefs and a better record than the Ravens.
25. Atlanta Falcons:
This was Atlanta’s bye week.
26. Las Vegas Raiders:
After their solid opening day victory at New England, the Raiders have now lost four in a row and seem lost. Tom Brady apparently hasn’t helped.
27. Tennessee Titans:
The Titans won their first game of the season, defeating the hapless Cardinals.
28. New Orleans Saints:
The Saints have shown heart this season and finally got in the win column, defeating the Giants at home. It will be interesting to see how they follow that up this week against the Patriots.
29. New York Giants:
The Giants gave the Saints their first win of the season. They were down 19-14 but driving for a TD in the fourth quarter. A fumble run back for a touchdown made the score 26-14, effectively costing the Giants the game.
30. Miami Dolphins:
The Dolphins snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and HC Mike McDaniel’s job is in serious jeopardy. There doesn’t seem to be a scenario where he finishes the season as the team’s head coach.
31. Cleveland Browns:
This was Doug Gabriel’s first start, and he played well enough to leave London with a win. It took a last-minute drive by Minnesota’s backup, Carson Wentz, to prevail. The training wheels are off, now that the Browns traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals.
32. New York Jets:
This season, the 1972 Dolphins didn’t have long to wait before celebrating a team’s first loss. While there are no remaining undefeated teams, the Jets are the sole winless team.
