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Sport
Tim Weaver

NFL Power Rankings Week 5: 49ers rise to the top, Seahawks up 1 spot

Each of the last two weeks the team that we have picked for the top spot in our NFL power rankings has lost. First, the Cowboys got upset by the then-last ranked team on our list in the Cardinals. Then, the Dolphins gave up 48 points in a loss to the Bills a week after dropping 70 on the Broncos.

This time around we’re hoping some of that bad first-place luck rubs off on a division rival.

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The new order at the top

In any case, the 49ers are a deserving candidate for the No. 1 spot on our list. Admittedly dominant all year, our questions were about Brock Purdy and how he might affect the ceiling for this team. On Sunday Purdy answered with his best game of the season, completing 20 of 21 pass attempts for 283 yards, a touchdown and a 134.6 passer rating.

Below them there is Buffalo, fresh off their destruction of the Dolphins courtesy of an absolute gem from Josh Allen, who’s recovered from his horrific Week 1 performance and looks like himself again.

Next there’s the Eagles, who continue to win by margins too slim to call them the heaviest heavyweight in the NFC. Then there’s the Chiefs, who very nearly lost to the Jets as Patrick Mahomes had an uncharacteristic off-game. As such they’ve dropped two spots despite winning the game.

Seahawks up one spot

As for Seattle, they came into last week at No. 10. As dominant as they looked against the Giants last night we could only bump them up one spot. Mostly this is on account of poor competition – as Brian Daboll’s team looks absolutely nothing like the gritty and overperforming group we saw last season. There’s also the matter of injuries, which piled up in a bad way on MetLife’s atrocious playing surface. Their early bye week couldn’t have come at a better time.

Breaking down the middle

There are a ton of teams that head into Week 5 with a 2-2 record, which means that things are packed in the middle and it’s difficult to sus out which teams will rise and which will fall as the season progresses. The Packers, Saints, Chargers and Commanders in particular could either wind up in the playoffs or with a dreaded 8-9 record – too good to get a top draft pick and not good enough to make the postseason.

Carolina now at the bottom

As for the bottom of our list, by rights it should go to the lowly Chicago Bears who blew a three touchdown lead to Sean Payton’s Broncos. However, they do have an advantage in that they now hold the top two picks in next year’s NFL draft. It only makes sense that the team who surrended theirs to Chicago and is also 0-4 should now be ranked No. 32.

Here’s how we rank all 32 teams heading into Week 5…

32
Carolina Panthers (0-4) - Last week: 30

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

31
Chicago Bears (0-4) - Last week: 32

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

30
Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) - Last week: 29

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

29
Arizona Cardinals (1-3) - Last week: 28

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

28
Denver Broncos (1-3) - Last week: 31

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

27
Houston Texans (1-3) - Last week: 25

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

26
New England Patriots (1-3) - Last week: 22

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

25
New York Giants (1-3) - Last week: 24

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

24
New York Jets (1-3) - Last week: 27

Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

23
Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) - Last week: 19

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

22
Tennessee Titans (2-2) - Last week: 27

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

21
Indianapolis Colts (2-2) - Last week: 21

Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

20
Minnesota Vikings (1-3) - Last week: 23

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

19
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) - Last week: 18

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

18
Atlanta Falcons (2-2) - Last week: 17

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

17
Washington Commanders (2-2) - Last week: 20

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

16
New Orleans Saints (2-2) - Last week: 12

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

15
Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) - Last week: 18

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

14
Green Bay Packers (2-2) - Last week: 11

Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

13
Los Angeles Rams (2-2) - Last week: 14

Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

12
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) - Last week: 15

Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

11
Cleveland Browns (2-2) - Last week: 9

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

10
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) - Last week: 13

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

9
Seattle Seahawks (3-1) - Last week: 10

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

8
Miami Dolphins (3-1) - Last week: 1

Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

7
Baltimore Ravens (3-1) - Last week: 8

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

6
Detroit Lions (3-1) - Last week: 7

Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

5
Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) - Last week: 3

Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

4
Dallas Cowboys (3-1) - Last week: 6

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3
Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) - Last week: 4

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

2
Buffalo Bills (3-1) - Last week: 5

Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

1
San Francisco 49ers (4-0) - Last week: 2

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
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