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NFL power rankings Week 5: Do surging Baltimore Ravens rocket all the way up to No. 1?
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- NFL power rankings Week 5: Do surging Baltimore Ravens rocket all the way up to No. 1?
NFL power rankings entering Week 5 of the 2024 season ( previous rank in parentheses ):
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1):They may be 4-0 with an extensive championship pedigree, but their perch here seems increasingly precarious given their modest 5-point per game margin of victory and mounting personnel challenges – none more serious to date than the loss of WR Rashee Rice to a potentially season-ending knee injury. Now in the midst of a 20-game stretch with just one game, HC Andy Reid and Co. probably need this time, amid an especially frenetic schedule, to figure some things out if their bid for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat is going to ultimately bear fruit.
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2. Minnesota Vikings (3):This feels precarious for different reasons given the Vikes' wholly unexpected ascent. But their 4-0 mark is no fluke – nearly all of their victories against quality opposition – nor are the MVP credentials (seriously) of QB Sam Darnold , now the first player in the league's broad history to win his first four games with a team while throwing multiple touchdown passes in each. Next, they'll play in their first nationally televised window – Sunday morning on London's international stage.
3. Baltimore Ravens (17):Their 0-2 start has quickly faded into the ether, last season's No. 1 playoff seed quickly resurfacing as perhaps the league's scariest outfit . After rushing for more than 500 yards the past two weeks, Baltimore's 220.3 yards per game average is nearly 50 clear of the NFL's second-most prolific ground attack. Yet this offense is dangerously varied and still seems to have room to grow, TE Mark Andrews yet to settle into his typically prominent role.
4. Detroit Lions (4):QB Jared Goff flexed his "Motor City Muscle" with a near-perfect performance against the previously unbeaten 'Hawks – becoming the first quarterback in 46 years to start consecutive games with at least 10 straight completions – as the Lions finally won what's become their now-annual shootout with Seattle .
5. Buffalo Bills (2):Sunday night was hardly the way you want to start a stretch of five roadies in seven weeks – and further exposed what had already been a problematic run defense. But a team that still owns the AFC's best point differential (+39) despite a 25-point loss at Baltimore still looks very capable – and set up – to make near- and long-term runs. LB Von Miller's suspension hurts .
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6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10):The perennial NFC South leaders could separate themselves early by winning in Atlanta and New Orleans the next two weeks. And the Bucs might've discovered something on the ground, RBs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White both carrying 10 times for 49 yards in Sunday's decisive win over Philly.
7. San Francisco 49ers (12):WR Brandon Aiyuk still seems to be in preseason mode, currently on pace for a 700-yard season. Yet Sunday was a good "get right" game anyway for a team that still won't be quite right until its reinforcements arrive. But DE Nick Bosa had a season-best seven pressures, and LB Fred Warner managed his first pick-six in five years. At least the Niners are in a stretch where they only travel once in six weeks, their next two contests of the divisional variety ( Arizona , Seattle) followed by two against hobbled 2023 division winners (K.C., Dallas ).
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (8):QB Justin Fields played his best game on the same day the defense played its worst. Perhaps of more concern is the latest blow to the listing O-line, RG James Daniels finished with a torn Achilles. At least the Steelers only travel once in the next five weeks, starting that stretch against a Dallas squad that might be even more battered.
9. Washington Commanders (18):Given how well rookie QB Jayden Daniels and Co. have been playing, it's easy to envision this team around 7-2 at the season's midpoint. But they could use more from the wideouts, none among Washington's top three yardage producers or in excess of 200 yards through four games.
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10. Atlanta Falcons (13):Did you know WR Darnell Mooney leads them with 225 receiving yards, which doesn't include the crucial PI he drew to set up Sunday's game-winning field goal? Appropriate way to win on a day when the offense didn't score a TD.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (5):A trio of inactive Pro Bowlers isn't going to help the bottom line. Nor will QB Jalen Hurts ' now-chronic propensity for turnovers, which are coming at nearly two per week. Early as it is, Philly's Week 5 bye could be fortuitous.
12. Green Bay Packers (6):How good a signing has SS Xavier McKinney been? He's the first player this century to pick off a pass in his first four games with a team.
13. Houston Texans (11):They've been outscored on the season and have struggled to beat three average-at-best opponents. Fresh off scoring his first career rushing TD, perennial Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and his new mates are now going to run into a smarting Buffalo team – and that may be an awkward reunion for the wideout six months after his surprising trade .
14. Seattle Seahawks (15):Despite a defense ravaged by injuries – five key players were out Monday night – they looked legit in their first Division I matchup of the season. And they're about to get plenty of home cooking in the Emerald City, which they'll only leave once over the next six weeks.
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15. Indianapolis Colts (20):Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup – and QB1 Anthony Richardson might benefit from some time to heal and by watching Joe Flacco execute HC Shane Steichen's attack.
16. New Orleans Saints (9):RB Alvin Kamara leads the league with 97 touches, 536 yards from scrimmage and six TDs – quite the workhorse production from a guy who spent most of his career in a backfield timeshare. He should be in the thick of the MVP debate.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (16):No player wants a Week 5 bye, but the Bolts might wind up reaping the benefits given their rampant injuries . And better rest up with only one home game between now and Nov. 10.
18. Denver Broncos (22): An offense struggling mightily with rookie QB Bo Nix seems to be garnering most of the attention. A second-ranked defense that's been nearly airtight in the red zone deserves just as much.
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19. New York Jets (7):Maybe a trip to London and offering to pay LB Haason Reddick in pounds would end his contractual standoff? Or maybe a trip to London means, uh, better weather after New Jersey's rain proved quite capable of grounding the Jets offense? Or, as QB Aaron Rodgers said, "The weather sucked, but so did some of my throws." Aye.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (24):Per Next Gen Stats, RB Zack Moss has averaged 2.97 seconds to reach the line of scrimmage, the fourth-slowest figure in the league and nearly a half-second longer than teammate Chase Brown (2.51) – so perhaps no surprise Brown is averaging nearly 2.5 yards more per carry.
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21. Chicago Bears (26):In case you missed it – and we did – TE Marcedes Lewis made some rather notable history in Sunday's victory.
22. Dallas Cowboys (21):If it was hard to get excited about this defense stabilizing in a win over the Giants , it's even harder to get excited about it without its top front seven players, LB Micah Parsons and DE DeMarcus Lawrence, missing a chunk of the upcoming murderers' row schedule (Steelers, Lions, 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, Commanders).
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23. Arizona Cardinals (14):Three of their next four outings will be on the road against 2023 playoff teams – so the Cards better find a way to stop surrendering an NFC-worst 22.3 first downs per game.
24. Los Angeles Rams (19):How to sum up their offensive issues? Injured WR Cooper Kupp still leads the team with 18 catches … despite playing roughly 40% of the snaps.
25. Carolina Panthers (23):They head to Chicago this week. Better lock the hotel safes and stadium lockers given the Bears will try to steal a win after already swiping WR DJ Moore and the No. 1 pick of this year's draft.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (25):They became the first team in 14 years to feature two wide receivers scoring rushing touchdowns – and Davante Adams didn't even play.
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27. New York Giants (27):The decision to let RB Saquon Barkley go continues to age terribly after they averaged 1.1 yards per carry against a Dallas D which had allowed five times that much in its previous two outings.
28. New England Patriots (30):RB Rhamondre Stevenson has fumbled once in five consecutive games going back to last season. Maintain that horrid pace, and he'll set a single-season record for a non-quarterback.
29. Tennessee Titans (31):Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup – and QB1 Will Levis might benefit from some time to heal and by watching Mason Rudolph execute HC Brian Callahan's attack.
30. Miami Dolphins (29):Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup – and sometimes, it's just screwed up beyond recognition without its primary starter. Still time to get a quality stopgap, though ...
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31. Cleveland Browns (28):Does anyone need a change of scenery more than WR Amari Cooper , who leads the league with six drops? (Bide your time, Coop.)
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (32):Despite ample talent, they're 1-9 over their last 10 games – a stretch that flushed playoff hopes in 2023 and '24 – yet HC Doug Pederson is somehow puzzled by questions about job security.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL power rankings: Ravens rapidly rise, but do they overtake Chiefs?
