NFL Power Rankings: Oakland Raiders and Top 5 Teams

With one of the NFL's best teams yet to play (the Detroit Lions are currently unranked until after tonight's game), the top five of this week's power rankings still managed a few surprises.

Sure, the usual suspects sit in the top three, but this week, there are two new additions, and both hail from the Bay Area.

The San Francisco 49ers, ranked fourth, and Oakland Raiders, ranked fifth, both jumped up the list this week after their respective wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans.

While I am not shocked the Buccaneers lost after a short week and a trip out west, what does impress me is the 48-3 final score.

It's clear that major improvements have followed from the hiring of head coach Jim Harbaugh, ranging from the team fielding a tougher defense to quarterback Alex Smith feeling more comfortable on the field. Their 4-1 record is undeniable evidence that the Niners are clearly one of the best teams in the league.

The Raiders are also emerging as the real team to beat in the generally Chargers-dominated AFC West, coming off tragedy to defeat one of the league's best, the Houston Texans, this Sunday.

While Oakland was outgained on the ground and in the air, they came up big on the benefit of kicker Sebastian Janikowski's leg, as he hit three 50-plus yard field goals and a fourth for 42 yards.

Like the 49ers, the Raiders seem only to improve every week. While some teams have a better record than Oakland, they are lower-ranked because the Raiders aren't just good, they're consistently good, and getting better.

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

*Unranked: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears (playing Monday night)