NFL Power Rankings: Buffalo Bills and 4 Teams Trending Downward

In our Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, the arrow of several teams is clearly pointed downward. 

Here is the list of teams who are falling in the rankings:

Buffalo Bills (3-1)

The Bills fell four spots from No. 5 to No. 9 after blowing a 14-point lead to the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. I said all week how difficult it was going to be for the Bills to ride their emotional high after beating the Patriots for the first time in 16 games, and they proved it. Three wins does not a season make. The Bills now need to recover. This is still a team that can play with anyone, but dealing with the expectations of winning will take some getting used to.

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

I had the Steelers at No. 6 in my Week 4 Power Rankings, which was far too high for a team that still has many question marks. How are they going to fix that makeshift offensive line? Ben Roethlisberger has been hit over and over this season, and now he's in a walking boot. The defense allowed Arian Foster to run all over them despite missing most of the 2011 season with a bad hamstring. Until the Steelers get both lines of scrimmage figured out, this is a team that could free fall.

New York Jets (2-2)

Much like the Steelers, the Jets are having problems on both lines. They looked better against the run in Baltimore, but the offensive line was woeful. While Mark Sanchez is to blame on the turnovers, he didn't receive much help from his line in front of him. They need to manage Sanchez better, too. How can he look so good and calm in winning four road playoff games, then be so mediocre in the regular season? That's something the Jets need to figure out. I'm not sure they can win in this age of football without better play from Sanchez. 

Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)

The talent is always going to be there for Philadelphia, but it's the little things that are getting them beat. Ronnie Brown's decision on the goal line was one of the boneheaded plays of the season. And later on, Jeremy Maclin needed to take care of the ball with the Eagles driving in the fourth. The middle of that defense has just been gashed through four weeks, too. That's something that will likely be a problem all season, because there simply isn't the personnel available to fix it. 

Full Week 5 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (4-0)	17. New York Jets (2-2)
2. Detroit Lions (4-0)	18. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
3. New Orleans Saints (3-1)	19. Chicago Bears (2-2)
4. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)	20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)
5. New England Patriots (3-1)	21. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)
6. Houston Texans (3-1)	22. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
7. San Diego Chargers (3-1)	23. Carolina Panthers (1-3)
8. New York Giants (3-1)	24. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
9. Buffalo Bills (3-1)	25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
10. Tennessee Titans (3-1)	26. Denver Broncos (1-3)
11. San Francisco 49ers (3-1)	27. Seattle Seahawks (1-3)
12. Washington Redskins (3-1)	28. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
13. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)	29. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)*	30. Indianapolis Colts (0-3)*
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)	31. St. Louis Rams (0-4)
16. Oakland Raiders (2-2)	32. Minnesota Vikings (0-4)

*Plays Monday night