NFL Power Rankings Week 5: New England Patriots and 2 Teams Trending Upward

It's bound to happen with all teams who've had success in the recent past: bouncing back after a tough loss/start and proving their worth on the field, as opposed to paper.

So which teams are quickly trending back upward?

Well, the first team is hinted in the headline above.

New England Patriots (3-1)

The New England Patriots proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they are the team to beat in the AFC East.

And it's not that the Buffalo Bills are overrated, because they're not. It's just that Buffalo straight up beat the Patriots, but Tom Brady and company did what they always do when face with adversity: overcome it.

The Bills, on the other hand, pulled a New England and gave up a lead early on, only to lose in the end.

It happens to everyone, and more often than not these days; just ask the Dallas Cowboys.

All that being said, with Tom Brady under center the Pats haven't missed the playoffs since 2002, so there's no reason to panic after they got a big win over the confident Oakland Raiders (on the road, mind you) in Week 4.

New York Giants (3-1)

The way the Giants are playing now, they may very well have defeated the Washington Redskins in Week 1.

Not that the Redskins aren't a solid bunch, but New York is just playing better football right now.

The win at Philadelphia was big, then coming back over Arizona (despite the non-fumble call late) was huge.

QB Eli Manning has eight TDs to only two picks, and once the defense gets Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora on the field together this season, The Big Blue Wrecking Crew will be rolling.

And for the sake of Giants' fans, here's hoping their WRs can pick up the pace with Domenik Hixon being out.

Tennessee Titans (3-1)

Despite the ridiculous lack of productivity through the first three weeks, RB Chris Johnson had a solid performance in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns on the road (126 total yards).

And although he has yet to find the end zone, Matt Hasselbeck has performed wonderfully in throwing eight TDs to only three picks and has had a QB rating over over 90 each game.

Now count the contributions from the defense, which is ranked in the top 10 in both rushing and passing yards allowed, and the AFC South looks to have two solid AFC title contenders (Houston being the other).

Week 1 was clearly a fluke loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. With the Titans having run off three straight (including a home victory over Baltimore), The Music City is getting into a rhythm.

Week 5 Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (** Are Monday Night Teams)

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

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