NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Who Finds Themselves Above the Competition?

It has been quite a tumultuous season through the first five weeks of the NFL.

Bottom dwellers are finally feasting.

Preseason Super Bowl contenders have reason to panic.

Who has the talent to turn things around?

Which team will continue dropping down the ladder?

Will Tampa Bay and Oakland continue their winning ways?

Is Minnesota vs Dallas the most important game of the first six weeks?

Which teams place where as we head in to Week 6 of the NFL season?

Tier 1

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 11: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets looks on against the Minnesota Vikings at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 11, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets won 29-20. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

1. New York Jets (4-1)

2. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

These three teams have to be the leading contenders to win the Super Bowl at the moment.

Although Baltimore beat New York Week 1, I still believe the Jets should have won that game. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer called an odd game. Not saying the Ravens couldn’t beat the Jets any given week, but I’d take the Jets.

The Jets are dominant on defense. More importantly, they’re rolling on offense thanks to LaDainian Tomlinson. Mark Sanchez isn’t turning the ball over this season and they just got Santonio Holmes back.

Pittsburgh opened the season 3-1, much to my surprise. With Ben Roethlisberger back this week, they’ll continue rolling. Except now the wide receivers will be far more consistent and the offense will be much scarier. They lost a close home game to Baltimore with Charlie Batch and I can’t help but think if Roethlisberger had played they would have held on to the win.

Still, Baltimore won and I’ll take their offense over Pittsburgh’s.

Tier 2

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 03: Justin Tuck #91 of the New York Giants is introduced before playing against the Chicago Bears at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

4. New York Giants (3-2)

5. Atlanta Falcons (4-1)

6. Kansas City Chiefs (3-1)

7. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)

8. New Orleans Saints (3-2)

9. Tennessee Titans (3-2)

10. New England Patriots (3-1)

11. Chicago Bears (4-1)

The Giants opened inconsistent, but have turned in two very good performances. If they can keep the turnovers down, they’ll be very dangerous. The defense is finally clicking. Atlanta has squeaked out close wins and looks to be the cream of the NFC, but I’d tip my hat to the Giants in a meeting between the two.

The Colts beat the Chiefs in an unimpressive fashion in Week 5. The Chiefs were a dropped touchdown from Dwayne Bowe away from possibly sealing the game. The Chiefs have impressed me a lot. I love their coaching staff and youthful explosiveness.

Tennessee continues to be one of the most underrated teams each year. They have a solid defense, a good quarterback and arguably the best running back in the league. New Orleans stays in the top 10 despite a terrible loss to the lowly Cardinals. Injuries struck the Saints hard to open the season but I like them in the long run to contend for another Super Bowl.

Although I love their defense, I don’t fully trust the Chicago Bears just yet. It would be nice to see one of their receivers step up finally. New England is in the top 10 despite trading Randy Moss for the simple fact that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are still there. It’s tough to bet against them when they’re determined to prove everyone wrong.

Tier 3

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans in action during the game against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

12. Houston Texans (3-2)

13. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)

14. Green Bay Packers (3-2)

15. Dallas Cowboys (1-3)

16. Oakland Raiders (2-3)

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)

18. San Francisco 49ers (0-5)

Tier 3 is muddled with teams in odd scenarios. Most of these teams were expected to succeed throughout the season but have fallen flat on their faces to open the year.

Clearly Minnesota, Dallas, Green Bay, and San Francisco have a lot of talent on their team but are at the bottom looking up in the standings. I still think Minnesota, Dallas, and San Francisco can turn things around and bring home a respectable season.

Green Bay has a winning record but lost to the Redskins when they should have won and are dealing with several injuries at the moment.

I had Oakland winning the division so I have to believe that they can keep competing.

I also believed Houston would be a winning team this season. Houston could face trouble all season with their terrible secondary though. Andre Johnson still looked bothered by his ankle injury against New York. Worse though was the look of defeat on their faces throughout the game.

Tampa Bay has been a surprise to me but I love the way they’re playing. Josh Freeman and Mike Williams look great and the defense is much improved. Good to see the young team enjoying early success.

Tier 4

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 26: Chad Ochocinco #85 and teammate Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals wait for a play against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Pho

19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

20. Miami Dolphins (2-2)

21. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

22. Denver Broncos (2-3)

23. Washington Redskins (3-2)

24. San Diego Chargers (2-3)

If Philadelphia started Michael Vick from the beginning, and he was healthy, this team would be much higher up. He is that dangerous. The team plays much different when he is on the field instead of Kevin Kolb.

I didn’t trust the Chargers since the preseason and they’re proving me right. Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates have been phenomenal. Until the rest of the team gives me a reason to believe, I can’t move them up a tier.

I still don’t trust the Redskins despite two big wins. Miami plays tough ball but I still see them as a .500 club. Denver has actually impressed me and they probably still will for most of the year, but I don’t think they’ll amount to many wins.

As much as it pains me to say, Carson Palmer has become a liability. I still believe they can turn things around because of the talent on the team, but they’re not there yet. They have a lot of work to do on the bye week.

Tier 5

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 12: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions waits for a instant replay ruling on an apparent touchdown catch in the final minute against the Chicago Bears during the NFL season opening game at Soldier Field on September 12, 2010 in Chi

25. Detroit Lions (1-4)

26. Cleveland Browns (1-4)

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)

28. St. Louis Rams (2-3)

29. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

30. Seattle Seahawks (2-2)

31. Buffalo Bills (0-5)

32. Carolina Panthers (0-5)

Detroit and Cleveland have impressed me a lot this year. I thought Detroit could potentially be a .500 team. The record doesn’t show it, but they have played like one. They should have beaten Chicago and almost beat Philadelphia and Green Bay. Their only poor game was against Minnesota.

Cleveland picked up a big win against Cincinnati and has played most of their games tough. They could have opened 3-1 and had a chance to beat Atlanta. For a team without much talent, they are a tough out. Peyton Hillis has been one of the biggest surprises of the league.

Sam Bradford has been fantastic. He’s proven to me wrong since I didn’t think he would be this good. Still, this team has been hit by injuries and the secondary is terrible.

Jacksonville surprisingly beat the Colts and both of their other wins I predicted. Still, I don’t trust this team whatsoever. I think they fall back to the bottom.

Arizona completed the major upset of the Saints Week 5, but they really should not have won that game. I didn’t see much out of the gate from Max Hall even though he was at least able to get Larry Fitzgerald the ball. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong and win more games as I do think their defense is underrated and I really like Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells. Still, I wouldn’t bet on it.

Seattle had the impressive Week 1 win over San Francisco. Since then, they have not looked the least bit impressive. I think they’re headed for a top six pick.

Same goes for Buffalo and Carolina. They’re clearly at the bottom of the barrel.