Mark Craig's Week 5 NFL power rankings: Vikings slipping, Packers climbing, Patriots fall out of the top 10

October 5, 2017 at 1:15AM
MARK CRAIG'S POWER RANKINGS

Biggest jump: Rams No. 19 to No. 3 • Biggest fall: Titans No. 5 to No. 23

1. Chiefs, 4-0 (Last week: 1)

Still think Alex Smith can't make a play? Watch the closing seconds of Monday night's game.

2. Bills, 3-1 (10)

Quick. Name the coordinator of the league's No. 1-ranked scoring defense? (A: Frazier, Leslie).

3. Rams, 3-1 (19)

This offense might be for real. Or as real as things can be in a week-to-week league.

4. Eagles, 3-1 (4)

Leading the NFC East by a game and already three road games behind them.

5. Lions, 3-1 (6)

Detroit is dangerous when it shows the ability to support Matthew Stafford with a running game.

6. Packers, 3-1 (8)

This is a hard team to figure everywhere but the most important position: QB.

7. Redskins, 2-2 (7)

I was impressed with how they stood in there with the Chiefs in K.C. in prime time.

8. Falcons, 3-1 (2)

Buffalo's defense might be for real, but Atlanta's offense can't fall apart when Julio Jones is hurt.

9. Panthers, 3-1 (17)

Who'd have thought the answer to righting an offense would be playing Bill Belichick in Foxborough?

10. Broncos, 3-1 (11)

Allowing a league-low 50.8 yards rushing, Denver has added a Trumpian-sized wall to its No Fly Zone.

11. Patriots, 2-2 (3)

Has Stephon Gilmore's contract disrupted the Patriot Way of playing defense?

12. Texans, 2-2 (22)

In his third NFL game, Deshaun Watson scores 57 on a quality opponent and is compared to Fran Tarkenton.

13. Steelers, 3-1 (14)

Antonio Brown ain't happy, but Le'Veon Bell and Pittsburgh's side of the scoreboard is.

14. Seahawks, 2-2 (20)

A 36-3 second-half advantage over the Colts changes perception of Seattle. But for how long?

15. Saints, 2-2 (16)

London sees Saints pitch a shutout a week after Blake Bortles throws four TDs. What's next, a Browns win?

16. Jets, 2-2 (25)

Josh McCown's game-winning "drive" in OT was 2 yards on four plays. But the Jets are a .500 team.

17. Jaguars, 2-2 (9)

Beware, suicide poolers. Team Yo-Yo heads to Pittsburgh as the biggest underdog of the week.

18. Raiders, 2-2 (13)

The Raiders were struggling with Derek Carr. Without him, the nosedive could be dramatic.

19. Vikings, 2-2 (15)

Need a running back? New Orleans has a spare one with only 27 carries the past four games.

20. Cowboys, 2-2 (12)

They've given up 77 points in their two losses to Trevor Siemian and Jared Goff. Next up: Aaron Rodgers.

21. Cardinals, 2-2 (23)

Arizona has beaten the Colts and 49ers by a combined 6 points.

22. Ravens, 2-2 (18)

They're a distant last in passing yards per game at 142.5.

23. Titans, 2-2 (5)

Tennessee had 195 yards, held the ball for 20 minutes, gave up 57 points. And, oh yeah, lost its QB.

24. Buccaneers, 2-1 (24)

A narrow win over the Giants counts. But it doesn't boost your power ranking.

25. Bengals, 1-3 (29)

A week after taking Green Bay into OT in Lambeau, the Bengals had a tad easier assignment in Cleveland.

26. Colts, 1-3 (26)

Throw out that entire second half in Seattle, and the Colts are a .500 team.

27. Bears, 1-3 (21)

In 41 possessions, the Bears have more turnovers (nine) than scores (eight). Good-bye, Glennon.

28. Dolphins, 1-2 (26)

Shut out by the Saints. Talk about deflating.

29. 49ers, 0-4 (30)

Three straight losses by a combined eight points. Ouch.

30. Chargers, 0-4 (27)

It's hard to tell what their home record is when they don't have a home.

31. Giants, 0-4 (31)

Becoming an all-time example of the utter worthlessness of preseason predictions.

32. Browns, 0-4 (32)

October in Cleveland. Otherwise known as Indians season.

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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