By Andrew Laidlaw, Andrew Miller, Dean Perischetti, Pat Schaeffer, and Daniel Thompson
Week 5 of the NFL season starts tonight. (Almost) Every team has played a quarter of its games and we’re starting to think we know a thing or two about the playoff picture this year. Soon enough, our 4 week "head start" on other power rankings will only make us look more foolish.
1. LA Rams
This Rams offense looks as unbeatable as they come. Sean McVay has a plethora of talent to cook any formula to beat any team on offense. I don’t know how you can effectively cover Gurley and those receivers all on one play. (Miller)
2. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are the only other NFL to not lose a guy and are just off a key division win in a tough environment. The defense isn’t anything special, in fact may end up what keeps them from being an elite team, but the offense has been creative enough to show that they can out gameplan anyone and have enough playmakers to win any shootout. (Miller)
3. New Orleans Saints
Giving Drew Brees both Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas at this point in his career is almost unfair. With the addition of these toys, the 39-year old Brees could go toe-to-toe with the Rams right now. (Persichetti)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
They have the best defensive line in football and the best corner duo. The offense looked strong against the Jets this past week, but it’s the Jets. If Fournette can stay healthy this team can beat anyone. (Persichetti)
5. New England Patriots
Yeah, I know. They’re only 2-2. How can they be this high? Yes, the Jags beat the Patriots, but do we really see Jacksonville taking New England down when it really counts? Not a chance. Also, the Lions game was a fluke, and nine times out of ten the Pats win that game. (Schaeffer) Beating Tannahill and the Dolphins isn’t enough to convince me that the Patriots still have a lot to be worried about. It just so happens that Mr Billy Belichick is a pretty good coach and can gameplan circles around any team. (Miller) This team had the largest standard deviation and was ranked as high as 3 and as low as 14. I don’t expect that to change soon. (Thompson)
6. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles look like they are in a little super bowl (or just post Nick Foles) hangover. Wentz has shown that he can make plays, and on any given day he can make plays to win any game. The secondary is a real issue on this team, and it could cost this team games they should win, like it did against the Titans. (Miller)
7. Chicago Bears
Honestly, I don’t think Mitch will ever be the answer for Chicago, even after a historic game. But you can’t argue with 3-1, and this defense can keep them in the game with the best of them. (Schaeffer)
8. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens defense has allowed a total of 9 points in the second half this season over 4 games. It amazes (and disgusts) me how consistently successful Baltimore is at hiring defensive coordinators. New players and coaches on defense, same dominant results year after year. (Schaeffer)
9. Carolina Panthers
This team has quietly one of the best rosters in football. True the lost Olson, but the defense has been doing its job well enough to not really make that too big a factor. Christian McCaffrey is legit and the offense has looked its best since 2015 and hasn’t even used DJ Moore yet. (Miller)
10.Tennessee Titans
This team is hard to judge. They can win any game by controlling the clock and playing bend not break defense. This was a break out week for Corey Davis who is easily their best playmaker on offense. I’m not sold yet on Marcus Mariota’s ability to make big enough plays to win games on his own, but the Eagles game has started to change my mind. (Miller)
11. Cincinnati Bengals
With a huge win against Atlanta and Andy Dalton playing some of the best football of his career, this team is legit. Won’t say there an actual contender in the AFC just yet given their track record in the playoffs with Marvin Lewis at head coach. (Persichetti)
12. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Flying Aaron Rodgers did it again, granted against the Bills. There is no player who is more relied upon to constantly win games than Aaron Rodgers and he more often than not delivers, any game is winnable when #12 is playing. Jaire Alexander looks legit too. (Miller)
13. Minnesota Vikings
That offensive line of theirs is killing them, and possibly Kirk Cousins. This team should have been better than they were last year but just are. Any pass rush gets directly to Kirk Cousins, and the defense has depth issues outside the starters. This is the third week in a row they have let up more than 25 points. However, doing it to Sean McVay is more forgivable than the Buffalo Bills. (Miller)
14. LA Chargers
The Chargers have elite playmakers at every level on defense. It’s up to Phillip Rivers this year to prove it wasn’t him who wasted Ladainian Tomlinson’s prime, and finally get the Chargers a Super Bowl. (Persichetti)
15. Washington Redskins
A lot of people are sleeping on these guys, but Alex Smith fits Jay Gruden’s scheme perfectly. As long as they can stay healthy (looking at you, Jordan Reed), and Peterson can keep it rolling, this team can play with anyone. (Schaeffer)
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
As a Steelers fan, this one hurts. No team in the league (except maybe Green Bay) relies on the play of their quarterback more than Pittsburgh. If Big Ben has an off day, this team has no shot. This defense can’t stop anyone, and it’s now obvious how much this team misses Le’Veon Bell game-changing ability. (Schaeffer)
17. Miami Dolphins
This slot is completely based on the fact that they are 3-1. This team has issues on every level and little to no pass rush. The team has been creative enough on offense to win games, but struggles to find a consistent run game. The team relies on Tannahill and trick plays which are both a skeptical option at best. (Miller)
18. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are better than their record indicates. The defense has been decimated by injuries, but with the offense rolling the way it is should lead to some big wins. (Persichetti)
19. Denver Broncos
It feels like they’re too low for how well they’ve played. The Broncos may not have the splashiest team, but can win any game with the same gameplan. Run the ball, take some shots with Keenum and trust Von Miller and co ot keep it competitive. It has worked for the most part, except when they had to play Mahomes. (Miller)
20. Dallas Cowboys
They have no receivers, are down Sean Lee, and are missing one of the best players in Travis Frederick. Zeke will only be able to carry the load so much, as getting rid of Dez Bryant and not replacing him with anyone capable will continue to give them problems down the stretch. (Persichetti)
21. Cleveland Browns
No doubt this team is on the rise. Baker adds another dimension to this offense, and this offense is clearly tailored to his skills. They blew it on Sunday, though, like only the Browns can. (Schaeffer)
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ryan Fitzpatrick finally came back down to earth as most people expected. Chicago absolutely pummeled the Bucs 48-10 this past week. We’ll see if Jameis Winston will finally prove he’s the guy, but this Buc’s secondary might be the worst in football. (Persichetti)
23. Seattle Seahawks
The Legion of Boom is now officially over. Bennett, Sherman, Chancellor and now Thomas are all gone with Thomas now breaking his leg and flipping off his coach. This defense s reliant on weather Bobby Wagner can make every tackle. The offense isn’t much better. The offensive line is still a major problem, as well as there lack of playmakers. Russell Wilson can do it by himself but it can’t work every week. It seems as though the Seahawks have a new starting RB each week, yet it never seems to be their first round RB. Seattle is in for a long brutal season. (Miller)
24. NY Giants
The benching of Ereck Flowers didn’t magically make Eli Manning good at football. He still panics too easily, and looks uneasy in the offense. The coaching carousel seems eminent with how little this offense has produced despite its talent. (Persichetti)
25. Detroit Lions
The Lions are just bad. They have promising players for once, but they are just bad. The offense and Matt Stafford is the only reason they stay in games, but when it comes to down to it. You cannot trust the defense to not let the opposing rushing attack eat them alive. However Kerryon and Golladay look like the real deal and the offensive line finally looks halfway decent. (Miller)
26. Houston Texans
Trading Duane Brown last season has proven to be a huge mistake for Houston. The horrid offensive line let up seven sacks against the Colts last week. Demarcus Lawrence should have a big night when the Cowboys take them on this Sunday. (Persichetti)
27. Oakland Raiders
The 10 year investment in Gruden is working out terribly for the Raiders. They may have the worst defense in football, I wonder why? The offense has looked like something out of 1999. Derek Carr has yet to play like his MVP caliber self, and Amari still has a dropping problem. The Raiders have the oldest team in football and they sure do play like it. (Miller)
28. Indianapolis Colts
They Colts have Andrew Luck back and a line to protect him. Unfortunately with TY down his best option is Eric Ebron. The team has a lot to look forward to like Nheim Hynes, but this season seems to be about next year and trying to ruin other teams winning record. (Miller)
29. NY Jets
The Jets are a team on the rise. They are in their growing stages and Sam Darnold seems unphased by the lack of receiving talent and protection. Also, Jamal Adams looks like possibly the best safety in the NFL. The team has enough speed to compete with teams and maybe win a couple games. Who knows, in the AFC East you can always get 4 games easy against divisional opponents. (Miller)
30. San Francisco 49ers
The Niner’s were competitive against the Chargers, but darker days are ahead of them with CJ Beathard at quarterback for the remainder of the season. (Persichetti)
31. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have no one their roster other than Tre White and Micah hyde. This team is strived for talent and has thrown Josh Allen to the wolves before he was ready. I struggle to see how they can feasibly win football games. Their team cannot compete with their division let alone the NFL. Tremaine Edmunds looks good though. (Miller)
32. Arizona Cardinals
The offense has been stagnant at best despite having one of the most dynamic players in the league in David Johnson. They should improve with the starting of Josh Rosen, as he seemed much more confident than ten year pro Sam Bradford in his first start. (Persichetti)
Photo credit: https://kstp.com/sports/jared-goff-5-tds-rams-beat-vikings-38-31/5087916/
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