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NFL Power Rankings - Week 5: Bengals, Falcons continue to rise; Lions reach new low

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Justin Boone, Caitlyn Holroyd, Arun Srinivasan, and Dan Wilkins.

1. New England Patriots

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
1st 1st 1st 1st

Previous Rank: 1st

The Patriots emerge from their bye week with an improved defensive line after trading for Akiem Hicks and get a favorable matchup against the reeling Cowboys. - Caitlyn Holroyd

2. Green Bay Packers

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd

Previous Rank: 2nd

The Packers aren't blowing teams out, but they're in control each and every game. A Week 8 matchup with the Broncos might be their next true test. - Justin Boone

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
3rd 3rd 4th 4th

Previous Rank: 5th

With all his weapons healthy, Andy Dalton looks like he could lead this team deep into the playoffs … but we've been here before. - Justin Boone

4. Denver Broncos

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
5th 4th 3rd 3rd

Previous Rank: 4th

This iteration of the Broncos is nothing like the 2013 team that shattered offensive records, but it doesn't matter. The Broncos can continue to win on the strength of the league's best defense and their ability to force timely turnovers. - Arun Srinivasan

5. Arizona Cardinals

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
4th 5th 5th 5th

Previous Rank: 3rd

Arizona was narrowly edged by St. Louis to end its undefeated start to the season. Regardless, Larry Fitzgerald remains a premier threat, ranking third in receiving yards through his 12th season. - Arun Srinivasan

6. Seattle Seahawks

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
6th 6th 6th 6th

Previous Rank: 6th

The Legion of Boom is back in full force after Kam Chancellor's return. Since the strong safety ended his holdout, the Seahawks haven't allowed an offensive touchdown, and appear to be rounding into form - even with the offensive line struggling to keep Russell Wilson upright. - Arun Srinivasan

7. Atlanta Falcons

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
7th 7th 8th 7th

Previous Rank: 10th

Dan Quinn has to be the early favorite for coach of the year. His Falcons team has been dominant on both sides of the ball en route to an undefeated start, and there may not be a loss on the schedule for at least another month. - Dan Wilkins

8. Carolina Panthers

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
9th 8th 7th 8th

Previous Rank: 8th

Despite the lack of talent on the offensive front and at receiver, Cam Newton has the Panthers sitting at 4-0 through the first month of the season. Carolina should find itself in playoff position for a third consecutive year, earning the star quarterback some MVP consideration in the process. - Dan Wilkins

9. Minnesota Vikings

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
8th 11th 10th 9th

Previous Rank: 9th

Minnesota may have fallen to the Broncos, but it was a hard-fought game between two potential playoff teams. The Vikings will get to right the ship with an easy schedule over the next five weeks, before a difficult stretch against the Packers, Falcons, Seahawks, and Cardinals. - Justin Boone

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
10th 9th 9th 11th

Previous Rank: 7th

The Steelers got to experience life without Ben Roethlisberger, and it wasn't enjoyable. If this team isn't going to make the playoffs, they may need Ben to lead a late-season charge once he returns. - Justin Boone

11. Indianapolis Colts

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
11th 10th 12th 14th

Previous Rank: 12th

A near-loss to Jacksonville brought even more attention to some concerning issues throughout the roster. Andrew Luck will once again have to put the Colts on his back if they're going to have any chance at a playoff run. - Dan Wilkins

12. New York Jets

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
14th 12th 13th 10th

Previous Rank: 17th

Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't been perfect, but the Jets continue to find ways to win, and now get a boost with Sheldon Richardson's return from suspension. - Caitlyn Holroyd

13. Buffalo Bills

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
13th 14th 11th 13th

Previous Rank: 11th

Discipline is a big issue for the Bills right now - they committed 17 penalties in their loss to the Giants after being flagged 14 times a week earlier. This isn't what Rex Ryan had in mind when he said he wanted to "build a bully" in Buffalo. - Caitlyn Holroyd

14. San Diego Chargers

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
12th 13th 14th 12th

Previous Rank: 14th

San Diego escaped with an unconvincing last-second victory over Cleveland, but remains in playoff contention at 2-2. The Chargers will face a tougher test Sunday against the Steelers, who are looking to salvage their year without Roethlisberger. - Arun Srinivasan

15. Dallas Cowboys

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
16th 15th 15th 15th

Previous Rank: 13th

The blows just keep on coming for the Cowboys, as Lance Dunbar's now out for the season with a torn ACL. With upcoming matchups against the Patriots, Giants, and Seahawks, Tony Romo's return can't come soon enough. - Caitlyn Holroyd

16. St. Louis Rams

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
15th 16th 16th 17th

Previous Rank: 21st

St. Louis continues to play to the level of its competition, knocking off the previously undefeated Cardinals. With a 2-0 divisional record, the Rams are playing NFC West pest to perfection. - Arun Srinivasan

17. Baltimore Ravens

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
18th 17th 17th 20th

Previous Rank: 18th

While it was nice to get their first victory of the season, it came at a cost to the Ravens, as Steve Smith suffered four microfractures in his back. The veteran wideout is as tough as they come, but if he's not at 100 percent, their offense is in trouble. - Justin Boone

18. Kansas City Chiefs

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
20th 18th 19th 16th

Previous Rank: 15th

Kansas City allowed a league-high 19 sacks through four games, and the defense looks completely deflated after their Week 2 loss to the Broncos. Their season could be over with a defeat by the lowly Bears this weekend. - Arun Srinivasan

19. New York Giants

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
17th 19th 21st 19th

Previous Rank: 23rd

After an 0-2 start to the season, things are starting to look up for the Giants. They've won two straight and are quickly gaining ground in the NFC East. - Caitlyn Holroyd

20. Philadelphia Eagles

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
19th 21st 18th 18th

Previous Rank: 16th

DeMarco Murray doesn't think he's getting the ball enough, and he's absolutely right. The Eagles are on pace to finish the season with 1,120 total rushing yards, which would be the fewest by a team since 2000. - Caitlyn Holroyd

21. Houston Texans

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
21st 24th 22nd 24th

Previous Rank: 24th

The Texans have been one of the NFL's most disappointing teams through four weeks. Neither quarterback has been able to get the job done, and a defense that was supposed to lead the way really hasn't been much better. - Dan Wilkins

22. Oakland Raiders

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
27th 23rd 20th 23rd

Previous Rank: 22nd

The Raiders lost in heartbreaking fashion, but there are plenty of positives for Jack Del Rio's club. Aldon Smith and Khalil Mack are in sync at outside linebacker, while Derek Carr has lived up to his billing as a franchise quarterback. - Arun Srinivasan

23. New Orleans Saints

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
24th 22nd 30th 21st

Previous Rank: 29th

There may be some hope in New Orleans despite a concerning first four weeks of the season. Drew Brees had his best game of the year in returning to the lineup Sunday night, and the secondary is finally getting healthy. - Dan Wilkins

24. Washington Redskins

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
29th 20th 28th 22nd

Previous Rank: 31st

Kirk Cousins looked like a quarterback who had finally found his comfort zone in the Redskins' comeback victory over the Eagles. However, the loss of Jordan Reed to multiple injuries could spell trouble for Washington's passing game. - Caitlyn Holroyd

25. Miami Dolphins

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
23rd 27th 23rd 27th

Previous Rank: 19th

A new era begins in Miami following the firing of Joe Philbin. Now it's time for Ryan Tannehill and the defense to quit feuding and start living up to expectations. - Caitlyn Holroyd

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
25th 26th 24th 29th

Previous Rank: 25th

Failing to capitalize on an opportunity against a Colts team without its star quarterback indicates Jacksonville still has a long way to go. Scoring fewer than 20 points in three of four games isn't going to get it done. - Dan Wilkins

27. Tennessee Titans

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
28th 25th 26th 26th

Previous Rank: 26th

Tennessee may still be another year or two away from contention, but they certainly appear to have found their quarterback of the future in Marcus Mariota. That alone should make this season a success, regardless of the final standings. - Dan Wilkins

28. Detroit Lions

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
22nd 28th 31st 25th

Previous Rank: 20th

It's a game of inches, and the Lions were reminded of that the hard way as they came up just short of their first win of the season. This isn't going to be another 0-16 debacle, but it's going to be a long year in Detroit. - Justin Boone

29. Cleveland Browns

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
30th 29th 25th 30th

Previous Rank: 27th

The good news: The Browns appear to have found some young talent to build around in receiver Travis Benjamin and running back Duke Johnson. The bad news: The team's schedule gets much more difficult moving forward. - Justin Boone

30. San Francisco 49ers

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
26th 32nd 27th 31st

Previous Rank: 30th

Colin Kaepernick looks like a shell of the player he used to be. Against the Packers' defense, he completed an abysmal 52 percent of his passes. The 49ers may resort to Blaine Gabbert if Kaepernick continues to play at a replacement level. - Arun Srinivasan

31. Chicago Bears

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
32nd 30th 32nd 28th

Previous Rank: 32nd

The win over the Raiders helped Chicago escape the bottom of our power rankings for the first time since Week 1. - Justin Boone

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Boone Holroyd Srinivasan Wilkins
31st 31st 29th 32nd

Previous Rank: 28th

It's going to be another long year for the Bucs if Jameis Winston can't overcome his turnover issues. He's shown flashes of the ability that made him the No. 1 overall pick, but his early development will require some patience. - Dan Wilkins

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