With the start of Week 5, a small number of teams kicked off their bye weeks, resulting in fewer games each week and sometimes less-than-ideal matchups. In many ways, that’s what Week 5 was filled with. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and Pittsburgh Steelers all had the week off. For the rest of the league, the action continued, with plenty of fringe teams getting early tests against some of the league’s elites. With the start of October in full swing, let’s dive into Week 6’s
WCG Power Rankings.
1. Detroit Lions (4-1) Previous Week: 3
The Lions’ run of domination continued Sunday against a Bengals team that seems to be on a free-fall from hell. Since being shut down in Week 1, the Lions are the highest scoring offense in the league over the last four weeks, and have even broken a franchise record for points in a four-game span. This is a team clicking on all cylinders, and they appear to be well on their way to another NFC North title.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) Previous Week: 1
The Eagles were one of two unbeatens heading into Week 5, and they’ll enter Week 6 as one of eight one-loss teams. Despite dominating the first half, their offensive struggles hit a new high in the second half against the Broncos’ defense. This is an outstanding team that knows how to win, but it’s worth wondering how much longer they can continue to sputter on offense before questions start being asked. The passing game (right now) is their biggest concern.
3. Buffalo Bills (4-1) Previous Week: 2
If you had told me that the Bills would lose at home to the Patriots on Sunday Night Football, I would have laughed at you. Yet, that’s precisely what happened. Was New England the better team? No. But the Bills turned the ball over too much, and couldn’t get out of their own way. The Bills are still one of the league’s elite teams, but their last two performances have been uninspiring. We’ll see if they can get back on track soon.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) Previous Week: 7
Is there a more exciting team in the league right now? It seems like each week, the Bucs get into these crazy shootouts and find a way to pull out the win. If you’re a Buccaneers fan, maybe it’s not as fun, but from an outside perspective, this team is a blast each week. The NFC is wide open, and there’s an argument to be made for Tampa Bay being one of, if not the best, team in the league.
5. Indianapolis Colts (4-1) Previous Week: 13
It’s time to believe. The Colts, despite all of their quarterback questions coming into the season, are legit. Not only are they (4-0) in their conference, but they have the highest point differential in the league (+74). Daniel Jones has been pretty impressive, but most importantly, they have been playing like a cohesive team. Through five weeks of the season, the Colts are easily the league’s biggest surprise thus far.
6. San Francisco 49ers (4-1) Previous Week: 11
Well, I guess it’s about time to give the 49ers their flowers. Not only are they (4-1), but they continue to win football games with a ton of injuries. Their injury report for Thursday night looked like a nightmare, yet they led for the majority of the game. Despite giving up the lead late in the fourth quarter, they were able to respond. The most shocking aspect of their hot start: Mac Jones is (3-0) as the starting quarterback—a hell of a job from Kyle Shanahan through five games.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) Previous Week: 10
Although 13 games is still an eternity for an NFL season, the Steelers appear to be in the driver’s seat for the AFC North title following their Week 5 bye. The Ravens are an injured mess. Popsicle sticks and gum were holding the Bengals together. The Browns are well, the Browns. Barring a significant turnaround in Baltimore or Cincinnati, the Steelers might end up being the first team to clinch their division at some point in December.
8. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) Previous Week: 8
Of the four teams that had their bye in Week 5, the Packers are the ones who needed it the least. Even so, they have cooled considerably after such a hot start. There’s no denying that this is a good team, but it’s worth wondering if they are the group that bludgeoned teams over the first two weeks, or the team that couldn’t put the Browns or Cowboys away on the road. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Regardless, they’ll be an interesting team to monitor over the final 13 games of the season.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) Previous Week: 12
First-year head coach Liam Coen has his team rolling to a (4-1) record, with their most impressive win coming Monday night at home against the Chiefs. It was a hard-fought game, and a contest in which they found themselves down 14-0 early. They fought back, got the game tied, and then took the lead on a 99-yard pick-six from linebacker Devin Lloyd. In the end, they were able to punch it in the end zone with less than one minute left in the game to seal the deal. The AFC South has been a powerhouse so far, at least at the top, with both the Jaguars and Colts handling business.
10. Los Angeles Rams (3-2) Previous Week: 4
I’m still trying to figure out how the Rams lost on Thursday night. Not only did they have home-field advantage, but they were the much healthier team. Despite that, they trailed almost the entire game, and when it mattered the most, they fumbled and then couldn’t convert a pivotal fourth down. From a talent perspective, they are one of the best in the league. Things just haven’t fully clicked yet, despite Matthew Stafford showing minimal signs of slowing down.
11. Seattle Seahawks (3-2) Previous Week: 6
I seriously questioned Seattle’s offseason approach by trading Geno Smith and DK Metcalf away in favor of Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp, but so far, it appears to have been a net positive for them. Darnold has played considerably better than Smith, even if Metcalf is a better receiver (at this point in his career) than Kupp. Sunday was a fun game, but Darnold’s end-of-game interception was a back-breaker. The NFC West has been a wild ride thus far, but the Seahawks should continue to hang in through December.
12. Washington Commanders (3-2) Previous Week: 14
Jayden Daniels is back, and all of a sudden, the Commanders’ offense looks like it did last year. At least, that’s how it looked in Week 5 against a good Chargers team that most had favored to win the game. It’s been an up-and-down start to the season in Washington, but if Sunday afternoon was any indication, they might be about to hit their stride, similar to last season. They’ll have a fun test next Monday night against Caleb Williams and the Bears. Expect a lot of rushing yards.
13. Denver Broncos (3-2) Previous Week: 17
Similar to the Commanders, it’s been an uneven start for the Broncos, after shocking everyone with a playoff run in 2024. Quarterback Bo Nix has been up and down, which has a lot to do with whether they win or lose. Yet, when it mattered on Sunday, he had a big second half, and the team followed en route to an impressive victory against the once-unbeaten Eagles. The defense is elite, and the offense boasts a wealth of playmakers. Similar to last year, the team will go as far as their quarterback takes them. We’ll see if the second half propels Nix’s Year 2 jump.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) Previous Week: 9
Call me crazy, but it feels like the Chargers might be in some trouble. Their defense hasn’t looked the same, and the once prolific offense is having trouble protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. I guess that’s what happens when a team loses both of its star offensive tackles. Joe Alt will return this season, but All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater will not. Now, they’ll be down their top two running backs after losing Najee Harris in Week 4 for the season, and now Omarion Hampton for at least four games, after being diagnosed with an ankle sprain. Some early-season adversity isn’t anything new for the Chargers, but they’ve lost the chance to distance themselves in the AFC West.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) Previous Week: 5
Following a historic (11-0) run in one-score games last season, the Chiefs are now (0-3) in that department so far in 2025. Variances always have a way of leveling out, even if it’s a year later. Simply put, their defense wasn’t good enough on Monday night, and Patrick Mahomes’ goal-line interception at the one-yard line was a back-breaker. It appeared they were figuring it out, but Monday night was a sobering reminder that luck in one-score games rarely carries over from one season to another.
16. New England Patriots (3-2) Previous Week: 21
It’s safe to call Sunday night’s victory against the Bills the biggest win of quarterback Drake Maye’s young career. First-year head coach Mike Vrabel has his team playing with an edge, and following an expensive and active offseason, they appear to be a completely different team so far this season. Maye has been playing outstanding football, and the defense finally has playmakers. It might be early, but the Patriots appear to be the top candidate to go from worst to playoffs in 2025.
17. Minnesota Vikings (3-2) Previous Week: 16
The Vikings continue to find ways to win games they shouldn’t, but something just seems off. A lot of it comes down to their lack of consistency on offense, but even then, Carson Wentz hasn’t been “bad” by any stretch. After shocking the NFL world with a 14-win season last year, there seems to be some regression. The good news is that they are above .500 and are heading into a well-timed bye. The bad news is that their schedule through Week 10 appears to be quite challenging. We’ll see what this team is made of over the next four games.
18. Houston Texans (2-3) Previous Week: 22
Following a disastrous (0-3) start to the season, the Texans finally look like the playoff team we’ve seen over the last two years. Although, to be fair, they did not look suitable for the majority of last year, they did win a playoff game. The most prominent bright spot over their previous two games has been quarterback C.J. Stroud. He looks to be back to his rookie-season production level, which could be dangerous for the rest of the league. They are far from out of the division race, but with the Jaguars and Colts’ hot starts, they don’t have much margin for error moving forward.
19. Atlanta Falcons (2-2) Previous Week: 19
The Falcons headed into their early Week 5 bye with plenty of questions to figure out. Following a loss to the Bucs earlier in the season, the division is quickly slipping away without a big run down the stretch. Even so, their top priority is figuring out if Michael Penix is the quarterback of the future. He’s had two very good games, one awful start, and one that was not-so-good. With 13 games left in the season, the book is far from written on Atlanta’s season.
20. Chicago Bears (2-2) Previous Week: 20
There wasn’t a team, outside of maybe the Ravens or Vikings, who could have used the first available bye week more than Chicago. Injuries have plagued their defense, despite their recent wins. On top of that, first-year head coach Ben Johnson needs to figure out what is going to work for his offense moving forward. Last year’s top pick, Caleb Williams, has looked more and more comfortable, but it’s time for him to start stringing together quality performances on a more consistent basis. Week 6’s road rematch against the Commanders will be a big first step to figuring out who this team is in 2025.
21. Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) Previous Week: 23
Did getting blown out by the Bears wake up the Cowboys? It sure feels that way. The offense hasn’t skipped a beat with Cee Dee Lamb out of the lineup, and their defense looked considerably better (when not in garbage time) against the Jets on Sunday. Tying a game always creates confusion early in the process, but it does mean that they won’t need to rely on tie-breakers when it comes to playoff scenarios. Despite a rough start, the Cowboys are hanging tough.
22. Arizona Cardinals (2-3) Previous Week: 15
The season is still young, but the type of loss the Cardinals endured on Sunday afternoon is one of those that can torpedo a season. Especially if the locker room was already on edge, just ask the 2024 Bears. The amount that had to go wrong for Arizona to lose that game in the fourth quarter is borderline improbable, but there’s no way around how crushing a loss this was. We’ll see how they rebound on the road against the (4-1) Colts.
23. Baltimore Ravens (1-4) Previous Week 18
The Ravens are an injured mess, and at (1-4) with a Week 6 matchup against the Rams, there’s a strong chance that they are (1-5) heading into their Week 7 bye. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected back after the bye week, but their bevy of defensive injuries might take some more time to sort out. Suffice to say, Baltimore’s season is on life support, and it’s worth wondering if they should pack it in and play for draft positioning.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) Previous Week: 24
Anytime a team loses an MVP-candidate at quarterback for three months, it’s fair to question how viable their season will end up being. The issue is that the step down from Joe Burrow to Jake Browning has been about as drastic as anything we’ve seen. To put it simply, Browning has been awful. The offense cannot move the ball like a typical NFL offense, and their defense has far too many holes to be overly successful. It’s hard to imagine many scenarios where 2025 ends well for Cincinnati.
25. Carolina Panthers (2-3) Previous Week: 28
The Panthers have been one of the more enigmatic teams in the league to figure out throughout the first five weeks of the season. Blowing out the Falcons felt like a turning point, but their slow starts have been a big issue. Despite looking awful early in Week 5, they were lucky to be playing a Dolphins team that is on the verge of imploding. I’m still not convinced this group has made much progress over the last few years, but sitting at (2-3) isn’t a bad spot to be in, considering how they’ve played.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) Previous Week 25
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect better from Vegas through five games under Pete Carroll. On paper, their roster isn’t bad, yet they just can’t seem to put it together, despite having plenty of proven talent throughout their roster. Quarterback Geno Smith continues to turn the ball over, and overall, their projected offensive playmakers have either been injured or not good enough. Buckle in, Pete. This one is going to be a long road back to success.
27. New Orleans Saints (1-4) Previous Week: 31
Welcome to the win column, Saints. It’s been five weeks, but you’re finally here. Oh, speaking of… Welcome to the win column, Spencer Rattler. It might be hard to believe, but Sunday’s 26-14 victory was his first NFL win. The Saints are normally out-manned, but they’ve fought hard in most games. Against the lowly Giants, they were finally able to get it done. I’m sure it also feels great for head coach Kellen Moore, who gets his first win as an NFL head coach.
28. New York Giants (1-4) Previous Week: 26
Anytime you get embarrassed by a winless team, things aren’t going very well. Many, including myself, believed that Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen should have been fired last offseason. Instead, ownership wanted to exercise some patience, and so far, it has not paid off. The only real saving grace is that Jaxson Dart has looked the part so far.
29. Cleveland Browns (1-4) Previous Week: 27
Cleveland continues to hang tight in most games, but their lack of offensive firepower will continue to haunt it late in games. All in all, it was a solid debut for third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel, but the one area he needs to improve drastically is giving his receivers a chance on some of his tougher throws. There were far too many non-competitive throws in Sunday morning’s game for my liking. The good news is that they have plenty of young offensive talent to be excited about, and their defense remains outstanding.
30. Tennessee Titans (1-4) Previous Week: 32
What… A… Win… Wow. What else is there to say? Had it not been for Emari Demarcado slowing up on a runaway touchdown, that result would never have happened. If that wasn’t unbelievable enough, Cam Ward throws an interception. Dadarion Taylor-Demerson rolls over without being contacted, drops it, and it ends up in the end zone for a Titans touchdown. Ward still has a long way to go, but it’s impossible to overlook his role in the final quarter to break their 10-game losing streak. Unreal game.
31. Miami Dolphins (1-4) Previous Week: 29
To lead for the majority of the game, and then blow it at the end… There are no words, yet this is precisely the type of product Dolphins fans have come to expect from the regime. After a fun first year under Mike McDaniel, things have gone downhill. With Tyreek Hill done for the year, and them running on fumes in the defensive backfield, it’s only a matter of time before ownership blows this thing up. This roster needs an all-out rebuild.
32. New York Jets (0-5) Previous Week: 30
The start of a new regime can always begin rough. With the Jets, it feels like things keep getting worse, and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t be fooled by the garbage time numbers that made this game look a lot closer than it was. It was a blowout, and the Jets never stood a chance. Outside of Week 1, that’s been the story of their season. First-year head coach Aaron Glenn has a lot of work to do.
