NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Oakland Raiders and 3 Teams That Will Shock the NFL

Raise your hand if you predicted the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins being in first place in their division after the first quarter of the NFL season? 

If your hand is raised you are a liar or you are a die-hard fan of these teams that never gave up the faith, even after their consistent losing seasons. Or even better you had a crystal ball and could see these three teams surprising everyone. 

If that is the case, why didn’t you put money on these teams, winning a boat load of cash quitting your day job and having entirely to much time on your hands? 

As we move onto the second quarter of the NFL season, there are a number of teams that are ready to shock the NFL and its fans as serious threats to make the NFL playoffs this year. 

Here are three teams that are currently 2-2 after four games this year, but by the time the next four games are over, they’ll be between 6-2 and 5-3. 

Oakland Raiders

This year, Oakland has looked as good as any team in first place. They are the best team in the NFL in running the ball, averaging 179 yards per game. However, if this team wants to take that next step into being apart of the NFL’s elite, it has to get better on defense and passing. 

It’s those two reasons that kept this Raiders team from winning games at Buffalo and against the Patriots. 

Their next four games are: @ Houston, vs. Cleveland, vs. Kansas City and vs. Denver. 

Four very winnable games for the Raiders.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are everyone's favorite team to either love or hate. They sit at 2-2 this year but could easily be 4-0 or 0-4. They’re on the bye this week ,which couldn’t be more perfectly timed.

This team needs to refocus and get healthy. Once they do that, they will be a serious threat in the NFC East.

Their next four games are: @ New England, vs. St. Louis, @ Philadelphia and vs. Seattle

Cleveland Browns

The Browns were a good sleeper pick this year to come out of the AFC North as a Wild Card team. But after four games, they have more questions about how good they are than they had last year. 

The team has a good quarterback in Colt McCoy, a good running game with Peyton Hillis as RB and a great cornerback in Joe Haden. Yet, the Browns don’t have any wide receivers or any defense that stands out to help these good players. 

Cleveland’s next four games are: @ Oakland, vs. Seattle, @ San Francisco and @ Houston

Twitter: @tjmcaloon