It felt like a matter of time, but we’re finally left with two unbeaten teams at the top of the power rankings.
There’s more to evaluating a team than their record, which is why it took us five weeks to get here. But now, at the outset of Week 6, the cream has risen to the top.
The top spot is obvious. The San Francisco 49ers are winning their games by an average of 20 points, and they just put together the most impressive win of the season so far. However much you might quibble with how they’ve done it, the Eagles are 5-0 for a second straight season and looking tough to beat in their own right.
Will it change? We’ll see. As unpredictable as the NFL can be, these two teams ruled the NFC with an iron fist in 2022, and it’s starting to look like that could be the case again this year. Now, if we could just figure out what the heck is going on in the AFC.
Here are the Week 6 power rankings.
1. San Francisco 49ers: 5-0 (no change)
They’ve been atop this list for much of the season, and now the Niners have a statement win. Let’s not revise history. The Cowboys had a +83 point differential heading into Week 5, which is incredibly hard to do. And San Francisco absolutely bludgeoned them. The offense is star-studded, the defense is disgusting, and Brock Purdy is making it look easy. Without question, they are the best team in the NFL right now.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-0 (+1)
The Eagles and 49ers don’t play their NFC Championship Game rematch until Dec. 3, so there’s plenty of time for Philly to get a statement win of its own. It remains fair to say the Eagles still aren’t playing their best football — and that’s still a scary thought, considering they’re 5-0 and have won in a variety of different ways. Jalen Hurts looks like he is once again starting to hit his stride. He’s flying under the radar, but A.J. Brown is currently on pace to shatter his production from a year ago.
3. Miami Dolphins: 4-1 (+2)
Everyone and their mother knows about the Dolphins’ passing game, but the run game has become equally terrifying. Hopefully De’Von Achane‘s knee injury is minor, because he’s officially a star in my book. Plus, it’s nice to know the Dolphins have something to turn to if the opposition can disrupt Tua Tagovailoa‘s timing.
Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma discuss De’Von Achane’s performance
4. Kansas City Chiefs: 4-1(+1)
The Chiefs are in the tinkering phase of the season. Plodding along, winning games and trying to figure out what this offense is going to be. Travis Kelce is a top-notch safety blanket, but we all had a scary reminder Sunday that injuries happen in this game. Thankfully, Kelce looks to be fine, but it’s just another indicator that another option needs to emerge in the passing game.
5. Buffalo Bills: 3-2 (-3)
I’m a lot less concerned about the Bills offense looking sleepy at the start of a game that began at 9:30 a.m., Buffalo time. I’m a lot more concerned about a defense that continues losing big pieces. Matt Milano is the latest guy to go down, a week after Tre’Davious White. Buffalo will be competitive as long as Josh Allen is doing his thing, but these types of losses hinder your ability to contend with the heavyweights.
Jags improve to 3-2 after win over Bills
6. Seattle Seahawks: 3-1 (+2)
On the plus side, Seattle sat back, got healthier and rose in the power rankings during the week off. On the downside, the Seahawks’ next opponent (the Bengals) showed signs of life, and their biggest division rivals (the 49ers) look like the best team in the league.
7. Detroit Lions: 4-1 (+2)
I think it means something that the Lions were able to thrash an overmatched opponent. I’m not trying to be mean, but Detroit just isn’t a team that’s used to being a 10-point favorite. I think it matters that the Lions had the poise and maturity to get up for a bad opponent and never give them a chance.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-2 (+2)
Maybe this is a bit of a turning point for the Jags. They have one of the best young QBs in the game and plenty of talent, and they should be capable of beating a team like Buffalo. Piling up 474 yards and converting 56% of your third downs is a nice change of pace for an offense that’s too talented to be mediocre.
NFL Power Rankings: Brock Purdy leads 49ers to top
9. Baltimore Ravens: 3-2 (-2)
The epitome of a “what the hell just happened” loss. Lamar Jackson‘s receivers dropped seven balls. Zay Flowers lost his footing on a probable touchdown. The Ravens gave up a 41-yard, go-ahead touchdown to a Steelers team that managed just 289 yards of offense. I’m not going to panic because this feels like a fluky loss — but regardless of how they happen, losses have a way of coming back to bite you.
10. Dallas Cowboys: 3-2 (-4)
Where do you even start? Dak Prescott wasn’t good enough; not even close. Mike McCarthy’s offense deserves to be questioned. San Francisco made the Cowboys’ vaunted defense look like a bottom-tier unit. Dallas came up short in every way imaginable in a measuring stick game. This is the type of loss that lingers, no matter how well they bounce back.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-1 (no change)
The first of three bye-week teams I’m leaving in the same place. The Bucs might be the most complete team in a weak division. Big chance to make a statement with the red-hot Lions coming to town this weekend.
12. Los Angeles Chargers: 2-2 (no change)
It’s easy to imagine Kellen Moore sitting back during his bye week and smiling while the Cowboys’ offense struggles without him. The Chargers welcome the Cowboys to L.A. on Monday night, and I’ve got to imagine Moore will have some wrinkles in mind.
13. Cleveland Browns: 2-2 (no change)
Deshaun Watson missed practice Monday, the first practice for the Browns coming out of their bye week. It’s going to be hard enough beating San Francisco with Watson. If he can’t play because of his shoulder injury, forget about it.
Frustration brews between Deshaun Watson and Browns
14. Atlanta Falcons: 3-2 (+1)
So much hype and attention on C.J. Stroud, so much criticism of Desmond Ridder. But the beauty of the NFL is that none of it mattered when Ridder got the ball, down by two with 1:49 to play, and led the Falcons to the game-winning field goal. It was the best day of his career. Can he keep it up?
15. Houston Texans: 2-3 (-1)
The Texans lose and fall back below .500, but I’m still impressed by what we saw from Stroud in Atlanta. He has thrown almost 200 passes without a pick, and he led the Texans 75 yards for a beautiful go-ahead touchdown on the road. Rookie seasons are going to have ups and downs, but Stroud looks like the right guy for the job, even in defeat.
16. Cincinnati Bengals: 2-3 (+6)
The only question is: how excited should we allow ourselves to be? Yes, Joe Burrow looked like his old self, and Ja’Marr Chase proved he is in fact always open. It’s the first time all year the Bengals have looked like the team we were expecting, and it’s so exciting to think Burrow is healthy again and back to being himself. But the 34-20 victory did come against the Cardinals, who are a scrappy team but still a bad one. Let’s put a pin in this and see how they do against Seattle.
“Don’t let that guy beat you” — Mark Sanchez on Ja’Marr Chase’s incredible performance
17. Green Bay Packers: 2-3 (-1)
I don’t know if it’s realistic to follow Jaire Alexander’s advice and simply stop allowing touchdowns. The Green Bay defense is flawed, but holding the opposition to 17 points should give you a great chance to win. Jordan Love is going to wear this one, having thrown three interceptions on the night. All part of the fun of breaking in a new QB1.
Dave Helman discusses Raiders’ MNF win over Packers
18. New Orleans Saints: 3-2 (+2)
Even if you take away Tyrann Mathieu’s pick-six, 27 points is a big step in the right direction for the Saints’ offense. As Alvin Kamara said himself, they’ve got too many good players to be so bad. Even if New England’s defense is banged up, it’s encouraging to see the Saints succeed against a typically stout opponent.
19. L.A. Rams: 2-3 (-1)
My lasting memory from this Eagles-Rams game is going to be that the Rams hardly had the ball in the second half. They couldn’t stay on the field, and when the Eagles had the ball they just bled the clock dry. Smart strategy by Philly. This Rams offense is so fun to watch, and I’m excited to see what they can do against lesser opposition.
20. Indianapolis Colts: 3-2 (+3)
It has to be concerning that Anthony Richardson has played in four games and has gotten hurt in three of them. He’s so fun, but the Colts have to find a way he can play his style while minimizing the risk of injury. Gardner Minshew has played really well in relief, but the Colts just aren’t as exciting without Richardson.
Jay Glazer on Anthony Richardson
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-2 (+6)
What a great league. The Steelers have been abysmal on offense for most of the season — and they were for most of Sunday. But they took advantage of enough Ravens mistakes and were there to make the right plays at the end of the day. Raise your hand if you saw Mike Tomlin and his crew sitting atop the AFC North heading into their bye week.
22. Washington Commanders: 2-3 (-5)
Dallas turned in the most embarrassing performance of Week 5, but don’t forget about the Commanders. Thursday Night Football, at home, against a winless Bears team. Washington was a six-point favorite. And they got absolutely crushed. Not a great look for Ron Rivera, a defensive guru, to allow Justin Fields to play the game of his career.
23. Minnesota Vikings: 1-4 (-4)
I understand regression to the mean, but this is getting ridiculous. It feels like the football gods are punishing the Vikings for going 11-0 in one-possession games last year, as they have now been within one possession in all five games and lost four of them. For what it’s worth, I was impressed by the way Brian Flores and the Minnesota defense were able to frustrate the Chiefs.
24. Tennessee Titans: 2-3 (-3)
Tennessee has traded wins and losses for five straight weeks, which feels like a hallmark of a mediocre team. Disappointing to see them surrender 193 rushing yards — and it wasn’t even to Jonathan Taylor. They are currently stuck in NFL purgatory.
25. New York Jets: 2-3 (no change)
Against all odds, are the Jets discovering a winning formula? Sure, the Broncos are bad, and we’d do well to remember that, but it carries extra weight knowing the Jets are a week removed from hanging tough against Kansas City. Like we said last week, this level of play is enough to make them feisty in a lot of matchups.
Jets defeat Broncos: Is Zach Wilson here to stay?
26. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-3 (+3)
The Raiders get a much-needed win, but I can’t forgive Josh McDaniels for repeatedly making mind-numbing decisions. If you pick up a fourth-and-2 from the Green Bay 34, you win the game. If you don’t get it, the Packers still must drive 66 yards for a game-winning touchdown. Instead, you settle for a field goal — from the same distance at which Daniel Carlson had already been blocked earlier in the game. Can someone help it make sense?
27. Arizona Cardinals: 1-4 (-1)
Maybe we just copy and paste the Cardinals’ blurb every week. They’re clearly well-coached and a team you can’t overlook. But the bottom line is this roster is behind the eight-ball in most games. As fun as it was to beat Dallas, hopefully, it doesn’t work against them because it’s harder to sneak up on people than it was before.
28. Denver Broncos: 1-4 (no change)
Denver gets off so lucky here. The only reason they aren’t lower is that they already beat the Bears, and because things somehow look worse in three other NFL cities. It’s a bad look losing the Nathaniel Hackett Bowl to the guy Denver chased out of town. But what’s definitely worse is the way the Broncos defense has turned into the worst unit in the league.
29. Chicago Bears: 1-4 (+3)
Where would we be with the Bears if they had even approached this level of play in the first month of the season? They’re still a very flawed team, but they’d absolutely have a chance at a winning record had Justin Fields played this well for five weeks, instead of two. We’ll see where it goes from here, but I’m intrigued.
Dave Helman recaps Bears’ big win in Washington
30. New England Patriots: 1-4 (-6)
Getting housed by the Cowboys on the road is one thing; getting pulverized by a struggling Saints offense at home is something else. It hasn’t been great for the Patriots since Tom Brady left town, but this feels like a different sort of ineptitude. It’s going to get real ugly in Foxborough if the Pats can’t at least keep their games close.
Julian Edelman reacts after Bill Belichick, Patriots suffer another embarrassing loss
31. New York Giants: 1-4 (-1)
The Giants are optimistic Daniel Jones‘ neck injury isn’t a major problem. That’s good news for Jones, but also scary — because it means Jones might have to play more snaps behind this woeful offensive line. Jones has been bad, but his protection is giving him almost no chance.
32. Carolina Panthers: 0-5 (-1)
Several other teams have endured more embarrassing losses than the Panthers. For the most part, Carolina has been competitive this season. The issue is more the offense just looks so overmatched in most of these games. It’s hard to see how the Panthers string together enough points to win on any kind of consistent basis. Good news for Bears fans, I guess.
