Week 6 Power Rankings
The first quarter-ish of the season is over. And while that doesn’t mean that the season is over, we have a pretty good idea of who teams are and what their identity is. I think we can firmly say that the season is over for about 5 teams (who you will see shortly). I have changed the format of the rankings up a little bit today; Teams will be sorted into groups based off where I think they are right now. This way you can see EXACTLY how I feel about them…
POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 5 (October 5th-October 9th)
Super Bowl or Bust
San Francisco 49ers (-) The Niners have been in our number one spot all season, and that doesn't change after a drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys. Who is best suited to beat this team. They will lose - but when?
Philadelphia Eagles (-) They are winning a different way this year. The run game is at the forefront while the pass game is complimentary. We all know Jalen Hurts can beat you with his legs and his arm, but when he doesn’t need to, that’s what makes this team scary.
Miami Dolphins (+3) Right now, there is no better team in the AFC. Yes, they lost to Buffalo big. But the Bills just lost Milano and Daquan Jones for possibly the season. There is no one in the conference who can keep up with the offense…currently.
Detroit Lions (+3) It’s time we give the Lions their flowers. This team is legitimate and a Super Bowl contender. I would love to see them play San Francisco right now. Dan Campbell has these boys playing smart and sound football. Love to see it.
Kansas City Chiefs (-1) Right now, the Chiefs are just peddling along while the other teams in front of them grab the headlines. Doesn’t that scare you just a little bit?
The Super Bowl Contender is Itching to Come Out
6. Seattle Seahawks (+3) Watching a week’s slate of games without the Hawks playing in it showed me how good they are. This is a young team with some excellent veterans and a Head Coach who knows how to communicate. This team has room to go and will not be an easy out all year.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (+6) It’s been a see-saw start for the Jags, but the London trip seemed to get them right with two straight wins. The win against the Bills was overly impressive as they led the entire way and still didn’t put a complete game together. If this team can improve on their red zone efficiency, they will move into the next bracket.
8. Buffalo Bills (-5) Every time we think this team is the class of the conference, they throw up a stinker. But make no mistake, the Bills lose to a good team this week. It’s going to be interesting to see what this team does at the trade deadline now as they have three defensive stars out for the remainder of the season.
You’re Fun, But You’re Not a Contender…Yet
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1) The Bucs have an absolutely enormous test this week hosting the Lions. If they take them down, I will be a firm believer.
10. Dallas Cowboys (-5) These are indeed the same old Cowboys until proven otherwise.
11. New Orleans Saints (+9) The Saints have an elite defense. And I don’t care who you play - shutting out an NFL team is HARD. They have a Super Bowl caliber defense, but the offense is still stuck in the mud. Derek Carr needs to pick it up. The next two contests against Houston and Jacksonville should be telling.
12. Baltimore Ravens (-4) The exact same comment as the Dallas Cowboys.
The QB is Holding You Back
13. Indianapolis Colts (+6) Putting this team in this group was hard, but here is the reality - if the Colts had a franchise QB, you can probably put them in Tier 2. But alas, they have a rookie who has been inefficient and now been hurt three times in five weeks. And they’re still 3-2. See what I’m sayin?
14. Atlanta Falcons (+7) Desmond Ridder has yet to lose at home, and yet to win on the road. Last week was the first time in all his starts that he looked like a starting QB in the NFL. Let’s hope it continues, cause this roster is ready to win.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (+9) This is the AFC version of the Saints with a worse offense. The main two cogs in this offense (Pickett and Harris) are fighting for starting jobs the rest of the season. TJ Watt is an animal.
16. Cleveland Browns (-1) Isn’t it insane to put this team in this category? But here they are. DeShaun Watson stole money from the Browns, and it’s clear he’s not the same QB he was in Houston. This defense is ridiculous and is going to have to scratch and claw for a playoff spot.
Someone Call Mystery Inc…I Need to Know Whose Behind the Mask!
17. Los Angeles Chargers (-) The Chargers don’t want you to figure them out. It must be because of their aura. I can absolutely see them beating Dallas and then losing to a team like Vegas or Denver.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (+7) That’s the Bengals I remember! Ja’Marr Chase returned to form and now the Bengals have one more game before the bye. After all the talk, they have a chance to go into the bye with a share of the AFC North lead. Incredible.
19. Houston Texans (-8) This team is a nice story and they are definitely better, but I feel like this see-saw type season is what we are gonna get from Houston. And that’s absolutely fine from where they were last year.
20. Los Angeles Rams (-6) The Rams are much better than anticipated. That’s a fact. They played the Eagles tough and find themselves 2-3 through 5 weeks. While the top of the NFC is heavy, the wild card teams can really go anywhere. For LA, its going to come down to how quickly their defense can grow up.
21. New York Jets (+2) The Jets won a sloppy game against the Broncos, but Zach Wilson hasn’t been god awful for two weeks in a row. They don’t have to beat Philadelphia next week, but if you want to be a playoff team in the AFC, you’re going to need to sweep the Giants, Chargers and Raiders coming out of the bye.
22. Washington Commanders (-10) The Commanders had the most shocking loss of Week 5 on Thursday Night where they got blitzed by the Bears. That’s twice in three weeks where they got absolutely bombarded and they have now lost three in a row.
You May be in the Mix Now, But You Won’t Be Come December
23. Las Vegas Raiders (+4) Even though they won Monday, they are 1/2 teams to not score 20 points this year. That’s inexcusable with Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams. Their two wins came against the Broncos and the Packers. Not impressed at all. Jimmy G has been bad.
24. Tennessee Titans (-8) This team just ain’t it. I was starting to drink the kool-aid last week but they reminded me how devoid of talent they really are. When they go up against an athletic team they are going to get waxed.
25. Green Bay Packers (-7) Jordan Love is hitting an early crossroads. Back to back bad games is putting the Packers season in a hole quick. With how good the Lions are, the division may already be cooked.
You’re Not Playing Postseason Ball, But You’re Not as Bad as your Record
26. Minnesota Vikings (-4) The title says it all.
They Already Got Their Draft Network Subscription…
27. Chicago Bears (+5) They put out the fire in the dumpster fire, but this team isn’t going anywhere fast.
28. Denver Broncos (-) To say that the previous coach did the worst coaching job of all -time and then lose to his new team is a hell of way for Sean Payton’s first year in Denver to go.
29. Arizona Cardinals (+1) They didn’t move up by any play of their own. After a couple of competitive weeks, reality is setting in.
30. New York Giants (-1) I’ve never seen a team regress more than the Giants have from 2022 to 2023. An unmitigated disaster. Between the o-line issues, the fact that they can’t tackle, the handling of the Barkley situation, and the Daniel Jones contract, this team is in hell.
31. New England Patriots (-5) Laughably bad.
32. Carolina Panthers (-) When the Head Coach pretty much says he wanted another QB while the owner went over his head….yea, not great in Carolina.
