NFL Power Rankings: Early Look at Each Team Before Week 6

After a wild end to another chapter in the 2013 NFL regular season, the focus has once again shifted to the power rankings and where each team stands heading into Week 6.

Football fans were treated to blowouts, upsets and enough fun for an entire season last week, and this is how the NFL landscape looks now.

All stats and information via NFL.com.

1. Denver Broncos (5-0)

The Denver Broncos beat the Dallas Cowboys 51-48 in a marquee matchup that stole the show in Week 5. While Denver’s defensive unit was destroyed by Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense, the eventual returns of cornerback Champ Bailey and linebacker Von Miller will make the already dangerous Broncos even more impressive.

2. New Orleans Saints (5-0)

Drew Brees and the league’s No. 2 pass offense make their way to New England to play the Patriots in Week 6, but the New Orleans Saints are more than ready for the test. After beating the Chicago Bears Sunday to remain undefeated, it’s clear that New Orleans is a serious Super Bowl contender.

3. Seattle Seahawks (4-1)

The Seattle Seahawks faced their first defeat of the season against the tough Indianapolis Colts, but a Week 6 meeting against the Tennessee Titans should be the perfect remedy for the team's recent struggles.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)

The dream season for new head coach Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs continues after the team beat Tennessee on the road. Kansas City hosts the Oakland Raiders in Week 6 and will look to continue the undefeated streak.

5. New England Patriots (4-1)

As talented as the New England Patriots have been this season, a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week and an even tougher matchup against the Saints Sunday night has the team ready to fall down the rankings.

6. Indianapolis Colts (4-1)

After a huge win over the Seahawks, the Indianapolis Colts have proved to be one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. With a Monday Night Football matchup with the San Diego Chargers looming, this will be a good test of how far Indy can go in the postseason.

7. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most enigmatic teams this season, but a home game against the divisional rival Arizona Cardinals should be the perfect opportunity to regain the elite form that took the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012.

8. Green Bay Packers (2-2)

Just as San Francisco has struggled to find its identity, the Green Bay Packers are a shell of the team that won the Super Bowl in 2010. The team still has an immense amount of talent, but a tough matchup with the Baltimore Ravens will reveal exactly what this group is capable of achieving.

9. Chicago Bears (3-2)

The Chicago Bears played well in the loss to New Orleans, but the team must start pulling out victories in the close battles to have shot at winning the division or making the playoffs. Chicago plays Thursday night against the New York Giants, and that should be the chance QB Jay Cutler and the Bears need to get everyone on the same page.

10. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

The Baltimore Ravens may be defending Super Bowl champions, but they haven’t played that way this season. After a hard-fought victory in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore will face its toughest test Sunday against Green Bay.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a huge win over the New England Patriots, and the team will now take on the injury-plagued Buffalo Bills. With a wide-open race in the AFC North, this is Cincinnati’s time to shine.

12. Miami Dolphins (3-2)

Despite losing to Baltimore, the Miami Dolphins proved once again that the team has a strong group of talented players. If Miami can use the bye week to build even more chemistry, the Dolphins could be a serious threat to make the playoffs.

13. Detroit Lions (3-2)

The Detroit Lions were destroyed by Green Bay Sunday without wide receiver Calvin Johnson in the lineup (knee), and a matchup with the Cleveland Browns isn’t as easy as it looks on paper. If Detroit wants to contend in the NFC North, the team must win Sunday.

14. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)

After suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos, the Dallas Cowboys will look to return to winning ways by beating the divisional rival Washington Redskins on Sunday Night Football.

15. Tennessee Titans (3-2)

The Tennessee Titans were playing well enough to be considered a real challenge in the AFC South, but the injury to quarterback Jake Locker (hip) will derail all the momentum the team was building. The slow decline has begun.

16. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Carolina Panthers Sunday, but the real test will come this Sunday when the team travels to San Francisco to play the 49ers. That will be the most accurate gauge of the talent level on the Cardinals roster.

17. Oakland Raiders (2-3)

The Oakland Raiders have played well in front of quarterback Terrelle Pryor, but his ability to lead a team through a difficult matchup will be exposed when the team squares off against the undefeated Chiefs in Kansas City.

18. Cleveland Browns (3-2)

The return of Brandon Weeden as the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback and the meeting with the Detroit Lions could be the worst combination for the underrated team. This game will be a good gauge of what kind of team Cleveland will be moving forward.

19. Houston Texans (2-3)

The Houston Texans have a great defense and talented players on offense, but quarterback Matt Schaub is melting down. If the veteran can’t pull the offensive unit together and play well, the Texans will miss the playoffs.

20. San Diego Chargers (2-3)

After losing to the Oakland Raiders, the San Diego Chargers will take on the Indianapolis Colts Monday night. The Chargers will have to play their best football of the season to win, but Week 5 showed San Diego was not elite.

21. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3)

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants Sunday, but the team wants more. While they are far from the most talented team in the NFC, Philadelphia’s rebuilding season could turn into a surprise run at the postseason in the lackluster NFC East.

22. New York Jets (3-2)

The New York Jets are the hardest team in the NFL to figure out. With an amazing victory over the Atlanta Falcons Monday night and one of the best defenses in the sport, the Jets are a legitimate threat to contend for the final playoff spot.

23. St. Louis Rams (2-3)

While St. Louis managed to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Rams didn’t look like a playoff-caliber team. With a meeting against the much more talented Texans on the horizon, St. Louis is in serious trouble.

24. Buffalo Bills (2-3)

The Buffalo Bills lost quarterback EJ Manuel for several weeks, and that will hurt any chance the team had of being a real playoff contender this year. At this point, Buffalo is just looking to survive.

25. Atlanta Falcons (1-4)

The Atlanta Falcons were considered one of the best teams in the league to start the season, but four losses in the first five weeks is a nightmare start. The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time, but the damage may have already been done to the Falcons’ playoff hopes.

26. Carolina Panthers (1-3)

The Carolina Panthers were dominated by the Cardinals last week and face a tough test against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6. If Carolina doesn’t get the ship turned around fast, there could be major changes within the organization.

27. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)

After a huge win in London and a bye week to get healthy and recharge the team’s batteries, the Minnesota Vikings play the Panthers. While the game will be a test of how well the team will play for the remainder of the season, all eyes will be on newest acquisition Josh Freeman.

28. Washington Redskins (1-3)

The Washington Redskins are coming off the bye, and the hope from the franchise is that star quarterback Robert Griffin III is comfortable enough with his knee injury that he can once again be the dual threat that the Redskins need.

29. New York Giants (0-5)

Eli Manning may have two Super Bowl rings, but all the fans in New York care about are the five consecutive losses the Giants have amassed to start the year. With a tough Thursday night matchup against the Bears, 0-6 is a very real possibility.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-4)

Pittsburgh knows how to use a bye week to the team’s advantage, but the Steelers better be ready for a defensive slugfest when they take on the New York Jets Sunday.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4)

After coming off a bye, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready to square off against the Philadelphia Eagles with rookie Mike Glennon under center. If Tampa Bay doesn’t win, the Greg Schiano experiment must come to an end.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5)

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the worst team in the NFL. The Jaguars will play the Broncos in Week 6. Things are going from bad to much worse.

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