It's not all bad news for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Although the team has fallen in several NFL power rankings this week following its 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bengals have also held their position in a couple rankings and climbed in another.
Several outlets released updated rankings Tuesday, Oct. 6, with the San Francisco 49ers
claiming the top spot on multiple lists. The Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks also appeared at the top.Here's where the Bengals rank heading into Week 5.
The number in parentheses indicates how many spots Cincinnati moved up or down from the previous week's rankings.
USA TODAY NFL Week 5 power rankings: No. 20 (🔻3)
Cincinnati has dropped to No. 20 in USA TODAY's Week 5 NFL power rankings. Nate Davis wrote that quarterback Joe Burrow could be throwing
to backup wide receivers Dohnte Meyers and Mitch Tinsley in Miami this weekend, depending on how long Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins take to recover from their concussion and groin injuries.
CBS Sports NFL Week 5 power rankings: No. 14 (—)
For the second consecutive week, the Bengals held steady at No. 14 inCBS Sports' latest NFL power rankings. Sports writer Pete Prisco noted that Cincinnati's offense would be "so much different" without Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins if the star receivers continue to miss time.
The Athletic NFL Week 5 power rankings: No. 15 (—)
The Bengals also remained at No. 15 in The Athletic's Week 5 power rankings. Writers Josh Kendall and Chad Graff noted that while Cincinnati's offensive numbers were impressive, including 428 passing yards and 26 first downs, the team's performance in its loss to the Jaguars was less encouraging. They also pointed to the injuries to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as a concern moving forward.
Yahoo NFL power rankings: No. 11 (🔺1)
The Bengals rose one spot to No. 11, in Yahoo's Week 5 power rankings.
Following Cincinnati's Week 4 loss, NFL and betting writer Frank Schwab wrote that the Bengals were off to a good start but were losing their momentum.
"They lost to a flawed Steelers team and then couldn't pull off a late win against the Jaguars at home, dropping them to 2-2. This is the fifth straight season the Bengals have failed to be above .500 through four games," Schwab said.
"The running game hasn't been helping," he continued. "Only the Packers are worse."
Schwab also cited Chase Brown's performance, noting the running back finished with 10 yards on nine carries.
"It's not like the Bengals could trust the run game to sustain the offense. Brown has been productive since his 2024 breakout so it's likely he's just off to a slow start, like the Bengals as a team yet again," Schwab wrote.
ESPN power rankings: No. 15 (🔻3)
The Bengals dropped three spots to No. 15 in ESPN's latest power rankings.
Journalist Ben Baby wrote that, for the second straight season, the Bengals finished the first month of the season with an even record. While the team turned in a "flat performance" against the Steelers in Week 3 and made "critical errors" against the Jaguars in Week 4, there's still hope for Cincinnati this season.
"The numbers suggest Cincinnati has actually done a lot of good things, as it is 10th in points per drive differential. But the Bengals must find a better offensive balance and clean things up defensively in order to maximize this season," Baby wrote.
Sports Illustrated NFL power rankings: No. 16 (🔻3)
The Bengals landed at No. 16 onSports Illustrated's NFL power rankings.
"I mentioned this a little bit in our initial hot seat rankings, but it’s wild to me that the Bengals spent the better part of an offseason building an under-center offense and, at least through the first month of the season, it’s almost completely unusable now. What else ya got in your back pocket, Zac Taylor?" Conor Orr wrote.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals see mixed results in NFL power rankings after Jaguars loss
