NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

October 04, 2018 | Sports,

By Korbett Koselak

Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)

Last Week: 9
The Eagles have played four games this year, they have all been decided by one possession. They have beaten Indianapolis by four, Atlanta by six, lost to Tampa Bat by six, and fell to Tennessee by three most recently. Quarterback Carson Wentz should find his groove as he continues to move past the ACL injury, but for now, ten seems about right. They should look to move up as the season goes on, but for now, other teams are playing better.
This week: v. Minnesota Vikings

Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)

Last Week: n/a
The Chargers are the NFL’s equivalent to last year’s Auburn Tigers football team. The Chargers are 2-2, with their only two losses coming to the two highest ranked teams on this list. They’ve beaten the teams they have been expected to beat and have kept games close with the best of the best. Phillip Rivers is like a boxed wine. He’s a whole lot cheaper; and you can’t quite tell the difference compared to something better. The Chargers have already lost to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, but are clearly the second best team in their division, and should be a wild card team if things play out the way they should.
This week: v. Oakland Raiders

Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)

Last Week: 14
The 3-1, division-leading Cincinnati Bengals. Wow. The Bengals are weird. Many are shocked about their start, but they shouldn’t be. The reason Marvin Lewis is one of the most talked about coaches in the NFL isn’t because he doesn’t win. It’s because he doesn’t win playoff games. To not win playoff games, you have to play in playoff games. Something the Bengals have done a lot over the last decade. The same personnel on offense and a pieced together defense that is about to get back linebacker Vontaze Burfict. However, tight end Tyler Eifert is done for the season with an ankle injury. The Bengals look good at 3-1, but have a steep test this weekend against the AFC East leading Miami Dolphins.
This week: v. Miami Dolphins

Chicago Bears (3-1)

Last Week: 12
In the spirit of complete transparency, my drawer was full of Bears onesies before I could talk. I was born and bred in the blue and orange, but this is my (for the most part) unbiased opinion. The Bears clearly have the best defense in the conference. The teams we thought may have been on the same level: Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, Philadelphia, or maybe Carolina, have struggled or been outright bad this year, looking at you Minnesota, and haven’t played nearly as well as Chicago. Acquiring Defensive Player of the Year caliber linebacker Khalil Mack from Oakland eight days before the season certainly sent a message to the locker room. Second year quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who had largely underperformed to this point in his young career, thrived on Sunday, throwing five first half touchdowns and six overall en route to the best half of football played in Soldier Field since the mid ’80s. The Bears are at seven and look primed to make the NFC North a whole lot more interesting than some thought.
This week: Bye

New Orleans Saints (3-1)

Last Week: 7
There are 32 teams in the NFL. If you fell into a coma eight years ago and woke up today, you would only recognize three- The New England Patriots, the Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints- because they all look exactly the same as they did then. The Saints are a dollar-store version of New England- they do the same thing every year and win every year. While exciting, they are boring- everybody knows how this story ends. New Orleans legend and quarterback Drew Brees should set the all-time passing mark this week on Monday Night at Washington, and the Saints should roll to a win. If they do, they’ll continue to have a chance to climb; but somebody in front of them also has to lose.
Next Game: v. Washington Redskins

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1)

Last Week: 5
Following a disappointing divisional loss to Tennessee last week, Jacksonville dominated the Jets at home in week four. Their defense has been smothering this year, and is likely the best in football. However, it will be tested thoroughly this weekend as will quarterback Blake Bortles heads into raucous Arrowhead Stadium for a matchup against Kansas City with potential playoff-seeding on the line. An early season game-of-the-year candidate in Missouri on Sunday should be a great one, and a clue as to how good these teams really are.
Next Game: @ Kansas City Chiefs

Tennessee Titans (3-1)

Last Week: 4
I called Tennessee my “overreaction” of week four, but it may not have been. In the last two weeks, head coach Mike Vrabel’s Titans have knocked off two teams who appeared in conference championship games a year ago. The most impressive part is how they won those games. They beat division-rival Jacksonville in a 9-6 slugfest- a game where backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert got hurt, forcing banged-up starter Marcus Mariota back into action. They won an offensive battle against the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia in an overtime thriller where they fell behind multiple times in the second-half. There is reason for excitement in Nashville and things lighten up a bit this week as they head to Buffalo. It’s a real possibility that Tennessee will soon be 4-1.
Next Game: @ Buffalo Bills

New England Patriots (2-2)

Last Week: 3
New England, New England’d. If that makes any sense. The Patriots are back. Did they really ever leave? Tom Brady and the defense got going as they spanked previously unbeaten Miami at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. It’s a short turnaround as they host Indianapolis this week, but that shouldn’t be a problem as the Colts severely lack firepower on both sides of the ball. Look for New England to continue to roll, and climb these rankings.
Next Game: v. Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)

Last Week: 2
The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense was finally slowed Monday Night in Denver……….. for 3.5 quarters. Then, living legend quarterback Patrick Mahomes took over, with his left hand, and led KC to a come from behind victory at Mile High. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins missed the final three quarters with an injury, but even as we continue to monitor that, the rest of that offense still produces. The Chiefs have their toughest test of the season coming up in week five as they host Jacksonville at Arrowhead Stadium on a short week.
Next Game: v. Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams (4-0)

Last Week: 1
The Rams are clearly the best team in the NFL. They are one of the two best offenses in the league, and the only one that can also play defense. Quarterback Jared Goff is 23, head coach Sean McVay is 32- you do the math. The Rams could be at the top of this list for a LONG time. The personnel on defense should begin to come together soon, and they may be unbeatable. But this is the NFL- unbeatable doesn’t exist…does it?
Next Game: @ Seattle Seahawks
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Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Carolina Panthers (2-1)
Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
Minnesota Vikings (1-2-1)
Denver Broncos (2-2)