JetNation NFL Power Rankings – Week Six

Week five is in the books. Remember in August when we couldn’t wait for the start of the season? How did we get through five weeks of play already? Teams are starting to become who they will be this season. This week we look at the biggest surprises, good or bad, each team has had thus far in our NFL Power Rankings. What impact will Robert Saleh being fired have upon the Jets in the coming weeks?

1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)

Last Week: 1

The Chiefs keep doing Chiefs things. Monday night’s game was the first KC has won by more than seven points. There have been no blowouts, but they are all wins for the Chiefs. KC has a way of making a game feel like it is out of reach for the opponent despite the game being within one score. Travis Kelce caught nine passes Monday after snaring only fifteen in the first four games.

Biggest Surprise: Statistically the Chiefs are not noteworthy. Kansas City is 11^th in total offense and 9th in total defense. Those numbers do not normally add up to an undefeated record. Although statistically the Chiefs are not doing any single thing a whole lot better than average, the thing KC does do best is win. They find way to win every week. It is hard to argue that they won’t be the last ones standing yet again.

2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

Last Week: 2

The Vikings remained perfect with a win in London over the Jets. Minnesota was quiet in the second half but dominated the first half and held on for the win when they intercepted an Aaron Rodgers pass for the third time on the day.

Biggest Surprise: Sam Darnold and the defense are the biggest surprises not just for the Vikings but for the entire league. Darnold is the league’s sixth-rate passer, and he is tied for second in touchdown passes. The Viking defense is allowing just 15.2 points per game, and they are second in rush defense, allowing just 67.2 yards per contest.

3. Detroit Lions (3-1)

Last Week: 3

The Lions bye week will give them an extra week to prepare for two difficult road games. The Lions travel this week to Dallas. Detroit then heads to Minnesota for a showdown with the undefeated Vikings. The Lions are playing four of the next five weeks on the road against top-level competition including Minnesota, Green Bay, and Houston.

Biggest Surprise: Jameson Williams leads the team in receiving yards after four games. Those close to the team might not find it surprising, but after being selected in the first round and playing in just 18 games in his first two years in the league, Williams is playing like Detroit expected when they drafted him with the 12^th pick in the 2022 draft. Suspension and injuries slowed Williams in his first two seasons, but he now sports a gaudy 22.2 yards per catch average after week five.

4. Houston Texans (4-1)

Last Week: 4

The Texans battled the talented Bills and won a hard-fought game on Sunday. Houston has a two-game lead already atop the AFC South division. The Texans outgained the Bills 425 to 276 but lost the turnover battle enabling Buffalo to tie the game with just over a minute left. Buffalo’s poor clock management gave the Texans a chance for a late drive into field goal range, and Ka’imi Fairbairn won it with a 59-yard field goal.

Biggest Surprise: Joe Mixon is still the team’s leading rusher despite only playing in two games. The Texans need to find more balance if they want to compete with the top contenders in the AFC.

5. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

Last Week: 9

The Ravens prevailed in a wild overtime thriller in Cincinnati. Baltimore dealt the Bengals their fourth loss on the season. Both quarterbacks had huge statistical games, with Lamar Jackson throwing for 348 yards and running for 55 yards. Jackson had no INTs Sunday, and he has just one for the season.

Biggest Surprise: Kyle Van Noy has six sacks through five games. Van Noy registered nine sacks in 2023 – his career high. The linebacker is on pace to shatter that total and set a new career mark in his 12^th year in the league.

6. Washington Commanders (4-1)

Last Week: 10

The Commanders pounded the Browns on Sunday for their second 20-plus-point win in a row. Washington is the leader in the NFC East division after five weeks. Washington went into the half up 24-3 and, the Commanders were never challenged. Washington more than doubled Cleveland’s offensive output and sacked the Browns seven times on the day.

Biggest Surprise: Rookie quarterback Jaden Daniels is the fifth-rated passer so far and the runaway leader for offensive rookie of the year honors. Daniels leads the league with a 77.7% completion rate.

7. Green Bay Packers (3-2)

Last Week: Unranked

The Packers prevailed in a difficult road game against the Rams. Green Bay took the lead in the third quarter on two touchdown passes from Jordan Love and held on for the win. The Pack have won three of their last four with the only blemish being a two-point loss to the undefeated Vikings.

Biggest Surprise: The Packers are tied for the league with a +7 turnover ratio thus far. Green Bay leads the league outright with 14 takeaways. The Packers were just 17^th in turnover margin last year. In 2023 the Pack had 18 takeaways and 18 giveaways for a zero-turnover margin.

8. Buffalo Bills (3-2)

Last Week: 5

The Bills mismanaged the clock in the waning moments Sunday, and it cost them. The Bills gave the Texans the ball back after not running the clock down with the ball inside their own ten-yard line. The Texans used the break to move the ball into range for a game-winning, 59-yard field goal. Buffalo tied the game with just over one minute left after going into the half down fourteen points.

Biggest Surprise: Josh Allen has not thrown an interception yet this year. Allen had 18 INTs in 2023. Allen’s care with the football is a big part of why the Bills are tied at the top of the league with a +7 in turnover differential.

9. Tampa Bay (3-2)

Last Week: Unranked

The Buc’s pass defense took a week off and got carved up by Kirk Cousins for 509 yards. The road game Thursday night was easily Tampa’s worst effort of the season. The Bucs have to deal with hurricane Milton and another division road game this week in New Orleans.

 Biggest Surprise: Baker Mayfield is the biggest surprise in Tampa. Mayfield is the third-rated passer in the league, and he has 11 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. Mayfield is hitting his stride after a disappointing start to his career.

     10. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)

Last Week: Unranked

The Cowboys battled one of the league’s best defenses on Sunday night and got a road win. Dallas has moved up to 13^th in total defense after getting scorched by New Orleans and allowing 274 yards on the ground against Baltimore. Things are not perfect by any means in Dallas, but they have won two straight on the road and get a home game against a top-flight opponent Sunday in Detroit to convince us that they may be a factor in the NFC.

Biggest Surprise: The Cowboys are 31^st in rushing yards. Expectations for the running game were not high coming into the season, but Dallas has underperformed even our lowest estimates.

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20. New York Jets (2-3)

Last Week: 17

The Jets had nothing on offense in the first half in London against the Vikings. New York is putting up just 13 points per game in their last two with Buffalo and Pittsburgh, the 3^rd and 12^th best defenses in points allowed, coming up. The Jets had just 36 yards rushing on Sunday. The ineptitude on the ground forced Aaron Rodgers to throw it a whopping 54 times. Rodgers threw three of those passes to the Vikings.

Biggest Surprise: Robert Saleh was fired by Woody Johnson on Tuesday. In season coaching changes are rare, does Jeff Ulbrich have what it takes to turn the season around for gang green?

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