Hello there, and welcome to the Week 6 Power Rankings.
There is a freedom and a lightness to the idea that no more undefeated teams remain. We can drop all the mythos and agree on the one abiding truth that gets us through this universe together: no one is immune to dropping a game against PJ Walker.
In all seriousness, it was refreshing to see the 49ers look human. It was refreshing to see Jalen Hurts’s humanity cost the Eagles. It was refreshing to see some clubs like the Brows and the Jets log what we’d consider signature wins of this particular era. While we have seen a pronounced excellence through the first few weeks of the season, we sometimes need to be reminded that bad weather happens. Tweaked hamstrings happen. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed happens. Headaches, dehydration, anxiousness, whatever can lead a person or collective group to underperform for three hours, one day a week…that stuff happens. And it happened this week.
Will it shake up the Power Rankings? Keep reading to find out.
Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports
1. San Francisco 49ers (5–1)
Last week: loss at Cleveland, 19–17
Next week: at Minnesota
I don’t think we can punish the 49ers for a game in which they barely missed three different touchdowns, a game-winning field goal and had their star running back and receiver get hurt. The 49ers are not going to be the 1972 Dolphins, and nor would we want them to be. The ’72 Dolphins are incredibly annoying. It’s a bit like listening to someone recount their high school athletic accomplishments, which doesn’t happen all that often anymore because…people realize how annoying it is! Anyway, it’s prayer circle time. Even if you are not a fan of San Francisco, you should be a fan of this team operating at full strength into the playoffs, like a kind of Thanos (without the whole academic overpopulation argument thing).
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5–1)
Last week: win vs. Denver, 19–8
Next week: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chiefs flicked the Broncos off their shoulders on Thursday Night Football with a defensive effort so convincing that we spent the majority of the night trying to decipher Sean Payton’s play call sheet. I think defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been fantastic so far this year. If I were ranking some of the top coordinators in the league right now, he’d be in the conversation. Kansas City’s defense will face stiffer tests down the road, with the most high octane offenses (Chargers, Eagles, Bengals, Bills) remaining on the schedule.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (5–1)
Last week: loss at New York Jets, 20–14
Next week: vs. Miami
I think there are just days in which a team is meant to lose, plain and simple. Jalen Hurts was not great, but the entire vehicle upon which the offense operates—the run game—was stymied. The Jets flooded the line like a flash mob, mucking the blocking schemes and shutting down holes as they were appearing to open. That’s a tough position for any quarterback to be in, but especially someone like Hurts, who is 3–4 in games where the Eagles fail to rush for 100 yards or more (I know this is a broken statistic, leave me alone). Twice this year, the Jets have simply whipped themselves into an emotional frenzy. Defensively, they are playing as cohesively as any secondary we’ve seen in the league. Philly was bound to hit its speed bump at some point. Here’s hoping Lane Johnson’s lateral ankle sprain doesn’t linger too significantly.
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4. Miami Dolphins (5–1)
Last week: win vs. Carolina, 42–21
Next week: at Philadelphia
While it was against the Panthers, the Dolphins didn’t break stride despite trailing by 14 early in this one. Our Albert Breer noted as much on the podcast this week. There was no halftime speech. Such is the luxurious life when you have an offense as lethal as Miami’s. I thought the fake tush push throwback was a genius installation, even if it didn’t quite work out. Just flashing that as a potential call at some point should strike fear in the hearts of every Dolphins opponent from here on out. The second quarter jet sweep to Tyreek Hill with the fake orbit motion toss and the double counter was also a chef’s kiss. How lucky are we to have Mike McDaniel in the NFL?
5. Buffalo Bills (4–2)
Last week: win vs. New York Giants, 14–9
Next week: at New England
I am running a bit counter to the current Bills narrative, which is that Sunday night’s near loss to the Giants was an example of them running out of steam, or ideas, or Josh Allen letting everyone know that he’s not always going to be able to turn into Wolverine at the last minute. But I actually liked their insistence on getting the run game going. James Cook had what you might consider the third-best game of his career when considering a healthy volume, and a healthy yards-per-carry average. The Bills challenged the Giants at one of their (very few) remaining strengths: the defensive interior. Cook was especially good off the guards Sunday.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (3–3)
Last week: win vs. Seattle, 17–13
Next week: Bye
Joe Burrow’s second touchdown pass (to Princeton’s Andrei Iosivas) was a great example of his rediscovered pocket mobility. The play also illustrated how scary the Bengals are when everything is clicking and Burrow can extend downs. Ja’Marr Chase flashed quickly on one side, freezing a Seattle defender. Burrow rolled to the opposite side of the field, and all of his receivers started breaking toward open space. If he has more than three seconds on a play, it’s over. Welcome back.
7. Detroit Lions (5–1)
Last week: win at Tampa Bay, 20–6
Next week: at Baltimore
I thought the Lions’ defense was very impressive on Sunday and stymied what I felt was going to be a game-altering Tampa Bay drive before the half. The most important part of this game, though, was watching Jared Goff muster enough of a scoring offense to succeed when the running game was completely blanked. The Lions had not rushed for fewer than 100 yards in a game all season. On Sunday, they managed only 40. Like with the 49ers, we were able to see what Detroit looked like with one hand tied behind its back.
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
8. Dallas Cowboys (4–2)
Last week: win at Los Angeles Chargers, 20–17
Next week: Bye
A bit of an unusual Cowboys win in that the defensive pressure didn’t show up until the waning moments. Still, we saw in one play: a game-sealing interception of Justin Herbert, which showed just how anchored this defense is at all critical spots. While I’m not sure why the ball was going to Quentin Johnston in the first place, Stephon Gilmore was able to take advantage of the rookie’s inexperience, drive upfield and box him out for a pick. After a few weeks of us calling Dallas a paper tiger, this was as good a result as they could have hoped before the bye.
9. Baltimore Ravens (4–2)
Last week: win vs. Tennessee in London, 24–16
Next week: vs. Detroit
What’s cool about the Ravens is the way that they have combined their physicality with some serious straight-line speed. Tight end screens have become quick hits to Nelson Agholor with a straight shot toward the end zone. Against the Titans, the Ravens weren’t throwing the ball all over (Scotland) yard, but they have evolved their system to a point where a defense cannot make a rudimentary tackling mistake on any given play without giving up an embarrassing touchdown. Baltimore is still grinding opponents down, but just in a different way.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4–2)
Last week: win vs. Indianapolis, 37–20
Next week: at New Orleans
An impressive performance by Jacksonville, which is coming off two weeks in England. The Jaguars unleashed Travis Etienne, held both Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor to three or fewer yards per carry and broke up nine Gardner Minshew passes in the secondary (while hitting him eight times). This is how an elite team handles an opponent. Jacksonville may just be broaching that territory.
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11. Los Angeles Chargers (2–3)
Last week: loss vs. Dallas, 20–17
Next week: at Kansas City
I promise this is the last week I keep the Chargers irresponsibly high in my power rankings. But, the loss to Dallas on Monday showed—I think—how close this team really is. Los Angeles played really well against the run and forced Dallas to shift into a kind of jet sweep suite of plays to move the ball on the ground. It worked, as Dak Prescott led the team in rushing. Again, I know that this is going to be a tough sell for most, especially since the Chargers continued to struggle and again eschewed significant points for a broken fourth down play call on the goal line. But I am willing to wait it out.
12. New York Jets (3–3)
Last week: win vs. Philadelphia, 20–14
Next week: Bye
Everything is good in Jets world, and I feel like the worst part of their absolutely ridiculous schedule is behind them. There are still a few prime time games left, but the Jets enter the bye week with the Giants on the other side. Games against the Raiders and Commanders are also in the fold. I don’t know if they can play this emotionally topped out for a long period of time, but it is clear this team has bonded around their circumstances. The defensive game plan for Philly was absolutely brilliant. The Jets are also finding ways to get Garrett Wilson involved despite him having way below average separation against a good defense on Sunday.
13. Seattle Seahawks (3–2)
Last week: loss at Cincinnati, 17–13
Next week: vs. Arizona
It was disappointing to see Seattle fail in its attempt to even get a pass off on fourth down with the game on the line at the end of the fourth quarter. Geno Smith took an untakeable sack, and even a great table-setting pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba couldn’t get them to the point where they could evade a good Bengals pass rush. Seattle is better than its record right now, but has had a few tough opponents so far (and, also, the Panthers). The schedule gets more forgiving soon.
14. Cleveland Browns (3–2)
Last week: win vs. San Francisco, 19–17
Next week: at Indianapolis
The Browns were everywhere defensively on Sunday, and while they benefited from a few fatal errors on behalf of the 49ers, this is the beauty of the team they created: rarely will the Browns be out of a game due to the construction of their roster. Another thing I learned (or, I suppose, had re-instilled in my memory): Amari Cooper is elite elite. He took over segments of that game against a very physical and fast secondary.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (3–2)
Last week: Bye
Next week: at Los Angeles Rams
The Steelers come off their bye week with a cross-country road trip to Los Angeles. They are among the worst offenses in football in terms of yards, first downs and net yards per attempt, but are one of the best turnover-generating teams in the NFL. Improving one of those statistics is entirely possible, while the other is dependent on a lot of ancillary factors. Kenny Pickett has been a vacillating player, but has only thrown one interception over his last three games.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3–2)
Last week: loss vs. Detroit, 20–6
Next week: vs. Atlanta
An inspiring defensive performance by the Buccaneers against the Lions leaves us feeling that this team is still very much for real. I came out of this game with as much respect for the Buccaneers as one can possibly have in a 17-point loss where the offense only logged two field goals. Tampa adjusted well at times to Detroit’s pressure, especially on the second-half field goal drive. Their ability to knock Goff out of field goal range before the half was also impressive. While it’s early, I think I may be forced to pivot off Atlanta as my division favorites.
17. Houston Texans (3–3)
Last week: win vs. New Orleans, 20–13
Next week: Bye
There was a play in the third quarter where CJ Stroud faded almost 30 yards away from the end zone, recovered and nearly threw a dart to an open Robert Woods. That would have been the Stroud touchdown we’d play in his high ceiling highlight reel all season. And while it wasn’t complete, it still seemed to capture a little bit of what he’s capable of. There is a sensibility to his mobility. Defensively, Houston made the critical fourth down stop on Alvin Kamara, and never truly broke despite a few surges from New Orleans.
18. Los Angeles Rams (3–3)
Last week: win vs. Arizona, 26–9
Next week: vs. Pittsburgh
No one draws up stunts like Raheem Morris. While it’s the Cardinals, Josh Dobbs isn’t easy to bring down. The sacks they did get were consequential. Over the last two weeks, the Rams’ defense is No. 3 in EPA per play allowed, sixth in rush success rate allowed and fifth in EPA per dropback allowed. Don’t look now, but I think this Rams defense is rounding into form. We wrote about it here.
19. New Orleans Saints (3–3)
Last week: loss at Houston, 20–13
Next week: vs. Jacksonville
I’m willing to remain bought-in on the Saints. A made field goal, a better play call on a critical fourth down and a few other breaks? We might be talking about them in a far different light. I think for stretches of Sunday we saw some really unique play designs. We saw Derek Carr feeling confident in expanding the field. Theirs is a division where they can be somewhat patient. Over the last two weeks, they are the No. 1 defense in the NFL in terms of EPA per play allowed, and are fifth overall on the season.
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20. Atlanta Falcons (3–3)
Last week: loss vs. Washington, 24–16
Next week: at Tampa Bay
I get that when plays work it has to be incredibly annoying for people to say: why don’t they just do that all the time? But when Kyle Pitts stretches out like Elastigirl in The Incredibles and bodies his way away from two defenders in the back of the end zone, I think to myself: why don’t they just do that all the time? The Chargers built an entire offense out of this idea. This was a disappointing loss for the Falcons. They are probably a little better than the Commanders, but could not survive a face-punching second quarter.
21. Green Bay Packers (2–3)
Last week: Bye
Next week: at Denver
The Packers come out of the bye nowhere near reaching their potential. This is both troubling and liberating. Two of their three losses came by four or fewer points, and they emerge from their hibernation with the Broncos and the Vikings on tap. Seriously, is there anything better for a slump? It will be worth watching Green Bay against that Brian Flores defense, which could be riding some momentum after its clubbing of both Bears quarterbacks on Sunday.
22. Indianapolis Colts (3–3)
Last week: loss at Jacksonville, 37–20
Next week: vs. Cleveland
News of Anthony Richardson’s (likely) season-ending surgery is heartbreaking, but I think can be valuable in the long-term. Richardson’s frame made us think he was invincible, when in reality, the rigors of a long NFL season take their toll on everyone. I think Richardson not only comes back stronger, but better equipped with some body-saving nuances that can help him be a more effective sledgehammer.
23. Las Vegas Raiders (3–3)
Last week: win vs. New England, 21–17
Next week: at Chicago
The Raiders were efficient on Sunday against a defense that, regardless of how undermanned, should intimately know the likes and dislikes of Jimmy Garoppolo and Josh McDaniels. They coolly weathered a window of time when the Patriots were seemingly in rhythm at the end of the second quarter with an interception. While I expected the Raiders defense to get to Mac Jones more frequently, they were able to hem this offense into mediocrity in other ways.
24. Tennessee Titans (2–4)
Last week: loss vs. Baltimore, 24–16
Next week: Bye
I was really hoping that Malik Willis would take control of the game when he spelled Ryan Tannehill—not because I dislike Tannehill, but because I do think this Titans team was one occurrence away from finding a real spark. Unfortunately, Willis’s mobility doesn’t buy him a lot of margin for error against a front seven as athletic and talented as Baltimore’s. The best play was a quick out to Tyjae Spears, who made a phenomenal run to the goal line.
25. Washington Commanders (3–3)
Last week: win at Atlanta, 24–16
Next week: at New York Giants
The Commanders play games like this and then lose by 30-plus to the Bills and 20-plus to the Bears. If it weren’t for the somewhat frequent bottoming out moments for this team, I’d be so much higher on Washington. Sam Howell looked beastly through the first two quarters of this game. Brian Robinson had some game-altering physicality. Following a third-quarter interception with a screen in which Robinson is barreling behind his lead blocker like a brakeless Amazon truck (the old non-electrical ones)? Who wants a piece of that?
26. New York Giants (1–5)
Last week: loss at Buffalo, 14–9
Next week: vs. Washington
There will be a larger forum to address this, but I don’t see many teams in a better position to capitalize on the trade deadline than the Giants. That’s really my takeaway from Sunday night’s loss to the Bills. We can talk about a backup quarterback not realizing he shouldn’t check to a run play with no timeouts in a must-score situation, but the reality is that they are stockpiled with players who could be desirable last-minute pieces on contending rosters and who are not young enough to be part of the eventual rebuild. More on that later this week.
27. Minnesota Vikings (2–4)
Last week: win at Chicago, 19–13
Next week: vs. San Francisco
The Vikings set the tone in their win over the Bears by pummeling Justin Fields from the blind side. There weren’t enough designed quarterback draws in the world to offset a handful of players who were able to scream off the edge with regularity. Jordan Addison has now scored in all but two of his games this season and, while I’m not sure how he was able to get behind the Bears’ defense with that much free space on Sunday, his wherewithal to seek and secure the ball was perfect.
28. Arizona Cardinals (1–5)
Last week: loss at Los Angeles Rams, 26–9
Next week: at Seattle
The Cardinals are 13th in the NFL in first-half points allowed, and 30th in the NFL in second-half points allowed. While this is a flawed stat, it does create a bit of sample size from which we can wonder: is Arizona struggling with second-half adjustments? Or can it not really expect a complete game from this roster, and we should appreciate the ability of Jonathan Gannon to hang around as long as he does?
Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports
29. Chicago Bears (1–5)
Last week: loss vs. Minnesota, 19–13
Next week: vs. Las Vegas
I suppose we can credit Chicago for still playing hard. There were blocked extra points and feverishly tipped interceptions. On the Vikings’ fumble return touchdown, there was a diving Bears player who nearly knocked the ball out of bounds. It sounds insignificant, but these are the kinds of effort plays that start to disappear when teams check out. Matt Eberflus still seems to have the buy-in. Life without Justin Fields could be ugly, though.
30. Denver Broncos (1–5)
Last week: loss at Kansas City, 19–8
Next week: vs. Green Bay
Following the bye, the Denver Broncos are 1–5 with the worst defense in the NFL, a middling offense that is getting better and the No. 3 position currently in the upcoming draft. All of these facts will become increasingly important as the season wanes. I would assume that the value in proving you can “fix” Russell Wilson vs. the value of simply figuring out who can play on this roster and would be worth holding onto is the key question to answer. For their troubles, the Broncos get to kick off the long second half of their season in Buffalo against the Bills.
31. Carolina Panthers (0–6)
Last week: loss at Miami, 42–21
Next week: Bye
The move to Thomas Brown as a play-caller is worth watching in Carolina. I’d actually thought the entire operation in Carolina looked better each of the last two weeks. It makes me wonder how involved Brown was leading up to last week’s opening script. We’ve written about Brown here. His roots in the McVay system—and his experience marrying a run and pass game together—should help.
32. New England Patriots (1–5)
Last week: loss at Las Vegas, 21–17
Next week: vs. Buffalo
The Patriots faked the cool field goal block thing! DId you see that!? That was neat. Totally worth the re-watch of that game. Totally worth the time in my life I won’t get back. In all seriousness, the rest of this season should be an audit. Bill Belichick said it best: the Patriots need to start over. Keep Jabrill Peppers for finally doing something about all the free space Las Vegas was gobbling over the middle of the field and knocking loose an interception, though.
