Week 6 NFL Power Rankings

Photo courtesy of sports.gearlive.com. After Jim Harbaugh (pictured above) did the unthinkable and rebuilt the Stanford football program, he is at it again. Only this time, at the professional level.

By Wesley Kaminsky

What if I told you in the beginning of the season that by week six, the Lions would be 5-0, and the Bills and the 49ers would be 4-1? Would you have called me crazy? I would have called myself crazy.

That’s what is so great about the NFL though, you just never know. Yet here we are, five weeks gone, and all these teams are surprising everyone. Matthew Stafford is transforming himself into an elite quarterback, Fred Jackson has become an MVP candidate, and Jim Harbaugh has completely turned around the 49ers.

It wasn’t long ago that all three of these teams were lost and unsure of what direction to go. It’s amazing what a difference a year makes.

1. Green Bay Packers (1, won 25-14): 5-0. It really appears that the Packers are head and shoulders above every other team in the league right now. Who’s going to stop this team? (Next week: vs. St. Louis)

2. New Orleans Saints (2, won 30-27): 4-1. Once again, when the Saints needed it, Drew Brees came through in the clutch. Also, how about the explosion of Jimmy Graham this season? (Next week: at Tampa Bay)

3. New England Patriots (3, won 30-21): 4-1. The Patriots made the game a little closer than it should have been, but they made the big plays when they needed to against the Jets. That defense is slowly, but surely getting better each week. (Next week: vs. Dallas)

4. Detroit Lions (5, won 24-13): 5-0. With that win over the Bears, the Lions are 5-0 for the first time since 1956. No team has a brighter future than them. (Next week: vs. San Francisco)

5. Baltimore Ravens (6, Bye): 3-1. With a favorable schedule the next three weeks, the Ravens could easily be 6-1 heading into their second meeting with the Steelers in week nine. (Next week: vs. Houston)

6. Buffalo Bills (9, won 31-24): 4-1. Perhaps the biggest reason for the Bills success this year is that they lead the league in forcing turnovers, with 16. They aren’t going away this year. (Next week: at NYG)

7. San Diego Chargers (10, won 29-24): 4-1. The Chargers nearly saw a 26-10 lead fade away thanks to Tim Tebow, but luckily they were able to hang on. They head into the bye week in 1st place in the AFC West. (Next week: Bye)

8. Houston Texans (4, lost 25-20): 3-2. It’s still puzzling me as to what Matt Schaub was thinking on that final throw against the Raiders. Even with Mario Williams out for the year, the Texans are still in good shape to take the AFC South. It’s now or never. (Next week: at Baltimore)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (12, won 38-17): 3-2. Injury? What injury? Ben Roethlisberger showed no signs of being hurt, throwing five touchdown passes in the rout. (Next week: vs. Jacksonville)

10. San Francisco 49ers (17, won 48-3): 4-1. That 48-3 thrashing of the Buccaneers sent a message to the rest of the NFC West. (Next week: at Detroit)

11. New York Giants (7, lost 36-25): 3-2. Games like that are exactly why it is so difficult to trust the Giants. There is no excuse for a home loss to the Seahawks. (Next week: vs. Buffalo)

12. Washington Redskins (13, Bye): 3-1. The bye week couldn’t have gone more perfect for the Redskins with losses by the Giants and Eagles. (Next week: vs Philadelphia)

13. Oakland Raiders (20, won 25-20): 3-2. That win against the Texans was for Al Davis. That was special. (Next week: vs. Cleveland)

14. New York Jets (8, lost 30-21): 2-3. That’s three straight losses for the Jets, and that run defense is a problem. What are you going to do about it, Rex? (Next week: vs. Miami on SNF)

15. Dallas Cowboys (18, Bye): 2-2. The Cowboys had a long bye week to reflect on that collapse against the Lions, and things get difficult fast as they take a trip to Foxborough next. (Next week: at New England)

16. Chicago Bears (14, lost 24-13): 2-3. Jay Cutler played like a warrior in Detroit on Monday Night, but that offensive line is proving costly for the Lions. (Next week: vs. Minnesota on SNF)

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11, lost 48-3): 3-2. There are really no words to describe that 48-3 embarrassment in San Francisco on Sunday. That was ugly to say the least. (Next week: vs. New Orleans)

18. Atlanta Falcons (16, lost 25-14): 2-3. In a revenge game against the Packers, the defense could only hold Aaron Rodgers for so long. Next up? Cam Newton is in town. That defense better be ready. (Next week: vs. Carolina)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (21, won 30-20): 3-2. Don’t look now, but the Bengals are 3-2 and in contention in the AFC North. Their winning ways should continue when they host the Colts next. (Next week: vs. Indianapolis)

20. Tennessee Titans (15, lost 38-17): 3-2. Just when you thought the Titans were for real, they fail to show up in Pittsburgh. On the bright side, Chris Johnson finally found the end zone. (Next week: Bye)

21. Seattle Seahawks (24, won 36-25): 2-3. Nobody had the Seahawks winning that game in New York, and I mean nobody. They head into the bye week feeling good after a shocking victory. (Next week: Bye)

22. Philadelphia Eagles (19, lost 31-24): 1-4. The more you watch this team play, the more undisciplined you realize they are. Andy Reid does not look like he has control over the self-proclaime “Dream Team.” (Next week: at Washington)

23. Carolina Panthers (25, lost 30-27): 1-4. Each week I watch Cam Newton play, the more he continues to amaze me. Now he just needs to start getting some wins. (Next week: at Atlanta)

24. Kansas City Chiefs (28, won 28-24): 2-3 So maybe the Chiefs aren’t as bad as they displayed throughout the first two weeks of the season. They’ve won two straight heading into their bye week. (Next week: Bye)

25. Cleveland Browns (23, Bye): 2-2. The Browns come off of their bye week and must travel to Oakland to play the Raiders, who are coming off of a very emotional win. It won’t be easy. (Next week: at Oakland)

26. Minnesota Vikings (29, won 34-10): 1-4. Finally, the Vikings put it all together to win a game. This team is better than their record.  (Next week: at Chicago on SNF)

27. Denver Broncos (27, lost 29-24): 1-4. After Tim Tebow nearly willed the Broncos back from 26-10, isn’t it clear which guy gives them the best chance to win? Tebow is a fighter, and a winner. It’s his time. (Next week: Bye)

28. Arizona Cardinals (22, lost 34-10): 1-4. Their defense got lit up in Minnesota and it’s just in time for the bye week. Kevin Kolb is sure looking overrated, and overpaid. (Next week: Bye)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (26, lost 30-20): 1-4. If Blaine Gabbert looks like he can’t be the quarterback of the future for Jaguars, will they be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes? (Next week: at Pitt)

30. Indianapolis Colts (30, lost 28-24): 0-5. The Colts let a 24-7 halftime lead slip away, and they are still searching for their first win of the season. Is there any way Peyton Manning gets MVP this season? I’m kidding, but serious at the same time. (Next week: at Cincinnati)

31. Miami Dolphins (31, bye): 0-4. The Dolphins season got even worse over the bye week with the news that Chad Henne would miss the rest of the season due to a separated shoulder. (Next week: at NYJ on MNF)

32. St. Louis Rams (32, bye): 0-4. Here is what’s next on  the agenda for the winless Rams: @ Green Bay, @ Dallas, then vs. New Orleans. A win is not in sight. (Next week: at Green Bay)

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.