And then there were three. After Week 6 of the NFL season, three teams remain undefeated: the Chiefs, 49ers, and Vikings. The 1972 Dolphins will have to wait a while to pop their champagne. This past week, like any week in the NFL season, there were more than a few head-scratching games.
The Eagles have now lost four games in a row, and the Cowboys look like the worst team in the league. And the Rams, who were the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl, are 2-4. Every team in the AFC and NFC North is above 500, while the Chargers are 0-6. Strange days indeed.
Here are this week’s NFL power rankings.
MORE:3 NFL teams that should be worried after Week 6
Ranks 32-25
32. Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers have overtaken the bottom spot with their loss this week against the Chiefs. They are now 0-6 and Jim Harbaugh’s days are numbered.
31. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins did not lose this week…only because they didn’t play. They are 0-5 and the only other winless team besides the Chargers.
30. Washington Commanders: The Commanders are 1-4-1 and after their inexplicable tie two weeks ago against the Giants, their season looks to be spiraling out of control.
29. Tennessee Titans: Don’t look now, but the Titans won a game. A win is a win, and maybe they can build off of this momentum. They are hosting the 4-2 Browns this week.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After their win in Dallas the week before, it looked like the Bucs were going to string a couple W’s together, but the Steelers prevailed in overtime. Baker Mayfield may be back in Week 7 in their matchup against the first-place Panthers. It’s a must-win if they have any shot at getting back into the race.
27. New York Jets: The Jets had a tough five defense heading into New England…but they have now lost 16 out of 17 road games against the Pats. The good news is they are at home this week, facing off against the hapless Dolphins.
26. Dallas Cowboys: And talking about hapless…The Cowboys look absolutely lost, especially on offense. They have all the talent in the world at their skill positions, but it’s time to take the chips off the table and stay away until they show any glimpses of a turnaround.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: The news keeps getting worse for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. They have now lost four in a row, and Hurts is out for the season.
Ranks 24-17
24. Arizona Cardinals: Just when I wrote the Cardinals completely off, they go into Los Angeles…again, and win. They are 2-4 with both wins coming on the road against L.A. teams.
23. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts GM just got the axe, and more will be coming if they don’t right the ship. They are on a two-game losing streak and head to Minnesota this week, followed by a pivotal matchup in Jacksonville.
22. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons were 2-2 and looked like world-beaters, but after losing a tough overtime game against the Ravens, they were easily handled by the Bears with Caleb Williams back. And it doesn’t get any easier this week against the 49ers.
21. Houston Texans: Don’t look now, but here come the Texans. They notoriously start off every season slowly, but always right the ship. Last year they were 0-3 and made the playoffs…this year they started 0-4, but have now won two in a row. And they have a manageable schedule over the next few weeks. Don’t be surprised if they’re back over 500 before Thanksgiving.
20. New Orleans Saints: Now at 2-4, the Saints are right back in the mix in the NFC South. No team ever breaks from the pack, and as long as they hover around 500, they’ll play meaningful games into December.
19. New York Giants: The Giants may win the NFC East by default…because make no mistake about it, this is not a very good football team. And John Harbaugh may have created a QB controversy after benching Jameis Winston for JJ McCarthy. They head to Houston for a suddenly tough matchup against the Texans.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Regardless of who the QB is and regardless of who the HC is, the Steelers find a way to produce 500 seasons year after year. They are now 4-2 and tied with Ravens and Browns. By year’s end, they will be 9-8 and vying for the seventh seed.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: After beginning 3-0, the Raiders have now lost three in a row. They weren’t as good as their start, and they aren’t as bad as these past three weeks. They have scored 162 pts and given up 162pts. They score a ton but give up too many. That said, they are a year away from being a powerhouse. They face a buzzsaw schedule over the next few weeks.
Ranks 16-11
16. Los Angeles Rams: The Rams are the Raiders’ opponent next week. The game will say a ton about both teams. For the Rams, it is a must-win because they cannot go to 2-5. And for the Raiders, it will keep them over. 500 and halt the losing streak. It is the most intriguing game on the board this week.
15. Carolina Panthers: It is rare when division leaders fall outside of the top 10. This week, there are three of them. The Giants are down at no. 19. The Panthers are at no. 15, and the Browns are one spot higher at no. 14. They should take care of business this week and handle the Buccaneers… who knows, a win could catapult them there.
14. Cleveland Browns: The Browns are proving to be a nice story this season. They are a plucky bunch and following the image of their HC Todd Monken…tough and gritty. Unfortunately, the clock will strike midnight at some point. They just don’t have the firepower. They’ve scored only 106 pts, the lowest total of any team with a .500 or better record.
13. Chicago Bears: The Bears will not break the scoring record this season…they are only fifth in the NFC, but with Caleb Williams back, they are a far more potent bunch. They are 4-2 and face the Patriots this Thursday night. The game will feature the No. 1 and No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, with Williams dueling Drake Maye.
12. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks made a grave error allowing Kenneth Walker to leave. It’s clear what he’s done in Kansas City, and how much his loss has hurt the Seahawks. They are now 3-3 and have lost two in a row…oh, and by the way, Walker is coming to Seattle this week, with the Chiefs playing the Seahawks.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals had a bye this week, and because of it, now find themselves in last place…albeit with a 3-2 record. When all is said and done, the Bengals do have the best team in the NFC North and will win the division.
MORE:NFL contenders & pretenders after Week 6
Top 10
10. Green Bay Packers: The NFL is so streaky. Nine out of 32 teams have winning or losing streaks of three games or more. The Packers are one of them, with a three-game winning streak. Jordan Love looks like a different QB than at the start of the season, and his dynamic WRs, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, may be the best 1-2 combo in the league.
9. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens lost a tough one this past week against the Browns and have another tough one this week against the Bengals. Without Lamar Jackson leading the way, the Ravens will have a tough time.
8. Detroit Lions: The Lions had a bye week this past week and are now in last place with their 3-2 record. Both the Bears and Packers won their games and are now sitting at 4-2, just ahead of them. They face the suddenly resurgent Packers in Detroit this week. It should be a great matchup, and a game the Lions desperately need to win.
7. New England Patriots: Last season the Patriots started 1-2 and then steamrolled to the division title and ultimately to the Super Bowl. Last year, a road matchup in primetime would have been a win. It remains to be seen whether history can repeat itself as the Pats head to Chicago to face the Bears on Thursday Night Football.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars put up a great fight in a very entertaining game against the Texans, losing 34-31. Sometimes it’s not who you play, but when you play them. And for the Jaguars, playing the Texans this past week was definitely the wrong time. They should right the ship this week at home against the Colts.
Top 5
5. Denver Broncos: The Broncos haven’t looked great, especially not their QB Bo Nix. But they have been resilient. Despite their woes, they have won two games in a row. And if the playoffs started today, they’d hold the No. 6 seed. With 12 weeks to go, there is a ton of football, but the Broncos will hang around until the end. They should beat the Cardinals this week ahead of their matchup with the Chiefs.
4. Minnesota Vikings: The top four teams on this list all remained the same. The Vikings had a bye and are still undefeated. Their next four games are against the Lions, Bills, Packers, and 49ers. If they can go 2-2 after that gauntlet, they will be doing well.
3. Buffalo Bills: The Bills are now 5-1 and are the highest-scoring team in the league. However, they have won three games while giving up over 30pts. Their defense is dreadful.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs had an easy time of it against the Chargers, taking them to 5-0, while dropping the Chargers to 0-6. Their next two games are in Seattle and then Denver, two of the league’s toughest road venues. It is doubtful they will get to 7-0…if they can split it, it will be an accomplishment.
1. San Francisco 49ers: The Niners just keep chugging along after their victory over the Commanders. They now have a three-game lead over the Seahawks and the NFC West may prove to be a softer division than originally thought. It’s a bit early to rest players with the goal of the No. 1 seed still at stake, but the division all but seems wrapped up at this point.
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