We can't stop the Commanders anymore. The capital franchise has a third victory and logically climbs into the top 10 given their last two offensive performances. Still undefeated, the Chiefs maintain their first place while the Vikings climb onto the podium.
Ravens and 49ers find a place more in line with the expectations placed on them at the start of the season, while the Jaguars continue to sink.
As a reminder, this hierarchy is not only based on the number of successes, but also on current form. If two teams are close and haven't played each other recently, one wonders which one would win if the match were played today. Beating the strongest is not going to propel you to the top in the blink of an eye. Losing to one of the dunces won't plunge you into the abyss either. One can win and tumble, bow and climb. This is the merciless law of Power Ranking…
1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
Travis Kelce is back! The tight end covered more yards in one game than in the first three games combined. But it is the Chiefs defense which continues to preserve the invincibility of the reigning champions.
Week 5: receiving the Saints
2. Detroit Lions (3-1) +1
100% success for Detroit pitchers. Jared Goff was perfect and Amon-Ra St Brown worked hard not to ruin his quarterback's efforts.
Week 5: bye week
3. Minnesota Vikings (4-0) +2
The Vikings got scared, but remained undefeated. Since 2000, only two quarterbacks have won their first 4 games by throwing 10 or more touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes and… Sam Darnold.
Week 5: Jets reception in London
4. Buffalo Bills (3-1) -2
Beaten at the lines, on both sides of the field, the Bills could only bow to these Ravens.
Week 5: trip to the Texans
5. Houston Texans (3-1) +2
The Texans were hot but a last possession, full of mastery from CJ Stroud, allowed them to revive after the correction taken in Minnesota.
Week 5: Receiving the Bills
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) +6
The Broncos accident is already forgotten. Mayfield and Tampa Bay restart the machine sharply against Philadelphia.
Week 5: trip to the Falcons
7. Baltimore Ravens (2-2) +8
When Lamar Jackson doesn't need to throw more than 20 passes, it often smells pretty good for Baltimore. Big defense and very big ground game, the Ravens have brought out the formula that works.
Week 5: trip to the Bengals
8. San Francisco 49ers (2-2) +5
This time, no unpleasant surprises. Well helped by Fred Warner, the future defender of the year, San Francisco came out of its negative spiral.
Week 5: reception of the Cardinals
9. Washington Commanders (3-1) +9
The best offense in the NFL is led by a rookie. After the Bengals, it was the Cardinals' turn to helplessly watch the demonstration of Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. A rookie MVP? In the NFL this only happened once, in 1957 with legend Jim Brown.
Week 5: Browns reception
10. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) -6
Certainly, the Eagles were deprived of their number 1 and 2 receivers. But right now in Philadelphia, Everybodyhurts.
Week 5: bye week
11. New Orleans Saints (2-2) -3
When the attack doesn't score more than 40 points it becomes harder to win. The Saints suffered a second very frustrating defeat, before a perilous trip to Kansas City.
Week 5: trip to the Chiefs
12. Seattle Seahawks (3-1) -2
We were waiting to see what they were worth against a tough opponent and they lost. But with 516 yards and 38 first attempts obtained against the Lions, the Seahawks showed offensively that they will have to be counted on this year.
Week 5: reception of the Giants
13. New York Jets (2-2) -7
The Jets obviously didn't like playing underwater. They had better acclimatize quickly, London is not known for its good weather and there is no roof in Tottenham.
Week 5: trip to London against the Vikings
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) -5
They thought they were rid of it, but Joe Flacco came out of nowhere to end the Steelers' invincibility.
Week 5: Cowboys reception
15. Green Bay Packers (2-2) -4
Malik Willis is 2-0, Jordan Love is 0-2. Men lie, numbers don't. For his recovery, Aaron Rodgers' successor was shaken. But he still showed enough to reassure Packers fans.
Week 5: trip to the Rams
16. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Dallas still doesn't have a running game. But Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb did what they had to do to get outside what they can no longer get at home.
Week 5: trip to the Steelers
17. Atlanta Falcons (2-2) +2
Thanks to a 58-yard field goal on the gong, the Falcons achieve the good Koo of the week.
Week 5: reception of the Buccaneers
18. Denver Broncos (2-2) +7
Only 60 passing yards, but a first touchdown for Bo Nix. Against the Jets and with such a defense, this is enough for Denver to secure a second victory.
Week 5: reception of the Raiders
19. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) -5
Another match where the ground game doesn't work, another defeat. The defense limited the Chiefs to less than 20 points, but it was not enough.
Week 5: bye week
20. Indianapolis Colts (2-2) +3
The Steelers defense had only taken 26 points in three games. The Colts, led by pre-retired Joe Flacco, put them 27.
Week 5: trip to the Jaguars
21. Chicago Bears (2-2) +3
Best runner, best receiver, D'Andre Swift was everywhere and gave Chicago his second victory of the season.
Week 5: reception of the Panthers
22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) +8
We had to wait for the return of Andy Dalton to see the Bengals win a game again.
Week 5: Ravens reception
23. Las Vegas Raiders (2-2) +5
Overwhelmed last week against the Panthers, the Raiders defense set the record straight against the Browns.
Week 5: trip to the Broncos
24. Arizona Cardinals (1-3) -2
The great promises seen against the Rams and the Lions seemed far away on Sunday. The Cardinals couldn't compete with the Commanders on both ends of the field.
Week 5: trip to the 49ers
25. Los Angeles Rams (1-3) -8
This time no miracle. Like last week, Matthew Stafford had the ball to get the victory, but Jaquan Brisker wrote a different story.
Week 5: reception of the Packers
26. New York Giants (1-3)
Out of 8 possessions, New York's offense came away with points 5 times. Unfortunately for the Giants, it's 5 field goals. Daniel Jones only missed the conclusion to beat Dallas for the second time in his career.
Week 5: trip to the Seahawks
27. Cleveland Browns (1-3) -6
When the defense scores almost as many points as the attack, it's difficult to win. Given the current form of the Commanders, we will have to show a lot more on Sunday.
Week 5: trip to the Commanders
28. Tennessee Titans (1-3) +4
Their opponent of the day has foundered since he no longer has his starting quarterback. For the Titans, the effect was the opposite. Will Levis only had one possession before getting hurt. He took the opportunity to add an interception to his incredible start to the season.
Week 5: bye week
29. Miami Dolphins (1-3) -9
Nothing is going well in Miami anymore. The best attack of 2023 has lost its guide and is nothing more than a shadow of itself.
Week 5: trip to the Patriots
30. Carolina Panthers (1-3) -3
This time the step was too high for these Panthers. If the attack continues to score, the defense had a hard time getting the Bengals off the field, especially in the first half.
Week 5: trip to the Bears
31. New England Patriots (1-3) -2
The Patriots need an efficient ground game to compete, as they proved in weeks 1 and 2. Another 6 sacks today for Jacoby Brissett who cannot, on his own, carry the weight of the attack on New England.
Week 5: Dolphins reception
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) -1
Only one team has managed to reach the playoffs after an 0-4 start to the season, the San Diego Chargers in 1992.
Week 5: reception of the Colts