NFL Power Rankings - Week 5: Bucs rising, Cowboys falling after chaotic 1st month
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
In this week's edition, we try to sum up how every team has fared during a chaotic, injury-filled, and wildly unpredictable first month of the 2020 season.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
Previous Rank: 1
The Chiefs made short work of the Ravens and got to play the Patriots when they didn't have Cam Newton. Andy Reid's squad seems to be strolling through the regular season knowing it possesses an extra gear that 90% of the league can't even imagine. That's terrifying.
2. Green Bay Packers (4-0)
Previous Rank: 3
Only one head coach in NFL history (George Seifert) has produced a better record through his first 20 games than Matt LaFleur's 17-3. Aaron Rodgers rediscovering his inner badass helps, of course, but LaFleur deserves far more credit than he's receiving.
3. Seattle Seahawks (4-0)
Previous Rank: 2
Who knew that unshackling your uber-talented quarterback and allowing him to toss dime after dime downfield to two of the league's best deep-ball threats would lead to success? Never let Russ stop cookin'.
4. Buffalo Bills (4-0)
Previous Rank: 5
Bills fans routinely set themselves on fire for fun, so it shouldn't be too shocking that their team is thriving amid the insanity of 2020. But even the most faithful supporters couldn't have imagined Josh Allen making a seismic leap in Year 3.
5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Previous Rank: 4
The Ravens are clearly very good. But with another loss to the Chiefs (Lamar Jackson is now 0-3 against Patrick Mahomes), Baltimore will likely spend the rest of the regular season trying to convince people it can take down the AFC champs when it matters most.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
Previous Rank: 8
Tom Brady has certainly endured some growing pains in his new home. But even with a slew of offensive injuries impacting his supporting cast, the legendary quarterback looks to be finding his groove. Tampa Bay is a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0)
Previous Rank: 6
The Steelers are undefeated, but they haven't faced a good opponent yet. With 13 straight games now ahead of them following the rescheduling of their game against the Titans, Pittsburgh must prove it belongs among the AFC's elite.
8. Tennessee Titans (3-0)
Previous Rank: 7
The Titans' outbreak halted two weeks of relative calm around the NFL regarding COVID-19. It remains unclear when Tennessee will resume play, and the club's situation is a stark reminder that this season could become precarious.
9. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
Previous Rank: 9
This version of the Rams won't dazzle us as much offensively as the team has in year's past, but it seems Sean McVay has learned from his 2019 missteps. Considering how close L.A. was to making the postseason last year, its hot start shouldn't be surprising.
10. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
Previous Rank: 12
When everything is clicking, the Saints still seem like the contender they've been for the past several years. However, aside from Alvin Kamara, who on this team is playing better than in 2018 or 2019? New Orleans' window might be closed already.
11. Indianapolis Colts (3-1)
Previous Rank: 15
Talk of Philip Rivers' demise has proven to be premature, and Indy's defense is allowing the veteran to work within his limits by shutting down offenses weekly. After an easy schedule to start the year, though, the Colts will be truly tested over the next month.
12. Cleveland Browns (3-1)
Previous Rank: 18
Better late than never, I suppose? The Browns appear to be on track to fulfill their hype from before the 2019 campaign, with Odell Beckham Jr. finally looking like the game-changer he's been in the past.
13. New England Patriots (2-2)
Previous Rank: 10
Let's all be grateful that the Patriots didn't actually ride with the Brian Hoyer-Jarrett Stidham quarterback duo for 2020 after the disaster against the Chiefs on Monday. Bill Belichick is a genius, but for a chance at taking down the conference's juggernauts, he needs Newton.
14. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 13
The 49ers' toughest opponent so far this season has been the turf at Metlife Stadium. Injuries have decimated San Francisco's playoff-caliber roster, and to make matters worse, DeForest Buckner has been a monster for the Colts.
15. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)
Previous Rank: 11
After a hot start, the Cardinals crashed back down to Earth over the past two weeks. Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury could be the men to lead Arizona to glory, but perhaps expectations for this team became too big too soon this offseason.
16. Chicago Bears (3-1)
Previous Rank: 16
Whether Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky is under center, the Bears just don't feel like a postseason-caliber team after a month despite their record. Their next five opponents include the Bucs, Titans, Saints, and Rams, so Chicago's record could soon reflect its talent.
17. Carolina Panthers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 23
With Christian McCaffrey sidelined, most assumed Carolina - which started 0-2 - would free fall to the bottom tier of the league. But quietly, Teddy Bridgewater and Matt Rhule are building a team that could, at the very least, make the Saints and Bucs earn their spots atop the NFC South.
18. Las Vegas Raiders (2-2)
Previous Rank: 17
The Raiders have made more headlines for their COVID-19 protocol failures than the club's on-field product, which speaks volumes about where the team is in Year 3 of the Jon Gruden era. Maybe nicknaming your new stadium after something famous for being easy to utterly destroy wasn't the smartest idea.
19. Dallas Cowboys (1-3)
Previous Rank: 14
The Cowboys clearly want Dak Prescott to earn every cent of his $31.4-million franchise tag. With their defense unable to stop so much as a nosebleed, Prescott is on pace to be the first quarterback to exceed 800 pass attempts. Could Mike McCarthy be one-and-done in Dallas?
20. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
Previous Rank: 22
A finally healthy Dalvin Cook looking like an absolute stud is one of the few positives for the Vikings through four games. While Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins likely aren't going anywhere, it might be time for some major changes in Minnesota this offseason.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2-1)
Previous Rank: 24
Carson Wentz has regressed more than anyone could've imagined, injuries are pushing an aging roster to the brink, and Doug Pederson seems to have lost his edge. Luckily, the Eagles play in a city known for its level-headedness.
22. Los Angeles Chargers (1-3)
Previous Rank: 20
While we feel for Tyrod Taylor, he shouldn't see the field again this season with Justin Herbert silencing those who believed he was a reach at No. 6. There might be more bumps ahead in 2020 for the Chargers, but their future is bright.
23. Detroit Lions (1-3)
Previous Rank: 21
Jim Caldwell produced a 27-21 record through his first three seasons in Detroit before being fired following a 9-7 campaign in Year 4. To highlight just how poor the Lions have been under Matt Patricia, the head coach could have gone 16-0 in 2020 and still only be 25-22-1 in Detroit.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2-1)
Previous Rank: 29
Joe Burrow is on pace to shatter Andrew Luck's rookie passing yards record, despite an offensive line in front of him that would make even the former Colts quarterback blush. Questions about whether head coach Zac Taylor is the right guy for Burrow remain though.
25. Miami Dolphins (1-3)
Previous Rank: 25
While the Dolphins are understandably being cautious with Tua Tagovailoa, what value is there in allowing Ryan Fitzpatrick to start until the team is definitely out of the playoff race? With Burrow and Herbert starring, it's time for Tua, who is fully healthy, to join in the fun.
26. Houston Texans (0-4)
Previous Rank: 19
Bill O'Brien should've been fired the second last year's playoff game against the Chiefs ended. Instead, Houston gave the head coach/general manager an extra offseason to complete his destruction of the team's future. Texans fans, for your health, we recommend not looking at your club's 2021 draft picks or cap space.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
Previous Rank: 27
The Jaguars might be better off not drafting highly anymore and just rolling with their late-round picks and undrafted players. Rookie James Robinson looks like a star, and Gardner Minshew has performed solidly. The rest of the roster, which seems as bad as expected, is letting the duo down.
28. Denver Broncos (1-3)
Previous Rank: 30
Nothing like facing the Jets to get some perspective on your season. Denver is keeping its head above water with Drew Lock injured, and the Broncos could get some more luck against the Patriots with Newton potentially out again in Week 5.
29. Atlanta Falcons (0-4)
Previous Rank: 26
Seriously, how much more time does Falcons owner Arthur Blank need to evaluate his coaching staff? Dan Quinn's team is just as unorganized, undisciplined, and almost impossibly poor in clutch situations as it was two years ago.
30. Washington Football Team (1-3)
Previous Rank: 28
With the rest of the NFC East also floundering, Washington made a change a quarterback. Kyle Allen will get the first crack to replace Dwayne Haskins, but it's becoming increasingly possible we get the perfect end to Alex Smith's miraculous story.
31. New York Giants (0-4)
Previous Rank: 31
The biggest positive for the Giants through the first month is that they aren't the Jets.
32. New York Jets (0-4)
Previous Rank: 32
At least O'Brien will have company soon. Adam Gase is a dead man walking as the Jets fall flat every week.