NFL Power Rankings: Green Bay Packers and the 5 Best Teams in the League

Save for one team, not much has changed in the top of the power ranking pack headed into the second quarter of the NFL season.

The Green Bay Packers retain the top spot for the second week in a row and have held it for three out of four weeks. The defending Super Bowl champions have showed no signs of a hangover after their dominant run through the 2010 playoffs that culminated in bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Wisconsin.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the best and most consistent quarterback in the league, aided by six reliable receiving targets and supported by a strong offensive line. On the other side of the ball, their defense has some of the best run-stopping in the league, and while they stumble a bit defending the pass, it hasn't been much of an issue as the offense continues to build significant leads week after week.

To imagine a team having any kind of success against the undefeated Packers as the season progresses gets more and more difficult. While no squad can be declared Super Bowl contenders after four weeks, the Packers make as strong a case as any. Surely they are the team to beat, but it's unclear if anyone actually can take them down.

A team that has already tried and failed is the No. 2 team in the league this week, the 3-1 New Orleans Saints. Only the Packers field a more complete team. While the Saints are in a competitive NFC South division, it's hard to picture them not coming out on top, even at this early point in the year.

Like the Packers above them, the Saints offense benefits from a terrific quarterback in Drew Brees and a plethora of receiving targets. Their three-headed running attack of Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram is one of the best, if not the best, in the NFL.

Pound for pound, the Saints stack up well against the Packers; that Green Bay represents the team's only loss is what prevents them from taking the top spot in the rankings.

At No. 3 is the only other undefeated squad in the NFL, the Detroit Lions. Hamstrung somewhat in the playoff race by sharing a division with the Packers, nevertheless Detroit must remain in the postseason discussion as long as its regular season continues on the path that the Lions are currently marching.

Much was said about the Lions' chances heading into 2011. But with quarterback Matthew Stafford finally healthy, wide receiver Calvin Johnson easily best in the league at his position and a brutal defensive line to their credit, the team hasn't disappointed.

While they haven't taken on a significant number of difficult opponents, their back-to-back come from behind wins have been nothing short of impressive. Dispatching the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 is no small feat. Parity is clearly one of the best things about the NFL and its benefits are on full display with the surging Lions.

Behind the Lions, at No. 4, are the New England Patriots. They've not moved from their Week 3 position after losing to the Buffalo Bills. While they trounced the best Oakland Raiders squad we've seen in nearly a decade, certain inconsistencies and their single defeat have them below Detroit and New Orleans in my rankings.

Quarterback Tom Brady is having one of the best—if not the best—season of his career though four weeks in terms of touchdowns and yardage. Once again he has the benefit of being surrounded by some of the best offensive talent in the NFL.

Injuries are beginning to add up for New England, however, and it could hurt their chances as the season wears on. With weaknesses on defense, all it could take are a few poorly-timed injuries to the offensive line to turn the tide for the team.

But unless that happens, it looks like no matter the injuries thus far the Patriots are able to soldier on and remain as one of the more dominant teams in the NFL.

Rounding out the top five are the San Diego Chargers, who enter each season as perennial playoff favorites. The Chargers, 3-1 on the year (falling only to the Patriots, in Week 2), have managed to maintain strength on offense even while dealing with a number of injuries to starters and playmakers.

Much of this can be attributed to the well-balanced attack that alternates between big plays from quarterback Philip Rivers and hard-nosed runs by running backs Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert. If fully healthy, it's scary to think what kind of numbers the Chargers would be putting up on a weekly basis.

Statistically, the Chargers' league-leading defense has taken a slide this year, mainly due to their 35-21 loss to New England and the fact that they've given up 17 points apiece to two struggling squads, the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs.

However, each of their wins, including Week 4's victory over the Miami Dolphins, have been decisive and dominant. Though they share a division with the suddenly-relevant Raiders, they shouldn't have any trouble maintaining their AFC West first-place standing.

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

*Unranked: Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (playing Monday night)