NFL Power Rankings - Week 5: Ravens, Bengals break into top 10
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.
1. Los Angeles Rams (4-0)
Previous Rank: 1
The undefeated Rams are the NFL's best team through the quarter mark of the season, thanks in large part to an unstoppable offense. With three straight road games ahead, though, we'll find out if L.A is a legit Super Bowl favorite. - Alessandrini
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
Previous Rank: 2
In Week 4, Patrick Mahomes led a comeback victory in Denver while throwing for 300 yards with no turnovers. Somehow, that was his worst statistical game of the season so far. - Alessandrini
3. New Orleans Saints (3-1)
Previous Rank: 5
The Saints are again atop the NFC South and will welcome back Mark Ingram this week. They appear to be putting it all together while the rest of the conference is still figuring things out. - McClymont
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1)
Previous Rank: 4
Early-season AFC supremacy will be on the line next week when the Jags and Chiefs meet up in a clash of contrasting styles. - McClymont
5. Carolina Panthers (2-1)
Previous Rank: 6
The Panthers made the most of the dreaded early bye week, watching as two of their three division foes took Ls. - McClymont
6. New England Patriots (2-2)
Previous Rank: 9
The blowout win over Miami was more like the Patriots we've come to expect. And with Julian Edelman back from suspension, New England could be a nightmare for the rest of the AFC. - Srinivasan
7. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
Previous Rank: 10
Aaron Rodgers is not a happy man, and it's easy to see why. The Packers' talent is far better than their 19th-ranked scoring offense, and Mike McCarthy's play-calling continues to hold the team back. - Browne
8. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Previous Rank: 18
If you weren't taking Baltimore seriously before Sunday night's win over Pittsburgh, you should be now. With an elite defense and a rejuvenated Joe Flacco, the Ravens are set to end their postseason drought. - Browne
9. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)
Previous Rank: 17
Losing Tyler Eifert, who's had some of the worst injury luck in NFL history, is a big blow, but the surprisingly competitive Bengals do get some good news with the return of Vontaze Burfict from suspension. - Browne
10. Chicago Bears (3-1)
Previous Rank: 16
Everything clicked for Chicago in a blowout win over the Bucs. The team might not be all the way there yet, but it was an exciting taste of things to come. - Browne
11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
Previous Rank: 3
There's no real reason to panic, but with a tough stretch of their schedule set to begin against the Vikings, the Eagles need to rediscover the offensive wizardry that stumped the entire league last season. - Srinivasan
12. Tennessee Titans (3-1)
Previous Rank: 19
The Titans are an odd, weather-delayed season opener away from being undefeated. This team is winning in a variety of ways, and new head coach Mike Vrabel deserves a ton of credit. - McClymont
13. Minnesota Vikings (1-2-1)
Previous Rank: 7
The Vikings finally got their quarterback, and then their vaunted pass defense falls apart. Look Mike Zimmer in the eyes at your own peril until he finds a way to fix his unit. - Browne
14. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 15
The puzzling Chargers had a bit too much trouble knocking off the Niners. After fielding a stellar pass defense in 2017, this year’s coverage unit looks more vulnerable. - Alessandrini
15. Washington Redskins (2-1)
Previous Rank: 13
Will an early bye come back to haunt the Redskins, who were arguably the NFC East's best team through September? - Srinivasan
16. Miami Dolphins (3-1)
Previous Rank: 8
An easy schedule contributed to the Dolphins' 3-0 start before their loss to the Patriots, and they'll get another chance to be considered a genuine playoff contender against the upstart Bengals ... or fall back to pretender status. - Srinivasan
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2-1)
Previous Rank: 14
Big Ben and Antonio Brown need to get back on the same page, and soon. Pittsburgh's season depends on it. - Browne
18. Atlanta Falcons (1-3)
Previous Rank: 12
The 1-3 Falcons are averaging 29 points per game. I think we know what side of the ball is failing them. - McClymont
19. Denver Broncos (2-2)
Previous Rank: 20
Case Keenum and Demaryius Thomas were literally inches away from knocking off the rival Chiefs, but almost count for nothing in this league. - Alessandrini
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 11
Forget the quarterback controversy for a moment; the Buccaneers' defense is a disgrace to professional football. - McClymont
21. Seattle Seahawks (2-2)
Previous Rank: 22
Earl Thomas is out for the year, but at least he made sure to salute the Seahawks as he was carted off. - Alessandrini
22. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Previous Rank: 25
Ezekiel Elliott's game-breaking talent was on full display Sunday, and he'll need to be in extraordinary form while the rest of his team catches up. - Srinivasan
23. Detroit Lions (1-3)
Previous Rank: 21
To dig itself out of a 1-3 start, Detroit needs to start riding standout rookie rusher Kerryon Johnson. - Browne
24. Houston Texans (1-3)
Previous Rank: 29
If not for a gift from the Colts, the Texans would likely be winless after four weeks. The only positive is Deshaun Watson's three-game streak of 300-plus passing yards and two touchdowns. - McClymont
25. Cleveland Browns (1-2-1)
Previous Rank: 24
Cleveland's losing streak may be over, but the painful overtime loss to the Raiders felt very much like the Browns we know. - Browne
26. Indianapolis Colts (1-3)
Previous Rank: 26
The Colts faithful are reconciling Frank Reich's surprising overtime gamble, but there isn't much good to take from turning a likely tie into a loss. - McClymont
27. New York Giants (1-3)
Previous Rank: 23
It hasn't quite been the Jersey Shore-esque circus of 2017, but even with Saquon Barkley and head coach Pat Shurmur, the Giants' offense continues to do next to nothing. With the rested Panthers looming, New York is staring down another lost year. - Srinivasan
28. Oakland Raiders (1-3)
Previous Rank: 31
Jon Gruden silenced the haters, if only for a day, by beating the Browns. Yes, it was a home victory over a team with one win since the calendar flipped to 2017, but the Raiders will take it! - Alessandrini
29. San Francisco 49ers (1-3)
Previous Rank: 27
C.J. Beathard wasn’t so bad replacing Jimmy G, as the 49ers' offense features a number of versatile weapons. Oh, what could have been … - Alessandrini
30. New York Jets (1-3)
Previous Rank: 28
Growing pains are expected for a young Jets team, but Sam Darnold and his offense need to improve significantly to turn their season around versus the Broncos. - Srinivasan
31. Buffalo Bills (1-3)
Previous Rank: 30
It was all good just a week ago, but the Bills came crashing down to earth at Lambeau Field, submitting as listless an offensive performance as it gets. - Srinivasan
32. Arizona Cardinals (0-4)
Previous Rank: 32
The winless Cardinals are in a league of their own - the 0-4 league. But don’t fret, Cardinals fans - Josh Rosen is going to be a good one. If only his receivers would help him out. - Alessandrini