Week 5 of the NFL season gave us some incredible games, some surprising upsets, and plenty of teams that left us with more questions than answers. The 49ers and Seahawks played one of the wildest games of the season, while the Packers and Texans made statements with dominant performances. Meanwhile, the Colts continue to be a roller coaster, and the Buccaneers pulled off an impressive road upset in Dallas. With teams moving up and down the rankings, let’s get into my Week 6 NFL Power Rankings!

1 San Francisco 49ers (0)

The 49ers went into Seattle and played one of their best games of the season, coming out on top. This game featured seven total turnovers, including three by the Niners, but good teams find ways to bounce back, and San Francisco proved that. Brock Purdy remains undefeated in Seattle, which is super impressive. The Niners are also thankful to have Mike Evans, who continues to dominate with seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. The defense held up, also getting a touchdown after Seattle running back George Holani fumbled in his own end zone and 49ers defensive lineman Gracen Halton recovered it. Next up is a Monday Night Football matchup against the Commanders.

2 Kansas City Chiefs (0)

The Chiefs were on a bye this week, so their position in my rankings doesn’t change. Kenneth Walker has truly taken a huge load off Patrick Mahomes, and while the defense has been up and down, it continues to make plays when needed. Kansas City remains at No. 2 as it prepares to get back on the field.

3 Jacksonville Jaguars (+1)

The Jaguars caught a huge break in London after giving up a last-second field goal to the Eagles. Ameer Abdullah became the hero, returning the kickoff 53 yards before going down with one second left, setting up Cam Little’s game-winning 57-yard field goal. Parker Washington was absolutely fantastic, finishing with 124 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Trevor Lawrence threw for 331 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Even against a short-handed Eagles team, this game was competitive from start to finish. The Jags’ defense also played well. Next up is a divisional matchup against the Texans.

4 Buffalo Bills (+1)

The Bills went into Los Angeles and played a wild game that competes with the 49ers-Seahawks matchup for game of the year so far. James Cook had two costly fumbles, one of which was lost, that nearly cost Buffalo the game. The Bills’ defense still needs some work, but their special teams came up big when it mattered.

Josh Allen threw for 210 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown. Outside of his fumbles, Cook finished with 111 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The big hero was Greg Rousseau, who blocked Harrison Mevis’s field goal attempt in overtime, eventually setting up Tyler Bass’s game-winning kick. Next up is a trip to Vegas.

5 Seattle Seahawks (-2)

Yes, Seattle drops two spots, but the Seahawks still nearly beat the Niners at home. The problem was the turnovers. Seattle turned the ball over four times, Sam Darnold threw two interceptions, and a costly fumble by Gracen Halton in the end zone gifted the Niners an easy touchdown.

Outside of the turnovers, Seattle’s defense played extremely well, forcing three turnovers of its own and keeping the team in the game. A loss is a loss, but Seattle remains one of the best teams in the NFC in my eyes. Darnold needs to shake off some of the rust, though, and someone other than JSN needs to step up offensively.

6 Minnesota Vikings (0)

I know the Vikings are 5-0 and I haven’t moved them up any spots, so call me out if you wish. I believe Minnesota is one of the most fraudulent teams in the NFL. Its defense continues to dominate opponents while the offense does just enough to win.

In Jordan Mason’s absence, Aaron Jones continues to dominate the backfield. The Kyler Murray-Justin Jefferson connection also looked great. The Vikings held Tyler Shough to under 100 passing yards and intercepted him twice, but they only won by 10 points. Minnesota is on a bye this week and needs to figure out how to do more offensively while hoping its defense continues to lead the way.

7 New England Patriots (+2)

The Patriots absolutely dominated the Raiders at home, and Drake Maye has shined following his rough start to the season. Maye threw four passing touchdowns and added one rushing touchdown. The Pats’ defense stymied Ashton Jeanty and kept Kirk Cousins in check. This was a complete performance from New England, which continues to climb my rankings. Next up is a home matchup against the Jets.

8 Denver Broncos (0)

The Broncos were on upset alert for most of their game against the Chargers, but they did what they do best: came back and won with a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback.

Bo Nix threw for only 123 yards, and the Broncos rushed for 106 yards as a team on 3.7 yards per carry, but they still came out on top. The defense also made plays when it had to, intercepting Justin Herbert in the fourth quarter and setting up the field goal that put Denver ahead by six.

The Broncos don’t move up, though, because the Chargers have shown themselves to be a team struggling to find its footing. Denver knows who it is, but it also played down to its competition. Next up is a tough matchup against Seattle at home.

9 Los Angeles Rams (-2)

The Rams played the Bills tough at home on Monday Night Football, but mistakes held them back from getting the win. Two missed Harrison Mevis field goals proved costly, including the overtime attempt that will be discussed later.

Matthew Stafford threw for 383 yards on a whopping 54 attempts, with three touchdowns. His connection with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams was on point, while the rushing attack was mostly held in check by Buffalo.

Kyren Williams tied the game with a last-second touchdown, and the Rams had an opportunity to take control after a James Cook fumble put them in the driver’s seat. Instead, Mevis’s 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Greg Rousseau, and the Bills never looked back.

What’s concerning is the Rams’ defensive performance. Josh Allen gashed them through the air and on the ground, and they never adjusted by using a QB spy. Allen had his way with the defense. The Rams look to get back on track Sunday against the Cardinals.

10 Baltimore Ravens (+1)

The Ravens looked decent without Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns in relief, while Derrick Henry rushed for 102 yards. Baltimore came back from a touchdown deficit in Atlanta, putting together a 71-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to tie the game and force overtime.

On their first drive in overtime, Huntley led the Ravens down the field and rushed for a touchdown to take the lead. They then ended the game with an interception of Tua Tagovailoa, who had entered in relief of the injured Michael Penix Jr.

Penix looked good against the Ravens’ defense before his injury, but Baltimore kept Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson in check. This was a solid comeback win for the Ravens. Next up, they face the Browns in Cleveland.

11 Chicago Bears (-1)

The Bears went into Lambeau Field and got absolutely gashed by the Packers. Tyson Bagent threw for 87 yards and two interceptions before being benched for Case Keenum, who didn’t fare much better, throwing an interception and losing a fumble. On top of that, Rome Odunze lost a fumble, giving Chicago five turnovers in total. That’s the worst performance in the Ben Johnson era.

The Packers did whatever they wanted offensively against Chicago and repeatedly gashed the Bears’ secondary. The good news is that the Bears are reportedly expecting Caleb Williams to return from injury Sunday against the Falcons.

Chicago did well without Williams, but its defense was exposed against Green Bay. How will the Bears fare against Atlanta on Sunday?

12 Carolina Panthers (0)

Carolina was on a bye this week, so its position in my power rankings doesn’t change. The Panthers have played really well offensively, while the defense has been a little up and down. However, playing the Eagles on Sunday without Jalen Hurts should give their defense an opportunity to get back on track.

13 Cincinnati Bengals (0)

The Bengals went into Miami and beat the winless Dolphins, but they won by only one possession after two garbage-time touchdowns brought Miami back into the game.

Joe Burrow gashed the Dolphins for four passing touchdowns on 190 passing yards, and Ja’Marr Chase showed off his skills with a long, acrobatic touchdown catch. Cincinnati’s rushing attack was mostly held in check, though, which is something to keep an eye on.

The Bengals led 28-10 at the end of the third quarter, but their defense allowed two Dolphins touchdowns to keep Miami in the game. More work needs to be done in Cincinnati, but the offense was the highlight of this game. The Bengals are on a bye this week.

14 Detroit Lions (+1)

The Lions won in the desert in blowout fashion, beating the Cardinals 45-21. Their offense struggled to start the game, with three straight three-and-outs, but it’s not about how you start. Detroit’s next seven possessions all resulted in points, with six touchdown drives and a field goal. Talk about domination!

The Lions also kept the Cardinals in check, even in garbage time. Jared Goff threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, while Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Detroit has been a streaky team this season, so perhaps this game was exactly what both sides needed to put together a complete performance. Next up is another streaky team within the division, the Packers.

15 Philadelphia Eagles (-1)

Philadelphia had this game signed, sealed, and delivered after kicking a 48-yard field goal with eight seconds left. Then the Eagles allowed Ameer Abdullah to return the kickoff 53 yards. With one second remaining, Cam Little hit the game-winning 57-yard field goal, handing the Eagles another massively disappointing loss. Philadelphia is now 2-3.

The offense was once again held mostly in check by the Jaguars’ defense. While the Eagles’ defense played well, Parker Washington carved them up for 116 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Philadelphia also has plenty of injuries, along with the unexpected retirement of offensive tackle Lane Johnson. The Eagles have plenty to be concerned about, and they need to figure out where things are going wrong before the season slips away.

BREAKING: Jalen Hurts is OUT against the Panthers this Sunday.

16 Green Bay Packers (+7)

The Packers dominated Chicago, albeit against Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum, but Jordan Love finally had the game he and Cheeseheads wanted to see. Love threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns, while the Packers forced five Bears turnovers.

This was an incredible performance that deserves to be recognized. Love looked much more comfortable, the defense stepped up, and Green Bay showed what it can do when both sides of the ball are clicking.

Love may have another big game with Dallas coming to town and the Cowboys’ defense struggling. With Micah Parsons nearing a return, the Packers have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Now they need to prove this performance wasn’t a one-week fluke.

17 Pittsburgh Steelers (+4)

The Steelers have been an interesting team this season, and I may just have to eat my words about them being a great defense paired with a mediocre, aging quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers has thrown three touchdowns in three straight games, and Pittsburgh did whatever it wanted offensively against the Colts. While the Steelers recorded only one sack against Daniel Jones, they forced Indianapolis to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns in the red zone.

Pittsburgh comfortably beat the Colts at home, and its offense continues to show signs of life. The Steelers are climbing my rankings, but the question is whether they can sustain this level of play against better competition.

18 Houston Texans (+7)

Houston looked flat-out dominant against the Titans in Nashville. Yes, Tennessee’s offense has been really bad, but the Texans needed a game like this.

Titans coach Robert Saleh previously described his team as the best 0-4 team in history, and while that might be a stretch, Tennessee has shown flashes despite its record. Houston completely stymied the Titans’ offense, allowing only three points.

The Texans’ offense settled for several field goals, but two second-half touchdowns from C.J. Stroud, one passing and one rushing, helped finish the game on a high note. Houston’s defense deserves plenty of credit for this performance. Next up is a major test against the division-leading Jaguars in London.

19 Dallas Cowboys (-2)

The Cowboys entered their matchup against the Bucs as heavy favorites, facing undrafted quarterback Jalon Daniels, but came away with a surprising home loss.

Tampa Bay’s defense looked great against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense. Prescott threw for 314 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two interceptions, one of which wasn’t entirely his fault.

Dallas’ defense has looked fraudulent all season, allowing Bucky Irving to rush for 165 yards. The Cowboys brought in veteran coach Mike Pettine to try to help fix the defense, but they’ll have a major test against the Packers this week.

Dallas has the offensive talent to compete with anyone, but until the defense shows some consistency, it’s difficult to trust this team.

20 Las Vegas Raiders (-4)

The Raiders lost in blowout fashion to the Patriots in New England. Their running game was once again held in check, with Ashton Jeanty managing only 27 yards on 10 carries.

Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins threw for 243 yards and a touchdown before being benched in garbage time for Fernando Mendoza, who completed six of eight passes for 48 yards.

The defense, which had been respectable up to this point, completely fell apart, allowing Drake Maye to throw four touchdowns and rush for another on his way to 374 passing yards. The Patriots also rushed for 165 yards.

The Raiders are still better than many expected, but after their 3-0 start, they look like a team heading in the wrong direction. Their next two games against the Bills and Rams won’t make things any easier.

21 Atlanta Falcons (-3)

The Falcons were in the driver’s seat against Tyler Huntley and the Ravens. They held a 23-15 lead but allowed a Huntley passing touchdown with 40 seconds left, followed by a successful two-point conversion to tie the game at 23-23 and force overtime.

Baltimore scored a touchdown on its first possession in overtime. Then Tua Tagovailoa, who entered in relief of the injured Michael Penix Jr., threw a terrible interception to seal Atlanta’s fate.

Penix played another good game before his injury, but Bijan Robinson was held in check by the Ravens’ defense. Atlanta did a decent job against Derrick Henry, although he still managed 104 rushing yards.

This was a winnable game for the Falcons, and they let it slip away. Atlanta needs to do a better job closing out games if it wants to climb these rankings.

22 Cleveland Browns (-2)

The Browns lost a winnable game against the Jets in a downpour. Deshaun Watson threw for 155 yards and a touchdown but lost a fumble on Cleveland’s final drive.

The Browns’ rushing game was practically nonexistent, but their defense kept them in the game. This was a frustrating loss, especially considering the weather and the opportunities Cleveland had to come away with a win.

The Browns need to find a way to get more out of their offense if they want to turn these close games into victories.

23 New York Giants (-1)

The Giants came back against the Commanders and tied the game in overtime. New York had two opportunities to win in overtime but missed a field goal and then watched Cam Skattebo fumble on the ensuing drive. The Commanders eventually made a costly mistake of their own, allowing the Giants to escape with a tie.

Jameis Winston showed the positive side of his game, throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Malik Nabers caught 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

However, the Giants drop a spot after the tie. It’s not a win, and it’s not a loss, but they had opportunities to win this game just as Washington did. Both teams will look back at this one and wonder how they didn’t come away with a victory.

24 Indianapolis Colts (-5)

The Colts have once again proven to be a roller coaster, and not a fun one. Daniel Jones has done little to elevate the Indianapolis offense, while Jonathan Taylor was held in check against the Steelers’ defense.

The Colts’ porous defense was exposed again, making Aaron Rodgers look like he was back in his prime. Missed tackles have been a major problem, and Indianapolis continues to struggle to make the plays needed to get off the field.

The Colts aren’t forcing turnovers, they’re missing tackles, and they’re giving up too many opportunities to opposing offenses. All around, Indianapolis looks like a team that’s beginning to flounder. At this point, I need to see more consistency on both sides of the ball before I move them back up.

25 New Orleans Saints (-1)

The Saints’ offense was finally held in check against one of the NFL’s top defenses in Minnesota. Tyler Shough threw for under 100 yards and two interceptions, while New Orleans managed only 55 rushing yards. Yikes.

The Saints actually did a decent job keeping the Vikings’ offense in check, forcing two fumbles and keeping themselves in the game defensively.

New Orleans still needs more pieces across the roster, but this is a competitive team that has shown it can hang around against good opponents. The offense needs to find a way to be more productive, though, because the defense can’t be expected to carry the team every week.

26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3)

Tampa Bay went into Dallas and shocked the football world with an upset win. Jalon Daniels looked good, throwing for 189 yards and a touchdown, but Bucky Irving stole the show with 165 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Bucs’ defense also looked great against the Cowboys’ talented offense, forcing two interceptions and a fumble. Yes, Dak Prescott threw for more than 300 yards, but Tampa Bay’s defense made the plays that mattered.

Outside of Week 1, the Bucs have allowed 23, 23, 17, and 16 points. That’s impressive, especially with an undrafted quarterback starting in place of the injured Baker Mayfield. All of Tampa Bay’s losses have also been one-possession games.

Maybe the Bucs can start a little comeback in an open NFC South. This team has shown enough to earn a three-spot jump in my rankings, and I’ll be watching to see whether it can keep this momentum going.

27 New York Jets (+1)

This game was a rain-soaked affair and a messy defensive battle. After last week’s embarrassment against the Bears, the Jets responded with a 17-12 win over the Browns.

Geno Smith continued to take care of the football, while Braelon Allen looked really good filling in for the injured Breece Hall. Allen rushed for 116 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown.

The Jets held Cleveland’s rushing attack in check and kept Watson from doing much through the air. A win is a win, and New York moves up one spot, but I’m hesitant to move the Jets any higher just yet. They need to string together a few wins before I start buying into this team.

28 Washington Commanders (-2)

The Commanders led for most of the game but somehow ended up tying the Giants because of horrible clock management. Jayden Daniels played an amazing game for most of the afternoon, throwing for 199 yards and rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns in his return from the injury he suffered in Week 2 against Dallas. However, Washington couldn’t close the game out.

After leading by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Commanders went three-and-out, punted to the Giants, and allowed the game-tying touchdown. Washington followed that up with another three-and-out.

In overtime, the Commanders were given a chance after the Giants missed a field goal, but they went three-and-out again. It looked like New York was going to win when it reached deep into Washington territory, but Skattebo fumbled, and the Commanders recovered.

Washington then drove down the field as the clock ticked away. The Commanders were in prime field-goal range, but Daniels scrambled instead of spiking the ball, losing valuable yards as time expired.

They should have won this game. A tie isn’t a win or a loss, but after such a costly late-game mistake, Washington drops two spots in my rankings.

29 Arizona Cardinals (-2)

The Cardinals lost in blowout fashion to the Lions at home. Arizona’s defense started the game hot, forcing three straight three-and-outs, but things quickly went downhill.

The Cardinals opened with a touchdown on their first drive, but they punted on five of their next six possessions, and Jacoby Brissett threw an interception on the final possession of the first half. Arizona’s rushing game was practically nonexistent, although Brissett continued to impress in his starts, throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

The big news was that Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded before the game, which has to be a disappointment for the Cardinals organization and their fans.

Arizona’s offense has generally done its part this season, but the defense has been a major disappointment. The Cardinals need to find answers defensively if they want to stop falling down these rankings.

30 Los Angeles Chargers (0)

After leading by a touchdown late in the third quarter against the Broncos, the Chargers did practically nothing offensively and fell to Denver.

Justin Herbert managed only 121 passing yards, lost a fumble, and threw an interception. The rushing attack also struggled, with Omarion Hampton averaging 2.4 yards per carry on 14 attempts, while Kimani Vidal led all Chargers rushers with 57 yards.

The Chargers’ defense played well enough to win, but the offense’s struggles proved too much to overcome. Los Angeles being 0-5 is probably the biggest shock in the NFL so far this season.

As Jim Harbaugh said, “I don’t know what the message is,” when discussing the team’s 0-5 start. At some point, the Chargers have to figure out how to turn these performances into wins.

31 Miami Dolphins (+1)

Miami played the Bengals tough in the second half after trailing 28-10 late in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Malik Willis threw two interceptions in the loss, but Ollie Gordon II impressed with his opportunity, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown.

The Dolphins couldn’t sack Joe Burrow and struggled to stop Cincinnati’s passing attack, allowing four passing touchdowns. Still, Miami showed some fight in the second half and made the Bengals work for the win.

It’s another competitive effort from the winless Dolphins, which is why I’ve moved them up one spot. They still have plenty of work to do, but I want to see them build on these performances rather than completely write them off.

32 Tennessee Titans (-1)

Oh man, Titans. Everything has gone wrong this season. I never thought I’d move the Dolphins out of the No. 32 spot, but here we are.

After an opening-drive field goal, Tennessee did practically nothing offensively against Houston’s defense. The Titans allowed four sacks, turned the ball over twice, and Cam Ward hasn’t received much help offensively.

After their opening drive, the Titans managed only 17 offensive snaps for the remainder of the first half. That will wear out any defense, and it showed as the game went on.

While Tennessee held Houston to four field goals in the first half, the Texans scored two touchdowns after halftime, and the Titans couldn’t respond.

At this point, the question has to be asked: Is Robert Saleh going to last beyond his first season as head coach? The Titans have a lot to figure out, and until they show meaningful improvement, I don’t see how they move out of the bottom spot in my rankings.