NFL Power Rankings entering Week 5
Powerful. And powerless.
There were some snoozers across the gridiron action on Sunday and into Monday night—don’t blame the Browns fans; they have seen it over and over—but per usual, the NFL delivered the goods in other games. As we wrap up Week 4 and now shift focus to Week 5, here’s how all 32 teams stack up…
32. Chicago Bears (0-4, lost to Denver Broncos)
An absolute atrocity.
31. Carolina Panthers (0-4, lost to Minnesota Vikings)
The Panthers led the Vikings 13-0 and gave up 21 straight points to a winless team. Is anyone in the front office wishing it drafted CJ Stroud instead of Bryce Young? Just wondering.
30. Denver Broncos (1-3, defeated the Chicago Bears)
Do you get credit for beating the Bears after falling behind by 28-7, or does it simply tell you the Broncos are terrible, too?
29. New York Giants (1-3, lost to Seattle Seahawks)
The Giants have been outscored 77-9 in the first half through four weeks. Daniel Jones never had a chance against Seattle.
28. Minnesota Vikings (1-3, defeated Carolina Panthers)
Hooray — the Vikings have a win! It came against a winless team and the Purple fell behind 13-0 before awakening, but you have to start somewhere.
27. New York Jets (1-3, lost to Kansas City Chiefs)
What gets lost in the Aaron Rodgers/Zach Wilson/Chiefs circus at MetLife is the Jets are once again 1-3. This franchise simply can’t get anything going.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3, lost to Tennessee Titans)
The stripes have come off in Cincinnati. What is going on with a team that was expected to be a Super Bowl contender?
25. Arizona Cardinals (1-3, lost to San Francisco 49ers)
The best thing to say is the Cardinals are nowhere near as bad as people expected them to be, and that is with Josh Dobbs and not Kyler Murray.
24. Tennessee Titans (2-2, defeated Cincinnati Bengals)
You don’t get credit for handling the Bengals when they are playing the way they are. Just another 2-2 team in a 2-2 division.
23. Las Vegas Raiders (1-3, lost to Los Angeles Chargers)
The fuse on Josh McDaniels has to be nearing the end. The Raiders were eaten alive by Khalil Mack. Think he enjoyed the revenge game?
22. Atlanta Falcons (2-2, lost to Jacksonville Jaguars)
This team is vanilla, ordinary, mediocre, dull.
21. New England Patriots (1-3, lost to Dallas Cowboys)
Bill Belichick’s team was devoured in Dallas. Of utmost concern, is the Patriots are averaging 14 ppg in the first four games of 2023.
20. Green Bay Packers (2-2, lost to Detroit Lions)
Be aware that without a wild fourth-quarter rally against New Orleans, there would be a lot of restlessness around Lambeau.
19. Washington Commanders (2-2, lost to Philadelphia Eagles)
The Commanders gave the Eagles all they could handle. For a team that is supposed to have a great defense, it lets up a lot of yards and points, as in 126 in four games.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2, defeated Atlanta Falcons)
The Jaguars did what they had to do and toppled the Falcons in London. The true test comes in Week 5 when the Bills welcome the Jags to Western New York.
17. Indianapolis Colts (2-2, lost to Los Angeles Rams)
Talk about the definition of NFL parity; the AFC South has each team at 2-2. The Colts rallied from 23 down against the Rams to force OT, but were unable to stop Matthew Stafford in the extra session. Anthony Richardson is an exciting player, though.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2, lost to Houston Texans)
An awful loss and Mike Tomlin says changes are going to happen within the organization/team. They better.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2, defeated Las Vegas Raiders)
Khalil Mack was unstoppable and the Chargers still had to hang on for this win over the Raiders. They simply don’t play 60 minutes and decisions are made that will always seem to haunt.
14. New Orleans Saints (2-2, lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
There is only so much to blame on Derek Carr being injured. Tampa Bay came into New Orleans and was never threatened. The Saints looked like the best team in the division coming into the season. Now. they look mediocre.
13. Los Angeles Rams (2-2, defeated Indianapolis Colts)
The fall-off begins here in a big way in the Power Rankings. The Rams are here despite blowing a huge lead before edging the Colts in OT. It is more because there are a lot of below-average teams as opposed to their prowess.
12. Cleveland Browns (2-2, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
Willing to cut Cleveland somewhat of a break because their starting QB missed the game against the Ravens. No one would have been surprised if a Cleveland team missing Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson lost to Baltimore.
11. Houston Texans (2-2, defeated Pittsburgh Steelers)
DeMeco Ryan for Coach of the Year after four weeks? Did anyone see CJ Stroud playing this well or the Texans crushing the Steelers? Good signs in Houston.
10. Miami Dolphins (3-1, lost to Buffalo Bills)
The Dolphins could have proven they were legit with a win or a close showing in Buffalo. Instead, they were walloped all over the field at Highmark Stadium. A team to watch carefully to see whether the first three weeks were real or Week 4 is a bigger indicator.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1, defeated New Orleans Saints)
The Buccaneers went into New Orleans and handled the Saints. Impressive how Baker Mayfield has adapted to the system and is playing so well. The defense gives this team a chance every week.
8. Seattle Seahawks (3-1, defeated New York Giants)
Devin Witherspoon and the Seattle defense tormented Daniel Jones and the Giants. This is an interesting team that is a threat anywhere, any week.
7. Dallas Cowboys (3-1, defeated New England Patriots)
The win over New England was a real thrashing. Dallas must have been stinging from its loss to Arizona and came out in Week 4 and battered Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Mike McCarthy needs for his team to be consistent, though, and not a roller coaster.
6. Baltimore Ravens (3-1, defeated Cleveland Browns)
The Ravens caught a huge break when the Browns had to play without Deshaun Watson. Still, they did what they had to do. Lamar Jackson had a superb game and the defense smothered Cleveland.
5. Detroit Lions (3-1, defeated Green Bay Packers)
The Lions went into Green Bay and whipped its NFC North rivals. Not sure the team is ready to be put on the level of Philly or SF, but the Lions are improving by the week.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (3-1, defeated New York Jets)
The Chiefs were cruising, and then let the Jets back in the game. Still, a road win on national TV is a road win. And, no matter what anyone thinks, the last drive that devoured the clock was stunning for the NFL.
3. Buffalo Bills (3-1, defeated Miami Dolphins)
The Bills have won three in a row in emphatic fashion. Pasting Miami for 48 was huge and sent a message to everyone in the AFC East: taking Buffalo’s division crown will not be easy.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-0, defeated Washington Commanders)
The Eagles slipped a slot because of their victory over the Washington Commanders, which took until overtime. Hard to stay No. 1 when you are taken to OT by one of the lesser teams in your division.
1. San Francisco 49ers (4-0, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
The 49ers move up a spot as they keep on rolling and rolling over opponents. They have been ultra-impressive and deserve the honor. Circle Dec. 3 on your calendar as that is when the Niners visit Philly—a game that could wind up deciding who has home-field advantage in the NFC Championship game.
