Welcome to Week 6 of the Pro Football Network company-wide NFL power rankings! While Dalton Miller ably provides his own power rankings following the conclusion of each Sunday’s action, we’ll be polling each of PFN’s NFL contributors to assemble our list.
Each week, we’ll combine rankings from yours truly, Chief Content Officer David Bearman, NFL Director Adam Beasley, Betting Director Brian Blewis, Audience Engagement Director Mike Gambardella, COO Matt Infante, NFL Analyst Dalton Miller, Bengals Reporter Jay Morrison, Cowboys Reporter Jess Nevarez, and Fantasy Director Kyle Yates.
Which teams are too high or too low as we enter Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season?
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
Pro Football Network’s Week 6 NFL Power Rankings
32) Carolina Panthers
Week 5 Ranking: 31
A trendy playoff pick heading into the 2023 season, the Panthers are the NFL’s only winless team through five weeks. Bryce Young has looked entirely overwhelmed at the pro level, while Frank Reich and owner David Tepper are already having meetings the first-year head coach described as “not fun.”
Carolina wants to trade for a No. 1-caliber wide receiver to assist Young, but the club already sacrificed a haul of future assets to acquire the first pick in this year’s draft.
31) New York Giants
Week 5 Ranking: 29
Daniel Jones could only take so much punishment. The Giants QB took 16 sacks over the past two weeks, and it was the 16th that finally sent him out of a game for good.
Jones suffered a neck injury that gave him the same sort of pain as the 2021 neck issue that knocked him out for six games. He’s “optimistic” he’ll play against the Buffalo Bills, who lead the NFL in sacks, on Sunday night. Maybe he should think twice — for his own safety.
30) Denver Broncos
Week 5 Ranking: 30
The Broncos got off the schneid with a comeback win over the Chicago Bears in Week 4, but Week 5 was a disaster — and not necessarily because of the final score in Denver’s 31-21 loss to the New York Jets.
Sean Payton called out former Broncos head coach/current Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett in the preseason, and Sunday’s defeat marked his comeuppance. The Jets’ instant social media reaction wasn’t as big of an embarrassment for Denver as giving up 70 points in Week 3, but it was close.
29) New England Patriots
Week 5 Ranking: 26
Bill Belichick experienced the two worst losses of his head coaching career over the past two weeks, and things might not get better any time soon. Mac Jones doesn’t look like an NFL-caliber quarterback, and New England’s once-elite defense will likely be without pass rusher Matthew Judon and cornerback Christian Gonzalez for the rest of the season.
MORE: Best Running Backs in the NFL 2023
The Patriots will have more than $100 million in 2024 cap space, according to Over the Cap. Will Belichick still be around to spend it?
28) Chicago Bears
Week 5 Ranking: 32
The Bears’ Week 5 victory over the Washington Commanders marked not only their first win of the season, but their first win in nearly a full calendar year.
Justin Fields has thrown for more than 600 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two weeks. His connection with DJ Moore on Thursday (8-230-3) was precisely what Chicago hoped to add to its offense when it acquired the former Panther as part of the package for the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
27) Arizona Cardinals
Week 5 Ranking: 27
The Cardinals are just 1-4, but they’ve been in almost every game, managed a win against the Dallas Cowboys, and gotten early contributions from rookies chosen as early as the first round (right tackle Paris Johnson Jr.) and as late as the sixth (defensive tackle Dante Stills).
And did we mention Arizona will have two first-round picks and six total selections in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft?
26) Minnesota Vikings
Week 5 Ranking: 24
After going 11-1 in one-score games last season, the Vikings are 1-4 in such contests this year. To add insult to (literal) injury, Minnesota will be without the game’s best WR for at least four games after placing Justin Jefferson on injured reserve this week.
In-season quarterback trades are rare in the NFL, but the Vikings should seriously consider moving Kirk Cousins now that they’re three games back of the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
25) Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5 Ranking: 28
Josh McDaniels’ abysmal end-of-game decision-making has been served up on a platter to prime-time audiences twice in the last three weeks. The Raiders couldn’t overcome McDaniels’ bizarre calls in Week 3, but they did in Week 5 win over the Green Bay Packers.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
McDaniels will face a familiar foe on Sunday when Vegas plays New England. Last year’s Raiders-Patriots game gave us Jakobi Meyers’ infamous game-ending lateral attempt — what will Week 6 bring?
24) Washington Commanders
Week 5 Ranking: 22
Sam Howell has continued to produce, and the Commanders aren’t holding back with the former fifth-round pick in his first full season as the club’s starter. Washington ranks first in pass rate over expectation, meaning they’re throwing the ball in situations where most teams might run.
But the Commanders’ defense can’t stop anyone. They’ve given up 33, 37, 34, and 40 points over the past four weeks, and two of their opponents were the Broncos and Bears.
T-22) Tennessee Titans
Week 5 Ranking: 21
Stopping the run isn’t usually a problem for the Titans. Tennessee ranked first in rush EPA allowed in 2022 and was fourth through the first four weeks of this season.
But the Titans gave up 193 rushing yards to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, their sixth-most during Mike Vrabel’s tenure. And it was Zack Moss (165 yards, two touchdowns) who did most of that work, not the recently-activated Jonathan Taylor.
T-22) Green Bay Packers
Week 5 Ranking: 14
No team took more of a tumble in this week’s power rankings than the Packers, who have lost back-to-back games and now sit at 2-3. Jordan Love has thrown five interceptions over the past two weeks, including one of the worst you’ll ever see on Monday night.
This always looked like a reset year in Green Bay. The Packers will get a bye week to rest up before facing two sieve-like defenses — the Broncos and Vikings — in Weeks 6 and 7.
21) Houston Texans
Week 5 Ranking: 23
The Texans exceeded expectations by outscoring the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers 67-23 in Weeks 4 and 5. Houston came back to Earth a bit in a last-second loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but C.J. Stroud is averaging nearly 300 yards per game and still hasn’t thrown an interception. It’s all gravy for the Texans this year.
20) New York Jets
Week 5 Ranking: 25
Now that’s the Breece Hall we remember! Finally unleashed for 20+ carries, Hall finished with 177 yards and one touchdown while ranking third in rushing yards over expectation on the week.
A fully healthy Hall — along with the Jets’ defense — could keep New York on the fringes of playoff contention all season. But unless Gang Green finds an upgrade over Zach Wilson, the fringes are as far they’ll get.
19) Los Angeles Rams
Week 5 Ranking: 15
The Rams faced one of the NFL’s most difficult schedules over the first five weeks, so emerging with a 2-3 record isn’t half-bad. Still, Los Angeles’ nine-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday might have proven the Rams aren’t quite ready to compete in what most viewed as a rebuilding season.
Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and the recently-activated Cooper Kupp should find more space to operate in against the Cardinals in Week 6.
18) Atlanta Falcons
Week 5 Ranking: 18
The discussion had already started. Should the Falcons, clearly in win-now mode, turn things over to Taylor Heinicke?
Not so fast, said Desmond Ridder, who posted the best game of his career — by far — in a Week 5 win against the Texans. Ridder only threw one touchdown, but he was consistently on target and avoided mistakes (no interceptions, fumbles, or sacks).
That’s the type of performance Atlanta can win with, especially given how impressive its rushing attack and defense have been thus far.
17) Indianapolis Colts
Week 5 Ranking: 17
Is it too early to be worried about Anthony Richardson’s injury proclivity? The No. 4 overall pick missed most of Week 2 and all of Week 3 with a concussion and is now set to be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder.
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Shane Steichen’s ability to navigate different offensive structures depending on whether Richardson or backup Gardner Minshew is under center deserves praise. But we all want to see Richardson on the field.
16) Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 5 Ranking: 20
In what was arguably the most AFC North-esque win of all time, the Steelers somehow walked away with a victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Between George Pickens, Alex Highsmith, and T.J. Watt, it was essentially a three-man show for Pittsburgh — but Mike Tomlin’s club has shown that that’s (sometimes) all it needs.
T-14) New Orleans Saints
Week 5 Ranking: 16
The Saints were many observers’ NFC South pick entering this season, even if most — yours truly included — didn’t feel great about it. But if this is the New Orleans’ defense we’ll be treated to every week, the Saints shouldn’t have any trouble catching and overtaking the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.
Derek Carr still doesn’t look healthy, but New Orleans hasn’t had to ask him to do much beyond checking down to Alvin Kamara. With a three-game stretch against the AFC South coming up, the Saints can keep playing like this.
T-14) Cincinnati Bengals
Week 5 Ranking: 19
The Bengals’ Week 5 win over the Cardinals may have saved their season, but Joe Burrow’s return to form was even more critical. Burrow maneuvered the pocket, scrambled for extra yardage, and planted on his right calf, showing no ill effects from the strain that hindered him over the first four weeks of the year.
Burrow (and injured wideout Tee Higgins) can use Cincinnati’s Week 7 bye to get healthy. But a Week 6 date with the Seattle Seahawks comes first.
13) Los Angeles Chargers
Week 5 Ranking: 10
While the Bengals can look forward to their bye, the Chargers had theirs in Week 5. Hopefully, Justin Herbert’s injured finger was able to heal during the layoff.
Austin Ekeler’s ankle is apparently doing better, and the veteran running back is now set to return in Week 6. Los Angeles posted the NFL’s second-least-efficient rushing attack during Ekeler’s three-game absence.
T-11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5 Ranking: T-11
The bye may have also helped the Buccaneers, who lost Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in Week 4. Wednesday’s practice will tell the real story, but Evans looks ready to come back on Sunday.
How much longer can Baker Mayfield keep this up? Almost everything he’s doing seems unsustainable, including his absurd performance against pressure.
T-11) Cleveland Browns
Week 5 Ranking: T-11
The Browns may have already seen enough of rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. If Deshaun Watson (shoulder) can’t suit up against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Cleveland will reportedly roll with veteran PJ Walker under center.
Watson was medically cleared to play in Week 4 but felt he couldn’t go. The Browns, coming off their bye, hope Watson can play in Week 6, but he didn’t practice with the rest of the team on Tuesday.
10) Baltimore Ravens
Week 5 Ranking: 8
Dear Ravens pass catchers: A delivery of Stickum is currently en route.
Baltimore’s receivers dropped seven passes against the Steelers. Lamar Jackson coughed up a fumble to end the game, but he was also PFF’s highest-graded quarterback of Week 5.
The Ravens are still working in new receivers, and drops won’t be this big of an issue every week. But this will be a game Baltimore wishes it had back.
9) Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5 Ranking: 13
The Jaguars had the advantage of playing two consecutive games in London, and they capitalized with back-to-back wins over the Falcons and Buffalo Bills.
MORE: PFN NFL Top 100
Jacksonville’s defense has arguably been more impressive than its nominally high-powered offense over the past two weeks. The Jags held Atlanta to just seven points, then limited Josh Allen and Buffalo — which had scored 123 points over its past three games — to just 20 points.
8) Seattle Seahawks
Week 5 Ranking: 9
The Seahawks have managed the same type of defensive improvement displayed by the Jaguars. Pairing contributions from young players like Devon Witherspoon, Tariq Woolen, and Boye Mafe with performances from veterans such as Bobby Wagner and Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle’s defense is up to sixth in EPA per play after ranking dead last a year ago.
But unlike Jacksonville’s offense, Geno Smith and Co. are doing just fine. They’ve scored 98 points over their last three games and could conceivably get left tackle Charles Cross back for their Week 6 matchup against the Bengals.
7) Dallas Cowboys
Week 5 Ranking: 5
Sunday night was supposed to be a preview of the NFC title game. Instead, the Cowboys got obliterated by the 49ers in a 42-10 route.
Dallas still looks like it can dominate bad teams and beat good teams. But will this be the usual result when Mike McCarthy’s squad faces an elite club? The Philadelphia Eagles will provide another test in Week 9, but the Cowboys can’t overlook the Chargers on Monday night.
6) Detroit Lions
Week 5 Ranking: 7
So many teams fail to deliver on offseason hype that it’s good to highlight when a club actually delivers on that publicity.
The Lions’ offense has picked up right where it left off last season, but the club’s defensive improvement has made the most significant difference in Detroit. While Aaron Glenn’s unit was consistently gashed in 2022, they’ve looked much more sound, limited splash plays, and generated plenty of pressure this year.
5) Buffalo Bills
Week 5 Ranking: 3
The Bills’ Week 5 loss to the Jaguars doesn’t necessarily change our view of Sean McDermott’s team — but their costly defensive injuries do.
Buffalo already saw cornerback Tre’Davious White tear his Achilles in Week 5. On Sunday, the Bills also lost linebacker Matt Milano (fractured leg, possible ACL injury) and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (pectoral) for the rest of the season. Cornerback Christian Benford and pass rusher Greg Rousseau also missed Week 5 with injuries.
Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and the rest of Buffalo’s offense are still lethal, and the defense has a lot of talent remaining on the roster. But we wonder if the Bills will consider making a trade to fortify their defense with their eye on a Super Bowl run.
4) Miami Dolphins
Week 5 Ranking: 6
Tua Tagovailoa didn’t play his best in Week 5, but the Dolphins still managed to rebound from their Week 4 loss to the Bills to average 9.7 yards per play against the Giants in an easy win.
Miami will be without rookie sensation De’Von Achane (knee) for several weeks, and its defense is still a problem. But few teams can put up points like the Dolphins, and Mike McDaniel’s club has become the most exciting team to watch this season.
3) Kansas City Chiefs
Week 5 Ranking: 4
The Chiefs have to hope Travis Kelce’s ankle injury isn’t serious. It doesn’t appear to be, as he returned to Kansas City’s Week 5 win over the Vikings and practiced on Tuesday.
Patrick Mahomes can work wonders, but we already saw what the Kelce-less Chiefs looked like in a season-opening win to the Lions. Rookie receiver Rashee Rice has flashed in his opportunities, but Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, et al. aren’t getting it done.
2) Philadelphia Eagles
Week 5 Ranking: 2
The Eagles faced a 3rd-and-1 from their own 34-yard line with 17 seconds remaining in the first half of their Week 5 game against the Rams. Many teams would have packed it in in that situation.
Not Philadelphia, especially when it has A.J. Brown, 2023’s version of Terrell Owens.
Jalen Hurts found Brown for a 38-yard gain, and a horse-collar penalty added 15 more yards. Brown drew passive interference on the next play, giving the Eagles the ball at the 1. One tush-push later, Philadelphia had a lead they would not relinquish.
1) San Francisco 49ers
Week 5 Ranking: 1
There’s a lot of season left. The Super Bowl is still four months away. The NFL features a lot of other talented teams.
But through five weeks, there is no other club on the 49ers’ level.
Brock Purdy has still never lost a regular-season game. San Francisco has scored at least 30 points in eight consecutive regular-season contests. Christian McCaffrey is the easy favorite for Offensive Player of the Year honors. Kyle Shanahan is the game’s best schemer.
And that’s just the offense!
Steve Wilks has taken the reins from DeMeco Ryans and kept San Francisco’s defense a crown jewel. Only the Rams have put up more than 16 points against the 49ers this season, and the unit has stars at all three levels, including Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Charvarius Ward, and Talanoa Hufanga.
The Eagles are still undefeated. The Chiefs have Mahomes. The Dolphins are scary on offense. The Bills have a wizard under center and a well-rounded roster.
But the 49ers are in a league of their own.