Time flies, alright. We’re already four weeks into the 2023 NFL regular season, with just 14 to go.
Several clubs have already established themselves as bonafide contenders…or as Caleb Williams sweepstakes candidates. And the list of mushy middle teams through four games is rather astonishingly high, too.
Can’t wait to see what this week has in store for us. With that, let’s dive into the Week 5 edition of our 2023 NFL power rankings.
32. Chicago Bears (32)
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Bears…
They blew a 21-point lead at home to a Denver Broncos team that, ahem, gave up a 70-burger to Miami one week earlier. Congrats to the incompetent Bears on handing Denver its first win of the Sean Payton era.
This whole telling-Chase-Claypool-to-stay-home thing is kinda weird, too. At this point, the only question is, “How much lower can they sink?” If you’re a Bears fan, hopefully enough to win the Caleb Williams sweepstakes.
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31. Carolina Panthers (30)
Carolina lost to Minnesota in a battle of 0-and-3 teams. Alongside Chicago, Carolina is now one of the last two remaining 0-and-4 clubs.
We know he’s a rookie, but Bryce Young’s miserable play is certainly uninspiring, especially when you look over and see how well CJ Stroud is doing in Houston. You gotta wonder if the Panthers will try to spare Young’s confidence by giving Andy Dalton the starting duties on this unexciting and talent-devoid squad.
30. New York Giants (28)
What an embarrassment. The Giants gave their fans absolutely nothing to celebrate in Monday’s humiliating loss to the Seahawks. No tackling. No blocking. No efficiency. Just pathetic all-around.
Daniel Jones’ $140 million extension already looks like the worst in all of football. Hard to believe Brian Daboll got this team to the playoffs a year ago.
Giants fans deserve better than watching their so-called franchise QB take 11 sacks in a game. Woof.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (27)
Aidan O’Connell’s rookie mistake and costly interception derailed the Raiders’ chances of stunning the Los Angeles Chargers. And now the Black and Silver find themselves at 1-3 and in the AFC basement.
The 1-3 Raiders don’t look anything close to a playoff contender. You gotta wonder if the likes of Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs will hit the trade block – and if Josh McDaniels is on the hot seat…
28. Arizona Cardinals (26)
The Cardinals hung in there for a while and kept it close against the San Francisco 49ers, but Kyle Shanahan’s squad pulled away with two fourth quarter TDs to win by 14.
Again, moral losses aren’t a thing in football — but you gotta love the way the Cardinals are playing under head coach Jonathan Gannon. This team lacks true game-changers without Kyler Murray on the field, yet they’re finding ways to stay in ball games against far superior teams.
But with a brutal five-game slate upcoming, you do wonder how much longer the Cardinals can hang in there for. Facing an angry Joe Burrow Bengals team on Sunday will tell us a lot about this group.
27. Denver Broncos (31)
The Broncos should have lost soundly to the Bears on Sunday, but you never have to apologize for winning games you deserved to lose in the NFL. While Vance Joseph’s defense remains a mess, at least Sean Payton has low-key brought Russell Wilson back to form.
Denver averaged 16.9 points per game last year. Through four games? 25. And Wilson, who had 16 TDs last year, already has nine. There is improvement on the offensive side — but when does the D wake up?
26. New England Patriots (22)
So uh…is Tom Brady by any chance walking through that door again? No. Well that’s a shame.
We always try to be cautious in counting out a Bill Belichick-coached team, but we can’t anymore. They were outclassed in every way by the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, falling 31-3 which marked Belichick’s worst loss as a head coach.
New England is 1-3. The defense isn’t the elite unit we all expected it to be. The offense has zero consistent game-changers. The o-line stinks. Mac Jones is playing his way out of a starting job here, too.
Other than that, it’s not so bad in Foxborough right?
25. Minnesota Vikings (29)
The Vikings barely snuck past an awful Carolina team to avoid an 0-4 start. It’s something to celebrate, but the Chiefs and 49ers make up two of the Vikings’ next three games — so we advise Minnesota fans to proceed with caution if they want to stay optimistic.
The Kirk Cousins-Justin Jefferson tandem is as good as ever, but there’s not a whole lot else going right with Kevin O’Connell’s team. We’re still wondering if Cousins will hit the trade block ahead of the deadline, especially if Minny is out of the playoff race by then.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (17)
Just another awful outing by the Bengals, who proved to be no match for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry looked like their old selves again in a 27-3 route of Joe Burrow’s squad.
Cincy is now 1-and-3 with an ugly minus-45 point differential. A loss in Arizona this Sunday will all but put an end to their playoff hopes. Just sayin’.
23. New York Jets (24)
Zach Wilson and the Jets’ D put up a remarkable fight against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, but several questionable penalties against Gang Green on Kansas City’s final drive allowed the visitors to build the clock and seal the win.
The Jets have now dropped three straight following the Week 1 upset of the Bills. This season is quickly going sideways, and it’s hard to see a path where they save it in a crowded AFC loaded with contenders.
22. New Orleans Saints (14)
Starting to think these Saints just aren’t meant to be. Derek Carr looks no better than Jameis Winston or Andy Dalton from last year.
The skill position guys aren’t getting open, and this so-called “top 10 defense” made Jordan Love and Baker Mayfield look like Patrick Mahomes in back-to-back weeks. We were high on them as the team to beat in the NFC South, but it now feels like they’re destined for a seven-win season at best now.
Gotta wonder if Dennis Allen is on the hot seat, huh?
21. Washington Commanders (20)
The Commanders were oh-so-close to pulling off a big upset in Philly, but they dropped a 34-31 heartbreaker in OT.
A tough loss to be sure, but the Commanders showed they can hang with one of the NFC’s best — and that counts for something. The turnovers have to stop, but Sam Howell is sure slinging it fwith 961 passing yards through four games.
20. Indianapolis Colts (15)
The Colts were oh-so-close to beating the Los Angeles Rams, but they too lost a nail biter in overtime. A lost opportunity to claim sole possession of first in the AFC South, but at least the Colts are in the running for the division crown to begin with.
If Jonathan Taylor ends up returning to the club, it will be a massive boost for Anthony Richardson and this powerful ground game.
19. Green Bay Packers (11)
The Packers were dismantled and embarrassed by the Detroit Lions on their own field on Thursday night.
Jordan Love never stood a chance against that Detroit front seven, but even more concerning? A defense that looked borderline top-10 on paper this year hasn’t been coming up with enough timely stops. The Lions ran all over them on Thursday — and it’s starting to look like this Green Bay team isn’t as prepared for the post-Aaron Rodgers as much as we initially thought back in Week 1…
18. Atlanta Falcons (13)
What can we say? Desmond Ridder is holding this team back — especially Kyle Pitts and Drake London. At what point does Arthur Smith give in and finally give Taylor Heinicke a look? This team’s too talented to be held back by mediocre QB play for an entire season.
17. Tennessee Titans (23)
These Titans are weird. Lose to the Saints, beat the Chargers in OT, get crushed in Cleveland then humiliate the Bengals. Will the real Titans please stand up?
None of the four AFC South teams have looked all that great through four weeks. That bodes well for the Titans, who came into this season looking like an afterthought. It’s anybody’s division to win, and Tennessee has a very manageable schedule coming up…
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (10)
A disappointing loss for the Steelers, who put up almost no fight against the Texans on the road.
It’s tough to know where this team is headed. Two blowout losses and two close wins add up to a 2-and-2 record. They’re in the mushy middle along with seemingly one-half of the league, but we’ll get a better idea of who the Steelers really are when they host the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday.
15. Los Angeles Rams (21)
With an OT win in Indy, the Rams are now 2-2 and right back in the playoff race. And news
flash: They’re about to get Cooper Kupp back.
Kupp and Puka Nacua? Sign us up for that duo. It might be this tandem that takes the Rams
back to the postseason.
14. Cleveland Browns (12)
The Browns stood no chance against a formidable Baltimore defense without Deshaun Watson.
The league’s No. 1 defense had no answer for the Ravens’ high-powered rushing game, and they’re too in the mushy middle at 2-2. Cleveland now enters the bye week before coming home to host San Francisco in Week 6.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (19)
The Chargers almost Chargered-it up again, but the defense came through with a clutch late-game pick on Aidan O’Connell to seal the deal. Khalil Mack went beast mode and turned in a SIX-SACK game, reminding everyone that he still has lots of football left in him.
If Brandon Staley can stop it with the stupid decision-making, the Bolts should be a playoff team again. But uh, will Staley ever stop with the stupid decision-making? That’s the million dollar question in La La Land…
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (18)
The Jaguars bounced back nicely from a blowout loss to the Texans by stumping the Falcons in London. Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr. and Christian Kirk all produced nicely in the potential season-saving W that puts the Jaguars back in a four-way tie for first in the AFC South.
Not much time to celebrate, though. Not with the Jaguars having to stay in London for a home contest with the surging Buffalo Bills.
11. Houston Texans (25)
Might be time to start taking Houston seriously. The defense is rolling, and rookie QB CJ Stroud is making it look oh-too-easy with six touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Houston has been so much more disciplined and laser-focused on both sides of the ball under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. With no clear-cut favorite in the AFC South, this year’s Texans are well-positioned to be a playoff team.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16)
Break up the Bucs!
Baker Mayfield put together a, ahem, Aaron Rodgers/Patrick Mahomes/Josh Allen-like performance in Sunday’s utter domination of the rival Saints.
New Orleans’ defense had zero answer for the 2018 first overall pick, who’s really looking like someone who’s found their niche. A nice feel-good story so far, but the hard part is sustaining it – especially against tough opponents.
9. Miami Dolphins (3)
The Dolphins’ feel-good vibes were fun while they lasted. But Mike McDaniel’s group got exposed by a competent team in the Buffalo Bills, who gave opposing defenses the blueprint to slowing down this once-unstoppable offense.
Even worse for Miami: That defense looks completely helpless, having allowed 29.8 points per game through four weeks. No chance of a Super Bowl if Vic Fangio doesn’t clean that up soon.
8. Seattle Seahawks (8)
What did the Giants ever do to you Seahawks? Yeesh. 11 sacks in Monday’s massacre of the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Hard to believe these ‘Hawks once got rolled by the Rams at home back in Week 1. At 3-and-1, they’re looking every bit like the contender we expected.
7. Detroit Lions (9)
The Lions took 30 or so years of being humiliated by the Packers and took it out by laying out a giant beating at Lambeau Field. No mercy shown for the Cheeseheads whatsoever in the NFC North clash.
At 3-1, the Lions look like the runaway favorites to win the NFC North. Dan Campbell’s squad has lived up to the high expectations thus far. 4-1 is on the way with the Panthers coming to town this Sunday, too.
6. Baltimore Ravens (7)
The Ravens had it oh-too-easy against the Deshaun Watson-less Browns on Sunday. The result? A 3-and-1 start that puts them in a four-way tie for tops in the AFC.
That’s something Lamar Jackson and company will take, given all the injuries they’ve endured thus far.
5. Dallas Cowboys (6)
That’s one way to take out your frustration on a stunning road loss in Arizona. Dallas showed zero mercy to Bill Belichick’s Patriots, handing the greatest coach ever his worst loss by a final score of 31-3.
Dallas is the proud owner of football’s No. 1 scoring D through four weeks, with a whopping 10 takeaways. They can make an even bigger statement if they can upset Brock Purdy’s 49ers at Levi’s Stadium this Sunday.
4. Buffalo Bills (5)
Since that Week 1 loss to the Jets, Buffalo has outscored opponents 75-13. Oh yeah,Bills are back.
Up next, the granddaddy of Week 4 games: Bills vs. Dolphins.This is gonna be an Oscar nomination for “Best Picture” of 2023.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (4)
The Jets made life miserable for Patrick Mahomes on Sunday, but the league’s best player found a way as he almost always does. KC’s offense is rolling with Travis Kelce back, and their D has never looked this good under Steve Spagnuolo.
The Chiefs are usually prone to giving up explosive plays but make up for it by limiting the damage in the red zone. Well, they’re giving up very few years and not a whole lot of points.
That’s a nice recipe for repeating as champions if the offense isn’t your best unit through four games…
2. Philadelphia Eagles (2)
It hasn’t been pretty, but the Eagles are 4-0. Three of those wins have been by one-score, including Sunday’s heart pounder against the Commanders.
But this should encourage Eagles fans. They’re undefeated despite playing up to a C+ level at this point. Just wait until this loaded group starts to play up to its usual standards.
1. San Francisco 49ers (1)
The 49ers are just toying with their opponents. They’ve won all four games to open the season by an average margin of 16.8. Hard to beat a team with a top-three defense and top-three offense, and to us, there’s no doubt who the early Super Bowl 58 favorites are.
Brock Purdy still hasn’t lost a regular season game. Let’s see if he can keep that going with the Cowboys next on the schedule.
Who do you think should be No. 1 in our power rankings?
