NFL Power Rankings Week 5: From Rock Bottom to Rising Giants
The NFL season is four weeks in, and the power balance has shifted dramatically. While a few teams continue to dominate, many others are scrambling for answers, or searching for a spark. Whether it’s rebuilding squads with rookie QBs or fallen contenders battling injury woes, the bottom half of the league paints a vivid picture of uncertainty, frustration, and a few glimmers of hope.
Here's our Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, counting up from 32 to 1, as the league begins to take shape.
32: Titans Sink to the Bottom

At 0-4 with the worst point differential in the league, the Tennessee Titans aren’t just losing—they’re getting steamrolled.
First-overall pick Cam Ward has flashed promise but looks overwhelmed, and the offense is the lowest-scoring in the NFL. With no clear identity and a rookie QB who might need a longer runway, Tennessee is officially in full rebuild mode—and it’s going to take time.
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31: Saints Search for Direction

Despite some fight against the Bills, the New Orleans Saints remain winless.
Rotating quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough haven’t done enough to elevate the offense, and the defense can't carry the load for 60 minutes. There’s talent in this roster, but not enough cohesion to compete—even against average opponents.
30: Jets Still the Same Old Story

New coaching staff, same outcome.
The New York Jets hoped Aaron Glenn would change their culture. Instead, they're 0-4, riddled with penalties and turnovers. A promising first drive in Week 4 ended in a giveaway, and their 13 penalties for over 100 yards showed just how undisciplined this team still is.
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29: Panthers Struggle to Compete on the Road

Bryce Young’s third season is off to a rough start.
The Carolina Panthers have looked especially bad away from home, getting outscored 95-45 in road games. Injuries along the offensive line and a soft defensive front make things worse. Young isn't the only issue, but his margin for error is paper-thin.
28: Dolphins Win the Battle, Lose the War

The Miami Dolphins finally got a win in Week 4—but lost Tyreek Hill for the season.
Tua Tagovailoa played his best game yet, and Darren Waller shined in his debut. But with Hill sidelined, Miami’s offensive ceiling plummets. At 1-3, their playoff hopes might have gone down with their top playmaker.
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27: Browns Can’t Hide Offensive Woes

The Cleveland Browns have a defense that can hang with anyone. Unfortunately, the rest of the team can’t.
Joe Flacco has struggled with consistency and turnovers, and special teams mistakes have piled up. The time to evaluate rookie QB Dillon Gabriel has officially arrived. This team isn't going anywhere unless something changes under center.
26: Giants Enter the Jaxson Dart Era

Rookie QB Jaxson Dart breathed life into the New York Giants with a surprise win over the previously unbeaten Chargers.
It was far from a flawless performance, but Dart’s mobility and poise sparked a team that had been lifeless under Russell Wilson. Now, the rest of the season is all about development—and maybe a few more surprise wins.
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25: Raiders Offense Still a Mess

The Las Vegas Raiders lost another close one, and the issues are glaring.
Geno Smith leads the league in interceptions, the offense is inconsistent, and special teams errors continue to haunt them. Despite new coaching hires and big-name signings, the Raiders don’t look much better than they did last year.
24: Texans Flash Potential—but Can They Sustain It?

C.J. Stroud finally got the Houston Texans moving in Week 4, leading a fourth-quarter offensive explosion.
But it came against the league’s worst team. Until Houston strings together strong performances against real competition, this win feels more like a sigh of relief than a signal of revival.
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23: Cowboys Show Firepower in OT Shootout

The Dallas Cowboys tied with Green Bay in a 40-40 thriller, showing just how explosive their offense can be—even without CeeDee Lamb.
New acquisition George Pickens went off for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while Brian Schottenheimer’s play-calling was sharp. The tools are there—if the defense can catch up, Dallas could climb fast.
22: Bengals Flounder Without Burrow

The Cincinnati Bengals are falling apart without Joe Burrow.
Backup Jake Browning looked serviceable last season, but this year’s version has been erratic, and the entire offense is out of sync. Add a shaky defense and poor coaching adjustments, and the Bengals are sliding fast in a tough AFC North.
21: Cardinals Hovering on the Edge

The Arizona Cardinals have potential but are still figuring out how to win.
The defense is improving under Jonathan Gannon, and Marvin Harrison Jr. is beginning to make plays. But the loss of running back James Conner looms large, and Kyler Murray remains a work in progress as a leader. They're close—but not quite playoff-caliber yet.
20: Bears Starting to Build Something

The Chicago Bears are on a modest win streak, and while it’s too early to talk playoffs, the vibes in the Windy City are much improved.
Caleb Williams isn’t lighting up the stat sheet yet, but under Ben Johnson’s leadership, he’s learning to play smarter and more efficiently. Baby steps—but in the right direction.
19: Patriots Starting to Find an Identity

New England’s blowout win over Carolina showcased exactly what Mike Vrabel has been trying to build: discipline, toughness, and balance.
Drake Maye was sharp, the defense swarmed, and the energy felt different. With a trip to Buffalo looming, we'll find out soon whether the Patriots are actually turning a corner—or just beating up on weak opponents.
18: Vikings Lose More Than Just the Game

The Minnesota Vikings don’t resemble the 14-3 squad from a year ago.
J.J. McCarthy’s injury has thrust Carson Wentz into the spotlight, and despite gaudy yardage totals in Week 4, he tossed two costly picks. Their O-line is banged up, the run game is ineffective, and the defense lacks bite. This might be a lost season.
17: Commanders Can’t Keep Up Defensively

The Washington Commanders gave up over 430 yards and lost the time of possession battle badly against Atlanta. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Jayden Daniels is returning, which helps the offense, but the defense is now a bottom-five unit—especially against the pass. Unless something changes quickly, Washington will waste another promising quarterback campaign.
16: Falcons Flash Offensive Firepower

When Michael Penix Jr. is in rhythm, and the trio of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts are clicking, the Falcons look dangerous.
But consistency remains the issue. They were shut out in Week 3 and exploded for 34 points in Week 4. Can Arthur Smith get this group to put it together weekly? That’s the key to their playoff chances.
15: Ravens In Trouble—And in Pain

The Baltimore Ravens were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders. At 1-3, they're not even in the playoff picture.
Injuries to Lamar Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, and Ronnie Stanley have left the roster gutted. The offense leans too heavily on Jackson's improvisation, and the defense can’t stop elite teams. They're not out of it—but they’re close.
14: Broncos Show Balance in Blowout Win

The Denver Broncos finally looked like a complete team in their rout of the Bengals.
Bo Nix posted a career-best passing day, the run game was explosive, and the defense smothered Cincinnati. The talent is there—now the question is whether Sean Payton’s group can replicate this performance against top-tier teams like the Eagles next week.
13: Jaguars Finally Trending Up

After years of underachievement, the Jacksonville Jaguars might be turning a corner.
They're 3-1 after upsetting the 49ers, and Trevor Lawrence is doing just enough while the defense steps up. Young stars like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter are showing flashes, but if they can find consistency, the Jags might control the AFC South for the first time in years.
12: Colts Still Impress Despite Setback

The Indianapolis Colts lost to the Rams, but don’t let that distract from their impressive 3-1 start.
Daniel Jones continues to exceed expectations, but costly mistakes (including two killer errors by WR Adonai Mitchell) doomed them in Week 4. Clean those up, and the Colts are a legitimate wildcard threat—or more.
11: 49ers Injuries Start to Pile Up

The San Francisco 49ers are 3-1, but trouble is brewing.
Four turnovers, bad kick coverage, and the loss of Nick Bosa for the season are major red flags. They’ve got the coaching and the depth to stay in the mix, but without cleaning up the sloppiness, this is not a team built to overcome that many self-inflicted wounds.
10: Steelers Stay Scrappy in AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers just keep grinding out wins.
Aaron Rodgers is doing just enough, the defense has timely bite, and Kenneth Gainwell looks like a budding star in the backfield. They still need another top-tier wideout, but this group is more than capable of making noise down the stretch.
9: Seahawks Rebound Beautifully After Week 1

After a Week 1 loss, the Seahawks have quietly stacked three straight wins.
Sam Darnold is slinging it like his Pro Bowl days in Minnesota, and Mike Macdonald’s aggressive defense has been one of the NFC’s most surprising units. They may not be flashy—but they’re playing smart, hard-nosed football.
8: Chargers Suffer Painful Reality Check

The Los Angeles Chargers were undefeated until they ran into rookie Jaxson Dart and the winless Giants.
More alarming than the loss is the injury to Joe Alt, which compounds the earlier loss of Rashawn Slater. With both offensive tackles gone, Justin Herbert could be running for his life moving forward. The team still has talent—but the margin for error just vanished.
7: Chiefs Regain Form with Statement Win

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are back to looking dangerous after dismantling Baltimore.
Xavier Worthy added an explosive element to the offense, and with Rashee Rice returning soon, this unit could be lethal again. The defense still has work to do, but if Mahomes is protected and his weapons stay healthy, Kansas City will contend.
6: Buccaneers Push Eagles to the Limit

No Mike Evans? No problem—almost.
The Buccaneers hung with the undefeated Eagles in Week 4 and had a shot late. Chris Godwin finally returned and showed why he’s so valuable. If Tampa can get both star receivers healthy, they’ll be a nightmare matchup in January.
5: Packers Still Searching for Consistency

The Green Bay Packers are 2-1-1 and tied with Detroit, but the shine is fading a bit.
They scored 40 against Dallas—but also gave up 40. Their receiving corps is still a mess, and the defense isn’t playing like the top-5 unit it should be. There’s time to fix things, but right now, Green Bay looks more second-tier than elite.
4: Lions Prove They Belong

Detroit just handled the Browns with ease—and did it without a huge game from Jared Goff.
Their defense dominated, and while the offense was workmanlike, it did enough to bury Cleveland. This is a mature, well-coached team that can beat you on either side of the ball. Expect them to remain among the NFC’s top contenders.
3: Rams Could Be NFC’s Biggest Threat

The Los Angeles Rams have played just one bad half all season.
Matthew Stafford looks like an MVP candidate again, Davante Adams is settling in, and Puka Nacua continues to thrive. With a young, opportunistic defense and a proven coaching staff, the Rams are right in the thick of the NFC arms race.
2: Bills Keep Rolling Through AFC

At 4-0, the Buffalo Bills are clicking on both sides of the ball.
Josh Allen continues to deliver big plays, James Cook looks like a true lead back, and the defense is swarming. They’ve beaten contenders and handled business against lesser teams—just what you want from an elite squad.
1: Eagles Remain the Team to Beat

The Philadelphia Eagles are undefeated and battle-tested.
They’ve knocked off four playoff-caliber teams and done so with resilience, balance, and few weaknesses. Jalen Hurts has been steady, the offensive line is elite, and the defense has been rock-solid.
This team looks ready to run it back—and maybe even finish what they couldn’t last year.