No. 1 — San Francisco 49ers (5-0) | SAME
The 49ers keep rolling after an impressive road win in Seattle. Mike Evans went OFF, catching seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown while battling through rib injuries. His addition has provided the Kyle Shanahan offense with a much-needed outside threat who is playing unreal late in his career. The defense forced four turnovers, as the 49ers continue to dominate.
No. 2 —Buffalo Bills (4-1) | SAME
The New England Patriots came to play! The Bills’ defense surrendered 405 yards in the game, but a late Josh Allen interception, followed
by a 12-yard Hunter Henry catch on third-and-10, secured the victory for New England. The 49ers jump the Bills here, but Buffalo is still a top-three team in the NFL.
No. 3 — Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) | 📉 1 spot
The Chiefs were on their BYE, but still have persistent questions about their weapons on offense after the injury to Tyquon Thornton last week. Still, they’re finding ways to win, have Patrick Mahomes, and Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is playing well.
No. 4 — Minnesota Vikings (5-0) | (6th) 📈 1 spot
The Vikings defense continues to be elite. They held the Saints to 142 yards and Tyler Shough to 96 passing yards. Aaron Jones rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, while Kyler Murray threw for 211 yards with a dime to Justin Jefferson. The Vikings offense is getting by, but the defense has carried them to an undefeated record through five weeks.
No. 5 — Los Angeles Rams (2-3) | SAME
The Rams lost a heartbreaker in overtime, 37-34. Josh Allen did Josh Allen things at the end of the game. Both Allen and James Cook rushed for over 100 yards in the game. Matt Stafford threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns, while Puka Nacua caught 17 balls for 138 yards. Rams have three losses, but they’re still a top team in the NFL.
No. 6 — Seattle Seahawks (3-2) | (3rd) 📉 3 spots
Seattle turned the football over four times against the 49ers, who were all over Sam Darnold. Seattle could not stop Mike Evans. Sure, Seattle has two losses, but they’re still a top team in the league.
No. 7 — Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) | (8th) 📈 1 spots
Cam Little’s last-second field goal let Jacksonville steal a win in London, where they’ll play the Texans next week. Parker Washington played very well in the win and was the solution for Liam Coen’s offense against an Eagles offense that has no identity.
No. 8 —Baltimore Ravens (4-1) | (9th) 📈 1 spot
Baltimore closed out a tight game with a nice comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons. Tyler Huntley did what he had to in the 30-23 victory. Baltimore should be receiving Lamar Jackson back either this week or the next.
No. 9 — New England Patriots (3-2) | (14th) 📈 5 spots
New England is back?! The Patriots destroyed the Las Vegas Raiders at home, 45-17, which likely made Josh McDaniels smile. Drake Maye threw for 374 yards in the win. The Patriots defense SHUT down the Raiders’ rushing attack and has stabilized over the past two weeks.
No. 10 — Chicago Bears (3-2) | (7th) 📉 3 spots
The Bears were embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers, 31-7. It was bad; Tyson Bagent couldn’t do much offensively, but it was the Chicago defense that could NOT stop Jordan Love and the Packers’ passing offense. Case Keenum moved the offense a bit, but it wasn’t enough. A game to forget for the Bears, but it sets up well for the rematch between Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson in Week 16.
No. 11 — Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) | (12th) 📈 1 spot
The Bengals escaped Miami with a 31-24 win. Miami scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, which made the game look more respectable, but it was Joe Burrow who threw four touchdowns, despite just 190 total yards on 23 completions. Miami did, however, gain 331 total yards and turned the football over three times, while rushing for 217 total yards, 74 of which were by quarterback Malik Willis.
No. 12— Detroit Lions (3-2) | (16th) 📈4 spots
Detroit dropped 45 on the Cardinals in the desert, beating Arizona 45-21. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 151 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns, and the Lions offense looked like what we’re used to seeing. Jared Goff added three passing touchdowns.
No. 13 — Carolina Panthers (2-2) | (15th) 📈 1 spot
Carolina was on a BYE, but moved up one spot in the rankings!
No. 14 — Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) | (20th) 📈 6 spots
The Pittsburgh Steelers established the run well with Jaylen Warren, who had 101 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the Steelers’ 34-22 win against the Colts.
No. 15 — Denver Broncos (3-2) | (13th ) 📉 2 spots
The Broncos won a divisional matchup on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, but their offense still doesn’t look right under Sean Payton. Their defense is a top unit in the league, but Bo Nix and the offense have struggled. Denver had 224 total yards, with Nix throwing for just 123 yards. Still, a win is a win.
No. 16 — Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) | (11th) 📉 5 spots
The Raiders were embarrassed by the Patriots and not much went right for Kirk Cousins and Klint Kubiak. We did see, however, Fernando Mendoza, who went 6 of 8 for 48 yards in garbage time. Las Vegas did nothing on the ground against this Patriots front; Asthon Jeanty had 27 yards on 10 carries.
No. 17 — Green Bay Packers (3-2) | (26th) 📈 9 spots
The Packers have three wins despite this season going TERRIBLY so far. But, WOW, did the Packers’ offense turn on against the Bears’ defense: a 31-7 win where Jordan Love threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns. MarShawn Lynch rushed for a pair of touchdowns as well, while only averaging 3.1 yards per carry.
No. 18 — New York Giants (3-1-1) | 📈 1 spot
The Giants tied the Washington Commanders, 27-27, and they had the win in their hands but missed a field goal and fumbled it away; but the Commanders also did not want to win the football game, which led to one of the wilder endings I’ve ever covered. The Giants may look to spread things out and operate out of the shotgun with Jameis Winston, for it’s obvious he’s more comfortable letting it sling, rather than operating a heavy play action passing attack that can’t run the ball anyway.
No. 19 — Atlanta Falcons (2-3) | (17th) 📉 2 spots
Atlanta lost in overtime at home to a backup quarterback — not ideal! Still, the Ravens are a well-coached team, and perhaps the game ends differently if Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t forced into action. Michael Penix Jr. perhaps doesn’t throw the game-sealing interception. Still, Atlanta lost the game, but they’re better than their 2-3 record would suggest.
No. 20 — Dallas Cowboys (2-3) | (10th) 📉 10 spots
Dallas was beaten by a backup quarterback on Thursday Night Football. The Buccaneers dominated for much of the game, despite a late push by Dak Prescott. The final score was 24-16; Christian Parker’s defense has been an abject disaster, as Bucky Irving rumbled for 165 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
No. 21 — Houston Texans (1-4) | (23rd) 📈 2 spots
The Texans beat up on the Tennessee Titans, 26-3. C.J. Stroud threw for 261 yards and a touchdown, but the Texans lost David Montgomery to an injury in the game. I don’t like having the Texans this high, but, like the Falcons, they’ve underperformed and failed to finish close games against solid opponents earlier in the season.
No. 22 — Cleveland Browns (3-2) | (18th) 📉 4 spots
The Cleveland Browns fell to the Jets, 17-12, at MetLife Stadium. Braelon Allen ran for 116 yards and a touchdown in the game, as Garrett Wilson caught seven passes for 104 yards with a score against the Browns, who could not get much going on offense.
No. 23 — Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) | (22nd) 📉 1 spot
The Eagles are a mess offensively, as they lost in a last-second field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Even though the Eagles are beat up on the offensive line, they’re trading Pro Bowl offensive linemen. Still, their defense is a solid unit, but the team is lost right now.
No. 24 — Indianapolis Colts (2-3) | (21st) 📉 3 spots
Daniel Jones threw for 267 yards against Pittsburgh, but the Colts did little on the ground, as the Steelers rolled to a 34-22 win. Jonathan Taylor averaged just three yards per carry. Indianapolis went 4 of 15 on third down, and the Colts turned the football over on downs twice in the fourth quarter.
No. 25 — Washington Commanders (1-3-1) | (24th) 📉 1 spot
Washington was a disaster in that end-of-game situation. Getting Jayden Daniels back is huge for Washington, but the Giants’ defense shut down the offense —for the most part. Daniels, though, has to do a better job at the end of the game to secure that victory.
No. 26 — New York Jets (2-3) (28th) 📈 2 spots
The Jets offense was much better in their Week 5 win against the Cleveland Browns. They won 17-12, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. New York had 276 yards on offense on 65 plays, up from 32 last week.
No. 27 — New Orleans Saints (1-3) (25th) 📉 1 spot
The Saints couldn’t do anything against the Vikings at home. Brian Flores will do that.
No. 28 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) | 📈 3 spots
The Buccaneers pulled off an upset on Thursday Night Football as they await Baker Mayfield’s return. The Buccaneers’ defense stifled the Dallas offense. The Buccaneers have an uphill battle, but the NFC South is still open.
No. 29 — Arizona Cardinals (1-3) | (27th) 📉 2 spots
Arizona surrendered 45 points to the Detroit Lions. They couldn’t stop Gibbs and did not do much offensively to challenge the Lions, although Trey McBride had a WILD touchdown grab.
No. 30 — Los Angeles Chargers (0-5) | (29th) 📉 1 spot
The Chargers remain winless. Their offense is an absolute mess, and Justin Herbert looked lost against the Broncos. He was sacked five times; neither offense played well in the game, but the Chargers are the league’s biggest disappointments through five weeks.
No. 31 — Miami Dolphins (0-5) | (32d) 📈 1 spot
Miami made the score against the Bengals look respectable, but Cincinnati controlled the game. Still, this is — at least — the second consecutive game where the Dolphins kept it…interesting. Ollie Gordon had another solid outing too.
No. 32 — Tennessee Titans (0-) 5| (31st) 📉1 spot
The Texans dismantled Tennessee, and the team remains winless and has struggled offensively.
