Week Five Power Rankings

The fifth week of the season was the most entertaining by far which led me to a few conclusions: 

Out of Rankings: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers

Honorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears

10. Buffalo Bills (Previous ranking: 6)

The Bills could have won if Josh Allen would have stayed out after his helmet bounced off the ground. With Mitchell Trubisky in, the Bills would have run a much more conservative offense inside their own five-yard line. Instead, Josh Allen firmly planted his feet in the painted end zone and threw three straight incompletions. Even with CJ Stroud turning the ball over in the worst scenarios, the stubbornness of the organization of relying solely on Josh Allen bit them in the butts. Their defense stood strong, but their offense stalled out against DeMeco Ryans. Stefon Diggs got the revenge he wanted and needed.

9. Atlanta Falcons (Previous ranking: NR)

Baker Mayfield almost ruined Matt Ryan’s induction night, but “Kirko Chainz” said, “nuh-uh,” as he wagged his finger in tribute to Dikembe Mutombo. Cousins swag surfed all the way to 509 passing yards, a Falcons record. Raheem Morris is taking advantage of his second opportunity to be a head coach by beating the team that fired him. The disappearances of Drake London and Kyle Pitts and the misuse of Bijan Robinson were rectified by Cousins and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who is off the McVay branch of the Shanahan coaching tree. The NFC south is shaping up to be entertaining (it was last year, too, but nobody cared) but with winners.

8. Washington Commanders (Previous ranking: NR)

The Commanders are suffering from what I’ll christen “the Vikings syndrome.” It’s nothing to do with the team, it’s me. I didn’t recognize how good they were until it may have been too late. The Commanders should not be this good. They really shouldn’t. This offseason and last, the Commanders got new ownership, a new general manager, a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator, and a new quarterback. In a league of constant change, this was too much to produce a winner to me. Jayden Daniels has led the most efficient offense in NFL history up to this point. Will this success last? Hopefully, but when a rookie hasn’t made a single mistake, you can expect one to come. Now, get a defense.

7. San Francisco 49ers (Previous ranking: 5)

I got yelled at by our Head of Football Operations, Cody Alexander, on a recent episode of The Matchup, the wonderfully produced podcast at Field Vision, about comparing the Cowboys and the 49ers. My tears dried as I wrote this. Maybe the Cowboys are better? When your kicker gets hurt, you probably have an injury problem with the entire franchise. Brock Purdy has been very, very good, and if you heard me on the radio at any point since Purdy’s debut, this comes as the most surprising words I could’ve ever written. He hasn’t been the problem and that’s awesome, but the team just isn’t as good. The Super Bowl hangover is a real thing. Lest we never forget what happened to this very franchise when they lost to those very Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. Everyone got hurt and San Fran missed the playoffs. Through five weeks, a similar destination could be reached, but for the red and gold faithful, I hope that something changes very soon.

6. Dallas Cowboys (Previous ranking: 7)

At some point, I tweeted that the Dallas Cowboys would be fine because they employ one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I understand that I’m in the minority by giving Dak the #5 spot in my mental QB rankings, but the reality is that there are only about eight-ish guys better than Dak Prescott. I honestly want someone to find more than seven signal callers that are better than Dak. It’s not as easy as one would think. Let’s make it simple: Dak Prescott recovered a death nail of a fumble then threw the game-winning touchdown on 4th and goal. That’s clutch. The Steelers are an improved football team from last year and the Cowboys beat them in a defensive matchup without the services of their best defensive player. Many people correctly criticized the Mike Zimmer-led defense, but now that it’s better, we must give them the credit for improving it. I know that being a non-fan, yet defender of the Dallas Cowboys is an odd spot to be in, but hell, somebody must do it.

(ESPN)

5. Houston Texans (Previous ranking: 4)

Despite winning, the Texans’ near demise was only a possibility due to some of the dumbest play calling I’d ever witnessed from an NFL coaching staff. The Texans played great defense all day, though. The Texans are continuing to be a junior high school production of the Kansas City Chiefs with their close, uninspiring wins, but again, they’re not there yet. For the first half, CJ Stroud played like the MVP I predicted (and still believe) would be for the first half hour. His turnovers nearly cost his team the game, but the Bills could not hold it together.

4. Baltimore Ravens (Previous ranking: 10)

The meme of Mark Ingram looking up at Derrick Henry continues to gain validity the more and more the bigger running back plays. Lamar Jackson lost the game for the Ravens. He fumbled in overtime, but Evan McPherson’s kick bowed wide left due to an errant placement. King Henry immediately decreed the game over with 51 yards into a Justin Tucker game winner. The. Ravens are currently everything you could want from a Ravens team. They’re tough, occasionally reckless, but always entertaining. I’m tired of the “Lamar Jackson is not an elite passer” conversation because there is simply too much evidence for that to be true. This guy can spin it. Maybe that’s why he’s one of three active multiple MVP winners.

3. Detroit Lions (Previous ranking: 3)

Bye Week

2. Minnesota Vikings (Previous ranking: 1)

Across the pond, the Vikings reunited with their old friend, Aaron Rodgers, and made him look older than ever before. Many people like our very own head of football operations, Cody Alexander, have waxed poetic about Brian Flores’ pressure and coverage disguises, but let’s just put this in layman’s terms: they straight-up bodied the Jets. They have been dominant. It’s that simple. The defense nabbed two picks within the first 15 minutes with Andrew Van Ginkel running one back for six. The offense continued their dismantling of the NFL as Sam Darnold gets more and more comfortable in the flow of a game. Kevin O’Connell will win NFL Coach of the Year. That’s barely a hot take at this point unless there is a somewhat historical collapse. The Lions were the presumptive NFC North favorites, but the Vikings have changed the landscape from England. Oh yeah, Justin Jefferson can’t even be guarded by the best cornerback duo in the NFL. Shocker.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous ranking: 2)

Aside from the act of God that allowed Khalen Saunders to nab his first (and likely last) interception of his career, Patrick Mahomes was near flawless. The opening drive set the tone early for what the Chiefs needed to do to beat the Saints and what they’re going to lean into with pending Rashee Rice news. Travis Kelce reminded everyone, doubters included, that he is the greatest tight end in the history of football. Andy Reid’s newfound aggressiveness on fourth downs was incredibly pleasing for riverboat gamblers. I spent a long time ragging on Spags for the defensive inconsistency prior to the last two seasons. Steve Spagnuolo may not get the head coaching interviews because of his age, side of the ball he coaches, and the fact that he’s already failed at the job, but who deserves a phone call more than him? The Chiefs will always be feared, but at 5-0, their best football may be ahead of them.

Biggest Movers: Baltimore Ravens (rose 5 spots) and Buffalo Bills (fell 4 spots)

New Appearances: Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons