With the action of “Sunday Night Football” in the books, it’s time to take a look at our NFL power rankings going into Week 6 of the 2023 campaign.
There is still one more game left to be played on Monday night, with the Green Bay Packers and Las Vegas Raiders squaring off. Make sure to check back after for updated rankings.
Buy Titans TicketsThe Pittsburgh Steelers got back on the winning track in Week 5 with a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens, marking the second AFC North victory for the Steelers, along with the win over the Cleveland Browns.
Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars notched an impressive win over the Buffalo Bills in London and have now won two straight.
As those two teams rise, the Washington Commanders are in free fall after getting blown out by one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Chicago Bears.
Find out where those teams and the rest of the league land in our NFL power rankings going into Week 6 of the season.
32. Carolina Panthers (0-5) | Last week: 32
The Panthers were no match for the Lions on either side of the ball. Bryce Young had the best statistical game of his young career but there was a lot of garbage time.
31. New York Giants (1-4) | Last week: 30
The Giants scored the same amount of points in the second half of their Week 2 game against the Cardinals as they have in the other 18 quarters this season. The returns of Andrew Thomas and Saquon Barkley will help, but they won’t be enough to turn around the Giants’ season.
30. New England Patriots (1-4) | Last week: 26
After losing by the biggest deficit any Bill Belichick team has ever lost by in Week 4, the Patriots fell one point shy of tying that mark in Week 5. New England will be looking for a new quarterback in 2024.
29. Chicago Bears (1-4) | Last week: 31
The Bears’ offense has been on fire the last two weeks and it was finally enough to put one in the winner’s column in Week 5.
28. Denver Broncos (1-4) | Last week: 29
The Broncos went into the half with a lead over the Jets but flatlined in the final two quarters. The Sean Payton era is off to a disastrous start.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) | Will be updated after MNF
The Raiders will host the Packers on “Monday Night Football”. Check back after for an updated ranking.
26. Arizona Cardinals (1-4) | Last week: 24
The Cardinals were on the receiving end of a bounce-back game from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Arizona has lost its last two since shocking the Cowboys in Week 3.
25. Minnesota Vikings (1-4) | Last week: 25
The Vikings hung around against the Chiefs in Week 5, but moral victories are hardly inspiring at 1-4. The regression we all expected for Minnesota is coming to fruition.
24. New York Jets (2-3) | Last week: 27
The Nathaniel Hackett revenge game versus the Broncos went in the Jets’ favor. Zach Wilson did enough and Breece Hall and the defense took care of the rest.
23. Green Bay Packers (2-2) | Will be updated after MNF
The Packers will look to get over .500 in a Week 5 matchup against the Raiders. Check back after “Monday Night Football” for an updated ranking.
22. Washington Commanders (2-3) | Last week: 12
After the Commanders gave the Eagles a run for their money the week prior, Washington goes ahead and gets blown out by the Bears. Ron Rivera’s squad has now lost three in a row.
21. Houston Texans (2-3) | Last week: 15
Just when the Texans started to ascend, they came crashing back down to earth with a disappointing performance against a beatable Falcons team.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) | Last week: 23
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase went absolutely ham on the Cardinals, with both players having far and away their best performances of the 2023 season. The Bengals might be back.
19. Tennessee Titans (2-3) | Last week: 18
The consistently inconsistent Titans couldn’t finish their drives and the defense committed back-breaking penalties and got torched by Zack Moss. Tennessee has to figure out how to stack good games.
18. New Orleans Saints (3-2) | Last week: 21
Derek Carr and Co. finally woke up on offense in what was the team’s best all-around performance of the year. Beating the Pats isn’t exactly impressive, but it’s still a nice bounce-back win for New Orleans.
17. Atlanta Falcons (3-2) | Last week: 22
Desmond Ridder pulled himself back from the brink of being benched with a strong showing in Week 5, and even Kyle Pitts contributed. Atlanta needs more of that if it wants to be a playoff team.
16. Indianapolis Colts (3-2) | Last week: 19
Minshew Mania was alive and well in Indy, and we got to see Jonathan Taylor’s return. However, it was really Zack Moss Mania, with the Colts running back gashing Tennessee all afternoon long. Anthony Richardson’s injury will be one to watch going forward.
15. Los Angeles Rams (2-3) | Last week: 14
The Rams have now hung tough against the Eagles and Niners this season among their three losses. Cooper Kupp looked good in his first game back and makes Los Angeles an even tougher out moving forward.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) - BYE | Last week: 13
The Chargers are riding high on two wins in a row and look to be getting Austin Ekeler back just in time for a huge measuring-stick matchup against the Cowboys.
13. Cleveland Browns (2-2) - BYE | Last week: 11
The Browns went into their bye off a loss, but that was without Deshaun Watson under center. The Browns will hope to get the veteran signal-caller back in Week 6 against the best team in the NFL, the 49ers.
12. Baltimore Ravens (3-2) | Last week: 9
The Ravens threw up a stinker versus the Steelers. Baltimore has now lost two-of-three, with the team’s win coming against a Deshaun Watson-less Browns team.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) | Last week: 16
The Steelers have now beaten the Browns and the Ravens and sit atop the division. The AFC North is shaping up to be just what we expected: a dog fight.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) - BYE | Last week: 10
Tampa Bay’s schedule will get a lot harder after the bye, with games against the the toughest games coming against the Lions, Bills and Niners over the next six. That stretch will tell us a lot about Baker Mayfield and Co.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) | Last week: 17
The Jaguars managed to beat one of the best (and banged-up) teams in the league in their second home. That has them making the biggest leap in this week’s power rankings.
8. Dallas Cowboys (3-2) | Last week: 5
The Cowboys didn’t come close to hanging with the best team in the NFL and that’s a problem because the Niners will almost certainly be in their way come playoff time.
7. Detroit Lions (4-1)
The Lions easily took care of business against the only winless team left in the NFL, the Panthers. David Montgomery is on pace for a monster season.
6. Seattle Seahawks (3-1) - BYE | Last week: 7
The Seahawks enjoyed a bye in Week 5 and will return to action in Week 6 against a Bengals team that’s riding high following a much-improved showing from the offense.
5. Miami Dolphins (4-1) | Last week: 6
The Dolphins had a get-right spot after getting blown out by the Bills last week and promptly took advantage against a lowly Giants team. Miami’s defense rebounded and the offense is otherworldly.
4. Buffalo Bills (3-2) | Last week: 3
The Bills looked off in London against the Jaguars, which isn’t exactly shocking for a team making a trip overseas. The bigger issue for Buffalo is the injuries continue to mount on the defensive side of the ball.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
Patrick Mahomes’ first game against the Vikings was a close one. Regardless, the Chiefs are now rolling after four-straight wins.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) | Last week: 2
The Eagles aren’t the prettiest 5-0, but that’s doesn’t change their elite status. It’s too bad we have to wait until Week 13 to see a Niners-Eagles matchup.
1. San Francisco 49ers (5-0) | Last week: 1
The Niners easily handled one of the better teams in the NFL in the Cowboys on Sunday night. San Francisco continues to look like a team destined for big things in 2023.
