Here are the NFL power rankings as we head into Week 6 of the 2024 season (previous rankings in parentheses):

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): After their first double-digit victory of the season on Monday night, the Chiefs have now joined the ranks of ten Super Bowl era champions (dating back to 1966) who have kicked off their campaigns with a 5-0 record, the first team to do so in five years. They’ll enjoy a week off before facing San Francisco in a rematch of Super Bowls 54 and 58.

2. Minnesota Vikings (2): They managed to escape London with a tight win, although QB Sam Darnold showed inconsistencies. The injury to RB Aaron Jones also hampered their offensive efforts. Thankfully, the Vikings boast a strong defense highlighting OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, who has made history this season by achieving at least three sacks and several interception returns for touchdowns within the first five weeks.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3): In a surprising turn, they overturned a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit against Cincinnati on Sunday. If any team is poised to become a formidable contender in 2024, it may well be this one—marking the first time in 18 seasons that they’ve rushed for 1,000 yards by Week 5. Though the Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry partnership is impressive, they urgently need to improve their pass defense, currently ranked 31st in the league.

4. Detroit Lions (4): Hopefully, they took advantage of their bye week. Their upcoming schedule contains a tough stretch with away games against Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay, and Houston. Meanwhile, their opponents are likely feeling the pressure from NFL sack leader Aidan Hutchinson, who recorded 10 quarterback pressures in his last game—the highest this season.

5. Atlanta Falcons (10): QB Kirk Cousins came very close to leading the team to a 3-0 record in prime time, and he now stands alongside Tom Brady as one of the few players to throw for over 500 yards and four touchdowns in a single night game. However, unless there’s a schedule change, Cousins will only have one more night game this season, indicating that “Kirko Chainz” may have a quieter prime-time presence going forward.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6): After braving the impacts of Hurricane Helene, the Buccaneers are preparing to fly to New Orleans ahead of another impending storm (Hurricane Milton) threatening Tampa Bay. Here’s hoping that the team and its supporters find a positive outcome amidst the turbulence.

7. Washington Commanders (9): An impressive array of achievements has marked their season. They’re currently in first place and are the first team to record 13 rushing touchdowns within the first five weeks since Gerald Ford was in office. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels has made history, becoming the inaugural player to begin his career with over 1,000 passing yards and 250 rushing yards in just five games. Fans are already dreaming about their first Super Bowl appearance since the Joe Gibbs era.

8. Houston Texans (13): With a 4-1 record, the Texans leave a good impression. However, they stand out as the only division-leading team with a negative point differential of over 10, suggesting they could have just as easily been at 1-4, especially with injury issues rising as WR Nico Collins is set to be sidelined with a hamstring problem.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (11): The Eagles will benefit from the rest of their bye week, with WRs A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) expected back on Sunday. Given their need to get back on track, facing Cleveland could be just what they need.

10. Green Bay Packers (12): They only have one away game scheduled in the next six weeks (in Duval County), which presents a golden opportunity to establish themselves as serious contenders for the Super Bowl.

11. Buffalo Bills (5): Just two weeks ago, many saw QB Josh Allen as a likely MVP candidate. However, his performance has dropped significantly since then, with only a 42.4% completion rate, a 65.0 QB rating, and just one touchdown along with no wins.

12. Arizona Cardinals (23): The Cardinals have a perfect 2-0 record against NFC West rivals and showcase the top QB-RB rushing duo (Kyler Murray and James Conner) in the conference, rivaling even the best in Baltimore.

13. San Francisco 49ers (7): They have yet to lose against AFC East teams, but that won’t weigh heavily when it comes to breaking ties—especially as the Niners have started 0-2 in their own division. A notable 38-game winning streak under HC Kyle Shanahan when leading by double digits in the fourth quarter ended recently.

14. Dallas Cowboys (22): They may have discovered something promising in RB Rico Dowdle. With a defense comprising many backup players rallying together, they are gearing up to secure their first home victory of 2024 against a Detroit team that faced a tough loss last season at AT&T Stadium.

15. Indianapolis Colts (15): Looking back to last season’s performance in Cleveland, Joe Flacco has consistently surpassed 300 passing yards and thrown for two touchdowns in five consecutive starts. At age 39, he holds the record as the oldest quarterback in NFL history to accomplish such a feat.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (8): A troubling sign was QB Justin Fields facing pressure on about a quarter of his dropbacks on Sunday night, especially against a defense missing its top two pass rushers—making a change to QB Russell Wilson seem less appealing with Pittsburgh’s struggling offensive line.

17. Denver Broncos (18): The Broncos are among the league’s best defenses, allowing an average of just 14.6 points per game, supported by 19 sacks and eight turnovers this season.

18. Los Angeles Chargers (17): Following their bye week, it’s uncertain how well the injury-plagued roster will perform. They’ve had a difficult time in Denver, losing ten of their last eleven matchups at Mile High Stadium.

19. Chicago Bears (21): A key factor in their current eight-game winning streak at Soldier Field is a defense that has generated an impressive 18 turnovers during these games.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (20): Their record of 1-4 is concerning, as they’ve nearly exhausted their margin for error. Fortunately, they won’t face another opponent with a winning record until they meet the Ravens again in Week 10.

21. New York Jets (19): The Jets have had a challenging few days, beginning with a disappointing game against the Vikings in London, which led to the firing of Head Coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday. This significant leadership change has sparked discussion about potentially acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams, which seems logical. However, there’s no justification for a team with running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen to be at the bottom of the league in rushing, averaging only 80.4 yards per game.

22. New York Giants (27): Quarterback Daniel Jones has shown signs of improvement since his tough return in Week 1, totaling four touchdowns, one turnover, and a passer rating of 95.8. This includes a victory over Seattle on Sunday, even with wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Devin Singletary out. Perhaps paying Jones $40 million annually isn’t so unreasonable after all.

23. Seattle Seahawks (14): The Seahawks’ relatively easy schedule has hidden several problems, such as a turnover differential of -3, which ranks second worst in the NFC. Their offensive strategy is also concerning, as they throw the ball the most while running it the least in the league.

24. Los Angeles Rams (24): The Rams seem overly dependent on running back Kyren Williams, who has accumulated a team-leading 109 offensive plays—significantly more than any other team member.

25. New Orleans Saints (16): The Saints are currently on a three-game losing streak with a sharp decline in offensive output. Quarterback Derek Carr’s recent injury, which has hindered his ability to throw, has not helped matters. With a dismal 1-6 record in prime-time games over the last three years, the Saints no longer appear to be an attractive destination for Adams, especially if Carr is unable to play.

26. Carolina Panthers (25): Much attention has been given to their quarterback situation, but the Panthers have also allowed an alarming total of 20 offensive touchdowns, the most in the league, which is four more than any other team.

27. Las Vegas Raiders (26): The Raiders have struggled with a league-high nine turnovers; this issue significantly ties back to their quarterback scenario, which remains uncertain.

28. Tennessee Titans (29): The Titans, similarly, have committed nine turnovers in just four games, highlighting their quarterback challenges, particularly with Will Levis dealing with a shoulder injury.

29. Miami Dolphins (30): The Dolphins’ struggles are evident as they rank last in the league with only 60 points scored, a stark contrast to their 70-point performance in a single game last season. This ties back to their quarterback dilemma, which might be showing signs of stability with Tyler Huntley stepping in.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (32): With his fellow LSU alum Nabers sidelined with a concussion, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as a standout rookie, currently leading all first-year players with 397 receiving yards, and all AFC players (with at least 20 receptions) with an impressive average of 18.0 yards per catch.

31. New England Patriots (28): The Patriots continue to face scrutiny regarding their quarterback situation, especially as they are struggling with the lowest average passing yards in the league at just 119.4 per game. Speculation is mounting that there might be a switch to first-round rookie Drake Maye soon.

32. Cleveland Browns (31): The Browns’ quarterback struggles are compounded by the fact that their starter has been sacked an alarming 26 times, the most in the NFL. There are no immediate signs of them moving on from Deshaun Watson, as releasing him would incur a hefty cap hit of nearly $173 million next spring.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)

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