The Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) stayed mostly steady within the top 10 during the latest rundown of NFL power rankings, but rankers are expecting the Packers to go on a little bit of a run coming out of the bye week. Matt LaFleur’s team has winnable games coming up over the next month and a half, starting with Sunday’s visit from the struggling Cincinnati Bengals, but as a loss in Cleveland and tie in Dallas showed, no game can be taken for granted. It’s time for the Packers to avoid crippling mistakes and start finishing games like a true contender.
Here’s where the Packers stand in NFL power rankings coming out of the bye week:
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USA Today
Week 6 ranking: No. 5 (down 1)
From Nate Davis: “Beaten up in the trenches and coming off a 40-40 loss − yes, that’s what it was − to Dallas, they needed the week off.”
ESPN
Week 6 ranking: No. 7 (up 1)
From Rob Demovsky on Packers’ fantasy football surprise: “The Packers’ defense ranks fourth in real football (fewest yards allowed per game and second against the run), but that hasn’t translated to fantasy points. Green Bay is tied for 20th (5.3 fantasy points per game) after ranking third last season (8.2). That’s in large part because the Packers have struggled to cause turnovers. They have just two interceptions and no fumbles recovered, which comes after 17 interceptions and 14 fumbles recovered last season. Though they’re getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks — thanks in part to edge rusher Micah Parsons — they’re not getting fantasy managers points with takeaways.”
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The Athletic
Week 6 ranking: No. 8 (down 2)
From The Athletic: “The Packers have a chance to go on a bit of a run coming out of their bye. Their lone opponent in the next month with a record above .500 is the Steelers. There’s little reason to think this offense, which ranks fourth in expected points added per play, will slow down anytime soon.”
CBS Sports
Week 6 ranking: No. 7 (no movement)
From Pete Prisco: “Coming off their bye, the schedule gets a little soft the next few weeks, starting Sunday with the Bengals at home. The defense has to get back on track after getting abused by the Cowboys the last time out.”
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SI.com
Week 6 ranking: No. 13 (down 2)
From Connor Orr: “Another pop for my quarter-season awards ballot: I was hard pressed not to view Micah Parsons as a legitimate defensive player of the year candidate despite Parsons playing 20% fewer snaps on average than he does during a typical season. One would think it only gets better from here.”
The Ringer
Week 6 ranking: No. 4 (no movement)
From Diante Lee: “It’s time for this team (and its head coach) to take the final leap.”
Yahoo Sports
Week 6 ranking: No. 7 (down 1)
From Frank Schwab: “The Packers didn’t look great but check out the upcoming schedule: vs. Bengals, at Cardinals, at Steelers, vs. Panthers, vs. Eagles, at Giants. Other than the Eagles and maybe the Steelers, those should all be wins. If it’s not at least a 4-2 stretch, then worry about the Packers.”
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: NFL power rankings: Where do Packers sit coming out of bye week?
