Here’s a look at where each team stands in NESN.com’s NFL power rankings as we head into Week 6. (To see our Week 5 rankings, click here.)
1. New England Patriots (4-1; last week: 1): Tom Brady’s back. Rob Gronkowski finally looks healthy. All is right in the universe.
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0; 3): The NFL’s most surprising team just might be its best, too.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1; 4): The Steelers picked up another lopsided win Sunday, beating up on the Jets 31-13.
4. Green Bay Packers (3-1; 5): The Pack took care of the flailing Giants on “Sunday Night Football.”
5. Denver Broncos (4-1; 2): With Trevor Siemian sidelined, the Paxton Lynch-led Broncos lost to the Falcons to fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.
6. Seattle Seahawks (3-1; 6): Idle.
7. Dallas Cowboys (4-1; 7): The Dak train keeps right on rolling. The Cowboys will have a tough decision to make once Tony Romo is healthy enough to return.
8. Atlanta Falcons (4-1; 11): The Falcons knocked off one of the NFL’s best teams Sunday, and they didn’t even have to score 40 points to do it, beating the previously undefeated Broncos 23-16. They just might be for real.
9. Oakland Raiders (4-1; 9): Oakland, which is tied with Denver atop the AFC West standings, on Sunday because the latest team to hand San Diego a heartbreaking loss.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1; 12): The Eagles no longer are unbeaten after losing a nail-biter to the lowly Lions, but we still like what Carson Wentz & Co. have to offer.
11. Buffalo Bills (3-2; 18): The Patriots are going to win the AFC East in a landslide, right? Not if the Bills have something to say about it. Rex Ryan’s club has won three straight since starting 0-2 and sits just one game back of New England in the divisional standings.
12. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2; 15): Idle.
13. Arizona Cardinals (2-3; 16): Arizona overwhelmed a miserable 49ers team on “Thursday Night Football” to avoid the ignominy of a 1-4 start.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3; 8): The Bengals plummet six spots after being wrecked by the Cowboys, and they have the pleasure of visiting the Patriots this weekend.
15. Houston Texans (3-2; 10): The bad news for Houston: Brock Osweiler isn’t coming anywhere close to living up to his massive contract. The good news: Nine wins might be enough to win the woeful AFC South.
16. Carolina Panthers (1-4; 14): Sure, the Panthers didn’t have Cam Newton on Monday night, but they still lost to a Buccaneers team that isn’t going anywhere this season.
17. Washington Redskins (3-2; 20): Washington stayed within striking distance in the NFC East with a six-point win over Baltimore.
18. New York Giants (2-3; 13): Two consecutive primetime losses have the G-Men looking up at the rest of the NFC East.
19. Baltimore Ravens (3-2; 17): That 3-0 start sure looks like a fluke.
20. Los Angeles Rams (3-2; 19): L.A.’s three-game win streak ended Sunday with a loss to the Bills.
21. Tennessee Titans (2-3; 29): The AFC South is wide open, and the Titans have played some good teams close this season.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3; 26): The Bucs have been blown out twice, but they’ve also beaten the Falcons and Panthers. So, who knows?
23. Detroit Lions (2-3; 28): The Lions nearly blew a two-touchdown lead but held on to beat the Eagles.
24. San Diego Chargers (1-4; 25): It’s been a rough season to cheer for the Bolts, whose four losses have come by a total of 14 points.
25. Indianapolis Colts (2-3; 22): The Colts easily could be 0-5 right now.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3; 24): Idle.
27. New York Jets (1-4; 21): Silver lining: Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t throw any interceptions in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Steelers.
28. New Orleans Saints (1-3; 27): Idle.
29. Miami Dolphins (1-4; 23): The Dolphins only have beaten the Browns this season.
30. Chicago Bears (1-4; 30): Brian Hoyer actually had a pretty good game against the Colts, but the Bears can’t buy a win right now.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-4; 31): It might be Colin Kaepernick time.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-5; 32): The Browns now have lost an astounding four quarterbacks to injury this season, and they had their home stadium commandeered by a horde of Patriots fans on Sunday.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
