NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 6?

Five weeks of play are gone in the 2014 NFL season, and that means we know a lot more about each and every team. Where does each squad stand in the power rankings?

Definitive wins by the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys and a thrilling comeback by the Cleveland Browns have a ton of teams moving up and down the board. And on the flip side, losses by the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears change the order substantially.

Power rankings aren't intended to be standings, but you'll notice that more and more teams with better records are rising to the top of the list. That won't always be the case—and head-to-head losses won't always come into play—but for Week 5, we're definitely seeing the top clubs making a big jump.

32. Oakland Raiders (0-4)

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Last Week: 32

This Week: 32

Change: 0

A bye week and a coaching change mean the Oakland Raiders don't move out of their spot at No. 32 overall. 

Perhaps Dennis Allen was to blame and the turnaround will start with Tony Sparano in as the interim head coach. Anything is possible in the NFL, but it appears more like the Raiders are looking ahead to 2015 than focusing on winning in 2014.

31. Tennessee Titans (1-4)

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Last Week: 31

This Week: 31

Change: 0

The Tennessee Titans looked like they were on their way to a win in Week 5, and then the defense collapsed as the Cleveland Browns pulled off the biggest road comeback in NFL history.

The Titans have major issues on both sides of the ball, so much so that even bright spots in Kendall Wright and the wide-receiver corps get overshadowed by the terrible play in the second half. They were a different team in the first half with Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback but struggled mightily after halftime as the Browns came roaring back.

The Titans look nothing like the team we saw dominate the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5)

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Last Week: 30

This Week: 30

Change: 0

The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting close to a win, but they aren't closing out games just yet. The record says 0-5, but the team has been playing above its record thus far. Maybe that doesn't count in the eyes of fans who are ready for a winner, but there are still positives here.

Blake Bortles struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, but that's to be expected from a rookie quarterback. He also showed toughness, but he will need to learn from mistakes (like the pick-six interception that sealed the game for Pittsburgh).

The Jaguars are playing for 2015, and this year is about developing the young players and evaluating the veterans.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4)

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Last Week: 28

This Week: 29

Change: -1

A heartbreaking loss in Week 5 may very well be the story of the year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who end the week holding down last place in the NFC South.

A win over the New Orleans Saints—something the team looked to have wrapped up until the Saints came alive in the fourth quarter—would have moved the them out of the cellar of the division. But now the Bucs sit at 1-4 with no wins in the division or even the conference.

Lovie Smith is only five games into his reign as head coach in Tampa, but he needs to start showing progress given the talent on this roster.

28. St. Louis Rams (1-3)

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Last Week: 29

This Week: 28

Change: +1

The Austin Davis-led St. Louis Rams nearly pulled off an amazing comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Anyone sleeping on this team hasn't noticed how well Davis is playing. But even with the Southern Miss product throwing the ball all over the field, the Rams are struggling to seal the deal on wins.

The Jeff Fisher defense has not been good—especially the secondary. You can point the finger at the much-praised front four as a major area of concern given that they are not generating the pressures needed to cover up for a bad defensive backfield. Until the pass rush gets going consistently, the coverage will be exploited.

The Rams are always a tough team to play, but soon you have to wonder if Fisher's reputation will be enough to keep his job safe when he hasn't been getting results.

27. Washington (1-4)

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Last Week: 27

This Week: 27

Change: 0

Some may have viewed a Washington home game on Monday Night Football against the dominant Seattle Seahawks as a winnable game, but not here. Washington was overmatched on the offensive line, in the secondary and whenever quarterback Russell Wilson left the pocket. 

A 27-17 score doesn't show the scores called back due to penalties or missed opportunities from the Seahawks. Kirk Cousins and Co. deserve credit for moving the ball against this defense, but at the end of the day, this is still a 1-4 team that is quickly falling behind in the NFC East.

26. Houston Texans (3-2)

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Last Week: 25

This Week: 26

Change: -1

The Houston Texans have a 3-2 record and were close to winning in Week 5 before an overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys. So why are they ranked so low?

Power rankings aren't about win-loss records alone, but whom the wins and losses came against and how the team is expected to do moving forward. And as long as Ryan Fitzpatrick is the quarterback here, it's very difficult to see the Texans winning tough games.

Narrowly losing to Dallas may seem like a moral victory, but that is one of the NFL's least talented defenses and the Texans couldn't move the ball through the air. It looks good on paper, but the reality is that this team is limited.

25. Minnesota Vikings (2-3)

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Last Week: 20

This Week: 25

Change: -5

The Thursday-night beating at the hands of the Green Bay Packers may be forgotten by Sunday night or Monday morning, but in the power rankings, it's not forgotten. 

The Vikings have major issues right now, and it all starts on the offensive line. From Matt Kalil over to Phil Loadholt, the front five have struggled to open holes for the run game and to protect the passers consistently in the backfield. Whether it's Matt Cassel, Teddy Bridgewater or Christian Ponder, the protection has been way below expectations.

The Vikings slide considerably this week, and for the rest of the season, the focus is on developing and evaluating the young talent on this roster. Expect a lot of Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon and Cordarrelle Patterson.

24. New York Jets (1-4)

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Last Week: 21

This Week: 24

Change: -3

To call the quarterback play in New York bad is an insult to bad quarterbacks. It's terrible. Ugly. Atrocious. Embarrassing. But so, too, is the talent around the quarterbacks.

Rex Ryan has been backed into a corner as head coach, and no matter how great he is at scheming and play-calling, you can't out-coach a lack of talent consistently. Ryan's run may be getting close to its end in New York, but hopefully history will show that he coached the heck out of some very bad teams in terms of offensive talent.

Whether it's Geno Smith, Michael Vick, Joe Namath or a young Bart Starr at quarterback in New York, it won't matter until the offensive line, run game and wide receivers are NFL quality. The talent deficit there is the major issue affecting this team.

23. Miami Dolphins (2-2)

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Last Week: 23

This Week: 23

Change: 0

A bye week for the Dolphins means no movement up or down the board after Week 5.

When the team faces the Green Bay Packers at home in Week 6, we'll quickly learn if the Dolphins are legitimate threats in a wide-open AFC East. Is this the team that beat the New England Patriots in Week 1 or the team that was embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs?

With pressure on head coach Joe Philbin and quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins must respond now.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)

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Last Week: 19

This Week: 22

Change: -3

It's rare for a team to move down in the rankings following a win, but when you barely beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, you're moving down.

The Steelers looked completely off in their narrow escape from Jacksonville. The fact that it took a Blake Bortles pick-six to seal the game (it was 10-9 Pittsburgh at the time) speaks volumes about this contest and this team. 

The Steelers used to physically dominate opponents—especially teams with lesser talent. But the 2014 edition of this team plays down to the talent it is facing. The Jaguars are a tough squad, but there's no way the Steelers should have been held to 17 points and just one offensive touchdown in this one.

21. Buffalo Bills (3-2)

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Last Week: 26

This Week: 21

Change: +5

Maybe the Bills should have signed and started Kyle Orton a lot sooner?

A victory over the Detroit Lions is a signature win for the Bills, and they did it with the recipe for success that EJ Manuel could have never executed. Against a Lions secondary that can be beaten, the Bills threw the ball 43 times and targeted Sammy Watkins early and often in the passing game. It wasn't a sexy passing game, but it was efficient, and when the team needed big yards, Orton delivered.

With a stout defense, good running game and explosive wide receivers, the quarterback play doesn't have to be great in Buffalo. Orton gives the Bills a legitimate chance to contend in the AFC East.

20. New York Giants (3-2)

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Last Week: 24

This Week: 20

Change: +4

After a rough start to the season, Eli Manning and the New York Giants are settling down and playing good football. That extended into Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons and their high-octane passing attack.

Manning did enough on just 30 attempts and put the ball in the end zone twice. The real story of the game was the hard, between-the-tackles running of Andre Williams and the play of the Giants cornerbacks against Julio Jones and Roddy White.

The Giants are one game back in the NFC East, but with a three-game winning streak and Manning getting comfortable in a new offensive system, they're getting hot at the right time.

19. Cleveland Browns (2-2)

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Last Week: 22

This Week: 19

Change: +3

It isn't always pretty for the Cleveland Browns, and they're not always winning games, but they're playing as hard as any team in the NFL. And in Week 5, that gritty, tough, four-quarter dedication resulted in a 25-point-comeback win over the Tennessee Titans. And yes, that's a record for a road comeback.

Brian Hoyer, Ben Tate and the Cleveland defense all rose to the challenge in Week 5, and by beating the Titans, the Browns stayed alive in an AFC North that's awfully close heading into the second quarter of the season. Even in a week where Joe Haden struggled, the Browns made the halftime adjustments and came out swinging at the Titans secondary and at quarterbacks Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst.

The Browns may not win a ton of games this year, but they'll leave every contest bloodied and bruised, fighting until the final whistle.

18. Chicago Bears (2-3)

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Last Week: 15

This Week: 18

Change: -3

The Chicago Bears are as talented as any team in the NFL, and yet they manage to shoot themselves in the foot at an unprecedented rate.

The Bears came out firing early in Week 5 and jumped out to another big lead. But once again, they struggled to protect that lead and saw the second half of the game unravel for them. Jay Cutler turned the ball over, the defense gave up big plays over the middle and before you knew it, Cam Newton and the Panthers were winning.

The talent here is still good enough to win the division, but the Bears have to be able to out-scheme their lack of talent at safety, first and foremost. 

17. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)

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Last Week: 17

This Week: 17

Change: 0

The Kansas City Chiefs—banged up, coming off suspension and so much more—traveled to San Francisco and were hit head-on by the 49ers. But they see no movement up or down this week thanks to exceptional play on the road in a tough environment with so many starters and contributors down and out.

Moral victories don't mean much when you're 2-3 and watching the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers winning each week, but the Chiefs are a very young team with developing stars like Travis Kelce and De'Anthony Thomas coming of age on the field. Once those players are surrounded by better talent in the secondary and offensive line, this will be a scary team to face.

For now, the Chiefs are looking at a shot at a wild-card berth, but they aren't quite stacking up with the top six teams in the AFC.

16. Atlanta Falcons (2-3)

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Last Week: 13

This Week: 16

Change: -3

The Atlanta Falcons have the offensive skill to be one of the NFL's best, but what they lack on the offensive line and in the pass rush is crushing the rest of the team's potential.

With Matt Ryan struggling to find time to throw and the run game suffering at the hands of a predictable offense and a bad offensive line, the team cannot get into a rhythm against good defenses. And when the offense falls behind, teams can tee off on Ryan in the backfield and exploit a weak Falcons front seven on defense.

Ryan, Roddy White and Julio Jones will produce, and that will result in wins, but the team is being held back by the talent gaps on the offensive and defensive lines.

15. New Orleans Saints (2-3)

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Last Week: 14

This Week: 15

Change: -1

The New Orleans Saints win but move down. That happens when Drew Brees throws three interceptions and the defense lets Mike Glennon and the Buccaneers take the team to overtime. 

For all the supposed talent in New Orleans, the reality is that Brees is regressing, the offensive line isn't that good and the defense cannot rush the passer off the edge. That puts a ton of pressure on average cornerbacks and a secondary without big-money free-agent pickup Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro, who's still working his way back from injury.

The expectation in New Orleans for far too long has been that Brees and the offense will score enough to compensate for a bad defense. That was the case Sunday, as the offense made up for the defense, but how long will that approach work with Brees no longer the quarterback he used to be?

14. Carolina Panthers (3-2)

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Last Week: 18

This Week: 14

Change: +4

The Carolina Panthers have been as up-and-down as any team in the NFL during the early part of the season. And now, with a win over the Chicago Bears, they climb back up the rankings.

Cam Newton may not be a popular MVP candidate, and who knows if the numbers will be there for him at season's end, but few players are as crucial to their team's success as he is. With a ragtag offensive line, a depleted running-back corps and receivers named Brenton Bersin and Philly Brown, the Panthers are winning. And that's a huge testament to Newton's maturation and development as a quarterback.

The schedule won't be easy for the reigning NFC South champions, but the way this division looks today, there is no team playing better through five weeks.

13. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)

Last Week: 16

This Week: 13

Change: +3

The San Francisco 49ers just might be back to being who we all thought they were. Have the Niners found their identity? Adam Lefkoe, Chris Simms and I discuss in the video above.

12. Arizona Cardinals (3-1)

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Last Week: 5

This Week: 12

Change: -7

Losing your first game of the year will not always qualify as a seven-spot drop in the rankings. But the Arizona Cardinals lost in blowout fashion, and they're facing an uncertain future with quarterback Carson Palmer. They also lost Drew Stanton in the Week 5 loss, which meant relying on rookie Logan Thomas against the attacking Denver defense.

The Cardinals are a good team—there is no ignoring the first three weeks of the season—but the lack of confidence in the quarterback position and the way the secondary was overmatched against Denver are two reasons why they're seeing a bigger-than-expected drop in this week's rankings.

11. Green Bay Packers (3-2)

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Last Week: 12

This Week: 11

Change: +1

The Thursday-night blowout of the Minnesota Vikings keeps the Green Bay Packers rolling and means a move up in the weekly rankings.

The Packers, like many teams right now, are battling injury and the need for young players to step into prominent roles. But they're also getting huge play from mainstays like Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Julius Peppers. And in Week 5, they got back to the punishing run game that fueled their late-season success in 2014. 

If Eddie Lacy can roll like he did in Week 5, the Packers will quickly become one of the league's toughest teams to beat.

10. Detroit Lions (3-2)

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Last Week: 9

This Week: 10

Change: -1

A loss at the hands of the Kyle Orton-led Buffalo Bills hurts the Detroit Lions, and they see a one-slot move down this week. The only thing keeping them in the top 10 right now is the Week 3 win over the Green Bay Packers. But the Lions are on notice heading into Week 6.

With Calvin Johnson injured, the Detroit offense wasn't as explosive as many expect it to be. And on defense, the Bills have the speed at receiver to exploit an average Lions secondary. With an aggressive defensive line and a very athletic linebacker in DeAndre Levy, the Lions shut down the Bills rushing attack but allowed the game to be too close for comfort. And Buffalo came back to win it.

The Lions can still win the North, but they need to get back on track against Minnesota next week.

9. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

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Last Week: 7

This Week: 9

Change: -2

Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts would prove to be the tight clash everyone anticipated from two of the NFL's best teams. But the outcome was a surprise, as it was the Indianapolis defense that made the difference and pulled out the win.

The Ravens miss left tackle Eugene Monroe, and that showed as rookie James Hurst allowed two sacks and two tackles for loss to Bjoern Werner. With Monroe out, Joe Flacco was hurried all day, and his ability to move within the pocket and make throws has never been a strength.

The Ravens are still one of the AFC's best teams, but the Colts were simply better on Sunday.

8. New England Patriots (3-2)

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Last Week: 11

This Week: 8

Change: +3

Those who counted out the New England Patriots after their Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs probably feel pretty foolish at the moment. Especially if you were in the "Tom Brady is done" camp.

Brady and the Patriots are far from done, and their takedown of the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night proved this fact. No, they're not the offensive juggernaut of the Brady and Moss era, but this is a tough team with a good stable of running backs and the game's best head coach in Bill Belichick. And that's good enough to win most weeks.

Maybe it's too early to fully proclaim the Patriots as an elite AFC team right now, but they've proved once again that you should not bet against Belichick and Brady.

7. Dallas Cowboys (4-1)

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Last Week: 10

This Week: 7

Change: +3

OK. Time to admit it. The Dallas Cowboys are for real.

A victory over the Houston Texans isn't a season-defining win or anything, but the way in which the Cowboys keep winning games proves that they're a legitimate contender.

Head coach Jason Garrett has accepted that his offensive line and running game are the strength of the team—and the longer DeMarco Murray is on the field, the less time their questionable defense has to be out there. Garrett and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli are coaching their tails off, and that has allowed playmakers like Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Murray and Terrance Williams to thrive.

The Cowboys were not a trendy preseason pick, but right now they're playing as well as any team in the league.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

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Last Week: 6

This Week: 6

Change: 0

The Philadelphia Eagles are not perfect, but they are winning. And if you can win when you're having an off day in the NFL, you're doing something right. And Chip Kelly is doing many things right.

If you were to have a concern with this team, it would be in the secondary. Cary Williams and Co. have been outmatched by good quarterbacks and bad quarterbacks alike. When Austin Davis throws for 375 yards and three touchdowns, it's time to mix things up. 

The good news is that the offense is able to overcome what the defense allows, and it's doing so with a banged-up offensive line and an oddly ineffective LeSean McCoy. If the line and the star running back can get on track, the Eagles may be unstoppable.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)

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Last Week: 3

This Week: 5

Change: -2

The undefeated Cincinnati Bengals ran into a pissed-off New England Patriots team. History alone has proved that when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick feel like the world is doubting them, they produce. And produce they did.

The Bengals had no answer for the New England passing attack between the hashes, and once they cheated in to counter that, the Patriots gashed them on the edge with the run game. Vontaze Burfict—out with injury—was sorely missed, and the secondary had no answer for Brady.

The Bengals are still one of the AFC's best teams, but this loss will once again raise questions whether Andy Dalton and Co. are good enough to win in prime time or the playoffs.

4. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)

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Last Week: 8

This Week: 4

Change: +4

The Indianapolis Colts don't have a dominant offensive line, a great running back or a star-studded defense. What they do have is one of the game's best quarterbacks and a roster that honestly believes it can win every week. 

Most teams struggle mentally when facing a hard-hitting team like the Baltimore Ravens, but the Colts seemed to elevate their level of play (and toughness) to match the Ravens' output. Bjoern Werner, Sergio Brown and the rest of the Colts defense all came up big in frustrating Joe Flacco, bottling up Steve Smith and overall dominating the Baltimore offense.

Anytime Andrew Luck is on the field, the Colts have to feel like they've got a shot to make something special happen. And it's for that reason (and their impressive play against a top-tier team) that they move into the top four this week.

3. San Diego Chargers (4-1)

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Last Week: 4

This Week: 3

Change: +1

The San Diego Chargers have taken down the defending Super Bowl champions, traveled across the country to smack down the Buffalo Bills and on Sunday, they dismantled the New York Jets. 

That sounds like a top-tier team to me.

The success of Philip Rivers and the offense is amazing when you consider that Antonio Gates is at least 190 years old (or 34) and they're down to running backs named Branden Oliver to carry the load. And it's working! Mike McCoy, welcome to the Coach of the Year conversation.

The AFC's two best teams are in the West, folks.

2. Denver Broncos (3-1)

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Last Week: 2

This Week: 2

Change: 0

There is no change here, but that doesn't mean the Denver Broncos weren't impressive in their total clubbing of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Broncos ended the undefeated season for Arizona, and in the process, Peyton Manning became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 500 touchdowns—joining Brett Favre. Manning is closing in on Favre's NFL record of 508 and could have it within a couple of weeks if his play continues like it did on Sunday.

The Broncos are clicking on all cylinders right now, and the rest of the AFC is watching and wondering how the heck they're going to stop Manning with all of his targets.

1. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)

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Last Week: 1

This Week: 1

Change: 0

The Seahawks hadn't played in what felt like weeks, but on Monday night they made quick work of Jay Gruden's Washington team after a long trip across the country for the prime-time game.

It should be no surprise that the Seahawks weren't their normal, elite selves on the road—legend has it this team struggles away from the comfortable confines of the Northwest. But the fact that Seattle won in spite of penalties, missed chances and uncharacteristically limited play from the offensive playmakers not named Russell Wilson speaks volumes of this team's ability. 

I always say that great teams learn how to win games even when they have an off day, and right now the Seahawks are the kings of that.