NFL power rankings: Eagles, Bills fall behind 49ers, Lions; Patriots, Colts, Broncos leap for Week 6

NFL power rankings: Eagles, Bills fall behind 49ers, Lions; Patriots, Colts, Broncos leap for Week 6 originally appeared on The Sporting News

The quarter-point of the 2025 NFL season has come and gone with Week 5. There are 13 more weeks left before the playoffs and a lot keeps changing.

Here’s keeping up with how all 32 teams stack up against each other going into Week 6, from best to worst, with a new team at the top:

NFL Power Rankings

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

1. San Francisco 49ers 4-1 (previous ranking: 6)

The 49ers got the job done against the rival Rams with gritty defense and Mac Jones once again playing superb in place of Brock Purdy. San Francisco has also enjoyed a healthy Christian McCaffrey again. They have risen back to the top of the loaded NFC.

2. Detroit Lions 4-1 (5)

The Lions’ offense is humming with typical balance and explosiveness after a rough Week 1 at Green Bay. The defense has started to become a bigger factor imposing its will, thanks to Aidan Hutchinson performing at a dominant all-around level.

MORE: Inside David Montgomery’s homecoming vs. Bengals

3. Buffalo Bills 4-1 (2)

The Bills had been on cruise control since the wild comeback vs. the Ravens at home. Their schedule has been favorable until they got bit by a game, gritty division rival in the New England Patriots. Now they have more work than expected to win the AFC East.

4. Philadelphia Eagles 4-1 (1)

The Eagles’ tendency to not finish games with enough big pass plays and the running game not having an easy time in the second half caught up to them against the Broncos. They should be more concerned about their breakdowns late on both lines of scrimmage.

5. Green Bay Packers 2-1-1 (4)

The Packers get a bye after a lengthy tie against the Cowboys with some concerns about the defense breaking down away from Micah Parsons. However, Jordan Love and the offense should get well in time to rip into the Bengals in Week 6.

6. Kansas City Chiefs 2-2 (8)

The Chiefs are finding the right offensive pieces for Patrick Mahomes as the team makes a youthful transition. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense continues to buy time for everything to be put together on the other side of the ball.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers 3-1 (9)

The Steelers got an early bye after their pass-rushing defense regrouped well with T.J. Watt and others vs. the Vikings.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-1 (10)

The Buccaneers kept the fun going with Baker Mayfield, Emeka Egbuka and whoever is out there with them for an offensive explosion. They should run away with the NFC South again.

9. Indianapolis Colts 4-1 (11)

Shane Steichen’s Colts have delivered a strong 1-2 offensive punch with Jonathan Taylor lifting Daniel Jones to new heights. That’s inspiring their defense to be a lot more active under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

MORE: Jonathan Taylor turning on the jets as one of NFL’s fastest players

10. Los Angeles Rams 3-2 (3)

The Rams made a few critical mistakes with Kyren Williams and their young defense and it cost them against the 49ers. Sean McVay just needs to keep trusting a red-hot Matthew Stafford and his wide receivers.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-1 (12)

The Jaguars’ defense has been the story early with their young stars finally coming together. Travis Etienne Jr. and the running game have been the offensive foundation while Trevor Lawrence is working out some kinks in the new scheme.

12. Washington Commanders 3-2 (15)

The Commanders got revved up by the return of Jayden Daniels and their defense needed that busy swarming performance in L.A. to rebuild confidence under Dan Quinn.

13. Los Angeles Chargers 3-2 (7)

The Chargers were knocked down hard the past two weeks with sloppy offensive play in losses to lesser NFC East foes, the Giants and Commanders. Justin Herbert is back to being inconsistent, a worry for Jim Harbaugh.

14. Denver Broncos 3-2 (18)

The Broncos looked lifeless in Philadelphia early but once they got their downfield passing and power running going, they looked like the more complete team. Really, it comes down to Nik Bonitto and their defense revving up the pass rush for six sacks on Jalen Hurts.

15. New England Patriots 3-2 (21)

The Patriots’ coming out party under Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels happened with Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs, the running game and defense coming through to make things interesting with the Bills in the AFC East again.

MORE: Stefon Diggs haunts Bills in revenge game on Sunday Night Football

16. Minnesota Vikings 3-2 (16)

The Vikings have been inconsistent early in the season but they are finding some offensive punch with Carson Wentz settling in with all of his weapons on offense. It’s a good sign that Minnesota can win without being takeaway-dependent.

17. Seattle Seahawks 3-2 (14)

The Seahawks have been a run-heavy and defensive-minded team that’s needed to pass too much. Their defense has broken down vs. the pass at inopportune times for Mike Macdonald and their inconsistency showed up vs. the Buccaneers.

18. Chicago Bears 2-2 (17)

The Bears can feel good about being at .500 after their slow 0-2 start with Caleb Williams putting it together well in Ben Johnson’s offense. They need to clean up a lot defensively after the bye to have a shot at the playoffs.

19. Dallas Cowboys 2-2-1 (23)

The Cowboys’ offense is trusting Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams with ideal play-calling from Brian Schottenheimer. Dallas’ defense is playing inspired knowing much of the pressure to be dominant is off. They got a key win to move to .500, routing the Jets.

20. Atlanta Falcons 2-2 (22)

The Falcons have been an offensive roller-coaster ride with Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson. They also have flashed defensively on the winning side but also broken down when losing. Raheem Morris will try to put them on the right side of consistency after the bye.

21. Houston Texans 2-3 (25)

The Texans have their offense feeling it again after an early slump from C.J. Stroud with the protection improving and the rookies contributing more. Now they’re dangerous again with DeMeco Ryans’ defense continuing to crush it.

22. Arizona Cardinals 2-3 (20)

The Cardinals had some issues closing out the Titans with some bad offense and special teams at the wrong time, blowing a rare hot start for Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. That home loss will come back to haunt them.

MORE: Emari Demercado costs Cardinals win after embarrassing fumble

23. Carolina Panthers 2-3 (27)

The Panthers are 2-0 at home and 0-3 on the road. Bryce Young had his long-awaited strong passing game with plenty of help from backup RB Rico Dowdle running wild on the Dolphins. The defense closed well too and Young showed a lot of fight after another slow start.

24. Baltimore Ravens 1-4 (13)

The Ravens have gone from bad to near the worst with Lamar Jackson’s absence dragging down their offense, giving them no chance to outscore opponents with their major defensive issues. They need to chalk up a lost big season under John Harbaugh.

MORE: Ravens’ playoff hopes fade to black without Lamar Jackson

25. Cincinnati Bengals 2-3 (19)

The Bengals keeping having a major offensive breakdown as Jake Browning keeps getting burned trying to move the ball with their weapons. They either need to wave the white flag or find a new fill-in QB for Joe Burrow, stat.

26. Cleveland Browns 1-4 (28)

The Browns got a good offensive spark from Dillon Gabriel to give their top defense a chance with Myles Garrett. They have something positive to take away from the loss to the Vikings in London.

MORE: Grading Dillon Gabriel’s starting debut or Browns

27. Las Vegas Raiders 1-4 (24)

The Raiders might need to give newcomer Kenny Pickett a shot at QB with Geno Smith having a turnover meltdown, hurt by lacking a healthy Brock Bowers. The defense remains the bigger issue when it’s not Maxx Crosby.

28. New York Giants 1-4 (26)

The Giants need to expect Jaxson Dart to be all over the place with his running and passing and the rookie mistakes can also extend to Cam Skattebo. Brian Daboll may not be able to recover from the turnover mess.

29. Miami Dolphins 1-4 (29)

The Dolphins’ defense is not set up to slow down much in the way of running or passing and there’s unreasonable pressure put on Tua Tagovailoa without Tyreek Hill. Mike McDaniel can’t feel safe, either.

30. New Orleans Saints 1-4 (31)

The Saints marched away with their first win under head coach Kellen Moore and with Spencer Rattler starting at quarterback. Their defense made the big plays to make it much easier on their second-year QB and they should have a shot to slow down the Patriots in Week 6.

31. Tennessee Titans 1-4 (32)

The Titans have been overwhelmed well beyond Cam Ward not looking ready to lead a shaky offense. They are lost in pass defense. But they finally got something positive with their epic comeback and special teams sparking it all to shock the Cardinals in the desert.

32. New York Jets 0-5 (30)

The Jets wanted to be more successful early with Aaron Glenn but what must hurt the new coach most is how their defense has evaporated into an unfixable weakness. It’s really brining down any offensive optimism they have with Justin Fields.