NFL Power Rankings: Week 5

Chris Sitek·
SportsSports Articles

Week five was highlighted by game-winners on the biggest stages. With just seconds remaining, Steelers’ running back Le’Veon Bell scored on the one-yard line to lift Pittsburgh over San Diego 24-17. With just 21 seconds left, Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning found tight end Larry Donnell for a go-ahead score as the Giants squeezed out a 30-27 win over the 49ers.

The Cincinnati Bengals are the real deal and they proved it by beating the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime on Sunday. Quarterback Andy Dalton led the comeback to win in overtime with three total touchdowns. It’s safe to say he is in the MVP discussion for the undefeated Bengals.

Chargers’ tight end Antonio Gates caught his one hundredth career touchdown during Sunday Night Football. He is only the second tight end to reach that mark. Chiefs’ running back Jamaal Charles tore his ACL Sunday against the Bears and is expected to be out for the season.

Six teams remain undefeated: the Patriots, Packers, Broncos, Panthers, Falcons and Bengals. 

Here are the NFL Powering Rankings according to Chris Sitek:

  1. New England Patriots (5-0): Quarterback Tom Brady has been on a tear offensively. He had three total touchdowns in 30-6 trouncing of the Cowboys.
  2. Green Bay Packers (5-0): Green Bay can beat you in more than one-way. The Packers defense forced four turnovers and recorded three sacks. The Pack won 24-10 over the Rams.
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (5-0): Quarterback Andy Dalton is the real deal. Dalton had three total touchdowns in a 27-24 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Bengals are as fiery hot as Dalton’s hair.
  4. Denver Broncos (5-0): Quarterback Warning: This is a no-fly zone. Cornerback Chris Harris had a pick-six for a touchdown as the Broncos won 16-10 over the Raiders.
  5. Atlanta Falcons (5-0): Well that was close. Atlanta escapes Washington, 25-19, behind cornerback Robert Alford’s pick-six in overtime.
  6. Carolina Panthers (4-0): Bye-Week. Doing well.
  7. Arizona Cardinals (4-1): What a bounce back for the Cardinals! Quarterback Carson Palmer threw three touchdowns and the Cardinals defense forced six turnovers. Cards torched the Lions 42-17.
  8. New York Jets (3-1): Bye Week. Still Solid.
  9. New York Giants (3-2): Three straight wins. Quarterback Eli Manning has been the difference. He found tight end Larry Donnell with 21 seconds left to lift the Giants past the 49ers, 30-27. Oh yeah, he passed for 441 total yards and threw for three scores.
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2): Running back Le’Veon Bell is officially back. So are the Steelers. Bell scored on the final play of the to give the Steelers a big W on Sunday Night Football. Bell rushed for 111 yards and a score in the win.
  11. Indianapolis Colts (3-2): Maybe the Andrew Luck injury was a blessing in disguise for the Colts. Back-up Quarterback Matt Hasselback has been solid for the Colts in Luck’s absence. So has Mr. Johnson. Wide receiver Andre Johnson had 77 receiving yards and two touchdowns against his former team, as the Colts downed the Texans, 27-20.
  12. Buffalo Bills– (3-2): Reason To Hope: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor rallied the Bills for a 14-13 win versus the Titans. He accounted for both of the Bills touchdowns. Reason To Mope: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was injured and looks doubtful to play in week six.
  13. San Diego Chargers (2-3): Tough loss for the Chargers at home. Both sides of the ball struggled in the rushing departments. Offensively, San Diego rushed for just 52 yards on 19 carries. Defensively, they gave 155 on 27 carries. That won’t win you games.
  14. Seattle Seahawks (2-3): The Seahawks give up way to many sacks on offense this year. 22 to be exact. You can’t win games like that. They didn’t losing to the Bengals 27-24 in overtime.
  15. Dallas Cowboys (2-3): Brandon Weeden is not the answer at quarterback. Neither is back-up Matt Cassel. Cowboys got embarrassed at home 30-6 against the Patriots. Time to go shopping.
  16. Louis Rams (2-3): R.I.P Rams offense. St. Louis looked pitiful against green Bay in Lambeau Field. Quarterback Nick Foles threw four picks and the line gave up three sacks. Ouch.
  17. Minnesota Vikings (2-2): Bye Week. Still Treading.
  18. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3): What a difference one player can make. Running back Demarco Murray was huge Sunday rushing for 83 yards and a score. Philly got back on track with a 39-17 trouncing of the Saints at home.
  19. Cleveland Browns (2-3): The Browns got a big road win versus the AFC North Rival, Ravens at Baltimore. Quarterback Luke McCown was brilliant passing for 457 yards and two scores in a 33-30-overtime win.
  20. Oakland Raiders (2-3): Quarterback Derek Carr became well acquainted with the Broncos’ defense throwing a pick-six to cornerback Chris Harris. Oakland had three turnovers and lost 16-10 to Denver.
  21. Washington Redskins (2-3): Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw another interception. Is this even news? This time it was a pick-six to Falcons cornerback Robert Alford. This was the deciding play as Washington lost 25-19 to Atlanta in overtime.
  22. Chicago Bears (2-3): Comeback kids! The Bears rally from 11 down to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 18-17. Quarterback Jay Cutler passed for two touchdowns in the win.
  23. Kansas City Chiefs (1-4): Star running back Jamaal Charles tore his ACL and is out for the season. The Chiefs lost 18-17 to the Bears. Time to begin looking at the top college prospects for the NFL draft.
  24. New Orleans Saints (1-4): Saints defense gave up 519 total yards to the Eagles. Yes, 519. New Orleans lost versus Philadelphia, 39-17. I’m done.
  25. Baltimore Ravens (1-4): Losing to the Browns 33-30 in overtime could be rock bottom. This defense needs help bad. They made Quarterback Luke McCown look like Aaron Rodgers at home giving up 457 passing yards alone.
  26. Miami Dolphins (1-3): Bye-Week.
  27. Tennessee Titans (1-4): In order to win in the NFL, you must score points. The Titans struggle in that department scoring only 13 in a loss to the Bills.
  28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3): Running back Doug Martin had a big day rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Bucs snap an 11-game home losing streak.
  29. Houston Texans (1-4): Do the Texans have an offense? If so, it’s been non-existent through five weeks. Quarterbacks Ryan Hoyer and Ryan Mallett have struggled immensely. Texans lost 27-20 versus to the AFC South Rival Colts too.
  30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4): In a battle for the number one pick of this year’s NFL draft, the Jaguars won. By losing 38-31 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  31. San Francisco 49ers (1-4): The 49ers showed signs of life but just couldn’t win against the Giants on Sunday Night Football. San Francisco’s defense is one of the worst giving up 525 total yards.
  32. Detroit Lions (0-5): Offense or Defense? You choose. It’s all the same result. Offensively, Detroit threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles. Defensively, they gave up 42 points at home. A long season is imminent for the Lions at this point.