NFL Power Rankings: Week 6

NFL Power Rankings

The following is the latest NFL Power Rankings list heading into Week 7. Three teams are still undefeated, two are still winless, and the Browns are somehow 4-2, so the board has plenty of movement.

1. San Francisco 49ers

Last Week: 1

6-0 after a 23-17 win over Washington on Monday night. Brock Purdy threw for 264 yards, and Jayden Daniels kept the Commanders in it with 300 passing yards, but San Francisco did enough. It is the only team in the league with six wins, and nobody has done more to earn the top spot.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Last Week: 3

A 22-6 win over the Chargers keeps Kansas City undefeated at 5-0. Patrick Mahomes was efficient, going 23 of 30 for 272 yards, and Travis Kelce played through an ankle injury. The defense also got four sacks after a quiet stretch. This team is quietly rolling.

3. Buffalo Bills

Last Week: 2

Buffalo needed every point of a 33-30 win over the Raiders to move to 5-1. James Cook carried more than 20 times without a fumble, which helped Buffalo hold on. The Bills get a bye in Week 7, and they have earned it.

4. Minnesota Vikings 📈

Last Week: 8

Minnesota was off this week, and the Vikings still climb four spots because the teams around them stumbled. At 5-0, they are one of three unbeaten teams left. The defense keeps carrying this group, and I am running out of reasons to keep them below the top three.

5. New England Patriots

Last Week: 7

The Patriots beat the Jets 26-19, and coach Mike Vrabel called it a sloppy win. Drake Maye hit Romeo Doubs for a 42-yard touchdown, though Doubs left with a shoulder injury and New England lost three offensive linemen during the game. A.J. Brown returned from an ankle sprain and had three drops. 4-2 and winning ugly.

6. Denver Broncos 📈

Last Week: 11

Denver beat Seattle 17-14 in overtime on Thursday night, and the defense won it. Bo Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for just 107 yards, so the offense is still a work in progress. But 4-2 with a win like that is worth five spots on the board.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Week: 4

Houston beat Jacksonville 34-31 in London, and the Jaguars slip three spots. Travis Hunter had his best offensive game of the season, but Brian Thomas Jr. dropped two passes and played no offensive snaps in the second half. A bye in Week 7 is well timed at 4-2.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers 📈

Last Week: 13

Pittsburgh came back from 16-3 down to beat Tampa Bay 26-19 in overtime. Germie Bernard caught 11 passes for 87 yards and the winning touchdown. At 4-2, the Steelers keep finding ways to win games they have no business winning.

9. Green Bay Packers 📈

Last Week: 15 

The Packers handled Dallas 23-13 on Sunday night to improve to 4-2. Jordan Love threw for 276 yards, and the defense picked off Dak Prescott twice. It was not a pretty offensive night, but back-to-back wins have Green Bay playing like a contender.

10. Chicago Bears 📈

Last Week: 18 

Caleb Williams is back, and the Bears look like themselves again. He completed a career-high 12 straight passes to start the game in a 31-23 win over Atlanta, and Kyler Gordon had three sacks and a forced fumble in his debut off the PUP list. Chicago is 4-2, and the jump is earned.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

Last Week: 10

The Bengals were off this week at 3-2. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins played through injuries last time out, so the bye should help. They slip one spot only because Chicago passed them.

12. Detroit Lions

Last Week: 12

Detroit also had a bye and stays put at 3-2. The offense is among the best in the league, and the defense is the question. A week off is a good chance to fix the part of the team that keeps giving points back.

13. Cleveland Browns 📈

Last Week: 28 

Fine, I will give them credit. Cleveland beat Baltimore 13-10, and Deshaun Watson led his fourth game-winning drive of the season. Derrick Henry fumbled in the fourth quarter, and the Browns turned it into the tying touchdown. At 4-2, they are earning this, and a 15-spot jump is the proof.

14. Baltimore Ravens 📉

Last Week: 5

The Ravens fell to Cleveland 13-10 with Lamar Jackson out with an ankle injury. Tyler Huntley struggled, and Derrick Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble set up the tying score. Baltimore is 4-2, but nine spots is a big drop without its quarterback.

15. Seattle Seahawks 📉

Last Week: 6

Two straight losses, and this one was ugly. Sam Darnold went 27 of 51 for 278 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns in the 17-14 overtime loss at Denver. Seattle is 3-3, and the turnovers keep piling up. The defense deserves better.

16. Houston Texans

Last Week: 14

C.J. Stroud threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning drive, in a 34-31 win over Jacksonville in London. Marvin Harrison Jr. made his debut for Houston. The defense gave up 31 points, though, and at 2-4 the Texans still have a lot of ground to make up.

17. Carolina Panthers

Last Week: 20

Carolina set a franchise record with 13 penalties for 149 yards and still beat Philadelphia 25-14. Bryce Young now has 11 touchdown passes through five games, also a franchise mark. The defense held the Eagles to 222 total yards. 3-2 and rolling.

18. New York Giants

Last Week: 19

The Giants fell 34-27 to New Orleans after turning the ball over repeatedly and falling behind 34-10. Jameis Winston was benched, and J.J. McCarthy, acquired from Minnesota last month, led a late comeback attempt. New York is 3-2-1 and has a quarterback question to answer.

19. Las Vegas Raiders

Last Week: 21

Las Vegas lost 33-30 to Buffalo and is now 3-3. Ashton Jeanty had a quiet day, rushing 10 times for 22 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders hung with a good team, which is worth something, but a third loss in four weeks is not.

20. Arizona Cardinals

Last Week: 27 

Arizona beat the Rams 18-16 on a late field goal without scoring a touchdown. The defense made seven fourth-down stops, which led the league, and that is the story. Jeremiyah Love is out with an ankle injury. Only the second win of the year at 2-4, but it earns a seven-spot jump.

21. Los Angeles Rams 📉

Last Week: 9

The Rams fell to 2-4 and are 0-2 in the NFC West. The offense could not move the ball consistently, and Los Angeles failed on a two-point try after a touchdown. Myles Garrett is still out, and kicker Blake Grupe left with a knee injury. This season is slipping away.

22. New Orleans Saints

Last Week: 29 

The Saints led 34-10 and barely held on to beat the Giants 34-27. Martin Emerson had two interceptions, and backups stepped in well. New Orleans is 2-4, and a win is a win, but blowing a 24-point lead is not exactly something to celebrate.

23. Dallas Cowboys

Last Week: 16

Dak Prescott went 34 of 54 for 258 yards with two interceptions in a 23-13 loss at Green Bay on Sunday night. Dallas is 2-4, and the offense cannot turn volume into points.

24. Washington Commanders

Last Week: 24

Jayden Daniels threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns against a 6-0 team, and Washington still lost 23-17 at San Francisco. The Commanders are 1-4-1, and the bye in Week 7 comes at a good time. There is more here than the record shows.

25. New York Jets

Last Week: 17

The Jets lost 26-19 to New England, and the pass rush did not record a sack after getting eight the week before. Geno Smith also threw his first interception of the season. At 2-4, the Jets are sliding back toward the pack.

26. Philadelphia Eagles 📉

Last Week: 22

That is four straight losses after the 25-14 defeat in Carolina. Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve with a blood clot, and Tanner McKee started and was pressured on more than 40 percent of his dropbacks. Philadelphia is 2-4, and the season has turned.

27. Atlanta Falcons

Last Week: 23

Atlanta lost 31-23 at Chicago, and Michael Penix Jr. was pressured on 46 percent of his dropbacks and is dealing with a rib injury. Zachariah Branch also lost two fumbles on returns. The Falcons are 2-4, and nothing is clicking.

28. Indianapolis Colts 📉

Last Week: 25

Losing 26-20 to a Titans team that had not won yet hurts. Tennessee scored 20 points in the fourth quarter. Daniel Jones threw two interceptions and was sacked six times, and the Colts are 2-4 with a lot of problems.

29. Tennessee Titans

Last Week: 31

Finally, a win. Tennessee scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to beat Indianapolis 26-20 and get off the schneid at 1-5. Cam Ward was not great, completing 11 of 22 passes for 102 yards, but a win is a win. Robert Saleh will take it.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 📉

Last Week: 26

The Buccaneers led 16-3 and lost 26-19 in overtime to Pittsburgh. Jalon Daniels was sacked six times and threw interceptions. At 1-5, that is a gut punch after finally getting a win the week before.

31. Miami Dolphins

Last Week: 32

Miami was off this week at 0-5, which is the best result the Dolphins have had in a while. De’Von Achane is out, and Malik Willis is struggling. They move up a spot only because the Chargers fell below them.

32. Los Angeles Chargers 💩

Last Week: 30

0-6 after a 22-6 loss to Kansas City, and the offense scored just six points. Justin Herbert has eight interceptions, a league-high. The Chargers have a bye in Week 7, and they need it. The most disappointing team in the league.