The Kansas City Chiefs remain in top spot in these Power Rankings but it’s getting hard to ignore the efforts of the Minnesota Vikings. There is only one new addition to a relatively-stable top five as the Washington Commanders replace the Buffalo Bills. Here are this week’s rankings…
- Kansas City Chiefs —
The Chiefs continue to look anything but spectacular and yet they keep on grinding out the wins. The ThreePeat remains alive.
- Minnesota Vikings —
Sam Darnold has cooled off a little at quarterback, but this is far from a one-man team and the Vikings are for real.
- Detroit Lions —
The Lions are coming off their bye week and face a stiff test this weekend in the Dallas Cowboys.
- Baltimore Ravens —
Lamar Jackson’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely in Week 5, in which he twice stiff-armed Sam Hubbard is one of the best plays I’ve ever seen.
- Washington Commanders +3
Jayden Daniels has Washington off to their best start since 2008 at 4-1. But having a team that can rush for more than 200 yards helps the rookie.
- Houston Texans —
The Texans should be feeling good, but this is a different attack with Nico Collins sidelined and he’s now gone for a month with a hamstring injury.
- Buffalo Bills -2
Just when we were ready to crown the Bills, they have dropped disappointing games against fellow playoff contenders in Baltimore and Houston.
- Green Bay Packers +2
It doesn’t feel like Green Bay are firing on all cylinders just yet and Jordan Love needs to take better care of the ball. But they are a talented bunch.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers —
The Bucs have escaped the path of Hurricane Milton early this week, but it must be a distraction for their players as they visit New Orleans.
- San Francisco 49ers -3
The inability to finish off the Arizona Cardinals was a real concern, as was the breakdowns in protection of Brock Purdy.
- Philadelphia Eagles +1
Whether Jalen Hurts, who has accounted for six touchdowns and seven turnovers this season, can recapture his 2022 form is now a very real thing.
- Dallas Cowboys +3
Things are far from perfect in Dallas and there are cracks in the Dak Prescott-CeeDee Lamb relationship, but they still won in Pittsburgh last Sunday.
- Pittsburgh Steelers -2
George Pickens was very quiet against Dallas and that seems to happen quite often with a player who is officially a boom or bust receiver.
- Seattle Seahawks -1
There was no shame in losing to the Lions in Detroit, but there has to be some serious concern after a home loss to the New York Giants.
- Atlanta Falcons +5
The offense that had been an early-season concern finally woke up in Week 5 with Kirk Cousins throwing for more than 500 yards.
- Cincinnati Bengals +1
Joe Burrow having Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins back to full speed makes me think that the 1-4 Bengals are still a playoff team.
- New Orleans Saints -3
The opening two weeks showed us that the Saints can be a dangerous bunch, but injuries have hit hard and now Derek Carr is gone for a few weeks.
- Chicago Bears +3
Caleb Williams is playing well but continues to demand more of himself behind the scenes at Halas Hall. That tells me the Bears are in great hands.
- Indianapolis Colts -1
Anthony Richardson was among the lowest-rated quarterbacks in the NFL and Joe Flacco ranks among the highest. That’s an akward situation.
- Los Angeles Chargers —
The Chargers are coming off their bye week and have to be hoping that Justin Herbert’s high ankle sprain has shown signs of improvement.
- Denver Broncos +5
Bo Nix was getting in head coach Sean Payton’s face last Sunday, which was interesting. Has winning three straight bought Nix some power.
- New York Jets -6
The Jets looked a little lost under Robert Saleh, but his firing shocked me. Woody Johnson has never made an in-season firing until now.
- Arizona Cardinals +1
Kyler Murray led from the front during last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, making plays with his arm and legs. It has to be that way.
- Miami Dolphins +5
Miami’s win over New England was like eating an out-of-date microwave curry after a month without food. You’ll take it, but it will leave you feeling rough.
- Las Vegas Raiders -3
The Raiders followed up a win over Cleveland with a near-disaster of a showing against Denver. They have no genuine No.1 QB and Davante Adams wants out!
- New York Giants +4
I know this inconvenient truth spoils far too many narratives but Daniel Jones is playing well as the quarterback of the New York Giants.
- Los Angeles Rams -4
The Rams were in a 3-6 hole coming out of their bye week last season and made the playoffs. Sean McVay will need some weapons back to repeat that trick.
- Jacksonville Jaguars —
Trevor Lawrence was well protected behind a fit-again offensive line and Brian Thomas Jr. looks like a start in the making. Two big games in London now.
- Tennessee Titans -2
All the Titans did was take a week off and it cost them two spots in these rankings. Will Levis remains the starting QB. Why, I hear you ask?
- Cleveland Browns -5
The Browns are in a serious race with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins to secure the ‘Worst Offense of the Year’ award.
- Carolina Panthers —
That new quarterback bump didn’t last long in Carolina, did it? The Panthers were never competitive in last week’s loss in Chicago.
- New England Patriots —
The QB move cannot be delayed a moment longer and it makes sense to see rookie Drake Maye go the rest of the way, regardless of results.
