NFL Power Rankings - Week 5

After week 4 we are starting to see some teams emerge as great. Only 5 teams remain undefeated, two fell this week (Ravens and Jets). The Titans are the laughing stock of the AFC South but thanks to the Browns they aren't the laughing stock of the entire conference. Thanks to the Rams they aren't the butt of the joke when it comes to football. Due to the Ravens loss we do have a new number 1. I like to see the rankings jumble around but due to my team falling down a few spots, it hurts. Enough sentimental stuff, I DON'T NEED YOUR SYMPATHY! Let's get to the rankings shall we.

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints (3, 4-0)

Brees is not all alone. He has a running game and, thanks to Gregg Williams, a great defense. They cause turnovers and score TDs. They are the most balanced team I have seen thus far. I'm looking forward to when they play the Falcons. Before that we get a doozie of a game in two weeks against the Giants. Possibly another battle of the unbeatens. For now, a bye week awaits.

2. Indianapolis Colts (2, 4-0)

Peyton Manning is a complete monster. He has thrown for 300+ yards in 4 straight. They couldn't be moved up since the defense has not really been tested. Although they are fifth in the league in points allowed. Still one of the most dynamic offenses in football.

3. Minnesota Vikings (4, 4-0)

Favre does it again. 300+ yards and 3 TDs against his former team which we all know he wanted to do. They are the class of their division and possibly the conference. Favre has never gone 5-0, could this year be a first?

4. New York Giants (5, 4-0)

They faced the Kansas City Chefs and served them a beatdown. Eli has a bad wheel but claims he will play this week. Steve Smith is no longer "the other Steve Smith." He leads the league in yards and TDs. Eventually they will stop facing cupcake teams and probably still own.

5. New England Patriots (8, 3-1)

The breeze picked up in New England this week, seconds later a flag was thrown for roughing the Brady. A win is a win but those calls sure helped. Lines up another showdown for them with yet another undefeated team. The offense will probably look similar to this week against a strong Broncos defense.

6. Baltimore Ravens (1, 3-1)

Ever played 11 on 14 football? These guys did last week. A couple questionable roughing the Brady calls coupled with Marc "Featherstone" Clayton landed them a loss at Gillette Stadium. Making them winless against the Pats. It doesn't get any easier this week with the Bengals coming to town. Hopefully the defense will be able to stop Palmer to Ochocinco better then they did Brady to Moss.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (7, 2-1)

McNabb is practicing so he should be back this Sunday against the Bucs. If Reid is smart he will take him out if it is a blowout like I suspect it will be.

8. New York Jets (6, 3-1)

Rex Ryan knows defense, just not what to do against New Orleans'. Sanchez is a rookie after all and finally looked like one against the Saints. They didn't look great but that could have been because of their opponent. Next up, the Miami Wildcat, er I mean Dolphins. Rex Ryan knows how to stop it, he had no problem last year. Braylon Edwards is now a J-E-T, Jet. Deep option for Sanchez?

9. Denver Broncos (13, 4-0)

I'm still not completely sold on this team. They did show up and beat a big market team with a suspect QB. Their defense is for real, they proved Romo needs some work. Maybe the defense was poor last season because of Champ Bailey's injury problems. Clearly he is back and as long as he stays healthy no team will get too many balls past him. Brian Dawkins addition to the team doesn't hurt either.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (11, 2-2)

There is something to be said about this team. I mean yes they won but the defense falls apart in the fourth quarter. They almost blew a 28 point lead. They did finally find a running game, surprisingly from Mr. Dance Fever himself, with Mendenhall. They face a cupcake team this week in the Lions.

11. Atlanta Falcons (9, 2-1)

The bye week hurt them. Especially going out the way they did, not beating the Pats in New England. They can prove themselves this week against a stacked Niners team that is still going to be without their best offensive weapon.

12. San Francisco 49ers (15, 3-1)

Their defense was vicious and rightfully shutout the Rams. With Gore out of the game the offense relied more on Shaun Hill (from Maryland!) and he came through for them. Tossing a couple of TDs, one to another former Terp in Vernon Davis. Coffee wasn't horrible but you would have thought after all that talk he would have destroyed the flimsy Ram defense for more then a little over 100 total yards. This week they get to prove if they are for real against Atlanta.

13. Chicago Bears (12, 3-1)

Yes I know that they crushed Detroit but other teams impressed more then them this week. It was nice to have a Matt Forte sighting. Until this week we all thought he was a fictional character. I'm not a strong believer in this team, at least not on the defensive side of the ball.

14. San Diego Chargers (10, 2-2)

A tough loss to Pittsburgh last week moved this team down. Their defense is suspect, allowing 164 yards rushing and 2 TDs to Mendenhall along with the entire Steelers backfield owning them with their own stats proves that. Rivers is carrying this team, it was nice for Gates to get going as well. Chambers finally catching a TD pass will help his confidence but I don't see this team challenging a surprising Broncos team for the division. Look out wild card.

15. Green Bay Packers (14, 2-2)

Favre beat Rodgers on MNF. Clearly their offensive line needs to protect Rodgers so he can own everyone. While they kind of held Peterson in check the defense did not in any means slow Favre down. his stat line this week was ridiculous against the Rams. We'll see if his arm can do the talking on MNF against the Vikes. Favre VS Rodgers, IT'S ON!

16. Cincinnati Bengals (17, 3-1)

Way to avoid choking on all that momentum from last week by beating the worst team in the conference with a few ticks left in overtime. If I was a fan of this team I would probably have developed a heart condition from them. Cardiac cats indeed.

17. Dallas Cowboys (16, 2-2)

For helping us realize the Broncos were for real you only lose one spot. Why would you challenge on of the best cover corners in football at the goal line twice? Way to go Romo, you can't win in the playoffs and you probably can't win the division. Hooray for third, well maybe. Say goodbye to Wade Phillips when you don't make the playoffs.

18. Houston Texans (19, 2-2)

As I predicted Slaton goes off against a terrible rush defense. Keep it up buddy, my team needs you. In non fantasy news their defense looked decent this week. Then again, everyone's defense looks good against the "potent" Raiders offense. The fact that Jamarcus Russell went over 100 yards is a bit of a slap in the face against any one.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars (23, 2-2)

Garrard has a reliable weapon at WR! Hooray for him. MJD found the end zone but wasn't needed against the Titans. Mike Sims-Walker on the other hand activated beast mode, fantasy style. Now the Titans are just mad because he was styling on them.

20. Arizona Cardinals (20, 1-2)

Warner and his teammates had a week to heal. Bye weeks can be fun...for old players. They got Houston coming in this week. Hightower anyone? Police Academy reference? Anyone? Anyone?

21. Miami Dolphins (26, 1-3)

Chad Henne only had 96 yards passing. However they still won by 28. "How," you ask? Ronnie Brown ran wild, pardon the pun. Actually everyone ran wild. Ricky Williams was up in smoke, that joke will never get old. Defense was impressive, did the Tuna threaten to get rid of everyone if they lost 4 in a row?

22. Seattle Seahawks (22, 1-3)

Seneca Wallace looked okay, again. He got Houshmandzadeh the ball (8 catches for 100+ yards). They weren't expected to beat Indy, maybe a chance with Hasselback in there but it is still too early for him to be back with that rib injury. We'll see what happens against the Jags this week.

23. Buffalo Bills (21, 1-3)

Their D is NOT looking good. How they stop the Saints potent offense and give up 38 to the Dolphins is beyond me. They ran all over them and Edwards looked terrible. Well, on the bright side, at least Owens got a couple catches.

24. Carolina Panthers (24, 0-3)

Jake Delhomme still turned the ball over too much. Probably his best fantasy week so far. Too bad they had a bye this week.

25. Tennessee Titans (18, 0-4)

They are officially the worst team in their division. Bullock shouldn't have talked all that trash about MJD and his fantasy numbers. Maybe you should have focused on Sims-Walker or David Garrard. Since they completely owned you in real and fantasy football this week. Fisher is sticking with Collins at QB but if they keep losing expect Young to hop back into the starting lineup.

26. Detroit Lions (25, 1-3)

The first half was actually close. Then the second half happened. Losing Stafford with a knee injury (now day to day) probably wasn't helpful. I'm not sure if it matters whether Stafford or Culpepper play this week, they are playing the defending champs. Weirder things have happened though.

27. Kansas City Chiefs (27, 0-4)

This team is heading south. They might not win a game in their own division all season. That is saying something considering the only team in their division who looks decent is the Broncos.

28. Washington Redskins (29, 2-2)

If I were to rate them on the first half they would have been the worst team on here. However, they showed up in the second half when Jason Campbell pulled out a win. Saving his job in the process.

29. Oakland Raiders (28, 1-3)

How does Darren McFadden not have a ton of carries or yards? Now the news is out about him having yet another injury in his short lived career. So the only spark on their offense is out for 2-4 weeks. Time to rely on the trusty arm of Jamarcus Russell. Is Jeff Garcia available?

30. Cleveland Browns (32, 0-4)

Controversy over, Anderson gives them a chance to win. Clearly he creates a spark with the offense but he now has Braylon Edwards owners in fantasy foaming at the mouth. They aren't going to get 2 field goal blocks again to keep them in a game like that. They should have won that one.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31, 0-4)

Josh Johnson got the team off to a good start. Then the second half started. Guys, you play to win the game. Come on! Giving the Redskins a scare, while hilarious to me, doesn't get them up in the rankings.

32. St. Louis Rams (30, 0-4)

So I was wrong about them starting to improve. Then again they did play against the Niners, what I meant to say was they got completely OWNED by the Niners. 14 straight losses and counting.

Dare to compare mine to those at ESPN. We differ on who we think the best team is but hey, at least you know I'm not one to plagiarize. Check it out and I will see you here next week!

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings