D.S. Williamson
Suddenly, the NFC appears to be the power conference. Teams in the AFC, outside of Kansas City and Denver, aren’t looking that great. Teams in the NFC make up 3 of the top 5 teams on my NFL Week 6 Power Rankings. KC remains number one. Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Green Bay are 3 of the other 4 teams on the list.
Check out this week’s NFL Power Rankings!
2017 NFL Week 6 Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
The Chiefs’ 42 to 34 win over the Houston Texans in Week 5 means they’re the lone remaining undefeated team in the NFL this season. I just checked. KC’s Super Bowl Odds have dropped from 17 to 1 after their Week 1 win over New England to 9 to 1.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
The Eagles dominated the Arizona Cardinals in a 34 to 7 beat down in Week 5. If Philly’s defense can continue to play well, who knows how many games the Eagles win this season? A major test is this Thursday when Carson Wentz and Co. battle other Top 5 Power Ranking NFL squad Carolina on the road.
3. Denver Broncos (3-1)
Denver got Week 5 off. The Broncos’ defense allows only 50.8 rushing yards per game. That ranks first in the NFL. Denver’s offense averages 143 rushing yards per. That ranks third in the NFL.
4. Atlanta Falcons (3-1)
The Falcons’ lone loss this season, to Buffalo, happened because of growing pains on offense. Since Atlanta took Week 5 off, you must expect that they’re coming back guns blazing in NFL Week 6. I want to see how Atlanta performs off the bye before dropping them below Green Bay and Carolina.
5. Green Bay Packers (4-1)
Man, Aaron Rodgers is a good QB! With around 1 minute and 20 seconds left versus Dallas at AT&T Stadium, Rodgers managed to make the perfect pass to Davante Adams for the win. With Rodgers, Green Bay has a chance to win every NFL game.
6. Carolina Panthers (4-1)
Cam Newton once again dominated an opposing team’s defense. This time, Cam punished Detroit’s D. Eventually, Cam’s going to cool off, right? Maybe not. The Panthers’ Super Bowl odds are at 28 to 1. Some NFL handicapper somewhere is jumping all over those odds.
7. New England Patriots (3-2)
The Patriots are still the favorites to win Super Bowl 52. At 4 to 1, I’d suggest playing against. Why? Although New England’s defense only allowed 14 points, it did allow Tampa QB Jameis Winston to throw for over 330 yards and to throw a TD pass. I’m not sure the Patriots’ D is any better in Week 5 than it was in Week 1.
8. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
Seattle’s D did a masterful job of holding down the highest-scoring offense in the NFL. The Rams scored 10 points against Seattle’s D. That’s why I’ve jumped them into my Top 10.
9. Buffalo Bills (3-2)
QB Tyrod Taylor’s favorite target, tight-end Charles Clay, went down with a knee injury. Without Clay, Buffalo’s offense could be even more pedestrian. We’ll see how it works out.
10. Los Angeles Rams (3-2)
Down by only 10 points, the Rams had a chance to beat Seattle in the final stages of their Week 5 game. The Rams lost. But, LAR showed everyone that they can hang with an NFL squad like the Seahawks.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
I was flat out wrong about Fournette’s transition from college to pro. I thought he’d bomb. He has been exceptional in 5 weeks. He’s rushed for 466 yards and scored 6 total TDs. He’s caught 13 passes. The man can play football.
12. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
New Orleans got the week off after winning 2 straight. The Saints’ offer 50 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl 52. If New Orleans’ defense is the real deal, the odds make them an overlay. If New Orleans isn’t the real deal, the odds make them an underlay.
13. Detroit Lions (3-2)
Matthew Stafford is a fantastic quarterback. After Cam demolished the Lions’ D, Stafford almost brought Detroit back. Carolina beat Detroit 27 to 24. Still, the Lions showed, again, that they’re one of the tougher teams in the NFL.
14. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)
The Vikings managed to rough up Chicago QB Mitch Trubisky and the rest of the Bears in a 20 to 17 win. Minnesota might have found a viable replacement for RB Dalvin Cook in RB Jerrick McKinnon. Mckinnon broke away for a 58-yard TD run. He also caught 6 passes for 51 yards.
15. Washington Redskins (2-2)
Washington took the week off. I believe Washington only must make a single adjustment on defense to become one of the better teams in the NFL. All Washington must do is not play as aggressively on D as they have been in their first 4 games. Every single defensive player for the Redskins has such a high motor that to a man everyone slows down by the fourth quarter. Play more bend but don’t break to win football games.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2)
The Buccaneers could have beaten the Patriots this past Thursday night. Former Jets’ kicker Nick Folk missed 3 field goals. That’s why Folk no longer kicks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Big Ben threw 5 interceptions. What’s more worrisome is that the Steelers’ offensive line couldn’t get RB Le’Veon Bell going. Bell averaged 3.1 yards per carry. Uh, there’s something more disturbing than that. The Syrofoam Curtain allowed Jacksonville RB Leonard Fournette to rush for over 180 yards. Ouch.
18. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
Yeah, Baltimore won a football game. Let’s not get crazy. The Ravens got to battle an Oakland Raiders’ squad that started E.J. Manuel at quarterback. Now, if Baltimore sticks with Javorius Allen at RB, the team might become consistent on offense.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
We shouldn’t look past Cincinnati’s 20 to 16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo had beaten Atlanta and Denver in their last two before battling the Bengals. Cincinnati WR A.J. Green was phenomenal. The Bengals are back on track.
20. New York Jets (3-2)
The Jets beat Cleveland 17 to 14. For the first time in a long time, NYJ’s game against the New England Patriots this Sunday is important. Both the Jets and the Pats are at 3 and 2.
21. Miami Dolphins (2-2)
Why is Jay Cutler still starting at quarterback? He doesn’t seem to care that much that he’s horrible. Cutler’s been that way his entire career. The man has no drive to be a good football player. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. It just means that Miami was stupid for giving him $10 million to play this season.
22. Oakland Raiders (2-3)
Even with EJ Manuel at QB, the Raiders shouldn’t have lost 17 to 30 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. I’m starting to question Oakland’s defensive strategy. With so many stars on the D, including LB Khalil Mack, there’s no way Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco should have thrown for over 220 yards when he only averages 158.4 per game.
23. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
The good news is that the Cowboys’ offense finally got it going. The bad news is that the Boys’ defense had no answer for QB Aaron Rodgers’ brilliance. That’s a bad sign because Dallas’ D must still play Philly’s Carson Wentz twice, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Kansas City’s Alex Smith, Washington’s Kirk Cousins twice, and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. THe season could be a long one for Cowboys’ fans.
24. Houston Texans (2-3)
J.J. Watt is out for the season. Because of that, Houston must now become a score as many points as you can squad. The Texans can do it. QB DeShaun Watson, as I expected, should have been the first quarterback drafted this past April. WR DeAndre Hopkins caught 3 Watson passes for TDs in the loss to KC. It’s funny how the Texans now must become the Saints to win football games while the Saints have tried to become the Texans to win football games.
25. Tennessee Titans (2-3)
Marcus Mariota didn’t play. That’s why Tennessee lost. Without Mariota, Tennessee’s already vanilla offense had no choice but to become downright pasty.
26. Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
I’m tempted to send Arizona to last on my NFL Week 6 Power Rankings. Eagles QB Carson Wentz made the Cards’ vaunted defense look like chumps. Arizona’s offense stood still all afternoon. I don’t understand the Cardinals. I just don’t.
27. Chicago Bears (1-4)
The Bears found a starting QB. The stats won’t say that it was a nice debut performance by Mitch Trubisky. He only completed 12 of 25 passes for 128 yards. He threw an interception. Trubisky did show flashes that he could turn into a viable starter in the NFL, though.
28. Indianapolis Colts (2-3)
The Colts should have shut the door on the 49’ers in regulation. Instead, it took a field goal for the Colts to beat SF 26 to 23 in overtime. Although the game wasn’t exactly great football, it sure was entertaining football. I’ll take it!
29. Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
Don’t laugh, but I saw something in the Chargers win over the horrible New York Giants that could make the Bolts difficult to deal with from Week 5 on. RB Melvin Gordon caught 6 passes for 58 yards. He caught 2 TD passes. Gordon also rushed for 105 yards from 20 carries. If Gordon is now a dual-threat, LAC could end the playoff dreams of more than one team in the AFC West.
30. San Francisco 49’ers (0-5)
NFL Week 5 was the week when the 49’ers were supposed to get their first win. It didn’t work out that way. I still feel SF is on the right track.
31. Cleveland Browns (0-5)
The Browns are better than the New York Giants. New starting QB Kevin Hogan completed 16 of 19 passes. RB Isaiah Crowell had his best game yet this season. Round 1 pick Myles Garrett recorded a sack on his first ever NFL play. The Browns made a sure-fire loss interesting. Cleveland should win a football game soon.
32. New York Giants (0-5)
The Giants’ best player, Odell Beckham Jr., is out for the season. The Giants’ defense can’t stop a single offense. NYG also can’t rush the football. If there’s any time when Eli should consider retirement, it’s right now. I don’t see things turning around for the New York Giants.
