NFL Power Rankings: Top 10 Teams Through 5 Weeks

Through the first five weeks of the NFL season, the top contenders for this year’s Super Bowl have started to separate themselves from the pack. And while some of those contenders are exactly who we expected them to be, there are several teams that have exceeded expectations in the early going.

These top-10 teams through week five are all well-positioned to make a push toward the postseason.

10. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are off to a 3-2 start this season, which could have been better if they had just finished things off against the Packers in week five. Joe Burrow is among the league leaders in yards per pass attempt this year and hasn’t missed a beat since coming back from last year’s knee injury.

9. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers defeated the Bengals last week and are a spot ahead of them with a 4-1 record on the season. Green Bay has responded well after being blown out by the Saints in week one and has the benefit of playing in one of the less competitive divisions in football which will help them remain in the top ten.

8. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is better at running the football than any team in the NFL this year, which will help them hit their stride late in the season. While there is room for their defense to improve, Cleveland’s ability to beat opposing defenses in multiple ways will make them a tough out unless opponents can outscore them the way the Chargers did.

7. Los Angeles Chargers

Speaking of the Chargers, Justin Herbert and the Chargers hung 47 points on the Browns last week in a dramatic win. The Chargers are another example of a team that needs to be better on defense, but their passing game is uniquely equipped to get them out of any sort of jam they encounter.

6. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams rebounded nicely from their first loss of the season, responding to that loss to the Cardinals by winning a division road game on a short week against the Seahawks. Matt Stafford hasn’t been as good as he was over the first three weeks of the season, but the Rams have a nice combination of offense and defense to keep them in contention.

5. Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott is playing football at an MVP level this season, which has propelled the Dallas Cowboys to a 4-1 record this season. The question for the Cowboys now is whether or not they are able to play this well when they go back on the road after racking up three straight home victories.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona’s defense looked suspect for a week against the Minnesota Vikings, which should have cost them a win in week two. But a fortunately-missed field goal and plenty of offensive firepower after that have vaulted the Cardinals to the only 5-0 record in the league this year. With the Rams just a game behind them in the standings, Arizona will need to keep winning.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has needed a last-second 66-yard field goal and a comeback victory in overtime to pick up two of their four straight wins. But Lamar Jackson is playing at an incredible level right now, and the Ravens have continued to find ways to win despite all of their injury problems. If they can get healthier as the season goes on, they could be a problem for the rest of the AFC.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The defending Super Bowl champions are off to a 4-1 start, with Tom Brady utilizing his array of offensive weapons to put points on the board on a regular basis. The Bucs’ only loss this season came on the road against the Rams, and the struggles of the rest of the NFC South have paved the way for them to cruise to a division title.

1. Buffalo Bills

There isn’t a team playing better football this season than the Buffalo Bills so far. Led by the current MVP favorite in Josh Allen, the Bills have won four straight games after losing their season opener to the Steelers. They look likely to be one of the final teams standing in the NFL this year, as evidenced by their blowout win over the Chiefs in Week 5.