Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Things are the same at the top
Oct 2, 2018, 7:24 AM
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley runs past Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks during the second half in an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
For the first time all season, a team in the No. 1 spot in the Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings stayed put.
The Los Angeles Rams look every bit like the offensive juggernaut they were advertised as through the first quarter of the 2018 season. Jared Goff and his deep group of receivers riddled the Minnesota Vikings defense in a thrilling 38-31 win on Thursday Night Football to hold on to the top rung of the Week rankings.
Breathing right down their necks are the Kansas City Chiefs, who looked human on offense for the first time this season, but squeaked out a late win on the road against the Denver Broncos Monday night.
The only other team that remained in the same spot from Week 4 was the Arizona Cardinals, who were competitive for the second straight week but found a way to lose to Seattle with a missed Phil Dawson field goal and a conservative approach acting as culprits for the league’s only winless team.
Here’s the way our rankings look heading into Week 5.
| Rank | Team | Record | Result | Movement | Comment | 1. |  |
Los Angeles Rams | 4-0 | beat Minnesota 38-31 | (–) | Jared Goff was zoned in vs. Vikings with 465 yards and 5 TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2. |  |
Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | beat Denver 27-23 | (–) | Offense was slowed by Denver, but Mahomes and Co. still found a way to win late |
| 3. |  |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 3-1 | beat NY Jets 31-12 | (▲1) | Bortles throws for 388 yards and two scores while D holds Jets to 178 yards |
| 4. |  |
New Orleans Saints | 3-1 | beat NY Giants 33-18 | (▲3) | Alvin Kamara is rolling, and now Mark Ingram is back from suspension |
| 5. |  |
Chicago Bears | 3-1 | beat Tampa Bay 48-10 | (▲3) | Did the light bulb just go on for Mitchell Trubisky? |
| 6. |  |
Baltimore Ravens | 3-1 | beat Pittsburgh 26-14 | (▲3) | A couple of former Cardinals — John Brown and Tony Jefferson — played big roles in win over Steelers | 7. |  |
Tennessee Titans | 3-1 | beat Philadelphia 26-23 (OT) | (▲5) | Titans aren’t flashy, but they’ve won three straight three-point games |
| 8. |  |
Green Bay Packers | 2-1-1 | beat Buffalo 22-0 | (▲5) | Aaron Rodgers hinting that the offense isn’t good, but their defense was against the Bills |
| 9. |  |
New England Patriots | 2-2 | beat Miami 38-7 | (▲5) | Pats bounce back and get Julian Edelman back from suspension |
| 10. |  |
Philadelphia Eagles | 2-2 | lost to Tennessee 26-23 (OT) | (▼7) | Haven’t captured 2017 offensive magic so far this season with Foles or Wentz | 11. |  |
Cincinnati Bengals | 3-1 | beat Atlanta 37-36 | (▲6) | Andy Dalton has at least two TD passes in every game this season, one of only two QBs to accomplish this (Rivers) |
| 12. |  |
Carolina Panthers | 2-1 | Bye Week | (▼6) | Well-rested for their home game against the struggling Giants |
| 13. |  |
Miami Dolphins | 3-1 | lost to New England 38-7 | (▼8) | Managed only 172 yards in terrible showing vs. Patriots |
| 14. |  |
Washington Redskins | 2-1 | Bye Week | (▼3) | Tough one coming up Monday night in New Orleans | 15. |  |
Los Angeles Chargers | 2-2 | beat San Francisco 29-27 | (▲4) | Had to scratch one out at home against Jimmy G-less 49ers |
| 16. |  |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-2-1 | lost to Baltimore 26-14 | (▼1) | Le’Veon’s coming back — but not for a few more weeks |
| 17. |  |
Minnesota Vikings | 1-2-1 | lost to LA Rams 38-31 | (▼7) | Good offensive bounce back from Week 3, but the Vikes’ D got torched by Goff |
| 18. |  |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-2 | lost to Chicago 48-10 | (▼2) | Be careful what you wish for, Dirk Koetter |
| 19. |  |
Denver Broncos | 2-2 | lost to Kansas City 27-23 | (▼1) | Back-to-back losses after starting 2-0 |
| 20. |  |
Seattle Seahawks | 2-2 | beat Arizona 20-17 | (▲4) | The Legion of Boom is now officially done forever with Thomas’ injury |
| 21. |  |
Dallas Cowboys | 2-2 | beat Detroit 26-24 | (▲8) | Signs of life on offense, thanks to Zeke | 22. |  |
Atlanta Falcons | 1-3 | lost to Cincinnati 37-36 | (▼2) | Atlanta’s secondary is a mess — they’ve allowed 1,068 yards and nine passing TDs in the last three weeks |
| 23. |  |
Cleveland Browns | 1-2-1 | lost to Oakland 45-42 (OT) | (▲2) | Think about this…we live in a world where the Browns are a few plays from being 4-0 |
| 24. |  |
San Francisco 49ers | 1-3 | lost to LA Chargers 29-27 | (▼2) | Beathard is incredibly tough, but is he good enough to keep the Niners afloat? |
| 25. |  |
Houston Texans | 1-3 | beat Indianapolis 37-34 (OT) | (▲5) | I wonder if Bill O’Brien sent Frank Reich a thank you card |
| 26. |  |
New York Giants | 1-3 | lost to New Orleans 33-18 | (▼5) | Unable to exploit Saints’ generous defense in loss |
| 27. |  |
Oakland Raiders | 1-3 | beat Cleveland 45-42 (OT) | (▲4) | Got a little help from a spot, but a win is a win, right? |
| 28. |  |
New York Jets | 1-3 | lost to Jacksonville 31-12 | (▼5) | Todd Bowles’ seat is getting hotter by the minute |
| 29. |  |
Detroit Lions | 1-3 | lost to Dallas 26-24 | (▼2) | Followed up strange win over Pats with a much more Lions-like performance | 30. |  |
Indianapolis Colts | 1-3 | lost to Houston 37-34 | (▼2) | I’ll say this, Reich’s gutsy coaching is refreshing |
| 31. |  |
Buffalo Bills | 1-3 | lost to Green Bay 22-0 | (▼5) | Completely shut down by Packers defense |
| 32. |  |
Arizona Cardinals | 0-4 | lost to Seattle 20-17 | (–) | Rosen was a real bright spot, but conservative coaching cost them again |
