NFL Power Rankings: 5 Teams Who Will Plummet After Week 5 Games

Week 5 of the NFL season is upon us, and already there are teams in danger of losing must-win games and plummeting in the power rankings.

The New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders need a win badly this week; especially for the Jets and Eagles, who play in tough divisions, a win is vital to their respective success.

Let's take a look at five teams who will plummet in the rankings after Week 5.

1) Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons face the top-ranked and undefeated Green Bay Packers on Sunday, and they will lose. The Falcons didn't make any significant defensive upgrades after Aaron Rodgers destroyed them through the air in last year's playoffs, and their offense this season has yet to hit their stride.

Fortunately for the Falcons, this will be a home game, but it won't matter, and with a loss they'll drop to 2-3.

2) New York Jets

The Jets are a mess right now, and now they must travel on the road to take on the AFC East rival New England Patriots, who are looking for revenge for last year's playoff defeat to New York. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is no doubt taking this game personally and will look to get the offense off to a fast start.

The Jets can't pass the ball with Mark Sanchez, who is proving he's one of the most overrated QBs in the NFL. Coach Rex Ryan has said this week that the Jets will run the ball a lot more Week 5, which is exactly what you don't do against the Patriots—you throw on them, because they have one of the worst pass defenses in football.

The Jets will lose this week and fall to 2-3; two games behind New England and possibly Buffalo in the AFC East standings.

3) Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are 1-3 and aren't playing like the "dream team" they were anointed to be. Luckily for them they play in a competitive division that no team seems ready to take control of. Unluckily, however, is they have to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday without their best pass-rusher Trent Cole, out a few weeks with a right calf injury.

This situation here is quite simple: the Eagles can't lose. A fourth consecutive loss, their first such streak in six years, would cripple their hopes of winning the division and diminish their playoff hopes as well.

The Eagles won't beat the Bills Sunday, who have a balanced offense too good for the Eagles to stop. Expect Bills RB Fred Jackson to dominate the game, with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick having all day to throw due to the lack of an Eagles pass rush.

4) Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders were beat by the Patriots last week, but the score didn't tell the whole story, as the Raiders kept up with the Patriots for most of the game. Regardless, they still need a win on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

The Texans need a win too, and while they will likely win the AFC South, they haven't had a win against a good opponent yet.

Houston will dominate the Raiders, dropping Oakland to 2-3.

5) Denver Broncos

The Broncos need a win or their playoff hopes are as good as gone with a 1-4 start to the season.

In their Week 5 matchup with the San Diego Chargers, coach John Fox and the Broncos defense will be in for a tough test against quarterback Philip Rivers, and it's a test they'll fail.

The Broncos will lose on Sunday, ending Denver's playoff hopes as well..

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