NFL Power Rankings 2020: Week 5 Standings, Team Stats and Season Review

Kristopher KnoxOct 7, 2020

By December, we may not remember what transpired over the first month of the 2020 NFL season. However, it has set the stage for what could be one of the more memorable years in recent football history.

If the playoffs started today, usual suspects such as the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks would be in. So would Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns. The 2019 NFC champion San Francisco 49ers and the defending AFC South champion Houston Texans would be out.

Of course, the regular season doesn't end today, and there's a lot of football left to unfold. Here, we'll take inventory of where teams currently stand and where some of the top squads might be headed.

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Week 5 Standings, Points For/Against

AFC East

Buffalo Bills (4-0) 123/100

New England Patriots (2-2) 97/92

Miami Dolphins (1-3) 93/96

New York Jets (0-4) 65/131

AFC South

Tennessee Titans (3-0) 80/74

Indianapolis Colts (3-1) 103/56

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) 95/117

Houston Texans (0-4) 80/126

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) 80/58

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) 122/73

Cleveland Browns (3-1) 124/126

Cincinnati Bengals (1-2-1) 99/99

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) 117/70

Las Vegas Raiders (2-2) 111/120

Denver Broncos (1-3) 82/98

Los Angeles Chargers (1-3) 83/95

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (1-2-1) 84/107

Dallas Cowboys (1-3) 126/146

Washington Football Team (1-3) 79/112

New York Giants (0-4) 47/96

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) 120/92

Carolina Panthers (2-2) 99/102

New Orleans Saints (2-2) 123/123

Atlanta Falcons (0-4) 106/138

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (4-0) 152/101

Chicago Bears (3-1) 85/81

Minnesota Vikings (1-3) 105/125

Detroit Lions (1-3) 99/127

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks (4-0) 142/109

Los Angeles Rams (3-1) 106/80

Arizona Cardinals (2-2) 98/92

San Francisco 49ers (2-2) 107/71

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Returning playoff teams like the Packers, Seahawks and Chiefs are back in the postseason mix, which shouldn't come as a surprise. What is surprising is how some of these teams have gotten to first place in their respective divisions.

The Packers, for example, have been utterly dominant through four weeks. While some expected the team to take a step back in the wake of another offseason without additional receiver help, Aaron Rodgers and Co. have looked even better than last year's 13-3 squad.

Considering Green Bay has dealt with injuries to receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, their dominance cannot be dismissed.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have also looked potentially better than last year's team. The addition of rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the backfield has added balance and another weapon to an already dangerous Kansas City offense.

Seattle has the early leading MVP candidate in quarterback Russell Wilson. The future Hall of Famer has been to seven Pro Bowls but has never received a vote for NFL Most Valuable Player.

"Come on? No votes at all? What more do I have to do around here, huh? I'm just saying, can we get a few votes here or there?" Wilson said on ESPN 710 Seattle's Tom, Jake and Stacey show in May this year.

Wilson, who has 1,285 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions, is going to get himself some votes this year. He's going to have to continue lighting it up because Seattle possesses the worst passing defense in the league.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the lead in the AFC North, thanks to the return of a healthy Ben Roethlisberger and the Baltimore Ravens' loss to "kryptonite" Kansas City. Pittsburgh and Baltimore will face off in Week 8 in a game that could pave the way to a division title.

The 3-1 Browns are also in the AFC North mix, and they've gotten there by running the football. They racked up over 300 rushing yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. However, they also got blown out by the Ravens in Week 1 and recently placed starting running back Nick Chubb on injured reserve. There's a good chance that if they get into the postseason, it's as a wild-card team.

The Bears are also 3-1 but are looking like an iffy wild-card candidate. They recently replace Mitchell Trubisky with Nick Foles at quarterback and promptly lost in Foles' first start.

The Tennessee Titans have a half-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South, though Indy's league-best defense could give it an edge moving forward. Brady and the Bucs are in control of the AFC South, while the 1-2-1 Philadelphia Eagles somehow have the lead in the woeful NFC East.

If relegation was a thing in the NFL, the entire NFC East might be demoted.

Lastly, the 4-0 Buffalo Bills have a lead over Cam Newton's New England Patriots in the AFC East. While the Patriots can never be counted out, the Bills look like a truly elite team under the guidance of an improved and MVP-worthy third-year version of quarterback Josh Allen.

Week 5 Power Rankings

1. Kansas City Chiefs

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Seattle Seahawks

4. Baltimore Ravens

5. Buffalo Bills

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8. Los Angeles Rams

9. Tennessee Titans

10. New England Patriots

11. New Orleans Saints