NFL power rankings entering Week 5 of the 2024 season (previous rankings in parentheses):
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): They may have a deep championship pedigree and are 4-0, but given their modest wins of five points per game and mounting personnel issues, here they are. Their position is looking increasingly precarious – they lost WR Lachie Rice to a potentially season-ending knee injury, which so far has never been this serious. With just one of the 20 games currently being played, head coach Andy Reid and his team will likely be wondering whether their unprecedented bid for a third straight Super Bowl title will work out, especially with a packed schedule. , you’re going to need to figure out a few things. to bear fruit in the end.
2. Minnesota Vikings (3): This feels risky for a variety of reasons given the Vikings’ completely unexpected rise. However, their 4-0 record was no fluke, with nearly all of their wins coming against quality opponents. Also, QB Sam Darnold’s MVP status (seriously) as he became the first player in the league’s long history to win his first four games with the team. while throwing multiple touchdown passes to each. They will next play in their first nationally televised slot on the international stage in London on Sunday morning.
3. Baltimore Ravens (17): An 0-2 start quickly faded, and last season’s No. 1 playoff seed quickly re-emerged as perhaps the most feared team in the league. Baltimore, which has rushed for more than 500 yards over the past two weeks, is averaging 220.3 yards per game, nearly 50 more than the second-most prolific ground attack in the NFL. However, this offense looks dangerously diverse and still has room for growth, and TE Mark Andrews has yet to settle into his typical prominent role.
4. Detroit Lions (4): QB Jared Goff showed off his “Motor City Muscle” against the undefeated Hawks with a near-perfect performance – starting consecutive games with at least 10 consecutive shutouts. The Lions finally won their now-annual shootout against Seattle, becoming the first quarterback in 46 years to do so.
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5. Buffalo Bills (2): Sunday night wasn’t exactly the kind of situation you’d want to start a five-man roadie in seven weeks, but it further exposed an already problematic run defense. . But a team that still has the AFC’s best goal differential (+39) despite losing a 25-point lead against Baltimore is very capable and prepared to advance in the short and long term. Looks like it’s in order. LB Von Miller’s suspension is painful.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10): The NFC South’s perennial leaders could emerge early with wins in Atlanta and New Orleans over the next two weeks. And the Bucks may have discovered something on the field. In Sunday’s decisive win over Philadelphia, running backs Bucky Irving and Rathard White both gained 49 yards on 10 carries.
7. San Francisco 49ers (12): WR Brandon Aiyuk still appears to be in preseason mode and is currently on pace for a 700-yard season. Still, Sunday was a good “set-up” game anyway for a team that still won’t be fully in shape until reinforcements arrive. However, DE Nick Bosa had a season-best seven pressures, and LB Fred Warner had his first pick-six in five years. At least the Niners are on the road only once every six weeks, with the next two regional games (Arizona, Seattle) followed by two games against the 2023 regional champions that hold them back (KC, Dallas). .
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (8): QB Justin Fields had his best game on the same day his defense played its worst. Perhaps more concerning is the recent blow to the wrist O-line, with RG James Daniels ending up with a torn Achilles tendon. At least the Steelers will only be on the road once in the next five weeks, and that game will start against a Dallas team that could be even harder hit.
9. Washington Commanders (18): Given the performance of rookie QB Jaden Daniels and company, it’s easy to imagine this team being around 7-2 midway through the season. But while they could have used more from their wideouts, none were among Washington’s top three yardage producers, and none had more than 200 yards through four games.
10. Atlanta Falcons (13): Did you know that WR Darnell Mooney leads the team with 225 receiving yards? That includes the key draw to make Sunday’s game-winning field goal. PI is not included. An appropriate way to win on a day when the offense couldn’t score a TD.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (5): A trio of inactive Pro Bowlers won’t help the bottom line. It also doesn’t cure QB Jalen Hurts’ chronic tendency to turnovers (occurring nearly twice a week). At this point, Philadelphia’s Week 5 bye may be a coincidence.
12. Green Bay Packers (6): How good was the signing of SS Xavier McKinney? He became the first player this century to pass in his first four games with the team.
13. Houston Texans (11): They’ve been underdogs all season, struggling to win against three above-average opponents. Fresh off his first career rushing TD, unheralded Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and his new friends will now face a smart Buffalo team — and six months after a surprising trade for the wideout. It could be an awkward reunion for him.
14. Seattle Seahawks (15): Despite a defense battered by injuries — missing five key players Monday night — they looked decent in their first Division I matchup of the season. And while they’re going to get a lot of home-cooked food in the Emerald City, they’ll only be leaving there once in the next six weeks.
15. Indianapolis Colts (20): Having an experienced backup can sometimes help an offense. QB1 Anthony Richardson may benefit from taking time to recover and seeing Joe Flacco run HC Shane Steichen’s offense.
16. New Orleans Saints (9): RB Alvin Kamara leads the league in touches with 97, 536 yards from scrimmage and six TDs. This is quite the workhorse from a guy who spent most of his career in a timeshare in the backfield. He should be in the MVP discussion.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (16): No player wants a Week 5 bye, but given the plethora of injuries, the Bolts may end up benefiting from it. do not have. And it would be best to rest and only play one home game between now and November 10th.
18. Denver Broncos (22): The offense that struggles with rookie QB Bo Nix seems to be getting the most attention. The No. 2 defenseman, who has been nearly airtight in the red zone, deserves praise as well.
19. New York Jets (7): Maybe going to London and offering to pay LB Haason Reddick in pounds would resolve the contractual conflict? Or maybe the trip to London would be a little more expensive than New Jersey? Or, as QB Aaron Rodgers said, “The weather was awful, but my So were some of the throws.”Oh yeah.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (24): According to Next Gen Stats, running back Zack Moss takes an average of 2.97 seconds to get to the line of scrimmage, fourth-slowest in the league, compared to teammate Chase Brown (2.51). ) โ so it may not be surprising that Brown averages nearly 2.5 yards more per carry.
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21. Chicago Bears (26): In case you missed it, so did we – TE Marcedes Lewis made some pretty remarkable history in Sunday’s win.
22. Dallas Cowboys (21): It’s hard to get excited about this defense solidifying with a win over the Giants, but it’s even more exciting when the front seven, LB Micah Parsons and DEMarcus Lawrence, are not sidelined. It’s difficult. Part of the upcoming killer line schedule (Steelers, Lions, 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, Commanders).
23. Arizona Cardinals (14): Three of their next four games will be against 2023 playoff teams, so the Cards will have to find a way to stop them from allowing an NFC-worst 22.3 first downs per game. It would be better to
24. Los Angeles Rams (19): How would you sum up their offensive problems? Injured WR Cooper Kupp still led the team with 18 catches despite playing about 40% of the snaps. Leading.
25. Carolina Panthers (23): They head to Chicago this week. Considering the Bears are looking to steal a win after already acquiring WR DJ Moore and this year’s No. 1 draft pick, they better lock their hotel safe and stadium locker.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (25): They became the first team in 14 years to have two wide receivers score rushing touchdowns, but Davante Adams didn’t even play.
27. New York Giants (27): The decision to let go of running back Saquon Barkley, who averaged 1.1 yards per carry against a Dallas D that allowed five times that many points in the last two games, continues to age badly.
28. New England Patriots (30): RB LaMondre Stephenson has committed one fumble in five consecutive games dating back to last season. If he maintains this formidable pace, he will set a single-season record for a non-quarterback.
29. Tennessee Titans (31): Sometimes the offense works better with an experienced backup. QB1 Will Levis may benefit from taking time to recover and seeing Mason Rudolph run HC Brian Callahan’s offense.
30. Miami Dolphins (29): Sometimes an offense works well with an experienced backup, but sometimes it’s unrecognizably messed up without a key starter. There’s still time for some quality stopgap…
31. Cleveland Browns (28): Who needs a change of pace more than WR Amari Cooper, who leads the league with six drops? (Wait your time, Coop.)
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (32): Despite a wealth of talent, they are 1-9 in their last 10 games, ending their playoff hopes in 2023 and 2024, but coach Doug Pederson is somehow perplexed by questions regarding job security.
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