NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Predicting Post-Monday Night Football Standings

Sunday was filled with marquee matchups, and the battle on Monday Night Football between New England and Kansas City is the perfect way to cap off a wild Week 4 of the 2014 NFL regular season.

Now it’s time to see where every team landed on the latest power rankings. Here is the full list of predictions for where each franchise in the NFL will stand after Monday’s matchup.

32. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders were forced to travel to England to play on Sunday and were trounced by the Miami Dolphins, 38-14. With tough upcoming games against the NFC and AFC West, the losses will continue to pile up.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Many football fans were excited to see what Jacksonville was capable of after a strong first half in Week 1 vs. Philadelphia, but the team has been awful in every aspect of the game. A 33-14 loss to San Diego only made the situation worse.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A late touchdown drive helped Tampa Bay beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, but the victory doesn’t erase the beating the team was handed in Week 3. Mike Glennon is clearly the better quarterback, but Lovie Smith’s dedication to the injured Josh McCown could be the ultimate downfall for the team in 2014.

29. New York Giants

In one of the most shocking games of the week, the New York Giants destroyed the Washington Redskins, 45-14. New York looked strong, but with inconsistency and turnovers plaguing the team, the Giants are still NFC pretenders.

Scott Kane/Associated Press

28. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams needed the bye week to rest and get some healthy bodies on the field. With three upcoming matchups against Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, the Rams need all the rest they can handle.

27. Minnesota Vikings

A shocking win over the Atlanta Falcons was a huge boost for the spirits of the Minnesota Vikings, but the ankle injury to rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, per KFAN, could be a devastating blow if the MRI reveals more damage than suspected.

26. Tennessee Titans

The slow regression of the Tennessee Titans continued in Week 4 when the team was utterly dominated by Indianapolis, 41-17. With Jake Locker injured and both the offense and defense struggling, it’s going to be a long season for Tennessee fans.

25. Washington Redskins

Under the tutelage of new head coach Jay Gruden, many expected the Washington Redskins to be instant contenders in the NFC East, but that couldn’t be farther from the case. After losing to New York on Thursday, Washington will play Seattle in Week 5. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

24. New York Jets

As strong as the New York Jets are on defense, the offensive unit led by quarterback Geno Smith has been awful. As long as Smith is under center, New York will continue to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. It’s time to turn to backup Michael Vick.

23. Cleveland Browns

One of the biggest surprises of the 2014 season is the fight the Cleveland Browns have shown. After almost beating Baltimore and Pittsburgh and handing New Orleans a loss, Cleveland heads to Tennessee to try and get the season back on track.

22. Houston Texans

There was always going to be growing pains when Bill O’Brien took over the head coaching job of the Houston Texans, but the team is heading in the right direction. A win over a tough Buffalo franchise was a major confidence boost.

21. Miami Dolphins

A win is a win, but it’s substantially discounted when it comes against Oakland in London. Miami has the talent on the roster to be a dark-horse contender in the AFC East, but consistency is a major issue for the franchise.

20. Kansas City Chiefs

With running back Jamaal Charles likely returning from a high ankle sprain Monday night, according to Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com, the Kansas City Chiefs have the chance to regain the elite form they had last season. If the offense doesn’t find a rhythm, the Chiefs are in trouble against New England.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers

These aren't your dad’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead of being a team predicated on defensive play, Pittsburgh is now an offensive powerhouse with a defense that has become more of a liability than an asset. The Steelers are in trouble if they don’t remedy the defensive inefficiency.

18. Dallas Cowboys

A win over the New Orleans Saints is a positive step for the Dallas Cowboys, but there are still issues on the defensive side of the ball. New Orleans may not have been playing well enough to capitalize on the advantages, but good teams can hang big points on Dallas.

Jim Mone/Associated Press

17. Atlanta Falcons

Many football fans were singing the praises of the Atlanta Falcons following the Thursday night drubbing of Tampa Bay in Week 3, but a loss to Minnesota in Week 4 exposed the defensive weakness for the franchise. Without a pass rush, Atlanta is in serious trouble.

16. Chicago Bears

The biggest weakness of the Chicago Bears has always been the inconsistency of quarterback Jay Cutler. When he starts throwing interceptions, the wheels can come off fast, and it can become an absolute train wreck. During the loss to Green Bay, that’s exactly what fans witnessed.

15. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have the talent to be a postseason contender in the AFC, but the inability to pull out close victories is a major concern. Buffalo could have beat Houston on Sunday, but inconsistency and poor decision-making ruined the team’s chances.

14. Carolina Panthers

One of the hardest teams in the NFL to read is the Carolina Panthers. The team started the season hot but has cooled off dramatically. While Carolina is still tough on the defensive side of the ball, Cam Newton and the offensive unit have been lackluster at best.

13. New Orleans Saints

Who saw the New Orleans Saints starting the season 1-3 coming? Led by Drew Brees on offense, the Saints haven’t been perfect, but it is the defensive flaws causing the most damage. If New Orleans doesn’t remedy the issue soon, the team’s postseason hopes will slip away.

12. Detroit Lions

Even with star wide receiver Calvin Johnson catching only two passes on Sunday, the Detroit Lions still managed to pull out a much-needed win over the New York Jets. Just imagine how good the team will look with Matthew Stafford and Megatron healthy and on the same page.

11. San Francisco 49ers

A victory over the hobbled Philadelphia Eagles is the kind of gritty win the team needs, but San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick showed some major clock-awareness issues. The team must figure out what the problem is and remedy it immediately.

10. Baltimore Ravens

Led by wide receiver Steve Smith, the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Carolina Panthers in Week 4. The veteran pass-catcher torched his former team with seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. If this Smith shows up every week, watch out for Baltimore.

9. Green Bay Packers

Inconsistency is a huge issue for the Green Bay Packers, but the team stepped up in a huge victory over the Chicago Bears. The offensive unit must develop a rhythm and maintain it if the franchise has plans of making the postseason, though.

8. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have started the season unbeaten, but injuries have plagued the team on both sides of the ball. A matchup against Denver in Week 5 will be the ultimate test of how the franchise handles a true contender.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

7. Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco deserves credit for beating the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, but the injuries and suspensions along the offensive line has left the unit in shambles. Until Nick Foles gets more time in the pocket, the high-powered Eagles offense will continue to struggle.

6. San Diego Chargers

Even with several injuries at the running back position, the San Diego Chargers' offensive unit has played well enough to win games. Add in a defense that is stingier than ever, and the Chargers are serious threats in the AFC.

5. Indianapolis Colts

Everyone knew the talent quarterback Andrew Luck possessed, but the Indianapolis Colts' running back tandem of Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw has been better than expected. The combination makes the team’s offense one of the most dangerous in the league.

4. New England Patriots

The lack of big plays and explosiveness from the New England Patriots offense has been frustrating for fans, but the team knows how to win games. As long as Tom Brady is under center, the Patriots will be in a position to be a Super Bowl contender.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Three victories in the first three games and chemistry on both sides of the ball are great signs for the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Week 4 bye may have been counterproductive to the team’s momentum. The Bengals return this Sunday in a tough matchup against New England.

2. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos understand the importance of the bye week. With the Arizona Cardinals next on the schedule, Denver wants to bounce back from the loss to Seattle by beating another team with a strong secondary.

1. Seattle Seahawks

The bye week will give the Seattle Seahawks the chance to get their bodies and minds ready for what promises to be a grueling regular season and a likely deep playoff run. The Seahawks get a favorable matchup in Week 5, though, as they travel to Washington to play the Redskins.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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