NFL Power Rankings: Teams Being Carried by Their Ground Game

The NFL has transformed into a passing league, but there are still a few run-heavy teams that remind fans of the games of yore. 

Week 5 was a reminder of those days where running backs carried offenses. Here are a few performances of note. 

1. Ahmad Bradshaw

Andre Brown had a breakthrough performance in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers, rushing for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the process, according to ESPN.com.

His opportunity to start came when Bradshaw was injured. Now that he is healthy, Bradshaw needed to prove himself as the Giants’ unquestioned starter, which he did in stunning fashion.

Bradshaw's Week 5 performance against the Cleveland Browns was the best performance of any running back for the week, as he ran for 200 yards and scored a touchdown.

The Giants now have two backs capable of taking over a game, and that’s the best problem to have if you are the defending Super Bowl champions. 

2. Arian Foster  

What can you say about Houston Texans running back Arian Foster that hasn’t already been said?

He’s proven week after week that he can be one of the best running backs in the NFL.

Since backup running back Ben Tate was out with a toe injury, Foster was able to dominate by rushing for 152 yards and scoring one touchdown in Monday night’s game against the New York Jets.

Even though Foster is known to dominate a game like this, his performance on Monday night was crucial considering the fact that Andre Johnson only had 15 receiving yards, according to NFL.com. 

3. Stevan Ridley 

As odd as it sounds, the New England Patriots have one of the best running backs in the National Football League in Stevan Ridley. 

His Week 5 performance against the Denver Broncos, in which he rushed for a 151 yards and scored a touchdown, is only a continuation of the recent success he has had as a member of the Patriots.

Just last week against the Buffalo Bills, Ridley rushed for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns despite sharing the ball with running back Brandon Bolden, who had an impressive stat line of his own. 

Quarterback Tom Brady is still the heart of the New England Patriots, but if the team wants to dominate like they once did, they need an explosive run game. Ridley provides just that. 

Week 5 Power Rankings

1. Houston Texans

2. Atlanta Falcons 

3. San Francisco 49ers 

4. Baltimore Ravens

5. New England Patriots

6. Chicago Bears

7. Pittsburgh Steelers

8. Arizona Cardinals

9. Minnesota Vikings

10. Green Bay Packers

11. St. Louis Rams

12. New York Giants

13. Denver Broncos

14. Cincinnati Bengals

15. Philadelphia Eagles

16. Dallas Cowboys

17. Washington Redskins

18. Seattle Seahawks

19. San Diego Chargers

20. Miami Dolphins

21. Detroit Lions

22. Buffalo Bills

23. Carolina Panthers

24. Indianapolis Colts

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

26. New Orleans Saints

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Tennessee Titans

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

30. Oakland Raiders

31. New York Jets

32. Cleveland Browns