NFL Power Rankings - Week 5: Cardinals jump to No. 1, Steelers sink further
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
1. Arizona Cardinals (4-0)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 6
Who would've guessed Arizona would be the lone undefeated team in the NFL after a month of action? Kliff Kingsbury has been putting a lot on Kyler Murray's shoulders, and the quarterback has responded spectacularly. A beatdown of the Rams in Week 4 proved the Cardinals are for real.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)Previous Rank: 2
Although Tampa Bay remains one of the most well-rounded outfits in the league, the Buccaneers put together arguably their least convincing performance in a close win over the Patriots. And the disappearance of the once-dominant pass-rush is becoming a concern.
3. Buffalo Bills (3-1)Previous Rank: 3
The Bills' offense has been unstoppable, averaging 39.3 points per game since the Steelers tamed the unit in Week 1. Yes, Josh Allen and Co. have dominated some of the NFL's weaker teams, but that's what we expect from true contenders. Buffalo has a chance to solidify itself as the AFC's best in a mouthwatering Sunday night matchup with Kansas City.
4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)Previous Rank: 1
The hype surrounding the Rams took a significant hit with an uncompetitive loss at home to Arizona. Still, the Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay partnership is only a month old. The duo will get a chance to rebound fast with a Thursday matchup at the Seahawks looming.
5. Green Bay Packers (3-1)
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5
The Packers' offense has been everything we expected it to be over the last three games following a woeful Week 1 performance. The defense, on the other hand, has yet to see the improvement hoped for with the switch at coordinator to Joe Barry. Green Bay better pray star cornerback Jaire Alexander's shoulder injury isn't too serious.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)Previous Rank: 7
Up 21-0 at halftime against the Raiders on Monday, the Chargers began to take their foot off the gas and allowed Las Vegas to score twice. Normally, this is the exact type of game Los Angeles would watch slip away, but Brandon Staley's aggressive call on fourth down and Justin Herbert's poised play sealed the win. This isn't your grandfather's Chargers squad, it seems.
7. Cleveland Browns (3-1)Previous Rank: 4
Baker Mayfield was far from happy with his performance in the Browns' win over the Vikings, calling it "piss poor." And he was right. The quarterback was erratic under pressure, and his accuracy was awful. Cleveland's strong defense and ground game won't matter much if Mayfield's outing isn't just an outlier.
8. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)Previous Rank: 9
John Harbaugh was absolutely right to hit back at a salty Vic Fangio, who criticized the Ravens for extending their streak of 100-yard rushing games with a Lamar Jackson run on the last play while up 23-7. As Harbaugh pointed out, Fangio had the Broncos throwing to the end zone with 10 seconds left despite the all but unassailable deficit.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)Previous Rank: 10
Patrick Mahomes is on pace to break the single-season passing touchdown record. Whether it's because the Chiefs are at .500 or we're just numb to his greatness, Mahomes' start to the campaign isn't receiving as much fanfare as other red-hot passers. The Texas Tech product's also way ahead in first place in QBR and ahead of his MVP mark from 2018.
10. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 12
Entering the season, Dallas would've jumped at the prospect of an average defense. But despite losing DeMarcus Lawrence to injury, the Cowboys are 10th in defensive DVOA through four contests. If this isn't just an early-campaign mirage, Dallas could be a real threat in the NFC.
11. Las Vegas Raiders (3-1)Previous Rank: 8
The Raiders suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Chargers on Monday, but Jon Gruden's side shouldn't take the defeat too hard. Las Vegas might not be a top AFC team, but a first trip to the playoffs under Gruden is more than within its capabilities.
12. Seattle Seahawks (2-2)Previous Rank: 17
As usual, it's hard to get a read on the Seahawks week to week. It won't be surprising whether Seattle blows out the Rams or loses by multiple touchdowns on Thursday. The defense is the main culprit for this unpredictability.
13. Denver Broncos (3-1)Previous Rank: 13
Facing their first real test of the campaign against the Ravens, the Broncos came up short. Hopefully, Teddy Bridgewater can recover from his concussion in time for Week 5 - one half with Drew Lock under center was more than enough.
14. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)Previous Rank: 11
We know the 49ers fan base is itching to see Trey Lance play with a game plan suited to him and a week to prepare as the No. 1 quarterback. But his first start is far from ideal, coming against the surging Cardinals and the duo of Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-1)
Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 15
Sam Darnold, dual-threat quarterback. The Panthers signal-caller continued his impressive start to the season in a shootout with the Cowboys, twice using legs to find the end zone. Darnold's penchant for poorly timed turnovers returned, but Carolina can clearly make a playoff push with the former third overall draft pick under center.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)Previous Rank: 18
One of the most surprising 3-1 teams, the Bengals look solid on both offense and defense. If Cincinnati can steal one at home against the Packers, Bengals faithful will begin to believe they could contend for their first division title since 2015.
17. New Orleans Saints (2-2)Previous Rank: 16
The Giants spoiled the Saints' return to New Orleans, winning in overtime. A severe lack of big plays on offense (an NFL-worst mark of just three passes of 25 yards or more) is holding the NFC South club back.
18. Washington Football Team (2-2)Previous Rank: 22
Washington stayed on Dallas' heels with an improbable comeback win over Atlanta. But if Ron Rivera and Co. are to continue the chase, the much-vaunted defense needs to get it together and fast.
19. Tennessee Titans (2-2)Previous Rank: 14
The Titans take a big drop after suffering an overtime loss to the lowly Jets. Yes, Tennessee didn't have Julio Jones or A.J. Brown. But still, the AFC South side too often fails to put away opponents early and will continue to suffer losses like this unless it develops a killer instinct.
20. Indianapolis Colts (1-3)
Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 24
Indy snapped its three-game losing streak with a sloppy win over the Dolphins. The beat-up Colts are better than their first three performances indicated, but unless Carson Wentz can find his form, they could be in danger of sleepwalking their way to a middling finish while also surrendering a first-round pick.
21. Chicago Bears (2-2)Previous Rank: 26
Matt Nagy allowed offensive coordinator Bill Lazor to take the reins for Justin Fields' first start, and the rookie looked far more comfortable in the win over the Lions. Clearly, Nagy and Fields obviously aren't a good fit, and the quarterback even said he appreciated dealing with Lazor's more calming approach to playcalling.
22. New England Patriots (1-3)Previous Rank: 20
Bill Belichick couldn't quite get one over on his former pupil, but the Patriots' defense impressed, mostly shutting down Tom Brady and Co. on Sunday night. Keep Davis Mills in your thoughts for Week 5 as he goes against a peeved Belichick.
23. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)Previous Rank: 21
Minnesota desperately tried to retool its run defense this offseason, spending big on the interior of its defensive line. But the unit could do nothing to limit the Browns' dominant rushing attack in Week 4. Mike Zimmer might be running out of time to get the Vikings on track.
24. Miami Dolphins (1-3)Previous Rank: 19
With road trips to face the Buccaneers and the Bills upcoming in Week 5 and 8, respectively, Miami has no room for error in its three other far more winnable games against the Jaguars, Falcons, and Texans.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3)
Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 23
The worst-case scenario with Ben Roethlisberger's decision to return is unfolding for the Steelers, and there is no solution at hand. Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins could be an improvement but almost certainly nowhere near good enough to get Pittsburgh into the playoff race. Well, the good news is that Aaron Rodgers is a really big fan of Mike Tomlin.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)Previous Rank: 25
The Cowboys and Chiefs own two of the league's most dynamic offenses, but giving up 851 yards and 76 points in that two-game span - both losses - doesn't bode well for the rest of Philadelphia's campaign.
27. New York Giants (1-3)Previous Rank: 30
Daniel Jones set career highs with 401 yards and 10.1 yards per attempt in Sunday's overtime win over the Saints, and he also leads the Giants with 188 yards on the ground. The 24-year-old might not ever be a franchise-level quarterback, but he's clearly far from the problem in New York.
28. New York Jets (1-3)Previous Rank: 32
Robert Saleh earned his first victory as a head coach with the kind of scrappy performance most expected to come from his Jets squad entering the season. And the team's reward for the win? Flying across the pond to play at 9:30 am ET against the Falcons.
29. Atlanta Falcons (1-3)Previous Rank: 27
The more things change, the more they stay the same for Matt Ryan's squad. The offense put in its best performance of the year after a shaky start to the campaign, but Taylor Heinicke lit up the defense. Arthur Smith has his work cut out for him.
30. Houston Texans (1-3)
Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 28
Tyrod Taylor is still weeks away from returning, and all the good feelings earned from the surprising Week 1 win have totally evaporated following a 40-0 destruction at the hands of the Bills.
31. Detroit Lions (0-4)Previous Rank: 29
If you weren't thinking about the 2022 draft already, Lions fans, it might be time to start diving into those scouting reports.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)Previous Rank: 31
Even the biggest Urban Meyer doubters didn't see the experiment falling apart after only four weeks and in such dramatic - and uncomfortable - fashion.
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