Here’s a look at where each team stands in NESN.com’s NFL power rankings as we head into Week 5. (To see our Week 4 rankings, click here.)
1. New England Patriots (3-1; last week: 1): Yes, the Patriots just were shut out at home, and they’re not the consensus best team in the league by any means. But we’re keeping them here until they stumble with Tom Brady, who returns this week after serving his four-game Deflategate suspension.
2. Denver Broncos (4-0; 2): The AFC’s lone remaining undefeated team hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game all season.
3. Minnesota Vikings (4-0; 6): No team has scored more than 17 points against the Vikings this season. They’re for real.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1; 5): The Steelers bounced back like a trampoline Sunday night, eviscerating the Chiefs one week after suffering their worst loss in 27 years. Le’Veon Bell looked fantastic in his first game back from suspension, too.
5. Green Bay Packers (2-1; 3): Aaron Rodgers & Co. were idle this past weekend.
6. Seattle Seahawks (3-1; 4): Russell Wilson’s knee looked fine, and Jimmy Graham turned in another 100-yard receiving performance as Seattle took care of the Jets.
7. Dallas Cowboys (3-1; 12): Had it not been for their one-point loss to the Giants in Week 1, Dak Prescott’s Cowboys would be sitting pretty at 4-0.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2; 10): Cincy took care of business Thursday night, blowing out the woeful Dolphins.
9. Oakland Raiders (3-1; 16): If you tune into a Raiders game, there’s a strong chance you’ll get to watch a barnburner. Oakland is one of six teams with 100-plus points scored and 100-plus points allowed this season.
10. Houston Texans (3-1; 13): The Texans haven’t been overly impressive in any of their three wins, but they’ve built a two-game lead for themselves in the AFC South. Also, Will Fuller is the truth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnZvmRXDthY
11. Atlanta Falcons (3-1; 22): Matt Ryan and the Falcons have the NFL’s highest-scoring offense by a wide margin, and they’re in the driver’s seat in a surprisingly watered-down NFC South. Julio Jones also racked up a casual 300 receiving yards against Carolina, which is more than all but 14 NFL receivers have gained all season.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0; 15): Idle.
13. New York Giants (2-2; 11): After spending a boatload to improve their defense, the Giants have a grand total of zero takeaways this season. Every other NFL team has at least one.
14. Carolina Panthers (1-3; 8): OK, it’s officially time to start worrying about the defending NFC champs.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2; 9): The Chiefs allowed 22 first-quarter points to the Steelers and never stood a chance in a 43-14 loss.
16. Arizona Cardinals (1-3; 7): Less than a year removed from an NFC Championship Game appearance, the Cardinals are an unmitigated disaster. They lost to the Rams on Sunday and lost Carson Palmer in the process (not that he’s been any good this season, anyway), meaning they might be forced to start career backup Drew Stanton in Thursday night’s matchup with the 49ers.
17. Baltimore Ravens (3-1; 17): The Ravens’ phony undefeated streak ended with a one-point loss to the Raiders.
18. Buffalo Bills (2-2; 21): The Bills scored the signature win Rex Ryan’s tenure on Sunday, dealing the rival Patriots their first shutout loss at home since the Foxboro Stadium days.
19. Los Angeles Rams (3-1; 27): Fact: The Rams are 3-0 since signing Jeff Fisher to a contract extension.
20. Washington Redskins (2-2; 18): The Skins, who needed a late rally to beat the winless Browns, look like the clear No. 4 in the NFC East.
21. New York Jets (1-3; 14): Three more interceptions by Ryan Fitzpatrick brought his two-week total to nine.
22. Indianapolis Colts (1-3; 19): The Colts are in the basement of a bad AFC South.
23. Miami Dolphins (1-3; 20): Miami was putrid on Thursday night, scoring just seven points and allowing A.J. Green to go off for 173 receiving yards on 10 catches.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3; 25): The Jags dispatched the Colts in London for their first win of the season, and Blake Bortles had the weekend’s best celebration.
25. San Diego Chargers (1-3; 24): The Chargers are losing heartbreakers like nobody’s business this season.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3; 26): Since starting 1-0, the Bucs have been outscored 104-46 over three consecutive losses.
27. New Orleans Saints (1-3; 30): It took a wild fourth-quarter comeback and another Chargers implosion, but the Saints finally have their first W.
28. Detroit Lions (1-3; 23): The Lions just lost to the Bears, who were dead last in our Week 4 rankings and were playing without their starting quarterback.
29. Tennessee Titans (1-3; 28): The Titans have lost two games by a touchdown and another by nine points.
30. Chicago Bears (1-3; 32): Brian Hoyer led the Bears past the Lions to save Chicago from an 0-4 start.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-3; 29): San Fran has yet to match the 28 points it scored in its Week 1 win over the Rams.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-4; 31): The NFL’s only winless team gets to face Brady and the Patriots this Sunday. Good luck with that.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
