NFL WEEK 5 POWER RANKINGS
By Neil Reynolds
As we head towards Week 5 in the NFL, I think these rankings show us that there are actually only a few elite teams. Once I get past Buffalo, Detroit and Philadelphia – with a respectful nod to the Los Angeles Rams – there are good teams, but very few that resemble a powerhouse. That's the parity-filled world of today's NFL, I guess.
- BUFFALO BILLS --
Outside of their Week 1 thriller against Baltimore, the Bills have rarely been tested while beating the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints. They have Kansas City and Tampa Bay to come, but the road to the Super Bowl could definitely run through Buffalo.
- DETROIT LIONS --
The Lions are living proof that overreacting after Week 1 is a waste of everybody's time. Detroit were awful in losing to Green Bay at Lambeau Field. But in three straight wins since, they have scored 124 points and top the division due to a Packers loss and tie.
- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES --
Consistency is not there for the Eagles in some key areas. Jalen Hurts went 15 of 16 in the first half in Tampa and then did not complete a second half pass. Saquon Barkley cannot get going and the receivers go hot and cold like the QB. But their one consistent is winning.
- LOS ANGELES RAMS +5
As long as Matthew Stafford is leading the Rams in 2025, I believe they have a chance to go toe to toe with the likes of Detroit and Philadelphia in the NFC playoffs. The passing game is excellent right now and the Rams also have defensive muscles to flex on the other side.
- LOST ANGELES CHARGERS -1
The Chargers suffered their first defeat last week, but the bigger loss might actually have been seeing offensive tackle Joe Alt head to the sidelines for a month with a high ankle sprain. That puts more heat on one of the most pressured QBs in the NFL in Justin Herbert.
- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS -1
The Bucs fell to their first loss of the year on Sunday, but they can feel good about the fact they fought back well against the Super Bowl champs and could have taken them down. Baker Mayfield's fourth quarter interception hurt, but he's always going to try to make a play.
- GREEN BAY PACKERS --
Some poor defensive play meant the Packers failed to take advantage of a Dallas team we thought was in disarray on Sunday night. And that leaves me wondering about Green Bay. They almost lost this game, as well, with a late clock management blunder in overtime.
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS +3
It should be noted that Patrick Mahomes' four touchdown passes and Kansas City's 37 points (both season highs) came against a Baltimore team missing seven defensive starters. But it did look more like the old KC and the return from injury of WR Xavier Worthy was key.
- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS +5
But for some late dramatics from Brock Purdy in Week 1, the Seahawks could be 4-0 right now. They will still feel good about a 3-1 start which maybe suggests we should pay more attention to them. Sam Darnold is playing well, but Seattle's defense is playing even better.
- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS --
The Colts showed they have what it takes to stick around in the AFC playoff conversation, even though they let the Rams off the hook last week. Two big mistakes from receiver Adonai Mitchell took 14 points off the board. A get-right game against the Raiders is up next.
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS +5
The 3-1 Jaguars are looking to build a strong foundation through their turnover-seeking defense and a ground attack (a Liam Coen speciality) led by Travis Etienne Jr. That should allow time for Trevor Lawrence and the passing attack to find some consistency.
- WASHINGTON COMMANDERS -5
The offense is, of course, going to miss Jayden Daniels at QB. But the attack led by Marcus Mariota was not the problem in losing to Atlanta. The defense had too many let-downs. Washington are now 0-2 on the road and three of their next four are away from home.
- DENVER BRONCOS +4
The Broncos had a get-right game against Cincinnati on Mondaya, racking up 512 yards of offense. Bo Nix threw for more than 300 yards and JK Dobbins topped 100 on the ground. But there are still penalties and mistakes that keep this team from the NFL's upper echelons.
- PITTSBURGH STEELERS +1
If you're the Steelers, you don't want 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers carrying the load alone. He was sharp in Ireland but was also supported by Kenneth Gainwell, who gained close to 100 rushing yards and scored twice. And the D came up with six sacks and two interceptions.
- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS -3
The Niners have kicked too many field goals instead of scoring touchdowns this season. But that is to be expected with key offensive targets such as George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings missing through injury. Brock Purdy is still not physically right, either.
- MINNESOTA VIKINGS -3
Carson Wentz leaned heavily on Justin Jefferson early in Dublin and rallied late. But the bits in between were not that great. He held onto the ball for too long, resulting in half a dozen sacks. That needs to be cleaned up because here comes Myles Garrett at Tottenham.
- BALTIMORE RAVENS -11
I still have faith that things could get turned around in Baltimore, but not if things get much worse. Then they could become this year's Bengals. Well, things are about to get tougher because Lamar Jackson is sidelined with a hamstring injury for at least a couple of weeks.
- ATLANTA FALCONS +1
It feels to me like the Falcons are going to be a wild week-to-week ride. It was better in the passing game in Week 4 as Michael Penix found Drake London in key moments. The one consistent in Atlanta is Bijan Robinson, who is one of the best players in the NFL now.
- CHICAGO BEARS -1
The Bears are on an early bye and can feel good about turning their early-season fortunes around with consecutive wins over Dallas and Las Vegas. But it was far from perfect against the Raiders and required a late blocked field goal. Ben Johnson has plenty of work to do.
- HOUSTON TEXANS +2
It was shaping up to be another disappointing offensive showing for the Texans in Week 4 before they found the endzone three times in the fourth quarter. That was against the lowly Titans so let's not kid ourselves into thinking that all of Houston's problems are solved.
- DALLAS COWBOYS +3
While no one likes a tie, the Cowboys showed a lot in their 40-40 game against Green Bay. First, they never gave up when down by two scores. And the offense racked up 436 yards against a previously-stingy defense. George Pickens stepped up in the absence of CeeDee Lamb.
- ARIZONA CARDINALS -2
The Cardinals showed some late fight in last Thursday's loss to Seattle, but there was not nearly enough offensive consistency. I'm not sure Kyler Murray is going to become anything more than he is right now. There comes a time, seven years in, when you are what you are.
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS +4
After a slow start, the Patriots rolled against the Panthers. And in doing so, New England – led by quarterback Drake Maye – found some of the explosive plays that had been missing in the early part of the season. Patience will be required from this building team.
- LAS VEGAS RAIDERS +2
The Silver and Black lost in heartbreaking fashion to Chicago in Week 4. But when the pain of Daniel Carlson's blocked field goal subsides, they can feel a bit more positive about the future. Ashton Jeanty had a breakout game with 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
- CINCINNATI BENGALS -4
Since losing Joe Burrow to his turf toe injury, the Bengals have been beaten 48-10 by Minnesota and 28-3 by Denver. With the next three against Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh, it's hard to see this team hanging on until Burrow returns in December. By then, it will be over.
- CLEVELAND BROWNS -3
The Browns appear ready to turn to rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, sending the 40-year-old Joe Flacco to the bench. They need to find an offensive spark having not topped 17 points in their last nine games. That tough Myles Garrett-led defense needs some help.
- NEW YORK GIANTS +3
The whole New York Giants operation looked more exciting and more watchable with the athletic and spicy Jaxson Dart at quarterback. It was not perfect, but it was better. And this is what Giants fans wanted. They want to find out what their young QB can do, but he will have to do it without Malik Nabers.
- MIAMI DOLPHINS +1
Even in finding their first win of the season on Monday, the Dolphins suffered a big loss with Tyreek Hill going down with a gruesome knee injury. He has played his last snap in Miami. And where does it leave this attack the rest of the way? Could there be fewer distractions?
- CAROLINA PANTHERS -4
The Panthers did what bad football teams do on Sunday. They failed to show any follow up to their surprising 30-0 win over Atlanta in Week 3, falling 42-13 to New England. There were too many big plays conceded by a defense that had appeared to be on the right track.
- NEW YORK JETS -2
Penalties, turnovers, crucial mistakes at key times and it all added up to a dismal Monday Night Football loss to a Miami team that had been just as bad, if not worse, through the season's opening month. Aaron Glenn has a real job on his hands turning this team around.
- NEW ORLEANS SAINTS +1
The Saints surprised me on Sunday by hanging with the Bills for quite some time in Buffalo on Sunday. Spencer Rattler may now be 0-10 as a starting NFL quarterback but I thought he played pretty well in defeat. This team makes too many mistakes, but they do have playmakers.
- TENNESSEE TITANS -1
The lone bright spot in the opening three weeks of the season was the occasional flashes of excitement and potential from rookie quarterback Cam Ward. That disappeared as well against Houston and head coach Brian Callahan is now turning on the media. Not good.
