NFL Power Rankings: Philadelphia Eagles and 2 Teams Falling Fastest

The Philadelphia Eagles were anointed Super Bowl favorites after a free agent spending bonanza that saw them snagging several of the top players on the market. They appeared to be loaded and ready to dominate the league on their was to an easy NFC East title. After five weeks, the Eagles are 1-4 and look completely lost.

Philadelphia is one of several teams dropping fast thanks to incredibly disappointing starts.

The Eagles opened the season with a solid 31-13 win over the St. Louis Rams, but since that time they have looked like a lost team, losing four straight games that were entirely winnable.

Philadelphia's offense ranks third in the NFL, averaging 445.6 yards per game. But somehow all of those yards have turned into just 25 points per game. Most of that discrepancy can be blamed on the team's NFL-worst minus-10 turnover differential.

Until the Eagles start holding onto the ball, they will continue to sink to the bottom of the league.

The Atlanta Falcons were also expected to be one of the NFL's best teams, but through five weeks they are just 2-3. Despite an incredible level of offensive talent, the Falcons have somehow managed to only rank 19th in the NFL in yards per game (338.4), while scoring just 20.8 points per game (21st in the league).

Atlanta was going to win based on the strength of its offense, led by quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan has started the year off looking entirely average. He has completed 120 of 196 passes for 1,302 yards, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. His quarterback rating of 79.9 ranks 21st in the NFL.

The Falcons need to figure things out offensively if they hope to reach the playoffs, since their defense, which is allowing 383.4 yards per game, isn't going to help much. It will be on Ryan and the offense to help the team out of its current tailspin.

Most experts felt that with the addition of quarterback Kevin Kolb, the Arizona Cardinals would be the favorite in the NFC West. Well, that prediction has proved laughably wrong, as the Cardinals have stumbled to a 1-4 start.

Arizona won its opening week matchup against the Carolina Panthers, but since then has dropped four straight, including an embarrassing 34-10 Week 5 loss to the previously winless Minnesota Vikings.

Despite looking strong early, Kolb has begun to falter under center. The 27-year-old has completed 101 of 172 passes (58.7) for 1,281 yards, with five touchdowns and six interceptions. His quarterback rating of 77.2 ranks 27th in the league.

Kolb needs to get better if the Cardinals hope to avoid dropping even more.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 6
 

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