NFL Power Rankings, Week 5

A lot of moves around the top few spots after this week’s action. Some big losses that rivaled some of the Week 1 upsets that we saw and some teams that seem to finally have shaken off the rust and are playing up to caliber. Also some major injury concerns heading into the next few weeks for some teams. And who would have thought that the Titans, Bills and Giants would be the last 3 undefeated teams in the NFL. This could be a crazy season.

So here's my take:

TEAM
1. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)	Where was the running game? Barber and Jones were barely involved in the offense and Dallas did not look like the same team. They may have been hurt by some terrible calls, but they were outplayed.
2. NY Giants (3-0)	They jump up a spot without even playing a game. We’ll see how they handle the target on their back, as they are the last undefeated NFC team left.
3. Tennessee Titans (4-0)	Beat a solid team in MIN and are continuing to prove me wrong week after week. With Kerry Collins leading these guys, they are going to be tough to get wins off of.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)	A tough, grind it out win against a solid Ravens team. The Defense was stout again, adding a TD to go with a punishing performance.
5. SD Chargers (2-2)	Well, they looked like the Chargers of old in one quarter, piling up 25 points to come back and beat OAK. They got the win, but they need to figure out which team they want to be.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2	They’re just not the same team without Westbrook. He is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL and they need him if they are going to compete.
7. Buffalo Bills (4-0)	Another come from behind win for the Baby Bills. A first half like that against a top notch team may be too much for them to overcome, but this team has shown fight and is well ahead of schedule.
8. Carolina Panthers (3-1)	That’s more like it. After falling to Minnesota last week, they stepped their game up by shutting down the young Falcons team. Jonathan Stewart might become a real threat by seasons end.
9. Denver Broncos (3-1)	Well, I said the D might cause problems, but I never thought that it would be against KC. Giving up 33 points to a team that has looked that bad is inexcusable. They need to figure it out, and fast.
10. Washington Redskins (3-1)	Just a gigantic win for the Redskins. This team has just dominated the 4^th quarter all season, like good teams do. Jason Campbell may have finally found an offense that he can settle in with.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)	And just like that, Jacksonville gets back in the mix. Scobee needed to put the finishing touches on it again, but the offense is starting to look better. Matt Jones may finally have woken up.
12. GB Packers (2-2)	Not the kind of rebound game that was going to convince Packers fans that Rodgers in the long-term option, and that was before the injury. With him no longer behind center and the CBs hobbled, the hill is getting stepper.
13. Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1)	Put the clamps on the Packer offense before knocking Rodgers out of the game and got a good rushing performance from Earnest Graham. With a lot of NFC injury concerns, they could sneak their way near the top.
14.) Indianapolis Colts (1-2)	This was a team that could definitely use the Bye week…and the practice. Another week for Manning to get comfortable again and another week for their OL to get healthy.
15. New Orleans Saints (2-2)	Could be 4-0 right now, but this team has absolutely no quit in it. And who would have thought that Lance Moore would be the one to step up in Colston’s absence? With him and Mecham coming along, they have weapons. Oh, and Deuce is back!
16. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)	Almost pulled off a big one against the Steelers. The running game is a big question mark now. Is McClain really their best runner? If so, they may be in a bit of trouble.
17. Chicago Bears (2-2)	A big win against Philadelphia to keep themselves relevant in the NFC. Kyle Orton has done a very admirably job managing this team, but they need to get Forte to contribute consistently to help him out.
18. New England Patriots (2-1)	They should get Maroney back for week 5 and with the way their offense looked last week, don’t be surprised if he suddenly becomes the focal point. Remember how good he looked in the playoffs…
19. NY Jets (2-2)	I still don’t think they are going to contend in the AFC, but Favre certainly looked more comfortable in the offense, tossing 6 TDs. If he and Coles gets on the same page, they have a shot.
20. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)	Two tough losses after a 2-0 start. This one was particularly tough to swallow after allowing 56 points to a Jets team that has looked very mediocre the last two weeks.
21. SF 49ers (2-2)	This was the win that could have put them on pace with my playoff prediction. Lucky their division is so shaky. They missed a big offensive opportunity with NO in town and need to get Gore involved more.
22. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)	Had a chance to climb back into the race, but ran into the buzz saw that is Tennessee. On the upside, Adrian Peterson quieted concerns about his hamstring with a 2 TD day. Without him, they are in bad shape.
23. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)	Another team that really benefited from the Bye week. They were practically out of WRs and really need a shot in the arm for Week 5. Hopefully they can get some healthy bodies in there.
24. Cleveland Browns (1-3)	Finally got one in the win column. It wasn’t pretty, but that was a must win game against the Bengals and playoff teams find a way to scratch them out.
25. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)	Another game and another reminder that the Falcons are not a contending team yet. They have the weapons, but against a good defense they just aren’t able to put it together.
26. Houston Texans (0-3)	Another promising team that has really failed to live up to the billing. They kept it close against Jacksonville and almost pulled it out, but they gotta get some wins soon if they stand a chance.
27. Oakland Raiders (1-3)	Another lead blown by Lane Kiffin’s Raiders. He’ll probably be fired, but its hard to blame it on him. They stocked up on injured WRs and their #1 pick wasn’t 100%. Not gonna win many like that.
28. Miami Dolphins (1-2)	This is a very intriguing team coming off their Bye week. They dismantled the Patriots and seem to have a few good 2-back offense in the works.
29. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)	It’s amazing how quick the promise can just bleed out of a team. Without Carson Palmer, the offense could muster nothing against the Browns. With the attitudes on this team, a complete breakdown is not far off.
30. KC Chiefs (1-3)	Well, that was a shocker. KC took advantage of Denver’s defensive lapses and rode LJ to a victory. With him back in form and Huard under center, they might not finish with the worst record in the NFL. Might.
31. Detroit Lions (0-3)	Which team is going to be the last winless team? It could be Detroit, but I doubt it. Especially if Rudi Johnson can help Kevin Smith in the running game.
32. St. Louis Rams (0-4)	Have officially cemented their spot in the bottom of the rankings. The shake-ups in the lineup seemed to help in the first half, led by Leonard Little’s 4 sacks, but they need a long-term fix.

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NFL Power Rankings, Week 5